Galveson, April 9 - A special to the News, from Austin, dated yesterday, says that last night, about dark, the stage carrying the United States mail and eleven passengers, of whom three were ladies, was stopped about twenty-three miles from here, by three armed men, who cut the front horses out, took all the passengers' money and jewelry, broke open their trunks and sacked the mail bags, taking off one of them and two of the stage-horses.  Among the passengers were Bishop Gregg and Mr. Breckenridge, president of the national bank of San Antonio, from whom they took one thousand dollars.  They secured three thousand dollars from the passengers.  The stage was the regular four-horse stage from San Antonio to Austin, and did not reach Austin until 4 o'clock this morning.   A reward of seven thousand dollars has been offered for the arrest of the Austin stage-robbers.  Ferera Ardazol, and Italian and captain of the sloop New Louisiana, entered the residence of a man named Jett, living three miles from Orange, Texas, during Jett's absence and murdered Mrs. Jett and two children.  A daughter nearly grown escaped and gave the alarm, to a Mr. Lyons and other neighbors who hastened to the scene of the murder, where they found Ardazol trying to burn the bodies and thus conceal the evidence of his crime.  He was at once arrested and committed to jail.  Later - Last night, soon after the sheriff entered the jail to serve the prisoners with supper, a crowd of armed men rushed into the building, overpowered the officer and took Ardazol, the murderer of the Jett family, from the prison and literally riddled him with bullets. [submitted by Barbara Ziegenmeyer]

Galveston July 22, 1914

Girl Victim of Murder on Galveston Beach is Wife of Cleburne Man  - Developments of the last few hours indicate that the young woman found murdered on Denver beach early yesterday morning was Mrs. George Hopper, whose husband is believed to be in Cleburne, Texas.  Mrs. Hopper has been a resident of Galveston for several months and last winter she and her husband has occupied rooms at 913 Twenty-first street and also at 613 Twenty-first street.  Mr. and Mrs. T. Keelen, who lived at the last address, at the same time the Hoppers did, are confident that the dead woman is Mrs. Hopper.  The investigation on the theory the murder victim is Mrs. Hopper is being vigorously pushed.  Ernest B. Hopper, a brother of George Hopper, is said to be living in Trinity, Texas.  Ernest are being made to get from him definite information regarding the whereabouts of his brother. 

Oak Cliff Woman Will Examine Corpse More Closely; Reports of Several Quarrels Received by Police are Discredited; Circumstances of Crime are Still Deep Mystery - Dallas relatives do not believe the body of the murdered woman found on the Galveston beach yesterday to be that of Mrs. Alma Johnston of this city.  Mrs. George W. Hilltop of Oak Cliff late last night identified the body as that of Mrs. Johnston, the wife of Zone Johnston, a Dallas carpenter.  Relatives of Mrs. Johnston today, however, declared that they were positive that that murdered woman was not Mrs. Johnston.  There are several points in the identification that do not coincide and a post card received here today indicates Mrs. Hilltop possibly was mistaken in her identification.  This card was stamped "Galveston at 1pm Monday".  It read:  "The fact that my daughter's eyes were brown, not blue or gray and that she was nearly 35 years of age, convince me they are mistaken", said Mrs. M. C. Kinchen, Mrs. Johnston's mother.  "Besides this, I cannot find any motive for such a deed and connect her with it".  "The description of her clothing does not in any way compare with Alma's though she did plan to make many purchases after reaching Galveston, and could have obtained there the things such as the murdered woman wore.  Mr. and Mrs. Johnston had their two children with them" the mother declared.  "They were traveling with Lewis Bollinger and his family and the father of Mr. Johnston.  Nothing has been said of them.  If Almas had been killed, they would never have left Galveston without some message to us,"

In reply to a query from the Dallas Times-Herald, W. H. Perrett, chief of police of Galveston, today gave the following description of the murdered woman found on the beach of that city Tuesday morning.  It differs from the description of Mrs. Z. H. Johnston of Dallas:  "Lady found on beach has no gold teeth in front, height about 5 feet 4 inches, weight about 110 pounds.  Has four large teeth in front."  Mrs. Johnston has one gold-filled tooth in front and weighed at least fifteen pounds more than the estimate of the police chief.  She was also slightly taller, according to acquaintances here.  Friends of Mrs. Alma Johnston here today said that Mrs. Johnston was not a Catholic and if it was her body found at Galveston, they are unable to account for the finding of the scapula with it.

With an uncertain identification of the woman found murdered on Denver beach yesterday morning as Mrs. Alma Johnston of Dallas, search was begun between here and Dallas today for Zone Johnston, the husband and the family with who the Johnston's had been camping.  Camp was broken up Monday and the campers are supposed to be on their way back to Dallas by automobile.  The identification was made after midnight last night by Mrs. George Hillpost of Oak Cliff, Dallas; and she is to make a positive examination this afternoon.  The police have not however, ceased their efforts on the strength of the identification, although it is now felt certain that the body is that of a woman visiting Galveston from some other city.  Mrs. Hillpost fainted when she saw the dead woman and was in such a nervous state when restored to consciousness that she could not make a minute examination of the woman or her clothing.  It has been learned that Mrs. Johnston and her family had been camping on the beach for several days and were supposed to have started for Dallas in an automobile some time Monday.  Developments in the circumstances are awaited with a great deal of interest by the authorities.  Investigations of officers city and count, conducted during yesterday and last night have developed no tangible clews as to the identity of the murderer of the young woman.  Any number of stores of quarrels heard along the Gulf shore were received, and upon investigation found to have no bearing upon the case.  From one resort well down the island comes the story of a man and woman who drove up in an automobile.  The man made arrangements for accommodations and the woman refused to leave the car.  A violent quarrel ensued, says this report and couple left the place. 

As the investigation proceeds the authorities are becoming convinced that the woman was murdered at some other place than where the body was discovered  The body was found lying face down with the arms extended and the theory is that the murder occurred further down the beach and that the body was later thrown, either into the Gulf and was washed ashore or was tossed onto the beach.  The police took one man into custody last night upon a report of his having been engaged in a quarrel with a woman Monday night.  Investigation disclosed that this woman was at home and unharmed and the man was released. 

C. H. McTeren, a resident of this city and a brother of Mrs. Hillpost today told the police that he was convinced that his sister's identification of the dead woman was correct.  He said that he had known Mrs. Johnston for many years and that with her husband and two small children she had spent several weeks here.  Mrs. Johnston's husband is said to be Zone Johnston of Dallas.  McTeren says that it was the understanding of friends here that the Johnston's had started for Dallas Monday and they have heard nothing further from them.  Thus far efforts to locate the Johnston automobile party have been without success, though the search has been extended to other cities of the sate and especially in Houston.

QUITE YOUTHFUL - An Elopement Prevented by the Timely Interference of an Officer - The Pair Prominently Connected at Galveston.   Special to the Fort Worth Gazette
Galveston, Tex., April 2, A youthful elopement was nipped in the bud this afternoon by the timely action of officer John Mealy, who identified the couple at the Union depot after they had purchased their tickets for Houston, where they expected to have the nuptial ceremony performed. The youthful would-be bride is only fourteen years old, while the would-be groom lacks a few years of his majority.  The maiden is an attendant of the Ball high school and daughter of an estimable widow residing in the West End.  The youth is a student at the Galveston medical college and son of a prominent physician of this city. He met the girl at the close of school and hurried with her to the depot, but the younger sister, divining something was wrong followed with a large portion of the school and implored her sister to return home. Not succeeding, she appealed to Officer Mealy, explained the situation and he sent the youthful couple to their respective homes which are much broken up over the foolishness of their children.
 

[submitted by Barbara Ziegenmeyer]
Galveston News Feb. 20, 1917
RUN DOWN BY AUTO DIES IN HOSPITAL
W.A. (William Alfred) Guyton is Struck By Car Near Oyster Farm On Causeway Road W.A. Guyton, president of the Texas and Gulf Steamship Company, was run down and fatally injured by an automobile near John's Oyster Farm, on the interurban road, last night shortly before 10 o'clock. He was taken to the Sealy Hospital, where he died about an hour later. The names of the occupants of the car by which Mr. Guyton, was killed had not been learned last night. The company with L.G.Good an oil man of Shreveport, La., Mr. Guyton was returning from a trip to inspect some property in Brazoria County. A short distance east of the oyster resorts they were hailed by a party of motorists whose car had gone in the ditch. Mr. Good said he stopped the car and Mr. Guyton got out and was crossing the road to ask what was wanted, when a third automobile, traveling west, struck and knocked him down.  "They started to stop and then seeing Mr. Guyton, lying in the roadway they hurried on." said Mr. Good. "I was unable to see the number of the machine. It was a heavy  touring car and was occupied by several men and women. Mr. Good said the machine was traveling at a comparatively fast rate.  He placed Mr. Guyton in another car that came up shortly after the accident and took him to the  Sealy Hospital. Examination showed that his skull was fractured at the base of the brain. He died at 10:50 p.m. without recovering consciousness. The police were notified and, although a search was being made for the machine, no clue has been discovered early this morning.
Mr. Guyton was 49 years old and a native of Kentucky. He had lived in Galveston for about 25 years. He is survived by his wife, three sons, James, Francis and Paul,  and three daughters, Mary, Margaret and Olive; his father James Guyton of Dallas; two brothers, J.R. (James Richard) Guyton of Galveston and John Guyton of Louisana, and  three sisters, Misses Kate and Sue Guyton of Dallas and Mrs. R.S. (Robert Sidney) Smith of Galveston. In addition to his interests is the Texas and Gulf Steamship Company, Mr. Guyton was president of Hansons Sons, contractors; and was agent for the fuel oil department  of the Gulf Refining Company. He was a member of the local council Knights of Columbus. Funeral arrangements had not been completed last night.
 

[submitted by Barbara Ziegenmeyer]
Galveston News Feb. 22, 1917
DRIVER'S IDENTITY UNKNOWN
Police Chief Says Department Has No More Information Now Than When Notified Of Guyton Accident
"We know no more now about the identity of the occupants of the car which ran down W.A. (William Alfred) Guyton Tuesday night then we did when we first learned of the accident." said Chief of Police William J. Sedgwick yesterday afternoon. The statement was made after two of the department men has spent had spent Thursday in Houston, trailing down several clues but, according to the chief, none produced evidence on whch anyone could be charged with the crime. Sheriff Henry Thomas said yesterday that he had also uncovered nothing which would aid to solving the mystery, but is still making an attempt to find the driver of the car which was in trouble and to whose aid Mr. Guyton was going when struck by the speeding car. "It is a misfortune which is regretted very much that we were not notified of the accident in time to catch the parties before they had time to reach Houston, their evident  destination," said Chief of Police Sedgwick. "If we had been informed of the accident immediately, we could have got in connection with the police between here and there, and the
driver would have been caught before they had time to reach Houston. Every effort is being made by my men, with the co-operation of the Houston department."  To eliminate the recurrence of just such an accident, Chief Sedgwick suggests that "some way be found by placing two policemen between the city limits and the causeway,
to prevent speeding, the direct cause of so many tragedies. I have no authority, nor enough men in my department to place policemen there, but I feel that in the interest of the safety  of the taxpaying citizens some method should be taken of preventing speeding automobiles from speeding ruthlessly, as is so common down the island.
"It is logical for the policemen to be paid by popular subscription." If the automobile owners of the city will donate a small sum each month, the necessary protection can be secured. I myself with open the subscription with $1.00."
 

submitted by Dena Whitesell

Flake's Bulletin August 10 1870
Sudden Death - A colored woman of the name of Emma Jones, though usually called French Louisa, died last
night in the city jail, and after an inquest had been held this morning by Justice Johnson, was buried therefrom. The following is the testimony elicited at the inquest: At a Coroner's inquest held by R. D. Johnson, Justice of the Peace, and six lawful jurymen, as follows, to-wit: W. Summers, E. P. Lipman, L. Crawford, E. Sanderson, F. Rourke and W. Graham.  Lucy, a colored woman, was duly sworn and testified that the deceased was put into the same cell with witness in the jail of Galveston, on the 5th of August; that she was well so far as witness knows; she slept near her in the cell, and when she (witness) got up in the morning of the 6th of August, she attempted
to wake Emma up, but found her to be dead; heard her make no complaints through the night. Isaac Hersey, after being sworn said: First saw the deceased in the Police office; she was arrested under a warrant; she remained at the office five or six hours; I was then ordered to take her to jail, which I did; she was well so far as I knew; I left her at the jail between four and five o'clock on the day of August 5th. The jury came to the following verdict:
That the decreased came to her death from causes unknown. Signed by the Coroner and all the jurymen.

Criminal Court, before the Hon. S. Dodge, August 6 -
The court met soon after nine o'clock this morning, when the jury in the Cavanaugh case came into court,
and after going through the usual formalities presented their verdict, which was to the effect that they found the defendant "guilty of manslaughter," and assessed the punishment at five years imprisonment in the State penitentiary. The counsel to the defendant gave notice that they would move for a new trial or arrest of judgment, we hardly understood which, which will be heard or rather the motion formally made and heard at four p.m. this evening. The verdict seemed to be much felt by the defendant and to surprise his counsel. The jury was discharged for the term and before separating offered their thanks to the Judge and officers of the court for the courtesy they had experienced from those gentleman. Mr. D. S. Russell, on behalf of the District Attorney, entered, by leave of the court, a nol. pros. in each of the following cases: State vs. Henry Clay; State vs. Henry Johnson; State vs. Leona Dago; State vs. F. Balamer; State vs. Gus. Ewing, two cases, and State vs. L. Psaylor; also moved this court to dismiss the indictment against Maggie Mitchell, which motion was by the court sustained.

The funeral of Col. Romaine, of the Revenue service, was largely attended. The deceased was buried with
Masonic honors. The burial casket furnished by Father Allen is said to be the most elaborate and expensive
ever used in Galveston. It was heavy mounted with silver. The inside was finished with white satin and ? fringe and tassels.