Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

lewis m. grist, Proprietor. | ^n Jnircpenbcnt Ifamiljj ftetospaper: Jfor % |roinotton of t|t political, Social, ^griniltnral anb Cotnnttrrial Interests of t|e j&ontji. TERMS?$3.00 A TEAR, IN ADVANCE. VOL. 24. YORKVILLE, S. C., THTJE8DAY, OCTOBER 31, 1878. NO. 44. $ke .ftonr idle*. | ! THE LOST DIAMONDS. # i "It was the time of the Crimean war. It was about, as near as I can remember, 11 ' o'clock in the morning of a bitterly cold day in December. I had drawn near my count- j ing-house fire, and was looking into the glow ing coals, my thoughts very far away from Barbican. My imagination wandered to the J seat of war, where such terrible privations and blood freezing cold and acute suffering? rendered all the more so by shocking mismanagement?encompassed our poor brave fellows round about; and just as a deep sigh came from my lips, my shop door opened and there entered a fine, tall, handsome looking gentleman, who, by his dress and bearing, was evidently a clergyman. At least I thought I 1 wnnU onirhnrtv olsft. for that I at tuc blUiO| nvuiv. J , v matter. His attire was of the best material and make, and scrupulously neat; and bis neokband was as white as the driven snow. Moreover, gold-rimmed spectacles, and heavy seals depending from his watch-fob, gave him not only a highly respectable appearance, but stamped him as wealthy withal. That is to say, I thought so. Well, up he marched to ray counter with tolerably long strides, removed his hat (of the first quality,) and placed it upon my counter, (his well-arranged silver hair became him immensely,) and gave me a 'good morning,' and a smile which was incalculably pleasing and good to see. This man is a Christian ; goodness and gentleness beam on every feature, I mentally told myself. I put on my best manner, and politely asked him bis pleasure. " 'I have been recommended to you, sir, (he mentioned the name of a firm which dealt largely in bar silver.) 'I am given to understand,' he continued, 'that you have a varied and very valuable selection of ladies' diamond ornaments.' "I signified that such was the case. " 'Well,' he proceeded, 'I am somewhat anxious, sir, to see and examine some of your possessions. The fact is, my daughter?my only daughter, a pure and sweet-tempered child?is on the eve of marriage, and I (naturally, you will say,) am desirous of giving her a substantial wedding present. Very good. Mind! I want nothing gaudy, nor?pardon me, Mr. Filby?nor do I desire any artfully contrived specimen of the jeweler's art of deception. I want something solid and substantial?articles that look what they really are? and do not mind how high I go as to price. "I placed before him several trays of gems of exquisite workmanship, upon which I looked with pride. "After careful examination, he selected a pair of diamond earrings (?80), a diamond bracelet (?200), a butterfly brooch?one mass of glitter and dazzle?and a half-hoop diamond ring (the two ?152 10s.) A tolerably good morning's work, you will say. We shall see. Well, after I had fitted the trinkets to superior cases, and when I had packed them iu as small a compass as I well could, the reverend geutleraan felt in his pocket for the money wherewith to pay me. He drew out from his breast pocket, a goodly sized Russian leather case, and tenderly singling out some bank notes and a check, proceeded to settle for his purchase. "'The check is good, you will perceive,' he began. " 'My dear, sir* I Interrupted, (Ihe'ClTecfi was perfectly genuine, I was convinced, seeing that it bore the signature of the Arm that had mentioned my name). " 'I know what you would say, sir,' he said, holding up his band, while a look of extreme shrewdness covered his face; 'you would say that you have implicit faith in me. That is b wrong?utterly wrong! As a business man, K you should be careful. It behooves us an to Hf be so at times. Clearly, you kuow me uot, W and deception abounds. For instance, I may j| uot be a minister at all. I may, in fine, be B none other than a knave?a wolf in sheep's V clothing.' Saying which, he laughed a laugh * which, somehow or other, seemed to grate on my ear. "However, be proceeded to pay the amount due me, as I have said. '"Let me see,' he continued, musingly ; 'it will be, in all, four?three?two?ten. Good! if you will kindly look over these, Mr. Filby, you will find there is three pence short of the required sum, which I will pay you in copper coin immediately. He removed his spectacles and pushed over to me three one hundred pound Bank of England notes, ten five pouud notes and the check spoken of, which was for eighty-three pounds and niue pence. Satisfied that the notes were genuine, I looked up at my wealthy customer and found him fumbling in pocket after pocket for the money. "'My dear sir,' I exclaimed, 'pray don't bother about the trifling pence. If you are satisfied, I am thoroughly so.' " 'Nay,' he rejoined ; 'that will not do. (Business is business. You are entitled to your demand?aye, and to the uttermost farthing. I buy goods of you for a certain amount; I therefore, must pay you every iota of that , certain amount, or I shall not be easy in ray mind.' "A really upright man this; lucky the congregation that had so just and evenly-balanced a man for their pastor. So ran my thoughts, as he counted out the remaining threepence, and placed them in my hand with a kind of dig, as though he were glad to get rid of them, and set his mind at ease. "I chanced to look toward ray shop door, and saw a tall, heavily-built man peering through the glass. On seeing my gaze stead* " ..I- L t..J ,1.- A .....wl 11 y nxeu at mm, ne pusneu upeu mo uuui auu entered with a firm tread. He had a kind of! eagle-eye, this man?eager, sidelong, piercing;, thoughtful brows, too; and there was huge ! determination about the lower part of his j face. Shaking the snow from off his coat, j stamping his feet upon my shop carpet, (which I thought a rather cool proceeding), and unfastening the lappets of his sealskin traveling cap, he gave a deep-drawn grunt of relief, and exclaimed in a bluff, boisterous j manner: 'In time, after all 1 My bird's not; flown by all that's palpable! Congratulate! thyself, thou man of gold and silver and pre- i cious stones; and, furthermore, congratulate j me on my aptitude for scenting Slippery Dick !' j Then, letting fall his voice, he added : 'You j have had a narrow escape, sir. I've no doubt i now that our reverend friend here has con- | trived to lessen your stock of^oods pretty j considerably?has been a pretended (mark | that 1) purchaser to a very tidy tune 1' "'If you mean, sir, whoever you may be, that this gentleman has paid a great deal of money to me,' I returned, somewhat indig-1 nantly, 'you are right in your conjecture, i But, may I ask, pray, who you are, that you enter my shop in this mauuer, and insult myself and customer by asking such?well, such j impertinent questions? Who are you?' I ugain asked, feeling that I should be compelled to call my shopman to turn him neck j and oron. into the street. ?? r? "You'll very soon know who I am," he re- I turned coolly. 'Suffice it at present that1 I am fully justified in what I ask and do. j Bear?kindly bear with roe a little. I have a stern duty to perform. The man is not | what he pretends to be. He is a blackleg, j a canting humbug, a swindler, in a word, as t dangerous and troublesome a customer as we 1 ^ have to deal with !' V "I looked at my customer. His face was B terrible to look upon ; I could scarcely be- j ' lieve my eyes; the passion concentrated in j i his features was absolutely demoniac in its I I intensity ; the ebullition of rage which held possession of him shook him from head to foot. "The boisterous stranger laid his hand heavily on the clergyman's shoulder, grasped , it roughly and whispered something in bis j ear, at which his passion left him quickly and suddenly as a flash of lightning. He be- j came, in fact, as pale as death, and Anally . culminated in trembling violently, while his face assumed a kind of brick-dust hue. "I did not put this down to guilt; no, I laid it rather to the just indignation that would be naturally felt by a high-souled minister of the gospel accused of such enormities. "The rough-and-ready intruder regarded the reverend gentleman with unfeigned ad- : miration?at least so it appeared to me. He folded his arms across his broad chest, and stood regarding him for a few moments. Then he looked at me and winked knowingly " 'Our Christian friend is clever. He i9 doing the work of a certain evil personage who shall be nameless, very admirably, aha ?' he ejaculated, reverting again to the boisterous manner. 'But we old birds are not to be caught; we are accustomed to this kind of thing. 0 dear, yes, I?your very obedient Bervant, Mr. Filby, belong to the fancy iron trade, and I do my utmost to get as much of ray stock on other people's hands as I possibly can.' Saying which he unbuttoned and threw open his shaggy overcoat, and laid bare to my gaze the uniform of an inspector of police. Then, as quick as thought, he drew forth and fastened on the elegy man's wrist a pair of handcuffs! "This is shocking?really horrible,' I couldn't help saying. " 'No sentiment, please,' returned the inspector, angrily. 'Leave me to do my work, and take care you do yours.' "But, my good friend,' the man of the white neckcloth exclaimed in whining tones, 'you are utterly mistaken. I like?I, in fine, have naught but admiration for your zeal; hut I am not the man you supposed me to be. If you will remove these thing?they hurt my wrists?I will go?' " 'No you wont.' " 'I mean I will go into the details of our transaction. The notes are good, genuine, sir.' " 'Perfectly so, I responded; 'I would stake ray life on their soundness.' "'Then, sir, permit a public servant to tell you that you will lose your life. Kindly let me look at these genuine and sound Bank of England notes." "What could I do but hand them to him ? "'Ah ! as I thought!' he then exclaimed. 'Very skillful, very clever ; decidedly so ! Pity our pious friend here doesn't contrive to turn his thoughts in another direction ; sad that he disdains to UBe his talents more honorably. Given such consummate clever- | ess, he might have surmounted almost anything by honest means. These, sir, are rascally forgeries;! splendidly worked out, I'll admit, but fogeries for all that,' he declared emphatically, laying the notes down on my ( counter and placing his elbow on them. 'Now, I shouldn't wonder,' he resumed, 'if ( our reverend specimen of humanity here did not persuade you that he desired to make his daughter?his daughter, a wedding present?' 1 "I said that such was really the fact. "Ah just so ! The old, old game ; the old ! story.?*?*-?*?I- wondci?Dick?CCIipptry -1 Dick* is the name by which he is known 1 among us and his companions), I wonder, 1 Dick, you don't alter your modus operandi? it's so stupidly stale you know." ! " 'Dick' looked daggers, looked as though he would very much like to annihilate the inspector on the spot, and retorted in language i not at all befitting a clergyman: "You're very clever, ain't you. now? Pah 1 I could do fifty like you. * * * It doesn't matter much, though. You've got me. You've trapped me nicely. What more d'ye want? Look sharp aud let us go!' "From this kind of talk, I began to think him none other than what the inspector affirmed him to be?especially so when the man in office whipped off the silver locks from his prisoner's head and disclosed to my wondering gaze a closely-cropped iron gray head of hair beneath. 14 'I should hope you don't waDt further proof,' the inspector interrogated, triumpbant'y 44I replied that Itwas satisfied. That I had been singled out for a victim I now felt certain. In short, my dear boy, I was complete ly taken aback, and fell iDto the whole scheme. 44'The whole scheme!' I exclaimed. 4How? I scarcely understand.' 44'Don't interrupt. You shall hear directly; my melancholy story is fast drawing to a close. * * * Well, I looked from one to another with perplexity on my face. "What are you thiuking of doing, Mr. Inspector?" I asked. "'Why, take this predatory individual? this pike among gudgeons?to the station (they'll have no mercy on him this time) and you must accompany us thither, * * * I'll take care of these bits of paper, as, in like manner, I'll be the safe custodian of the artfully contrived wedding present.' Saying which, he deposited the notes, the check and the diamonds in the breast pocket of his overcoat. 'There was no help for it; of course I must go to the station. So calling my assistant from the back room. I instructed him to call a cub and look after business during my absence. Of course I did not tell him the errand I was bound on ; and, as luck would have it, he appeared not to notice that anything was wrong. "A cab brought, the two entered first, while I remained behind for a few moments to give instructions to ray shopman. Then I got inside the cab, and we started for Moor Lane police station, Force Street, London. "Well, at length we arrived at the station house. I was the first to alight from the cab, and was about to enter the station. The inspector, still seated with bis prisoner, called tome with evident annoyance: 'There's no ! light in the superintendent's room ; we'll have to wait a little. However, there's no help for it. You go into that room, the first door on the right; you'll find newspapers and records there. Amuse yourself. I'll cage my bird?put him under lock and key (safe bird, safe find, you know) and then I'll come to you. I'll be here in a few minutes. If I remain j away any length of time, ask for inspector j John Tricklet. Pray, do not mention our j business to any living soul." "I hadn't been seated long before I heard j the cab drive away. 'Ah,'I said to myself, i 'the man in blue is too economical to let cabby wait; I suppose I shall be detained here some time. Was there ever anything so disa greeahle ?" "Fifteen minutes had passed. During that time I fidgeted about. There is no disguising the matter. I was terribly perturbed. The most idiotic thoughts passed through my brain. 'What if,' I found myself asking, 'this sham clergyman should eventually prove my destruction ? What if, after serving his punishment, he should, out of revenge, come to my shop and blow my brains out? Suffice it that another fifteen minutes passed. I rose from uiy seat, but before I could move a yard toward the door it opened, and a fine looking old gentleman, evideutly the superintendent, stood before me; we were soon on good terms ; I gave him ray uame and explained why I wa9 cooped up in what he called his 'private inquiry office.' He seemed, when I had finished, to labor hard to keep down a laugh. "'Well,'he said, at length,'you've been done nicely! But you have this consolation, that others have been bit, and to a pretty tidy tune, too. You say you are waiting for inspector John Tricklet. There's no such party connected with this station. They've carried on a similar game, varied a little, very successfully in all the large towns of Ireland, Scotland and Wales, to say nothing of what they've done abroad. Tricklet? Ah ! a very apt name. The game has been contrived by a trick?and he?they?have let you into the hole. You mustn't suppose me a Job's comforter when I say that dozens have been swindled by these two heavy vultures. They are nothing else; they prey on their kind as best they may. But this is poor talk, Mr. Filby. Let me assure you, to be serious, that all that can be done shall be done. But what can we do? What can Scotland Yard do? They can only issue a caution to tradesmen generally, and put the matter in the Hue and Cry, which probably won't amount to much. And between you and me, Mr. Filby, I've repeatedly thought (and very seriously, too,) that Viqtt'uo rrr>t onmf> nf nur fellows in their nav t I coold all but swear it; for were it not so, I'm confident they'd have been taken long ago. "Heartily disgusted, I bade him a surly good day, and hied me to my shop andcouhting bouse fire. It's genial blaze, however, cheered me not. I was dispirited and chagrined, and possessed a deep-rooted idea that my hitherto clear brain had gotten a superabundance of mud in it. I felt that I could tear my hair and beat my breast, and yell out that I was profoundly miserable. "But why dwell upon the matter. The story is told. Suffice it, then, for your behoof that I never heard more of these two very original swindlers, and that, therefore, I got not the slightest return for my loss. I have, hitherto, as I have previously told you, kept the matter a profound secret, so that sympathy, even, haB not fallen to my share. There! I'm heartily sick of the whole business. Call me a consummate donkey, if you like, but don't let me hear another word about the matter." fgisttUaiwflUiS gUndittf GEN. GARY AND GOYERNOR HAMPTON. INTERVIEW WITH GEN. GARY. The Edgefield Advertiser, of last week, contains the following report of an interview with Gen. Gary: Rei>orter?General, we see you are not invited to speak at the various appointments made by the Executive Committee, what is xv. . .r i Q cue canst: ui una r General Gary?I received a letter from General John D. Kennedy, Chairman of the State Democratic Executive Committee, several weeks ago, asking if I would take part in addressing the Democracy in the present campaign and consent to be assigned to speak at the mass meetings appointed by the committee. I replied that it would afford me pleasure to do so, and asked to be assigned to the eastern and southern counties, as I had never spoken in those jiortions of the State. I received a notice, dated September 10, assigning me to speak at Aiken on the 20th of September. On my way there I met Gen. Kennedy, and we went to Aiken together. While we were together he told me that he had received a letter from Governor Hampton, in which he said that he (Gov. Hampton) must not be assigneil?tv tlm ciiuik' mwlln^u nilli mjmjlf, i'm lie would not attend meetings at which I was to si>eak. General Kennedy asked me what it meant. I replied I did not know, but I regarded it a high-handed request, and that he was 011 a very high horse. lie said the request appeared to be a very unreasonable one, and that he would look into the matter. At the same time I informed him that I had been invited by the chairman of the County Executive Committee of Marlboro county to speak at Bennettsville on the 27th of September. I found that on the 18th of September Governor Hampton, in a sjieech at Greenville, had made an unexnected and unfair attack upon me j>o iiticaliy and personally. I also found an invitation, dated September 17, from Colonel Law, chairman of the County Executive Committee of Darlington, inviting me to address the Democracy on the 25th of September. Also an invitation from J. It. Boylston, S. D. Ford, J. II. Wilson, per W. G. Yarded, Jr., for committee, and one from Colonel George Tupper, President of Dorchester Democratic Club, to address the Democracy on the 20th of September at Summerville. I accepted the invitation to go to Darlington on the 25th of September and declined with sincere regret the invitation to speak at Summerville. Having received no notice or communication from General Kennedy or the Executive Committee since the convention at Aiken, I left home Monday night, September 23, and reached Darlington on the. evening of the 24th of September. I went at once to the home of my friend, Captain R. W. Boyd, and soon after my arrival there I informed him of what Gen. Kennedy had told me in regard to Governor Hampton's request, by letter to Gen. Kennedy. Captain Boyd then stated that he did not intend to tell me what he knew about the matter, as he did not want to embarrass me ; but since I seemed to know some of the facts he would tell me what he knew about it.' He then stated that Colonel Law had called upon him and had asked him in his (Colonel Law's) name to revoke the invitation which had been sent to me to atttend their meeting, and that after considering it he had declined to act in the premises. He said that Col. Law, in obedience to a request or instructions from the State Executive Committee, or its chairman, had sent me a telegram not to come, and it was understood it was done at the instance of Governor Hampton. I replied that I regretted that I had not received it, for then I would not have come. Shortly after my arrival at the home of Captain Boyd, and after the above conversation with him, Col. Law called upon me and took me to drive. During the drive he stated to me he had sent me a telegram not to come. I told him that if I had received it I would not have come. lie then stated that he had received information from the State Democratic Executive Committee that Gov. Hampton would not attempt a meeting where I was to speak. Under these cirfiniistinii'Ps lie said, he had sent me the revo cation of the invitation, and had determined to invite ine to address the Democracy of Darlington during the county fair. He said that the Governor would l>e there on the next day and that he was in somewhat of a dilemma. He asked me if I wished to speak. I replied that I had come to address the people of Darlington at the invitation of the Democracy of the county, expressed through him as their county chairman, and I would not willingly consent to be deprived of the freedom of speech by Gov. Hampton or any other ]>erson. He then said, you and Governor Hampton are the guests of Darlington county and you both shall speak. He then asked me as a favor to him not to reply to Gov. Hampton's attack upon me in his Greenville speech. I replied that I had made up my mind before I left home not to reply to this speech of the Governor's, either at Darlington or Bennettsville. If, however, Governor Wade Hampton should attack me, I certainly would reply to him. Col. Law expressed himself as satisfied with the assurance. 1 met the Governor the next day on the shakers' stand?he did not speak to me nor I to him. T take this occasion to say, that Col. Law behaved with the utmost delicacy and kindness towards me, in the whole matter, and that I was warmly and satisfactorily received by all the people of Darlington. He]>orter?Did you attend the meeting at Bennettsville on the 27th of September. Gen. Gary?I did, and it was one of the best I have ever attended. I was enthusiastical ly received, and was treated with the greatest kindness by all the i>eople. Gov. Hampton did not attend this meeting. Reporter?Have you l?een assigned to speak at any other meeting by the State Executive Committee ? Gen. Gary?The Executive Committee assigned me to speak at Aiken in Septeml>er. This is the only meeting during the campaign to which I have been assigned by that committee. On my way home I called at the rooms of the State Executive Committee, and was informed by the Secretary that I had not been assigned to speak at any other meeting during the campaign. Rei>orter?Have you, since your return home, received invitations to speak elsewhere in the campaign ? Gen. Gary?I have been invited to spea^ at Walterboro on the 10th of October by William J. Fishbum, Chairman of the Committee of Invitations. As I do not wish to interfere with the arrangement which may be made by the Executive Committee of the State in view of their recent order, I do not feel at liberty to accept the invitation. An invitation has been extended to me to meet Governors Vance, Hampton and Col. J. S. Richardson and other distinguished gentlemen at /-It 4-1.- T lwivohAAH uucittw ill die uvsl ui lino liiiuiwi. x irnic ivtcii invited by Mr. J. F. J. Caldwell, of Newberry, the County Chairman, to speak at Prosperity, this week, and I have accepted the invitation. The people are the masters of Governor Hampton, of the Executive Committee, and of myself, and they atone can successfully abridge the freedom of speech, and they alone can effectually gag me. GAGGING GEN. GARY. THE REPLY OF THE*'CHAIRMAN OF THE STATE DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE. The Columbia Register has interviewed Gen. J. D. Kennedy, the chairman of the State Democratic Committee, on the subject of Gen. M. W. Gary's statement published in the Edgefield Advertiser. The interview is as follows: Reporter?"Have you read the interview of Gen. M. W. Gary, published in the Edgefield Advertiser and copied by the Register; and if so, what do you think of it?" General K.?I would not notice the article you refer to were it not so direct and personal; nor do I deem it necessary to state what I "think of it;" but, in justice to myself and the State Executive Committee, I do regard it my duty to state a few facts in reply to your question. At the second meeting of the State Executive Committee, a list of sj)eakers was made out to supply vacancies for the campaign which might occur by the absence of State and Congressional nominees. Gen. Gary's name was placed on that list. At a subsequent meeting of the State Committee, he requested to be assigned, as speaker, to Darlington, Bennettsville, and several other places, or, as he says in his own interview, to the "eastern and southern counties." His request was read to the meeting (certain of the members of the committee from those parts of the State being then present), and it was not deemed advisable to send him there. At the same meeting, however, he was assigned to Aiken, where it was thought he would be of service. I went to Aiken myself, and in conversation with General Gary, as to his being sent to certain places, said, in effect, among other things, that Governor Hampton was dissatisfied with ins speech at Greenville, and also at his sneer of what he termed the "Hampton Democracy" and that, under the circumstances, it would be unpleasant for hirn to speak at the same place, and at the same time, with one who differed with him so widely upon the issues of the day. Governor Hampton, on the 18th of September, in his speech at Greenville, had said, among other things: "I must enter my most emphatic dissent to the views expressed by General Gary? at the recent meeting here, and in his card in reply to Gen. Gray. These views I believe to lie inconsistent with the true l>olicy of the Democratic party. I say they do not represent the opinions of cur standardbearers, nor of the Democratic party of South Carolina, and that he was not authorized to speak for your nominees." At a. meeting of the committee, on the 21st of August, a resolution was offered and adopted au thorizing the chairman to designate speakers at meetings i>;i)inintoil?!?) tlm tuinmiUni fT'lilu mm iluni in no spirit of dictation, but simply to establish a rule for the assignment of speakers, and liecause it was thought that the chairman being at headquarters, and hearing from all parts of the State, might the better judge who would be the most available speakers at the respective meetings. Rei>orter?General Gary speaks of being gagged. General K.?What of that? I have stated the facts. From them it appears that General Gary was selected by the State Committee as one of the campaign speakers. He had spoken at Spartanburg and Greenville. It was not deemed politic, as I have stated, to send him, at his own request, to Charleston, Colleton, Darlington, Bennettsville, and other places? that is, to the "eastern and southern counties." Besides that, the speakers selected by the committee were written to as the occasion required, and requested to address such and such meetings, and did not themselves ask, as did General Gary, that they might be sent here and there; moreover, he did speak at Darlington and Bennettsville, although the committee had not, at his own request, sent him there; and if General Gary was not sent where he asked the State Committee to semi him, it was simply because it was not deemed advisable. A further answer to this talk about being "gagged" will l>e found in the fact that he si>oke at Spartanburg and Greenville before the campaign oj>ened, and at Darlington, Bennettsville and Aiken afterwards, and I, as chairman, asked him to si>eak at York. Some of the shakers ap]K)inted at the same time with General Gary, though among the ablest men in the State, have never spoken at all, most of them only once or twice. None of them, not even the State and county nominees, have asked to be assigned by the committee to "the eastern and southern counties," comprising a dozen or more places, but have waited to be requested to go where the committee thought they could be of most service to the State. I cannot see of what General Gary has to complain, and I regret that his allusions to me have l>een, as I have said, so direct and jiersonal as to force me to utter a single word in reply. A PRAIRIE DUEL. A TERRIBLE TEST OF MARKSMANSHIP. Some five years ago Adam Goldie left bis native county of Shannon, Mo., where he is engaged in cattle raising, for Northern Texas, where he passed two years, and there one of the most exciting incidents of his career happened. His fame as a marksman among the Texaus soon became notorious. In the vicinity of Goldie's ranche lived William Darrell, or, as he was familiarly termed, Bloody Bill. This Bloody Bill was a noted ruffian and desperado. His feats in marksmanship were likewise astounding, and probably no man in the Lone Star State excelled him in handling the rifle. He became jealous of Goldie's fame, and managed to pick a quarrel with him, which resulted in a challenge. After a short consultation they decided that a duel should be fought, but in consequence of the extraordinary skill of the parties, at a long'distance. On the open prairie, about two miles dis tant grew two poet oak trees. They were four hundred and twenty yards apart, and the only trees on that spot. All around was open, timberless prairie. It was decided that Goldie and Bill should both take their rifles and each take up a position behind their respective trees, and then blaze away at each other. The Texans hoped by this means to prevent bloodshed, or at least to prevent a fatal termination of the duel. The preliminaries being settled, the whole party mounted their horses and rode out on the prairie to the selected spot. Goldie took up his position behind one of the trees, and Bill ensconced himself behind the other. The remaining party of the crowd then rode to a slight undulating eminence to the right, where they were to remain as spectators. One of them was to give the signal for the beginning of the combat by firing his rifle in the air, and the report was to be the signal to the duelists to begin with their bloody work. Goldie waited anxiously the detonation of the rifle, which suddenly sounded on the air. Then began the duel at the longest range ever recorded. Goldie advanced from behind the tree in a kneeling posture, when, whiz! his sombrero was perforated by a ball from Bloody Bill's rifle. Quick as lightning I be dropped full length on the ground in time to escape the other two which came in rapid succession. He lay still, brought his rifle into position, as he was stretched upon the ground, and then remained immovable. Presently he saw a diminutive bgure which he knew to be Bill (who was nearly one inch taller than Goldie) advancing cautiously from the shelter of the tree. Quickly taking aim he 6 red twice in succession and then retired behind the sheltering trunk. One of the bullets, he afterward discovered, had passed through the lobe of Bill's left ear. There was a cessation now of bring for some time, when Goldie espied his opponent's bead and shoulders exposed. Quick as lightning his rifle was at bis shoulder, and tbe detonating report was heard. Bloody Bill's hat was carried away by the bullet. Goldie now rather incautiously advanced from his shelter and became the target for six balls in rotation, one of which made a bole in his coat-sleeve and smother his pants. He beat a hasty retreat. The duelists remained gazing at tbe distant bicvoj cauu yyaituijur tuc iuuiohuvh iviuj which represented his adversary. Each peered cautiously from behind the tree, endeavoring to get sight of each other. Goldie at last saw Bill again advance, and the former stepped rapidly to the front and quickly brought his rifle into position. Almost simultaneously the clear, sharp report of two rifles rang on the air, and both men fell. Goldie managed to raise himself and crawl behind the trunk of the tree. He had been wounded in the left shoulder. Presently he was joined by tlhe Tezans, who had been witnesses of this most exciting duel. They had already ridden over to Bloody Bill aod found him dead. A bullet had penetrated his temple. From the New York Herald. THE ELECTRIC LIGHT. ALL ABOUT EDISON'S NEW DEVICE TO OUTSHINE GAS. The alarm among the English gas companies and the panic in their stocks on account of Edison's last invention in electric lights, as narrated in yesterday's cable diBpathces, are not without good cause. America's great inventor has in truth solved the problem, which for years has puzzled the ablest lelectricians of the age. He has successfully divined the electric light, and made it, for illuminating purposes, as far superior to gas as rr?a ia tlio tollnu? pnndlp nf thp nflflt. Hlfl marvelous invention gives a mild, soft, yet brilliant light, pleasing to the eye, clear, steady and without blemish, and at a cost less than one third of that required for gas. Those who have seen the invention, pronounce it wonderful. Already a company has been formed, composed of a number of wealthy capitalists, and Mr. Edison'} lawyers are busily engaged in completing the final arrangements for the legal transfer. Before long, therefore, the work of introduction will begin. The patents for the United States have only just been granted, while those for the various countries of Europe have not yet been obtained!. To-day the Professor's solicitors send by steamer the necessary documents to their London agents for the procurement of the British letters patent. The French and other patents will be applied for simultaneously with the English one. When word is cabled Mr. Edison that the patents have been granted, he will throw his invention open to the public gaze ; but until then he declines to make known its details, his recent controversy wiui i rui. riughtis over me Alleged stealing of the microphone having made him cautious. THE 8ECRET WELL GUARDED. When the other great inventions of Mr. Edison were in progress, the laboratory was free to all visitors. The telephone was seen by hundreds long before letters patent were granted. The same was the case with the phouograph, the tasimeter, the magaphone, the quadruples telegraph, and many other ol his inventions. When urged, as he often was by bis associates of the laboratory, to be more circumspect in exhibiting them mere prematurely to strangers, be invariably laughed oti their fears and renewed his orders to show the inventions to all who desired to see them. The case with the electric light is far different. Its place in the laboratory is one sacred to the favored few. If the hosts of visitors who daily swarm the laboratory of the inventor are admitted to see it, they see it only in a detached form. The essence of the discovery is missing. Mr. Edison himself speaks but little on the subject, but he is almost constantly at work on it. Early morning sees him in the laboratory, and it is after midnight when he leaves. On Thursday last he worked continuously from sunrise until sunrise the following day, and ceased then only after the earnest importunities of his assistants. All his energies seem wrapped up in the new invention. His magapbone and phonograph lie idle, save the work done on them by some of the Professor's numerous assistants. THE PROPOSED SYSTEM. A Herald reporter learned yesterday the system proposed to be adopted after the patents are all granted. First the Professor will light up all the houses in Menlo Park gratis and from bis laboratory watch the light's progress from night to night. When all is in readiness for general introduction, central stations will probably be established throughout New York, each station controlling a territory of perhaps a radius of half a mile. In the central stations will be the magneto-electric generating machines run by engines. Wires will then be run in iron pipes under ground, after the manner of gas pipes, connecting with dwellings, stores, theatres and other planaa i n lirrtitoH Th<> otrs fixtures at ores ent used, instead of being removed, will be untilized to encase the wire. In the place of the burner, will be the invention, and meters will be used to register the quantity of electricity consumed. Their form is not yet determined upon. The light is to be of the bat-wing, flfteen power candle character. To light it a little spring is touched, and instantly the electricity does its work. The amount of light can be regulated in the same way as that from gas. To turn off the light, the spring is again touched, and instantly all is darkness. No matches being used, and there being no flame, all the dangers incident to the use of gas are obviated. The light gives out no heat. It is simply a pure white light, made dim or brilliant at the fancy of the person using it. A GLANCE AT THE INVENTION. The writer last night saw the invention in operation in Mr. Edison s laboratory. The inventor was deep in experimental researches when he called. The apparatus consisted of a small metal stand placed on a table. Surrounding the light was a small glass globe. Near by was a gas jet burning low. The Professor looked up from the work to greet the reporter, and in reply to a request to view the invention, waved his hand toward the light with the explanation, "There she is." The illumination was such as would come from a brilliant gas jet surrounded with ground glass, only that the light was clearer and more brilliant. "Now I will extinguish it and light the gas, and you can see the difference," said Mr. Edison, and be touched the spring. Instantly all was darkness. Then he turned on the gas. The difference in the light was quite perceptible, the light from the gas appearing, in comparison, tinted with yellow. In a moment, however, the eye had become accustomed to it, and the yellowish tint disappeared. Then the Professor turned on the electric light giving the writer an opportunity of seeing both side by side. The elee trio light seemed much softer. A continuous view of it for three minutes did not pain the eye, whereas looking at the gas for the same length of time caused some little pain and confusion of sight. The exhibitor next exhibited the light turned down low. It gave a mild illumination. One of the noticeable features of the light, when fully turned on, was that all colors could be distinguished as readily as by sunlight. "When do you expect to have the invention completed, Mr. Edison ?" asked the reporter. "The substance of it is all right now," he answered, putting the apparatus away and turning on the gas ,* "but there are the usual little details that must be attended to before it goes to the public. For instance, we i ? *? a liavc gUL tu UT3V iOv3 D UUiO CXI A aUgvUICUb ivl ietering?a sort of meter; and again there are several different forms that we are experimenting on now in order to select the best?" "Are the lights to be all of the same degree of briliaucy ?" "All the same." "Have you run across any serious difficulties in it as yet ?" "Well, no," replied the inventor, "and that's what worries me, for in the telephone, I found about a thousand obstacles, and so in the quadruplex. I worked on both over two years before I overcame:them." Mr. Batchelor, the professor's assistant, who here joined in the conversation, said, "Many a time Mr. Edison sat down almost on the point of giving up the telephone as a lost job, but at the last moment he would see light." THE SIMPLEST OF ALL. "Of all the things that we have discovered, this is about the simplest," contiued Mr. Edison, "and the public will say so when it is explained. We have got it pretty well advanced now, but there are some few improvements I have in my mind. You see it's got to be so fixed that it can't get out of order. Suppose where one light only is employed, it got out of order once a year, where two were used it would get out of order twice a year, and where a thousand were used, you . can see that it would be much trouble in looking after them. Therefore, when the light leaves the laboratory, I want it to be in such a shape that it cannot get out of order at all, except, of course, by some accident." Leaving Mr. Edison to continue his work, the reporter accepted the invitation of Mr. Griffen, his private secretary, to view the generating machine. "Mr. Edison has just purchased a new one," he said, "which gives much more power, and in a faro Ha ua wo will have ft fiff.v hnrsfi DOW -"-J" J I er eDgioe to work it, as we don't get power enough with the present one. As regards the generators," continued Mr. Griffen, "Mr. Edison has as yet given but little attention to them. The cost can, by an improved generator, be reduced to a much smaller figure." A REMARKABLE CASE. | The trial of Jesse Billiugs, Jr., at Ballstoo, New York, for the murder of his wife, which has just come to a conclusion after more than a mouth of hearing evidence and arguments, is one of the most remarkable and interesting criminal trials of recent times. On the evening of June 4, Mrs. Billings, while seated near a window in her own home, in the town of Northumberland, was shot through the head and instantly killed-, the bullet comipg through the window-glass.?Ln_L the room with her at the time was her daughter, Jennie, and in the house was a female servant. The fatal act was committed about a quarter before 9 o'clock. Mr. Billings had gone out after supper to attend some cattle in a field, and returned home about half an hour after the shooting, having been told at a neighbor's that his wife was hurt. Entering his house he threw himself on the floor beside his wife, and appeared to be greatly affected. After some expression of grief he became apparently unconscious, and in a few moments was taken to his own room. He made no effort himself to discover the assassin, but when it was suggested that an officer should be employed he assented, and offered to furnish money for the expenses. The next day Billings was arrested, charged with the murder of his wife. The circumstances which fastened suspicion upon him, and which were subsequently developed in the the evidence on the trial, may be briefly summed up. For many years he and his wife had been estranged, not occupying the same room or eating at the same table; and, lastly bis wife had been extremely jealous on . -C l:_ aut'uuui ui ujs aucuuuuo tu a mio. uuitio, nuu occupied rooms over a bank which Billings owned, and took care of it. Mrs. Billings had publicly proclaimed her opinion that her husbaud's relations with this woman were improper, and on account of this the Curtis woman had instituted against her a suit for slander. It appears that Billings and bis wife have constantly quarrelled for years, and that she accused him of having twice attempted to kill her, once by meanB of chloroform, and once by saturating her room and the adjoining one with kerosene and setting fire to the house. On the day before the murder, Billings had visited his wife's mother and attempted to induce her to interfere to prevent the trial for scandal that was threatened, but she had taken sides with her daughter, accused Billings of adultery, and sent him off angry. It appears, also, that on Sunday two days before the murder, Billings asked one of the men employed by him where his guns were, saying he could not find them. The man told bim that one of the guns, a Ballard carbine, which was in an unused storeroom, was useless, as the bore was of a peculiar calibre which he had never been 1 able to find a cartridge to fit. After the murder this gun was found in an old well 1 in a field, and in the barrel was an exploded cartridge shell which the bullet taken from Mrs. Billing's head fitted. The night of the murder was stormy, and tracks were ' found about the yard and in the vicinity of 1 an office building near by, from which it was ] thought that the shot was fired, and also leading to the well where the gun was found, ' which were fitted by the rubber boots worn < by Billings that night. I The defence was an alibi. Billings' story 1 was that he went out that night after supper 1 to salt some cattle in a field; that finding it 1 so stormy he went back and got a horse and 1 wagon ; that he then went to the field, at- 1 tended to the cattle, after which he went to 1 the house of a neighbor, Justice Washburne, ' where he expected to get some legal papers; ' that while there talking with Mrs. Washburne, 1 Justice Washburne came in, and, calling his J wife aside, told her something; that he in- 1 quired what it was, and was informed that 1 his wife had been hurt. He immediately 8 rushed out to his team, followed by Wash- < burne's boy, who found him fallen under the < wagon, helped him in and drove him home. ' From consideration of the time when the I shot was fired, of the time it would take to 1 go to Washburne's over the route Billings ( said he took, and of the time he remained c at Washburne's according to the story of 1 Mrs. Washburne, whose husband said he f wound up his watch as it was two minutes 1 past 9, just as Billings left for home, it would 1 have been impossible for him to have fired the fatal bullet within five or ten minutes of the time when it was said to have been fired, c The weakness of this defence was the possi- e ble disagreement of timepieces at the two n houses, and liability to mistake as to the p length of time Billings was at Washburne's ii house. n Some testimony was introduced to show n that Billings treated his wife kindly, and that her suspicions concerning his relations with the Curtis woman were unreasonable; but in regard to his relations with his wife the evidence was weak compared with that on the other side, and although no criminality was proved regarding his intimacy with Mrs. Curtis, it was shown that he had been on intimate terms with her. A remarkable feature of the case was the appearance on the stand of the daughter of the accused to give evidence against her father. She testified in great agitation, and on the first day, after being on the stand two hours and a half, she fainted, and for hours was in an hysterical condition; but the evidence she gave was clear, intelligent and she believed her father guilty. She testified to the wretched life her father and mother had ii?J i .i?c __ .? i iiveu lugtJiuer jur cigut ur lcu jcaia, buu uclieved, as ber mother did, that be had twice before attempted to kill ber. She also testified to efforts her father had made to get ber to give him aid io getting ber mother placed in an insane asylum. When her father came into the house after the murder she accused him directly in the presence of others of the crime, having expected that he. would sometime kill her mother and perhaps herself, and she had said that, in case of her mother's, death by his hands, she would expend every cent of her fortune in prosecutinghim. Billings is a man now fifty-two years old, born and brought up in that neighborhood, as was his wife. He has made his own fortune in business, and is reputed to be worth a quarter of million of dollars, while his wife had a separate fortune of $40,000. During his imprisonment and the long trial, which began on the 10th of September, he has borne hipaself with much firmness, bat nevertheless shows plainly the marks of anxiety. His aged father, a physician, was with him in court daily, and, while believing him innocent of the charge brought against him, was overwhelmed with the shame of it. The case, after argument of counsel, extending over several days, was given to the jury at 4.40 P. M. last Friday. They were discharged Monday afternoon, unable to agree. They stood eleven for acquittal to one for conviction. How the Brave Benner Met his Fate. On Friday evening, the 11th instant, while the relief boat was lying at Grand Gulf, a Mrs. Leonard came on board and asked per?:? t ?:n .1 : ujiooiuu iu iciiiaiu uii iuo arrivalui tuc skoui* er Pargoud, on her way up to Greenville. Mrg. Leonard had just buried her daughter at Port Gibson, and was returning to her busband and remaining child at Greenville. Grand Gulf is rigidly quarantined. Ropes are stretched across the roads and streets leading into the city, and negro guards, armed with shot guns and rifles, are posted at each end of the rope, with orders to shoot any one entering from the country. Mrs. Leonard passed around the town, took a skiff and made her way to the boat Lieut Benner having only a single-bedded room, gave it to the lady who slept in it until 1 o'clock Saturday morning, when the Pargoud came up. Lieut Benner accompanied the lady on board, but in returning the gang-plank slipped, throwing him into the mud and water. He occupied the bed just vacated by Mrs. Leonard, the remainder of the night Sunday morning he was seized with the usual symptoms, but during the night bis condition became ?rjtjcal. ru ma ueiinuui it igqunuu iwuuifUUg men 10 "?keep him in bed. At noon Monday his temperature was 100}, pulse 120, skin dry, and tongue very bad. Black vomit seemed imminent Surgeon Keys never left his bedside. The most experienced nurses were in attendance. At 2 p. m., their efforts seemed rewarded by a reduction of the temperature. A gentle perspiration was induced, and at the hour of ten, p. m., the crisis was confidently stated to have been passed, when he was considered out of danger. He had a relapse, however, and yielded up his brave young life at 2 30, Thursday morning. Fire and Brimstone.?The Rev. J. S. Furnis, (aptly named) an Englishman, has written an interesting and graphic description of hell, "for the instruction of the young." Hell, he says, is situated 4,000 miles from here, at the middle of the earth, and is tenanted by millions and millions of tormented creatures, mad with fury, who dwell in the midst of screams, groans, yells, cries, shouts, shrieks, roarings, hissings, howlings, wailings, fearful blasphemies and thunder, not to mention the sounds of"oceans of tears running down from millions of eyes with a great splash upon the floors of hell." The Rev. Mr. Furnis then says: "The roof is red-hot; the floor is like a thick sheet of red-hot iron. See, on the middle of that red-hot iron floor stands a girl. She looks to be about sixteen years of age. She has neither shoes nor stockings on her feet. The door of this room has never been opened since she first set her feet on this red-, hot floor. Now she sees the door opening. She rushes forward. She has gone down upon her knees upon the red-hot floor. Listen, she speaks. She says: 'I have been standing with 4 , my bare feet upon this red-hot floor for years. , Day and night my only standing place has been upon this red-hot floor. Sleep never came upon me for a moment, that I might forget this horrible burning floor. Look at my burning, bleeding feet. Let me go off this burning floor for one moment?only for one short moment. Oh 1 that in this endless eternityof years, I might forget the pain for one single moment.' The devil-answers her question. 'Do you ask for a moment?for one moment to forget your pain ? No, not for a single moment during the never-ending eternity of years shall you leave this red-hot floor.'" Correspondence by "Hair Line."?Not long ago a capillary correspondence was attempted between a noted Parisian thief in durance vile and his comrades outside. The prisoner was sent a letter from his intended bride, containing merely a lock of hair, wrapped in the leaf of a book. The jailer did not consider the souvenir important enough to be delivered, but a few days after came a similar enclosure, and yet another. This aroused suspicion and the Governor took the matter in hand. He examined the leaf of the book. It was only that of a common aovel, twenty-six lines on a page. Then he itn/liari fKo hair anrl nntirwl t.hft small mun. ;ity of the gift. Counting the hairs, he found ;hem- of unequal length, and twenty-six in sumber, the same as the lines of the page. Struck with the coincidence, he laid the hairs ilong the lines of the page which they respec;ively reached, beginning at the top with the smallest hair. After some trouble, he found ;hat the end of each hair pointed to a different letter, and that these letters combined, brmed a slang sentence which informed the irisoner that his friends were on the watch, ind that the next time he left the prison to be ixamined an attempt would be made to ressue him. The Governor laid his plans accorlingly; the attempt was made, but the reamers fell into their own trap. There is nothng in all of Vidocq's memoirs so ingenious as' his device. Igy* "Friendships are never completed till oen are bound to each other by the common xperience of sorrow." Correct Men whn tever before exchanged more than a nod in lassing, will become sworn friends and allies a a common cause in two minutes after they aeet at the back door of a saloon on Sunday aorning, and find it closed.