The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-11-30
THE SHIRLEY MURDER.
MORE FACTS ELECTED WHICH
ONLY CONFIRM PREVIOUS
INFORMATION.
A Statements Made by Miss May
nard and Many Facts Gather
ed By Agents OF the States
man Rt Elgtn.

gu " AkG nta VI tho ot8tCn-
man Mt EIgin.
The shooting of poor Shirley continues
to be the absorbing topic Of conversation
here and new facts are daily brought TO
light, which only serve to deepen the
already dark shadow of the crime.
The fact that not one word was
teleg aohed direct from Elgin to any
paper in the state, is commented upon
by thoughtful people. All the informa-
ton regarding the sad affair has come
second-handed and the first intimation
that there was a second side to the case
comes from Bastrop. II is great piece
of impertinence for Bastrop correspond
ents to telegraph "the only true and re-
liable statement" in the case,
from BastTop, when they do
not even profess to have been
at the scene of the difficulty, and must
have taken only hearsay evidence for
their information. We do not regard
the testimony given at the inquest as of
any value whatever, as none but interes-
ted parties testified. Why was Miss
Maynard not required to give her version
Of the case at that trial? AS we are in
formed, and we think correctly, the only
people examined by that wonderful ag-
gregation of legal talent were Mr.. Pet
Fowler, Whisenant and DR.. Sheasby.
Fowler was interested in clearing May
nard, and, 1t is alleged, was talking to
the justice (O before the trial CON-
menced, about the points of the case.
The other two profess to have been wit
nesses of the alleged improperties, and it
is also stated that the handwriting of the
anonymous note to Shirley and the letter
carried by Johns to Bastrop calling
attention to the rumors, were both
traceable to Whisenant's agency
Miss Maynard was interviewed by
several ladies as to the truth of the
allegations and she stoutly denied
ever having received an improper
proposal from Mr.. Shirley, and denies
that she was seduced. II is painful in
the extreme to be obliged to go into such
details, which, of course, must greatly
shock Miss Maynard, but the charge
Drought by her own brother-in-law
against her honor must be discussed. II
her family is not interested in proving
her innocent before the world, the
STATESMAN is. 1t has further been sta
ted that persons in the house heard
Mlss Lula exclaim: You helped 10
kill my darling, Pet Fowlerl" and he is
alleged to have replied Yes, and /
wish l could kill forty more like him."
Perhaps this is the reason why her testI-
nony was not given at the trial. If evil
dence had been given in the court, on
both sides if the state or Shirley had
been represented, we would refrain from
publishing anything except the evidence,
but as such was not the case, and we
have given space to the Bastrop telegram,
we are in duty bound to give all the
hearsay evidence we can obtain for the
unTepresented side. Mr.. Meek, who
keeps The boarding house at which Shir-
ley always stopped, when on his visit
there, met him at the depot and warned
him not to 60 to the house, IS Maynard
and Fowler were there, had been drink
ing, and were fixed" for him. He in
sisted on going, saying that he had heard
the slanderous rumOrs, was bound to
trace them and that he should take Lula,
to Austin on Sunday, and marry her.
He went one way to the house, across
the square, and the two men were stand
ing not far of in another direction, where
they could see Shirley approach, and
they also went to the house, arriving in
the hall opposite her room at about the
same time. She opened the door of her
room and Shirley took off his hat to
greet her; as he did so, bullet clipped
the first finger of his right hand and pass
ed through the hat This shows how
much he was trying to draw a weapon
taking off his hat to lady. 1t also shows
how much the statement in the Bastrop
telegram is worth, that he was in her
room and ordered the others out. That
two pistols were used, is almost certain,
as the wounds in the body and shoulder
were of different size from those in the
wrist and head, made by a different sized
ball, and 1t is not probable that Maynard
used both pistols-unless Fowler
handed him the second one.
There was no evidence offer
ed to substantiate the seduction, ex-
cept that given by Whisenant, Shearby
and Fowler. Miss Maynard's testimony
should be worth something on this point,
and she says it is all fabrication. This
part of the case can be authora-
lively settled by medical testi-
mony, and should have been at the
inquest. Whether Whisenant has been
was represented IN these columns or not,
he must have played the despicable part
Of spy, IN company with DR.. Sheasby,
in order to be able to give any such re-
port to the world. And spy and SLAM
dererer has not many rights which
decent people are bound to re-
spect. In any case, 1t was not
for them to say what were Mr.. Shirleys
intentions regarding her and they were
not appointed her guardians, mentors or
ceusors. The correspondence between
Shirley and Miss Maynard was all of the
purest character, and frequent mention
was made of their intended wedding
The story of her attempts at suicide is
pure fabrication, there being not the
slightest ground for such statement
Their engagement may have been pri-
vate, but the fact of his visiting
her with the purpose of win
ming and marrying her, was well
enough known to the people there, for no
secrecy was ever attempted. The mere
fact of the family not being in her hearts
confidence may be explained on family
grounds, which are not necessary to
trench upon until the proper time arrives.
In any case there could be no excuse
whatever for shooting Shirley, especially
as they had not first requested him to
marry her and he had refused to comply.
A state senator and county attorney
should know too much of law TO
take its execution into their own hands
in this summary manner, whatever the
provocation. We do not intend to do
anybody an injustice, and have only
printed such statements as have been
vouched for by reliable parties, aud com
ing from worthy sources they are entitled
to credence. If we err, we do so on the
side of justice and determination to fix
the guilt where 1t belongs.
Time and Expense saved.