#may 1886

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Guilty of Murder - Crimes Yet Remain a Dark and Profound Mystery

30 MAY 1886. Austin Daily Statesman.

DISTRICT COURT.

In the Phillips case, the jury, after being out more than twenty-four hours, returned into court at 7:15 last night a verdict of guilty of murder in the second degree, and assessed his punishment at seven year’s confinement in the state penitentiary.

THE VERDICT.

Like every other decision of a jury, the verdict in the Phillips case, which was not unexpected, may not meet with universal commendation. But it is the deliberate judgement of twelve citizens of sound mind and discretion, who had before them all the evidence attainable, and therefore can claim popular acquiescence. Thus has one, at least, of the long list of murders in this city been fastened by a jury upon its alleged perpetrator. But what of the others? No clew has been found to the murderers of Mollie Smith, Eliza Shelley, Irene Cross, Mary Ramey, Grace Vance, or Mrs. Hancock. These crimes yet remain a dark and profound mystery.

Much of the evidence developed in the Phillips trial apparently tended to strengthen the theory of a large number of our citizens that these fearful assassinations were the work of different personages, and had their motive in jealousy, and the worst and most debased passions of our nature.

Yesterday’s verdict detaches so far as a jury could detach the murder of Mrs. Phillips from the others as a continuous chain of crime. But it does not destroy the theory of the identity of all the assassinations of women from Mollie Smith to Mrs. Hancock, nor the belief in a sole and solitary fiend, still unknown.

Mollie Smith, Eliza Shelley, Irene Cross, Mary Ramey, Grace Vance and Mrs. Hancock, were all dragged out into the yard or back premises. All these murders occurred about midnight, in a majority of instances on moonlight nights, and the same mysterious, utterly impenetrable silence, unbroken by sound or cry, reigned while the assassin was at his terrible work. In a majority of the murders -- notably Eliza Shelley, Mary Ramey and Mrs. Hancock -- a large, broad, naked track was left on the scene of the crime. Were these the footprints of the murderer ghoul, who is yet utterly inscrutable and wrapped in mystery? Let us hope that, as in the Phillips case, some solution may be found for this terrible problem of crime. We believe it will be.

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The Scene of Brilliancy

29 MAY 1886. Austin Daily Statesman.

LAWN PARTY.

Last evening the residence and spacious grounds of Mr. Eugene Bremond were the scene of brilliancy. The occasion was a lawn party given by Miss Lily Bremond to her friends, and was a most delightful affair. The guests dispersed themselves through the walks, and amused themselves in ways various and original.

The grounds are eminently suited for an entertainment of this kind, having many shaded nooks, rustic chairs and benches, swings, etc., offering tempting social opportunities for a quick chat to young man and maiden fair. No more charming hostess could be found than the one who did the honors last evening, and all of her guests would vote her the queen of entertainers.

The evening was delightfully cool and pleasant, a refeshing breeze, rustling the leaves of the swaying branches, toying in reckless glee with the tresses brown and fair and wooing with its gentle murmur to dreams of love and romance, that made up a fair garden peopled with the happiest spirits. The genial good humor was further heightened by a choice collection, of which all partook with hearty appetites, some heartier than others but all sufficiently hearty to relieve any of embarrassment who’s appetite was “more so” than the rest. The arrangements and illuminations of the grounds brought out wondering comments of all. From the “swaying branches” mentioned, swung numerous Japanese lanterns of many hues, and from the roof of the summer house a giant Jap served as a beacon to the “Jacob’s well,” where “ho, every one that thirsteth,” was the motto that promised and gave a refreshing drink to the thirsty soul. An invisible orchestra discoursed sweet melodies and attuned the tete-tetes to rippling music. Selah.

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Morbid Appetite for Scandal

26 MAY 1886. Austin Daily Statesman.

THE PHILLIPS CASE.

In the Phillips murder case, now on trial in the district court, some of the testimony adduced smirched the names of several prominent citizens, two of whom are state officers. The names given are withheld for the following reasons:

The deponent is engaged in the most meretricious of all callings, that of pandering to the most groveling passions of human nature, and for that reason comes into court under a cloud of suspicion.

There is now pending over the witness a criminal prosecution to be tempered, as she herself states, by the value of the testimony she gives in this case.

The testimony, true or false, has no bearing upon the guilt or innocence of James Phillips, and this is the sole issue upon which the jury is called to pass.

The testimony does not connect the names mentioned with any of the incidents or events of the night of December 24, when the murder occurred.

With this view of the testimony, it is believed no good can come of catering to a morbid appetite for scandal, for scandal’s sake, whether it be true or false. Were it seen that the ends of justice, or that any of the purposes for which a morality loving journal strives, could be served by the publication of the names, they would be given to the public without fear or favor.

In this connection it is due to Colonel Swain to state that his name has not been mentioned in any way whatever in connection with the case or any of the parties concerned.

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Jurors Summoned

25 MAY 1886. Austin Daily Statesman.

THE PHILLIPS TRIAL.

The Phillips case, the details of which are still fresh in the minds of Austin’s people, was put upon trial in the district court yesterday. The day, up to 3 p.m., was consumed in impaneling a jury. The original venire of sixty jurors summoned, was exhausted, with the result of obtaining nine jurors. An additional twenty were summoned out of which the remaining three were secured. The following are the names of the jurors: S.J. Redd, John Jordan, Austin Tice, Aaron Boyce, John Grumbles, James E. Smith, Al Overton, A.B. Palm, J.S. Jones, John Fleming, J.W. Beard and W.H. Price.

District Attorney Robertson and Taylor Moore, esq., represent the state, and Messrs. Walton, Hancock and Hamilton appear for the defendant.

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Jurors Summoned - Efforts to Raise Money - Emancipation Day Preparations - Looking Sleek, Fat and Happy

23 MAY 1886. Austin Daily Statesman.

RECENT NOTEWORTHY HAPPENINGS.

The case of the State vs. James Phillips, jr., is set for trial in the district court tomorrow. An order for a special venire of sixty jurors was issued, fifty-six of whom have been summoned.

The Mulberry street Methodist church will, at its morning service today, make an effort to raise a sum of money sufficient to make needed repairs upon the church edifice.

Texas emancipation day, the day upon which the military order declaring the manumission of slaves in the department of Texas was issued, falls of the 19th of June proximo. The various colored organizations of the city, it is understood, are preparing to commemorate the day in an appropriate manner.

NEW IMPROVEMENTS.

Mr. Monroe Miller, of the Eclipse stables, finding that he was somewhat crowded, and not wishing to turn away any of his customers, has added on twenty nice, large and airy box stalls, This gives him thirty new box stalls. He has now by far the largest and best appointed stables in the state, or in the south. Mr. Miller’s stables are clean and well ventilated. He keeps no feed in the building, consequently there is no danger of fire.

Taken all in all it is a very desirable place to board your horse. He has just received a large quantity of choice timothy hay from the north, and the horses in his stables are all looking sleek, fat and happy. It is unnecessary to inform the public that he keeps the finest horses, buggies, carriages, and the most complete assortment of undertakers goods in the state, as his establishment is well known all over the union.

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The Plot Failed

22 MAY 1886. Austin Daily Statesman.

SHOT AND KILLED. A CONVICT CONSPIRACY NIPPED IN THE BUD.

Early after dinner yesterday a break for liberty was made at the convict camp at the Oatmanville quarry, which resulted in the killing by the guards of a convict names James Hutton, lately sent up from Travis county for a term of five years. According to Hutton’s dying statement to Sergeant D.B. Boykin, in charge of the camp, a plot had been formed by twenty-one of the convicts to make a break immediately after returning to the quarry from dinner, but owing to a lack of concert of action the deceased was the only one to make the effort to regain his liberty. Immediately upon starting to run the guards called upon him to halt, and only when about to make good his escape did they open fire upon him, several of the guards fired simultaneously, and Hutton fell to the ground fairly riddled with bullets. Dr. Fisher was at once dispatched for, but the prisoner lived but a few minutes after the messenger started to town after the doctor. Hutton asked Sergeant Boykin to write to his mother about the manner of his death, and said he attached no blame to any one, unless it was to a fellow convict, Joe Sturtz, who planned the escape and then failed to run at the appointed time. It was fortunate for the neighborhood of Oatmanville that the plot failed, for the turning loose of twenty convicts among the hills and woods of that vicinity would have resulted, doubtless, in the loss of a number of horses belonging to farmers in that locality. Hutton was a young man of good address and quiet demeanor; while Sturtz, who planned the effort at escape, is a notorious character, one of the very worst convicts in the Oatmanville camp.

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Advantages of a Free Way

20 MAY 1886. Austin Daily Statesman.

AUSTIN UNTHROTTLED.

The immediate contracting parties, both those representing the county, and those acting for the bridge company, may now exchange congratulations with the public on the successful termination of the negotiations which pass ownership of the bridge over the Colorado river to the county of Travis. It would have been better for Austin, and the people who make it their market for buying and selling, if the necessity for the purchase had been earlier felt, and acted upon, for the flow of trade wears its channels, even as the rivers in the courses to the sea. 

The resulting advantages of a free way of passage over the Colorado will speedily demonstrate themselves. An increased trade, and an upward tendency in the real estate market will be among its earliest fruits. Luxurious suburban homes will dot the hills on the other side of the Colorado, and, in time, these will come under the corporate wing of Austin. 

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Provocation for the Assault - Simple Assault and Compounded Cussedness

14 MAY 1886. Austin Daily Statesman.

THE PHILLIPS - WHITE CASE.

The colored school girl, Louisa White, and her father, Fred White, were seen by a Statesman representative yesterday. They corroborate the statement of the matter made in Wednesday’s issue in every particular, the girl adding the following account of the origin of the difficulty: “There was to be,” said the girl, “a musical concert given in the school in which my sister and I were pupils, and of which Mr. Phillips was principal. I expressed a disinclination to take part in the exhibition, for reasons which my parents and I considered good, and I did not think I should be compelled to do so, as it was a matter not connected, in any way, with school duties, but his assistant ordered me out of the room, which order I was in the act of obeying when I met Mr. Phillips coming in at the door. he ordered me back into the room, telling me that I ‘had no raising, anyway;’ to which I answered, that ‘I guessed I had been about as well raised as he.’ This was all the provocation for the assault with a raw-hide.

“He struck me at least fifteen blows, seemingly put on with all his might. I sat and took it, making no resistance whatever. After the whipping he struck me two blows in the face with his fist, and then I asked him not to strike me. This was all I said during the awful punishment I received.”

The girl appears intelligent, giving prompt answers to all questions asked by County Attorney Barnhart, who was present during the narration. An affidavit has been made before the county attorney, and on information based upon it, charging aggravated assault, the defendant, Phillips, was arrested upon a warrant issuing out of the county court, and is now under a bond of $200.

RECENT NOTEWORTHY HAPPENINGS.

Without its weekly brawl, “Hard Man’s Hole” is not happy. Now, you must know that if every nook and corner of Christendom, or heathendom, for the matter of that, fairly earned its baptismal name, this same “hole” is entitled to all the honor the name implies. The latest is a carving muss, in which “Italian Jim” tried the edge of his jack-knife on Louis Webber’s shoulder. Louis wears his arm in a sling as his share of the fun, and “Italian Jim” works out a fine of $10 and costs studying the geological formation of Austin streets. After graduation he will take a post-graduate course in the district court. The matter will then be more serious than “simple assault” and compound cussedness.