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Research in Other Countries => United States of America => Topic started by: lonestardiver on Friday 01 June 18 20:09 BST (UK)
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Hello Forum, First Time Poster... ;)
I think I have one of those situations where I have an ancestor who may have decided to drop off the face of the planet. I say this because it appears he had broken and ran from the law and it seems I am at an impasse attempting find any information after a certain year. I feel like I need a fresh set of eyes to look at the current data and/or advise if there are any different techniques I would need to perform in finding new data. I have also came to the realization that I may not find anything so I'm sad about that but have accepted it. I thought I would give it one last effort.
With that said, here is what I have in a nutshell:
Name: Burnette Henrie Goodman
DOB: 18 Sept 1881 (Texas)
DOD: 1907 or after (I will explain below)
Crime: In 1904, He was accused of embezzling $2000.00 from an electrical part supply company in Houston, Texas. When he found out that the company was investigating him he took flight and went to Oklahoma (At which at that time was still considered Indian Territory). He was captured or gave himself up there. The Sheriff from Houston was sent to extradite him and eventually was brought back to Houston.
Resources used: So far I have found most of my information from both the local newspapers in Houston but I had some luck also getting the Court papers which gave the detail in both Houston and Muskogee Oklahoma. I have also used Ancestory.com and FamilySearch.org.
My last data I have comes from the year 1907. In the court documents it claims that he ran from the law again and that they for some reason closed the case claiming "He was out of Jurisdiction " which I am not quite sure I understand? Out of State or Out of Country? Why would they close the case because of that? Additionally, per the 1907 city directory of Houston it claims that his wife was a "widow" but also they had divorced that same year so I know it was common practice at that time that if a woman was divorced it was common to put that she was a "Widow" to hide the shame of it.
Goal: Primarily, I am attempting confirm his date of death and where he was buried. Secondarily, I would like to find any additional relevant information.
Thank you for any assistance that can be provided.
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Have you traced the descendants of his two daughters for information? Also you might contact the person who posted photo of his brother Emory on findagrave.com
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Could be an entirely different person but there is a New York naturalisation entry for a
Barnett Goodman born 1881 age 51 in 1932.
He may have tweaked his name, although that isn't much of a change, and if he was born Texas why would he need naturalising but still.
This person was residing at 725 Fox St NYC. Have to say the signature doesn't look like Burnette or Barnett.
Could maybe look for this chap just to rule him out :)
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Have you traced the descendants of his two daughters for information? Also you might contact the person who posted photo of his brother Emory on findagrave.com
Yes I have. Unfortunately, I actually know more about Burnette than they do but they are looking to see if they have any documentation. I was the person that posted Emorys Findagrave memorial. I have contacted his family line and they also did not have any information.
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Could be an entirely different person but there is a New York naturalisation entry for a
Barnett Goodman born 1881 age 51 in 1932.
He may have tweaked his name, although that isn't much of a change, and if he was born Texas why would he need naturalising but still.
This person was residing at 725 Fox St NYC. Have to say the signature doesn't look like Burnette or Barnett.
Could maybe look for this chap just to rule him out :)
Thank you for the lead... I will follow it up....
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Possible that he went to Mexico?
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Possible that he went to Mexico?
I wouldn’t rule it out.. and it’s been on my mind as well. I did a cursory search and didn’t come with anything. I fear he may have used an alias when he crossed the border possibly?!?
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"He was out of Jurisdiction"
Is there a well defined legal meaning for this phrase which could indicate whether he was out of the country or out of state or dead? Since they knew he was "out of jurisdiction," they must have had some evidence of what had become of him.
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"He was out of Jurisdiction"
Is there a well defined legal meaning for this phrase which could indicate whether he was out of the country or out of state or dead? Since they knew he was "out of jurisdiction," they must have had some evidence of what had become of him.
Very good point. I didn't think about the legal definition of the term. Perhaps, what I need to do next to see what was the intent of the message from the court? I will see about posting the actual court info from this message to see if you can see something else I may be missing. Thanks for your suggestion. I first made an assumption that he may have been dead as of 1907 or 08... but I have not found any evidence of this so far.
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"He was out of Jurisdiction"
Is there a well defined legal meaning for this phrase which could indicate whether he was out of the country or out of state or dead? Since they knew he was "out of jurisdiction," they must have had some evidence of what had become of him.
I have attached the City of Houstons Court Record about case dismissal.
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This is how I make it out:
Thursday June 17th 1909
The State of Texas vs B. H. Goodman
On motion of the state's attorney filed herein, by permission of the court, the prosecution of the case is dismissed because of the long standing of this case on the docket[?] - the defendant has been out of the jurisdiction of the court for years[?] - these cases all being for misdemeanor embezzlement.
I'm not a lawyer but it sounds like it means that Goodman has been outside of Texas for a long time. Maybe the statute of limitations ran out.
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This is how I make it out:
Thursday June 17th 1909
The State of Texas vs B. H. Goodman
On motion of the state's attorney filed herein, by permission of the court, the prosecution of the case is dismissed because of the long standing of this case on the docket[?] - the defendant has been out of the jurisdiction of the court for years[?] - these cases all being for misdemeanor embezzlement.
I'm not a lawyer but it sounds like it means that Goodman has been outside of Texas for a long time. Maybe the statute of limitations ran out.
I think at very most he was gone for less than 4 years. Just wish I knew what direction to go to research.
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If he changed his name, it's practically hopeless. I have a similar case of alleged embezzlement. According to a newspaper account, the accused was believed to have fled across the border from Minnesota to Canada. Wherever he went, I have ever found him and I suspect he changed his name.
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If he changed his name, it's practically hopeless. I have a similar case of alleged embezzlement. According to a newspaper account, the accused was believed to have fled across the border from Minnesota to Canada. Wherever he went, I have ever found him and I suspect he changed his name.
I agree... I don't think my chances are good on this one. I think I will continue researching but I will see if there is any possible information that his descendants may have found.
I just realized on one thing I did forget to share and that for one of his daughters death certificates from 1979 it lists her fathers name as "Bernard Goodman". Im guessing that this might be a mistake on the part of the ex husband who signed the certificate but maybe its an alias that was used and her daughter didn't know his real name?...
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What about the Oklahoma aspect? Any idea why he went there? Relatives, etc.?
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What about the Oklahoma aspect? Any idea why he went there? Relatives, etc.?
I found that he had no relatives that lived in Oklahoma during this time. I would not know his motive for going there but since he did go to court there I just realized I don't have the court records from Muskogee. Perhaps this might be helpful. I will see what I can find.
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It's a long shot, but if you could get a look at the motion filed by the state's attorney, there might be additional information about where they thought he had gone. If you're in or near Houston and have a friend who's a lawyer, he might be able to find the relevant records if they still exist.
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I just realized on one thing I did forget to share and that for one of his daughters death certificates from 1979 it lists her fathers name as "Bernard Goodman". Im guessing that this might be a mistake on the part of the ex husband who signed the certificate but maybe its an alias that was used and her daughter didn't know his real name?...
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I wonder if he was known as Burnie, now anyone not knowing his original Christian name could have assumed he was Bernard known as Bernie. I would consider if he did change his name he realised he could call himself Bernard and say 'I call myself Bernie' thus making it easy.
If you think about it it's easier to change a surname than a Christian name, if you have been answering to Burnie/ Bernie all your life it's difficult to suddenly change to Charles etc.
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I just realized on one thing I did forget to share and that for one of his daughters death certificates from 1979 it lists her fathers name as "Bernard Goodman". Im guessing that this might be a mistake on the part of the ex husband who signed the certificate but maybe its an alias that was used and her daughter didn't know his real name?...
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I wonder if he was known as Burnie, now anyone not knowing his original Christian name could have assumed he was Bernard known as Bernie. I would consider if he did change his name he realised he could call himself Bernard and say 'I call myself Bernie' thus making it easy.
If you think about it it's easier to change a surname than a Christian name, if you have been answering to Burnie/ Bernie all your life it's difficult to suddenly change to Charles etc.
Thats very possible. I will add this suggestion to my follow up.
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What about the Oklahoma aspect? Any idea why he went there? Relatives, etc.?
I found out that the records for this court of the "Western District and Indian Territory of Oklahoma" are archived in Ft. Worth, Texas which ironically I will be visiting the city this weekend to see my son graduate from High School. I will stay another day and visit the archive.
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Be sure and let us know what you find. (I live near Fort Worth!)
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Be sure and let us know what you find. (I live near Fort Worth!)
I will and thanks again for the help.. Its great to get fresh eyes and perspective on research.
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Just one more thought - have you tracked down the divorce papers?
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Just one more thought - have you tracked down the divorce papers?
Yes, I went pulled the records. I scoured over the papers but did not find a clue that would have assisted me in locating him. Unfortunately, My 2nd Great uncle was not that great of a person. Part of me says I have no interest in researching him because of all the negative things I have found but again, I think I am a researcher at heart so I want to get the information I'm looking for and close the door on this ancestor. Ha! I think if I ever find out what happened to him it will be pretty anti-climatic.