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^(tajus and Jartis. ? The old Court House, built in Beaufort, North Carolina, in 1724, a wooden structure, is still standing, and is now used as a dwelling house. ? A complaint has been filed against the New Orleans National bank for substituting its name in advertisements for that of a lottery company. ? A fire broke out in Asheville, N. C., on Thursday night last, burning three stores apd destroying twenty-five thousand dollars' worth of property. ? The North Carolina Press Association will meet in Norfolk, on the 3rd of October, and proceed in a body to the Boston Mechanic and Industrial Fair, which is now in progress. ? Cleveland county, N. C., voted by a majority of 297, last week, against a proposed county subscription to the capital stock of the Rutherford Railroad Construction Company. ?The President has issued a proclamation declaring that the World's Industrial and Cotton Centennial Exposition will open on the first Monday 01 uecemDer, ism, at Orleans, continuing until the 3rd day of May, 1885. ? The widow of ex-President Polk completed he.* eightieth year last Tuesday, and was pleasantly surprised on that day by a visit from many of the prominent citizens of Nashville, Tenn., where she lives, who brought some fine floral tokens of the event. ? From four o'clock Friday afternoon till six o'clock Saturday morning the greatest storm ever known on Lake Slichigan prevailed. Many vessels were sunk, and along the Wisconsin and Illinois shores houses, piers and railroad tracks were washed away. ? The net revenues of the Western Union Telegraph Company, for the three months ending September 30th, are over a million and a nail, being an increase of over $11,000 over the profit of the preceding quarter. A 1J per cent, quarterly dividend is declared. ? Some of the French papers think the effort to make a favorable adjustment with China will be a failure. The foreign minister is in favor of an adjustlnent with China, but the ministers of war and the marine insist that France must resist the encroachments of China on Tonquin. ? At Erwin, 111., a few days da^> ago an attempt was made to Kill tne icev. v.. .v. Obersnair, the organizer, of a polygamous sect know as the "Pilgrims." The Pilgrims completed a new church on Friday, which was wrecked with giant power. Obershaire generally slept in the building, but at the time of the explosion was away. ? The recommendation of the naval court martial that naval cadets Benjamin Trapnell, Archibald Campbell, Ellsworth P. Bertholf and FranklinMoeller be dismissed from the service for hazing has been approved by the superintendent of the naval academy, and orders dismissing them were issued last Friday from the navy department. ? All tHree-cent stamps which have been issued will always be good for postage. No more of them, however, will be issued. They can be made available in prepaying packages or newspapers that go by weight. Or, together with a two-cent stamp, the three-cent stamp is useful for making up the sum which pays for a single letter?five cents?to foreign countries. ?The Detriot Free Press thinks that an Ohio woman has done more to justify matrimonial cynics than any other person. She is the wife of a candidate for office and is cutting out and pasting in a scrap-book all the notices of her husband that have appeared since his nomination. She is thus armed with weapons of offense in a domestic connun nKo/-vlii+?>N? timmlinor UUVCIOJ mat ai^ CW.TVIUI\.*J ? The War Department has just issued Volume 9 of the "Official Records of the Rebellion." This voiume coders the operations in Southeastern Virginia, North Carolina, New Mexico and Arizona, during the early part of 1862. The work of printing the war records would seem to have only fairly begun, as it is estimated that at least one hundred volumes will be required to contain all the material which will be printed. ? The mystery of the outrage and murder of Mrs. Rose Ambler, at Stratford, Conn., an interesting account of which is published on the first page of this paper, is deeper than ever. Curtis, the wealthy man of pleasure, accused of the crime, has demonstrated plainly that no case can be made against him, although he caused much suspicion by departing suddenly to Philadelphia. The detectives are now absolutely at sea, with 110 clues leading anywhere. ? Gov. Hendricks, of Indiana, addressed several thousand people in Council Bluffs, Indiana, Tuesday, in the interest of the Democracy of the State. Pie spoke at length on the tariff question, on national affairs generally, and on the political issues in Iowa. He denounced prohibition as a move to confiscate the property of brewers and liquor dealers, ana arguea inai it wuuiu iiuva prove operative. He said Mr. Tilclen is not a candidate for President, and he (Governor Hendricks) did not think he would be. ? A lady entered a ticket office in Toledo, and bought a ticket for Milwaukee. She told the ticket seller that she never traveled alone, and that her husband had always told her that she could not without trouble. She desired to disprove it by making this trip alone. Accordingly she asked for and got all the information as to the departure of her train, the change of cars in Chicago, checking baggage, <Scc., and went from the ticket office smiling at the manner in which she would surprise her husband. A few hours later the ticket seller found on the counter the ticket he had sold her with the change. ? An Atlanta Ga., dispatch of Friday says: W. Montross, of the New York Police Gazette, was to-day convicted of distributing an obscene pictorial newspaper, and sentenced to pay a tine of $1,000 or twelve months in the chain gang. Several weeks ago Montross came here by order of Richard K. Fox, the proprietor of the paper named, to make a test case under the law passed in 1878. Mr. Fox is here and the trial excites much interest. The Presiding Judge stated that he would impose the full penalty of the law because the defendant was seeking to get a foothold for a paper which has been suppressed for five years. The case will be carried to the Supreme Court. ? A tabulated statement of the receipts and expenses of the average cost of collecting one dollar of revenue in all of the custom districts of the United States for the fiscal year ending JuneJOth, 1883, has been prepared at the treasury department. From this statement it appears that $216,780,869 was collected at a cost of $6,442,127. The cost of collecting one dollar ranges in the different districts from one cent and eight mills in New York to fifty and eighty-four A +l>/\ n * ?aw? /tAL'f ill oil /\f CCHUS III .-VmiUUl, 111C avcittgr iu ??1 K>. the districts beig two cents, nine mills and a fraction. In twenty nine of the one hundred and thirty districts t ho cost of collecting one dollar was more than a dollar, and in thirty of them it was less than ten cents. ? Ex-Senator McDonald, whose name is mentioned in connection with the Democratic nomination for the Presidency, addressed a large Democratic meeting at Des Moines, Iowa, on Wednesday of last week, He denounced the Tariff Act of the last Congress as a measure opposed to tariff reform, and still furthering the protected industries. He favored a revenue tariff which should be destitute of the principle of protection beyond what a strictly revenue tariff would undoubtedly protect. Mr. McDonald declared that prohibitory measures for the suppression of the liquor traffic had invariably proved failures. Decause a few drink too much it is unreasonble to demand that all should drink none. The Legislature cannot be the guardian of every man's conscience, nor ought it to assume to violate the prsonal rights of man. ? The latest reports to the Department of Agriculture at Washington show that the recent frosts have damaged corn North of the fortieth parallel. The Ohio agent places the injury in that State of 20 per cent., the Indiana agent estimates the loss at 10 to 20 in the Northern section and 5 in the middle belt. The loss is heavy in Wisconsin and Minnesota. There is also some injury in New York and Pennsylvania. While the damage cannot yet be clearly determined, it is certain that the frosts have already reduced the general average below so, although much of the heaviest corn of the West is beyond serious injury. The condition of wheat when harvested, as reported in the returns, averages 83, which indicates a product 17 per cent, less than the yield of last year, or a loss of 8G,000,000 bushels. The crop of oats will be large, the general average being 99. The promise for potatoes is good, represented by 9o?three points highI erthan the reported average of September, 1882. ?hc fJotiwiUc inquirer. YORK VILLI?. S. C. : THURSDAY MORNING, SEPT. 20,1883. THE RICHMOND AND DANVILLE. At a called meeting of the stockholders of the Richmond and Danville Railroad Company, held in Richmond on the 12th instant, the proposition made to increase its capital stock from $5,000,000 to $7,000,000 was defeated. All of those in sympathy with the Seney interest opposed the proposed increase, and some of these declared that the proposition was made by those who desired to cripple the road by an increase of stock. A proposition to appoint a committee of seven to investigate the affairs of the Danville and all of the roads controlled by it was referred to the directory. The object of this resolution seems to be to discover especially what, if any, speculations in stock had been carried on by the officers of the various systems. Mr. Foster, of New York, who does not seem to be fully in accord with the Seney and Clyde people, declared that he was not afraid for the directory to furnish the information. Although Mr. Clyde was one of its members, they could not afford, he said, to white-wash Clyde. Mr. Foster said outside of the meeting that the resolution also contemplates an investigation as to whether southern freight had been diverted from the Danville T>~,rw] 41>A KnrtAflf nf tlir* rivrlo QfpjIlDPrt; IVUilU 1U1 nil- UC1IU11V V/l Uiv, x.v The representatives of the new controllers of the Richmond and Danville deny the reports that they have pooled their stock with a pledge not to sell for five years. They had, they say, agreed among themselves to operate the road upon business principles for the best interests of all. It is annouunced emphatically that no changes will be made on the staff of officers. Col. Buford will remain president. At the same meeting, M. Bayard Brown, John A. Rutherford and R. B. Gould were removed from their positions as directors, their places being filled by the election of H. C. Fannestock, Samuel Thomas and John McAnery, all of New York. This makes the new board in complete accord with the late purchasers of the road, the Scott-Seney syndicate. A resolution was introduced by Geo. F. Foster, of New York, asking that the directiys report why action has not been commenced to recover from Wm. P. Clyde, T. M. Logan and Joseph Bryan, old directors, about $1,000,000 said to have been lost to the company in enorts to sustain tne company's stock in the financial markets of the country, and instructing the present directors to bring suit for the benefit of the stockholders without further delay. After a warm discussion the resolution was adopted. The present owners will do what is proper in the premises. IS THE It. It. COMMISSION A FAILURE 1 It would perhaps be unjust to answer this query in the affirmative. It might be thought more charitable to wait a little longer and give the Standard Freight Tariff, as fixed by the Railroad Commission, a fair test. But it may be answered on the other hand that the Commission had ample time; that eight months was sufficient in which to adjust the rates, and that although it was a big undertaking the Commission took its time, visited Atlanta and conferred freely with the Railroad Commission of Georgia. Besides all this the Commission had the help and advice of an experienced railroad man in the person of Mr. Bartlett, as Secretary of the Board. In the meantime, while the Commission was preparing its schedule, some of the press of the State did not liesi tare to niaKC Known uieir iiiipuucucc. Apologists for the Commission among the press admonished their brethren and the public to be patient; that the motto of the Commission was "Go slow and be sure that while their work might apparently progress slowly, it would be all right when it did come?"just and reasonable." The essayed task was finally finished and given to the public. But whether a failure or not, it certainly failed to give general satisfaction. The work of the Commission is not only a failure to this extent, but instead of relieving the people of alleged unjust discrimination in freight rates, the discrimination against some localities is greater and more unjust, it seems, as fixed by the Commission, than that complained of as imposed by the railroad companies before the Commission was created. Indeed, it has been suggested that the Legislature, at its next session, should repeal the railroad law and abolish the Commission. Another suggestion is that it would be better, as the matter now stands, flor some localities, at least, "to pay the salaries of the Railroad Commission under an agreement that no other service shall be required of them than is contained in the exertion of drawing their salaries." We do not agree with the latter suggestion, but unless the Commission can so amend its schedule of freight rates as to be "just and reasonable," we shall favor the repeal of the railroad law and the abolishment of the Commission. In our view the office of Railroad Commissioner has always, from its first enactment, been a considerable humbug, and but for the fact that provision was made for the salary of the Commissioners to be paid by the several railroads of the State, we should have been still more strongly opposed to it. Nor did we favor the present railroad law and opposed it on its passage. Although we doubted its advisability, there I was at the time and before the enactment I of said law such a hue and cry against the railroads for alleged unjust discrimination that, by way of experiment, we would have supported the bill when on its passage in the Legislature had the amendment offered thereto providing for the grouping of interior towns, in regard to freight rates, been adopted. The people of this section had had an op! portunity of testing the grouping system, and found it to work well. It placed Greenville, Spartanburg, Newberry, Anderson, Abbeville, Union and Laurens on the same footing as to freight rates. But those who had the management of the railroad bill opposed said amendment. We then voted against the said bill. But it wasadopted by a large majority, and became a law, in which we cheerfully acquiesced. Since its practical operation, however, it seems discriminative and unjust, unless it can be so modi! tied as to be "just and reasonable," equitable ! alike to all sections of the State, we shall fa| vor the wiping out of the whole business. ; As the law now stands it is, in all its more | essential features as to freight, a failure.? | LmiremvUle Herald. ? ? j The State Government.?A gentleman whose business brings him in contact with the officers of many State governments tells the News that the Executive Department of South Carolina is the best and most business-like he has ever seen. All who have had dealings with the Executive offiI cers of the State will echo this praise. There is not a business house in the United States in which the management and system are better than they are in our State House. Nobody can accuse our Executive officers of ignorance of their business or failure* to attorn 1 toit properly.?drenmlle Nnrs. THE SHIELDS MURDER TRIAL. The most exciting murder trial that has occurred in North Carolina for several years was concluded in the Superior Court ol Mecklenburg, at Charlotte on Saturday last? the trial of Thomas L. Shields for the murder of Joseph G. Sitton, on the ">th of last June. With the circumstances of the cast our readers are already familiar. The motive for the deed?which was not denied? was the alleged seduction by the deceased of Mollie Shields, a sister of the prisoner, The trial was begun on Tuesday morning and continued until Saturday afternoon?a large amount of testimony having been taken, and a bright array of legal talent having been engaged?among the latter W. C. Benet, Esq., of the Abbeville, S. C. bar, who was retained to assist the prosecution. The jury returned a verdict of guilty, and the prisoner was sentenced to be hanged on the 12th of October. The leading points of the testimony for the defence are embraced in the following : TIIK PRISONER'S STATEMENT. By reason of what I knew and heard 1 went to see Air. Sitton early in the morning of the ">th of June to induce him to marry my sister and repair her wrong, i started over to see him, and, as my general habit, I took my gun which was loaded as usual. I met him sitting in a room down stairs. I said to him : "Joe, I want to see you a minute privately," and he said, "Let's go upstairs." We went up, and J set my gun down outside of the door. I sat down on a chair leaning against the side of the door, and Joe sat down on the bed. Joe said: "I lore's that book, I haven't had much time to do anything with it." It was the book of my blacksmith, and I took it and stuck il in my pocket. I then said: "I want to see you on more important business; I have heard you were going away and 1 want you to marry my sister before you go; you have seduced her and you must marry her." lie said he would die first, arose and made a mfive for his pistol. As he did so I reached outside the door for my gun and shot immediately. 1 went around to his head and attempted to move him and got my hand in blood. The account book dropped out of my vest pocket, and I picked it up and placed it on the mantelpiece; then went oul and locked the door. Went down, met my brother and his wife and told them what I had done. 1 went down, called my father and Abner Alexander and told them what I had done, and asked Abner to take me tc low II. -Lit. llio 1IIU1II illj V/IKII1 uac UV.U11J half outside; 1 could reach my gun. He was sitting on the bed^five or six feet, facing me. When he rose up he said in an angry tone: "I'll die first." I knew he habitually carried a pistol. I took no aim. I did not see where 1 shot him until I saw him lying on the bed. I first knew of anything wrong between Sitton and my sister on Wednesday before the homicide. I had worked hard that day. It was 11 o'clock at night when the barking of dogs awoke me, ami 1 went down. In passing the widow of my sister's room I heard somebody in there: was so shocked that I couldn't speak. I sat down on the steps and heard her say, "Joe," and that he oughn't to go away, I went upstairs and sat on my bedside. Thought of going down and having a row about it, but concluded if my sister would throwr herself away she might go. I saw him go out of the window, then out of the yard; I knew him very well. I saw him again on Saturdav night, but he didn't come inside the yard. Monday night I saw him again, about 11 o'clock, but ho did not come to the house. On Thursday, the day alter he had been at my house, Sitton said to me, "You had better have me to kill that d?d old dog." I told him I would not have the dog killed. On Tuesday morning at breakfast, my sister was nearly through eating when I asked her when Sitton was going away. She said: "To-day. ""When is lie coming back?" I asked, and she said she didn't know, for he had told so many storiesabout it. I told her I was going to see him, and she said she didn't cart what I did ; if he married her she reckoned she would not be ruined. She said Sittoi had promised to marry her. My sister wa> sixteen or seventeen years old. MOLLIS SHIELDS' TESTIMONY. T otn n cictor nf the* nrisminr. I was 11 years of age a few daysjago. About the 1st of June I lived with iny brother Tom in hi? own house ; it was two miles from my father's. I went there to keep house for him and to go to school; the school was only r short distance, but was out then. My younger brother and Tom Shields and I occupied the house. My room was down stairs in the wing of the house ; Tom's room was uj stairs. 1 knew Joe Sitton ; was acquainted with him about a year, and became engaged to him soon after i met him. lie was in the habit of visiting me at night, but not with the knowledge of Tom. He would come t(. see me at the window of my room. On \S ednesday night previous to the homicide he came into my room through the window I opened the window for him. That nighl he accomplished his purpose, and that wasthe only time. He did it under promise ol marriage. I heard my brother 011 the stairway that night. 1 told Joe that Tom would catch him, and he replied that he was read} for him, drawing something out of his hi} pocket which I took to be a pistol. I could not see what it was. lie promised to come back Monday night, but did not come. J never talked to him after that. I saw him but did not have any talk with him. On Saturday morning, before my brother wen! to see Mr. Sitton, he asked: "When is Jot going away." 1 said: "To-day." Tom asked : "When is he coming back," and I answered that he had told so many tales t 1.1 +1,.... orti.l tlUUlll 11, A UiUil t JYllllW. A IHC1I OU1W IV, Torn: "Why do you ask?" and he replied that I need not be surprised, for lie knew what had happened. I then acknowledged it, and he asked me when we were going to marry. 1 told him 1 didn't know. He said he would go and see Joe, and unless he (Joe) agreed, then there'll be some trouble. Just as Tom was going out J said: 1 don't care what you do, after the way he I has treated me. 1 didn't see Tom leave the I house, only saw him leave the room. I then went to my room and fell on my bed in eonsequence of what I had heard. I don't know how long I lay there. I am unconscious of having gone up to David Shields' that morning. I don't remember that I heard a gun tire, but if 1 did, it was no uncommon thing. I don't know how I learned that Joe was killed. 1 first came to my consciousness in my father's store, after ki o'clock ; my father and mother were with me. I have no recollection of any conversation that took place at David Shields' that ; morning. If I said anything I don't know j what it was. Cross-examined, the witness said: 1 have ! been restrained since that time by my faj tlier and mother from communication with the outside world. 1 don't remember that ; Joe proposed to wait till next Christmas day, and then if lie could not get my paj rents' consult to run away and marry. I J told him 1 would rather marry when I got I to be 18 years old. I never appointed a time for marriage aiid then declined. 1 told | him to ask my father and mother, and il ! they consented J would marry him. I was j engaged to him about a year, lie had his will with me only on that Wednesday night. I don't remember when 1 got the last note from liini. Our correspondence didn't go on till the day he was killed. I don't remember that I wrote to him on the 2nd ol June. He didn't write up to the day of the killing. 1 le had been at my window several times. I always set the light on my j trunk to let him know when to come. Af; ter Tom left that morning I went in my 1 room and fell on my bed. I was inimedatelvr bereft. nf consciousness: came to while ! .sitting on u bed in ray father's store. I have I a recollection of going before the coroner's inquest, but I didn't understand it. After I said it was false I refused to answer any more questions. A series of letters were then shown to the witness, which she said she had written to Joseph G. Sitton. Those letters, constitu' ting only a part of the correspondence in the possession of the State's counsel, bear the following dates respectively: September 22, 1882, January 29, February ">, February 26, April 18, May 14, May 81, June 1 and June 2,1888. All of these were full of the strongest expressions of that love which witness said she bad for Sitton, except the letter of January 29, in which witness made a proposition to cease the correspondence, ! declaring she had resolved to become an old 1 maid, and leaving it to Sitton to say wheth ' or she should keep the keepsakes which he .! had given her. One of the burdens of the ,, correspondence seemed to be the umvilling1 ness of witness' parents to the marriage. ; Don't know why .Joe didn't come in day| light. He didn't want my people to know | of the engagement, but didn't give any rea son why he wanted it kept a secret, said he | would ask them before he married me. In I one of the letters witness had promised to I marry Sitton if he would "settle down." I n reply to the question, what she meant by "settle down," she said hedrank sometimes. On being asked if that was the reason why her family objected to Sitton, witness said: My family knew nothing of it. Sitton made improper proposals to me before the Wednesday night he had his will of me. I thought he loved me ; J loved him. He is the same man of whom J said to my brother: i don't care what you do with him. I last had conversation with him on Wednesday night, f saw him at church on Sunday. I still have the college society 1 , ir. CJSJ.1. r oauge which mr. oiuon guvu inc. i nun i ' know that brother David knew Joe visited my window or that Annie knew it. Annie and I were very intimate, as much soas if we were sisters. lie-direct I was sworn and examined at ; the coroner's inquest. They had my an' swer put down wrong. I said : It is true. . They had it: It is not true. I took the paL per and changed it myself. My father and ' mother knew that joe drank. On that Wednesday night he told me he was going away and didn't know when he would come back. Joseph Sitton gave me a ring; I have it at home. I wore it to church a day 1 or two after his death. CLOSING SCENES OF THE TRIAL. 'The Journal-Obxerw gives the following graphic account of the closing scenes of the trial: Judge Gilmer's charge was concluded at about 8.00 o'clock and the jury immediately retired to their room in the Central Hotel for l deliberation. While they were out, most ! of the crowd remained in the court house, i nn/l uf-nnrl ornimrl nil tllP strppts ill i dulging 111 speculations as to the result. I There seemed to be a feeling that the ver diet would be guilty. And so it was. At [ twenty-five minutes to five, the jury under I charge of Col. Win. Alexander, filed into f the court room, which was instantly filled I with a rush of eager, excited people. There ; was a delay of perhaps half an hour, waitr ing the arrival of jailor Griffith with the prisoner. Mr. A. C'. Shields, father of the prisoner was seated in a chair at a table in; side the bar beside Mr. J. IT. Wilson. His > ex pression was a sad one and he kept his ' head bowed. He appeared like a man whose breast was filled with grief at the ; consciousness of some great impending r blow. When the jailor arrived with his ' son, the old man rose from his chair to allow ; his son to get behind the table in a seat : behind him. Neither of them spoke, but ; in a moment the son was seen to whisper something in his father's ear. The prsoner gazed around at the faces in the court room ; in a mechanical manner. He recognized none of the glances directed at him, and r one could see that he was laboring hard to ; suppress his emotions. GUILTY ! i The roll of the jury being called and all answering to their names, they were requested to rise and give their verdict. The ' prisoner also rose to his feet and faced t the jury as the foreman pronounced the verdict, in a low, but decided tone of voice, ! "Guilty." The jury was then polled and 1 eacn juryman answering iu jus name ic> plied, "guilty." As the verdict was pronounced, deep silence prevailed in the ' courtroom. Not a muscle of the prisoner's ! face changed as he heard the verdict proi nounced, and took .his seat. I ' THE SENTENCE OF DEATH. All eyes in the court room were strained tp get a look at the prisoner as he rose from his seat to receive his death sentence. His i father sat with bowed head, but in his ex [ pression silent grief was portrayed. TliomI as Shields calmly eyed the Judge and fanned himself vigorously with a palm leaf fan. [ During the time occupied by the lawyers [ in discussing the exceptions to the evidence, Mr. Shields occupied himself in reading a . copy of Thursday morning's Jourtml-Ob.svrrer, evidently much interested in the published accounts of the previous day's trial. He appeared to be perfectly calm, : and when he rose to face Judge Gilmer he t stood thoroughly self-possessed. In an? swer to the usual question if he lu}d any thing to say as to why the sentence of the 1 law should not be pronounced, Mr. Shields L replied in a low tone of voice that he had nothing more to say at present. Judge ' Gilmer then addressed himself to the pris1 oner. I Ie (the J udge) knew nothing of this > case when he came to Charlotte, had heard 1 - --' 'I ~ + nn,l ,11,1 1 lirilULT UIU.1 S1UC IllJl iiiv7 wuin, nun \iki in/u I even know that he would have to try it. He ! was therefore able1 to hear it from an unpre1 judiced standpoint, and to give the prisoner ? the benefit of a fair, unbiased and impar1 tial hearing. As the trial had proceeded ' lie had been more and more impressed with his guilt, and had probably for that cause t let all his actions and rulings lean in favor ' of the prisoner, for fear that he might let F his opinion lead him out of the way. He cautioned the prisoner not to let his hopes ' rely on receiving a pardon, for if the facts ' of this case, as produced at the trial, are ? laid before the Governor, they will forever ' seal the executive's lips "against granting "lie pardon, and there were no grounds for "he prisoner to build his hopes upon in this i direction. Judge Gilmer then moralized 1 r.o the prisoner in the most solemn manner, i and said that "I am able, and 1 thank God - that I am, to tell you that there is a throne ' where grace and pardon can be procured," anil directed the prisoner to look for mercy 5 to the great Judge of all. The evening had ' grown apace, and the red September sun just sinking to rest, cast its departing rays ' through the windows, lighting up the hush ed room with a softened glare which seem1 od to add to the solemnity of the scene, as Judge Gilmer, leaning back in his chair, slowly articulated the words that sealed the ' prisoner's doom. Thomas Shields leaned : slightly forward on the table as Judge Gil! mer spoke the sentence, that the prisoner ! be "remanded to jail from whence he came i and there be securely confined until Friday, October 12th, on which day, between the i -< +i,^ r, ,.,??,i I1UUI?!> Ul It'll U t'iUtiv in 111u iuiunu\yu (uju ; four o'clock in the afternoon, lie shall be taken by the sheriff to the place of common execution and there be hanged by the neck until he is dead. And may (tod have mercy on his soul." Judge Gilmer appeared deeply impressed as he spoke the words ! and his voice was low, but distinct. Thornis Shields twitched about the mouth as he resumed his seat, but this was all. He appeared to have screwed up his courage to resist the ordeal and those who expected to see him break down or show any signs of 1 emotion, were disappointed. The prisoner remained in the court house for sometime after the crowd had left, when he told his ; father good-bye and accompanied the officer 1 to the jail. AX AIM'KAL TAKEX. After Judge (Jilmer had passed the death ; sentence upon the prisoner, his counsel entered a motion for ii new trial, and this being refused, they took an appeal to the Supreme Court, and the case will be heard 1 before that body at the October term. Should that court sustain the judgment of the lower court the death sentence will be re-affirmed at the next term of the Superior (Vmrt for Moeklonhnw eouiltv to be held ill February. The jury were out little more than an hour, and from statements made by some of them after they had been discharged, it was quick work with them. On the first ballot it was found that they were all for the conviction of the prisoner and 110 deliberations or arguments were necessary. They rested and refreshed themselves for awhile and then repaired to the court house to return their verdict. Thus has ended the most exciting and most interesting murder trial that ever engaged the attention of our court, a trial that has stirred our county from one end to the other, and which has j been watched and listened to throughout < I with unflagging interest by the largest i crowds that ever thronged our court house.! ? Chester Reporter, Friday: At a meet-1 ing of the congregation of Purity Presby-! terian church of this place last Sunday I morning, a unanimous call was made for the services of Itev. G. A. Trenholm, as pastor of the church here. Mr. Trenholm has been notified of the call, and the matter will be laid before, the Nashville Presbytery, of which Mr. Trenholm is a member, j 1 now in session. I LOCAL AFFAIRS. NEW ADVERTISEMENTS. John M. McBride, President, Coluinhiii, S. ('.? ' South Carolina College. J.N. Tommec?A Hare Chance for Investment. Lowrv L. Smith?Land For Sale. J F. E. Smith?Wanted. | J. K. Henry, Secretary?Chester Fair. | J. K. Lindsay A Co.?Returned. | Kennedy Bros. A Barron?Wool Wanted. Parish A MeKnight?That New < irocery Store. ! W. C. Latimer?Just Returned. May it May?Druggists and Pharmacists, i John May, Jr.?Come and See. : T. M. Dohson?New Hoods, New Hoods! i F. A. Connor, Administrator?Application for j Discharge. NEELY'S CREEK CHURCH. We are requested by the pastor of Xeely's Creek Church to give notice that there will be no service at that church until the tirst Sunday in October. FAILURE IN'ROCK HILL. James J\ Caston, a merchant of Hock Hill, has failed, and last week the sheriff levied attachments on his stock of goods. We learn that the amount of his liabilities in six or seven thousand dollars. THE COTTON TRADE. The cotton season has fairly opened, and the staple is coming in freely. As a cotton market this season, Yorkville will offer as strong inducements to sellers as any neighboring town. Already several buyers are in the field, and there will be sufficient competition to ensure the highest quotations. THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. The work of re-covering and otherwise repairing the steeple of the Presbyterian church is about completed. The steeple is 227 feet high from the ground, and the work was attended with some difficulty and danger, though it was successfully accomplished under the supervision ?of Mr. A. Frank Woods. Galvanized iron was used a a covering material, and it makes a very neat finish. CHESTER FAIR. By announcement in our advertising columns, it will be seen that the Chester, York, Fairf eld and Lancaster Agricultural, Horticultural and Mechanical Association will open at Chester on the 16th of next month and continue four days. The annual fairs of this Association have been eminently successful in the past; but we have every assurance that the approaching exhibition will surpass any that have preceded it. WHEAT THRASHERS. We some time ago\ requested the wheat thrashers of the county to give us a report of the quantity thrasfced by them respectively the past harvest : but as yet only two have responded. Mr. John E. Lowry reports that he has thrasied 4,100 bushels of 1 - 1 1 n cx/\,x 1 uLl.. Arnfcw, WJlGJlt 1111(1 lijlJIJU UUMUblrt <11 Wilio. iiivj.-ioi| Robertson & Armstrong report ">,000 bushels of wheat and 2,l!)i) uushels of oats. Last year, in the same territory, Messrs. Robertson & Armstrong thrashed G,0(H) bushels of wheat and the same quantity of oats. THE FALL TRADE. The Fall trade is opening quite satisfactorily to the merchants of Yorkville, who are new receiving large quantities of new goods. Last Saturday was an active day. The streets were crowded with cotton wagons, and every house was kept busy waiting on customers. The Yorkville merchants can compete with any neighboring market. They show as handsome stocks of dry goods as can be found in the State outside of Charleston or Columbia, while our grocers are 11 4'..11 4Lai' f Uunc Wl'll SUJtJMlCU \\ itll lllli 111 UILII nil. church notices. Methodist Episcopal?Rev. It. P. Franks, Pastor. Services in the Church at Yorkville at 11 A. M., and at 8 P. M. At Philadelphia Church at 8 P. M., next Sunday. Associate Reformed Presbyterian?Rev. R. Lathan, Pastor. Services at Tirzah Church next Sunday. Episcopalian?Rev. A. Prentiss, Rector. Services in the Church of the Good Shepherd, at the usual hours next Sunday. Presbyterian?Rev. T. R. English, Pastor. Service at the usual hours next Sunday, morning and evening. Baptist?Rev. J. E. Covington, Pastor. Services at 10.30 A. M. a flying"iiorse. Mr. J. A. Darwin was out driving a spirited horse to a two wheeled vehicle last Monday, and when about two miles from town the animal became frightened at the d^wn passenger train. Mr. Darwin's companion alighted from the cart and proposed to hold the horse by! the bridle until the train passed; but to tnis the plucky driver said no?let her go, and "go" she did, until 1 * 1 ' 1 * ?-*i r ~ tiiey reacneu an eigni-ran lence, which me horse jumped, lifting the cart and its occupant and taking tlu?in safely over. The horse thouglit something unusual had happened and stopped /abruptly to look back. Seeing that all was safe, she became perfectly docile, while Mr. Darwin alighted from the cart and saluted the passing train, the passengers of which had witnessed the unique performance. GOV. THOMPSON AND THE ORPHANS. The Thornwell Orphanage has for nine years past been doing its good work of educating boys and girls and fitting them for usefulness in life. It is located in the rural village of Clinton, on the Laurens Railway, a town given over to the sway of education, religion and temperance. The Orphanage was begun in 1875, on a small scale with only 12 orphans and 2 ladies in charge of them. It now cares for over 40 children and 5 teachers and officers. The expense of maintenance has been about ?70 a year for board (for 12 months), clothing, school privileges and books, and matron's care, medical attention, ?fce. This money comes in as the Lord puts it into the heart of the charitable to give it. After IS monthsoflabor, a largeaiul handsome building, the Orphan's Seminary has been brought to completion. The opening ceremonies of the school for orphans in this new house, will take place on the evening of the 1st of October. (?ov. Thompson, honIaoiIo^ nf fhn oHrunonrl nrlnna_ i Ull'Vl tuv; ivtivivi \/* HIV muwiivvu vv?uv?? tional movement in our State, has consented to deliver the address on that occasion. Hostile Collision at the State House.?A difficulty occurred at the State | House yesterday morning about 11 o'clock i between Colonel .lames N. Lipscomb, Sec-1 retary of State, and Mr. John P. Thomas, the Private Secretary of the Governor, in 1 which several blows were past and some I blood drawn. It appears from the statement made to us in regard to the occurrence that Mr. Thorn-! as, and one of the clerks in the Secretary of State's office were conversing together on ! j the outside of the Secretary of State's office 1 in regard to an announcement that had been made by a newspaper correspondent and wished to know from what source the said Lnrl nl\foinnrl Viiu infni?rviof 1 An IAJ1 1 L iUlU UUUlllUVl illO liiiuiuubkiuili I Whereupon Colonel Lipscomb, who was in hearing distance, approached, and join- : ing in the conversation, intimated that the : correspondent had obtained his news sur- [' reptitiously. To this Mr. Thomas made answer that he did not think so. Colonel < Lipscomb reiterated the assertion. Mr. i Thomas reiterated /lis opinion of the matter j and retired to his office. A few minutes later Colonel Lipscomb en- i tered Mr. Thomas' office, and, approaching < him, said that the remark that bad been i made by Thomas was equivalent to calling i him (Lipscomb) a liar. This Mr. Thomas disclaimed any intention of doing, but Col- j onel Lipscomb would put no other construe- I tion on the language, and struck Mr. Thorn- 1 as in the face. Mr. Thomas returned the ; blow, and in the collision struck Colonel Lipscomb a blow on the head with a small piece of iron that was lying on the ottice stove. These are the particulars as far as we could obtain them, Mr. Thomas and Colonel Lipscomb both declining to furnish any statement to the press for publication.? Columbia Register, Sunday. As a sequel to the above affair, Mr. X. (J. Gonzales, the Columbia correspondent of the Xeus and Courier, who was the subject of the remark that led to the difficulty, was arrested last Monday, on a peace warrant and bound over to keep the peace in a bond of $f)IX>. SOUTH CAROLINA NEWS. ? Congressman Dibble is canvassing his district and addressing the people on the subject of his proposed course in Congress. ? Two Northern men arrived in Georgetown last week. The purport of their visit is to make arrangements for starting a paper mill. ,? An election will be held in Union county on October 29th on the question of a county subscription of S2"),00l) to the Union, Gaffney City and Rutherford Railroad. ?frhe new freight and passenger rates of the Itailroad Commission went into effect I last Saturday, none of the railroads offering any opposition. ? R. G. Hudson, who has just been elected a circuit judge in Texas, is 24 years old and the youngest judge on the bench. lie is from Marion county, this State, and a nephew of Mr. J. W. Hudson of that county. ? The petitions of Mingo, Turkey, Anderson, Sutton's and Penn townships, in Williamsburg county, for exemptions from the Stock law were dismissed at the last meeting of the board of county commissioners for the insufficiency of said petitions. ? Chester Bulletin: In December of last year Latham, Alexander & Co., of New York, offered SoOO to the cotton buyer who would send in an estimate that would come nearest the number of bales of cotton raised that year, in the United States. From the pamphlet of estimates issued by Latham, Alexander & Co., we see that Maj. T. S. C*\locfor lint! \rnn fhn nri7n ho having come nearest the figures given in the Financial Chronicle, the most prominent standard of authority recognized among cotton men. Major Mills' estimate was 0,992,802, which is just 028 bales more than the actual report of the crop. The offer of Latham, Alexander & Co., provided that the money won must be devoted to some charitable purpose. THE GREELEY EXPEDITION. Dispatches from the officers of the Greeley Arctic Relief Expedition convey the information that the search has been fruitless, and the expedition a failure. Under date of St. John's, New Foundland, September 13th, Lieut. Oarlington telegraphs to the Secretary of the Navy as follows: It is my painful duty to report the total failure of the expedition. The Protern was crushed in a pack in latitude 78 degrees, 52 minutes, longitude 71 degrees, 25 minutes, and sunk on the afternoon of the 23d of July. My party and the crew of the ship are all saved. I made my way across Smith Sound and along the eastern shore of Cape York, thence across Melville Bay to Upernavick, arriving there on the 24th of August. , The Yantic reached Upernavick on the 2d of September and left the same day, bringing the entire party here to-day. All well. Under the same date the following, also, was received from Commander Wildes, of the expedition: The United States steamer Yantic has arrived, bringing Captain Pike and the crew of the Protean. Lieutenant darlington and the Greeley relief party are all well. The steamer Protean was crushed in the ice six miles north of Cape Sabine on July 23d. The crew and the relief party, after depositing records at Littleton Island and Pandora Harbor, retreated south in six boats to Upernavick, suffering much hardship in Melville Bay. The Yantic reached Littleton Island August 3d, without much difficulty, found the records and immediately proceeded southward. Searched thecoast and island thoroughly down to Saunders Island. The ice pack then closed in and we could neither get around nor through, and were obliged to retreat under the lea of Northumberland Island. On August Dth, a southward gale having loosened the pack, were able to get through and continue the search. The coast about Cape York was filled with ice packed close; could not get within twenty miles of land. August 10th, having ice in all directions but southeast, proceeded to Upernavick. Sent fifteen days' rations to Lesinsake and a whale boat to Cape Shackleton. [Note.?Probably intended for Tessuissak, a small settlement between Cape Shackleton and Unernavik and about four miles North of the latter.] On the 22(1 sailed for Coal Mine and thence to Good Haven. On the 31st Lieutenat Caldwell arrived in a launch from Upernavik, having been thirtynine days in open boat. Had separated under orders at Cape York. Sailed same day for Upernavik. On September 2d proceeded homeward. Had rough passage. Permission is asked to coal here. On Saturday Lieutenant Garlington telegraphed as follows: Stores were not left at Littleton Island because it was not in my programme to do so. It was my intention to establish a depot at or near Cape Prescott and to the northward, as recommended by Lieutenant Greeley, and to till the gap caused by the Neptune1 a failure to get above Cape Sabine. Five hundred and fifty-five rations were left at Upernavik by the Vantic for my party. Part of these met me at a point forty miles north of Tissusak, all of which has since been returned to the Vantic. The ultimate result of any undertaking to go north at this time is extremely problematical. The chances are against its success, owing to the dark nights now beginning in those regions, making ice navigation extremely critical work. There is no safe Winter anchorage on the west shore of Greenland between Disco and Pandora Harbor, except, perhaps, North Star Bay, the Winter quarters of Saunders. However, there is a bare chance of success, and if my recommendations are approved, I am ready and anxious to make the effort. My plan is to buy a suitable - _ i x_i__ _ r... l seaier, xaKeacrew iroiu vuiuuicersiruiu me Yantic and Powhatan, now in this harbor, paying them extra compensation, Lieutenant J. C. Cohvell to command the ship, two ensigns and one engineer to be taken from those who may volunteer from the same ship; also, to employ a competent ice pilot here. The ship must be under United States laws and subject to military discipline. I believe nothing can be done with foreign civilian officers and crew. In the event of there not being enough seamen volunteering, the remainder to be enlisted here. Commander Wildes will communicate with the Navy Department. If anything is to be done it must be done at once. K. A. Garlixgton. 1 Lieutenant Garlington has been advised that the Secretary of War will not authorize the proposed expedition this Fall, but will j ] order one next year. i 1 ax ixteresixg letter from mr. Da- i vis.?Mr. Jefferson Davis has written a! letter expressing regret that it will probably < not be in his power to be present at the 1 dedication of the monumentto Gen. Zachary i Taylor at Louisville, Ky., on the 20th inst., ] though he says "nothing could be more |, grateful to his heart than thus to testify for \ the memory of that great and good man the i < love and admiration with which lie regarded him while living." Continuing, Mr. Davis says: "His modest, self-denying character, always ready to give credit to others and never claim it for himself, has caused him to no small extent to be underestimated ( by those who had but superficial knowledge i of him. Carelessness in outward appear- < anee, heroical, daring in achievment, gave 1 him the familiar appellation of'Rough and i Ready,' from which some have most erro- t neously inferred illiteracy. Though richly endowed as a soldier by nature, the precis- t ion he exhibited in active campaigns was 1 merely intuitive, for in military history n 1 have known few men so deeply read or so r profoundly learned. As gentle in peace as c formidable in battle, the figure which would c i>e emblematical of his character would be ' :i i composite of the lion and the lamb." i ? THE RAILROAD COMMISSION. On the 12th instant the Railroad Commission issued the following circular to the authorities of the several railroad companies doing business in the State: 1. Until further notice the railroads in the State may use the classification of the Southern Railway and Steamship Association for freight coining from or going beyond the limits of the State. 2. All through and joint rates now in force will so continue until further notice. Copies of all tariffs, whether of local, joint or through rates, must be forwarded to the commission as soon as issued. Each company will number its tariffs consecutively, and designate their class by an initial letter, namely, L for local, J for joint, and T for through. Through and joint rates must show the divisions, that is to say, the proportion of charges for each road. 4. Each passenger unprovided with a ticket may be required to pay the conductor who takes his or her fare twenty-41ve cents additional to the amount of his fare, upon receiving from such conductor a ticket good for twenty-five cents upon presentation at any ticket station of the company. 5. The following is substituted for Rule 10: The railroads will not be reouired to "regulate their charges for shorter distances by their proportion of through rates between terminal or junctional competitive points." In connection with the foregoing circular, the Columbia correspondent of the News ami Charier says: It should be stated that the through and "joint" rates for future use are now being prepared by the railroad authorities, and after their approval by the Commission will go into force. As there is not time enough to have them ready by the loth, the present through and joint rates are temporarily continued in force. Some other arrangement will doubtless be made before long as to the classification to be used for int^r-State freights. The present Southern Association classification is allowed to be used tempora rily until .some other plan is adopted. The reason is obvious. The commissioners' classification is different in many respects from the Southern Association's classification which is used by the roads entering the State, and something must be done to harmonize the two so as not to obstruct business. CONDITION OF THE CROPS. The State Department of Agriculture publishes under date of last Saturday .321 township reports, covering every county in the State, snowing the condition and indicated yield of the growing crops. The weather throughout the month has been verv generally unfavorable, as the drought has prevailed in nearly every section, inflicting almost irreparable injury on all crops; fiftyfive of the correspondents, however, report favorable seasons during a part of the month, which materially advanced the crop prospects in those sections. In many localities rain fell in the latter part of August, but it is the general impression of the reporters that it came too late to benefit either cotton or corn. Cotton has been seriously injured by the protracted drought, and shows a decline of 15 points since August, attributable chiefly to this cause. Sixty correspondents in the middle and lower counties report the appearance of the caterpillar, but the damage inflicted is trifling, except 011 the islands, and the injury to the crops there cannot be estiinofo/T of fh?? fimo The planters have very generally resorted to the application of Paris green, and when mixed with rosin and flour or chalk it has been an efficacious remedy. In Berkeley county the following mixture applied by copper wire seive has proven an affective remedy: 40 pounds flour, 2 pounds powdered rosin and 1 pound Paris green to the acre. It is feared that in some sections the late cotton may be seriously damaged by the worms unless they are destroyed. 'The condition of the crop September 1st is reported in Northern Carolina at 51, against 5)5 at the same date last year ; middle Carolina at 65, against 89, and lower Carolina at 64, against 8!)?an average for the State of 64, against 91 last year and 79 on the 1st of August. The usual yield, as estimated by the correspondents, is for the State 202 pounds of :^1:^4.^/1 ,.:^i ^4- 4.u:? inn pt*r ucrtr, uuu me uiuiiiiicu yicu iu inia time is 129 pounds per acre or 04 per cent, of an average crop. The yield la.st year, as estimated by the department, was 198 pounds per acre. Corn has also been greatly damaged by the prevailing drought. On uplands the crop is, except in few favored sections, almost a failure, and in many localities the stalk has been cut down and housed for rough forage. Fortunately a large part of the crop is planted on river or creek bottoms, and on such lands a fair yield is anticipated; still the general average has been greatly reduced by the failure of the uplands. In Northern Carolina the condition is reported at 53, in middle Carolina G5 and lower Carolina G2?an average for the State of 02, * against 111 for the same period last year and 75 on the first of August. The usual yield estimated from reports of correspondents 12 bushels, and the indicated yield at this time is 7 bushels or 02 percent, of the average crop. The yield last year, estimated by the Department of Agriculture, was 121 pushelsper acre. MERE-MENTION. Gen. H. I. Hunt, commanding the department of the South, has been placed upon the reiired list of the army, having reached the age of 04 years, and was instructed to turn over his command to General Hancock, who will assume command temporarily. In Massachusetts a man has $1 taken off his highway tax if he sets four trees along the road. Four cadets of the Naval Academy have been dismissed for hazing. The melon crop of Georgia this year amounted to 6,250,000. Eight million acres of government land in Dakota have been disposed of to private persons within a year. " The New Jersey Democrats have nominated Lyman Abbott for Governor, and his opponents bolted. The loss on the Virginia peanut crop this year is estimated at $200,000. Grain dealers in Chicago, say the frost of last week destroyed 300,000,000 bushels of corn. A .National iaiDor convention lscaneci to meet in Philadelphia, January 12,1884. Pleuro-pneuinonia has appeared among cattle in Delaware, Chester and York counties, Pa., and so far about 330 head of cattle in those counties have been affected, a dozen of which have been killed. Juuge Robert Mavo, of Westmoreland county, Va., blew his brains out with a pistol, on board a Norfolk and Baltimore steamer, on Saturday. The Augusta and Knoxville and the Port Royal railroads are now run as one road. Jacksonville, Alabama, lias been destroyed by tire. Loss $30,000. Parish C. Furman, of Georgia, the originator of the "intensive" system of farming, died at his residence near Milledgeville, last Friday night. lie was a native of Sumter county, S. C. Hon. David Jenkins is very sick at his home in Gaston county, N. C. Mrs. Stonewall Jackson and daughter have recently been the guests of Governor Butler, of Massachusetts. The postal note is beginning to be regarded a failure. Tiie Crops.?There is every reason to believe that in spite of the recent frost in remote North-W estern sections, the corn crop will, with the surplus from last year, be jqual to the highest production. The cotton crop has been shortened by Irouth. It is still estimated at 0,000,000 Dales. This is a comparatively large crop, ind, with the surplus of last year, does not promise any remarkable rise in price. The New Orleans Picayune says that the requirenents of the world are not sufficient to absorb at good prices over a 0,000,000 bales Ymerican crop, and another crop approach- , ng 7,000,000 would have placed the South it the mercy 01 buyers, me reduction in he yield this season is therefore not wholly in unmixed evil. We do not look, howev r, for full compensation for the loss in yield n the market rates, owing to the condition if the cotton goods trade and the surplus eft over from last season, which spinners low have available to use against efforts to idvance prices." Under the circumstances, we do not see hat planters will gain anything by holding jack their crop for advance in rates. Such i plan is usually a losiugas well as vexatious me. Farmers who have either grain enough in hand or an abundance to gather are to he :ongratulated. It seems to he wise for the igriculturalists of the South to plant small grains of all kinds and make amends for