#december 1883

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Telephone Office Moved - Grand Masked Ball - A Deserving Case - Valuable Presents - Secured Considerable Plunder

29 DEC 1883. Austin Daily Statesman.

CITY MATTERS IN BRIEF.

The general telephone office has been moved to the Hancock building, up stairs. It was formerly in the Brueggerhoff building.

The preparations are now complete for the grand masked ball of the Austin Athletic Association, and if the weather is favorable, the event will be one of the most successful, from a social standpoint, of anything held in this city for a long time past.

Mr. Andrew V. Gustafson, of 605 East Bois d’Arc street, has been very unfortunate, and deserves help at the hands of our citizens. He has been paralyzed in the lower part of his body from the hips down, and is rendered helpless to make a living, and is without any means of support. We are satisfied his case is a most deserving one.

Mr. P.W. Barton and Miss Mary A. Young, colored, of this city, were married Thursday night, December 27, at 8 o’clock p.m., at the residence of the bride, Elder Swan officiating. Many valuable presents were received by the newly married couple. Among these were several from Mr. John Bremond, in whose store Barton has been employed as porter for sixteen years. The gifts presented by Mr. Bremond were one fine clock, one lamp and one chamber set. These, with the others presented by many friends, are estimated to be worth between $125 and $150.

Robbery.

Last night, or in the early hours of this morning burglars entered the saloon of Mr. John B. Neff and secured considerable plunder. The manner in which the burglary was committed was as follows: There is a flight of stairs leading into an upper room just at the side of the saloon, and at the foot of these stairs is a door cut through the partition into the saloon. The thief secreted himself in the stairway while the saloon and outside door to the stairway were being closed, and then, cutting the tin which was used instead of glass in the windows of the door leading to the saloon, he reached through the opening thus made, and slipping back the bolt that fastened the door, he opened the latter and walked in. He first went to the cigar stand in front of the saloon and took out several boxes of cigars. There is a door behind the bar, shutting out the forward part of the space behind the bar from the main part in the rear. The thief closed this door, and then went to the rear of the bar, where the money drawer is, opened it and took the contents. Next he turned his attention to an iron box which was riveted to a plank near the money drawer and in which the receipts which are taken in at night after the safe in locked, are kept. This, by means of a hatchet, he succeeded in tearing from the plank and carried it off with him. The total amount of his plunder amounted to eighty-eight dollars and drink checks amounting to about twelve more. During the entire time taken in consummating the robbery the lights were brightly burning, the thief being secured from view by the closed door behind the bar. As the police have been repeatedly notified that whenever this door was closed something must be wrong. The question arises, where was the patrolman? This is the second time the Iron Front has been burglarized in the same manner in a year. The new detective agency should be welcomed with delight in view of the large number of burglaries which have been perpetrated and not been detected of late.

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Stockmen’s Meeting - Make Their Hearts Grow Warmer

27 DEC 1883. Austin Daily Statesman.

CITY MATTERS IN BRIEF.

The mass meeting of the stockmen takes place here, remember, Saturday night, in the court house. Every business man in Austin, and farmer and stockman in the county should attend. Indeed, nearly every body in the community is more or less directly or indirectly interested in the question of fence cutting and other matters which will be brought up before the meeting.

A Magnanimous Citizen.

The prisoners in the county jail yesterday were in receipt of a Christmas treat of such a nature as to make their hearts grow warmer towards the world they are prone to think is hardened towards in their cold, cheerless cells. Mr. C. Lundberg, the Austin baker, was the one who visited the prisoners yesterday. He gave each of them, about fifty in number, a supply of cake, smoking and chewing tobacco, cigarettes, turkey, bread, etc. To show their appreciation, the prisoners all gave a lusty three cheers for Mr. Lundberg, which made the walls of the jail resound again and the corridors reverberate their vociferous gratitude. It was a kind act on the part of Mr. Lundberg, and one that was very commendable, indeed.

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Brief Trip - Put Him Off the Ferry

21 DEC 1883. Austin Daily Statesman.

CITY MATTERS IN BRIEF.

Hector Johnson, captain of the Austin City Rifles, a company composed of colored citizens of Austin, leaves today for a brief trip North. His company will be left in charge of Lieut. John Webb, so the secretary, F.W. West, informs us.

Henry Jackson, a colored man, for hitting Doc Stone, the ferry keeper, with a stone, was fined $5 and costs, by Judge Tegener, yesterday. Henry plead guilty to the charge, and said Mr. Stone put him off the ferry, and would not let him cross in the boat, though his friend offered to pay his fare for him. Mr. Stone doubtless had some other cause for his refusal to let him cross. Henry forded the river to get over.

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Clock Great Convenience - Mary Under Suspicion

20 DEC 1883. Austin Daily Statesman.

CITY MATTERS IN BRIEF.

The question of providing a tower clock for the graded school building is being discussed. The students should be assisted in some way by the citizens in the enterprise, as it will cost more than the students themselves are able to contribute and the clock will be a great convenience to that part of the city which is over-looked from the commanding site where the school stands.

Mary Morella was before Justice Tegener yesterday on a charge of having stolen $400 in money from Mr. A. Regzier, who keeps the New Orleans store, corner of Lavaca and West Pecan streets. Mr. R., in examining his accounts and counting his money, discovered that his cash was minus considerably what it should be and his suspicion resting upon Mary, who was in his employ, he got out a search warrant and $217 of the money was recovered from her. The money was stolen during the month. Mary, in default of bail, was sent to jail to await her trial before the district court.

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Toasts and Witty Responses

14 DEC 1883. Austin Daily Statesman.

The Siftings Banquet.

The proprietors of the Texas Siftings gave a banquet last night, over Simon’s cigar store, which was by far the most enjoyable event of the season. All the employees of the Siftings were present and the representatives of the several papers. A most elaborate supper was spread and wine and good cheer was the order of the evening. The Texas Siftings is about to remove its publication office to the city of New York, and before leaving the proprietors deemed it fitting to give a banquet to its compositors and editors -- and this was most royally done last night. The supper was gotten up by Mr. Simons, and there was served everything that the heart could wish. Toasts were drank and witty responses were made. The speeches of Messrs. Sweet & Knox were especially witty. The remarks of Mr. Johnston, of the Houston Post, were also very timely, and appropriate. All expressed regret that the publication of the Texas Siftings was to be removed from Texas to New York city, and it was the wish of all that the leading humorous paper of the United States would find as prosperous a field of operation in New York as it had found in Texas.

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For the Two Years Ensuing - Ben Now Navigating - Not For the Salary Paid - He Should Be the One - Austinites Keep Their Eyes Open

12 DEC 1883. Austin Daily Statesman.

CITY COUNCIL.

The motion to proceed to elect a city marshal was carried and the following names were placed in nomination: J.W. Moore, J.T.W. Loe, R. Platt, Ben Thompson, Ed. Rousseau, Ed. Creary, E. Measels, M.G. Barrow, John P. Kirk, Grooms Lee, S.O. Cloud.

On the first ballot G.W. Moore received 1 vote; J.T.W. Loe, 2; Grooms Lee, 6; Ed. Rouseau, 2; Ed. Creary, 1; E. Wessels, none; Ben Thompson, 3; R. Platt, 3; N.G. Barrow, none; J.P. Kirk, 2; S.O. Cloud, none.

The motion to drop the names of all candidates not receiving any votes was carried.

Second ballot -- Moore, 1; Loe, 1; Lee, 8; Rouseau, 3; Creary, 1; Thompson, 3; Platt, 3; Kirk 1.

Third ballot -- Loe, 2; Lee, 6; Rousseau, 4; Creary, 1; Thompson, 2; Platt, 3; Kirk, 2.

Fourth ballot -- G. Lee, 7; E. Rousseau, 2; Ed.Creary, 3; Ben Thompson, 2; E. Platt, 3; John P. Kirk, 4.

Fifth ballot -- Grooms Lee, 8; Ed. Rousseau, 3; Ben Thompson, 2; R. Platt, 4; J.P. Kirk, 2.

Sixth ballot -- Grooms Lee, 8; Ed. Rousseau, 3; Ben Thompson, 2; R. Platt, 4; J.P. Kirk, 2.

Seventh ballot -- Grooms Lee, 9; Ed. Rousseau, 4; R. Platt, 4; J.P. Kirk, 3; one alderman not voting.

Eighth ballot -- Grooms Lee, 8; Ed Rousseau, 5; R. Platt, 6; one alderman not voting.

Ninth ballot -- Grooms Lee, 19; R. Platt, 9; one alderman not voting.

Grooms Lee having received a majority of all votes cast, was declared by the mayor to be elected city marshal for the two years ensuing.

CITY MATTERS IN BRIEF.

Ben Thompson’s water velocipede is not navigating the Colorado at this point.

Smith Hornsby is now acting as jailer in place of Grooms Lee, who vacated the position for the city marshalship.

Mr. M. Smith has resigned his position as policeman. He thinks he can not afford to give his services longer for the salary paid.

Policeman Morris is a candidate for re-election. His friends say if a colored policeman is to be appointed he should be the one, as his past services better qualify him for the place.

Wm. Ryan, he says his name is, stole an overcoat from a “dummy” in front of Mr. Wolt’s store, and took it to the “Gem” saloon in the First ward and sold it. Capt. Chenneville was notified and he caught the young man just as he was getting on the train yesterday to leave town. The parties who bought the coat at the “Gem” got wind of the theft and hunted the thief up and forced him to give back the money before the young man was caught. He is supposed to be the same party who broke into the International ticket office and stole a valise Monday night and a “bull-dog” pistol. Capt. Cheneville found a portion of the contents of the valise on the banks of the river. He probably has “pals” in the city and it will be well for Austinites to keep their eyes open for a time.

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Steady Demand - Presented and Approved

11 DEC 1883. Austin Daily Statesman. 

CITY MATTERS IN BRIEF.

There is a steady demand in Austin for central city residences, homes of from four to eight rooms, with conveniences, renting at from $15 to $35 per month. The demand cannot be supplied, and consequently very many new comers, and old residents also, are looking out for lots near the business center on which to build. Desirable business lots near the business center are scarce and held at high figures, very many of them at unreasonable prices. In order to meet this demand the high plateau in front and east of the late Gov. Davis’ residence, in southeast Austin, has been purchased by two well-known citizens of Austin, and, through their agents, Messrs. E.W. Shands & Son, is being subdivided in large lots and will shortly be placed on the market at reasonable prices and terms.

City Council.

Alderman Maas suggested grave doubt as to election of marshal and moved that Mr. Lee be called upon to qualify. Upon this motion a discussion as to whether Mr. Lee was elected was had, this was withdrawn. Resolution was offered that the election of all the officers be ratified, this was withdrawn. It was moved by Alderman Platt that Groom Lee be declared elected. Carried. His bond was presented and approved.

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Makinson - Evidence Short and Sweet - Verdict of Guilty

9 DEC 1883. Austin Daily Statesman.

The Makinson Trial.

A jury was secured without a great deal of trouble, and the introduction of evidence began at once. Our readers are so familiar with all the facts in the case that we deem it uninteresting to again rehearse them by repetition of the evidence. 

Dr. Smoot related the facts of his robbery and identified the defendant by his voice and general appearance. Dr. Swearingen related his little experience with the young man and identified him in positive terms as the prisoner. The facts of the prisoner’s discovery and arrest, the finding of the stolen property, and the identification of the robber were all brought out in detail together with his contradictory statements, and of course a positive identification of the stolen property found upon him when arrested. The evidence was short and sweet. The promised alibi didn’t make connections and the evidence on the part of the defendant was confined to proving the juvenile character of the defendant, to the effect that he was but nineteen years of age and innocent and confiding. Both his father and mother so testified. Here the case rested. 

The district attorney, Mr. Sheeks, made a wonderfully clever and pointed argument. He made no attempt at oratory, but every word he uttered was said just right, and his analysis of the evidence was as systematic and logical as it could have been made. He was not lengthy, but when he closed there was nothing unsaid. On this trial Mr. Sheeks has proved himself a lawyer of excellent metal, for no case has been tried in the Travis court house more closely than he tried this one, and a Statesman representative heard compliments for him from many sources.

The argument of Capt. Peal was all that any man could do in such a case. He was indeed quite ingenious in the theory he put forth, and had there been sufficient evidence to have made it at all probable he would have stood a good chance before the jury. His argument was well constructed and logical, but his premises had such sickly evidence to stand on that his effort was ineffectual. The charge of Judge Walker was in his usual clear and strong language, and effectually defined the crime, the duty of the jury and the punishment to be inflicted. The jury went out above 5 o’clock last night and returned a verdict of guilty and five years in the penitentiary.