Letter to John K. West Member of the Notorious "New Orleans Associates" Discussing a Conversation with John Austin Wharton Concerning a Crime in Texas a Hanging and Fugitives in Jamaica 1838
1838List2426Republic of Texas 1838. Stampless letter folded with red two-line handstamp of Steam Packet Columbia on January 16 1838 from Brazoria Tex. to New Orleans. Fine condition. Fine. An intriguing letter written by Edmund Andrews a judge in Brazoria Texas who had arrived in Stephen Austin’s colony eight years before he penned this in 1830. The letter is written to John K. West the New Orleans attorney who was an original member of the notorious “New Orleans Associates.†Andrews discusses a conversation he had on behalf of West with John Austin Wharton who would die later in 1838 relating that Andrews had a conversation with Wharton on West’s behalf. The conversation with Wharton revolved around a man with the last name Chase and Andrew Mills who had both left Texas presumably and traveled to Kingston Jamaica where Mills was hanged for an undisclosed crime. Andrews writes that Wharton related that that Mills told him he “would not have done it if he had not been drunk†presumably talking about the crime for which he was hanged. Overall a very intriguing letter relating to crime exile and misdeeds in the Republic of Texas which should be of interest to scholars of the Republic. <br /> <br /> Full text follows:<br /> <br /> Brazoria Jan'y 16 1838<br /> <br /> Mr. John K. West<br /> Sir <br /> <br /> Since I wrote to you in reply to yours under date 19th ulto. I have seen Col. John A. Wharton upon the subject contained in your favor. He says he does not recollect who the person was referred to in yours but recollects to have heard Haney speak of it and says he Haney told him that he actually saw Andrew Mills hung and says he described the rope he was hung with. Col. Wharton seems to think Haney's statement entitled to credit. <br /> <br /> These facts can be known if they are really facts by sending a commission to Kingston Jamaica for although both Chase and Mills had no doubt assumed names yet a person of so much notoriety as Capt. John Chase must have been known to some there.<br /> <br /> Haney said Mills begged him when he saw him in Kingston never to make known his fate and that he would not have done it if he had not been drunk. The foregoing is the substance of the conversation held with Col. J. A. Wharton. <br /> <br /> I am yours truly <br /> Edmund Andrews. unknown
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