The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1885-12-24

attorney general of Texas is elected by
the people, and theref )re, not directly
subject to the orders of the governor.
While the governor may order
the attorney general, he might
as well order the spirits from the vastly
deep, so far as he has authority. Mr.
Cleveland had authority, and did right to
order the use of troops in the Indian ter
ritory, deriving his authority from an ex-
press act of congress. But when it comes
to public lands outside that territory, ne
can't use the troops and did not assume to
do so, but proceeds in the civil courts I'M
der the attorney general.
In view of the fact that negro named
Bennett, who murdered one of the child
rem of Mr.. Robert Smith, in Montgomery
county, and nearly murdered Mrs. Smith
and her little girl was about to be hung
by NIB, Judge Mssterson, on Saturday,
sent the following telegram to Governor
Ireland:
HOUSTON, Dec. 10, 1885.
Governor Ireland, Austin:
mob, too strong for the sheriff to con-
troll, threaten to break into the jail at
Montgomery and take man indicted for
murder and hang him. A telegram or
proclamation by wire from you to the
sheriff of that county.if sent Immediately,
may prevent this defiance of the law. 1
have ordered the sheriff to resist and use
all force necessary, but as nearly the en-
tire community is with the mob fear lie
will not be able to withstand it, Act in
stantly, or the mob will do their worst this
day.
(Signed) JAMES MAsTERsoN,
Judge Eleventh District.
Upon receipt Of the above Governor
Ireland wired the sheriff of Montgomery
county as follows:
AUSTIN, Texas, December 10, 1885.
To the Sheriff of Montgomery County, Mont
gomery, Texas:
Summon every able-bodie1 man within
your reach to assist in resisting the mob,
and warn the mob I expect the people of
names of rioters and report them to the
grand jury.
(Signed) JOHN IRELAND,
Governor.
On Saturday Governor Ireland received
telegram from the sheriff stating that
''the prisoner was unavOidably hung"
The following, from the
Houston Post of Sunday,
will throw little more light on the mat
ter. This information is a special to the
|
cember 80:
Bennett Jackson, the negro charged
with the assault to murder Mrs. Smith
and two children-one of the children dy-
ing several days ago-in Mink prairie
was taken by mob yesterday, and car
ried into the woods, where he was guard
ed through the night. The prisoner was
brought in town to-day, and at II O'Clock
| h &ho ~ hon h
the parties having charge of him. Before
being hanged he made confession, ac-
knowleding that he had committed the
deed, but said, in mitigation, that he was
instigated by two others, who remained
outside on the lookout while he committed
the horrible crime, the details of which he
narrated. The names of his accomplices
were given to the mob. Jackson said the
object of the murder was robbery, but af-
ter going through the house he failed tC
find anything. He said that he wanted tc
be hung, and was resigned to his fate
The lynching party was composed of the
leading citizens of the county, who. imme-
diate]., after finishing their work. dis
persed. Jacksons remains were takel
hcharge of by the authorities and an in
7 Nuest held, and a verdict rendered in &C
fordance with the above facts.
II The executive is in receipt of the fol
Flowing proposition. The question now is
4 who will put up the thousand dollars?
CLEAR CREEK P. O., MARION Co., !
ARK, December 6, 1885.
To the Governor and People of Texas:
For $1,000 I will give receipt for des
troying weavil in grain, and to proven
them also. Fifty cents will secure LOO
bushels of grain. It is perfectly safe il
ever respect. Let me hear from you.
(Signed) M. E. S1MMs.
Rube Smith, colored, who was indicted
at the present term of the district cour
for murder and who plead guilty to man
slaughter, and was sentenced to two year.
in the penitentiary, was pardo1ed lat'
Saturday evening by Governor Ireland
The jury who convicted RUDE joined il
the petition for executive clemency.
Sheriff Rankin, of Fayette county, ant
Mr.. j. E. Downs, of Waco, called on tn,
governor officially yesterday.
Governor Ireland yesterday received
very pretty paper weight, sent him by Su
perintendent Goree from the Rusk peni
tertiary. The weight was made iron
crude furnace iron, and possesses hand
some surface finish. Mr.. Goree, in hi:
letter of transmission, says, ''the out-pu
of the furnace for the last twenty-fou
hours was fully thirty tons"
The governor informed the reporte
that the output of this Rusk furnace ha
steadily increased every day it has beer
operated since the state resumed contrO
of the penitentiaries. The water piping
and other iron work for the new capito
will be manufactured at the Rusk peniten
tiary. The furnace there will ultimately
become the source of vast revenue to thu
state.
EXECUTIVE OFFICE.
Gov. Ireland yesterday made the follow
ing appointments:
L. G. Alexander, of Waco, to be a re
gent of the state university, vice j. B
Clark resigned
Henry Brashear, to be clerk of the crimi
nal district court of Houston, to succeed
himself.
COMMISSIONER OF INSURANCE.
The Houston Insurance company, o.
Houston, whose capitol stock was almost
entirely invested in the stock of the HOus