Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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^ ESSUEDSSSIl-WBESZ^^ ^ ^ ^ l m. oeist 4 sons, Publishers, { % ^amilg gterospaper: 40r promotion of (he political, Social, ^.griquttuiral and ffiommeqeiat Interests of the |eogte. pER,l?ioL#cop^FiTiNcEMT8A.I<CEESTABLISHED 1855. \ YORKVILLE, S. C., SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1900. NO. 16. , ? LOYEFI BY JEANNETTE Copyright, 1899, by Jeannette H. Walwort AN INTRODUCTION. One would scarcely credit the flourishing and growing town of Mandeville ?city by courtesy?with a well authenticated and respectably vouched for ghost story, and yet it had one?has one perhaps, one might say. for three of its oldest citizens must join the choir Invisible before it becomes a matter of pure tradition. To quote from the geography. "Mandeville is remarkable chiefly for the ex|| cellent quality of the glazed tiles and N the superior cylinder stoves which it W ' manufactures in large quantities and | ships annually to all parts of the Unitf ed States and Great Britain." ' Mandeville docs not set as much store by its ghost as It does by Its tiles and stoves, which it advertises with laudable liberality, but should any stranger chance to express his views on the subject of the finest old mansion in its suburbs. Broxton Hall, in the hearing of Uncle Bennie Braddock. as hair the town cans mm, ue ??m uc very apt to hear something that will astonish him. coming, as it does, from such very respectable lips. In an atmosphere from which one looks for nothing but trade and market quotations. Uncle Bennie has reached the reminiscent age. and he always seizes with avidity upon the chance to describe "the most remarkable experience pf my life, sir." If his listener happens to be a skeptic who has nothing but a veiled sneer for the Broxton ghost. Uncle Bennie will refer him to "Major Dan Mercer, sir (I guess nobody ever cast discredit on a statement of his), or Simon, who was care taker at the Hall after Colonel Rufus Broxton died. They saw what I saw. and I take it that three more unimaginative men can't be picked up In all Melton county." And so. whether you believe it or not. stranger, it will be well to comport yourself respectfully toward the Broxton ghost so long as you are in the neighborhood of Major Dan Mercer. The people who live in the handsome old house itself are not such old world aristocrats as to consider a ghost good form In shape of family Indorsement. Whatever they may know or think about this elusive member of their fine old family tbey keep strictly to themselves. Whether or not the Mandeville ghost story is worth relating or listening to each reader of the following pages must determine for himself. CHAPTER 1. THE SHADOW OK DEATH. ? When Miss Malviua Spillmnn. who lived midway between the small town of Mandeville and the large estate of Broxton Hall, saw Dr. Govan for the second time *hat day drive rapidly up the avenue of laurel trees that stretched from the big outer gates to the very doorstep of the Broxton bouse, she lifted up ber voice: "I think Colonel Broxton must be worse, mother. Dr. Govan's gone by again." "Me. me. my. my!" "That makes twice since breakfast, and he does not often drive that old sorrel of his fast enough to lather him He Is doing It now. though." "Twice. Maivina V Me. me! And that poor motherless boy off at school the Lord only knows how many miles!" "I think Thomas has been sent for. mother. When I was up to ask about the colonel yesterday. Jessy told me he had." "But maybe he won't get here in time. Go back to the window, Malvina. Something else might happen." Miss Malvina's mother was getting old and had got deaf. Just now she was pinned to her armchair with a sprained ankle. To use her own pathos, she wns nothinc like the woman she used to be. Sometimes Miss Malvina could pro ject a bit of gossip across the room without having to leave her sewing . machine or ironing board. It depended largely on the state of the atmosphere As a rule, she had to filter it carefully through the perforated ear trumpet that was swuug by a black ribbon, about her mother's neck. The wheel of Miss Maivlna's sewing machine tilled the little cottage with ^ Its pleasant whir for a few moments of renewed activity. Then something else did happen, and she bustled across the room once more to report it. Her moth er held the trumpet in a state of eager readiness. "And Daniel ft'as just gone galloping by 6n the colonel's black mare, mother." "Which way?" "Toward town. He'll just kill that mare, and the colonel loves her next best to Tom." "You say he's on the black mare Winnie? Why. Broxton never would have let Daniel or any other man gef astride that brute if he had his senses about biin." "Mother" Spillmau shook her white head dolorously and added: "Gone after Horace Matthews. 1 suppose. Broxton had better be sending for the. minister,_lf he is but a poor IS A WAT. H. WALWORTH. b. crooked stick, and settling his account with heaven Instead of worrying with the lawyers at such a time." Mrs. Spillman could afford to put her own estimate upon the new preacher ??-- I? kn/1 kA/v? In fin OUC SlJULwt? US uui* ? UU uuu uccu Iii u. u thority. Mandeville had but one church, and for years her husband had filled its pulpit. She knew every foot of the ground between Broxtou Hall and the little church over which the "crooked stick" now presided, to her austere dissatisfaction. The window In which her big armchair was immovably planted gave her a glimpse of the tiny white steeple in one direction and the wistaria wrapped walls of Broxton Hall in the other. Honeysuckle and clematis vines clambered over her window sill. She loved the scent of them. Bees hummed about the double petunias and gay phloxes around her doorsteps. She could not hear them, but she knew they were there, so she lost nothing. The front of the Splllman cottage was pierced by one door and two windows. Miss Malvlna's sewing machine occupied one of these. Evidently events were not moving rapidly enough for the older woman. She interrupted the resumed whir of the sewing machine querulously. "I think you might give over tucking n white petticoat when a neighbor's soul is passing. Malvina, and that neighbor Rufus Broxton. It Is a sorry day for us." Miss Malvina looked penitent and put the lid on her machine as softly as if the sick man bad been in the spare room of the little cottage instead of In his own stately four poster a half mile away. "1 meant no disrespect, mother. Nobody thinks more of Colonel Broxton than I do or will miss him worse. It's just my way to keep busy." "Ah. ah. we'll miss him. Malvina! You'll miss him. I'll miss him. and all Mandeville will miss him. But what does he want with Horace Matthews at such a time? Oh. if your own dear father was only here now!" "1 guess he wants the lawyer to get Tom's affairs well in hand. Colonel Broxton is rich, mother, and Tom Is young?so young and helpless." "Only 14 years old. poor lad!" "And I suppose the colonel is trying to arrange everything for Tom's best interests. I guess ne never ouee thought, .being so well anil strong just a week ago. but what he wotilil be here himself to look after Tom for many a long year yet Jessy says Mr. Matthews and the colonel are just like brothers." "Mother" Spillman jerked her trumpet away from Miss Malvina's lips with fierce petulance. 'Jessy is a gossiping simpleton Brothers, indeed: Don't speak of them in the same breath. 1 know Horac.? Matthews Then, with shrill, rising voice. "1 know more about Horace Matthews aud Rufus Broxton thau Jessy could ever find out if .her mother cooked at Broxton Hall till kingdom come." "1 know my father prepared them both for college." said Malvina proudly Then quietly she seated herself on a hassock near her mother and possessed herself of the pile of gray wool the old lady worked up into articles of doubtful beauty and undoubted inutility, just as the whim seized her. In off moments Miss Malvina would seize the needle and hasten the hour of completion. Confident of a flood of familiar reminiscence. she settled resignedly to crocheting. It was her way to keep busy. Once fairly launched on the backward flowing tide, she could trust her mother to entertain herself for an indefinite period of time. "I have known Horace Matthews and Rufus Broxton since they were both boys In knickerbockers and roundabouts coming to Mr Spillman for Latin and mathematics. That was be fore you ever saw the light. Malvina. They were always together as boys. and I marveled at it then. Rufus [ was a handsome, high spirited, clean j sou led lad who would have cut off his right hand if he detected it doing a I dishonest thing. Matthews was Just I everything that Rufus wasn't. I never understood the liking Broxton had for him." Malvina put in a word for the maligned. "Mr. Matthews must have been very winning in his young days, mother. lie's got such friendly manners and lie is so dreadfully good lookiug even now." "Oil. there's no gainsaying his good looks. They came pretty near landing him on the topmost round of his ambition once upon a time. lie just missed being Rufus Broxton's brother-in-law and coming in for half of old Marsden Broxton's estate. When Lucetta Broxton came home from boarding school? my. but she was something to look at! ? Horace Matthews did uot let the grass grow on the road from Mande ville to Broxton Ilall. "He was a struggling young lawyer then, waiting for his (irst client. She was the handsomest girl in the country an3 the richest. Before she had been home a half year they were engaged to be married. Before she had been home a whole year she was dead of pleurisy, contracted by going to a come out party at Butterworths', ten miles from Broxton, wearing her ball dress and slippers in the carriage." As Miss Malvinn had not come to woman's estate without achieving per feet familiarity with the melancholy fate of beautiful Lucetta Broxton. she "Now they are neck and neck." did not Intermit the motion of her needle to exclaim or bemoan over the threadbare story. "Horace Matthews was married In less tuan two years arter to a gin who had expectations that were never realized, and Rufus was married a month later. Both of them lost their wives about six years later within a month of each other. Queer, wasn't it?" Miss Malvina yawned and said "Very." The >*r> mo/i in the honeysuckle vines, the crocuei deeaie wove its rapid way in and out of the gay web and the old woman crooned. "I won't deny you that Matthews Is the sharper of the two. but Rufus Broxton has got more soul in bis little finger than Horace Matthews has in his whole body. Rufus was as brave as a lion, but sweet tempered as a | girl, trusting as a baby, always. Hon orable? 1 should say he was. I don't suppose he ever played crooked for the finest white alley that was ever made. 1 doubt If Horace Matthews could claim as much for himself." "And Tom's going to grow tip to be Just such another," said Miss Malvina. with conviction. Into the peaceful droning of the bees and the monotonous crooning of the deaf woman was precipitated the sound of iron shod hoofs pounding the earth rapidly. Miss Malvina dropped the ?ay wools recklessly and. with the ball unwinding as she traveled, rushed to the'front door, craning her thin neck after the fast disappearing horseman. "It's Daniel, mother, galloping back to the Hall. The mare's tianks are fairly reeking with sweat and foam. And?yes. he'll catch up. Now they are neck and neck." "Who is ueck and neck with what. Malvina V" Miss Malvlua drew her head Id reluctantly and returned to the trumpet. Neck to ueck with mare Winnie. Lawyer Matthew's big roau had dash ed out of sight. The two horses knew each other well. Mauy a peaceful excurslou had they taken side by side through the lovely country roads engirdling Maudeville or over the broad ex pa use of the Broxton estate. half of which destiny had maliciously snatched from the grasp of the roan's j rider In the westering light the lawyer's face looked hard and white and set. The wind had lifted the front briin of his soft felt hat and tlatteued it agaiusl the crown. Scarcely had the cloud of dust raised by the two horses subsided before the Mandeville public hack weut lumbering by In a vain competition of speed. Its curtains dapped wildly in the wind, leaving its one occupant In full view. At sight of him Miss Malvlna caught her breath hysterically and bent her head with an Impulse of prayer. Then she retraced her steps to the deaf woman. j "Daniel's ridden back, mother, and Mr. Matthews was with him." "Trust him." said the old woman sourly. "Ile'll make a good thing of | It, Ruflis so trusting and Tom so yotiug and him already feeling like he'd been cheated by Lucetta Broxtou's taking off." "Aren't you a trifle hard on Lawyer Matthews, mother? He stands well ?- - hue n ill nit' comuiiumy. ciivi.tuuuj nun ? good word for him. except you. He is the host father to that pretty Ollie I ever saw." "Oh. he'll look out for tiis own. Olivia is bone of his bone and (lesh of his flesh. I hope she ain't spirit of his spirit." The old woman was inexorable. Pres ently Miss Malvina sent a still more solemn announcement through the trumpet "And. mother. Jim Hohson's just driven by with both horses to the hack and Parson Drayton on the back seat." "May the Lord have mercy on his soul! Amen.'" This pious ejaculation lacked explicitness. but as llobspn's soul was a mat tor of 110 particular moment to any one and the Rev. Mr. Drayton's was al ready presumably Insured against the possibility of miscarriage Miss Malvina fitted It where it belonged. "I hope Tom will get here before It is all over." she said softly. But her mother's head had fallen forward on her clasped and trembling hands. Tears came warily to eyes lo used to the vexing ways of the wor The minister's widow wept silently I the breaking of another link in l chain that time had robbed of all I a few frail links. The sun dropped behind the talli trees that crowned the bluff agali which Mandeville nestled. The ma windows of Broxton Hall caught level rays and flamed into a brief glc of molten gold. The great house look as If It were Illuminated for the co Ing of some distinguished guest ' The shadows of evening already I thick among the dark oaks and cedi on the lawn. A funereal blackness < wrapped a cluster of Norway firs. Pr ently the borrowed brightness fad from the windows of the Hall, leavi Its somber bulk sharply outlin against the pallid skies. As a tired child might have sobb itself to sleep, "Mother" Splllman pa ed from tears to slumber. Proppl the gray head tenderly against silken chair rest Miss Malvina sof escaped from the room. She was It state of restless, nervous tension. She wandered as far as the cotta gate, pulling a gaudy zinnia and a g In fro r>alt nnlc pilULCSO ICUIUCI IL< uuuoib, VUIJ throw them away. She leaned ot the low gate and peered nnxiou! down the dusty road. Over an hour now since the minis and the lawyer had gone by In su haste and "still no sign of poor Tot coming." Colonel Rufus Broxton was the "bl man of the neighborhood. His sudd illness had aroused great local Int est. Personally she bad none otl than the tenderest memories in c< nection with him. The gift of a c< when their own only one had fall over the bluff and been killed, t headstone that marked her fathe grave in the Mandeville bury! ground, the annual spring "breakl up" of her little garden patch, all tes fled to the goodness of the colone heart and the faithfulness of his sou He had never lost sight of the ft that her mother was the impoverish widow of the man who had been t Intellectual guide of his callow yoi uor how as the minister's wife she h been a helpful friend and good advii to the young and sometimes frivolc wife he had brought home to stati eld Broxton Oall. And now in the hour of his extrem Miss Malvina could not bear to thl of the colonel having an unfulfil! wish. Jessy bad told ber that all I cry was* "Why doesn't the boy con: The boy will be too late. Keep i here, doctor, until Tom gets home." And Jessy knew, because she w housemaid at the Flail and hea everything. If only the boy had be sent for sooner! Mr. Matthews mi have known how things were going end. And at thought of the lawyer she f to wondering over her mother's bat judgment of the man who for sterli merit stood next to Parson Drayton the town and county. There w< those In Mandeville who thought I sun rose and set in him. Her motl nnfoocnnnhla It! \ iii UM utr fet-cLi ? . old age. and so. dismissing the law: from her mind as a minor matter such a solemn Juncture, she stc there breathing futile wishes that s might do something, ever so little something. for the colonel or for Ton The road In front of the cottage w deserted. At Its best travel tows Mandeville was light and uncerta There was none at all tonight. The scent of honeysuckles and swi Williams weighted the air. A sin; star came out in the blue black sky. i other, a dozen, a host. A solemn hi enwrapped the universe. If only so break would come in the dreadful st ness! It came. The patter of hurrying feet In l dusty road?a small, dark figure u speeding toward her out of the gloc It came abreast of her. Miss Malvl could hear the quick panting brer of the runner. Next the gleam of white face, bare of hat. shone un< the stars. "Who Is that? Who are you? T< -Tom Broxton?" The running feet halted. The wh face came closer. A breathless you voice called to her eagerly: "Is tl you. Miss Malvina? How about ther? Better, isn't he?" Miss Malvina answered Incon quentl.v: "What are you doing afoot, chil Couldn't Daniel have gone to fei I you?" "Mr. Matthews' man Rube was the station with his buggy. I think must have been drunk. He upset I buggy In a lime hole this side t schoolhouse. I left him flounderi about in it. I could uot wait is titer"? "Yes." said Miss Malvina reckless She would not rob that poor panti young bosom of its last flickering ho "Thank (lod for that much!" The boy lifted his eyes toward f dark mass showing above the darl shrubbery of Broxton lawn. But I that senseless mishap lie would ha been home an hour ago. lie had ri panting and stumbling, over three lo miles of dark, uneven country roads. Still half a mile lay between him a his one earthly friend. lie halted 01 long enough to fling that gasping qu tiou at Miss Malvina. Perhaps might still hear his dear father's vo if but in a deathbed blessing. He u speeding ouward at a pace which so effaced every sign of his slender Qgu Miss Malvina sighed heavily. "Perhaps I told him a lie. But wl else was there to do? Poor boy. pc Tom!" ng She turned about and walked Id. through the prim little border of zin for nias and princess feathers. She tiphe toed softly Into the room where she >ut had left her mother peacefully slumbering In her armchair. She lifted a est lamp and placed it carefully out of ist range of the big chair. She took up a ny book only to put It down unopened, ts [t was Impossible to settle to any or>ry dinary occupation. She crept once :ed more to the front gate, m- The solemn stillness grew more Impressive with the passing of each molay ment She wished some figure, no *rs matter whose, might appear going toen ward the village from Broxton. She ?s- should like to hear that Tom had not led got there too late, n? She had thrown a white apron over her head as protection against night dews. She leaned with her elbows on cti the gate and waited?not for very long. ss" A horseman was cantering slowly in ng her direction from the colonel's. She 'ts opened the gate and stepped Into the My road. 1 ** A puff of wind caught her white apron and sent It fluttering right Into ge the horse's face. She could hear the brute snort and squat t0 Its rider exploded angrily: rer "Who In the deuce are you? You My have made me drop my bag." "It's only me. Malvina Spillman. I ter wanted to ask about the coloneL Is 1C^ he dead, Mr. Matthews?" ?'H "Yes." "Did Tom get there In time?" g" "No." en He was down on the ground now ?r* groping for his dropped bag. Malvina ier groped too. It was she who found it It had bounced quite up Into a corner | of the fence and come unclasped In the 'en transit She mechanically clasped It ;ke as she handed It back, r's ?is that all you dropped?" ng "Yes." Qg "I am sorry I frightened your horse." But Mr. Matthews was already back d'8 In the saddle and cantering rapidly '! homeward. Her apology had gone for lct naught ie(^ There was nothing more to be gained ;he by standing at the gate. She went lth back Into the house, taking care not to a(* be too quiet this time. She wanted her 3er mother to wake up. so that she could lUS tell her all that had happeued since she fell asleep?how poor Tom had come home afoot and well nigh breath 'ty less, how, through Reuben's being nk drunk and gone quite senseless. Tom's home gomlng had been too late for his him to hear his father's last words. le- and how Lawyer Matthews had been me pointedly rude to ber simply because her white apron had fluttered out and 'as frightened his horse. Then she took Lr(* herself sternly to task. teD But after all. what a small matter J8t to get ruffled about at such a time, t0 when there was poor Tom and his great disappointment to think of! eu She promptly effaced herself, always sh an easy task for Miss Malvlna. In , n? thought of the poor boy then wrestling ,D aloue with the fierce agony of his first jre great sorrow. :he jer TO BE CONTINUED. Z |Hisccllancous grading. K)d ihe WHAT THE LEU1SLATURE DID. fl The following are the captions of ,as the acts passed at the recent session of Lr(] the legislature that are of either geu in eral or local interest: An act to provide a means whereby eet any purchaser in this slate of comtnercial fertilizers or manure may have the same anah zed by Clemson Agri18 cultural and Mechanical college free of costs, and to provide a penalty for 4 delivering fertilizers or manures short iu ingredients appearing on sack or ; Q vessel holding same. ,IS A joint resolution proposing an m' amendment to the constitution of the state of South Carolina to be known , as article 1 of amendment to coustitution to authorize and empower ihe general assembly to provide by law for the condemnation and equitable assessment of lands for drainage pur, poses. QT An act to provide for the cleaning ia? of the streams and draining of the fa swamps and bottom lands of the state. An act to amend Title XI, Chapter so_ XXXVI, Article 3, Statues of 1893, by iusertiug another section, to be known [(j., as Seciiou 1,323, and fixing the weight of a bushel of bolted corn meal. An act to require the burning or at burial of any dead swine whenever lJL, death shall result from any natural .jjt, cause, aud to provide a penalty for 'he ,,ny fa''ure 80 10 d?ng An act to amend Sections 3 and 4 of fa. an act entitled "An Act to provide a system of county government for the several counties of this state so far as s it relates to the maintaining and work* ing of the roads and highways." c An act to amend an act entitled j,e "An Act to require all railroads and r jor railroad companies operating trains 1 Por and doing business in this state to I [V)> provide aud operate separate coaches Jn" or separate apartments in coaches lor the accommodation and transportation a of white aud colored passengers in the 1 U(j state," approved the 19tb day of Feb- a ,lv ruary, A. I). 1898. An act to confirm the incorporation ^ in this state of the Carolina and NorthjCt. Western Railway company and to de- ^ as fine its powers. l0D An act to require railroad corpora- t re tious, where two or more liues enter or h pass through the corporate limits of v iat ?uy cRy or 'own in this state, to build t ,or connecting tracks for the interchange c and delivery of cars and freight. v Ad act to provide for the incorporation of religious, educational, social, fraternal, or charitable churches, lodges, societies, associations or companies, ind for amending the charter of those ilready formed and to be formed. An act to provide a mode for the amendment of charters of corporations heretofore or hereafter granted. Afl act for the registration of births, narriages and deaths, and provide for reporting infectious and contagious iiseases. An act to amend Section 919, General Statutes, being Section 970 Revised Statutes, providing for a state soard of medical examiners so as to provide also for a homeopathic board if medical examiners. An act to authorize and require certain causes of notion, proceedings and natters in the probate courts of UoioD, Spartanburg and York to be transferred to the probate court of Cherokee eounty. An act to empower the county board if commissioners of York county to borrow money to build a bridge across 1 Catawba river. A joint resolution proposing to amend Section 7, Article 8, of the constitution relating to municipal bonded indebtedness. An act to require clerks to satisfy of record certain mortgages of real estate ind to prescribe the form. A n onf fA omnnH on qM. ontitloH "Atl au aw ww hujvuu mu mw vmvimw. A.ct to preveDt drunkenness and shootng upon the highway," approved 3d March, 1899, making the same more specific. An act to amend an act to provide for the adoption of legitimate children and allowing them to inherit, approved December 24, 1892. An act to amend an act entitled 'An act to regulate the foreclosure of mortgages of real estate," approved January 5, A. D. 1895. An act to amend the act approved I9tb February, 1898, entitled "An Act to establish and declare the law as to iistress for rent. An act to limit the liability of partners after the dissolution of a firm to their own acts. An act to provide for special courts. An act to amend an act entitled 'An Act to fix the time for holding Via /iniirto in t.hfi firh nipfiiiiL" annrov id the 2d day of March, A. D. 1899. A joint resolution to instruct and require the attorney general to invesigate the fertilizer trust. An act to further protect waterworks, sewers and drains of cities and owns. An act validating the jury lists irawn in Union and York counties. An act to regulate the practice in suits brought on causes of action which ire saved from the bar of the statute )f limitation by part payment or writen acknowledgment. An act to require the keeping of a ecord and report of criminal statistics. An act making it unlawful for any nunicipal officer to take a contract or work for the municipal corporation >f which he is an officer, and to provide a penalty for violation of this act. An act to amend Section 334 (277) >f volume 1 of the Revised Statutes >f 1893, so as to allow a mortgagee to >ay the delinquent taxes due upon my property owned by a mortgagor, ogetber with all costs and penalties vhicb may have accrued thereon, and o include the same, with interest hereon, in the debt secured by the nortgage. An act to provide for the completion >f the Winthrop Normal and Industrid college of South Carolina, and to ippropriate money for the same. An act to amend an act entitled 'An act to provide for the election of l board of control, and to further regilate the sale, use, consumption, trans>ortation and disposition of intoxicatng aud alcoholic liquors or liquids in he state, and prescribe penalties for dotation of dispensary laws, and to >olice the same," approved March 6, .896, as amended by the act approved ?th March, 1897, so as to abolish the tate and county boards of control and he commissioners, as now provided >y said act, and to devolve their duties ipon the officers named in this act. An act to provide for pensions for :ertain soldiers and sailors now resilents of South Carolina, who were in he service of the state in the late war >etween the states. An act to create a sinking fund for Cherokee county. An act to authorize the county treasirer of Cherokee couDty to transfer cerain moneys now held by him under he past indebtedness fund of certain owusbips of said county to the fund ollected for the payment of interest m railroad bonds due by each townhip and to pay the same. - - - ? -Ll:.l C . ;n An act 10 esiuuiisu ? inuiuiaiui; connection with the state penitentiary. An act to arneud Section 431, volime 2, Revised Statutes of 1893, so as o prohibit the sale and shipping of >artridges for five years. An act to amend the act entitled 'An act to protect primary elections nd conventions of political paities and 0 punish frauds committed thereat." pproved 22d December. 1888. An act to provide for state insurance or public buildings. 1 Murderous Convict. Amos Carter, who was in charge of he Marlboro chaingang, was attacked iist Tuesday by oue of the convicts ifith an axe. He was so badly hurt hat it is thought he will die. The onvict who struck the blow escaped kith three others.