The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-06-29
FROM OUT OF THE PAST.
Arrest Made at BRENNAN for Crime
Committed in 1874.
THEDEFENDANT WAS CONVICTED IN 1875
Three Years Later He Walked Away
from Penitentiary--Since Then He
Has Lived Near His Old Home.

Brenham Texas, June 2s.--John Williams
alias Prince Hin was lodged In the county
jai' of Washington county, at this place,
Thursday night. by Deputy Sheriff Sam
Bc'Jou to Grabal In the fall OF 1874, ia
Washington precinct, Washington county.
Prince Hin was a tenant on Mr.. b. Bald.
wins place. AS a result OF some trouble
over a gin Owen Fielder was killed. Hill
finally decided 10 surrender aud stand trial
on the charge OF murder. He was indicted
ard tried at the fall term Of the district
court of Washington county, September y,
1870 and received his sentence October
9, 1910 Judge / b. Mcfarland was DIS.
/ trict Judge al the time, and the district
was the rwentynlnth judicial district In.
stead of the rwentyfrst. Jessie Goss was
| lna ulstIlcl attorney, aud the Jury ihut
| convicted Prince Hi was composed or
MrssrS. w. 7. Harris, W. Il. Kay, Moses
Balm, j. 7, Embry, Morris Barber, j 4.
| SmGitIer J, g. Sloan, j. w. Bowers, J.
hill aud John Gilmore.
After mis- sentence to twenty years In
me penitentlary he was taken 10 Hurts
! VIE, whore he remained for about three
| years. Being q cripple, he was kept III
me wallis aud he noticed that they We're
/ Not guarding him very closely.
ohe rainy evening he was put on the
! outside to put some wood through a hole
| back of the engine house, ana decided TO
| leave He walked on unobseryed and made
| straight FOR nome The rain prevented the
! authorities from tracing him or following
/ WIFI dogs
| ne stopped at Mr. Jack Portes' place. in
! Burleson county, on ihe Brazos where he
! secured work within twenty or thirty miles
! ot MS former home There he gave MS
| name as John Williams lie soon gained
! tue confidence OF Mr.. Porles aud never
| proved recreant To- the trust reposed In
I htG.. Here 40 remained unmOIested for
/ about two years. He Conrted and mar
| ried comely maiden Of that nelghhorhood
Hnd to them have been born SIX children
| tho oldest Of which Is now grown man
NuN the youngest hut 7 months old JOnn
! Williams WAS continuous resident on
/ The Portes farm for twenty-five years,
ana during that time lived an exemplary
| NE that gained for him the condolences und
/ friendship Of those with whom he came
! in contact He took lively interest ~
! politics, welded considerable influence in
/ thui section, and was noted for his hon
/ estT helping az one time to capture 4
] morse thief, aud going 10 Bryan, where
! no appeared as a witness. He made fire..
! qlient plgrlmnEes to caldwell. Bryan
/ heatne and twice during his soj0uru there
/ came on visit TO his old home In Wash
/ lnStou county. In an those places where
( ne was frequent visitor he was welt
hnown as John Williams
! Ihere was no reward oucred for him
! except the standing reward OF SO that
the state pays for the capture of anyone
escaped from the pcuitcutiary. The or
nCtr who made the arrest has known OF
his whereabouts for some time, but II WAS
( not until Thursday, when he went 10 the
4 Iortes farm, that he had ever come face 10
race with Tue prisoner, VINO did not resist
the officer hut readily admitted chat ne
iS7i. ' ' "''e' V'''" 'e'''e' u
He now lives in the hope that Mr. Portes
VIII secure for him q pardon, He very
Chetrluliy gave q reporter details of his
case and his life since his escape from the
pehltentluTy,