Additional info submitted by Justin Sanders

James E Dillard is known as the man who ousted the last of the reconstruction governors from Texas.

J.E. Dillard served in the 12th, 13th, and 14th Legislatures as a Senator from Cherokee, Angelina, Trinity, and Houston Co (the 3rd District).  During the ruckus following the election of 1873 where Richard Coke defeated Edmund J. Davis for governor, Davis attempted to keep his office by having the election declared void by the Texas Supreme Court.  The victorious Democrats would have none of that.  For a time, Davis and his supporters holed-up on the first floor of the capitol while Coke and the newly elected legislature (14th) held the 2nd floor.  When Davis' request for military aid was turned down by Pres. Grant, he left the capitol on Jan 19, at noon on that day a group (or mob, depending on who's telling the story) went down to take possession of the offices on the 1st floor.  The doors were barred by Davis supporters still inside-- one of whom was Sec. of State J.P. Newcomb.  Dillard ordered that the doors be broken down with axes and he placed Newcomb under arrest (which probably means that he had him restrained by someone).

  This is based on the account given in P.M. Spaw, ed., "The Texas Senate, Vol II: Civil War to the Eve of Reform, 1861-1889" p183.  She quotes from the Austin "State Journal" newspaper, which characterized Dillard as a "Ku Klux Senator from East Texas."  She doesn't give a date, but I would asume that the account would be within a day or two of 19 Jan 1874.  The Dallas Herald, Galveston News, or Austin Democratic Statesman would be likely places to look for the Democratic version of things.

Dillard's service in the 12th Legislature was not easy either.  The election was contested between Dillard and M. Priest (Republican).  Priest was eventually seated, but Gov. Davis appointed him a district judge, and Dillard filled the vacancy.

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