The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1888-09-13
RICHMOND.
The Trouble Ended and the
Armed Men Returning to
their Homes.
The Citizens Make Full State
ment of the Difficulty and
its Causes.
Special Telegram to the Statesman.

were thoroughly fatigued, having been in
the saddle about torty-eight hours and
with very little to eat The hardship they
underwent is strikingly illustrated by an
account of the breakfast they ate yester-
day morning. On their return trip they
had reached that condition that makes a
man feel that the only object in life is to
secure another square meal. While riding
along on the prairie, some one suggested
that 1t was about time for their meal, and
accordingly a calf was roped, slaughtered
and skinned; fire was kindled and with
out the most remote resemblance to
cooking utensil, the entire animal was
cooked. This having been completed, the
crowd of about sixty-hve men arranged
themselves about the carcass and pro-
ceeded to eat breakfast without salt,
bread or water.
At O'Clock
MASS MEEEING OF CITIZENS
was held and the following adopted amidst
the Widest enthusiasm: To Gen. W. ID.
King, of Texas-The law abiding citizens
of Fort Bend county fully believing in the
wish and the determination of the
governor and yourself to execute the laws
to the end that the rights of all persons
may be preserved, beg leave to briefly
state the following facts as to the present
troubles in Fort Bend county. About
month ago j. M. Shambler, prominent
farmer of this county, was shot down at
night at home in the presence of his wife
and children. placard was found posted
on his gate to the effect that his murder
was caused by attempting to persuade
negroes to become democrats and that
the republicans had made up their minds
not to tolerate such action. A
large number of people then
believed that the assassination of
j. M. Shambler was a political murder,
but prominent republicans of the county
sought to give the matter personal com
plexiop, attributing the act to personal
animosity, and so the public mind was left
in doubt. The negro accused of Shambler's
murder was brought to Richmond and
jailed; was then removed to Houston and
again brought to Richmond, examined by
the court, refused bail, and was committed
to the Houston Jail.
With abudant opportunity and the
strongest provocation to violence our
people restrained themselves and yielded
their personal feelings to the voice
of the law. No violence
was offered or attempted or
threatened against this negro, whom
all felt was red-hauded assassin. Within
q month from the Shambler murder Mr..
H. H. Frost, prominent democrat who
was born and raised i'll this county, was
shot at night in front of his residence by
a concealed person and grievously
wounded. Blood hounds took tue track at
the place of the shooting and followed it
to the house of John Ewing, where his son
and a boarder, all negroes, we're found and
arrested in the middle OF the night and
were placed in Jail, where they
now are, in the presence of two
hundred democrats, who could have
torn them limb by limb, but who, under
the ADVICE of the older citizens, forgot
their injuries in obedience to the law. The
prisoners were guarded all that night by
posse of citizens, and on the next day the
white people of the county met In con-
vention, peaceably assembled for the re-
dress of their grievances. While their
deep sense of injury infamed their minds
towards immediate retaliation, wise
counsel pointed out the danger of hasty
action, and a committee was appointed to
examine the accused, in order to ascertain
and find out whether or not they were the
guilty parties.
This committee labored earnestly and
patiently for hours, and meanwhile the
assembled people were perfectly quiet
and orderly. When the committee re-
ported they advised the meeting not to
proceed to extreme measures, because of
lack of evidence to make reasonably
evident the guilt of those accused. The
meeting adopted this course and no VIC
lence has been offered or intended, save
by individuals here and there whose
feelings overpowered their judgment,
who did not represent the body
of the people and who were powerless to
do harm and the prisoners are safe in the
Jail to-day, because the sense of right of
Justice, of federation, and of forbearance
In the interest of the public good, which
move the people of this county, protects
them and will continue to do so.
The people trace their wrongs to class
of negroes who live off the public money
aud not by honest labor, who are i'm
ported here to become office
holders, who are not Identified
by birth, education or sympathy
with this county, but who are the natural
enemies of the property holders and tax
payers of this county, because they live
by public plumber. Believing that this
class has originated the crimes lately com
mitted, an indignant people have warned
them that the public good demands their
absence. No man has been, under all
the provocatien given us, injured; no
violence has been done. The younger and
more impetuous men have yielded to
the wisdom of their elders and our people
have furnished to an impartial public an
example of forbearance and patience
which entitle them to consideration and
respect. Our people can govern them
selves and they can protect themselves,
and they respectfully represent to you
generally that no troops of any kind are
needed in Fort Bend county.
We thank our wise governor for his
solicitude in our behalf, and our hearts go
to you for the noble and generous senti-
ments you have expressed while among
Us, and if the time should come when our
people SO far forget the majesty of the
law and the principals of our fathers as
to need help from the military branches
of the government to control themselves
and manage their domestic affairs, we
will notify you, general, and will send
for you in person. But, until
then the public interest here and the
general good of this section will be best