Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-01-03
JIM NEWSOME OF TEXAS.
Hew He Dispensed Whisky and Justice
at Vfnsgtean and Robbed Stages
ct San Angelo.
And How False Notions of Texas are Pro
psgateG and Perpetua.ea by the
Northern Press.
New York Graphic.

Jim Newsome Of Texas travelled along
this way The other dsy. He did not come
east as q very willing visitor. In fact, If
Mr.. Newscme's desires had been at all
consulted he would never have done US
the honor Of coming among us.
The truth is that Jim was on his wav
to the Albany penitentiary, where he is
to pass the remainder of his life, He
was shackled between two United States
deputy msrshals, and his long journey
from Waco, Tex, had not been an exceed
ingly pleasant one.
Ter or twelve years ago Jim was quite
prominent figure along the neighoor-
hood Of the Rio Grande. The Southern
Pacific was building its road through
Southwestern Texas, and the riff raft of
railroad men and blacklegs was following
up the grading and track laying. The
gamblers and the lawless coyotes of the
frontier were the only ones besides the
saloon men who had any money week
after the monthly pay day.
The company established sort Of
headquarters near Towards Springs, on
the DEVILS river, and little town grew
up around il which they named Wins
groom. There was more shouting law
lessness TO the square inch in that town
than anywhere else in the country.
Most OF the inhabitants lived in tents,
and the biggest one in the place was
where Jim Newsome kept his bar and
dance house.
Some CT the hslf-deceIt people deter
mined to have form Of local govern
ment anyhow, and petitioned the Cover
nor to appoint s Justice Of the peace and
constable. He complied, and Jim WAS
made the judge and his bartender the
constable.
They ran stakes in the ground on one
side OF the dance hall, with good strong
chains attached to each, and that served
as 8 jsil.
When the bartender had filed UP Gus
toner with vlllalnous Mexican mescs
thst had been struggled across the rivel
and the man became too obstreperous
Jim would open court in the dance hal
and the bartender would haul the culpri
before him. Sentence would be pro.
i nounced and the prisoner, dragged on
! by the heels, was soon chained to one @
the big stakes. There be lay until h
sobered up and paid his fine.
No one ever attempted to release
prisoner. The Judge was g dead shot
and carried his gun within easy reach
and the constable was known as one o
the most daredevil fellows On the border
Now and then the constable himsel
was tumbled out of the tent by Jim AM
chained up to stake like any common
cu!prit,E and il was not very unusua
thing for the Judge himselfto be draggel
out by the bartender snd his deputy as
sistants and given aterm in his OWN Jail +
nj; 81 la hra,
nitY.0
The county collector came along on
day to gather up the fines that Jim's cour
had inflicted. He brought squad OF tn
state rangers with him to enforce his de
mand, and Mr.. NsWsome's judicial caree
ended very suddenly. He disappeared
and Vinseroon mourped his departure.
On the 29th Of last September the stag
between San Angelo and Ballinger va
stopped by lone highwayman abou:
O'Clock at night or the banks of Coyot
creek. The passengers were made Il
descend from the coach and were ranget
alongside of the wheels while the agil
robber, after first ordering them to holt
up their hands, drew blindfolding esp
over their eyes and proceeded to g
through their pockets and satchels.
When he had secured all the valuable
he could find upon them he cut open tn
mail sack and rifed the registered let
tiers.
II he had left the msil pouch slone b
might have got Fl with few years il
the Texas penitentiary for bis night
work. When he touched UGcle Sam
property he sealed his fste.
How was he caught? This way:
"Pardner," said the driver,.'its might
cold setting up here; can't you set 'er
up to something to drink"
"Of course CAM" was the answer, an
he held his revolver straight at the eye
of the driver as the bottle was handed UP
"Great he.vens,-is that you, Jim New
some? And don't you know me? You
old bartender? ?" and the driver locke
down from his seat over the barrel OF tn
Eistol that cleaned in the moonlight.
He was right. Jim Newsome, tn
ouondam Justice Of the Vlnegroon pre-
cinct, had developed into the sturo
stage robber, snd it was the evidence c
his fo mer constable that immured hlF
for life 10 the dreary walls Of the Albsp
y1apihaufiePy