The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-07-19
THE ELGIN OUTRAGE.
An Interesting Letter from Il. p
JOnes-Death OF Thomas b.
Miles, Etc.

An Interesting Letter from Il. p
JOnes-Death Of Thomas b.
Miles, Etc.
Editor Statesman:
Some weeks ago the residence of
Mr.. r. p. Jones was visited at late
hour at night by some unknown par
ty and one of the windows of his
dwelling raised, at the nOiSe'of which
some of the family were were aroused
and began to inquire who was there.
The sash was dropped and the intru-
der disappeared, but not, however,
before he had been seen, though not
plain enough to identify him, and
he had been detected too early in
his attempt to form any notion as to
his motive. Some ten days or two
weeks after this-on the night of the
28th of June. Mr.. r. p. Jones' little
Emma, was staying all night with
little Lena McGinnis, granddaughter
of Mr.. Coats, and they were put to
sleep on pallet in the same room
with Mr.. and Mrs. Coats. Late in
the night little Emma was aroused by
some one at her bed, she screamed
and woke Mrs. Coats. and told her
somebody was in the room, and
that it was Long johnson (mean-
ing johnson Jackson). But Mrs.
Coats, believing Emma was mistaken,
told her that it was Lena's cat or lit
tie dog that walked over her. But
little Emma was not so easily per-
suaded to abandon her first conclu-
sions, and when on next morning she
returned home, told her mamma of the
occur enre, and said she knew it was
Long johnson. At this the father of
little Emma, though greatly enraged,
thought the proof was not sufficiently
strong to warrant any action in the
premises; and matters went thus
until last Friday night, between
the hours of l and a. M, Mr.. r. P.
Jones and family were thrown into
excitement and utter confusion by
the screams of little Emma, who was
sleeping on ballet with her little
sister at the foot of her fathers bed
and in the same room, when she said
at the very top of her voice, Papa,
man. At this juncture, Mr.. Jones,
springing from his bed, saw the fiend
as he rose from the pallet, ut the foot
of his, made grab at him, but miss
ing, chased the scoundrel through
the door to the end of the
gallery, where he turned the corner
of the house and disappeared in
the darkness. This time, although it
was dark, the house being well venti-
lated with doors and with doors and
windows, every member Of the fami-
ly saw the bulk and shape of the
fiend as he made his exit through the
door, and of one accord agreed that it
was johnson Jackson. Next day
Saturday Mr.. Jones spoke of the Oc-
currence to several of his friends;
told them that he believed johnson
Jackson was the guilty party, and
that every member of his family were
of the same opinion. But being per-
Suaded not to be too hasty in the mat
ter. that by little delay he might
find out more, he took no immediate
action. When that night, to make as
surance doubly sure, Thomas Jeffer-
son, a freedman who had been made
a confident of by Jackson, came to
Mr.. Jones' house, called him out, and
told him that johnson Jackson was
the party who was at his house the
night before. He told Mr.. Jones that
Jackson had told him all about his
rascality told him about going to
Mr.. Angleys' house, about go
ing into Mr., Coats, all that
was said and done On each and every
occasion, all Of which Jefferson de
tailed to Mr.. Jones. Mr.. Jones then
had the statements OF Jefferson re-
duced to writing, and had MIN go be-
fore the justice of the peace and
swear TO the truth of the same; then
made complaint against Jackson
himself and bad him arrested.
The prisoner was placed into
the hands of the officer, was brought
before the justice next morning,
waived examination and bond fixed
at $500, and being unable to give it,
was sent to jail. So far as there be-
ing any attempt to mob is concerned,
the writer knows nothing of it. The
william, it is true. was hanged in effigy,
and the whole community was great
ly enraged at the bold and frequent
attempts of fiend, and they had
right to be, because the insult was not
only to one man, but was thrown at
the door of every good citizen in the
community.
The remains of one of our best
citizens, Mr.. Thomas B. Miles, arrived
here on the 8:15 train last evening.
He had been up in the Panhandle
country to locate his cattle, and was
taken sick at Colorado, Mitchell coun-
ty, some twenty-five days ago, and
died on the morning of the 18th with
typhoid fever. His father and wife
were with him the last ten days, and
to-day at 10 o'clock his remains were
followed to the grave by the largest
assemblage ever witnessed here, and
was buried by the Masonic fraternity,
he being member of this lodge; also,
a member of the Knights of Honor
and /. O. o. F.
Crop prospects are good. Health
very good. r. 2. JONES.