The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-07-26
DEPARTMENT NOTES.
HI ESD u.

HONCIuOI lIGltIt ytSOCludN lGCO1N Cti
| the following official information of
the murder of W. ii. Belts:
UNITED STATES CONSULATE, Z
PiedraS NegraS, Mexico, July IL, 1885. :
To His Exeellency Hon. John Ireland. Cover
nor of Texas.
Sri beg the liberty OF this COM
munication to inform you that on the
night of the 9th instant one w. A.
Belts, who claimed to be a citizen of
Texas, living near Waco, was foully
murdered and robbed at the cOnStruc-
tion encampment of the Mexican In
ternational railroad, near the SabinaS
river, in Mexico, about eighty miles
distant from this place. No clue to
the perpetrator. All parties in camp
highly incensed. Every effort is be
ing made to ferret out the crime.
am, with high regard, yours most
respectfully, 3. J. PRIDGEN,
United States Consul.
UNITED STATES CONSULATE
Piedras Negras, Mexico, July Il, 1888. !
Hon. John Ireland, Governor of Texas Aus
tin, Texas:
Sir-Replying to your favor of the
18th instant l have to state that W.
n. Belts was murdered while sleep
ing on the top of a box Car in the
midst of railroad encampment, with
campers and sleeperS all around and
lear the tragedy. He was Drained
with spoke maui, robbed and COW
cred up with wagon sheet. and not
discovered until half past o'clock
the following evening.
The MeXicanS are not suspected
with having anything to do with the
crime. PROFESSIONALLY some camp
mates did it. | thought it my duty
to address you in relation the matter,
hoping to give publicity to it in a
proper shape for the sad news to reach
his family, and that his mother might
communicate with me, as |, by virtue
of my position, am the legal repre-
sentative OF his effects in Mexico,
and desired as little expense as posi-
BILE in diSpoSing Of his effects.
| remain sir, with high regard, yours
most respectfully,
Is. J. PRIDGEN.
United States Consul.
Gov. Ireland can do nothing in the
matter but give it publicity through
the medium of his Office, as desired by
the consul.
The governor pardOned 0. {. Hell
lerorandt, convicted, in FriO county,
of the theft of cattle, and sentenced
at the October term, 1882, to two
years in the penitentiary. In this
case, Gov. Ireland explains, the grand
jury who returned the bill, and the
trial jury who convicted, the district
attorney who prosecuted him, and d
great number of good citizens say
that this man is law-abiding and an
honest citizen. The evidence as to
the ownership of the animal being
conflicting, the man being now what
is known as "trusty," and refusing
to leave without permission, for all
these reasons pardon is granted him,
on condition, however, that it is to be
revoked on his first violation OF the
penal laws of this state.
STATE DEPARTMENT.
The charter of the Bellville social
club association, at Bellville, Austin
county, was filed with the secretary
of state.
Also the charter of the Weather
ford female institute, located at
Weatherford, in Parker county. The
incorporators are DR.. w. B. Miller, E.
B. Ross, Esq, Col. E. p Nicholson,
L iOl. L. ~. 11dlG u u ID IeluCl, Lotl.' q.
A. Owen. Esq, all of Weatherford,
and L. E. Icard, of Henrietta, and
Henry Bedding. of Palo Pinto. The
charter is also applied for by L. j.
Sims, A. NJ, as president, and Mrs.
Bette II. Sims, M. A, as assist ant,
and Messls.. w. R. Virrett, J. NJ. Glib
son and Jasper n. Haney.
CONTROLLERS DEPARTMENT.
The comptroller warranted for the
payment Of abo 1T $4,000, collections
for account of the general revenue,
into the state treasury, and ordered
the payment Of about thirty pension
claims. The veterans are presenting
their claims at about this rate every
day. The payments are for $112.5O
each for three-fourthS of the year,
their annual allowance under the act
of the last legislature being $50.
ADJUTANT GENERALS DEPARTMENT
Adjutant General King, at latest
accounts, had nothing additional to
his dispatches of Wednesday night.
from Capt. Bayler, at Sierra Blanco.
in regard to the cowboys attempt to
take the town Of Toyah, which dis
patch stated that one of the asSailants
was killed and that three others were
wounded and five taken prisoners
without the rangers being injured.
The strike of the It telegraph operators
may prevent further news at present,
but it is not likely after such discom-
future, that another attack will ne
made. especially as it is to be inferred
that Capt Bayler took reinforcements
with him to the sceIe of action.
PENITENTIARY BOARD.
There will probably be no further
meeting of this hoard till Superin-
tendent Goree prepares specifications
for the contracts, to be drawn up in
detail with the other bidders for the
work of the penitentiaries, the con-
tract with MeSsrs. Conner s. Farris, of
Alabama, being the only one drafted
and signed at present The others
will be ready to sign, doubtless, in Il
few days.
POLITICAL NOTES.