The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1904-10-14
TWO FATAL TRAGEDIES IN HOUSTON.
G.. W. Jones Killed by II. S. Swain The Two Others
Killed at a Farm House Near Town.

floor Of the Mason building, on the cor
ner of Main street and Rusk avenue
The victim was c. ". Jones, secreta-
ry Of the Houston Fire and Marine
Insurance Company, who was just
leaving his office on that floor at the
time. He was accompanied by A.
LeVillauX, young man who had been
in his office with him. Later in the
afternoon Hugh n. Swain, an att0r-
ney Of Polk avenue, was placed under
arrest charged with the killing. The
shooting was done at an hour when
there were perhaps fewer people on
the street than at any other time Of
the day, and hence the news spread
slowly and only a few people gath
cred up stairs where the shooting was
done. Those who arrived at first
found Jones on the floor Of the hall
on his back, arms stretched out, and
his head in a pool Of blood that
spread out upon the floor.
Justice of the Peace Matthews was
notified and was soon on the scene
to ascertain the cause Of death. After
viewing the body he made an examin.
alton and found that deceased had
been shot in the back of the head,
the bullet passing through the black
derby hot just above the band and
lodging behind the nose, where it was
later found. 1t either entered the
back Of the head and passed out at
the top or entered the top and passed
out behind, using the holes in the hat
to show.
Judge Matthews took the following
testimony of the only witness. A. Lee
yillauX, who said:
&C. w, Jones and | left the Office OF
the Houston Fire and Marine Insur-
ance Company, room IS, Mason
building, at 3 o'clock p. N. | went
into the hall first, waiting outside for
Mr.. Jones, who was closing the door.
After it was locked we started to 60
downstairs, and upon reaching the
front end of the hall | was a little
ahead, when | heard a shot, turned
around, and saw Mr.. Jones on the
floor, and also saw H. N. Swain stand
ing at the door Of his office, room No
429. | noticed some smoke coming
from the direction Of the office where
Swain stood. didn't see a pistol in
SWANS hand. He remained in his
office a short while, then came out
with his pistol in his hand, going
downstairs. Didn't know of any prior
trouble nor hear any words before the
shot"
The deceased came here from Mac.
ogdOches and was a member OF Mac
ogdocheS chapter of Masons. He had
lived for a time in Victoria, where he
was identified with a rice irrigation
plant. He was one Of the organizing
workers Of the Houston Fire and Ma
rine Insurance Company, Of which he
was secretary at the time Of his
death. He came here a few years
ago.
Major Swain, who Is charged with
the killing, is son of Col. w. ].
Swain, who at one time was controller
of the state Of Texas, and later
strong candidate for governor of Tex
as, and who is now president OF this
insurance company. 1t is learned that
the trouble grew out of their business
relations in their respective positions.
The truth OF this could not be verified.
But friends Of both parties are of this
belief, where they are we'll enough &C.
quanted The accused man is a ma
tive of Texas, being born in Henrietta,
Texas His early education was re-
ceived in this state. He entered West
Point in the '90s and was graduated
from that military institution. He was
a colonel in the Texas militia at one
time and went with a Texas regiment
to Cuba, where he served as a major
in the First Texas Regiment during
the war. He remained there several
months after the war, being among
the last of the volunteers who were
mustered out. Both he and his father
came to this city about two years ago
in connection with the establishment
Of the formers headquarters in this
city as president of the Houston Fire
and Marine Insurance Company, from
Austin, where they had lived many
years. He has many friends through.
out the state and is regarded as a