The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-01-07

character and extent OF the Work Oh the
| lcaden missile.
They made critical investigation and
both unhcstatingly announced that Mr;
Jcrnignf could not live. The ball had
passed very close to the heart, possibly
barely missing it, and he was bleeding
| internally. The bullet entered about an
inch and n half below and little to the
left Of the left nipple, ranging through
| the lungs. r. :.
Mr.. .Jcrnigan doubtless intended for It
| TO pass through his heart and he said
to his friends near him. g., +.
81 thought it would be over with IN
minute" l.,
lie had but one arm the left, and he
fired the pistol, a 3S-calibrc Smith "
Wcsson, with his left hand. Inc pow
der burnt his vest and shirt ohly
few drops Of blood oozcd from the
wound A.
lie fired the shot about 9:45 and the
rcport of the pistol startled Collector
Thrasher and his son and Capt. Jack
Kirk who were in the collectors Office,
adjoining the treasury.
Capt. Kirk, who was near the door
lending into the trcasurers once
burriedly opened it and hastened 10
| "Dad" Jcrnigan, who was seated III ms
chair near the cash drawer OF his taDle,
with his head bowed over and resting
ON the table. On the table, near MS
head, lay the pistol
Capt. Kirk asked: an.
whats the matter, Dad. are you
hurt?
No response was made and apparently
dad" was dying. ,,
Capt Kirk and Collector lhrasher
then raised him up and placed INN on
an office table, while young Mr.. lhrashef
| bastcncd after the doctors.
After making him comfortable on the
table, Capt. Kirk asked:
"'Dnd.' do you know mcT
He signiiied he did by motion OF MS
head. -,
'Can | do anything for you"
He shook his head.
do Won want to make statement OF
any kind?" Capt. Kirk asked. :,
There was another shake of the head:
By this time DR.. Davis came in, ana
he was soon followed by Dr. Wooten.
dad" .Jcrnigan was spcechiess at
this time but was slowly recovering
from the shock caused by the terrible
wound and soon after the arrival OF the
doctors he recovered his faculties ana
could speak distinctly.
District Clerk Hart who had been
paving in taxes and was on the outside
of the counter in the collectors ONCE
when the short was fired, had hurried
TO the side of dad" Jcrnigan. Dad
smiled when he saw his friend and said:
elm. look after my family. want
TO die. don't want to live
He was evidently in great pain and
moancd and gaspcd for breath.
Some one suggested that drink OF
whisky bc given him.
Don't give me whisky" he said.
Mr.. Hart then asked if he wanted to
make n statement.
"Jim. take my books and accounts and
make Il thorough investigation was
the reply. 81 let Andrew George have
$500 TO help find the Mexican treasure,
Did you know what you were doing!
asked Mr.. Hart.
81 did or wouldn't have let INN nave
the money. | had confidence i'll the
treasure and in what he said
"Did Jim Bridgcrs get any money
from youF'
"Ycs; he got $50
Did Andrew George and Jim Bridgcrs
come TO you together to get money!
"No; they came alone. Sometimes one
would be in the office and then the other
Did you let any others have money
eyes. | let Ed Anderson have SllOO.
"Any others"
yes: you'll find the names and the
amounts they got in little book in the
safe. That was my private book ana
il has the entry of each amount let
Andrew George and the others have, to-
gcthcr with the dates
"How much did you let all OF them
haveY' ,, LII
show. It's in the safe and the door is
open. opened it so you could get ih'o
the safe
An examination showed that the safe
was unlocked and the doors partly open
At this stage of the conversation
dad" Jcrnigan was suffering so much
that an injection. of morphine was re-
sorted to. Again feeling better, Mt
Hart approached him.
"Jim, I've always looked upon you rs
my best friend" he said.
dad | have always been your
friend" replied Mr.. Hart; and then he
asked: did you take any receipts OF
notes for the money you let Andre"
George havef"
mo: | did not. just kept an ac'
count in the little book in the safe. Ii
contains the dates and the amounts,
Mr.. Hart again asked him how muccf
money jim Bridgcrs got, and the reply
was:
~ let him have $50"
Here the doctors suggested that 1ur'
Their talking was injurious, and Few
minutes afterwards Dad" Jernigan was
placed in a conveyance and carried home
THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
At a recent meeting the county com
missoners passed an order providing FOL
the making of quarterly examinations OF
the treasurcr's office. and yesterday
morning they met for the purpose OF
making the first, SO as to 20 into the
new year with everything in correct
shape.
dad" Jcrnigan, it is presumed. knew
that this investigation would bring |,
light $1,000 shortage and it was too much
for him and he took his life.
'l'ye given my friends so mucl
trouble" he said yesterday, that
thought would just place myself
where would never trouble then
again"
After Dads" removal home Judge
Walker locked the safe in the treasurer
office. and when the commissioners me-
ut = o'clock to examine its contents anc
look over the little book referred t,
by Dad" Jcrnigan they couldn't ge
into it. rs no one had the combination.
Col. George Assman was suggested, OF
course. aud he was hunted up and about
$50 last afternoon he was introduced
90 Tho two safes halnnpluu 10 the treas