MILITARY AT HEMPSTEAD
THE JOHNSTON GUARDS ON DUTY AT THE COURT-HOUSE.
Serious Trouble May Be Precipitated at Any Moment — Excitement Concerning the Recent Tragedy — A Meeting of Citizens — The Signers.
Hempstead, Tex., May 21. — There is great excitement here concerning the late tragedy, and unless Governor Ross interferes, backed up by a strong force of military, serious trouble may be precipitated at any moment.
The county attorney and justice of the peace have requested the governor to order troops here. Adjutant=general King, in reply to a request for state rangers, replied that they could not be had at present. He will probably take other action at once, order state militia here.
A large meeting was held this evening, and a committee appointed to call a mass meeting. A committee called on
YOUR CORRESPONDENT
and requested that the proceedings of the meeting be published in The News as follows:
Resolved by the people of Waller county in meeting assembled, that the time has come in the history of this county when sober, deliberate and determined action on the part of her citizens is absolutely demanded, and to that tne we call upon all good to assemble in the city of Hempstead on Thursday, May 24, to take such steps as may be necessary and proper to put an end once and for all time to the
REIGN OF TERROR
and carnival of crime which now exists.
Resolved, that all persons present at this meeting, and in sympathy with this movement, sign this call and pledge themselves to the fullest extent to secure, at every personal sacrifice, the fullest attendance at said meeting.
Resolved, that a committee be appointed by the chair to provide a place for holding said meeting.
Resolved further, that the resolution with
THE SIGNERS ATTACHED
be published in The Galveston News. Signed by J. D. Denham, chairman; J. D. Montgomery, secretary; T. Johnson, W. J. Poole, C. D. Robinson, T. P. Cooke, J. M. Pinckney, Morris John, B. G. Smith, J. H. Morrison, S. S. McClellan, J. B. Willekens, J. J. Spencer, C. F. Shindler, J. L. Clark, R. H. Pinckney, J. F. Kirby, W. H. Armer, F. F. Whitesides, M. D. Denard, John Benford, F. M. Gibney, J. B. Day, J. Blasingame, A. T. Wallingford, E. Lacy, D. C. Singletary, H. P. Banknight, L. M. Banknight, Geo. Spencer, L. M. Moore, T. F. Moore, E. C. Oplewhite, Hugh Garrett, J. H. Smith, J. T. Matthews, T. B. Gable, J. A. Felker, E. Houser, T. S. Reese, J. H. Munn, John Ogg, E. J. Stiffnure, E. Jones, W. S. Smith, E. W. Dodd, C. S. McLenan, T. D. Pinckney, City Marshal G. W. Van Houten, J. D. Stevenson, Jr., D. S. Matthews, C. H. Wier, E. T. Pinckney, P. S. Clark, Jr., J. W. Hennington, Jas. D. Montgomery, T. G. Wallingsford, W. L. Hutchinson, W. H. Pennington, John Mills, W. A. Mandy, A. F. Smith, E. Crew, H. E. Davis, HughCook,(sic) W. J. Morgan, Ferd. Montgomery, William Garrett, J. A. Davis, R. C. Mattherw, Dan Woods, Jones Crook.
MILITARY ON DUTY.
Later. — The Johnston Guards are now on duty at the court-house under order of the sheriff confirmed by the governor. Adjutant General King will reach here at 4:30 in the morning and issue further orders.
There have been no threats of mobbing the prisoners, and the military preparations at the court house are unnecessary.
"Military at Hempstead", The Galveston Daily News., Tuesday, May 22, 1888, p. 1, col. 3.
University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History