Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-06-07
WAS IT MURDER
Jim Hurst jailed on That Charge and
Jane Griffith Arrested for
Completely.
The Dead Body of Child Found on the Street
and the Exciting Chase In Running
the Authors Down.


and woman is also in confinement on
account of implications in the same
crime.
Yesterday morning about $3.50 CLOCK
the body Of child was discovered by a
passing teamster lying in the gutter on
Daggett avenue beyond the Texas and
Pacific tracks. 1t was wrapped in a
sheet and blanket and with it was q
small shawl and q baby's slip. The
whole was tied up in black cloth. City
hall was Immediately communicated
with and the dead child taken TO
the undertakers where an inquest was
held by Justice McClung with Drs.
Field and Duringer in attendance. The
county attorney was also there TO take
cognizance of the case.
The child was q newly born one, as its
condition plainly showed, and was a
large robust girl. The lower side of Its
face, as it lay curled up, was covered
with blood and what looked like bruises
were on its shoulder, but after a careful
examination the physicians decided that
there was no visible cause of death. The
child had been delivered by q regular
surgeon, as its condition evinced, and
had been born alive and well. 1t was
not more than twenty-four hours old.
In the examination it was brought out
that a gray horse and mysterious-act-
ing driver had been observed the previ-
Gus night in the vicinity of where the
child was found. He was observed by
several, and came very near to colli-
sion with J. w. Zook, who was driving
home He was out leading his horse,
but nothing was thought Of it until this
morning when the body was found, and
then the gray horse and his strange
driver seemed to have some connection
with the mysterious circumstances sur
rounding the dead child.
That gray horse was the only clue the
officers had, but how closely it was fol-
lowed and how it turned out the prison
ers at the jail testify.
Deputy Sheriff Maddox called at the
Exchange stables inquiring about horse
of that color and found that ''Snow-
baIl'' had been out the night before
and returned in almost exhausted con-
dition. The horse was covered with
foam and badly blown. All the en-
ployes at the stable denied it, except
one, it is said, under instructions from
the foreman.
Then q search was instituted by 'Sher-
if Richardson, whose mind seemed to
leap to conclusions yesterday, and on his
search he stopped at the house of Mrs.
Jane Griffith on Main street, near the
hospital, Here was startling develop
ments. It was discovered that her
daughter, Katie, had been confined but
they denied everything. The sheriff was
not to be put off, and finding out that
DR.. Parker had been there he called upon
the doctor, who said that he had |
delivered a child at that house on
Thursday at about noon. This |
corroborated the age of the child found |
on the street, and the condition of the |
work. He then said that he had called |
there yesterday during the afternoon and |
found the woman doing well but the |
child gone. He was told that a friend |
had it to care for 1t until the mother re- |
covered. .--.- ..-
Armed with this intelligence, Sheriff !
Richardson returned to the house of Mrs. !
Grlffith and charged them with the deed. |
Finally sending the mother out, the |
sheriff talked with the girl alone. At |
first she kept up the denial, but finally |
broke down and corroborated DR.. Park
er's statement. She said she would con-
fess all if her mother was called back.
Then, i'll the presence of her mother and
her mother had given her baby
to man who was going to
take care OF it. Mrs. Griffith re-
fused to give the name of the man to
whom she had given the child, affirm
ing that it was in good hands and that
no one could prove it and the child found
in the street were the same. She weak
ened when she was told that she would |
be held responsible for the child unless
she told to whom she gave IL. Then she
confessed that it was Jim Hurst of the
Exchange stables, but still said it was
over the river in good hands.
The chain of evidence was tightening.
Mrs. Griffith in an unguarded moment
said in answer to q question that Hurst
iidn't drive team, cit was a gray
lorse:'' The driver of "Snow bali"
was located. He must now be captured.
Deputy Constable Erwin here, In con-
lection with Deputies Maddox and
Smith, did q very pretty pieces of work.
It was discovered in the mean
ime that Billy Vincent, the
had driven Husrt to
l dance Thursday night, ana returned
or him at ll:30. 1t was in the mean
line that "Snowball' had been out and
'eturned in blown condition. Last
light by a series of steps they traced
Hurst to house on Jones street, between
second and Third, where they surprised
lin lying with an ugly sixshooter within
each. He was told of the charge, and
aid he wasn't afraid and that he could
prove where he was.
The cham of evidence was complete,
md both Jim Hurst and Mrs. Jane Grif-
it'll are in the county Jail. The girl was
eft at home as>she was deemed innocent
Il snzecomplicity in the crime charged.
7tffstwas TO have returned there last
light and told her where he left her
,aby, but he had no Intentions of that as
he place of his arrest bore evidence.
The girl was in want Of food yesterday
nd asked the sheriff to see that she did
lot suffer again.
The only thing lacking in the case is
he Identification Of the child found on |
1aggett avenue as the one left with
Hurst, but the only escape he has Is to
,roduce the one he received. The off,
ers are to be commended on the rspidity
nth which they worked. The credit be-
opgs to all of them. Besides those
amed in working up the case Deputies
Tea, Witcher and Elliott with Officers
flushing, Mosely and Peyton Maddox did
inc work They may congratulate
themselves oriI successful piece of de-
ective work.
Hurst carrisd himself in gamely way
asst night after his arrest and told g. GA
-rrr mon fhok ba vas Cuittleaa of fha | :