San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-03-20
the level Of the most abandoned

in the extreme and dangerous to
approach. Finally, one night she
made her escape from the institu-
ton, and wandered alone and lone
ly, not knowing or caring whittier
she went, until she reached a
| fourth rate hotel in this city.
There she secured a room, her old
passion came upon her, she ordered
drink and once more INDUCED in
most reckless debauch. But hui
man nature had been OVetaXed,
her shattered nerves and tortured
brain could no longer stand the
strain, and she died in the agony
OF delirium tremens, amid strang-
ers and unknown. Her body was
claimed and one bitter cold day
she was laid to her rest.
The fifth fatality that befell the
hapless family and pursued the
eldest son to an early grave was al
so directly traceable to the blight
ing hereditary faint impaired by
his murdered mother. He was
bright young man, and won high
honors among his classmates at
school. and finally entered the
State University at Columbia, UNI
der auspices which betokened a
brilliant collegiate career. He was
possessed OF a lovable disposition,
warm genial nature and a happy
demeanor that won friends for him
wherever he went. He had not
been in college long, however,
when the taste for strong drink
that had lain latent within him in
his schoolboy days became mani
fest, and soon he began a series Of
prolonged sprees. 1t was during
one of these that he met his death.
He fell from an upper window in
the University building, and was
picked up for dead on the hard
earth below, either dying instantly
or soon after his removal from the
college campus.
Two or three years after the
murder Of old Mrs. Doris by her
grandson, Tom Doris, husba nd of
the murdered woman and founder
of the st. Louis family Of that
name, died. Grief was one OF the
attendant causes OF his demise.
He left most of his forums to his
daughters, but to Thomas, his
youngest son who now lies dead at
San Antonio, he left a legacy suffi-
GENTLY large for the income to
support him during his natural
life. The money and property
were left for him in trust; so that
he could do no more than spend
the interest. Although there was
some dissatisfaction over the will
it was settled out Of court.
The Doris fortune was accumu-
lated largely in the slave trade be-
fore the war, when Capt. Tom Dor
ris was an active buyer and seller
Of Negroes. He was bluff, hearty
fellow, a lover Of strong drink, but
not marked by the faint Of dIpsO-
mania which wrecked his family
and brought his gray hair in sOr-
row TO the grave. He had mania
for speculation, and engaged in the
most risky ventures with the spirit
that imbues the gambler who
stakes his all on the turn of single
card. He was an inveterate poker
player, and has the distinction
OF having lost and won small
fortunes at a single hand. He is
said to have won what is still
known as the Doris row, on the
north side of Olive street, begin
ming at the corner of Eleventh and
extending as far west as the Strauss
Emerich establishment. He was
engaged in a game OF poker with
another wealthy st. Louisian, who
owned the property, and before the
game was finished the property
had changed hands, and is known
and pointed out now as the Doris
row, which was won and lost in a
game of draw.
Tom Doris was what was called
"game" man by the early settlers
here. He was never known to fear
any man, and yet he was not
bully or inclined to take advantage
Of his weaker fellows.
Like father, like son, Tom Dor
ris, Jr., grew to manhood, INDUCED
and petted, and with his every
wish and whim gratified. He in
herited his mothers passion for
liquor and his fathers failing for
cards. One morning while in the
| midst of a wild debauch he en-
tered a saloon on Market street,
near Sixth. Day was just dawn
ing, and the barkeeper had
| been outside. His name was
| Stahlein. As he passed Dor