San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1894-05-25
OF last February 7. He was driv-
ing hack at the time.

OF last February 7. He was driv-
ing a hack at the time.
From all facts obtained, it seems
that Brown and Rhoda Harris, the
wife of the murdered man, were
on very intimate terms and that
Brown wanted to put Harris, out
of the way. He knew a man
named Alois Vidal, a Mexican,
about % years OF age, and got
him to engage Anderson Harris to
haul him. Vidal claims that Brown
told him he wanted the hack TO
take out "a couple OF women" and
that he wanted Harris particularly,
because he knew Harris would not
say anything to Browns wife about
the matter. Brown is a mar
ried man and the father of
two children. He is known
to have treated his wife
very cruelty. Vidal claims also
that he knew nothing, whatever, Of
Browns intentions, excepting that
he wanted the hack to take out
some women. The hack was en-
gagged and Vidal entered 1T. He
was told to have Harris drive sew
eraI miles south of the city,
which he did. On being about
three miles out of town some one
hallooed at Harris, and as Harris
started to turn to the right "a shot
was fired, followed Immediately by
two more. Two shots took effect
and proved fatal. Brown claims
Vidal did the shooting and Vidal
claims that Brown fired the shots.
Vidal testified that he was riding
in the hack when he heard someone
halloo and Immediately after heard
the shots fired. He says Harris
arose in his seat and turning
around asked, "Brown, what have
| ever done to you to be treated
that wayw after which he fell
over the dashboard. When found
his feet were caught under the seat
and his head was hanging down
Browns statement is that he
instructed Vidal to fire when
he BROWN gave a signal
by hallooing to Harris. He
says as he did so, Vidal fired on
Harris from inside the hack. Vidal,
who was also tried for murder, was
acquitted. Brown refused to make
statement, and the state had no
other witnesses. Brown says his rea-
son for not making statement in
theVidal trial was that he had made
a statement when he (Brown) was
tried and he did not think it nee
essary to make another. Harris
wife, RhOda, is also indicted,
charged with being an accessory
to the crime. Her case is set for
this term of court. Harris was one
Of the most popular colored citi-
zens of San Antonio and liked by
everyone, both white and black.
His features were not OF the ordi-
nary negro type and he had often
been mistaken for white man.
His wife's complexion is also very
light. They have two daughters,
who are fairly good looking and
also very light in color. Aus
tin Brown, the doomed man,
has the appearance Of a
full-blooded negro, large mouth
and thick lips, although his nose
is not so fiat as the typical Negroes,
and he has very large hands and
feet. He weighs about 1875 pounds
and stands about six feet and two
inches in his stocking feet. He is
80 years OF age.
AGEORGIA EXECUTION.
81 saw three Negro murderers
hung at one time, some years ago,
in Georgia." said Mr.. G. B. Mullaly
yesterday, to a LIGHT reporter.
"They had killed an old man for
the purpose OF afterward robbing
his small country store, which they
did, one was captured and he gave
the rest away. When their execu-
ton approached two became
Catholics, the third embraced the
Baptist faith. | remember it well,
for | was one Of an audience OF
perhaps 10000 who paid 30 cents
for a seat in an amphitheatre rude
ly arranged by keen speculator
who got the privilege Of putting
up the benches, for the hanging
was public. When the execution
was ready, the Baptist minister
had his man thoroughly coached,
while the priest was taking care
of his two converts. The Baptist
fellow suddenly began to shout
and the fun began when the two
catholics could stand it no longer
and Joined in the chorus and
shouted until thew were in a per-