Daily Texarkana Democrat., 1893-02-08
SENSATIONAL STORY.
The Fort Worth Gazette Explains
The Timothy Huckins Affair.


The Timothy Huckins Affair.
Below we give another version of
the "Timothy Huckins" affair, from
the Fort Worth Gazette. The paper
makes no effort at reparation, as II
should have done, aud but tardy,
half way explanation and justification
of its first unblushing story. The fol-
lowing is from its yesterdays paper,
under the heading, "A Rich Story
On the 18th of January, the Gazette
published very pretty little story, of
a pathetic cast, showing that often
truth was stranger than fiction. The
story, with some detail, told of the
finding here, in a variety theater, of a
long lost daughter, and the joy of the
father, and all that. The names of the
actors in this little drama was given,
and they were the names the parties
actually gave to Ofitcers Judkins and
Farris, to both of whom, but particu-
larly the former, the story was told
The name of the restored daughter
was Emma Ray, and that of the over
joyed father was given by HIM as
Timothy Huckins of Texar-
kama There is another version of
that affair, that takes all of the pretty
romance out of it, and simply reduces
IL to the level of depravity.
For several days the pretended fa-
ther remained here about the date
given, and in that time the husband,
Hugh Ray, had his suspicious excited
by the actions of the "father," and this
led him to violently upbraid his wife,
and at last was the cause of his beat
ing her. She made complaint against
him, he was arrested on the 2lst of
January and fined OH the 28rd in jus
tice Kennedy's court. In default of
payment he was sent out on the coun-
ty road and has not yet worked out
his fine.
During his enforced absence, the
"daughter and father had no restraint
upon their affection for one another.
Timothy Huckins left, and this paper
got letter ofinquiry from gentleman
in Texarkana, who is the manager of
the Huckins House, asking for an ex-
planation Of the story. His name is
Joseph Huckins, and he wanted to
know who was claiming an interest in
his hotel. The source Of the romance
was given him, and he wrote this let
ter TO Officer Judkins:
IIuckins House, J. Huckins, propri-
etor; j. Huckins, Jr., manager.
Texarkana, Tex, Jan. 26, 1898.
Officer Judkins, TT. Worth, Tex:
Dear Sir--Kindly explain by return
mail why you should be the author Of
the article which appears In the Ga
zette of Jan. 18, which enclose here
with? Explain yourself. The clip
ping from our town paper will ex-
plain who ITuckins Of Texarkana, a
hotel keeper, is Return this entire
correspondence with your reply. |
am, yours, j. HUcKINs, JR.
The story, as used in this paper, was
vouched for by the officers, and there
not being, at the time nor for days af-
ter, when the injured husband, as he
claimed 10 be got into the row with
his wife, the least reason in the world
for questioning the accuracy OF the
representations Of the alleged father
and daughter, the officers gave the
story TO the press, as little romance
In real life of more than usual interest.
The man who represented himself
upon this occasion as Timothy Huck-
ms and the proprietor of hotel, etc,
was about 45 years of age, tall, well
made, well dressed, seemingly a man
of good social position ana Of some
culture, and there was no reasons at
all for the representations he made to
the officer, unless he thought 1t would
give him little more Importance