The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1892-01-07
PURNELL'S CRIME.
SOME FURTHER TESTIMONY TAKEN IN
THE REEVES KILLING.
Mr.. C. C. Groce, Carpenter at the Asylum
Tells His Story of the Terrible Tragedy.
The Prisoner Still Confined
in Jail.

the streets yesterday was the terrible
tragedy enacted at the Lunatic Asy-
lum on Tuesday morning by which
Superintendent Reeves lost his life at
the hands of the mailman, Henry
Purnell.
While some few persons were heard
to remark that they believed Purnell
was of sound mind and should beheld
strictly accountable for his awful
crime, the prevailing sentiment seems
to be that it was simply the act Of 4
crazed man, whose mind had been
wrought to a high pitch Of excitement
by some imagined wrong done him.
PurnelI still remained in coniiue-
ment at the county Jail, and while he
talked pleasantly and apparently
nationally to all visitors, he still posi-
lively asserted that he was sane, but
refused to make any statements what
ever. While the matter has not yet
been finally determined, it is not
thought he will be given an eXamin-
ing trial, but that the testimony taken
at the inquest will he handed over to
the grand jury for their consideration.
In the meantime Purnell will be
strictly confined.
Judge Fisher was yesterday en-
gagged in examining witnesses and the
following is the testimony taken, the
first witness being Mr.. Z. G. Groce,
carpenter at the asylum. He says:
"My name is G.. G. Grace and am
employed at the State Lunatic Asy-
lum as carpenter and was holding
said position on the 10Th day Of De
cember, 1891. | knew Dr.. Reeves and
have known him since the 18th day
of February last, and have been in
his employment since June last. |
saw Henry Purnell on December 10Th
at the State Lunatic Asylum in the
main building in the hall about 1890,
and had seen him on two different
occasions on that day previous to
1890 in the superintendents Office
reading newspaper. | had gOneinto
tie Office to see the steward and Par
nell and DIR. Grant, a patient, were
seated in the Office together. | asked
Purnell ifhe had seen the steward.
He answered yes [ have seen him
and think he is upstairs in his ROOM
He had no gun in the office at that
time that | saw.
"Isaw DR.. Reeves repeatedly during
bA mn
where had been to work. The last
time saw DR.. Reeves alive was about
1925 p. m. on December 20. He was
at the central entrance to the gate to
the yard from the park. There were
some photographers there to take
views of the premises. The doctor
had notified me in the morning that
he would need my services about 1880
to assist the photographers in arrang-
ing their ladders. | went to the CEN
trail park entrance as directed by DR..
Reeves at the above time. | arrived
ut the gate, or central park entrance,
about 1925 and found DR.. Reeves
there. He told me to go and get some
assistance to arrange the ladders and
to see Mr.. Massey and tell him to give
me pair of blankets and then for me
to darken one of the rooms in the
as the photographers want
ed to change some of their plates, ana
also to tell Mr.. Fox that if he was
able, he wanted him to drive Mrs.
Reeves to town in the afternoon.
81 started Off to execute these
orders and DR.. Reeves stopped me
aud told me to get the help for the
ladders and he would see about the
blankets. / hurried on and was
about fifty yards in advance Of the
doctor when he started for the build
ing. When | arrived at the Office !
met Henry Purnell in the hail with
shotgun in his hand going towards
the water cooler. spoke to him, say
ing:
Henry, are you going shooting, or
cunning, this evening" q don't re-
which,. He replied: Il am
going cunning a little while
At the time of reply he had set the
gun against the wall by the cooler
and was drinking a glass of water. |
then went to the door of the first
ward and rung the bell. Mr.. Fryer
the call. asked him if he
was very busy. He said that he was
not and asked me what wanted. !
asked him to get his hat and come to
the front gate beyond the fountains.
He said he was ut my service, and |
then started back towards the front
entrance of the main building, and
Just as left the door of the first ward
Purnell was leaving the water cooler
with the gun in his hand, going TO-
wards the front entrance to
the main building. was
then about thirty feet behind
him (PurnelD and very near opposite
the Office door. Mr.. Maxwell was
standing inside of the Office at the
time the gun was fired. He rushed
out of the Office into the hall and
looked down the steps and remarked
to me: Run down there; Henry Pur-
nell has shot a man. He (MaXwel)
then went in the direction of the drug
store. | rushed down the steps and
found the body of DR.. Reeves lying on
the tagging to the left of the steps of
the main entrance. He gasped once
or twice for breath after got to him.
| then called for help. Mr.. Anderson,
the cook, McKenna and Mr.. Fryer
my call and assisted me in
the body to the parlor of
L 1 IL