The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 14, July 1910 - April, 1911 Page: 33

Reminiscences of Henry Smith.

as an officer. In order that he should have justice and to relieve
myself from the dilemma, I summoned twelve good and respectable
citizens as a jury of enquiry, in order that the testimony could be
made out. the testimony was examined-the proofs plain, and the
fact not denied. The jury retired and very soon served me with a
truly polite note, complimented me highly for my assiduity and
promptness in arresting and securing the prisoners, and concluded
with a notice that they had then no further use for my official
services-that I might consider the prisoners as arrested from my
charge, and that they would deal with them as, in justice, their
crimes merrited I could not resist the multitude and of course
was compelled to acquiesce. The jury very soon agreed in their
verdict and as good men generally will do, yielded to the calls of
mercy, as they were not willing to inflict death without a lawful
warrant, they substituted the lash. The culprits were taken to the
grave of the unfortunate who had been but recently burried, and
there tied and whipped by the jury by turns, until an attending
physitian said they had enough. They were then set across the
River, faced to the east, and ordered to leave the country forth-
with. they took up the line of march and I have not heard of them
since. As the ferryman was crossing them over the river, the
officer who had arrested them was in possession of the unfortunate
weapon, a kind of dirk, which had done the mischief-the bank
was crowded with people, and he threw it over the bank into the
river after them, and as from a kind of instinct, some twenty or
thirty followed the example and for ought I know, there was not
a dirk or dirk-knife in the possession of the bystanders that was
not committed to the deep. The balance of the party precipi-
tately dispersed and Brazoria had peace and quiet for a little sea-
son. I will here remark that no man probably has a greater re-
gard for law and order than myself, and none can more detest and
abhor arbitrary or mob laws as they may be termed, than I do, but
situated as we were at that time, necessity required it, and Iam
proud to say, with but few exceptions, that when that course has
been resorted to, that it has generally been managed with pru-
dence and discretion.
The government having determined to put the colonists to every
possible test, about this time, sent all the way from the City of