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were these strange spells. They caVt be vertigo, because Dr. Waddell says a person having vertigo cau't live under nn attaclc over four or five minutes, and the testimony shows that John's strange attacks lasted sometimes three or four hours. We, though, are willing for you to shv vertigo for some, and if vertigo does not sntify you as to nil the attack?, say as the State urges?.sunstroke, or even fainting attacks. Call them what you may, they are onlv symptoms of something behind. Mr". Smith closed with a pathcctic and effective appeal to the jury. Speech of Hon. Iicroy 1?\ Yonmans. It hns been charged that the State is pursuing the prisoner at the bar. that we are persecuting him. To show how little foundation there is for this, T will call the attention of the defense to the fact that in Kngluud, not a great many years ?go, the accused was not permitted to see tiie indictment. Now the prisoner sees it three days before his arraignment. Formerly the accused was not allowed to have counsel i'.t all: afterwards he was permitted to have counsel, but the attorney representing him could cross-examine witnesses, but could not advocate the cause of the accused before the jury. Now, not only can the accused have any number of lawyers he wishes, but if he be unable to pay for an attorney, his Honor will assiptt counsel to him, and iiis attorney hus every opportunity of addressing the jury, quoting the law* and putting up his own witnesses. No clamor nor nreiudice can denrivo him of his right to s? fair and impartial trial. With the almost unlimited right. of challenge, an innocent man is morally certain of an acquittal. Our appearance here is no reflection upon the Solicitor. Wo,can only come into this court at his invitation. The*fact that the Solicitor has chosen to have other counsel should not weigh for or against the prisoner, but only argues something unusual in the case. It has been even recommended, in some counties, by the grand juries that there should be county attorneys to assist the Solicitor because of the superior local knowledge such olHcers could command. In the case at the bar, this becomes more than usually necessary on account of the abilitv of the famous lawyers who have from time immemorial graced the good old countv of Abbeville. Why, may it please your tlonor, Abbeville county is the mother of fudges, and is still breeding them. It is well in the beginning to understand wlivt murder is. Tho books ili?litw? limrilor In be "the killing of any person, with malice aforethought, either expressed or implied." You have abundant testimony as to the main features in this case. It is in proof that there wws a difficulty between the prisoner | and Itenedict. It is in proof that the prisoner { used the most insulting language?"Vou are a damned liar." How can you insult a man more than by calling him "a damned liar?" Truth is characteristic of a gentleman?truth is the characteristic of a brave num. The great. Cyrus, the conqueror of the world, taught the Laecdomonians three things?te shoot the bow, to ride well, and to speak the truth. There are scarcely two words in the English language for which a man is more apt to receive a blow than ''damned lie." I am aware that according to our law no words justify a blow, but few men can be found who would take the "damned lie" without striking his adversary to the pround. benedict's harmleasuess is proven by the fact that he simply replied to Ferguson's most insulting language, ou're another." There are evidences of a quarrel which were related by an old gentleman, who heard nothing except the words which I have quoted. This quarrel took place in front of Auerbnck's store, lienedict's place of business. It is true that Ferguson stood upon the street, but Benedict, was in his place | uiiniucsit, iviiltc UC SIlOlllU IIUVO U0CI1. l llCTO must have been some .special reason for Ferguson'* going there, whore we have him using these most opprobious words to Jienedict. A short time after this difliculty the prisoner comes here under peculiar circumstances. He had made a promise to stay home, and his father had arranged to have his wife brought to town hy his vounger brother. Hut the prisoner breaks the agreement and accompa, nits his wife to the town. What was his conduct on that dav? After leaving his wife at the house of Mr. nrook , licr father, he comes down on the street. We find him armed, with his pistol in his pocket. Then he goes t-? Kali sky's store, whore he generally bought his cartridges. Wanted J12 or 38 calibre; Kulisky had none to fit; he thereupon runs his hand into his pocket, draws out cartridges and says, "Here's enough to kill a man." What next, gentlemen'.' Now comes in other elements?liie drinking of poisonous alcohol and the use of the nimble pistol. We find him going to barrooms and drinking freely, and we find him parading vour streets with a pistol in. his pockets. These elements and these habits, nine timrs out of ten, are prominent actors in all the crimes which are committed. Then he takes a drink, whether two glasses nt a time or not; then follows the efleet; ilun couics the staggering against Martin; then he asks Martin to go with him and see him kill "a damned Jew." Martin savs, "Don't do it." This was on the day before Christmas; that glorious day, more glorious than all other days?the day on which our Lord and Saviour was born?a dav when m?n v.. mies, and peace and pood-will prevail. The streets are crowded with eager buyer*, both black aud white, making purchases to gladden the hearts of loved ones at home. Tins very store was crowded, everybody wanted to be served; Benedict was getting a pair of shoes to sell to a negro woman. Xerguson was already there, watching his opportunity?lying in wait, lie takes his pistol out of his hip 5>ocket, cocks it, puts it in his overcoat pt>ckct. Scnedict, all unconscious of the intention of the assassin, reaches over to pet the shoes outof the box. Ferguson says something so low that no person hears if: benedict himself did not hear it, and only he who refuses to tell kuovs what he said. Notwithstanding Ferguson had called him "a damned liar," Benedict said: "What did you say?" Then Ferguson tires. What's that? If not murder, how can you spell it? It has in it, gentlemen of the jury, every one of the elements of murder. Ah, gentlemen, it iH worse than the ordinary crime of lying in wait. Ferguson goes to lienedict's place of business; he goes to the place where poor Benedict is carrying out his portion of the command of the Creator?"in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread." Ferguson lies in wait (or Benedict in his own house, his own home; for it was his home, his very castle! II- is.... : ?- ? jtc uca in mm iu present ins pistol. Hear ill mind, gentlemen of the -jury, the antecedent menaced the former grudge. You have the preceding quarrel, a deliberctcly planned scheme to do bodily harm. Nay, to do more, to "km a damned Jew." He stimulates himself with liquor, and nerves himself to a horrible deed. When Ferguson was arrested, what did he uav ? "Benedict was trying to kill me," "coming dov h on me," "trying to cut me." It would seem from this that his thoughts first turned to the possibility of escape. "Don't carry me to the guard house;" "let me give bail;" "I'll give Mr. Brooks as security." Now, let U8 examine into the character of the defense which haH been set up for the prisoner at the bar. It is alleged that be was of unsound mind at the time of the killing. If it be really true that Ferguson's mind is disordered, is it not strange, indeed, that no one had ever heard of the fact until be hud sluin his victim? until ho was nrrested and in the hands of the law? The idea of insanity, like Jonah's gourd, must have sprung up in a night. We hear nothing of it until the moment of the killing?nothing of it before or after tlio commission of tbe terrible deed. It is claimed that he was liable to some sort of fainting^ spells; that he drank nam; mm n<! wan sutterin^ from insomnia after ho caino hacktfroiq Ninety-Six; that lie was crazy and threatened to kill himself, but no one certifies that he had an attack of epilepsy on the day of the Hailing, or that he had ever had an attack of \that fearful disease. But even Admitting that the prisoner at the bar did hare ep(lopstotd seizures, did not every doctor on tnat starry testify that epileptics were harml'jhs? That unconsciousness, spasms and convulsions were always present in epilepstoid seizures, anuj that no epileptic could conceive and perform tany act while the paroxism was upon him? lV> yoti believe that John C. Ferguson was unconscious when he slew Benedict? Doesn't bis throats, his act, bis liiiiis excuses for the deed, his desire for bail, liis I anxiety to attend a wedding, all forbid the . thought? Who savs that Ferguson ever had epilepsy? J We are told that the dUense is hereditary? c that it is transmitted from father to son. Is 1 thire a particle oY proof that either the father j or mother, the grandfather or the grandmother, ^ ever had this disease? II< n\ tuen, can he have it? Unless you can trace it back to those 11 from whose blood he conies, he never had it. ( Tell me, my friends, if a man's father or n grandfather never had it, how is lie to get it? ; Suppose his unclvs to have had it. how is he to get it from them? If all of .1 man's cousins, his aunts and his uncles had it, how is that to ' affect him? Her mother said that his sister ! Lizzie had it for six mouths; that she was cured. The doctors who have been s?vorn on t this &tand say that the disease is incurable, and that it goes 011 from bad to worse as the patieut grows older. The proof is that the I parents did not setid for a doctor to see I'er Riison when he was in any of his spells. The \ mother testifies that she never saw John with an attack of epilepsv. Will von tell me that. 1 I......... ..1,1 ?1.:'|.I ...l-.-l. : I. I ? , iiiw >?j. ?i i vui-viu uiiuu, ? u.tu is aimject t?? epileptic lits, would trust it with n no- ?. {fro eirl seven or eight vcarsold? There .ives , not u mother in all South Carolina who has n ( chi'd subject to epileptic fits, that would not keep a constant watch over it. No mother could be found who would trust such an in- . fant to a negro girl wandering about over the v farm. All our instincts forbid us to believe it. t, At school he couldn't spell--looked pale. When he went to lift a log, he set down awhile. When he wewt to other schools he a acted like everv other boy every time he didn't v want to studv; once he looked pale at Dr. (< Uilev's table, and was unconscious for a lime. s At Ninety-Six he was drunk at the wedding. ( Doesn't he seem to ha\e u fancy for getting ' on a drunk at weddings?) Wasn't his behn- 1 vior perfectly natural on the night he returned s to his father's house from Ninety-Six? llis | liquor begins to die out. When his mother . and his wife remonstrate with him for his con- . duct li? feels bad, ami it is perfectly natural 1 fur a half drunk man to think that all the rl world is against him, and to say that he wished he was dead. Al such time , by their ^ reproaches, our wives and ?ur mothers some mi.co inane un iix'i \urv iiMctumoriame. At I such times there is usually left in us enough Ji of sentiment, enough of lienor and enough of t remorse to muke us laugh and ci v by turns, while there is enough nervousness in us to keep us from sleep. They called it insomnia. The State puts up its doctors, us well as '> the friends of the prisoner, but 110 one of them v comes in drum-beat of proving that Ferguson {) ever hud upileusy. r All his acquaintances are put upon the i stand?for the tS'late and for the defense?but c j nut u single one of them ever heard of his huv- t | ing epilepsy until the homicide. c If on your oaths you believe this man to be | crazy, and that he believed Benedict was trv- . ing to kill him, was coining down on him, j was trying to cut him, then you should acquit him. If I thought he was laboring under such i: delusion I would acquit him myself. No argument could convince you of the l falsitv of the charge that Benedict was trying . to kiil him if the tcstimonv d.;es not do it " Crime cannot be punished except bv juries* t Public opinion must sustain the law. Then u law cannot In enforced except by the approval jj of public opinion. Xo lesson is writ .m in , deeper characters than thai communities which allow crime to go unpunished assume v the responsibility for the crime. h The moral standards of a community which c refuse to punish crime must become lower and lower, until they are gone. Lawlessness should not be allowed through ? the weakness of juries. I have always regarded Abbeville as the fAttica of South Carolina. It is the mother of v Judges, and it is not done making them yet. It has been the home of distinguished lawyers a for ages. The people are remarkable for their w intelligence,and their obedience to the laws u in the pabt have been most exemplary. If ^ lawlessness is to take the place of this desira hie condition of atl'sirs?if lawlessness is to ls reign?let it be at the hands of an usurper. d p Speech ol* Col. E. B. Gary. J.1 Jfoy it pleaaayour Honor: As our requests to chargc, whicli have been handed you by the counsel 0 for Ihe dofer.se and which has been fl elaborately argued* by him, embody the ^ positions of law applicable to the defense set up by the prisoner. I do not deem it necessary to make father urgu- cl uient upon them. Counsel then turned b to the jury and suid : Mr. Foreman and Gentlemen of the ^ jury. One of the objects of trial by u jury is that the accused shall be tried tl by those who are free from bias or V prejudice, and who make up their minds 11 as to the jjuilt or innocence of the pris- y oner for the first time when the wit- 11 nesses are examined upon the stand. H [n this case the prisoner labois under w the disadvantage of being tried by a jury, most of whom, according to their p own statements when .sworn upoi. their d voir (tirv, rum niaa-i up tlieir minds as 11 to his guilt. ?ir innocence. The defense j* there lure is compelled, in the lirst place w to prepare your minds so us not to be fi influenced by your preconceived opin- 81 ions, and if they should succeed in do- 11 ing this, then in the second place, to a show ihat the facts sustain their plea w Permit me right here to say a word in n regard to the action of the newspapers, excepting from my remarks the Abbe- "j ville Medium and the Abbeville Mes- ,, skn<jkr. You cannot so soon have for- K gotten the vile and ungererous articles ? that A'ere written against the prisoner u tending to forestall public opinion as to his guilt, and to create excitement among our people against him while lie ? was a prisoner in the custody of the i, law. and, as it were, manacled and c< shackled. 1, in the words of McGregor, t< "stand upon my native heath,'' free to ^ speak my own sentiments, responsible ^ for them and umtramuiclled by the v meshes of the law, and denounce their n conduct as unworthy of the high aims *' of journalism, unworthy of our institu- ^ lions of government that accord to even w the humblest citizen a fair and impar- n tial trial, and unworthy of that liberty P secured by the outspoken voice of a free people, which they have turned q! into a license. If they are to dictate fi what verdicts shall be rendered, then, y indeed, will the genius of liberty de- ^ part from our land and we be as much enslaved as when the tyrant in high carnival holds the scepter of power. They even go so far as to hold jurors up to scorn who do not carry out their * A * * * voiicam, tiuu miuivu it nnpicasant and 81 odious for good men to sit upon a jury ,l whore the press has told them what J I verdict they should render. They go so far as to charge jurors with corruption and bribery, und when ^called a upon to give their facts they pretended " that it was mere rumor. To say that h our jurors have been corrupt and no p investigation has been made of their conduct, is a reflection on the administration of justise in our own midst n which i am not prepared to believe, a To say that our juries are corrupt is a * slander upon a free people, because our ^ juries are drawn each time from.every jj section of our county and would make, a us unworthy of self government. I . . ; >'' Hay it not be laid :it the door of tho jress that their licence in dictating to? uries has inflamed the public mind and :aus"d thorn to take the law in their lands? Who knows but that, the horible homicide in Kdgefield, but a short itne ago. was inspired by the detestil>li'2 articles of the ATews and Jourier and the Press and Jianner,. md who kuows what may yet follow f they are not made to call a halt. During the progress of this case my leart has been touched and pained to iavc beheld the humor and flippancy occasioned by even the color of one of he books upon which to relied, yes the 'little grei'ii book." 1 have likewise leen pained at the array of "lions" "bengal tigers," '"house cats" and other leasts that have been jokingly brought 11 array before your mind's eye. provokii? mirth and laughter as if this temple i w.-iiii.t; hum iim :l hi ii ill u n l DL'i'lt luiiid into a circus or menagerie for the lisp! av of "lions"' "bengal timers," 'house cats" ami other wjld nniuwls. STo ! gontlemen this is no time for mirth vhen the life of one "of your itizens, humble though he be, istrembing in the balance; when those who ,re near and dear to him sit rifli their heads bowed and hearts rushed, and to whose feelings the ound of revelry is as heart-rending as he screaking of tlie screws in the coflin id, which shuts us finally from the ight of one who was dearest to us in ife, or the dull thud of the dirt upon he coffin in the grave, when the body s interred in its last resting place, .'here is a certain solemnity always ttached to the tri?l of a cause in h;s honorable Court, and if there ever >-.,o ? ...i..,.. ?i... : l.. ..t i i ? <?.t u nun; <iiii.il liu: nillliC MIOUIU ilace to the tear. God knows litis is tin' ime. The counsel for the State has been ery particular to go through all the letails of the facts attending and preiotis to the homicide fv.r the purpose f showing malice when there was CAlly no necessity for doing so. Hjoirte the law presumes malice from he mere part of killing and the State's *so would have just so effectually >eon made out from the mere proof of illing as by proof of all these minute ircutnstances, for after all the; only isue before you is, Was the prisoner f unsonnd mind at the time of the lomicide ? The same counsel very ngeniously armed that the plea meant liat the prisoner ;.was not of unsound lind at anv time before or after the omicice. This is not the purport of U - ? l - Ti J--. - in; piea. n (iocs say tuat tlie prisoner ras of unsound mind at the time of the omicide, wliicli is all we have to st&hlish. but' does not say that the risoner's mind was not affected before r after that time. Let me before I remark upon the icts of any pica caution 3-011 as to .'hat is meant by unsoundness of mind nd ask that you do not confound it r-ifn idiocy, lunacy, insanity or crazies s in the common acceptation of these >rnis, what we claim *l?y unsoundness, j that from certain causes which I will iscuss the prisoner's mind was imftired to such an extent that he was ot responsible in the eyes of the law >r his act. Being unable to secure copies of the spceclis of Messrs. licncl and Orr oar account of loir efforts are necessarily brief, in fact einjt taken from the Xeicn and Courier. Mr. W. C. losed for I ho defense. Ho chalniged tlio world to produce such u prosocuiin as tliis. He meant what he said. lie Mild scarcely see (he jury ou account of the umber <>t' counsel for the State. He dwelt pon this for somo time, and tried to show lat tiie defense was weighed down by the leal talent of the prosecution. He next took p the press of tSlate. He handled pretty 'tughly the reports of the former trial of erguson, published in the and Courier. o thought it time to call a halt to the press, fc thanked his friend, (Jen. Hemphill, for his ords when he said, "it is high time that ritninals should be tried upon the facts of 10 case." When he saw the vigor of the rosccntion it was hard to keep cool. His initiation sometimes ran away wiili him like whirlwind. The Speaker seemed to be esecinlly interested in the "head lines" and Iterances of the Aeivs and Courier, as he onld from time to time refer to them. In ict, the newspapers and the State's counsel eeniod to have been very much in the wav of it! speaker, and he could not get rid of the ubject. He thought there was no doubt bout the euilt of Fonrttson. if *!? ? ??>"> ? ere to be believed. He said if you find t'eruson not guilt}' you may look out. You will u charged with bi'ing fixed, with being bribed nd tampered with. Is it not an insult to lis Court to publish such things in the pai-rs? When Air. Henet at last reached the icts of the case ho handled them very well i behalf of the defendant and spoke in his sual style. Col. J. Li. Orr rose to close for the State at fortv-fivo mintes past 6 P. M. Col. Orr could not see o\v the attorney who had just taken his seat ould compare the trial of John C. Ferguson > the trial and crucifixion of Christ, especdly since he laid such claims to being a hristian gentleman. Mr. Orr, as is his usual abit, took hold of thc.facts of the case with cry liltlo introduction beside that given hove. He came to the rescue of the press nd showed why the defense abused the press, f the jnrv, he said, had not been present to ear the testimony, they could not have told hether the attorney was defending a man ccused of murder or prosecuting the uewsapcrs for libel. He took the ground that ae defense must show that at tho time Fergu>11 committed this crime ho had a fit on him. he evidence showed that he did not have a t then. Ferguson had not had u fit for three ears provious to the homicide and none for ivelve months since. No oue testified that e ever had an epileptic fit. Jutlgo "Wallaco's .Charge. DKHKNDANT'S HEQUE8TS TO OHAIIOE. 1. The defendant is presumed by law to be line, thin presumption can be removed by im, and if the evidenee of unsoundness of liud preponderates ho iu entitled to an acuittal. Charged. 2. If the fury believe from the prepondernee of evidence that the defendant was of nsound mind at any time before the homiide, unsoundness of mind at the time of tho omicide iu presumed until tho contrary is rov.)d. Not charged. 3. If the jury believe that Furguson was iboring under a delusion caused by unsoundess of mind when he committed the homicide nd that lift killed ltanedict while acting as he uppost '.* iu self-defense supposing that Beneliot was Attempting to take away nis life or to nflict great bodily harm, they must acquit iim, even though tho danger was wholly lmgined. Charged. , .t ' ,:i* -* / J ' ") / (tMMaNnMaMHaHMU?HBMMaiHW , '4. If tbc jury belive tluit Ferguson in committing the homicide acted under an uncontrollable impulse, which was the result of unsoundness of mind, they must acquit him. Charged. 5. Unless the jury believe Ferguson was capable of acting from an evil intent and that such evil intent bad arisen in his mind before the act was they should acquit. Charged. (J. The jury are to consider the state of Ferguson's mind at the time the homicide was committed, and if the evidence produced establishes the fact lhat his brain was diseased ho should be acquitted. Refused. 7. There is no legal test of insanity but it is a question of fact to be docided by the jury upon all the evidence in the case as to the soundness or unsoundness of Ferguson's uiind at the time of the homicide. Refused. 8. If the jury think it probable that Ferguson's mind al the time of the homicide, was impaired by epilepsy or by long contined and excessive drinking or by both they must | Net charged. l?. Although the law may presume malice from the act of killing, yet, wlieu tiie State has introduced testimony to prove the circumstances attending tiie homicide from which a conclusion ot malice or want of malis to be drawn, the presumption of malice is not applicable to (he case and cannot be relied on, but the jurv must be satisfied of the existence of malice beyond all reasonable doubt. Charged. 10. Although the law presumes the sanity of the prisoner, yet, when the State has introduced the evidence to show the condition of the prisoner's mind at the time of the homicide from which evidence a conclusion of his soundness or unsoundness of mind is to be drawn, the presumption of sanity is not applicable to the case and cannot be relied on, but the jurv must be satisfied of the prisoner's sanity "beyond all reasonable doubt. Ucfused. 11. If the jury believe that the homicide was the result of intoxication ut the time of tue homicide, but, that such intoxication was the result of drinking to soothe the pain of erysipelas, or t iic result of impairment of miiul because of long continued and excessive drinking, or the result of all three causes combined and not the result of simple and voluntary intoxication or with malice preprense, he should be acquitted. Not charged. 12. If the jury believe that the prisoner was drunk at the time of the homicide, the doctrine that drunkenness is no excuse for crime docs not apply unless that drunkenness was the direct and proximate cause of the homicide. Not charged. 13. That if the jury find from the evidence that the homicide is attributable more to the impairment of mind from epileptic attacks or from long continued drink, or from both, than to the prisoner's drunkenness at the time of the homicide, then the jury must tiud a verdict of not guilty. Hi-fused. 14. That if the jury find from the evidence that the prisoner wan in a state of intoxication at the time of the homicide and had by long continued drinking lost control of his appetite or thirst for drimc be should be acquitted. Not charged. lj. In ascertaining the soundness or unsoundness of the prisoner's mind at the time of the homicide, the jury must take into consideration his whole life, the evidence as to his epileptic fits, as to instances of similar disease in other members <>t" his family, as to his long continued use of alcoholic drinks. I while subject to upileptic tit.?, as to his dispo' position to violence, as to his acute pain from erysipelas-, :>s to his stab in the back, as to his melancholy, as to his threats of suicide, and as to the want of motive in the commission of the act. Charged. 10. If tho jury believe that there is a reasonable theorv of the defendants innocence consistent with the facts proved in evidence, thev must acquit the defendant. Not charged. 17. The prisoner is entitled to the benefit of every rcosonable doubt. Charged. The defendant's requests to charge were embraced in the general charge of the Judge. IJpon the question of drunkenness as an excuse for crime, His Honor charged that voluntary drunkenness was not an excuse for crime; bui that drunkenness long continued, resulting in permanent unsoundness of mind, did excuse crime. The jury retired after the charge of the Judge, and remained out all of Friday night and until 3 o'clock p. m. Saturday, when they were discharged, being unabln to agree. They stood seyen to live in favor of conviction. <EI)c illcsscngcr. lintei ed at the poatolfice as 2iul-c)aas matter. TUESDAY. OCTOliEK 27.1385. SUnSCKIPTION $2 00 CHANGE. With this issue of our paper we change the (Jay of its publication. Ilereifter we will appear on Tuesday. The country mails are so arranged now that we can reach all of our country readers on Tuesday. By this means our subscribers wil receive the county papers twice a week instead of once as heretofore. The effect of it also is to give to our readers in town and along the line of the rail roads, one of the county papers on each of the days, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. We think we may venture to say without the appearance of egotism that the Abbeville county papers are not inferior to those of any othor coun tr in fli a T* i - ? * ?- x ~ *j aai vuv ouuv. i I Id UUI pUipUSU IU make the Messenger worthy of a place among the best of those. To do this we desire to spare neither labor nor expense. It must bo borne in mind by the public that we are yet young in the business. With age and experience \\re hope to improve to the satisfaction of those who read our paper. We trust that tho change to Tuesday will prove to be agreeable to the public. e THEO. C. G. & C. It. R. At the election held in Aiken on the 22nd inst., the friends of the road were defeated and the people of Aiken, town and township, refused to vote the subscription of five per cent, of the taxablo property of the township toward the building of the road. We said last week that wo feared this action on the part of the people of Aiken would givtf the road a serious blow. Since then we have heart a report that the opposition to the subscription proceeded 'rom many on the ground that thev were not in favor of a bonded debt. That the friends of the road in Aiken are willing to raise a voluntary subscription in the favor of the road, and that some of the opponents of the road will join liberally in this subscription. In this event the work may yet be commenced. The Directors meet in Aiken on the 5th of November when we hope that something definite will be done. Mr. J. T. 15aeon has retired from the Kdgelield Advertiser after a service twenty-two years. lie was one of the marked figures in South Carolina Jour nansni. Ills unique and original style1 is us well known to us of tin* press, as is that of "Old Si/' or "Uncle Itemus" to the public. Mr. Bacon {tood high with his brethren, and deserved so to stand. He was a man of ability and of high character. In all seriousness his loss is heavy to the profession. It is esnociallv hi?nw tn ?H?> ?l?l User which lie hus made a most prominent and influential paper. We bid farewell tu his witty, dashing, brave pen with great regret. Rev. Bishop Ilowe paid his annual visit to this parish last week. lie preached at Willington on Friday and at this place Sunday morning and afternoon. Two sessions recieved the rite of confirmation. Trey Dots. Business still on a boom and our merchants are happy. The A. It. Presbyterians have accept* I- r A* " uu i?u list! in uiu naput utiurcli until theirs lias been completed. Kev. Mr. Murray filled the pulpit in the new Methodist Church on Sunday last. Our methodic friends certainly deserve a great credit for their untiring energy and perseverance .in erecting: another house of worship so soon. The ladies of the Presbyterian and Methodist Churches have united and will have a hot supper some time in the near future for the purpose of raising funds to complete their buildinsr. We hope they will receive a liberal patronage. The youns ladies and gentlemen of our town had quite a nice little gathering on last Monday evening, at Mr. G. M. Sibert's in the way of a sociable, in honor of several visiting young ladies. Miss Minnie Reynolds, of Greenwood, is visiting Mrs. T. M. Pendy. The Mkssf.noKit in its enlarged form was quite an agreeable surprise, and we Uuly hope it's circulation may increase one hundred fold. Mr. F. A. Cook has in his possession a small potcitoe wifti the following inscription plainly written on it: "Good's" The potatoe was taken from the ground by Mr. Cook himself, and he aflirius that the letters are very plain. It is a msytery we cannot solve. Quite a number of marriages are reported to take place very soon. As yet we are unable to ascertain the happy ones. Mr. Julius Yisanska, formerly of your town, hut now a Trojan, has "been properly initiated and is no v known "as one of the boj's." Two of our most distinguished rentletnen were out calling on last Wednesday night. They both report "glad tidings." Messrs. G. C. Bradley, J. T. Youngblood and Jas. Tittle attended the rail road election in Aiken on last Thursday. We are sorry to h?^ar that the It. It. was defeated, but hope that some plan may be devised by which work may be speedily pushed forward at an early day* Mork Axox. Dedication of the Catholic Church The dedication of the Catholic church on last Sunday was an event long to be remembered by nil who witnessed It. To the members of that church hero it was on occasion of long looked for joy, and uladness. Whilst to the citizens at larjio it ?vus an occasion oi grunt interest mid satisfaction. Precisely at 10 a. m. the doora of the be tutiful now Church were thrown open. Tueallnr was beautifully decorated with ilowers, and lighted with candles. The building is as bsbutiful in its interior as it is perfect in Its symmetry externally. All around the building Are bwMltiinlly stained glass windows. Over the altar are three figured windows life like and thrilling iti their truthfulness. One is that of the Virgin Mary, the other of the Sacred Ili.urt < ( .I>?m th? nth. er of St Joseph. The beautiful lit le church henceforth will be known as the church of the Hue e<l Heart uf Jt-sus. The Hi-rvlcee were begun at 10:80. First ther* was the procession of the ?)*hop and Priests which pausud at tho front door whilst the 51st I'salin was Intou ed, <luring which tho exterior walls of the oburrh were blessed. As the procession returned to the front diMir after passing around the bullying tbe Litany of the Saints was chanted, and the profession moved into the ehurcii to the sanctuary, where the clergyinon knelt and tho Litany was concluded by a solemn benediction by the Bishop and the rprlnkiing of the Interior of the building with holy wafer. Solemn High Mars follow, d, at whlcn Monsignore Q ilgjey was Celebrant and Rev. V. J. Shadier, Deacon, and ltov. W. A. McCarthy, tub-Deacon, Father Mona ghan acting as Master of (JeremonU-s. The services were solemn and impre.sslve and tho clergymen were clothed in vestments of the riohest colors and rubric*. After the Gospel of tho Mass which was sung by the Deacon the Right Kev. it-shop Nortbr.p preached a most interesting sermon-, taking us his theme the oldect (infl nncoanltv of l^hrlntlnn <!hiir#?h K.i(MUna The address was chaste, scholarly mui full of warm living religion The special feature of the occasion was th? music. Th* choir consisted of Mfulauie Burbot, orenr.lst, Mre. Patrick, soprano, Miss Marie O'Connor, alto. Mr. P. Devineanx, Tenor, and Mr. J. Burbot. bass, ail of those are of Charleston. Tne solos by Miss O'Connor and Mr*. Patrick were especially enjoyed. Karely has Abbeellle enjoyed nuch an opportunity to hear grand music, and she availed herself of it. The attendance was very large. The town people and very many from tbe country were present. And let us Buy right ere tbat we have rarely seen sc large a crowd, many of whom were on their feet all the time, behave who such nerfeot decorum and respect. - * Perhaps a still larger crowd assembled to attend Vespers at 7:80 p. m. The music was, If possible, evou grander and more enjoyed than In the morning. AfUtr Vespers Bishop Northrop delivered a most eloquent and powerful sermon on a subject that went noiuo to the heurU of all present., to wit: The miracle of tbe foundation and spread ot the Christian religion. This discourse was rarely, if ever, surpassed by any we have ever heard. It was full of classical knowlelpe, historical information. Biblical lore, and the pme doctrines of the Christian religion. Kvery body Mfas thoroughly impressed by It. On Monday, at 9:80 a. m., a very Interesting servico was held in tne church In memory of tbe late Mr. Thoa. O. Knrlglit, through whoM munificent bequest the new chnrcn has boon bnllt. Bishop Northrop celebrated Solemn Pootlflcal Mass, during wbleh the choir rendered a roost solemn Requiem Mass appropriate to the occasion. At tbe end of the Mass the . y. ,> 1 liislmp spoke with great feeling of Mr. Enrlf(M who-c generoMty hail iiimli* possible this beautiful edlllce In w hich the people of the Catholic fttilli ill Abbeville ink-lit ineot t<> worohlp TliU account would not be complete if we ilhl not |>ay a proper inoed of praise to the lie v. J. J. Monachal), the priest ill charge of ILIh parish. To bis in domitable energy, uiilailing zeal, excellent taste, and persistent effort :s due in a largo measure the succoss that htiR crowned tho effort io build * Catholic) church in Atibcvilie. Father Monnghan is justly held in bij;l? respect and ct>leem in Abbeville. This whole occasion has been a memorable one to our people. MESSAGES. At tho house of M:ij. S. P. Brooks, in White Hall, on the 15th instant, Miss i Annie L::is Towncs, daughter of Col. I'1. Townos, of Greenville was married to Mr. James Malculu Harris, of Minor, Texas,. Married, on the 18th instant in Edgefield county?Miss Annie M. Hurling, ^ daughter of Mr. Tillman Hurling, to Mr. A. Alex Rush. Married, on the 8th of October, at the nsidence of the bride's grand-father, Mr. Jacob lliley, by the Rev. B. F. Miller, Mr. Henry G. Ivlugh to Miss Sarah K. Butler, all of Abbeville County, S. C. Li op Howe preached in Trinity Church on Sunday last, and confirmed a class of candidates in the afternoon. A very interesting communication from the pen of a gifted woman, headed "A colored teacher's experience/' may be found on our tirst page. There was a very pleasant dance given on last Wednesday night at the New Hotel. It was largely uttended and hugely enjoyed by those present. The skating rink is about as popular a resort as ever for those who like to go it on wheels. There were quite a number of ladies and gentlemen from Anderson present at the dedication of the Catholic Church on last Sunday. We understand that the llev. J. Lowrio \Vi Icnn l?n^ ? 1 1 * 1 .. wco LUU U.I. UAieilUed to him by the Presbyterian congregation of this place, and that Bethel Presbj'tery. with which he is now connected, has consented for him to come. The Presbyterians are to be congratulated on securing the services of such u man. The Newberry Fair conies off this week. The show comes off to-day. Mr. Philip Rosenberg and Miss Yisanska are to be united this (Tuesday) [afternoon in the holy bonds of matrimony. Wo extend to them our best wishes in advance, and wish for them I the realization of their brightest hopes. Miss Eliza Calhoun left Abbeville on last Saturday for Washington, i). C., where she goes to take a place in the Louise Home. Miss Julia MeCaw has accepted the ao-onpv for l)r Hnu'p'o HictAMT nf -o j ~ " ""'"""J ?' ?"? Presbyterian Church. She intends visiting the different congregations of that denomination throughout the County in its interest, and will be pleased ti> take orders for the same. The County Commissioners wero busy in their oHice for several days during the past week. The suit which Mr. Thomas Young gained against the Factors and Traders Insurance Company, in the United States Court in Charleston last spring, has just been settled. Wood has been in demand in Abbeville for the past few days. So much of our space is taken up with the report of the Ferguson trial that we have little room for unv nthpr matter. The Messenger will be issued on Tuesdays hereafter. It is not thoughtHhal Ferguson will not be tried here again. A motion for a change of venue will most probably be made at the next term of Court. The County Commissioners have refused to pay the physicians testifying as experts any more than other witnesses. viz.: the per diem and mileage. The case will be tested in the courts. Miss Miller has resigned her position in tho High School of this place. We have been informed that Magnolia will not vote for the narrow guage road to Knright's Store. They do not think they have sufficiently recovered as yet from the Savannah Valley Railroad tax. There have been a good many sur inises ns to now the ililterent jurors voted in the Ferguson case. The jury voted by ballot and the result of the first and lost ballots were the same. A circulating library, of the Franklin Square edition, publishod by Harper Brothers, will be soon started with headquarters at the store of Speed & Neuffer. Is the Literary Club dead ? It has not had a meeting for several months now. Next Monday is Saleday. When you come to town don't forget that you owe the printer something. Miss Fannie Allen, who has been teaching for some time in Georgia, is at home again. Miss Mary Miller, of Due West, has been visiting relatives in Abbevillo during the past week. Col. James Edward Calhoun attended the dedication of the Catholic Church. Ilust Proof Oats! Just received our third and last car of Oats for this season. They are fine, and now is the chance to secure your seed. W. Joel Smith & Son. ' Jersey Jackets! A new lot to arrive this week and they are cheaper then ever. Call and examine them. W. Joel Smith & Son. The cheapest and best shirt ever offered in this market. Price 50 cents. W. Joel Smith & don. We saw the genial face of R. S. G. the Mehseneger's correspondent from Due West, in town last week. He had returned from Aiken where he had been stumping that town in tfte in the interest of the proposed new "Railroad." I Rev. W. W. Duncan, of Wofford College filled the Methodist pulpit Sanday afternoon. I