University of South Carolina Libraries
I ' ISSUED SEMI'WEEKL^ t. m. GRIST'S sons, PubUihers. } % ^amilj f fwsjajd: 4or the promotion of (hi political, foetal, ^(jmultuqaTand (Bororontial jnlfrtsls lh? fttoglt. {TEB"wo^^o\?EriRvgc?!?^AI<a' ESTABLISHED 1855. YORKVILLE. S. C., TUESDA Y, AUGUST 7, 1906. ISTO. 63. THE_R A Story of the Times Alexander BY JERE ( CHAPTER XV?Continued. "*T ? flitAnUInn nol/fl/1 nave you uu su^^itiuu, <unvu Burr, "who it was that committed the murder?" "I know who did It, colonel, as well as if I had seen the blow struck; but I can prove nothing, and it will do me no good." "You may be mistaken. At all events tell me who you suspect?" "John Roberts. Bill Jenkins had not seen him for days, and did not send him for me. He had planned the robbery before he came, and his visit had a double object; first, to get me out of the way, for he well knew that it was not the safest thing in the world to enter a house where I was sleeping, for any such purpose. His other object was to survey the premises. When I went down to sup per, ne removed me nan irum me window and put my knife in his bosom. He then loitered in the neighhood until he saw me depart. The landlord of the house to which he sent me was unquestionably his confederate, and had instructions to detain > me as long as he could. It was possible he might fail In this, and therefore It was important for Roberts to accomplish his purpose quickly. My opinion is, that he made his entrance a little too soon; that the fear of my return hurried him, and he did not wait until Franz was sound asleep. I am not eure that he meant to commit murder if he could avoid it, but he went prepared for it. He may only have meant to creep through the room, go down the stairs, rob the house, and pass out of the front door into the street. He must have made some noise, and when Franz jumped up to ascertain the cause, he felled him with a bludgeon and stabbed him after he was down. After that, he robbed the house, placed my bloody knife upon the mantle-piece, escaped through the window, and hid among the piles of lumber until he saw me enter, when he grave the alarm and had me arrested under circumstances which he thought would hang me and which, I admit, are strangely against me. "You will not think it strange, col* onel, that I should be so positive and precise when you remember that I served for years as a partisan soldier in a country where dark deeds were as frequent as recurring suns. I have tracked out many a one with a smaller clue at the beginning than this; and if I was free for one week, would prove John Robert's guilt, or consent to hang in his place." "That is Impossible," replied Burr. "We must trust to what I can do towards untangling this dangerous web; and be assured that I am no novice in the art. Give me the street and mimhiii' r\t vniir InH n C- hniISP and also that of the house to which you were sent by Roberts." When he had made a note of the numbers, he said: "It will be three weeks before your trial can come on. In that time a great deal may be done. ? Keep up your spirits. I shall come again in a few days, and hope to bring you cheering tidings." To the jailor he said, on leaving. "Treat your prisoner with as much lenity as your duty will permit, and allow him all the comforts you can. I will see that you are recompensed." The obsequious official readily promised all that the great lawyer ' requested; and in another hour Aaron Burr was mingling with a gay company in his own drawing-room, playing the part of the courteous host with the polished ease of a thorough man of the world, and exhibiting in his countenance not a single trace of the annoying cares that beset his professional life. To the lawyer society is always unjust. The mechanic who pushes his plane from sunrise to sunset, and receives at night a miserable pittance for his labor, is too apt to murmur when the carriage of the lawyer rolls by him, and his heart is too apt to swell with envy for the wealth which, he thinks, has been so easily acquired. If he could get down into that lawyer's heart and witness the ^ cares and anxieties that have gathered I' 0011IH follow him to his UlCtC, 14 44V .. _ _ private chamber, and watch him, as hour after hour, by the lamp's pale light, he taxes his brain to solve some knotty question, upon which the property, the liberty, or the life of a fellow-being depends; i? he could see him lying down, hot and feverish, at cock-crow, not to rest, but to go over again in sleep the mental labors which have embittered the long day and the longer night, and rise at last, worn and wearied, from his comfortless repose, to renew the exhausting struggle, until nature rebels against tHe exorbitant tax, and disease comes in to hurry the neglected body to the grave; if he could witness all this, pity ? would take the place of envy, and the bread he has earned by the sweat of his brow become doubly sweet from the comparison. To Colonel Burr the cares of the profession were peculiarly trying. His ardent nature made every cause his own, and in every case he labored as if his life depended upon the result. Yet it was only in his solitary hours that these anxieties were manifest. ' When he passed from the study to the drawing-room the furrowed brow was left behind him, and he assumed an appearance of gladness that was often foreign to his heart, because he knew it would be a source of gladness to others. The night of his interview with Durand, he was gayer and more brilliant than usual; but ^ when his guests departed and his family retired to rest, he paced the floor for hours in anxious thought. Higher motives than professional pride were at work. He owed his life to that man's "grateful remembrance of a kindness; and, apart from this, there was a straightforward manliness about Durand, there was something so touchingly beautiful in IV A L S. t of Aaron Burr and Hamilton. :lemens. I his self-sacrificing friendship for his unfortunate brother-in-law, that would at any time have commanded the warmest sympathies of Colonel Burr, particularly when he believed that he had been wrongfully and maliciously accused of a crime for which there is no atonement but death. It was past four o'clock when he retired to rest, ' and before seven he was on his way to the city. His first care was to examine the house where Franz Klink had been killed. The blood had not been washed up, and everything; remained as it was on the night of the murder. On the floor there was a large spot of grease, which seemed to have been ms.de by the falling of a taltow candle, and this so far corroborated Durand's story. He next walked to the house to which Durand had been decoyed, noting the time it required to go from one to the other. It was a low ale shop, and the proprietor manifested considerable surprise at the appearance of a guest so much better than any who were in the habit of crossing his door-sill. Colonel Burr's chief object was to look at the house, to see the man, and form some estimate of his character. A few adroit remarks removed his distrust, and when the man supposed that he was entirely absorbed in the contemplation of the merits of the ale he was sipping after the manner of a connoisseur in the article. Colonel Burr turned to him suddenly, and said,? 1 "What about this murder, of which people have been talking so much the past week''" The man turned deadly pale, and stammered out, "I?I don't know anything about it. What made you think I did?" "Nothing; only I heard that it was done about here." "No, sir, it was not. It was two squares and a half from this." "Well, I heard differently. I heard, too, that one John Roberts was arrested as the murderer. Do you know him ?" "No; and he was not the man. It was a fellow by the name of Durand, who is said to have been a Tory in the Revolution." "Indeed! Then I think I know him. Was he a low man, with broad shoulders, a tremendous .chest, and bright black eyes?" "That's the very fellow." "Did he visit your house often?" "Never bur once, and that was the night he done the murder?or is said to have done it." "I think vnu said von were not ac quainted with Roberts." ' This time the eye of Colonel Burr 1 was turned upon him with one of those piercing looks no guilty man ever met without quailing. The cheek of the wretch turned purple, then ashy pale, then purple again. In a tone in which apprehension predominated over assumed indignation, he hesitatingly replied. "No, sir. That is, I am not to say acquainted with him. I know him when I see him, and he has may be sometimes taken a " >.? of ale in my house. But what io that to you? and what do you mean by questioning me *o closely?" "Oh, nothing," replied Colonel Burr, who had learned all he expected; "only I am a lawyer, and may be employed in irie case. So saying, he threw a silver coin on ' the counter, and walked away before the astonished proprietor could ask another question. 1 His steps were now directed to the sheriff's office, where he examined the I club which Durand admitted he had ' carried on the night of the murder. 1 It was very bloody, but none of the < dead man's hair was sticking to it. I nor was there any evidence, except < the blood, of its having been so fatally < used. The bloody hunting knife was < also there, and he recognized it as the i same Durand had worn in 1779. The i scabbard was missing. On inquiry, he ascertained the important fact that : it was not upon Durand's person at ' the time of the arrest, nor could it be ?? Kahoa of tor thfi mnQt 1UUIIU III mr uwuac anvi vnv ? careful search. From the watchman he learned that, when Roberts first came to him, he stated that Franz Klink had been robbed and murdered. Colonel Burr made no comment upon the singular fact that he should have known a robbery and murder had been committed, when, according to his own statement, he had not been in the house, had heard no cry, and was only alarmed by an unusual sound. He gathered nothing else of importance, and returned to his office to digest the information he had acquired and to devise the means of obtaining more. CHAPTER XVI. "My wrath is wreaked?the deed is done! And now I go, but go alone." It was ten o'clock on a cold October night. Colonel Burr was waiting at his own house for the appearance of Bill Jenkins, who had promised to ? o* hone ThrnilP'hnilt the day his mind had been entirely occupied by the dangerous situation of Durand. The observations he had made were conclusive to him of the innocence of the accused, but he well knew they would weigh nothing with a court and jury unless supported by other evidence that he did not see the means of procuring. A good deal would depend upon Jenkins, and he feared that individual stood in too much peril of the law himself to be of any great assistance. He rose to his feet and walked to the door when a knock announced the arrival of his expected visitor, having purposely dismissed the servants in order that their conference should be undisturbed in any manner whatever. When he ushered his guest into the room, he could not help expressing the surprise he felt at the completeness of the transformation he witnessed. Jenkins was dressed with punctilious neatness; the awkward lounging gait usual to him had disappeared; and, to complete the disguise, the broad scar that disfigured his face was so artistically filled up with some kind of paste as to be almost invisible. "Upon my word, Mr. Jenkins," remarked Colonel Burr, "you are wonderfully changed for the better. I do not think I should have recognized you upon the street, and I am not apt to forget a face I have once seen." "It is an art that I have been compelled to practice often enough to become a proficient; but I did not declffn In rirt mnrn tn-nleht than nrpspnr such an appearance as would not frighten your family if I should chance to meet them. I proposed also to claim your hospitality t for the night, and when I go away in the morning I did not wish that people should think you had given shelter to a beggar." "Beggar or no beggar." replied Colonel Burr, "the man who sheltered me In the time of my greatest need 3hall not go away from my roof while i he wishes to remain, no matter what I people may think upon the subject. I cannot offer you," he continued, "such potent liquor as you once ga.ve ' me. Here Is some Madeira, however, > which good judges have pronounced < excellent. Be good enough to help < yourself as freely and as often as you i iesire it, for I have some questions ' L ?- J 1 LU HSK; unu its yuu arc piuuauiy uui is much accustomed to doing without sleep as I am, you may need some stimulant* before I get through." "Thank you, colonel. I will do full justice to the wine, though I cannot plead any physical necessity for It. The loss of sleep Is no Inconvenience to a man of my habits." At the same time he approached the side-table, and, pouring out a full flass of the generous liquid, swalowed It at a draught. "Now, colonel, I am ready. Begin rour questions." "Draw your chdir nearer to the Ire, and tell me in the first place ivho killed Franz Klink!" "Didn't Aleck tell you?" "He told me who he thought did t, but I want to know who you think t was, and your reasons for that jpinion." "John Roberts Is the man. It must lave been him or Aleck Durand; and t is impossible that Aleck could have tilled a man for his money. I have tnown him from infancy, and I know t; though that will not do him any food, I suppose, on his trial." i\ever minu wnai yuu iiiniiv win r >r will not do him good. Give me ' your reasons, all of your reasons, < ind let me Judge what will benefit < film, and how it may do so." ' "Well, then, to go on. I did not 1 ?end Roberts for Aleck on that night, 1 sr any other night. I was in hiding < for a supposed robbery; none had < seen committed. I had not been in < Sam Larkln's house for a month. I i sad twice made up my mind to bury 1 ny knife between Robert's ribs, and 1 sad been persuaded by Aleck into a ' promise not to do it. I would not, | :herefore, go near a house where I < ivas almost certain to meet Roberts, < 'or fear of being tempted to break my | sromise. Roberts and Larkins were old i cronies; they planned the murder, < ind, knowing Aleck's uneasiness about i Tie, they easily made up a story that i they knew would draw him from | lome. AiecK minus wiey uiu nui mean i o kill at the beginning, but only to 1 ob. He is mistaken. The murder | tvas deliberately planned as well as | the robbery; and one of its objects < teas to throw suspicion on him, and < have him hung if possible. What | Jther motives influenced them I can't i ?uess, but that was one. They calcu- < ated that Aleck was so well known is a Tory, that a jury would be ready , to believe anything against him; and they judged that very slight circumstances would suffice to hang a man j whom they supposed to be entirely ( lestitute of friends among the Whigs." "Do you know anything else going , to establish the guilt of Roberts?" "Before the murder he was hard pushed for money. Since then, al though he has not exhibited any large sum, he has paid his way where- , ever he went?a thing he never did , before. It is said, too, that immediately after the watchmen entered the house Roberts seized hold of the dead body, upon pretense of placing it on the bed. Now it is my opinion , that he either knew there were blood- , stains upon him, or feared there were, and he took the corpse in his arms to have a plausible way of accounting for them if they should be discovered. I do not think of anything else in particular. From my general knowledge of the man I know he is capable of all manner of wickedness. He has himself made a sworn statement, from which it was perfectly evident that if Durand is not the murderer, he is. That is enough for me, and I do not despair of producing proof, in some way, that will convince others as well as myself. It would help the case mightily if we could get hold of a club with which Franz Klink was knocked down; and, as I could not go about Larkin's house myself, I have put one on the trail who will find out all that can be discovered. They are old birds, however, and will leave few traces of their handiwork." Colonel Burr's opinion did not essentially differ from that of Jenkins, although he continued until a late hour of the night to question him closely and minutely upon every event of his own and Robert's life. It pleased hitn to learn, that although Jenkin's conduct since the war had not been blameless, and his habits were still far from being such as a moralist could commend, yet he had committed no crime which subjected him to the penalties of the law, and the only danger he incurred was the remote one of a prosecution for offenses of which he had been guilty prior to the treaty of peace. He assured Jenkins that he need not be alarmed on account of what he had done during the lawless times of the Revolution; and added, that if any malicious person should institute a prosecution. he had no doubt of being able to obtain his pardon. "I thank you, colonel, for your offer," was the reply, "as much as if I Intended to accept It. The Whigs made me an outlaw, and I do not feel like asking a pardon at their hands. I am going West, as soon as Aleck Durand gets out of this scrape, among a people where I shall not need It. In Kentucky the Indians are troublesome enough to make the addition of a good rifle, a stout heart, and a tol erably strong arm very welcome; and I am mistaken if they require from me any other passport. To a man who expects no rest, and fears no danger, a life in the woods possesses attractions not to be resisted." "If such is your fixed purpose," said Colonel Burr, "I will not argue against it. Indeed, I think It the best thing you can do. Durand must be acquitted in the first place, however, and you must not let your fear of a prosecution prevent you from going wherever it may be necessary to hunt I up evidence in his behalf. I will | answer for your safety." "The assurance is unnecessary. Tell me what you want me to do, to help Aleck Durand, and it shall be done. If I hang In one hour afterwards." "I believe you." said Burr, earnestly. "I believe you fully." Then, after a < pause, he added: "It Is now late, let i me show you to a bed. Remember, i that as fast as you gather Information, no matter whether you deem it i important or not, you are to come to i me." A light was still burning in Colo- l nel Burr's study long^ after he had < shown Jenkins to his bedroom. According to his usual custom he was < arranging and classifying the facts and circumstances which had come i to his knowledge, and applying to j them the law of circumstantial evl- ] dence. For him there was no hour of i repose while anything remained to be I done. 1 The next day he called upon Durand, and again questioned him not i inly upon the events of the murder, < but upon many things which appar- < sntly had no connection with it. By I the time the day of trial arrived, he s was armed at all points; prepared to i meet every possible attack, and to | take advantage of every possible ] fault in his adversary's management i if the case. The watchman who 1 was nrsi imruuuceu as u witness un i the part of the prosecution had to un- I Jergo a searching cross-examination, , from which, however, there appeared l little likelihood of obtaining any ad- I vantage, for the witness was clearly < in honest man who had nothing to l conceal, and no motive for telling | inything but the truth. Colonel Burr < 3rew from him the fact that Roberts i had been the first one to discover the knife on the mantle-piece; that the icabbard was missing, and had not Seen found upon the person of the prisoner, or in the house; and finally, that the club picked up by the dead ' body had no appearance of hair, although the deceased wore a thick coat if curly hair, a large lock of which < had been driven by the force of the 1 blow into the wound on his head. He I idmitted that detecting, as he suppos- I ;d, Alexis Durand almost in the very < examination. certain how far it was possible for 1 iny other person to have been the < grullty party. The two succeeding ' witnesses gave almost the same ver sion as the first. The surgeon wno ' had been called in to examine the < dead body was next placed upon the I stand. He described the wounds, and ' gave It as his opinion that either I would have produced death. He was < satisfied the wound in the side was < made by the knife exhibited In court, ind believed that on the head might ' have been made by the club, although < the edges had the appearance of be- < 'ng more sharply cut than Is general- '< ty the case where a smooth, round < Instrument is used. At this point, I Colonel Burr drew from his desk an < sight-square oak club, about two feet I in length, with a leathern strap through one end, and heavily load- 1 sd at the other. "Examine this club, doctor," he ' said, handing the witness the murder jus weapon as he spoke, "and tell the jury which of the two would be most likely to make such a wound as you 1 describe." "Either might do it; but, if I had been shown the two clubs together immediately after the examination. 1 I should have said that the blow was ' given with the shorter one." This decided testimony was ' strengthened rather than shaken by the further examination of the pros- ' ecuting attorney. The attention of the jury was also called to the fact that the club had the appearance of having been washed at the heavy end, and in one or two places scrubbed with sand-paper. John Roberts was the next witness called. He had been purposely reserved for the last, in order that the deepest impression might be made upon the minds of the jury at the close of the prosecution. Colonel Burr observed that his cheek grew a shade paler when his eyes rested on the loaded club. He had not expected to see that instrument there, and knew not what it portended. As soon as he began to give in his testimony, Colonel Burr's eye was fixed upon him with a steady and unremitting gaze. At first he bore it with considerable fortitude. but after awhile he hesitated, stammered, and then trembled visibly. No matter how he turned, no matter which way he looked, that searching eye was never removed from his person? seeming to penetrate to his inmost soul, and read the darkest secrets of his guilty breast. In vain he tried to avoid it; in vain he tried to confine his o,wn looks to the court and jury, or to the prosecuting attorney. In spite of himself his glances would wander to those large and burning orbs that fascinated while they terrified, and compelled attention when attention was torture. His evidence was in substance the same as he had given before the coroner, but his manner of testifying detracted greatly from its effect, and the marked change from the confident air with which he had entered the court-room, to the unaccountable terrors that shook him before the close of the examination, left a most unfavorable impression upon the minds of the jury. Colonel Burr noticed the effect that had been produced, and endeavored to enhance it by an appearance of extreme fairness In his cross-examination. For some time the questions he put were so immaterial, and his manner was so careless, that Roberts regained confidence, and once more looked about him with an unabashed air. After awhile. Colonel Burr inquired in a mild and even tone,? "What is your trade or occupation ?" "I am a laborer," answered Roberts. "What kind of laborer?" " I work on such Jobs as I can get; generally loading and unloading vessels." "Let me see your hand." . It was dirty enough, but smooth and soft, with none of the horny hardness always apparent in the hand of the working-man. Colonel Burr quietly; called the attention of the Jury to the fact, and resumed his crossexamination. "Did you ever see this club before?" he asked, handed the loaded club to Roberts. "I don't know. T have seen a srood many clubs like It, and that may have been among them." "Did you ever own one like It?" "No I never did." The manner of the Interrogator now changed entirely. His voice was stern, and again that look of unearthly penetration was fixed upon his victim. "Did you not carry just such a club as this on the night Franz Klink was murdered?" "No, sir," stammered Roberts, trembling In every limb. "I never carried such a club In my life." "That will do, Mr. Roberts. You can stand aside." The court, the Jury, and the prosecuting attorney were all alike surprised at this sudden dlmissal of the principal witness against the prisoner, aften so slight a cross-examination; &ut Colonel Burr had obtained what he wanted. In his examination of a witness he sever asked questions for the sake of asking them. He never took chances. He had a fixed object, and when It was attained, he knew when to stop. He did not choose to run the risk of drawing out something unfavorable to his client, either to show his own dexterity, or In the mere hope of obtaining something that would benefit him. Besides, he was satisfied that a practiced and hardened villain like Roberts would come into the ?'ourt-house perfectly fortified on all the main points of his testimony, and that the result of a prolonged crossexamination would be to give that testimony greater strength. He therefore confined himself to questions which, could not have been foreseen ind prepared for. TO BE CONTINUED. HEAD FULL OF DIAMONDS. Strange Tale of Gem Stuffed Idol In Philadelphia. In the head of an antique and hlde>us stone idol, the whereabouts ot which is puzzling the Phlldelphla police, is believed to have been smuggled into this country gems valued at $600,)00. The idol was discovered in a sta Die or a rurnuure nrm in west rnuaielphla, ami placed in a store window is a decoration. Shortly afterward ?the members of the firm were warned in an anonymaus letter not to give away or sell the Image, a reward being promised if it should be replaced In the stable. The Arm did not wish to part with It, howfver, and notified the police and their employees to prevent Its being stolen. Notwithstanding all precautions, says the Star, the image mysteriously Jlsappeared. Policemen outside and ;lerks within had been on the watch ill evening. About 8 o'clock, when ane of the clerks turned to look at the Idol in the window after having been ?ngaged in another direction only a few minutes, the image was gone. On Wednesday the promised explanation came. It was a tale of adventure In strange lands and of an in gtflll'jus IIICII1UU U1 siiiuBgiwie muivn Jewels into the country. According to the story told by the letter, the writer is an Italian, who, after various vicissitudes In earnings living in Europe was sent by his employer to South Africa to assist In the selection of diamonds. After arriving [n Cape Colony he made the acquaintance of Cecil Rhodes, and by the consent of his employer went to work for the magnate. Leaving him in after years, he fell In with Barney Barnato and went with him to the diamond fields of Kimberley. Here he fell in with another man whose name he does not give. "Kaffo," as the writer called himself, and his friend secured a lot of diamonds. The climax came in a thunderstorm. In which his friend was killed by I lightning. Kaffo was stunned, but soon recovered and unearthed the precious stones accumulated by his friend, and prepared to leave the country. His great problem was to conceal the stones, so as to smuggle them out of the country. His eyes fell on the idol. The head of the image was hollow and it had been used as a water cooler. He dropped the diamonds in through the eye holes and stopped the holes by cementing paste diamonds in them. He came to Philadelphia, where a fellow-countryman, whose acquaintance he made at a boarding house, appeared to be fascinated by the image. One dav this new friend and the idol were missing. The friend he found in a dying con-J dition in a hospital. He confessed to stealing the image and told where he had concealed it in a stable. This was a month after it disappeared. The next night Kaffo went to the stable, only to find that the Idol was gone. On Xovember 18 he saw a picture of the idol In a Philadelphia paper. Then came the correspondence and the theft. Ska Watifr.?Sea water is a complicated mixture of a great vs.riety of substances. Roughly speaking, it consists of 96$ per cent of fresh water plus 3$ per cent of mineral salts. Three-fourths of these salts are chloride of sodium, or common table salt, and the next largest constituent is chloride of magnesium, sulphate of lime, sulphate of potash, bromide of magnesium and carbonate of lime. In addition to these substances sea water contains minute quantities of quite a variety of elements, Including iodine, phosphorus and arsenic. It also contains some silver, copper, zinc, nickle, iron and gold. There Is said to be 2 cents worth of gold In every pailful of sea water, but as yet nobody has found a way to extract It. Copper and zinc are found in some seaweeds, and certain species of coral is three-milllonths silver. iWiscfUiUKnus %rndini|. CIVITAS 18 MAD. Ungrateful People Wont Treat Noble Ben Right. Editor YorkviUe Enquirer: Mr. Editor, I'm "mad as fire," I tell you. Somebody will have to hold me if this thin? goes on. it is just a nine too much, when we had got old Ben rigged up as a statesman, wearing the veritable mantle of Calhoun (of which with a few gores and added lengths to fit the larger figure); when there was "none so poor (or rich) In South Carolina as (not) to do him reverence;" when he had "grown" and "grown" until Washington couldn't hold him; now, at this "psychological moment," to have base men seek to tear the laurels from his brow! To think that the time would even come when old Ben's noble generosity to Hubbell should be misconstrued and used against him. Mr. Editor, I flattered myself that you and I had so fully explained this matter that even the State would not have pre sumca iu atty a wuiu lunuci. tic showed 'that In that long ago of 1893, the old Palmetto state was at her last gasp financially. The "frilled patricians" had done for her. Even two years of Gov. Tillman's rigid economy and wholesale reduction of salaries had not availed. Only the dispensary could save her; but how could she even get on her feet and make the venture? 'Twas the Immortal Hubbell that then stood shoulder to shoulder with our own old Ben In the breach. Should not our noble governor be grateful? Sir, it is one of the most touching (unwritten) passages of history how that strong man wept, and folded Hubbell In his arms, and pressed the little matter of rebates (some thousands?what If It had been millions?) upon this co-savlour of South Carolina. That's the whole of It; and shame on him who raises the question again. And then there is that Chlcco fan Incident. It Is Infamous the way those editors devised that Insult to old Ben's senatorial dignity. But they overreached themselves; they are "hoist with their own petard;" they have made a literary blunder; It Is not Chlcco who ought to have been upon the fan, but Hubbell. Ah! that would have been something like?the noble pair of brothers! Then It might have gone down In history, becoming the original of a noble design of the two noble brothers clasping hands on the facade of the state house. But now; but now It is but a poor little Joke?only fit to be turned over to Gov. Hey ward! But the crowning Infamy Is when they attempt to comer old Ben about the church and barroom matter. Mr. Editor, how dare they put the word of this man Fair and the whole dirty lot of so-called "reputable gentlemen" of Orangeburg and Berkeley who swear they heard him say It; the word of such a crew I say, against that of our senior senator from South Carolina? Have things come to such a pass that the simple word of old Ben is not valid against the whole ~ ? * ???* rt * U Ir?lr o# llAW tVin suiltf; i weep iu mum ui nvi. >?v times are out of joint. And suppose he did say It? Suppose he did say "reverence" and not "Inde pendence," should not a freeborn citizen of our old commonwealth?not to mention old Ben?should he not have the right to say what he believes? Since when must a man be stigmatized for having the courage of his convictions? I say this, if our noble leader believes that the churches are made up of sneaks any hypocrites; tKn /UanonQorv let tho WAV nil t of the wilderness; and that he himself Is the Moses to lead us into the promised land?If he has this sincere conviction and high aspiration,?I ask if he should not speak it out without fear or favor from God or man? I pause for a reply. Let it be "writ large" on Aug. 28. Yours, Cl VITAS. Rural Retreat, S. C. P. S.?Mr. Editor, Is It true that old Ben has gone to the west? Ah! I fear that our ingratitude has broken the heart of this great Caesar, and that he has betaken himself to that wild and woolly region to hide himself from those who would only glory in his grief. Of course they say it is to lecture, but I know it Is to mourn. Mr. Editor, can't we advertise and bring him back? They say he is to lecture for $400 a night, but can't we start a popular subscription and give him $400.25 a night to come back? As it is we are bereft; we are undone! He has left us to our fate. v has. CAUGHT BIGGEST SWORDFISH. How the Captain of a Sailboat Got His Prize. The biggest swordflsh that has been caught this season off Seaconnet was brought to the Seaconnet Point wharf Wednesday afternoon in the big sailboat T. A. B. by Capt. Thomas A. Buell. To Peter Blockinger belongs the honor of first sighting the big fish and of sending the harpoon into it with such good aim and force that an hour's struggle by the fish failed to wrest the barb from its side. The swordflsh weighed nearly 225 pounds and was more than ten feet long from its tail to the tip of its long and handsome sword. With Captain Buell at the wheel, and Pete standing in the pulpit, with eyes on the sea and harpoon in readiness for quick work, the T. A. B. was propelled by gasolene engine and sail, and cruised, while all hands kept sharp watch to see a big black fin and tail protruding above the water. Suddenly Pete sang out, "There's one," and pointed to where not thirty feet away and Just to the right, a big swordflsh lay motionless at the top of the water, fln and tail out, basking In the sun. Captain Buell steered carefully and the boat crawled up toward the fish, while Pete stood ready with barbed har poon ten feet long poised ready Tor a strike. When the pulpit was almost over the fish it lazily swam to the right and commenced to sink slowly. Then with all the force of both strong arms Pete sent the heavy harpoon solidly into the fish. His aim was true. The double spearhead barb went directly back of the fin, the pole was shaken loose, the keg at the end was tossed overboard and then and there was a grand sight. The big flsh dived down and the keg churned the water as the swordflsh, stung by the barb, sought to get away. Time and again the keg went under after the rod was unwound. Then the fish started to swim away and for more than a mile it towed the keg with the T. A. B. keeping near. Finally when the keg showed that the swordflsh had become tired Pete set out In the rowboat to pick up the keg and haul In the captive. He tossed the keg Into the small boat and began gradually to haul In the line. After the slack had been taken In and the flsh felt the pull on the line It started again. Pete paid out the rope a few fathoms and then, with feet braced, stood up In the boat and was towed along for nearly a mile, the boat being stern foremost. He carefully pulled In and was again towed. At length the flsh was hauled alongside the rowboat. It darted away and was played for awhile. This was repeated several times, and after a while Pete pulled the flsh alongside and slipped a noose of the rope over its tall, thus ending the struggle. The flsh was towed to the sailboat and slashed securely to one side. The struggle with the big flsh lasted more than an hour. It was struck at 2:16. The T. A. P. cruised around an hour or so more, but could find no more swordflsh.? Providence Journal. OLD TIME P08TMA8TER& They Were Called Upon to Do All Manner of Queer Things. The modern postmaster may think he has troubles of his own, but there was a time, along about 1817, when he was called upon to do all manner of queer things. For instance. In rummaging through an old trunk a venerable resident of Washington recently unearthed an age stained pamphlet which announced the Inauguration of a -"new dally and thrice a week paper," to be printed "at the seat of government" The an nouncement was dated April 6, 1817, and after a voluminous exposition of the virtues of the proposed paper the editor said: "Postmasters are hereby authorized to receive subscriptions for the Gazette, and for ail moneys collected and transmitted to the editor, at the city of Washington, a discount of 10 per cent will be allowed. Distant subscribers will have their papers carefully packed and punctually forwarded to order." Then follows a set of blank spaces where the postmaster might append the names of the subscribers. The entire pamphlet was complete, and a copy was sent, presumably to every postmaster in the then United States. If every postmaster could thus be used as a "mail order agent" in these days of strenuous competition what a variety of duties they would be called upon to perform. But under the system that then existed this method was entirely proper, and It is said that the postmasters made considerable revenue from these sources. Needless to say this was before the days of the now celebrated "fraud order," which the postofflce department issues with every returning sun. But getting back to the "prospectus." It Is a weird affair, wonder fully and fearfully made. It actually states that "a competent reporter will be employed to furnish the proceedings of congress for the Gazette" and that "all Interesting articles of Intelligence will be carefully selected and published." When It says that all public documents and state papers will be printed at full length" one Is immediately reminded of the Congressional Record, a publication that has been without a rival in the memory of man. It is also Interesting that the editor to be, one Jonathan Elliott, advertised in April that he would start a paper In October. And he expected all these subscriptions to be forthcoming, evidently before the paper was established.?New Haven Union. THE NAVY'S HOODOO. Ill Luck Followed the Texas From Its Construction. The battleship Texas, which has been dismantled at the Charlestown, Mass., harbor, preparatory to her exit from the naval service, had the reputation of being a "hoodoo" vessel as well as the oldest ship in the United States navy. Among the sailors the Texas had the reputation of being the unlucklest ship In the American navy. She was the first battleship constructed for the navy and was modeled after the English and built In the Norfolk navy yard. From the day that the first hammer struck In her construction, it seems that she was doomed for a hoodoo. Her bad luck began in the building. She was laid down in the yard in 1889 and It was In 1895 before she was completed and commissioned. On her deck trial at Norfolk her propeller blade cut into a passing schooner and sank her. In the Spanish war the Texas could not get up enough speed to help very much and officers of the navy say she did more damage to herself in the shots she fired than to the enemy. The vessel was disliked by constructors of the navy because she was designed after an English ship, and by private contractors for the reason that she was built in a government yard. In 1896, her first year afloat, she gradually sank into the mud while lying in the harbor at Rrooklvn. N. Y., as the result of a sea cock in the hold becoming unfastened. After great difficulties and the expenditure of many dollars, she was again placed in commission. Later the Texas ran ashore in Norfolk harbor and in February, 1897, she went ashore at the Tortugas, and ten months later went ashore in the Wallabout channel. In Boston harbor she had an accident when a boiler blew up, badly injuring six men. Just previous to the Spanish war the Texas by mistake fired on the Marblehead at night, but the shots went high and did no damage. In that battle she was a poor steamer, making only six knots, burning great quantities of coal and being of little value to the other vessels of the fleet. So much criticism was heaped on the Illfated ship that sailors would almost as soon be court martlaled as to be detailed to her.?New York Commercial. TILLMAN SHOULD TELL What Was tha Sum of tha Whisky Rabatas Ha Qava Away. Before Senator Tillman closes this self-arranged tour of South Carolina In whlnh Ha la flahllna tha aroft.nhflfl. era?the State and J. Fraser Lyon? attempting to keep poor people benighted by opposing compulsory education, and to oontlnue South Carolina's whisky sodden and corruptlon-rldden condition by advocating the state dispensary. there Is one bit of Interesting information he should give the public. How many thousand dollars belonging to the state of South Carolina did he give his friend, Hubbell, the distiller? At a time when the cry was "retrenchment and reform,", at a time when the reduction of the poor little salaries of state officials was Tillman's slogan In the campaign, at a time when the legislature devoted days upon days to trimming off a few dollars here and a few dollars there, from the salaries of South Carolina officials?at that time when "reform" and "economy" wre In the minds and mouths of the honest believers In Ben TUlman, how muny thousands of dollars did he, Ben Till man, without the consent of the legislature or knowledge of the taxpayers, take from the people and pour into the pockets of Hubbell? We quote from hjp testimony before the dispensary investigating committee last February: When I went out of office we owed that man (Hubbell), a great amount of money. The state paid him afterwards, I am glad to say. and redeemed my credit And did not the state also pay him substantial Interest on the "great amount of money" due on bills contracted by Ben Tillman? Continuing, Tillman testified to Hubbell's having told him there were rebates coming to the state because his company was a member of the whisky trust. Then, according to himself, Gov. TUlman?very liberal with South Carolina's cash?answered: "Well," I said, "I don't want any dealings with rebates; yon keep that as a bonus for the accommodation you have given me in selling me liquor at a fair price and assisting me in my efforts to start the dispensary." That is what became of the rebates. Let there be no misunderstanding. These "rebates" were part of the price of liquor paid by South Carolina. The whisky trust regularly made an overcharge and afterwards returned that overcharge under the name of "rebates." So for the aid given him In running his pet dispensary Tillman, besides paying "a fair price," gave his whisky friend all rebates due South Carolina. In addition it is alleged that liberal interest was also allowed Hubbell. Now, did Hubbell grant particular concessions to the state of South Carolina? In a published statement, made February 14, 1893, D. H. Trailer, returning with Tillman from a tour of western liquor houses, said: There is nothing in the story about the governor being refused liquors unless some good security was furnished. On the contrary all the houses visited were anxious to take their orders. That statement was made before the opening of the dispensary and with Gov. Tillman's approval. All the liquor houses were anxious to get their orders without additional security. Then why the extraordinary favoritism to Hubbell? But that is not alL It was not enough tar pay Hubbell "a fair price," it was not enough to pay Interest on open accounts, it was not enough to present him with thousands of dollars in rebates that belonged to the state of South Carolina, but Tillman, according to admissions made when under examination by Mr. Lyon for the Investigating committee, asked his successors in the liquor purchasing business to pvrchase liquor from Hubbell at a higher price than was bid by other concerns. In other words, Tillman asked that a man who had befriended him or whom he says had befriended him, and who had already been twice bonused at the expense of the state of South Carolina, should be given more for his liquor than other dealers offered to sell for under identical conditions and specifications. What is the difference between the position of B. R. Tillman and those members of the board of directors who purchased glass from the Carolina Glass company at a higher rate than glass was offered elsewhere? And If Hubbell, Tillman's friend, was willing to accept a higher price for his liquor than other dealers did, wherein is the difference between his position and that of the Carolina Glass company? Will Ben Tillman, who on his Independent campaign, is attacking every man that dares oppose his views, plainly, clearly, without dodging or crawfishing, harmonize his Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde positions.?Columbia State. ? ? ' Leather Breeches.?A hundred ana nriy years agu me iaim ?<??.?.> and house servants of England were clothed in leather. A good pair of leather breeches was said to pass from father to son as an heirloom. Then a boy went to school as well protected [ as an armored cruiser. The author of "Dldlsburye In the '46" offers some observations upon these articles of common wear: The test of a good pair was to try If they would stand upright of themselves when nobody was in them. If they would do so they were good, strong stuff and likely to last for many years. My father remembered a prentice lad coming to his father, whose fond mother had provided him with such a pair, and thtv wfrp the means of a "vast of fun" In a game that is unknown In these days?that Is, for the boys to set the breeches upright and then jump into them without touching them with the hands. It was probably a pair of such leather breeches that the Windsor boy was wearing when George III. asked him if he did not know that the man before him was a king. "Yes," said the boy. "Then why don't you go on your knees, and you might kiss the king's hand," said the king. "Because I'd spoil my breeches." / X* There is "old maid" insurance In Denmark. Women who think they may become old maids pay so much a year, and at forty receive pensions for life. If they marry before forty what they have paid in premiums goes to swell the amount available for the benefit of their less fortunate sisters.