#john bracken

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His Happy Deliverance - Suddenly Disappeared

25 APR 1886. Austin Daily Statesman.

DISTRICT COURT.

The trial of the Bracken case was again taken up yesterday morning, Col. Pendexter resuming his argument for the defense. Col. Sneed followed, concluding the defendant’s presentation of his case.

District Attorney Robertson concluded for the state. All the arguments were attentively listened to by the court, jury and bystanders, and at times the latter gave vent to their feelings in decorous demonstrations of applause. Under an able presentation of the law as applicable to the testimony by Judge Walker, the jury retired for deliberation about 1:30 p,m., and after an absence of perhaps twenty minutes, returned into court a verdict of “not guilty.” Though the verdict had been generally foreseen from the time the state finished its theory of the case, yet the friends of the indicted officer crowded around to congratulate him upon his happy deliverance.

LET JUSTICE REIGN.

James Phillips, Jr., heretofore mentioned as having been charged by indictment with the murder of his wife on the night before Christmas, 1885, has, it is said, suddenly disappeared from Austin. The officer having the capias reports that after diligent search he has been unable to ascertain his whereabouts. The details of this horrid crime are but too fresh in the minds of the Austin public. The spectacle of an innocent child bespattered with the blood and brains of its murdered mother, is enough to make the stones of the street cry out for vengeance. This is one of eight murders within twelve months, over which a dark mystery hangs, and trace of which is as completely lost to human sight as is the trace of the vessel over which the waters have closed. The whole city is interested in bringing the perpetrators of these diabolical crimes face to face with the law. If Mr. Phillips, upon trial, shall not be found guilty, the testimony adduced may point to the guilty one. There is a startling resemblance between these crimes, one which strongly suggests a common origin, and a common inspiration. The fiend of fiends who perpetrated these hellish crimes should be followed to the ends of the earth. “Let justice be done, though the heavens fall.”

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Still on Trial

23 APR 1886. Austin Daily Statesman.

DISTRICT COURT. 

Hon. A.S. Walker, judge; J.H. Roberson, district attorney; Jas. P. Hart, clerk. 

The case of the State vs. Bracken is still on trial in this court, with little prospect of its being given to the jury earlier than this afternoon. The afternoon of yesterday was consumed in the examination of witnesses for the defense. The number of spectators in attendance evinces the interest being taken in the case. District Attorney Robertson appears for the State and Messrs. Sneed, Pendexter and Burleson for the defense. Those familiar with the case will remember that a colored man named Hawkins is separately indicted for the same offense.

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Trial in Progress

22 APR 1886. Austin Daily Statesman.

DISTRICT COURT. 

Hon. A.S. Walker, judge; J.H. Robertson, district attorney; Jas. P. Hart, clerk. 

The case of John Bracken, a police officer, charged with the killing of a negro named Nathan Elgin, in February last, while, as is said, he was forcibly resisting arrest, was called yesterday. A jury was speedily impaneled, and the examination of witnesses begun, but had not been completed at adjournment. The trial still in progress, it is deemed improper to comment on the evidence.

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Down with the Measles - Old Landmark - Raising Pandemonium

9 FEB 1886. Austin Daily Statesman.

LOCAL SHORT STOPS.

The family mentioned as being in distress on East College street, in Sunday morning’s Statesman, are down with the measles, the gentleman, his wife and one child being sick. There are three other children who have not had the disease, and, of course, it more than likely that they will be sick. The family is eminently worthy of assistance, and yesterday the donations were quite liberal, buy they will need more, as the gentleman is quite ill, and it will be some time before he is able to resume work.

A HOUSE WITH A HISTORY. IT IS TO BE TORN AWAY TO MAKE ROOM FOR A NEW ONE.

On Bois d’Arc street, just in rear of the Statesman office, there stands an unpretentious, but venerable looking, frame building. Hundred of people pass and repass this building every day without giving it even a thought, but it is one of the few old landmarks of the city.

It was erected away back in the fifties, and it was here that Captain John Stringer, the genial host, and one of the oldest and best hotel men in the south, first opened up in Austin, and soon thereafter it became the favorite resort for the traveling public. Within this old house some of the most brilliant legal lights, and some of the most eminent men Texas ever had, have assembled to talk over grave state affairs, to gossip, and to tell jokes. It will be torn down in a few days to make room for the four-story brick to be erected by Mr. Nalle.

A SHOOTING. A COLORED MAN RESISTING ARREST IS SHOT. A HOWLING MIDNIGHT MOB IN MASONTOWN.

Last night, about midnight, a large crowd of negroes were assembled in the neighborhood of Dick Roger’s saloon, in Masontown just below the Central freight depot. There were men and women, and all were drinking and raising pandemonium.

Officer Bracken, hearing the tumult, proceeded to the locality, where he learned that a negro named Nathan Elgin, a cook for Simon’s restaurant, had knocked down and severely beaten a woman, after which he dragged her two blocks to a house. Officer Bracken determined to arrest him, as he was told Elgin had threatened to kill the woman. Calling Claibe Hawkins, a colored man, who was present, and who at one time was a special policeman, and Dick Rogers, the proprietor of the saloon, the three proceeded to the house where it was said Elgin had dragged the woman. 

On reaching it, they heard Elgin still beating her and swearing he intended to kill her. Officer Bracken remained on the outside while Hawkins and Rogers entered the house where, it is said, they found Elgin with the woman on the floor, kicking her terribly. The two men pulled him off, and in spite of some desperate thrusts with a knife, dragged him from the house and to the yard fence, he resisting with all the force possible. Officer Bracken stood at the fence and determined to put the nippers on him, and went to the house to get them. By this time the howling mob, which had been in front of the saloon, shouting and firing off pistols, had come up the road and surrounded the officer. Bracken, however, paid no attention to them, and getting his nippers proceeded to put them on Elgin, when he, Elgin, struck him a blow on the head that sent him spinning around and knocked him some five or six feet. He again assayed to approach Elgin, but as he did someone in the crowd fired a pistol, and Bracken, drawing his pistol, fired, the ball entering the side of Elgin, knocking him down. He was picked up and conveyed into the house, where Bracken remained with him until Dr. Cummings, whom he sent for, arrived, and then he proceeded to police headquarters, and reported what he had done. Dr. Cummings pronounced the wound a fatal one, and this morning it is more than probable Elgin is dead, the ball having lodged in his spine. From all that could be learned last night no blame is attached to the officer, and the only wonder is that he was not the first man shot. Elgin was drinking, and when in that condition is said to be a dangerous man. Bracken has been on the police force a long time, and is considered one of the coolest, most efficient and quiet officers on it.

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Police Not Against Students - Beer Jerker Said Coin No Good

17 APR 1885. Austin Daily Statesman.

THE OTHER SIDE. What a Policeman Has to Say in Regard to Late Arrests.

Policeman John Bracken writes a communication of some length to the Statesman, giving his side of the recent arrest of students for misbehavior at Scholz Garden. Officer Bracken must not feel aggrieved that his article is not published in full. To do so could scarcely serve any good purpose; but a few points are taken therefrom. He says the police entertain no such idea as banding themselves against the students, and adds, that so long as gentlemanly conduct is observed none of them will be molested. He remarks further, that the night following the disorder at the Hall, two men were arrested for carrying pistols, and fined for the same the following morning. One of them, it is asserted, was concerned in the previous disorder. Both have been temporarily suspended.

COUNTERFEIT COIN. Arrested for Trying to Pass a Spurious Piece of Money.

Wednesday night, a man hailing from Williamson County, was arrested in a first ward bagnio for attempting to work off a counterfeit $5 gold piece, which he offered in payment of some beer, that one of the dizzy females had persuaded him to “set up.”

The beer jerker, said the coin was “no good,” it wouldn’t ring at all and accordingly a couple of policemen nabbed the man who gave his name as J.A. Newling. He said he lived in Williamson County. They found on his person an extra big six-shooter, Colt’s make, 45 caliber, and over $400 in good money.

Yesterday morning, his honor the Recorder imposed a fine of $100 and costs, on account of the pistol, and he was then turned over to Deputy United States Marshal Tom Bailes. His preliminary trial for passing counterfeit money, will come up before Commissioner Ruggles this morning. 

Newling is not a bad-looking man, somewhere i the neighborhood of thirty, and denies all knowledge that the piece was counterfeit.