The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-01-10
"A CONFESSION.
The Mystery of Former Tragedy
at Denison Finally
Cleared Up.
The Electric Fluid Creates a Sem
satlon at Waco-Important
State Items.
Special Telegram to the Statesman.


DENIsoN, January 7.-On the morning
of February %, 1886, o. M. Kimmis, an
extra freight conductor on the Missouri
Kansas and Texas railway, returned to his
room on Morton street. His room mate,
Conductor j. D. Conlisk, had retired for
the night, but left the light burning
awaiting Kimmis. When Kimmis stepped
upon the porch in front of the house he
noticed man sitting on the edge of the
porch with his head resting on his hands.
Kimmis supposed the man was one of the
boarders and passed through the hall and
noticed that the door leading to his room
was open. He naturally supposed that
some one was in the room. He looked be-
hind the door and there stood a man. The
fellow sprang forward and made an effort
to pass Kimmis, but the young man
gresped the rascal by the arm and struck
at him. Then ensued desperate struggle,
in which the chairs and the stove were
overturned. The burglar was man of
powerful physique, and shook Kimmis
loose and drew from his breast pocket a
revolver and fired shot point blank at
Kimmis. The bullet struck him in the
breast, passed through and lodged in a
trunk.
The report awakened Conlisk, who
jumped up in time to see the burglar re-
treating and disappear out of the door
and see Kimmis stagger to the bed and lie
down. Kimmls lived some time after be-
ing wounded, and described the man as
being thick set and heavy, wearing black
suit and SLOUGH hat, and had colored silk
handkerchief over the lower part of his
face. At the crack of the pistol the man
who was sitting on the porch, and, who
afterwards proved to be confederate of
the burglar, disappeared, and as no trace
of burglar and murderer could be found
the tragedy was wrapped in mystery.
few months after q report gained cir
culation that Fred Griffith, a gambler of
this city, at that time knew more about
the affair than anyone. Griffith left Den
ison shortly after, and from time to time
1T was reported that he had been killed.
About nine months ago Griffith was again
reported dead. This time it fortunately
proved true, he having been shot and
mortally wounded in a saloon row in
San Betnardino, Cal, and it is said that
before he fell he killed one of his assail-
ants and mortally wounded the other.
After being shot he lived several days, but
seeing that he could not live he recounted
his evil deeds to the woman he claimed to
be his wife, and among them was the
killing of o. M. Kimmis. Kimmis' des-
cription of the burglar tallies with the
dead gambler.
1t is we'll known fact that Griffith car
ried both. heavy calibre revolver and a
dirk in his breast pocket. Thus, after
nearly three years have elapsed, the mys-
terry surrounding the bloody tragedy is
cleared up, and Kimmis' death is due to
Griffith's six shooter. Griffith came from
Missouri, near ST. Louis, and always bore
the reputation of a man who would steal
or kill with impunity for the sake of gain.
Considerable excitement was created this
evening by the evening Dispatch publish
ing this facts.