St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-08-10
TOO SHAKY.
The Sad Condition OF Things in
Texas in 1868.

Texas in 1868.
Austin (Texas) Special to Globe Democrat.
In 1868 there were 741 murders in
Texas. About that time Phil Sheridan
made his historic remark that if he
owned hell and Texas, he would rent
out Texas and live in hell. The popu-
latiOn of the state is just three times
what it was in 1868. The number of
murders last year fell short of 400. In
1868 the sentiment was Let all guilty
men escape" Out of 17S indictments
for murder in twenty-three counties
there were eight convictions. Last
year the trials for murder reached 800,
and the convictions were 40.
Texas is improving. 1t took a long
time to get public sentiment right. and
to make the courts effective. Crime
had big start. But since the turning
point was passed the progress toward
law and order has been marvellous.
When John Z. HOXie came to Texas
to live. twenty years ago, one of tine
first things he did to identify himself
with the country was to join vigilance
committee. Mr.. HOXie is reputed to be
the largest individual taxpayer in the
state. He is several times millionaire.
His ancestors were QuakerS. His train
ing was all for peace. But such were
the conditions of society in that part of
Texas to which he moved from Illinois
he soon found himself at the head of
volunteer organization of his neighborS
to enforce morality by vigorous meas
ureS.
Mr.. H0xie went down to Galveston to
attend a public gathering. A com
munity of 10000 or $4,000 people was
TRYING n nl1Kr host n q orOxE6 81
or $4,000 strangers. Mr.. HOXie was late
in getting ia, and the clerk of the hotel
said in a somewhat dubious tone:
Mr.. HOXie, have to put yOn in
room with Mr.. Thompson, of Austin"
That's all right, Sir" said Mr.. HOXie.
The bell-bOy led the way up stairs,
opened the door and stepped back. Mr..
HOXie entered. A man Sprang up in a
sitting posture on the bed, as suddenly
as if he had been on springs. dropped
two revolvers, one in each hand, upon
Mr. HOXie and glared.
Lie down, my friend" said Mr..
HOXie. calmly. Ppm not going to trOu-
bic you. There's room enough here for
both of US"
The man with the pistols apolOgiZed,
with the remark that he had been sud-
denly aroused from sleep. And thus
! the millionaire from Illinois made the
acquaintance of Ben ThOmpSon,o OF Aus
! tin.
In the morning Mr.. HOXie arose first.
He made some noise in getting around
! the room. In an instant Thompson
was up in bed again, with his truSty
! pistols in hand.
'Oh, lie down and finish your Sleep"
! SAID Mr.. HOXie. Il could have shot
| three times while you were getting
ready, if I'd wanted to-"
| Mr.. Thompson explained that ne had
been up good deal recently, and ms
nerves were unsteady. He hoped that
! his fellow guest would excuse his bad
! breaks.
''What you want my friend" said
| MI. HoXie, soothingly and with Quaker
dellberation. lis gin cocktail about so
| high, s" indicating the tallest glass in
use, with plenty of orange and ice
in it,
Mr.. Thompson sighed and replied: 81
can't get up and dress yet; Pm too
| shaky"
Never mind" said the millionaire,
| and he went down stairs, had the cock
tail built under his personal supervision
and carried it back up stairs with his
own hands. Mr.. Thompson sat up in
bed without his pistols this time, and
from that day till he died with his
boots on in a San Antonio theater ne
was the friend of the Quaker vigilante