Part 8

Part 8, Note 63

Colorado County District Court Records, Criminal Cause File No. 1472: State of Texas v. Emile Houillion; Colorado Citizen, March 2, 1876, March 22, 1877, April 18, 1878, May 9, 1878, May 23, 1878, May 30, 1878, June 6, 1878; Galveston Daily News, May 8, 1878; Executive Clemency Papers, Emile Houillion, Secretary of State Records (RG 307) Archives Division, Texas State Library, Austin. Malsch had been authorized to practice law by the commissioners court on October 26, 1871 (see Colorado County Police [Commissioners] Court Minutes, Book 1862-1876, p. 228). Houillion's time in jail was apparently not in the least pleasant. On June 5, 1877, citing the conditions under which he was incarcerated, he asked the county to transfer him to another jail. The county refused. On September 14, 1877, his jailor, George Best, was indicted for malfeasance in office because he kept Houillion in "a loathsome and unhealthy cell" with insufficient drinking water, poor food, and no "means by which he could keep himself healthy and clean," forcing him "to wallow in filth and inhale the vapors of a filthy and unhealthy prison cell . . . causing dangerous and ill health and great personal and inhumane suffering" (see Colorado County Police [Commissioners] Court Minutes, Book 1876-1879, p. 230; Colorado County District Court Records, Criminal Cause File No. 1609: State of Texas v. George Best). Curiously, shortly after his death, a rumor arose that Houillion had faked his death, and that he had escaped to Europe. Sheriff Toliver stated that he had buried the body in the Columbus City Cemetery.