The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-12-28
The Bibb-Gray pimculty.

T. ~ "a.
STATESMAN Office yesterday and relat-
ed a few interesting facts concerning
the Bibb-Gray trouble, which came so
near ending in tragedy. at Saltlllo.
Mexico. DIR. Carothers arrived at Sal
tillo a few days after the shooting OF
Willie Gray, and during the eXamln-
trial he was called upon to act as IN
terpreter. He states that from the
evidence given in court by Mrs. Bibb,
Don Louis Tajada, formerly of this
place, and Mrs. Killough, niece OF Mrs
Bib, he is satisfied DIR. Bibb was ac-
quilted and exonerated in the matter.
It is unnecessary TO reproduce
the evidence given in the case,
which in its nature Is such
as to present many extenuating points
IN TavOr of DIR. Bibb's defense.
DIR. Carothers left Saltillo about a
week ago, and Mrs. Bib came with
him as far as San Antonio. being on
her way to visit relatives in Bosque
county, where she will probably re-
main for some time.
The STATESMAN has been permitted
to publish the following letter, which
it considers will be of more or less in
terest to all of its readers. 1t was
written to the American consul ut
Saltillo, Hon. John ID. Carothers. by
Mr.. Daniel Macauley, who was at one
time mayor of indianapolis, Indiana,
but now engaged in copper mining
near Saltillo:
MAGAPIL. MEXICO, Dec. II,
Hon. John ID. Carothers. American Consul,
saltillo Mexico:
Sir:-I have just heard with sincere
sorrow that DIR. Bib, recently of
Texas and for the past half year the
leading physician in Saltillo, has, I'M
der some grave provocation, seriously
injured one of our American colony
there.
/ also learn with the greatest salts
| faction that you, as American consul,
have confined the doctor to your own
residence. awaiting due course of legal
process, rather than permit respect
able man To be confined in the filthy
beastly place in Saltillo, called a jail,
the only other place of detention pos
sible in the doctors case.
And lastly, l am informed to my
great surprise and considerable dis
gust that objection is taken to your
action, not as might be naturally sup
posed, by Mexican citizens or the local
authorities, but by several of our resi-
dent fellow citizens of the United
| States. Under such a strange condi-
| ton of things | hasten to put myself
on record as one of many citizens of
the United States resident in this gen.
eral vicinity most heartily approving
| of your course and praying your per-
sistence in it to the end.
l know DIR. Bibb thoroughly as a
gentleman of the very highest charac-
ter, always a peaceful, quiet man,
minding his own affairs, and strictly
devoted to his family and his pro-
fession an honor to us all in
every sense. know nothing OF
the unfortunate affair in which
he has become involved, but feel GER
tain it must have been the result of
one of those terrible provocations pos
sihle once in "a lifetime TO even so
peaceful and reputable a gentleman as
DIR. Bib. But whatever the cause or
the alleged crime, no man is punish
able in any civilized community in the
world without first a fair eXamina.
| ton, trial and judgment-and, await
ing these. the law can only detain, not
punish. This is what l understand
/
at serious inconvenience, trouble, and
annoyance to yourself, decent place
| of detention in the absence of any
other in Saltillo.
To imprison an honorable man in
the horrible Jail in thai city, awaiting
for weeks or months trial on
charges of which he might be ac-
quilted, would be cruel burlesque
on justice, not possible, l am thank
| full, under so sensible an officer as
yourself. Had you disgraced us all
and the flag you represent by doing
less, surely your swift removal and
punishment must have followed.
AS to the hasty and ill-considered
objections raised by n few of our
friends. don't let them worry you
fault-finding is cheap and easy and
you would have had it in any case and
under any course of action. The
"grumblers," like the poor, we have
always with us. The doctor, with
yourself. will now partly pay the pen
atty of'professional encroachments on
the legitimate business of Saltillo, and
wherever patients have sent for the
doctor instead of some other physician,
or you have sold drugs which might
have been sold by rival house, there
and in such cases will you both find
much righteous criticism now.
And yet of all of us citizens of the
United States living within many
miles Of S;iltillo, there is not one so
little likely to need your protection or
That of our laws as was DR.. Bibb.
Like him, however, the calamity may
fall upon any one of us before the end
ing of another week. Ifso, with what
a horror would we regard the COM
mon Jail of Saltillo us place of de-
tention awaiting for a considerable
time trial which after all might re-
suit in complete acquittall Nonsense!
A few of our people there are forget
ting themselves and allowing their
petty jealousies to blind them to their
own possible necessities and privileges
under emergencies.
/ beg of you not to listen to false
advice or submit to intimidation. but
to continue to do your whole duty, "a
you have so far, without fear or
| favor.
When recently the Mexican colonel
of the regiment in Saltillo killed an
other colonel in the public market
place, he was detained awaiting trial
-where2 In the pest-house Jail
No; in his own comfortable quarters
in the barracks. and has not yet been
required to change. Why should one
of our citizens, for a less offense and
under greatly extenuating cireum-
stances, be worse treatedp The in
consistency and absurdity are too ap-
/ parent, We owe you cordial vote OF
| thanks and our unanimous support.
Most assuredly our government will
sustain you.
/ subscribe myself one of many of
our people. nearly all, in fact. who
most cordially indorse your patriotic
action.
A Lady's Wish.
"Oh, how I wish my skin was as