The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-02-14
THAT OCCURRED in "llN CAN ALLEY
d Saturday Niaht--Stcry Of the
Crime as Told BY MoIIic Davis.
j. 6. BUrLHK HELD TO ANSWER
The CHARGE of Murdcr es Preferred
w w. n. Irvine, Cousin OF
the Deceased,

OF idle and Ioafing. and his SUBSEQUENT de-
tcntIon on the charge OF murder. sustained
nv a warrant issued last night by Justice 81
4 the Peace HILL were the chief develop
tnents In the murder OF John 7 Hurst AZ
his saloon, corner OF Preston avenue ana
Eighth street early yesterday morning
brief mention OF the crime was made IN
yesterdays Post. but the details were not
clear until after the breaking of the sab
bath day.
The warrant upon which Butler is held
was sworn to by w. II. irwin OF l'2O Mont
go.nery avenue, d cousin OF the dead man,
upon information furnished him. The de-
tectives found Butler in house on Eighth
street near the scene Of the crime. His ac-
lions had excited the. suspicious OF the OIL
GERS and they had him Swallowed" Butler
recently came from Tyler. Texas. and is 50
years Of age.
Last night he was ushored before chief
Of Police Helm, Deputy Chief O'Leary, De-
tectives Proctor and Ellison aud Sergeant
of Police Smith, seated in the chiefs Office.
aud asked TO make n statement of his
movements from Saturday at supper time
until sunday breakfast. The officers did
not tell Butler what he was charged with.
and he began his statement, which had
not gone far until he asked TO stoD AID be-
gin again. saying he had forgotten some
thing. In The second statement putler took
another route, saw different people. visited
other resorts than in his first que. He was
questioned for over an hour :fter which
Judge Hin was brought In. In making the
official inquiry he took Buffers statement.
which differed some from either Of those
made to Chief Helm and his officers. To
that one he made an oath. aud subscribed
his name.
Previous 10 the taking OF buffers state
meits, Chief Helm brought 10 The cfflce
the woman, Mollie Davis who slept IN tho
saloon Saturday night. and who aaw the
man standing at the door whom sho be-
lieyes delivered the blow that caused Hmst's
death, She looked at the accused for a
minute walked from one side 20 DE other.
and then turning to the chief said that she
was positive that the person who then stood
before her was the man who held the door
and looked back at fIursfs dead BODY. The
prisoner was placed in several ,liicrcnt po-
stions. and the woman nut TO Tho seyerest
tests. but her statement Was not shaken.
Yesterday morning Sergeant OF Police
Ray OF the day force in conjunction with
the detectives, took up the Investigation of
the murder and, in searching around tho
premises and tho immediate neighborhood.
he found huge coupling pin, covered with
fresh blood and hair. The hair was OF the
same shade as that OF the dead man The
weapon was lying within few steps OF the
Preston avenue bridge. in wagon rut, and
partially concealed 1t was taken to the
police station, where 1t Is kept In the pos
session of Chief Helm.
Among the first to arrive at Hurst )
saloon. after the murder had been tilseoy
cred, was Sergeant OF Police Smith of the
night force. He made a hurried exam
iration OF the building and dispatched q
courier for Deputy oIsury. who arrived
few minutes later. The building IL :,
one-story frame the front of which is in
Two rooms. The one to the left on the
corner OF Eighth street, is used for the
OAR and tho other serves the purpose OF a
vine room. The furniture OF the latter is
plain. OF few pieces. Several portraits
grace the walls and hooking bird la i,
cage, hanging by nail, furnished what
music the place ever had. small parIor
stove near the door, going between Che
Two front rooms threw out heat TO drive
away the nights chill. Tho rear IN N,
three apartments. The one back of The
wine room Is used for Kitchen and dlnine
purposes; the next u bed ROOM in which
inc DAVIS woman slept, and the other u
senerai Store room To so from the front
OF the house TO the residence norton mas
s,ge Is necessary through tho kitchen and
dining room. door leads from the latter
70 the rear OF the building on the bayou
side SNs -
When Sergeant Smith entered Hursts
eody laid upon the floor In the door be
!veen the saloon aud the wine room Blood
mad coursed In small streams over the
Icpr ana the man was gasping his last
y cash extending across the head nj the
base Of the brain told that Hurst had been
struck With q club. or. perhaps, tho dead,
coupling pin. Tho left Side OF his face
Vas bruised aud bloody. Tho abrasions 81
the skin had been received in the fail d,
oounf. some Of the fingers OF his right
hand We're crushed. which those Investigate
ing the case arc unable to account for
Saturday night there were only a few
gtragglers at the Hurst saloon, and the
& Davis woman retired at 10 o'cioes she
ras awakened between 1910 ANA i a. N.
~ Hurst coming into the room. INN, III
ateiy after which he went out agala ana
then tho woman heard rap or the h,r.
|. She dressed hurricdly and ran Into the
salonn. where negro purchased some ia
haeoo and left the place. 3af3,s Aho went
~ her room thore WAS anuther knock on