#nathan elgin

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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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Clues Concealed, Mysteries Hidden Away

12 FEB 1886. Austin Daily Statesman.

A COLOSSAL STAR CHAMBER. 

What with the secret meeting of the capitol board, the inhibition to publish the proceedings of the Phillips trial, the star chamber inquest now in progress at Justice Purnell’s and the sealed verdicts at Justice Von Rosenberg’s and gracious only knows how many secret political meeting held yesterday, the blessed reporters had a time of it. Truly Austin just now appears to have resolved herself into a colossal star chamber wherein clues are carefully concealed and mysteries hidden away. There is a deal too much of the star chamber business, and if it is not speedily brought to an end, the people will be heard from. In the Phillips case possibly with large numbers of witnesses under the rule, and not in charge of an officer, the non-publication of the evidence may be eminently proper, but this inquest business being conducted with closed doors is, to place it mild, an outrage, and something that pertains solely to this city. A coroner has no legal right if the Statesman is correctly informed, to hold a secret inquest and exclude the public. It is a costly justice and the people have a right to know if the evidence is of sufficient importance for which to pay from $15 to $20 per day.

HE DIED.

The negro, Nathan Elgin, shot Monday night, died yesterday morning about 1 o’clock. A post mortem by Drs. Burt, Bragg and Fisher disclosed that the diagnosis made by Drs. Cummings and Graves was correct in every particular, the ball being found embedded in the vertebra. It penetrated to the center of it, and by some means turned and adjusted itself to the hollow, channel, or whatever the blessed doctors call it, through which the spinal cord passes. It was a perfect fit, and so out of the usual order of things that Dr. Burt, who has an inquiring turn of mind, took out the section of the bone in which it was embedded, and sawing and opening it so as to disclose the bullet, had it photographed.

Justice Von Rosenberg was notified of his death yesterday, but having the Phillips case on hand, turned over the inquest to Justice Purnell, who yesterday excluded the reporters and began the investigation of the case.

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For the Purpose of Outrage and Murder

10 FEB 1886. Austin Daily Statesman.

MONDAY NIGHT’S SHOOTING.

The negro Nathan Elgin, shot Monday night, was alive last night, but his physicians have very little hope of his final recovery. Drs. Cummings and Graves probed the wound yesterday, and ascertained that the ball had entered the spinal column, and was in such a position as to make it impossible to extract it. Elgin’s lower extremities are paralyzed.

It was learned yesterday that the woman he so unmercifully treated is quite young, and his object in dragging her off from the crowd, to a house several blocks away, is believed to have been for the purpose of outrage and perhaps murder.

There is also some doubt as to whose shot is was that sent a bullet into him. The wound, so it is said, appears to have been made by a 38-caliber, whereas, Officer Bracken’s is a 45. It is possible that the shot intended for the officer struck Elgin. Officer Bracken is nominally under arrest, of course, but was on duty last night. The universal sentiment, so far as heard, among both black and white, is that he is entirely blameless.

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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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Seeking Summer Resorts - Improvement in Every Direction - A Very Reprehensible Habit - Let the Slaughter Begin - Egg Festival - Firemanic Monument - The Advancement of the Noble Women - Prisoners Pray, Refuse Work - Threatened to Whip, Kill, Destroy - Teenage Adultery

16 JUN 1882. Austin Daily Statesman.

MATTERS BRIEFLY NOTED.

Some of our citizens are seeking summer resorts to the northward.

It is hardly possible to travel two blocks in any direction in Austin without noting improvements of some description.

The horse attached to the delivery wagon of the Chinese grocery man ran away yesterday. He was stopped before any damage was inflicted.

Some boys on East Pecan street have a very reprehensible habit of throwing plums at each other, much to the annoyance of persons on the street.

The Statesman desires to direct the attention of the alderman of the city, who will be in session Monday night, to the almost countless number of dogs running at large upon the streets. Let the slaughter begin at once.

Egg festivals are the latest. Each lady brings an egg with her name written upon it. These are deposited in a basket, and before supper they are passed around and each gentleman takes one, and the lady whose name he draws is his partner for supper.

AUSTIN WINS. The Firemanic Monument to be Located Here.

The following dispatch, from the chief of the Austin fire department, was received yesterday:  To the Editors Austin Statesman: Brenham, June 15 -- State fireman’s monument has been located at Austin by a unanimous vote. A. Zeller, Chief.

The proposed monument is to be erected in memory of the firemen of Texas who have fallen in the discharge of duty. The public spirited firemen of Austin put in a bid for the location, backed by the tender of a lot and four hundred dollars in money. It has been understood that the monument would be placed in the city cemetery, but there is a disposition to have it located in one of the public squares of the city. The Statesman regards the latter idea as best, not only because it will help to adorn one of our lovely parks, but also that it may be more readily seen and appreciated by the general public.

WOMEN’S EXCHANGE. THE FORMAL OPENING CELEBRATED WITH A GRAND CONCERT. Immense Throng of People and Enjoyable Occasion.

The formal opening of the women’s exchange took place last night, a very large crowd being in attendance. There were no formalities, more than those incident to the musical programme, and the vast throng of ladies and gentlemen enjoyed themselves ad libitum, by an examination of the elegant hall, in partaking of delicious ice cream and in listening to the really splendid music rendered by several of the foremost amateur artists of the city.

The hall is arranged as a store and the articles, which include nearly every conceivable product of woman’s handiwork, are tastily placed in positions most convenient to their exhibition. All of the articles now on exhibition are for sale, the association retaining a reasonable commission for effecting sales. These commissions go toward defraying the expenses of the exchange, and any lady who desires to profit by her industry can send articles there to be disposed of upon those terms. It will be seen that, by thus establishing a market for the fruits of woman’s industry, many can earn an honest livelihood with a great deal less drudgery than heretofore. And it should be borne in mind that this institution belongs to the women of Texas. All of them have an interest in it.

In the rear of the main hall, or sales department, is a private parlor or dressing room, elegantly fitted up and supplied with all of the conveniences incident to the toilet. Ladies visiting the city will always find a welcome here, and if strangers will be supplied with information desired with regard to the city and its business affairs. The exchange will be under control of a board of directors, with Mrs. Morris, a most excellent lady, in immediate charge. And now that the Exchange is fairly started, let our people show proper interest in this grand scheme for the advancement of the noble women of our state, the very conception of which, to say nothing of its successful inauguration, is no light honor to Austin.

SMALL DRIFT. Current Notes About the Lower Courts and Jails.

Some of the city prisoners refuse to work.

The prisoners in the city jail had a prayer meeting last night.

Nathan Elgin is a kind of bad citizen. He wrote a note to John Rainey, a colored deputy sheriff, and threatened to whip, destroy and kill the said officer on sight. Rainey thereupon swore out a complaint before Justice Gregg, and today Nathan will have to answer for his reckless and bloodthirsty assertions.

Ida Quintens and Albert Doyle were arraigned in Justice Tegener’s court yesterday upon a charge of adultery. The girl is about fourteen years of age, and the boy probably a year younger. Justice Tegener dismissed the case, because of there being no evidence to sustain the charge, and upon general principles. About a year ago, Ida, then about thirteen years old, married a full-grown negro, and, after living with him about a week left him and went back to her mother. The husband tried every means to get her back but failed, and at last brought the charge of adultery, and in addition has sued for a divorce.