Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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\ __ ? - ? ?he ? nWillt #nqtttw* YOBKVILLE, S. CVtT ~ WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 1887. UNTIL JANUARY 1st, 1888. We will famish the Enquirer from this date ontil January 1st, 1888, for $1.75. I. SEVERE FROST. The 'severest frost of the year was seen by arly risers last Saturday morning. It is feared hat this frost and the preceding cold days seriously damaged the frnit crop; though persons ell us there are peaches yet in some localities. SUICIDE. " * On Monday morning last, Smith Adams, who [yed near. Black's, committed suicide by shootag himself with a gun. He had just finished sting his breakfast, when seizing a gun a remarked that he had a notion to shoot himelf, and instantly fired. He was supposed to e out o$ds mind at the time. 1 *??J EXAMINATION OP TEACHERS. Forty-four teaohera of free public school/ap>eared before the examining board last Etiday or certificates as teachers or renewals of dwtifir ates. Of the number there were 10 white males, rod 17 white fb males, 12colored males, and 5 colored females. It will be several days before the txaminations are graded. / FLAG STAFF FAINTED./^ Through the liberality of Messrs. Longman <fc Hart Inez, of New York, manufacturers of the celebrated pure prepared paints, famous all oyer he Union, the flag staff of the. weather signal ;er.vice at this place has been painted. The offer was voluntary on their part, they furnishing he paintand paying the charges for applying it, jrhioh has been neatly accomplished by Mr. 3. D. Phillips, who erected the pole last October. FIRE NEAR BETHEL. , On Monday morning last, about 11 o'/lock, n the plantation of Mr. T. Jefferson Clinton, a mall dwelling.house, corn crib and barn buildng belonging .to him, but rented by George tendrick, colored, were destroyed by an acci ? ? * ?Alt? ^ iental tire, in tne ounamg* u qunuwvjr ui orage, forty-five or fifty bushels of corn, live ^ acks of fertilisers, and a part of the household ^ urniture, all belonging to Kendrick, were de rtroyed. The loss is estimated at about one ^nundred and fifty dollars, The fire originated ^ rom the wind blowing sparks from a stump ^Brhich bad been burning for several days near buildings. H ' PERSONAL MENTION. SB Mrs. JerushaDarwin, of this place, is visiting jHhe family of Dr. R. R. Darwin at Black's. Miss Hattie Crenshaw is visiting friends at lock Hill. Miss Cora Clark returned home last week from ^ forth Carolina, where she had been making a MBrotracted visit to friends and relatives. |fl Mr. W. J. Shelton, the energetic agent for the ^Kolumbia Roister, is in town this week, working ^Bp the claims of that deserving journal. Hon. J. J. Hemphill, representative in Con^Brees from this district, came up from Chester ^Monday evening, and has met a large number of ^Krfriends during the week. CHURCH NOTICES. ^ Episcopal-Rev. E. N. Joyner, Rector?Sun^Bay-school at 3.30 P. M. ^ Presbyterian?Rev. T. R. English, Pastor. ^Services next Sunday at 11 A. M. and 7.30 P. f. Sunday-school at 4 o'clock P. M. ^ Associate Reformed Presbyterian?Rev. J. C. ^Btalloway, Pastor. Preaching at Tirzah next ^Bunday morning at 11.30 o'clock. Sunday^Bchool at 4 o'clock P. M. , ^B Baptist.?Rev. F. C. Hickson, Pastor?Com^Buinion service next $unday morning a 10.30 clock. Sunday-school at the usual hour.' * * ? v i_ # _ ?4 O /V'AIAAIT irrayer-meeung idjs eyeuiug ai> o u uwn. [Methodist Episcopal.?Rev. W. W. Daniel, pastor. The sacrament of th8 Lord's supper frill be dispeused next Sunday. Preaching at I A. M. and 7.30 P. M. Sunday-school at 3.30 f. M. Prayer-meeting at 7.30 o'clock. A SAD SIGHT. tEarly last Monday morning many on our ptiiens.were saddened at the pitiable condition jf-Mr. Wm. E. Good, whose mind has become tabalanced since the murder of his little son just December, and who was brought here Moniay on a warrant of lunacy preliminary to his bmmitment to the Lunatic Asylum, to which lutitntion he was conveyed by the 12 o'clock raiu. Mr. Good has exhibited symptoms of lental aberration sufficient to excite the fears f his friends, almost ever since the death of his ^n, but not until the latter part of lost week, on ie uear approach of the trial of the fiends who iused his sorrow, did reason entirely forsake lm. His madness is not of a violent type, but Mins more a general collapse of his mental rces. Mrs. Good is left with three little chilren and an invalid brother on her hands, and pare informed that she, too, is well nigh prosated. Thus has a once happy household been recked?a father bereft of his reason and a other heart broken?by the brutal and wanton order of their child. v# YORK MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. ^ The York County Medical'and Surgical Abso* * as a 111 convened in regular meeting at xiraiiuii a at 11 A. M. last Monday, Dr. J. R. Bratrirst yiee-Pesident in thecbair. motion Dr. W. G. White was requested sb Secretary. minutes of the last meeting of the Asso1 were read and continued. notion, the essayists for the present meetra. Saye and Walker, were continued uni next meeting. White, the Treasurer, made a report of the ial 'condition of the Association. The irer was requested to continue his efforts ire contributions for the aid of fee CharMedical College. II. J. Walker reported a case of enlarged , the patient being a small child. This as generally discussed by members presfollowing delegates and alternates were ted to represent the Association in the aeeting of the State Medical Association eld in Aiken on the 12th instant: DeleDrs. Andral Bratton and M. J.Walker; tea?Drs. Saye and Ward. Association then adjourned to meet on it Monday of next July. RAILROAD NOTES, onto of the Charleston, Cincinnati and > Railroad through the incorporate limown has not yet been determined upon, [ it be until the comparative cost of con>n by the different surveys can be ascerarn that contractors are making preperato begin work at an early day on this of the line. Col. Kirby, who has the ; from Yorkville to a point within 25 ' Camden, has sub-let five miles of tlio eginning at Yorkville, to Mr. J.JB. Ross, c's. Mr. Ross is making arrangements I put on a force of bands at an eariy uay. Dhe work between Yorkville and Black's has en let as follows, according to information lich we deem reliable : From Black's, eight les this way, to Charles R. Kingsley ; the next jr miles to Mr. Bachelor; the next four to r. Stephens, and the remainder, about 17 miles, Daly <fc Mairs. These contractors are all irthern men, and it is said that they will prob[y sub-let the work. Jr. John S. Moore, for the past three years )k-keeper for Hunter <fc Oates, of this place, \ accepted, the position of book-keeper for i. Kirby, and has gone to Rock Hill to enter an his duties. Mr. Moore is a capable jroung itleman, and we congratulate Col. Kirby on ring secured his services, fovements on this portion of the line have tr somewhat retarded owing to the recent [on in the Virginia Legislature, enforcing the indance there of Chief Engineer Matson. j bill, however, allowing the company to struct and operate its lines in the co unties of tt, Dickison and Wise, passed the Virginia ate with but slight opposition, and it is ber r lieved it will pass the House of Delegates with- ' out any trouble. On Saturday next Johnson City, Tenn., will vote on the question of issuing bonds of the corporation of the town to the amount of 850,000 in aid of the road. A LYNCHING IN YORKVILLE. Yesterday morning opened on the closing scene of one of the most fearfnl tragedies ever enacted in York county. With the brutal murder of the little innocent boy Johnnie Lee Good, on the evening of the 30th of last November, our readers are familiar. On that evening, as the investigation of the jury of inquest and the subsequent confessions developed, the murderers proved to be Prindloy Thomson, Bailey Dowdle, Dan Roberts and Mose Lipscomb, with a number of supposed accessories before the fact, it being believed that a combination for the purposes of robbery and murder existed among the negroes of that neighborhood, in Bullock's Creek township, and adjacent to Broad River. Several of the accessories or accomplices whose names were divulged by the investigation were lodged In jail, where they now are. Excitement ran high in the neighborhood of the murder, as indignation was also manifested throughout the county. The victim was an unoffending boy less than fourteen years old, the son of well-to-do and worthy parents, by whom he was idolized. In an unfortunate moment, as Prindley Thomson confessed in the jail, the little boy detected him, Mose, Dan And Bailey, in the act of stealing cotton from his father's field. To prevent exposure, tho cotton thieves brutally murdered him. Prindley made this confession : "I went with them after the cotton in Mr. Good's field, and left them there. Bailey had the " * * * * * '> W* 1- I ry I boy's waist; 1 naa ms legs; must) .w?s uwnu,6 him, and Dan carried the rocks. We all we;:t away by the pasture field. Bailey hit him first | with the rock when we first got hold ot the boy. DaiuMwfpe boy first. - Dan said: "Boys, youder * Lee." Bailey hit first, and Dan next. Mose jumped on his bowels." Such was the material portion of Prindley's confession, the wounds on the dead body of the boy corroborating his statement as to the manner of infliction. After this confession was made and became known, it being reasonably certain of the positive guilt of Prindley, Bailey, Dan and Mose, the pent up feeling of the western side of the uouuty found vent in threats of lynching, and besides the four named, the blood of Giles Good, the supposed instigator of the crime, and accessory, was also demanded. Sheriff Glenn, vigilant for the safety of his prisoners, becoming satisfied that the threat of lynching would be attempted, on the evening of December 14th, procured an order from Judge Witherspoon transferring them for safe-keeping to the jail at Columbia, and on that night they were spirited away. True to his expectations, nhnnt 7 o'clock on the following morning, a | crowd of about seventy-five mounted men, undisguised, approached the jail, prepared with axes and sledge hammers and some armed with shot guns, and a number of them securing an entrance through the corridor, proceeded to the third floor and commenced battering the wooden shutter covering the iron door which leads to the cells. By the time the Sheriff was aroused by thenoise and had run up to the landing on the third floor, one pannel of the wooden shutter was knocked out and the crowd were moving on the works as though they meant business. When the Sheriff" interposed, the crowd desisted until he convinced them that the men wanted were not in the jail. The whole party, which, aside from their demonstration on the jail, had been quiet and orderly, then peaceably rode out of town. The Sheriff foiled the would-be lynchers and saved his prisoners, Who about the hour of the demonstration were in North Carolina on their way to Columbia, where they remained until last Saturday, when the Sheriff deputized Dr. A. Y. Cartwright and Mr. James H. Riddle, two men in whose courage under contingent difficulties he had full confidence, to conduct the prisoners from Columbia to Yorkville. The transfer was accomplished without incident, and on Saturday evening they were returned to theirold quarters in the Yorkville jail. It was supposed that the excitement and indignation incident to the murder had subsided, and certainly all feeling for summary vengeance was slumbering until Monday morning when the unmistakablo lunacy of the father of the murdered boy rekindled the anger of all who witnessed the uufortunate man on the way to the Asylum. No cautious inquiry, however, - - -- 1 ??11 1 could discover any unuue leeiiug mc ^uciai current of public sentiment. The inquisitive newspaper man, in his suggestive way, endeavored here and there to gain a clue, but every person approached upon the subject expressed the opinion that the law would take its course. Late Monday evening the Sheriff felt a sense of perfect security, and Yorkville retired Monday night little expecting to wake up next morning to find five dead bodies dangling from the limbs of trees almost within the corporate limits. The men chose for the time o? their work the wee small hours, and at half past 4 the Sheriff, who is also jailor, was awakeued by a noise at the door. He rushed up to the crowd in his night dress, and on refusing to surrender the keys, his visitors proceeded,to the third floor and commenced on the same door that had partly yielded to similar treatment only a few weeks before. The Sheriff was powerless to offer resistance, and endeavored to attract attention to the jail by rapid and successive firing of his gun. This had the effect to bring to the scene a few persons, but by the time they arrived, the lynching party had gained entrance, secured the men they wanted and left. The wooden door before alluded to was opened by cutting out the large plate lock with an axe. The padlocks securing the doors to subsequently open were broken, but these were replaced by new ones and the colls I ivara iaft. fnmnarativelv safelv locked. Five I prisoners were wanted, it seems, instead of six as on the former occasion, and those taken were Giles Good, Bailey Dowdle, Prindlev Thomson, Dan Roberts and Mose Lipscomb. Their identity was insured by means of a dark lantern with which the party was provided. As far as can be known, no resistance, or even outcry, was made by any of the doomed men. A man whose business required him to pass near the locality of the hanging, saw the crowd approaching, and stepping to one side of the road, permitted the entire procession to pass without ottering any molestation. He gives the opinion that the victims were mounted. lie could see no one on foot, and all were proceeding along leisurely and quietly. He saw the party not far from the spot selected for the execution of the deed, a knoll on the road loading north-west from the jail, and only a short distance from the stone marking the first mile from the Court House. The most interesting scene in an affair of this kind is supposed to be the bearing and demeanor of the fated wretch, but just here our account of this one must be at fault. We have not seen any one who said he was there, nor do we know whether or not the men bore up bravely, or whether any words of confession escaped their j lips. It is vaguely whispered, but with how | much truth we cannot tell, that Giles Good was j required to act as the executioner of his four i comrades, and was then compelled to tie the knot of his own noose. To this last requirement he is said to have demurred, ejaculating, "how the | devil do you expect a man to hang himself." ; Again it is said that no words were uttered by j any one during the enucting of the final scene, further than one of them expressod his desire of tbe manner or adjusting me rope arounu ms | neck. The ropes used were ordinary eottonv which appear to have been used as plow lines. As soon as it was possible for the Sheriff to do so, he went to the spot of the execution, taking with him two physicians, but they arrived too late to render any assistance to the five limp bodies they found dangling from the trees -four from one tree on the east side of the road, and I the other from the limb of a stout oak hard by j on the opposite side. Life was found to be exj tinct. ! The Sheriff'caused the bodies to be cut down immediately, and on blankets spread upon the ! ground, laid them side by side, under the brancli| es of the tree on which four were hanged. Here the bodies remained until late yesterday afternoon, when they were removed for burial. Prindley Thomson's relatives took possession of his body and the body of Bailev Dowdle was ! takeu possession of by his father. The other I bodies were buried at the expense of the county. | News of the lynching spread over town rapid; ly, and from early in tho morning until late in 1 the day, the scene was visited by throngs of I persons. The colored people, of course, visited the dead bodies with no less motives of curiosity than tho whites; but if they were disposed to censure I the act, they gave expressions in words to no , such feeling. In a group of colored people, about noon, was an auntie, who had a letter written by Mary Thomson, the mother of Prindley. The letter was dated March 31, and reads as follows: "My Dkar Child : If he has testified that Giles Good led him into that murdering scrape, I do believe it, for he could lead my child better than I could. He has objected (prevented) his mother from teaching him the right way, and from my child's action what made me believe it he always would mind Giles Good from ten years old. I could not correct him. Do, please, if you break my child's neck, break Giles Good's, too, for my sake. I do want to see my child once more and if he is hung I do want"his body. Mary Thomson." This letter was intended for the Sheriff, and is a key to the bad reputation sustained in the neighborhood by Giles Good. lie was suspected of being the chief instigator of the thieving which led to the murder. At 11 o'clock yesterday, Coroner Caldwell impanelled ft jury of inquest composed as follows : J. T. Lowry, foreman; J. C. Jackson, t~i-? \r... t_ ? u T T.mvrv IU11I1 1U11V, ill,, a. x-, lilbvuuuvH, >. ... - ^ , R. AI. Steele, Erwin Gordon, S. L. McElweo, H. W. Hope, C. H. Dixon, B. N. Moore, Q. J. Hoke, A. M. MeKnight, W. L. Thomas. The jury, accompanied by the Coroner, went out and viewed the bodies. Drs. White and R. Andral Bratton testified, after examination of the bodies, that the deceased came to their death from strangulation, and that the neck of Mose Lipscomb was broken. The bodies were then identified and the inquest adjourned to the law office of J. B. Bell. The only witness examined was Sheriff, Glenn who testified as follows: On this morning, about half-past four o'clock, I was awakened from my sleep by a noise in the front portico?some one loudly calling and demanding the keys of the jail. I got up and walked out to the door without putting on my clothes. When I got to the portico I found that it was filled with men, completely cutting me off from the avenue leading up to the door. They demanded the keys, stating that they were going to lynch those murderers. I told them that I would not give them the keys. I saw that they were too many for me and It was of no use to offer any resistance. They numbered, perhaps, about sixty or seventy-five. There was considerable excitement and I could not tell the exact number. I refused to give them the keys, but very soon found out that they were prepared, with sledge hammers and axes, to open the door for themselves. I went back to my room, picked up a sixteen-Bhooter I had there, and fired as fast as I could, in order to raise the alarm that something was going wrong at the jail. After a few shots my gun refused to fire on account of a long cartridge getting fastened in it. I got hold of several more cartridges, put them in the gun and fired them off. I then put on my clothes and started up street after assistance, but on reaching Dr. Allison's, I heard the crowd leaving the jail with the pris oners, and concluding that they were not going to hurt me, I went back to the jail, ordered my horse, sent for Dr. White, and followed after the lynching party as far as the mile post. Here" I found a strong guard across the road and I did not care to tackle it. I afterward summoned Dr. White and some other men to go with me, and found the live prisoners, Giles Good, Prindley Thompson, Mose Lipscomb, Dan Roberts and Bailey Dowdle hanging up by their necks. On examination by Dr. White, they were found to be dead. I aid not see the men hung, but suppose that they were hung by the same party that took them out of jail. The jury returned the following verdict: "That the above named persons came to their death by hanging, and by persons unknown to the jury." THE CIRCUIT COURT. The Circuit Court of York county, his Honor Judge Pressley presiding, convened at 10 o'clock A. M., last Monday, Solicitor McDonald and the official stenographer, Mr. Harry McCaw, as well as the local officers of the Court, all being present The grand jurors drawn to serve during the year answered to the call of their names as follows: R. J. Herndon, Thos. W. Clawson, Wm. H. Colcock, S. W. Robinson, W. B. Good, W. A. Baber, W. W. White, David Hutchison, J. R. Haile, Henry Toole, W. B. Daniels, J. J. Roach, T. S. Crawford, Peter Smith, J. M. Russell, R. K. Seahorn, W. J. Waters, S. E. White. For reasons given, on their own petitions, S. E. White, J. J. Roach and Henry Toole, were excused by the Court from serving the present term. . David Hutchison, by Mr. Waters, also made application to be discharged, assigning as one of the reasons therefor that he is Inteudant of the town of Rock Hill; but his Honor replied that a man who is competent for the position of Intendant of Rock Hill, is also competent to discharge the duties of foreman of a grand jury ; "and," continued his Honor, "since Mr. Hutchison took his seat I have had my eye on him for that purpose. I knew his grandfather and his father before him, and if he is half as competent for the position as either of them would be, he will discharge his duties well. Mr. Hutchison will act as foreman of the grand jury." Mr. Hutchison accordingly took his seat in the foreman's chair. After the usual oath had been administered to the jurors, his Honor proceeded to charge them that they now hold the interest of the county in trust for one year, and are bound to look after the interests of the county during the period of their service. Besides their general duties he charged that it is their special duty to exam ine, at least once during tne year, me uonas 01 all the public officers. This, he said, becomes necessary because while a bond may have been perfectly good when given, something might occur to some of the sureties to weaken the bond. It is also the duty of the grand jury to look after the manner in which the various officers discharge their official duties. The more correct an officer is, the better will he be pleased to have his office examined into ; and while such an examination may not be necessary in York, yet, generally, when an official is expecting such an examination, he is apt to have every thing in readiness. The trial justices of the county should also, at some time during the year, submit their books to you for examination, from which you may see if they are properly turning over fines collected, and whether from the nature of the cases on their dockets, they are encouraging frivolous litigation. It is your duty also to examine the public buildings and public institutions of the county and report upon their condition and the manner in which they are conducted. You should see if the inmates of the poor house are kindly and humanely treated, according to the means furnished the keeper by the county; and also whether the prisoners in jail receive humane treatment, which however, should be consistent with their safety. The public roads and bridges are also under your jurisdiction and subject to your inquiry. It is also your duty to inquire into all public abuses and nuisances. The law regulating the sale of spirituous liquors is grossly violated in some counties. While I do not know how it is here, I am informed that in some counties druggists are making use of the State law under nrntonrJorl i-oi'titiciitpMfir nrnscrintions. In some r.vvv..?v? I J counties there are said to bo combinations between druggists and physicians by which a truinped-ap certificate is presented and the druggist supplies the liquor. When a druggist does this he is guilty of selling intoxicating liquor contrary to law. I do not know that the druggists are doing this in York ; but if they are, it is your duty to apply to them the law and let it be tested. See whether or not prohibition will prohibit. It is not expected by the most sanguine advocates of temperance that prohibition laws can be entirely effectual, as there are persons who can procure and will drink liquor despite legislative enactment; but the law has its beneficial effects by withholding temptation and preventing grog-shops from springing up all over the country. The State law regulating the sale of intoxicating liquors has been productive of much good. Without it what plantation could be managed, with a grog-shop convenient, as would surely be the case, with its demoralizing effects upon the laboring classes? To a great extent the law has accomplished the object for which it was intended, and it should be enforced. It is your duty to enquire into the violations of the law, if any, in York county, and if any druggist is engaged in selling intoxicating liquors on trumped-up prescriptions, he is violating the law. The Solicitor placed somo indictments in mo hands of the Court, and after his Honor charged upon the points involved, the grand jury took the papers and retired to their room. The list of petit jurors for the present term was called. Of those drawn all wore summoned except J. W. Hambright, who could not be found. The others are as follows: J. II. Adams, J. \V. Ardrey, K. B. Bigger, A. II. Barnott, B. K. T. Bowen, Thaddeus Bolin, A. B. Curreuce, J. E. Castles, X. B. Campbell, W. F. Dye, Fenton Diggs, R. II. Gilfillon, W. D. Gaston, John Hamel, J. Iv. Hambright, W. I). Johnson, W. E. Jackson, J. M. Jackson, S. G. Iveistler, J. M. Kirkpatrick, \V. S. May, R. A. Parish, J. X. Roberts, John Ramsey, John Rattaree, Isaac Pear, Cooper Smith, James Scoggins, J. T. Smith, W. II. Stephenson, J. T. Thoinasson, IT, B. Wallace, W. P. Wylie, J. A Watson, J. S. Wright. W. 1). Johnson and John Rattaree were excused on their own petitions. The first case called was one on the Contingent docket, the State vs. Win. Thornburg and Sylvanus Thornburg, charging them with resisting an officer and carrying concealed weapons. Sylvanus Thornburg had not been arrested, but William Thornburg who was present, was put upon trial. He was represented by Maj. Hart, Wilson & Wilson and Mr. Bell. The following jury was empaneled: Wm. P. Wylie, foreman, J. T. Smith, J. E. Castles, J. S. Wright, Cooper Smith, J. M. Kirkpatrick, W. E. Jackson, W. D. Gaston, A. B. Currence, Fenton Diggs, John Ramsey, H. B. Witllace. The facts as shown on the examination were to the effect, as presented by the Stato, that W. J. Neely had been deputized by Sheriff Glenn to serve bench warrants upon the Thornburgs, and on the 25th of last June, with a posse of seven 1? :*^,1 a., tl.rt ?aa/1a!/1a ??ao* ATaPaI 1 nrr?'u IUUI1 lit? wuuuu uu buo luauniuo ucai luwunuut ? Mountain, where ho thought they would pasa on that day, and when William andSylvanus in one buggy, followed in another by their father and a brother, drove up, Mr. Neoly stepped out and demanded their surrender, telling them he hqd a warrant for their arrest. Instead of halting, they whipped up their horse, and after driving by, one of them fired a pistol at the posse. After this the firing became general, and in it William received a wound, and Sylvanus made his escape. The old man and the other son surrendered. The charge of carrying concealed weapons was incident to their use of them in resisting arrest. The defenco maintained that William and Sylvanus did not necessarily know that Mr. Neely was clothed with the power to arrest them, that he exhibited no warrant, and besides he did not even demand a surrender, but drew his pistol and fired the first shot without a word of warning. After argument, the Judge charged the jury, who at half past 1 P. M.'refhfedto"the rdom, and at 8 o'clock informed the Court that they could not agree. A mistrial was entered, and the Solicitor gave notice that he should call up the case again for trial to-morrow. Besides the above case, the following were also disposed of on Monday: State vs. Charles Brown, colored ; petit larceny. The defendant being in jail under a sentence by Trial Justice Camp, passed before the recent decision of the Supreme Court, a nolle prosequi was entered. State vs. the same; carrying a concealed pistol. Pleaded guilty. State vs. Thomas Robertson, colored. Larceny of a horse, the property of M. W. Mendenhall. Pleaded guilty. State vs. Henry Whisonant, wnite. Assauu and battery with intent to kill. Prosecutor, J. M. Allison. This case occupied some time in the hearing of testimony. The prosecutor alleged that the defendant assaulted him with a two-pound weight, inflicting a severe wound on the head. The defendant denied striking him with a weight; but claimed that in the struggle they had, the wound on the head was produced by prosecutor falling on a bar of iron. The jury was out about three hours and returned a verdict of guilty of assault of a high and aggravated nature. State vs. Edward Crawford, colored; grand larceny. Prosecutor, Wm, Smith. The Solicitor admitting that the articles stolen were of value less than twenty dollars, accepted the'plea of guilty of petit larceny. State vs. Isaac Jackson and David Floyd, colored ; larceny of a hog. Both defendants pleaded guilty, and David Floyd, who is but a boy, made the statement that his father compelled him to assist Jackson, a man of 55 or GO years, in the theft. With the disposal of this case, the Court adjourned. On the convening of Court, Tuesday morning, the Solicitor called the attention of the presiding Judge to the fact that since the adjournment Monday evening, and between the time of sundown that day and the rising of the sun Tues-' day, a body of men forcibly entered the jail and taking therefrom five prisoners, hanged them by the necks in the outskirts of town until they were dead. The SolMWr deemed it proper to give the Court offlcn^notico of the fact as reported to him by the Sheriff, and suggested such orders as the Court might deem proper to secure a full investigation of the facts. Addressing the grand jury to this suggestion of the Solicitor, Judge Pressley deprecated the lawless practice of men taking the law into their own hands and dealing summarily with accused persons, which practice has obtained a foothold not only in South Carolina but in nearly all the Southern and Western States. He did not know to what this course might yet lead, nor did he know a remedy to apply for its correction. If the practice were confined to one county or to a single State, public opinion might frown it down, but the practice is widespread and does ? nmnor rAlinkn bv nublic HUC 3CUJU IU X1IOCV i? A opinion. These prisoners had been ordered to the Columbia jail for safety and that they might be permitted to have a fair trial, and such they would have obtained. For the act of lynching them I have seen not" ing giving the least reason. True, now and then, in capital cases there are mistrials and acquittals against the popular sentiment ; but in the majority of such cases justice is administered, and I have no doubt in the present instance, had these prisoners been permitted to go to trial, justice and the majesty of the law would have been amply vindicated. It is useless for me to recommend to you any course of action. The first case of this kind, occurring in Spartanburg county a few years ago, was ignored by the grand jury of that county, who refused to take any action in the matter. So far jus this State is concerned, the practice seems to have commenced with that case, and increasing, has become general. And in view of the more recent and notable case in Edgefield, wherein the Culbreath lynchers have not been brought to trial after nearly two years of effort by the whole powor of the State, it would seem useless to make any suggestions or recommendations on the present occasion. ? Such acts, however, are to be exceedingly regretted. Cfood citizens who would scorn an unlawful act seem to be led into them by a species of insanity. But no matter how guilty a man be, the hanging of him without due authority of law is criminal. Those committing tho deed may not know when they put an innocent person to death. Such conduct can only result in producing a reign of terror. It recalls to mind the days of the Ku-Klux organization when our State was put in the hands of reckless military authorities, who made unwarranted arrests and imprisoned our liest citizens on the flimsiest testimony. In thoso days many good citizens were sent from our State to the Albany penitentiary by the oaths of men who should never have been listened to in a court of justice. The organization was no doubt intended by its originators for good, but operating outside the pale of the law, it brought upon the country a reign of terror. If this course of lynch law is persisted in, twenty-five years hence we will have no such thing as civil government. The men just lynched were kept in Columbia until the excitement produced by their crime was supposed to have subsided. Had the event been foreseen, or had I oven had an intimation of it yesterday evening, I could have ordered out the posse comitatus ol' the county, but all that can now be done to modify tho evil is for the Legislature to change the law so as to give sheriffs groater power to order out suitable guards for the protection of prisoners in their charge. As before remarked, in view of the Edgefield case, I deem it useless to put tho county to the expense of an investigation, and think tho Judge who would do so would bo acting as if in pursuit of a will-o'-tbe wisp. Though I would instruct you to enquire into tho matter and make special report on the convening of Court to-morrow morning, as to whether or not tho officers of the county are to blame for its occurrence. j The first case entered into was that of the State | vs. Samuel White, colored, charged with niur- j der. llo and George Mobloy were section hands j working on the C., C. A A. Railroad near Fort Mill, 011 the 4th day of last September. In tlio I course of a quarrel which led to blows, Mobley received several wounds with a knife which resulted in his death last February. Tho following jury was empaneled : J. A. Watson, foreman, W. E. Jackson, T. J. Tliomasson, II. II. Gilfillen, S. G. Keistler, James Scoggins, Wm. S. May, It. A. Parish, Thad. Bolin, B. It. T. Bowen, J. N. Roberts, II. M. Stevenson. Tho testimony developed a case of self defense 011 the part of the prisoner, and after an absence of only live minutes, returned a verdict'of not guilty. Wilson A Wilson appeared for tho defence. A few other cases of 110 moment were disposed of, the defendants in most of them pleading guilty. Correspondence of the YorkvlIIe Enquirer. LETTER FROM ROCK HILL. Rock Hill, April 4.?During the past week we have had almost every kind of weather imaginable?snow, sleet, rain, wind and sunshine. On Friday snow fell at intervals during the day, but it melted as fast as it fell. The tops of some of the cars on Sunday morning's south-bound freighttrain were covered with snow, showing that the storm north of us was much more severe. I am afraid the frost on Friday night put an end to all prospects for a good peach crop. A large force of hands was put to work last Saturday cleaning away the debris of the burnt building of W. S. Creighton &Co., preparatory to erecting a new building,-and this morning a larger force is engaged in the same kind or worK on me uurni 101 01 the Globe Hotel and Roddey's store. Another brick yard was started this morning, and before many months Rock Hill hopes to be herself again. April fools' day did not pass unnoticed by some of our citizens, and a number of practical jokes were played upon the unsuspecting ones. Capt. Iredell Jones, for instance, was for some time kept busily looking the town over for Farmer Tillman. The Catawba Rifles will hold a meeting in a few days to decide whether or not they shall go to Charleston on the occasion oi the unveiling of the Calhoun monument. They are anxious and willing to attend; but several of the members lost their uniforms and guns in the late Are, and unless they can be refurnished, the Catawbas will be compelled to forego the pleasant trip to the City by the Sea. The Catawbas hope that should they attend they will be accompanied by the Jenkins Rifles. A congregational meeting was held in the Presbyterian church yesterday morning, after the usual services, and it was decided by a unanimous vote not to unite with Rev. W. B. Jennings in asking Presbytery to dissolve his pastoral relations with the Rock Hill Presbyterian congregation. In consequence of this action, Rev. Mr. Jennings has decided to remain as pastor of the church. The unanimous vote of his congregation goes to show in what high esteem he is held by them. ? ? " ttfUUAiif a ci rrn a 1 C/irvi PI UllT IUWI1 19 LIU W >y uuuui c* oigum uv? <?v> flag pole, it having been so badly burnec by the late fire as to necessitate cutting ii down. The weather reports are posted daily at the office of the W. U. Telegraph Company. Mr. David Hutchison, Rock Hill's pop ular Intendant, left here this morning foi Yorkville, to serve his county as a granc juror. Mr. Walter J. Rawlinson is ir Charleston serving as a juror in the Unitec States District Court. Hal. Correspondence of the Yorkville Enquirerw LETTER FROM FORT MILL. Fort Mill, April 4.?Unplowed grounc begins to don a vernal robe. Fruit tree: are making a desperate struggle and seen to say, "We are not dead yet;" but a grea deal of fruit has been killed. That hoary headed old sinner, January, has been peep ing over April's shoulder and making lov< to young May, much to April's disgust, a: evidenced by his bluster; but that youth seems to be somewhat molified since olc January has apparently retired from th< field. So much continuous winteT must b< a harbinger of better weather during spring and summer. Last SaturcTay was a very dull day, owinf to the fact that bad weather prevented da^ laborers from earning wages during th< week. Every paper one picks up contains som< mention of disastrous fires. Some times i whole town is reported consumed; but sel dom, if ever, has a whole nation been de vastated by fire until a week or ton day: ago, at which time we are told the Catawbf Nation was destroyed. How much of thii may be exaggeration we have not ascer tained. You now have some of our citizens with you in attendance upon Court. They are i long way from home, and we hope you wil see that they are made comfortable, so tha they may not pine away from fond recol lections. Mr. John Harper, aged 88, is in bac health, and his friends do not think he wil recover. He has been a very hardy man but his great age is now bearing heavilj upon him. Since the weather is improving it is prob able our dime readings will be revived. The cotton fac.ory is spoken of as an as sured fact. May it go up as soon as possible for it will greatly benefit our little village. Anon. Correspondence of the Yorkville Enquirer. LETTER PROM CHESTER. Chester, April 4.?Judge Pressley im posed the following punishments upor the convicted criminals immediately on th< last case tried on .the sessions docket at th< term of the Circuit Court, which endet last Saturday: James Caldwell, carryinj concealed weapons, to pay the cost of th< prosecution and one week in the count? jail; James Coleman, stealing cotton, on^ year in the penitentiary; Gilmore Caldwel and Ed. Caldwell, burglary and larceny two years at hard labor in the penitentiary Stephen Bratton, burglary and larceny one year in the penitentiary; James Pratt assault and battery with intent to kill, on< year in the penitentiary; Jesse Bobbins an aggravated assault, the cost and $50 fine or six months in the county jail; Richarc Moore, malicious burning, five years at hart labor in the penitentiary; Hay Robbins manslaughter, ten years at hard labor ii the penitentiary; Rosannah Caldwell, ar son, fifteen years in the penitentiary. A1 these criminals are colored. On the civil side, the first case tried wa that of Wheedby & Dickerson, of Balti more, against Donald McCauley, of thi place. The plaintiffs were represented b? Mr. G. J. Patterson, the defendant by Mr T. E. McClure. The amount claimed b? the plaintiffs was $5,895, with interest froii some time in 1880. The origin of the sui dates from about that time, when the de fendants shipped to the plaintiffs, in dif ferent lots, 653 bales of cotton. The de fendant at different times drew on thi plaintiffs, and when the cotton was sok and a settlement desired, the plaintiff; claimed the amount named in the presen suit. The defendant refused to pay th< claim for the reason that the plaintiffs hac not made a judicious sale of the cotton, anc for other reasons not necessary to be givei here. The plaintiffs denied the allegation; *ha HofonHnnf nnrl this suit was there VI 111V> UVlVUUMuvf MM** * suit of their differences. To show the un certainty of the verdicts of petit juries this case was tried once before by the C'ir cuit Court at this place and the jury gave a verdict for the defendant to the amoun of $100. The plaintiffs obtaining a new trial, the jury, after hearing the testimony and the arguments, found a verdict in favoi of the plaintiff for the entire sum claimed amounting, with interest, to over $8,000. The next case on the civil docket wai that of Ephraim Abell against A. M. Tittman. The plaintiff was represented by Mr W. A. Sanders, the defendant by Mr. C E. Spencer. The question in dispute wa: in regard to the ownership of nine acres o land. The land in question was a part o the McXeel tract, a portion of which wa: sold by the sherifT of Chester county, anc another portion was sold by the sheriff o York county on the same day, one purchas er buying that portion of the tract lying ir this county, and the other purchaser thai portion lying in York county. The difficul ty in establishing the line between thetwt counties led to the present action. Three surveyors, Mr. Lucas, Mr. Elder and Col Allison, were employed to find the line and each differed in its location. Theii testimony was the point upon which the case turned. The verdict of the jury was " * * - ? in ravor or tne ueienciane, wmcu eswuuaiic; the line run by Col. Allison, the surveyoi appointed by the Court. The next case tried was that of Austin Wilks aga'inst J. L. Glenn, administrator The point in controversy was to the rightful claimant of the rent of a piece of land, The jury found in favor of the defendant, Mr. W. A. Sanders represented the plaintiff, and Mr. T. E. McLure the defendant, The next case tried was that of Miss Hester Eatteree against J. I). Ratteree, againsl whom the plaintiff had brought an action to recover payment for services which she alleges to have rendered him. As proved on the stand, and admitted by the; defence, the plaintiff, shortly after the death of the defendant's wife,'became a member of his family, and for nearly three years-discharg, / \ ed the duties of a housekeeper, such as taking care of tly?.<jhildren, managing the household affairs, and at times, in the absence of servants, performing necessary work. When she assumed these duties, unfortunately, no contract, verbal or written, was made between her and the defendant as to the amount of compensation, if any, she was to receive. The defendant testified that his understanding was that he was not to pay his sister any stipulated amount for her services, but that in consideration thereof he was to give her her board, clothing, and money when she needed it; all of which he claimed to have done. On the other hand, , the plaintiff's testimony was to the effect that she gave the defendant to understand at the beginning of her living with him that she would expect compensation for her ser. vices. The jury disallowed her claim of $675, and gave her a verdict only of $1G5. Mr. W. B. Wilson, Jr., represented the I plaintiff, and Mr. G. W. Gage the defendant. The next case was that "of W. R. Davie against W. H. Hood, sheriff. This was an action for the recovery of damages arising from an illegal levy and sale of farm products. The plaintiff testified that the sheriff, in the execution of a warrant issued 1 against one of his tenants, seized and sold property that belonged to the plaintiff. He also testified that he offered to give bond 1 for the payment of the indebtedness of his tenant if the property was undisturbed. The products taken and sold consisted of corn, fodder, cotton seed and nine barns of ' tobacco, which the plaintiff stated was at the time in an unmarketable and almost valueless conditon. The sheriff deemed it | his official duty to execute the warrant, 1 after obtaining a bond of indemnity from the man on whose affidavit the warrant was issued. The Judge charged the jury 1 that if they found any property belonging ! to the plaintiff had been seized and sold by 1 the sheriff, their verdict must be in his favor to the amount of the value of that | property. They found for the plaintiff to ' the amount of $250. Mr. W. A. Sanders 1 represented the plaintiff and Mr. J. K. | Henry the defendant. The next case tried was that of the Do' mestic Fertilizer Company against McFaddin & Davison for the payment of an alleged 4 unpaid balance on a sealed note. They de[ nied the allegation, and claimed payment f of the note in full. The defence based their claim on some agreement that had been made between the defendants and Dr. T. C. 1 Robertson, the agent of the company. Mr. W. A. Sanders represented the plaintiffs 1 -* r TT 0 T-?_? ^ 1L? ana Messrs. xieiupnins os .once me ucjcuu[ ants. The jury found for the defendants. The above are the most important civil , cases tried. Some others were continued, and some were settled by consent of counsel. J The juries were discharged on Thursday and Court adjourned sine (lie on Saturday morning. Coroner Murphy held an inquest a few 1 days ago on the dead body of a colored baby 3 seven months old, which came to its death i at the hands of its brother, a boy seven years t of age. Being alone with the baby and not - being able to quiet it, he stuck a fork in its . head, then put it in the cradle and piled 3 quilts upon it. Because of the young and s irresponsible age of the boy, the coroner did i not issue a warrant for his arrest, but rec1 ommended frequent applications of the 3 switch. M. I MERE-MENTION. The name of "Love Lady" post office, on * the Chester and Lenoir Railroad, has been 1 changed to Granite. Hon. James G. 3 Blaine, who is now in the West, has completed his arrangements for a European 3 tour which will keep him absent until after i the meeting of the next National Republi can Convention. There was a heavy - snow at Staunton, Va., last Friday, extend3 ingas far south as Raleigh. Can a blind i man be held liable for a bill which he has 3 accepted payable at sight? The Presi dent has commissioned Charles S. Fairchild as Secretary of the Treasury vice Mr. Mani ning. Isaac H. Maynard will succeed Mr. i Fairchild as Assistant Secretary. It is 1 now thought, from recent movements, that t the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad will be - extended from Clifton Ford, Va., via Asheville, N. C., to Birmingham, Ala. A 1 fire occurred at Hickory, N. C., on Sunday # r ' - -1 --1- '1 oAi?n??nl 1 morning oi mat weeh, ueanu^iu^ ocvcim , buildings, among them the German Rer formed Presbyterian church. Albert H. Mowry has been appointed postmaster - at Charleston, vice B. F. Huger, deceased. Business Failures.?The mercantile , failures for three months ending with last Thursday, as reported by R. G. Dun & Co., are 3,007 in number, against 3,203 for the same quarter of 1886. The liabilities for the first quarter of the present year are $32,161,000, against $29,681,000 for the corresponding quarter of 1886. The geographical distribution of the failures is somewhat 1 unusual, the liabilities in the Middle States 3 amounting to $12,000,000, showing an in3 crease of over $6,000,000 as compared with 1 1884, and in New York city the liabilities ? for the first three months of 1887 were $5,3 000,000, as compared with $2,900,000, in the f corresponding quarter of last year. In all 3 other sections of the country, except the 1 Middle States, the failures are much less in > number and amount than in the average > of years for the first quarter, and the total > result is much less than in previous years. ? In Canada failures for the first quarter of 3 1887 are 393 in number, as against 389 for '? the corresponding quarter ot last year. ? Liabilities for the quarter just closed are J $3,602,000, as compared with $3,442,000 for 1 the same period in 1886. The business fail> ures last week number for the United 1 States 196. 1 Enforcing Order.?Under date of last Friday, the Chester correspondent of the s Columbia Register says: "During the pro gress of an equity case in Court to-day, Cols onel McCrady, of Charleston, the attorney 7 on one side, was bantering.Mr. Wilson, the . attorney on the other side, with dilatory and 7 irrelevant interruptions, when Judge Pressl ley interposed with an order for Col. Mct Crady to take his seat. The latter persist ed, however, in his interruption. The ven erable jurist then became furiously enraged, - and bade the Charleston attorney, in the 3 most peremptory manner, to resume his 1 seat, or he would order the Sheriff to arrest 3 him. Colonel McCrady thereupon subt sided. It is generally thought there was. 3 method in Judge Pressley's madness, and 1 that the whole thing is due to thatPicwickI ian style of argument which is so assidui ously cultivated by some disciples of Black3 stone." - " -The Newberry Court-room Tragedy.?Col. John B. Jones died at 3 o'clock ' " * '* 1 5 ?? - ? f.Atv, 41, n n 4Tn 4 a r\f . Jasi Csaiuruay luui-uiug num hk v.. j the wound received in his shooting affray t with Col. George Johnstone in Trial Jus-, r tice Blease's courtroom, Newberry, on Satr urday previous. He had been slowly sinkr ing lor several days, and his death was not I } unexpected. The Coroner's jury found that John B. 3 Jones came to his death on the 2Gth day of . April, 1887, from the effect of a pistol . wound inflicted by the hand of George . Johnstone on the 2oth day of March, 1887, 3 in the town of Newberry, State of South f Carolina. Col. Jones was in his twentyf seventh year, and was a young lawyer of 3 bright promise. Col. Johnstone was ar1 rested by the coroner and afterwards adf mitted to bail by Judge Wallace in a bond . of ?1,500. t A Wife Murderer Hanged.?Lewis . Stewart, colored, was hanged at Laurens> ville last Friday for the murder of his wife. ? The execution was private. The condemn. ed man desired to be executed as soon after t 11 o'clock as possible. He was nervous. : The morning was spent in prayer and Serip? ture reading. At 11.20 o'clock the prisoner 3 left the cell in company with the sheriff and 3 his spiritual advisers. On the way to the : scaffold the prisonersaid he had brought it ! on himself. At the scaffold the fourteenth i chapter of Job was read, a hymn was sung . and two prayers offered. The sheriff ad. justed the rope and the black cap, and , sprung the trap at 11.50. He was cut down , at^.lO. The neck was broken. -f At ltaleigh, X. C., last Friday, a great sensation was created by the indictment t of several druggist and physicians for vioi lation of the prohibition law. It has been ( ascertained that the enforcement com mi t1 tee of the prohibition party has had a de, tective there six weeks working up these ! cases. Several persons were convicted of j violating the law and two were sent to jail for sixty days and heavily lined. SOUTH CAROLINA NEWS. -^rhc Anderson Intelligencer says that the condition of Col. 1). Wyatt Aiken has so much improved that it is thought probable he may recover his health so as to be up again. Col. Aiken has many friends throughout the State who will be pleased to hear of his improved condition. ? A pile of 1,000 cords of wood on a railroad rack at Blythewood, on the Charlotte, Columbia & Augusta railroad, thirteen miles from Columbia, took fire on Thursday. A sheet of flame obstructed the passage of all trains several hours, warped the rails and burned the ties. ? Says the Abbeville Medium : Last Monday we saw a good specimen of gold rock from Frank Anderson's place near Willington. The ore seems to be abundant. The company which leased the mine are busily at work and have already sunk seventeen shafts. The outlook is good. They will also try the Calhoun place in the Flatwoods, wneru no uuuul uieie uic nui ucpusu^. ? An interesting old case, settled in Edgefield Court last week, was that of the Stedhams against the Creightons. The Creightons bought a piece of land, 250 acres, from old Mrs. Stedham, giving a note, if we mis-* take not, by which the payments were to begin in 1892 and end in 1907. Mrs. Stedham died, and her heirs instituted suit. The jury sat aside the deed on the ground of fraud. ? The Columbia correspondent of theiVcuw and Courier says the recent term of the Ilichland Circuit Court has been very unsatisfactory in its results. The number of "no bills" and nolle prosequi entries was large and the most important cases were postponed. The case against B. F. Turner and Joe Taylor for the theft of twenty-five bales of cotton from the Charlotte, Columbia and Augusta Bailroad, was not given to the grand jury for reasons sufficient to the Solicitor. Probably the issue is not yet ripe for trial. ? Says the Greenville News: J. .H. Carlisle, a well known and much respected citizen of the Lowndesville section of Abbeville county, died a few days ago with , all the horrors of an unmistakable case of hydrophobia. About three weeks ago he was out at night watching a charcoal Kim he was burning, and while he was dozing on the ground a small animal, which he thought was a fox or a very small dog, ran on him suddenly, bit him on the nose and disappeared. The wound was a slight one and Mr. Carlisle gave little attention to it until the symptoms of hydrophobia developed. ? About ten days ago a young man presented a note signed by A. B. Kennedy, J. F. Wideman, and R. J. Robinson to Jane C. Williams for ?1,300 to the Abbeville bank and wanted to borrow $1,000 oh it. The bank consented and shipped the money to Augusta, but the young man could get no one there to identify him, so he had the money shipped to Troy. Some irregularities prevented him from getting the money there and the bank ordered it back. The notes proved to be forgeries. J. F. Franklin, a man hitherto of good character, is the suspected forger, and he is in Abbeville jail. ? In the Greenville Court of Sessions, last \yeek, E. W. Lindsay, a colored preacher school teacher, who was arrested in Greenville recently for presenting fraudulent school caims, pleaded guilty to forgery on two counts. Lindsay made a statement in open court implicating other parties in the forgeries, but ne divulged no names. Richard H. Jacobs, white, tried for killing his tenant "Doc" Hughes, also a white man, was found guilty of manslaughter. Anew trial will be asked, and in case of refusal the case will go the Supreme Court on appeal. ? Says the Walhalla Courier: A noteworthy event in religious circles is the fact that the entire membership of New Bethlehem Lutheran Church, a few miles from Townville, went over recently of their own volition to the doctrines and control of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. This occcurence, however, was not the result of any dissatisfaction with the tenets of the Lutheran Church, but of their inability to obtain regular preaching. They have a neatcharch building, and the quarterly conference for the Townville Circuit of the I Greenville District was held there recently by the Rev. J. Walter Dickson, Presiding Elder. ? The Union correspondent of the Columbia Register writes: Within the last few daysseveral letters have been received from some of the negro emigrants who left Union this year, asking for money to return, declaring that if ever they get back to South Carolina again they will never leave it to seek new fields of labor. One or two of the letters tell of the sufferings and privation they are now undergoing, and their appeals for help to their colored friends and relatives, as well as some of our citizens of wealth, are indeed piteous. It is probable that money will be sent to them to return home. In some cases it will prove a warning to the negroes, and it is not likely that many more will go West. ?The report of Mr. Alfred F. Ravenel, President of the Cheraw and Salisbury Railroad, shows that the company is unable to meet its annual interest of $12,707. Mr. Ravenel says: "The case is in a nutshell. The company agreed to pay the- holders of the bonds and certificates an annual interest of $12,707. This it cannot do simply because it does not and cannot make it. It therefore exposes itself to an appeal to its trustees under the mortgage to take possession of the road and to operate it in the interest of the bondholders, and even probably to sell it with the expectation of better results than are now in view." He also suggests another plan of an immediate rearrangement of the company's debt in a spirit of compromise. ? Stockton, the county seat of Rooks county, Kansas, a thrifty wide awake city of the second class, is carving its way to national fame by the. novel manner in which it is treating the new municipal suffm trp law. The men have agreed to give the women a chance to makea~supreme test of their ability to deal with public affairs; and in order to do this have stepped aside and will simply watch the result of the trial. The entire city ticket?mayor, councilmen, &c., is composed of ladies who were unanimously nominated to the positions. Stockton is on the south Fork of Solomon River, and has lately voted to build water works. The handling of this important business will be left to the women, who will have to let the contracts, see that the contractors perform their work properly, pay off the men and supervise things generally. The city is on the central branch of the Missouri Pacific line that is likely to to be extended this year, and they will have an opportunity to grapple with the railroad question among other things. In short, the municipal government is to be handed entirely over to the ladies, and the whole nation will watch with eager interest the result of an experiment that is without parallel in the history of modern times. ? An Austin, Texas, dispatch of Saturday says: State Senator Woodward,of Calhoun county, has received a ' statement from Atarcosa county, sworn to by four responsible citizens and endorsed by the county Judge, sheriff and county clerk, giving the names of nineteen families in precincts 3, 5 and (i of that county, whom they declare are in a condition of starvation, occasioned by the drought. The number of persons in each family is stated, showing a total number of 106 persons. The paper states tnat tnese lamiues are unaoie to procure sufficient food, and are now resorting in some cases to the eating of carcasses that have died from starvation, and begging bread from their neighbors to sustain life. Those who would aid them if possible are themselves in distress and have nothing that can be spared. The signers of the statement appeal for aid from the legislature, but as nothing more can be expected from that source, it is left for the generous and more fortunate of other counties to render such aid as they can. The statement shows a deplorable state of affairs, and concludes by saying whatever is done should be done at once. -4 At Davidson College, last Friday, there wAs a fight between Prof. William Bingham and a freshman named J. D. Cochrane, who had insulted Bingham. The latter demanded an apology, which Cochrane refused to make. Bingham is a brother of Walter Bingham, the noted murderer of Miss Turlington.