Orangeburg news and times. (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1875-1877, March 10, 1877, Image 1
-*? ? ,? ? - ?
t TWO'DOLLARS PER ANNUM, y GOD Js^NT) O?fe COUNTRY. ALWAYS IN ADVAN CE
Y?LfJME 11. SATURDAY MORNING, MARCH 10, 1877. NUMBER
yd THE ERRATIC "WRIGHT.
i . . . \ .
Ant Interview lvltH Hi? litill
Dozcd Black Justice.
mfc He Did and Wby Ho Didn't? Tho
' Flight from Columbia?Whipper on
Guard.
Oh Saturday the vigilant Columbia
correspondent of the Journal of Com
ntert? " telegraphed the following
information :
"Mystery as to whereabouts of Er
ratic Wright solved at last. This
morning he left here per buggy, in
company with Whipper, and went to
Hopins', at which place lie took the
train going towards Charleston. He
stopped nt Branchville, but whether
he resumetl his advance upon Charles
ton' or "wont towards A ugusta is not
Known. It is not thought probable
that lie \vill go to Augusta and stop
*tt the'Plan tor's Hotel."
iiujiTiicci a jynor..
-'As: soon as the news reached the.
city,' a ? reporter for the Journal <>f
^oinmrrcr. was sent iii quest of the er
ratib 'Judge.' He seen in the
?afternoon coming out of the depot of
the South Carolina Railroad in comp
any with Whipper. The pair were
speodily put in a close carriage and |
driven away. The carriage, however,
traveled faster t! tin the reporter, and
the'Justice and quasi Judge could not
be* tracked. Yesterday the reporter
Tailed nt the former residence of
W'lrippcr, ami inquired for '?the
?Judge." lie was informed by the
lady of the house, Mrs. Rollins, that
*'Judge" Whipper diu nut reside, thure.
Altera pleasant conversation, the in
formation was elicited thai. Whipper
bud probably gone t > iJeitufurt, and
that' when he was in the city, lie usu
all icsi led at No. l.'j M?iitnL'n'1 street.
At ' No. 13 Motiti.gneslrcet Whipper
vsis found at home. Me looked\v'e'ary
Mi<l faiigucd, hul consented to receive
1 lie reporter, who at oueuentered into
bt's business.
an'ixikiiyikm- v.itii Tin-: kkkpkk.
j Reporter?Judge Wright caine
down from Columbia with you last
night?
Whipper (with a smile)?Well?
;ye's. ?
Reporter?Can T see him ?
Whipper (with a double smile) ?
"Well, I don't know, but if you will
call back in an hour I will he able to
(let you know positively.
So at the end of an hour the repor
ter-relumed, but Whipper was not. in.
Repeated calls were innde with the
fame result. But perseverance must
?succeed, and in this instance porsever
nnce succeeded even in finding the er
ratic Judge. When the twilight had
?deepened into darkness ami the street
Ininp? which ought to have boon lit,
?were not lighted, Whipper was found;
?and Wupper was in a gracious hum-n
?or. He stated that he hud seen Judge
Wright, and that die hull-dozed jus
tice had no objection to ?ceing a ro
jrojler*
So Whipper put on his bat, seized
his slick, and started gut on the hunt
with the reporter. It was a long
tramp through many miserable streets
ami "dark lanes. During the hunt,
Whipper stated that the Judge would
leave for Washington on the evening
train, and in the course of tlio conver
cation- ex pressed the opinion that Mr,
Chamberlain was Governor, and that
be aud; Mr. Packard would he rccog
nized by President Hayes.
After many windings and turnings,
Wright's nsylnm was reached. It
proved tobe the residence of the Rev.
E/'J:'Adams, a colored preacher, who
lives in Amtierst street. A ring at the
door boll brought two dogs and a col
orcd woman to the door, and the re
porter was ushered into a sitting
room, where he found tho erratic jun
tice enjoying spiritual consolation at
the hands of the pam>u. lie looked
punny but greeted his interviewer
with a smile and a cordial shake of
the hand. Some little time was con
snmed in looking around mid taking
the bearings, the parson meantime bin
ploying himself in lighting a kerosene
lamp.?;? Wright then invited the ro
porter into the parloi ami the light
4*. . ."'
was accordingly carried to that apart
meat. The Judge seemed to be very
shaky and was evidently unwilling
to allow himself to he trusted alone
with a reporter. So ho remarked on
entering the parlor : "I suppose you
have no objections to Whippier being
present?" No objection* having been
offered, Whippcr, who was near tho
entrance of tho door, was invited to
come in. And so tho keeper entered.
tub intkhvikw.
Judge Wright talks with a lisp.
His appcrance and his spaech gave
clear indications of the bender that hp
has been on. In simple plain uuvarn
ishecl English he was on the verge of
delirium tremens. Ho spoke slowly
and as deliberately as possible, and
several times during the interview had
to be prompted .by bis keeper. Ho
consented to be interviewed upoll the
condition that his statements shook!
be published entire without any thing
being added to or taken from them.
These preliminaries having been ar
ranged the inierview h=?gan, the Judge
and the reporter sitting at lhatuhl e
and the keeper, Whippcr, sitting on a
chair a little to one .side.
ilfcportcr?Well, Judgo, where arc
you going?
Wright?(Stammering)?that's a
difficult question to answer. Probably
from bere to Washington.
Reporter?What arc you going to
Washington for?
Wright?Well, you sec, Milliter
Juthtiee Willard, of the Thuprcnic
pourti suggested to me on the 27th ?
no, the 2!st, of February ? that I bad
better go to Washington and spend
about three weeks. He timid I could
take the brief and papers with me, and
write my opinions thorn nud boot
miinieatc with him by mail. ( A Io g
pause). On Wednesday we met again,
und adjourned until Friday ? lo'inc
j sec?Friday ? no. 1 don't remember
I the rial e.
I At this point Whipp t interrupted,
and with llie nssistai ce of the repor
lor refreshed the Judge's memory as
to dates. Whereupon the Judge con
tinned Iiis somewhat confused state
incut.
'1 be day before the signing of the
order ? hj'iue see?the 20 Ii, AI ither
Just it Ii Willard suggested to ma t!ie
propriety of going to Washington or
to Florida: II? thought Florida
would be the host because the Chief
Justice would be able to go there
shortly, and he would like to have me
there lo consult. After the court ad
journed be said I might leave that
night. I asked him what about the
court. lie said I needn't attend cmrt,
as ho would adjourn it from day to
day until I returned. I con eluded that
I would take his advice and go to
Washington, and I didn't attend
court on Friday.
Reporter?But why did you sign
the order for the release of T:lda Nor
ris, winch was a recognition of IIa nip
ton as Governor ?
Wright?I signed the order. You
sec the case closed on Friday night
previous, and th?. court adjourned
from Friday till Monday. Mith?r
Willard .sent for me on Saturday to
come to the consultation room. lie
asked inc that there should be a de
cision at once. I replied that I hadn't
given a thought to tho case yet. Wo
met on Monday and he ngaiu asked
for a decision. 1 differed with him
slating that two days in a habeas cor
pus case were equivalent toa convic
tion (the Judge's own words.) On
the 27tli he presented an order lo he
signed. 1 said I was hot prepared lo
sign an ordor, General Conner was
in the room at ti c time; he never
loses his temper; but Justice Willard
docs. I said to Willard you must
wait until Saturday, and by that time
I can put my views upon paper. Gen
eral Cornier arose from his seat and
said in very solemn tones : "There
have been two govern incuts in this
State running along sido hy sido,
without bloodshed. The people, have
been restrained so far, but I fear they
connot he restrained- much longer un
less this matter is settled.'' He then
went out. Willard then nrose in a
passion, and said : "I havedono all I
could nud if bloodshed come? I shall
be clear." He started to go out, and
when lio got to the door, T said :
?? Wait a mom out," and I then said
that I would promise to sign an order
to discharge the prisoner, provided he
would not file the order untile Satur
day morning, and that would givo mo
time to prepare an opinion, lie con
sented to this, and I signed tho order
for the discharge of tho prisoner. On
Thursday I got my opinion done and
sent it by the clerk of the Court to
Judgo Willard, saying to him that I
had-come to a different conclusion'
from what the order expressed, and
asking hint to send my opinion hack
I (the Judge's words again) that I
j might cancel it:
Whippcr?You m2an tho order,
not "opinion.
Wright?Yes, of course I mean the
order. It was not sent, I ordered
Mr. Boozer to tile the cancellation.
It- porter?Do 3*011 think that the
cancellation revokes the order?
Wright?Of course. This is no
new practice. Tli'n order w;?s not out
of the possession of the court.
Tili: SA1.AKY OKAu.
Reporter?Well, Judge, what did
you sign tho original order for ?
An ominous silence and an ex
change of glancos between the Juge
his keeper.
Reporter?How about the drawing
of your salary from tho Hampton
treasury ?
Wright (quickly)?I deny it.
When General Hnmptan was first
inaugurated, he sent a letter, stating
t hat he was ready to pay the salaries
of the judges. General Hagood sent
me a letter, and I called at his oHieo
and staled to him that I would not re
reive ii c u 1 a i-y ft?V>m oilliur *g?VV*crn
incut. Afterwards I had a consulta
tion with the Chic I Justice and with
Willard, and the view that we arriv
ed at was, that if an order was drawn
upon the Comptroller General and
Treasurer, it could he disposed of and
that it wouldn't he deciding who was
Comptroller General or Treasurer; so
1 concluded to take, the money. 1
followed their advice and drew an
order for one month's salary, took it
to the bank and bad it placed to my
credit. 1 drew two such orders and
the hanks received them.
A V I-It Y Till? STATEMENT.
Reporter?What have you to say
about that reported interview with
Governor Hampton ?
Wright?Well, you see I was in
formed by several persons, white and
colored, that there was a scheme on
foot lo assassinate me (this with a
glance at I bo keeper), and I was also
told that General Hampton possessed
valuable information that he would
iinpar*. if I called. I slated that I
feared if I called, I might bo miscon
strued. (Here there was a brief
pause.) During the recess I went up
and called on General Hampton. I
stated to him that I had been inform
ed that I was to be assassinated. lie
said "fear no danger; you will be pro
tected." I said "no matter how this
case is decided 1 will have to leave
Columbia.'' I thou mentioned a rum
or that I had been bribed to sell my
decuion in bis hi vor for 8100,0l?0. He
answered that I knew that that was
false.
Reporlor?Didn't you tell Gover
nor Hampton that you knew he bad
been elected ?
W'igbt?I disrememher exactly
the words; but I said something
about the election. I said there "was
no doubt that he bad received the
largest number of votes, but nothing
about tho legal points involved.
Here the judge slopped, and the
subject deeming to be disagreeable the I
reporter determined to change the
conversation.
Tilt: FLIGHT IMtOM COl.UMJUA .
Reporter ? How long are you going
to stay in Washington?
This was a poser?it was evidently
not provided for, and it rcquirod time
for 'deliberation and ridloctiou. Final
ly ho answered, I don't know how
long I shall stay there; but I don't
think I shall stay as long as Willard
desires?or suggested.
The conversation next tu mod upm
the mysterious llight from Colum'iia,
via. Hopkins'.
Rcporter^SVIiy did you and Mr.
Whippcr lejivc Columbia in such a
roundabout way?
Wright?It whs reported to me on
the best Hiithority (and the speech
was delivered like a school boy's re
citation") thai:'there was a plan on foot
to keep ni'^from going to Washing
ton. ' '
Reporter|SWliat kind of plan?
Wright-T-(hesitaling)-?-1 didn't
hear dire otlyfe ;
Whippec,?You knew that all the
trains wero guarded !
Wrigh t?'Yes, the trains were all
guarded, anil' a. utiiiihor of persons
were seen about my room during the
night to prov'ent'my lcavihg; Accord
ing to my t'advice I kept in doors.
When I went out in the morning I
found that there were men outside;
who whistled, as if giving signals. Ar
rangemcnts^had been made for mc to
go to Charleston night before last,
just, before we reached the depot the
train had loll/; l/onml North. That's
the iva?oh"^\vo weht to Hopkins' to
take the train. "
This explanation was not very clear,
I but it wn.S t_JlO best that could be oh
! mined from^tho . .bull-dozed Justice
with the .assistance of Whipper.
A IijiOAI. Ol'INI.OX.
THo Reporter next asked' tlio! Jiis
lice whetbe'r*''die' thought that his rc
cantation . amounted to anything in
law. .y ,-? i
Wright?Vvjhiuk I can revoke my
decision. Courts have the power to
change or alter their opinions. Tim
order had 'nd^ herfi. hied.
\Y hippcr-^Teil him (the Reporter)
i\,?h i,?nuuO *f?'Tl?e rfTrf'?;V>7st?r..ljad.??ot.
been filed; that, the clerk of the
Supreme Court told you so?
Wright?Ye?, lie told m : s >.
At this point the interview termi
iiaicd, as the Judge wasiiboiit to
start f:n tliat jaunt to W.Vshingion.
Ho said, in parting, that In; would
like to have said something ab ml nis
repprtCf; intoxication, bitt he didn't
feel well enough,and didn't have time
just now. Considering this a delicate
questioni in view of the apparently
delicate- con lition of the Judge's
health, tho reporter refrained from
pursuing the inquiry, and was usher
ed to the door, while the Judge was
remanded to the custody of the par
son, who escorted him to the depot?
if ho went to Washington?which is
not at all certain.
Wright is evidently in an imbecile
state of mind, and during his stay
here was under the Consta it espion
age of Whipper and Adams. Whether
ho will be sent It) Boatfibrt or Wash
ington, or whether he will be hurried
away to the sunny clime of the land
of (lowers is not known. Whipper
stated that he would leave for Wash
ington on the 9:15 train last evening,
but it is not probable that the keep
ers of tho poor Judge'will let his
whereabouts be known. That myster
ious "plan ol assassination," of which
the Judge did hoi. "hear directly,','
seems to have demoralized him en
tirely.
ON THE WAR PATH.
A sTvjage Panther llrcak* IS is
I hirst.
Consternation Amumr Spectators?A i
fierce Struggle With An I'.xciled Wild
llcast?bra cry of the Keeper?final
Capture of the Panther.
An exciting episode occurred at
iho Winter quarters of Howes' Great
London Circus and Sungor'sJSnglish
Menagerie yesterday morning. As
was stated in the Vhroniclt ami Senth
nil, sonic time siuoc, the animals in
the menagerie are fed once over} day
on raw beef. This event has
daily attracted largo crowds of our
citizens, curious to witness tho inter
esting spectacle. Yesterday the feed
ing took place about II o'clock, and
as usual thoro woroa number of people
present?principally ladies and child
ren.
The beef was distributed to tho ani
mals by Air. Julius Ihirton, the assis
tant keeper. In going the rounds
Mr* Barton finally reached tho cage
containing the line, beautiful but
treacherous looking Texas panthers
Apparently ravenous with hunger,
these fierce creatures jumped wildly
from side to side of the cage, which
shook fearfully under the ticmendous
hounds. Placing the tray {villi (he
meat on the ground in front of the
cage, Mr. Barton stuch his pieh-fork
into a large pieco of meat, and pushed
it between two of the bars. One of
the panthers
Instantly Gha^ticd
I Tho beef with teeth and claws, and
pulled with all his might upon it.
The pieco was rather larger than
usual, or if got crosswise the bars. The
panther pulled hard, growling ficrco'y
tho while, and tho meat gradually
squeezed into the cage. But the tre
mendous strain had boon too much
for one of the bars. Dr. j. !K,
Washington, who was among the
j spectators, saw the bar suddenly give
way, start from its socket at the bot
J loin on the cage, and bend.inwards in
such a manner that the panther could
force its way out. In a moment he
called to the keeper, who was bend
iug down for tho purpose of picking
up another piece of meat to give to
one ol' the other panthers, "D?ok out,
Barton, that panther is:about to get
out." Barton; however, who was
busily engaged; did-not hear him, and
in ah instant almost the panlhcr had
forced its way out, jumped on the
ground beside the keeper and
GiiASi'ep a Piece of Meat.
A wild scene of terror and con.
fusion immediately ensued. Women
and children screamed nud ran in
every direction, strong men turned
palo,lOml (he animals in.the. cage,
looked SirnTw?i$Ej?&?t.: ?
A.3 soon as the panther touched the
ground Mr. Barton realized tho sitiia
tion, and with admirable presence of
mind and a cool bravery possessed by
few, threw liimsclf.upon the back of
the. animal, put bis bands around its
throat and endeavored lo choke it
into subjection. But tho ferocious
beast having now tasted liberty and
? beul, was not to bo. so easily sub
du cd. Turning over it engaged in a
fierce tussle with Mr.] Barton. By a
liberal use of teeth and claws it
finally compolled the keeper to release
it, and it then started tor tho opposite
side of the shed. Mr. Bartop, who
had sprung to his feet, followed quick
ly and grasped the animal by the tail
before it bad proceeded many steps.
Tho panther^ surprised hy this novel
method of attack, dashed through tho
shrinking crowd of people in the in
closure, scattering them right and
left. Mr. Button held on manfully
to the beast's caudal appendage, not
w ithstanding its struggles to got loose,
until it ran under a wagon, when he
was compolled to let go. Almost im
mediately, howi ver, tho animal came
out again, ami was once more taokled
by Mr, Barton. A second time the
panther rushed thiough the crowd,
making no attempt to molest anyone,
being too closely pressed by Mr. Bar
ton, who chiiig to its tail with a firm
giip. This lime the panlhcr ran out
into the yard next to ELJis street, in
rear of thJ shed where the cages aro
kept, dragging Mr. Barton over the
ground after it. The in w furious
beast proceeded rapidly to the end of
the yard, and
Tried to Cm.mii a Tk'ee
Close to the brick wall. In this at
tempt, however, it was foiled hy Mr.
Barton, who held on tonaciously to its
tail. By this time Mr, Gco. Arsteing
still', the keeper of the elephants, an d
Mr. Priseo, the chief keeper of the
animals, who had been endeavoring
to cnplurc the truant, managed to get
a rope around its neck and thus
choke it into subjection. It was then
dragged to the cage, wiiich was quick
ly made Secure after the panther's es
cape, and preparations mado to re
store it to its old home. The other
four pnnthcrs, after persistent cllbrts
by tho attendant'', in the way of heat
ing and punching, were made to go
into the -end of the cage farthest from
the door. They were then barricaded
at that end hy placing hoards through
tho bars. This done tho door was
opened and the captured panther
thrust into the cage. Aftar it was p a
in it resisted lor sonic lime all < l!'jrti
to remove the ropes which bound if,
and it was not until it was choked
nearly to death that this could be ac
complished. It was then found that
the panther was almost lifeless, and
prompt measures had to bo resorted
to in order to restore it. Copious
drenching* of cold water a<id hard
rubbing finally "brought it around"
all right, and the animal once more
paced its cage a wiser if not a better
panther.
When the panther first sprang from
its cage one of the others attempted
to follow it, and succeeded it getting
its head and shoulders through tho
opening, but the prompt action of the,
attendants, who belabored it over the
head, forced it back.
The fact that the raw meat was
within Us grasp when it first reachc 1
the ground in all probability preven
ted the panther from seizing a child
from among the number who were in
tho crowd of spectators. As it was
everybody except Mr. Barton escaped
with nothing mote serious than a bad
scare. Mr. Barton was somewhat
bruised in his encounter with the ani
mal. He certainly displayed remark
able presence of miud, coolness and
bravery throughout the whole affair.
?Chronicle and fo-ntinct.
His A(;n.?'-Oh, you say this
gentleman was about fifty-five," said.
Canning to a pert young woman in
the witness box, "and I suppose now
you consider yourself to be a pretty
good iudge of people's age, eh ? Ah,
just so. Well, now, how old should
you-, take me to be?" "Judging by
your appearance, sir," replied tlie
Witness, "T should tako you to. bo
about sixty; by your questions I
should suppose you were about six
teen."
Parties desiring guano delivered on or
before 1st April can make arrangements
langem eats with nie liy calling in early.
Peruvian Guano 5,1 impor
ters hands is net cash, and 1 shall Jill tirst
all luts engaged on stich terms. I am rc
eeiving same by said vessel from New
York.
Pl10.sx3l1.aLe and Acid.
at lowest prices.
Sngai'f?, Coffee, Tobacco
Family Flour, Plows,
* Steel &c;
always on hand
Early Rose, G oodrich and
Peerless Seed Potatoes
al.-o
ISctl 1$tint Proof Oat.S.
J. L Hamilton
Kussell Street next to Cornelian's.
1U11 L
1 ovcrnment will be recognized at
JC Washington before long. This
cheering news induced me to pur
chase one of the finest lot of
HORSES AND MULES
ever brought iuto this Market. And
as times will grow better under tho
People's Governor, I have put my
prices down, and can now accommo
date the public upon the most rea
sonable terms- No matter what stylo
of Horse or Molen wanted I vouch I
can fill the bill. Call on mo at my
stables at .Slater's Hotel,
E. R SLATER.
The Copartnership heretofore existing
between the undersigned under the firm
name of T. Kohn & Brother is this day
diiHolved by mutual coiisont. The business
will he continued by Tlierdore Kohn in his
own name, and for his own account, and bo
therefore, alone, w ill sign the late firm
name in liquidation.
TIIKORPOUK KOHN,
HENRY KOHN.
Orungehurg, December 12th 1S7G.
dee 1(J 8m
A CARD.
Pr. J. G. WAN NAM A.K Kit is hi post
\e*don of tho Itcccipta and Prescription
Books of the late Or. K, J. Olivoros. All
p*ist?us desiring to get any of the above
?i v'paiations or Renewal of Prescriptions!
run do so by calling on
Dr. WANNAMAKr.lt,
At his Drug Store.
ang 21?3m ?