The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-06-07
[special TO The Statesman.

GALVESTON, June 5.-Early this
morning the warden at the county
Jail discovered one of the prisoners
hanging dead in his cell, with a hand
ktrchief ablu his neck and apparent
ly lifeless. Upon investigation it was
found that one end of the handker
chief-a silk One-had been tied
around his throat and the other end
fastened to the upper bunk of his cell.
The indications were that the man
had thus tied the knots standing up,
and had then thrown himself on his
knees and drawn his head down in
such manner as to produce strangu-
lation. When found his body was
cold. and it was apparent that he had
beed dead for some hours. The man
was supposed to be between fifty and
sixty years of age, was known as
Thomas Milburn, and had been in Jail
for nearly two months as a lu-
matte. No one could be
found who knew anything
of his history, or whether he had anY
family connections. All that could
be learned was that he W placed in
the jail on a charge of insanity April
10, and that during his confinement
he has been rather quiet and peculiar,
seldom speaking to any one, but
generally promenading about the Jail
in a moody and troubled sort of
manner.
Martha Rector, the colored woman
who shot herself with a pistol yester-
day morning, fingered until o'clock
this morning when death relieved her
sufferings. The grandmother Of the
unfortunate woman said to your re-
porter this morning that when
she entered the room soon af-
ter the shooting she asked her
granddaughter, martha, what have
you done ?" She replied, Grandma,
[ had a crazy fit and L took a pistol
and tried to kill myself. l tried to
shoot my brains out, because didn't
wish to live any longer. If / had
known that was going to
suffer like this l would
not have done it. l am sorry
l did it, and if God spaers me this
time I'll never do so again" This is
about the substance of what she is
reported to have said at intervals be-
tween the time of the shooting and
the moment when death ensued. 1t is
also reported that she said sew
eral times to her husband,
Ike Rector, "Y GU know why did it, -
but never indicat to any one else
what the reason was. The grand
mother says Martha was about
eighteen years of age. and was raised
on Double bayou. Being country
raised" said she, "she did not know
anything about city ways,
and she was not satisfied.
She was nothing but girl.
If she had been a woman she
would't have been so foolish. No in
quest was had ON the remains, which
eXciteS considerable comment, as it is
now admitted that Rector and wife
lived very unhappily together, his
treatment of her at times being bru-
tal in the extreme.
The munlhcent proposition made
by Mr.. q. Ball to appropriate $4,000
to erect public school building was
the topic of general conversation in
all circles and generously COM
mented upon. The Galveston
public school teachers associa-
ton held called meeting this
evening for the purpose of express
ing their hearty appreciation of Mr..
Balls generous offer to the city. APP
propriate and pertinent remarks
were made by Professors Gwyn and
Sellers, when the following resolu-
tions were introduced and unani-
mously adopted: First, That we
heartily and sincerely thank Mr.. Ball
for this unsolicited proof of his ap-
probation of public school education.
Second, That we recognize this act as
marking an epoch in the progress OF
both our city and state, and that
we are proud that a townsman of
ours should be the first
to do for education in Texas what
Peabody, Girard, Cooper and others
have done in their respective states
Third, We hail this as an evidence of
a growing feeling among our best cit
liens that Galveston is something
more than a mere field for the display
of financial ability, and that her NOR
al and intellectual progress, bound up
as it is with her educational interests,
is attracting the attention of
our substantial citizen. Fourth, That
we respectfully request that the build
ing be called the George Ball High
School. Fifth, That a copy of these
resolutions be drafted and presented
to Mr.. Ball and furnished to the press
for publication.
H.LEE SELLERS, President.
MARY S. WALKER Secretary.