Tag: Austin History Center

Theft of Governor’s Pants – March Mischief – Police Calls

March 17, 2016 ·

"Officer Sendry reports that someone entered Gov. Ireland's room last night and stole a pair of pants and one dollar in the pockets." -- 17 MAR 1885. Austin Police Calls. Gov. John Ireland The above incident is the perfect metaphor for Austin in the spring of 1885 -- a time when it was possible for someone to sneak into the Governor's Mansion, enter his bedroom and steal his pants away in the middle of the night, never… Read more.

Notes on Research

July 25, 2012 ·

I am not the first to delve into this mystery.  The first time I opened the drawer of the microfilm cabinet and saw all the small cardboard boxes of microfilm packed snuggly inside, I noticed that the boxes labeled 1885 were noticeably more worn than any of the others, undoubtedly having been pulled out, opened and put back many times before I got to them.  I wondered who had looked at them and what they had found. What was I… Read more.