davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-11-17

was my duty to go up to my office and
guard the cash balance.
Q.-Was 1t the door of the upper room
you say you broke open?
A.-Somebody else may have broken
open that door, but L believe kicked it
open first.
Q.-How high were the books, in the
lower room, piled up?
Al think 90 very near the ceiling OF
the room. That is my recollection. L
amt certain but that some of the books
might not have been in cases. l was, L
think, within two or three feet of the top
of the room. Others having access to the
room can tell better than / can.
Q.-DO you think you broke open one
or both doors of the two rooms?
Al am satisfied kicked open both,
but especially, L think, of the first room
we come TO.
Q.-Governor Roberts said he didn't
furnish the key to open the door, and
| didn't see it open?
Alt was not necessary to have the
key, the door was light frail one, easy
to break down.
Q.-Couid the fire in the room below
| have been communicated by falling from
| the room above?
Alt might. but when L looked into
| the upper room, there was tremendous
smoke, and think 1 saw a light, but am
| not prepared to say that / saw a blaze,
but when L opened the door of the lower
room there was a tremendous fire.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-11-17

in to-morrow's STATESMAN as IL was
told by those familiar with all the details.
By their statements, it will be seen that
blame can be attached to no one, and that,
as said before, the fire was an accident.
What terrible accident it wasi
MINOR MENTION.
At an early hour yesterday morning,
the furniture and other articles left
LYING AROUND LoosE" "
were Gathered up and stored away.
Mr.. tirOrge Brush, of Colorado fire
company, No. 2, claims his company got
the first water on the fire. Members OF
Washington, No. l, still claim that honor,
also.
The STATESMAN of yesterday mention
ed the fact that Mr.. Edwardy, stranger
in the city, rendered valuable aid to the
fire department during the burning OF
the capitol. We regret that it made q
reflection on the home department, that
special mention was made of work done
bya stranger. while many OF the home
boys who did splendid work were not
mentioned at ALL No reflection upon any
one was intended and that any names
were omitted of persons who de-
served praise, was because the STATES
MAN reporter did not know OF their SER
vice. We stated in yesterdays paper
that Mr.. Edwardy was helping with the
hose, which was mistake; his work was
with an axe in opening up a way for tn
firemen Mr. Monroe MilIar whosp
name was inadvertently omitted yester-
day morning, was with the other gentle.
man who held the pipe.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-11-17
DEDUCTION.

The testimony of General McLeary,
Mr.. Harlee, Capt. Bowman, Comptroller
Brown, Gen. Spaight, Mr.. Holmes, Mr..
Dickinson, Mr.. Edmundson, Mr.. Gold
stem, Mr.. Bostrom, Mr.. Cummins and Mr..
Erickson, was taken, none of which
materially changes the facts above
stated. 1t will appear tomorrow. 1t
is sufficient TO say, that from the sworn
evidence of these honorable gentle
arrived at, and that is, the
FIRE WAS PURELY ACCIDENTAL.
The book room, where it originated,
some time in 1915, was ceiled, to preserve
the books from being damaged by the
damp walls. The wall between the book
room and the second room attached to
Gen. McLeary's office, is stone. In it
there was a hole to admit a stoyepipe,
which was really intended to convey a
pipe on to the fiue in the opposite wall,
which is the end of the three rooms down
stairs, on the.north side of the basement
On the Sd of November, by order of Gen.
eral McLeaTy, n stove was put up in the
middle room, occupied by Mr.. Edmund
son, clerk in the attorney generals
office. Mr.. Erickson, a workman in Rad
keys stove house, did the work. He
swore that he looked into the hole in the
wall, and
THOUGHT 1T WAS FLUE.
That it contained little SCOT, and that
all was darkness beyond it. He knew
nothing about the construction of the
building, but supposed the wall where
he inserted the stove-pipe was continuous
up to the roof. The hole looked like "a
pipe had been there before. Alter COM
pleting his work, he LETT the Office,
Some time in the early forenoon of
Wednesday, the weather being cold, Mr..
Edmundson had
FIRE BUILT IN THE STOVE,
an ordinary amount of wood being used.
OF course, Mr.. Edmundson supposed the
arrangements of the pipe was all right.
But the sparks which went through that
pipe into the hole in the wall, fell to the
floor, between the wall and plank ceiling
or covering, which stood out from the
wall about two inches,
AND-THEIR WORK OF DESTRUCTION
has already been told. The full history of
this stove and pipe business viii be given
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-11-17
From Fridays Daily.l
MAN MURDERED.
JOSEPH GREEN FARIs SHOT AND KILLED
BY W. NJ. TURNER-PARTICULAR
OF THE KILLING.

About O'Clock yesterday evening a re-
port reached the city that a white man
had been murdered at or near st. Elmo,
about four or five miles across the river,
on the San Antonio road. A reporter of
the STATESMAN was Immediately
DETAILED TO WORK UP THE CASE.
He did so, and obtained the following
particulars Mr.. Faris, in company with
Mr.. Fred. Heep, came TO the city yester-
day, TO attend county court, FarIs being
charged with having committed an
ASSAULT UPON W. NJ. TURNER.
Turner was also in Austin. The trial
OF Faris resulted in his conviction.
He was fined - and costs, which
he paid. Faris and Heep repaired
to Clouds stable, settled their
bills, and started for their homes, in the
neighborhood OF Manchaca Springs.
They were told that Turner had left the
stable aboIt half an hour before they lid.
In passing Mr.. Henry Radam's place.
about four miles from here, they saw
TURNER'S HORSE,
hitched in front OF store, and Turner
coming out. They passed OH, when Tur-
ner followed them, keeping about one
hundred yards to the rear. Suddenly he
| dashed up and said to Faris:
''DEFEND YOUR LIFE; WE WILL SETTLE
THE THING RIGHT HERE"
at the same time displaying large six
shooter. Heep spoke to Turner and said
| IVo Il ,,ft II 81.
Told Turner that Faris was unarmed.
Turner then drew another, and smaller,
pistol, which he offered to Faris, saying,
rs he did so
''HERE, DEFEND YOURSELF"
Faris replied, Il don't want anything
to do with you" He ,p says he told Fa-
ris not to take the pistol. A few minutes
afterwards, the three still riding on, 7 ur.
pistol almost against him, and saying,
TAKE THAT, THEN"
fired. Faris fell from his horse, and died
soon afterwards. The bullet entered
about four inches to the left of the left
nipple and four inches below the left arm
pit, passing through the body and lodg
Ing ten inches below the base of the neck
and two and half inches to the right o
the spinal column.
| A SMALL FIVE-SHooTER
was found upon the person OF the
deceased. Mr.. Faris is said to
have been a quiet, industrious far
mer and good citizen, and leaves
small family. He was about twenty-five
years of age. Upon learning of the af
fray, Justice Gregg empaneled jury o
inquest and proceeded to the spot where
the killing took place. The body wa
viewed and taking of testimony com
menced. The examination will be con
cluded to-day. Judge Gregg returned Il
the city about IL O'Clock last night.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-11-17
TESTIMONY VERY voLUmINoUs.
A VERDICT WILL PROBABLY BE
REACHED TODAY.
A DISCLAIMER FROM THE STATES
MAN.

The inquest before Justice Gregg, to
inquire into the origin of the late fire
was continued yesterday. The witnesses
examined were John Bremond, chief en-
gineer of the Austin fire department
Jos. A. Nagle, of Washington steam fire
engine company, No. L /; Captain Won
Rosenberg; d. L. Spain, chief clerk, and
Judge Galloway, assistant clerk, state de.
partment; William Brueggerhof james
c. Gather, Jr., tax clerk, comptrolle's
office, and j. W. Jones, manager of the
telephone exchange.
1t was the intention of the STATESMAN
to publish, in ertnsO, the testimony as ii
was taken before the justice, but
this we must forego, owing
to its great volume. There are already
more than one hundred and fifty pages OF
legal cap manuscript, and the evidence is
not yet concluded. That which was ad-
duced yesterday puts a
g.. NEW PHASE UPON THE CASE,
in that it adds more interest to it.
The testimony of Mr.. Bremond, and
the other firemen, showed that the fire
department lost no time in reaching the
scene of the cohfagration after they re-
ceived the alarms, and that from the want
OF water followed their inability to more
successfully combat the flames. There
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-11-17
HORSE THIEVES IN Hoe.
A FIELD DAY FOR THE SHERIFF.

Sheriff Creary has been In possession
of the fact, for some time, that well Or
ganized system of horse stealing has
been going ON between this city and San
Antonio. He determined TO put stop to
It. if possible. Learning, yesterday
couple of men were on the
road, some distance south of the
city, with bunch OF horses,
he concluded the iron was hot,
and it was good time to strike. He
struck. Deputy Sheriff Sublett and Con-
stable Patterson were detailed to 20 out,
and arrest the suspicious parties. They
did SO, and about five O'Clock last even
ing returned to the city with the prison
ers, who give their names as Billingsly,
and say they are brothers. Four horses
and three mules were found in their pos
session, which were also brought into
the city. When arrested, one OF the men
became very stubborn, and said to Deputy
Sublett, ''D-n you, know you. If had
pistol, l wouldn't go an inch with you,"
and then sat down. The officer display
ed persuader, in the shape Of 46-cali-
bre, nickelPlated, when the other Bill
lingsly said, "Come on, let's go let's
have no bloodshed here" And they
came.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-11-17
THE SCALES OF JUSTICE.
HOW THEY WERE HUNG YESTERDAY.


DISTRICT CoURT.-Hon. A. s. Walker,
judge, presiding; L. Hallman, clerk, by
Jas. 7. Hart, deputy; Ed. Creary, sheriff.
The following business was disposed OF
yesterday:
Mary A. lively and husband v. j. W.
Hanntg; Judgment tor plaintiff for SS86.46
and $1,000 note cancelled
William Steele v. State OF Texas; ar
gument, pro and con, submitted, and
case taken under advisement.
Fannie Nj. Gibson v. l.. NJ. Speer and 8.
Simon; injunction dissolved and case dis
missed ut cost of plaintiff.
Austin Home Loan and Building asso-
citation v. Francis b. Forster; suit TO re-
cover dues on stock.
G. 5. West Esq. sitting as special
Judge. Defendants exceptions and de-
murrer overruled, as TO plaintiffs petit
ton; and demurrer and special excep-
tlons ofplaintiff overruled, as 10 defend
ants answer. Adjourned until Monday
morning, at 10 o'clock.
VIM. Saunders VS.. Staufier and Cart
wright. Suit OF trespasss TO try title, and
for damages. Order of survey amended.
and appointment of Dennis Corwin TO
make the survey ordered.
The court appointed the following at
torneys TO represent prisoners in Jail un-
able to employ counsel:
State VS.. Martin Brown.-F. w. Chan
dler and II. +. Shelley assigned as coun-
| sci for defendant.
State VS. Barney Young, two cases.-Joe
ii. Stewart, assigned as counsel for de-
| tendant.
State VS.. Frank Berry.-N. G. Shelley
assigned as counsel for defendant.
State VS. Alex. Balderis, two cases.-S.
A. POsey and ii. j. Huck assigned as
counsel for defendant.
State VS.. Albert WHITE Martin as
signed as counsel for defendant.
State VS.. Orrjolas.- Claude ID. Johns
assigned as counsel for defendant.
State VS.. Ben. Shaw.-Wilson Gregg
assigned as counsel for defendant.
| State VS.. VIM. Taylor, alias Cripple
Johnson.--F. w. Chandler and III. e.
Shelley assigned as counsel for defen-
| dant.
Court adjourned tile o'clock this morn
ing.
| COUNTY CoURT.-Hon. u. T. Fullmore
| judge, presiding; Frank Brown, clerk, by
JEFF Brown, deputy; Ed. Creary, sheriff.
by Theo. Sublett, deputy. This tribunal
disposed Of the following cases:
But little business was transacted be.
fore this tribunal yesterday. The casei
| disposed OF were mIsdemeanors.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-11-17
NEW YORK AND TEXAS.
ANOTHER GRAND COMBINATION, AND
CHARTER FILED.

CHARTER FILED.
The charter of the New York and
Texas Land and Trust Company was filed
yesterday in the state department. The
following are the incorporators Joseph
L. Spotford of New York, j. III. Jones OF
Brooklyn, L. p. Pardee of HaZelton,
Pennsylvania, William p. Games, Frank
Hamilton, John T. Breckenridge, John
Hancock, r. M. Thomson and John B.
Rector OF Austin and r. b. Hubbard OF
Tyler, Texas. The capital stock is
$500,000, and the board of directors are
Joseph L. Sprofford of New York, j. M.
Tyler, Texas. and John Hancock. John
T. Breckenridge, William p. Gaines,
Frank Hamilton, r. M. Thomson and
John B. Rector of Austin, Texas. The
principal Office of the company will be ut
Austin, with branches at New York, st.
Louis, New Orleans and such other
places as may be deemed necessary. ..,.
The object and purposes OF this COM
pany are to facilitate and promote the
sale, purchase and settlement of lands !,
In Texas and other states, owned by pri-
yate parties and corporations to assume
control and management of lands; neg0-
tiate sales or loans pay taxes; protect
against trespassers and squatters fur
nish reliable and accurate Information as
to value and character of lands enccur-
age and assist immigration by colonizIng
and other means furnish laborers and
operatives to farmers and all branches of
business. To investigate and perfect titles
to lands; furnish abstracts of titles,
names and postofflee address of owners,
etc. to purchase, hold, sell and convey
property of all kinds, and particularly
real estate, for account of said company
or others. To accept and execute trusts
of every description, for individuals or
corporations, and particularly such trusts
as relate to real estate to act as trustee
by appointment of any court of this state
or the other states oft United States
for property or funds in litigation to re-
ceiVe money, property or estate of any
kind, for Investment, on deposit or in
trust under such laws and regulations as
may be established by said company.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-11-17
FRAGMENTS OF THE FIRE.
TESTIMONY BEFORE THE INQUEST CLIO
ED-OTHER AND MINOR MENTION.

TESTIMONY BEFORE THE INQUEST CLOS
ED-oTHER AND MINOR MENTION.
Justice Gregg yesterday resumed the
investigation of the late fire. Captain
Bowman, secretary of state, was the
only witness examined. His testimony
was repetition of that given previously,
with the addition that he knew nothing
about the putting up of a stove in room
No. 2. Whenever he had any business
with the attorney generalhe transacted 1t
in the attorney generals office.
The testimony of all the witnesses, as
taken in short hand, has been tran
scribed, and was, yesterday, read to the
jury. 1t covers nearly two hundred
pages of legal cap pages, and is the work
of Mr.. John E. Thornton, of the Mems,
and Mr.. w. Nj 0'Leary, of the Post The
jury took one ballot, and, failing to
agree, adjourned until tomorrow. 't
OTHER MENTION.
We are informed by Mr.. Orsay that the
battle flag captured from Santa Anna, at
the battle of San Jacinto, was saved from
the fire. 1t had been deposited in the
adjutant generals office, and luckily so,
for, like all other relics that were in the
geological room, 1t would have been lost,
if it had not been brought to that de-
partment four or five years ago.
Mr.. II. y. Hillyer has sent to the
STATESMAN Il photograph made OF the
burning building just after the dome fell
in. 1t is.Sxl0 inches in size /; suitable
for framing, and, considering the fact
that it was taken on cloudy, rainy day,
is very fine picture. He is prepared 10
furnish any number of them at fifty cents
| piece.
We are told that q number of persons
are ready to remove the ruins, just for
the material there is in them.
Major Dennis Corwin, on the day of the
fire, was some five or six miles north OF
the city. He saw the great clouds of
smoke over the centre OF the city, and,
reaching an eminence in the road, beheld
the flames bursting out of the eupalo.
Horse flesh suffered for few minutes,
and the major reached the city in time to
600 tho old huildin0 in smokv rnins
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-11-17
LOST CHILD.
WALLS OF DISTRESSED MOTHER

Day before yesterday a German lady
and her children arrived in this city from
Giddings, Texas, and stopped at the
Columbia House, opposite the passenger
depot of the Houston and Texas Central
railway. The lady expected her hus-
band, who resides at New Braunfels, TO
meet her here, but up to this writing he
has not done so. About two o'clock yes
terday afternoon, her little son, Otto,
strayed away from the house, since which
time he has not been seen or heard of by
the agonized mother. The police
were Informed OF the occurrence,
and every effort was being made yester-
day and last night to recover the little
wanderer. He can neither speak or un-
derstand the English language. To be
landed among strangers, and not meet
her husband, as expected, was distressing
enough but to add to this the horror Of
losing her child is more than the frantic
mother can bear. When the reporter
heard of the case, the unfortunate lady
was almost bereft of her reason. AS
late as eleven O'Clock last night the au-
thOrities had learned nothing Of the
whereabouts of the lost child.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-11-17
COMPLAINT.
STATE OF TEXAS,
LN-.. FUH


Before me, the undersigned auth ority'
appeared A. W. Spaight, who, upon oath
says, that the capitol building of the
aforesaid state. situated in tile aforesaid
county, and in the city of Austin. has, on
this 9th day of November, a. ID. 1881,
been burned. and that the origin of the
said fire, so far rs aifiant is informed, is
unknown; Dat afiiant being, by law, ex-
officio supeApt tendent of the public build
ings and grounds, deems it his duty, rs
such custodian, to make application for a
fire-inquest lmder the statute, in order
that the origin of said fire may be in
quired into and made known; that atflant
Is informed, and believes that several
credible citizens have expressed the
opinion that there is ground to believe
that said capitol building, burnt as afore-
said, was unlawmlly set on fire. And
afiiant further says, that this complaint
is made i'm order to lay foundation for
proper legal proceedings to determine
the true origin and cause of said fire ;
that said complaint not being based on
atlantis own belief and opinion in the
premises, but upon the expressed belief
and opinion of other citizens as afore-
said. (Signed) n. w. SPAIGHT.
Sworn to and subscribed before me
this 9th day of November A. d. 1881.
|" WILSON GREGG,
J.P. Travis county, Texas.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-11-17
THEIR NEW QUARTERS.
WHERE TO FIND THE HEADS OF DEPART
MENTS.

Yesterday, County Judge Fuller and
Sheriff Ed. Creary, formally rendered to
the state rooms in the court house,
and the sh erif's residence, to be used
as offices by the heads of the departments
burnt out on Wednesday. Governor
Roberts, for the administration, accepted
the offer. His own offices will be estab-
,lished in the rooms formerly occupied by
Sheriff Creary, second door to the left OF
the Congress Avenue entrance TO the
court -honse. Secretary Of State Bowman,
Attorney General McLeary, -Adjutant
General King, Commissioner Spaight and
Secretary Hollingsworth, viii have their
offices In the building known as the sher-
the court house. " bile the officers may
be somewhat crowded, the accommoda-
tions will be sufficient. They will re-
main in these quarters until the legisla-
ture makes other provision for them.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-11-17
NABBED.
SERGEANT CHENEvILLE SCOOPS IN A
THIEF.


Yesterday a white man, named Henry
Robinson, was arrested by Police Ser
geant Chenegllle, and confined in the
city Jail. The charge against him is
petty larceny. Robinson has been la-
borer about the railroads for several
months, but was regarded by the OFF,
GERS as a suspicious character. He was
noticed number Of times depositing ar
tlcles new at the pawnbroker's, which
caused closer watch to be put upon
him. He soon "dropped on" this, and
took to expressing his stolen (presuma-
bly, packages TO woman In Chappell
Hill. When arrested yesterday, he had
in his possession an article OF wearing
apparel called "jumper," sort OF
woollen jacket, stolen from the store OF
Messrs. James 81 Pillow. The prisoner
will be held for future action by the
proper authorities.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-11-17

COLONEL Bob TAYLOR, of Fannin
has been in Washington looking af-
ter the rights of the "Native Repub-
licans,"a as contra-distinguished from
the carpet bagging set.S These "Na-
tive Republicans have been so un-
generous to their own people that
tho northern power is probably
afraid to trust them. Such caution
is wisely directed.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-11-17
FILING FOILED.
AN ATTEMPT TO BREAK JAIL INTER-
CEPTED.

AN ATTEMPT TO BREAK JAIL INTER-
CEPTED.
For the past three or four days the
sheriff o. the county has felt satisfied
that something wrong was going on in
Jail, so he gathered his wits closer about
him and put himself on the alert. Night
before last, while quietly listening around
the cells, he heard what he thought to be
some one filing or saving the iron
bars. His presence was Indicated, and
the noise ceased. Yesterday morning,
with some of his deputies, he visited the
Jail, and unlocking the cell wherein is
confined the United States prisoners,
charged with mail and stage robbing, and
one "Horse Thief' or "Cripple Johnson"
he ordered them out, one ut a time. In
Johnson's bootleg, and also in the boot
leg of one of Uncle Sans prisoners,
Sheriff Creary found steel saw, of
minute proportions, but of excellent
finish. just how the prisoners OBJ
tanned those saws the sheriff was not
long in. determining. lie ''sorter
thought he knew the material they
were made of. The sequel will prove he
was right.
A few weeks since negro woman was
adjudged insane, by jury in Judge
FullmOre's court, and was remanded to
Jail, 10 remain there until the county
commissioners 1--WE presume) should
make provision for sending her TO the lu-
natic asylum. L. occurred to Captain
Creary that those saws looked like they
might fit some part of a woman's wearing
apparel. The crazy woman's corset was
sent for, and upon examining it, the
steels (stays) were missing. The whole
business was given away. A little judi
cious "piping" elected the information
that the prisoners had managed to get
possession OF the insane woman's corset !;
they took the two steels from it; made
the saws, and the noise the sheriff heard
Friday night was the prisonerstrying the
instruments with which they proposed to
effect their escape. Had it not been for
the watchfulness and determination OF
Sheriff Creary, Travis county would to-
day have an empty Jail.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-11-17

COUNT TELFENER, of the New
York, Texas and Mexican railway
has had published a pamphlet de-
scriptive of the COAST country, along
the line of his road, which he ex-
poets to use to induce emigration
from Italy and France, and other
foreign countries. In it he sets forth
the advantages of the coast country
as possessing healthful and dc
lghtful climate, in which farming
and stockraising may be made
profitable
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-11-17

THE Washington Star thinks the
tone ofthe western papers indicates
a lively time in Washington during
the next congress. One of the sto-
ries is to the effect that there is to
be lobby found of about fifty mil
lion dollars for the Mississippi i'm
provement scheme. 1t would be
hard for the west thus to have tC
pay for simple Justice to itself.