JUSTICE IN TEXAS.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4473, 7 May 1883, Page 3

JUSTICE IN TEXAS.

it is painful to learn from a recent leader in our powerful contemporary, the Brownsville (Texas) " Ranchero," that Mr Abraham J. Watkins, late of Selma, Ala., has got himself into trouble. It appears that Mr Watkins inserted him- , self into Brownsville society soraewhut over two years ago ss a steam printer, in which vaporous capacity he accumulated several hundred Mexican dollars, aided perhaps by an occasional dip into the favourite Inoal employment known as draw poker. Having then provided himself with a slouch hat, a hymn-book, a mustang, and a revolver, be embarked as a travelling

revivalist, and waked up the border to an extent of Baptist enthusiasm un-

known in that section before. Mr Watkins'

method in this good work was singularly - ingenious and fetching, for when pious exhortation failed to draw a sinner from - fleshly pleasures he deprived him of-the means of gratifying his rioteus appetites < by: the simple process of getting him drunk, and winning all his money at poker. Yellow fever broke out in Brownsville last summer; and Mr Watkins found therein '. .a new and glorious field of enterprise ! and labor. Hurrying back to tbe r «SiHicted town, he announced himself as sole agent for the Great Brazilian Remedy, price Idol., a bottle of wbich was guarantee!, to be sure death to yellow, scarlet, blue, green, or any other colour - offerer known to be science. Placards

representating long processions of intelligent natives bearing tbe precious herbs of wbich tbe < remedy was composed were po«t*d all over the fences and barns, and '■- the prstefal citizens of Brownsville poured into Mr Watkins' oflßce in steady streams. • depositing their dollars, and carrying off the invaluable bottles. A week' latter, at midnight. Mr Watkins left town, and left it suddenly. By a most carious coincidence no sooner hndhe quitted bis lucrative, place of business by tbe back fence and alley than tbe excited populace surged in at the front door with a rope, and not finding him at home proceeded to demolish . the stock of the Great Brazilian Remedy, - and-make a bonfire of such other portions of Mr Watkins' estate as be bad forgotten in his evident hurry. The only explanation of this popular upheaval was that some loral doctor, no doubt actuated by rank envy and malice, had analysed the remedy, and had found it to consist of a decoction of plug tobacco in exceedingly cheap whisky, flavoured with a mixture of cinnamon and pepper. Further investigation unearthed the sad fsct that no "yellow fever patient with a lingering spark of self-respect bad ever spoken again after having been dosed with it. A fortnight ago Mr Watkins returned to Brownsville, trusting, no doubt, that his public services during the epidemic had been forgotten. Ibej had not. At 4 o'clock the next morning some early rising Mexican gentlemen employed in the cattle stealing intereiti of Matamoras, saw what .they it fitat thought to be a gigantic bird limping\ along the road leading out of BrovnatiHe. They lassoed the curiosity to extiitiane it more closely. It certainly was. .very; singular, for its feathers grew wittr^tl^ltoots out, and it exahaled an ptfo#i%|n|fjl§rlY resembling that of an H9#iik}^iiMry. It -likewise said its riaine'waTWatkins.'—New York Times.