Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-05-15
PECULIAR CASE.

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mission, having sack with him, without
q saddle, sitting ON horseback In front
| Of the feed store. silently witnessing the
commotion around the jail, he was ar
rested by the sheriff.
| On the trial of the case. besides prov
| lug this abb by his associates who were
the best witnesses at his command, and
the only ones upon whom he could call,
by reason OF his circumstances In life,
10 establish his Whereabouts, he also
proved by two white men from West who
had known him long and well that he
bore good character In the community
where he lived. Not one OF his witnesses
was impeached, nor their veracity ques-
toned in any way. Their testimony In
many respects was strongly corroborated
by other witnesses In and around the
town. There was no proof or circuIn-
stance showing that he had either a knife
or pistol. He wore a white vest; did
not chew tobacco: nor had lie nay beard
at any time. The negro that committed
the deed wore a dark vest. had q fuzzy
mustache, had a pistol and knife und also
chewel tobacco. The deputy sheriff ar
rested a negro filling this description
much better tliln Bruce, aud lie had Il
knife and pistol on his person and was
wet and muddy up to his knees. He in
no way accounted for himself On see
Ing the approach Of the two men, this
wet negro ran and was arrested, He was
tho first one they put in Jail, and was
the one whom the excited citizens seemed
bent on executing at the time of the
defendants arrest. The defendant made
no attempt to flee, but seemed surprised
that they wanted him for ANY purpose.
So strong was the sheriff's opinion that
rlie first negro arrested and whose feet
and legs were muddy, and who was In
charge of pistol aud knife, and whom
the deputy thought filed the description.
was IN fact the criminal. that he kept
him in custody In the Jail Of another
county for over mouth after the Sher-
my opinion that the sheriff then thought
and now believes that the last described
negro was the guilty party. He was a
stranger in the community; was arrested
in an clubhouse about sun mp, and gave
no account Of himself. Bruce bore
good reputation; was surrounded by good
moral influences; was not shown to lave
been In possession of II knife or pistol
ut amy time; and the fact that he was
sitting quietly In the midst of large
crowd of white men seeking to avenge
the crime of rape on IN innocent girl,
while he had full opportunity of escape
ON horseback, conyinccs me that In his
heart he felt secure as an innocent man.
| am not prepared now to grant him
Il full pardon, but under all the circum-
stances will not permit his execution,
but shall spare his life and await future
developments. His sentence is therefore
commuted 70 life term In the state
penitcntary, and his transportation from
ELLIS county jail to that institution Is
therefore hereby ordered ], S. HOGG.
"(SinedD Governor"
Since committing the negro's sentence.
the fact of that communication not being
known, petitions for the same have COM
mcuced TO come into the governors office
and several communications have been
received stating that sentiment Is begin
ing to change. and there is general
belief in his innocence.
In giving out the facts this Sunday
morning to the reporters, the governor
snid he feels satisfied of the mans limo
cence and will look thoroughly into the
matter, to the end not only that an inno-
cent man may not be sacrificed. but that
the guilty may be hunted down and
puuishel