The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1885-03-26
DGVILOa DEEDS.
SWEDISH SERVANT GIRL SEVERE
LY WOUNDED BY ABULLET
Fired by a Murderous MiScreant
at NIidnIght-IS There an
Organized Band?
The Whole City Aroused by the
Late Outrages-A Vigil
ance Committee
Needed to Wipe the Ruffians
Out and Put a Stop to
Their Wicked Work.

The recent diabolical doings of what
appears to be a regular band of organ
lied ruffians, formed subject for
general and animated discussion on
the streets of Austin yesterday.
Every reader of THE STATESMAN is
familiar with the particular species of
crime referred to. Within the last
week, scarcely a night has passed
that some unprotected female domes-
tic has not been the victim of at
tempted brutal assaults. From the
similarity of the offence, and the iden-
tical methods employed in nearly
every case, it is evident that the foul
work has been perpetrated by the
same set of
LAWLESS LIBERTINES.
Their ilast act of deviltry was COM
mitted on the premises OF Mr.. j. I'll.
Pope, who resides on the corner of
College Avenue and Guadalupe. In his
employ are two tidy and industrious
Swede girls, Clara and Christine,
They occupy an apartment. connect
ing with the kitchen, both rooms be-
ing in small building, detached from
the family residence, but quite near
it, with long flight of steps between.
The girls were aroused short while
before 1 o'clock Thursday morn
ing by a knocking at the
door of their room. One of them
arose, lit the lamp and was standing
holding it, in the middle of the room,
when shot fred through thewindow
on the opposite side, graZed her neck
and caused her to fly screaming from
the apartment. She ran out
doors and ascending the flight
of steps mentioned, caught hold of the
knob of the door which opened into
the family dining room. One of the
rufians here seized her, and endeayor-
ed to drag her down the steps. The
girl resisted desperately, land her assail-
ant was unable to make her relinquish
her hold on the knob. Her repeat
ed shrieks for help aroused
the family, several members of whom
came to TIE rescue, but of course no
assailant was visible and all thought
the attack was ended.
In the meantime the other girl,
Christine, had gone into the kitchen
and was conversing with Mrs. Pope
about the propriety of leaving their
usual bed room, when second shot
was fired through broken pane of
glass, striking
THE POOR GIRL
about midway between the shoulder
blade and spinal column, inflicting a
dangerous wound. All sleep was ban
ished from that household, and DR..
Taylor, who resides just opposite,
was Immediately summoned to
attend the wounded girl. He
found that she had been
struck by small bullet, perhaps from
a cheap seven-shooter, 32-calibre. The
girl was resting easily yesterday and
last night, and STATESMAN reporter
was told by DR.. SWearingen who also
attended the girl, that the chances
were favorable to her recovery IN
less IN case Inflammation sets in
He did not think any vital
part had been touched.
But whether she lives or not, the
murderous intent was there, and if
the assassin could be caught and his
guilt clearly established, very few OBJ.
jections could be heard in Austin to
an extra judicial lynching. If there
is any excuse for mob law it is in a
time like the present, and the most
law-abiding men would gladly execute
the orders of Judge Lynch, could the
proper parties be captured.
THE SITUATION
greatly resembles the terrible reign oil
terror il Dallas last year, and unless
active efforts are taken to suppress
the fiends, more horrors will yet
ensue. It was suggested on all sides
yesterday that, owing to the lack OF
protection afforded by the police, the
citizens themselves should organize
into committees of safety, and patro.
the various wards of the city. Any
man caught out after mid
night, who couldn't give satisfactory
way that would forever discourage
him from proWling. around In t1t
dark at unreasonable hours. Some
seven or eight years ago Austin was
infested with lot of thieves wht
plundered the citizens on all sides. A
few citizens resolved themselves intC
band of viglantes. and in a shor
while it became an entirel,
superiuous act to lock the doors of ;
house, so thoroughly was the towI
cleared of the light-fingered fakirs
Something of this kind must be don
now. 1t is idle to rely on the police
There are not enough of them t.
watch more than half a dozen blocks
AN EXCEITP ONALGIRL.
This one is cook at the residenc
of Miss Ella Rust on East COlleg
Avenue. She was visited some hour
after the occurrence at Mrs. Popet
1t was not the first attempt. and tn
girl (colored) was on the lookout fC
an assault. The fellow first broke on
several panes of glass and then tor
loose a wire screen across the windov
demanding all the time to be let il
Grabbing a pistol, the girl blazed ava
at the man. Alas! it was a sci
cooking weapon that she did N
knew how to manage, and so was III
able to repeat the shot. The villai
then cody walked to the door an
tried to push it open. The cries
the woman brought Mrs. Miller,
member of the family, on the seen
Standing in plain view of tn intrud
, she ordered him to leave. His rep
was rock hurled at the lady follows
by another and another. She th'
, gave a general alarm and Messl
i Wooten and Ruggles pistol in haI
sailed out, but too late to put bull
I where it would do most good.
! In both the foregoing cases the p7
! | ties attacked stated that the ASA
ants were negroes.
OTHER CASES.
: TIE hand tires and the mind sicke
l with disgust in the relation of
many scenes of crime. Yet sever
: other houses were visited the sal
night, among them the homes
e County Attorney Morris, Col. Ruth
J. | go and Mr Kallu Al neither nls