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Established 1826.
MACOft, TUESDAY, JULY 15, 1879.
V olume LIY—N02 9
THE GIB50X CASE.
Tiilerday morning in tbo Superior
r , nrt He case of the State vs. Abner F.
was called. This case has be-
^ mea cause eel.Ire in Macon. The inter-
‘ ,centering about it haa not diminished.
The court r00m y cBterd »y morning was
s i a =r..««
coin tenet iog procese of choosing a jury
encased the time of the court.
Judge G. J- Wright, of the Albany oir-
S«jaaaae“fs
-^a^'Srtsaa:
V Gibson, and asked if the parties were
r«»dv Said he: The State is represent-
by Messrs. Prouint and Solicitor
fieneral Bartlett, and the prisoner by
Mes«s. WhitUa & Whittle, Sam Hall
7 Son, 0. J. Harris, Isaac Hardeman
.ndJ H. Bionnt. Gentlemen are you
Midi? The Slate announces first.
The State called the list of its wit.
n»saes and answered ready. The defense
S,Wh Col. WhitUe, called ready.
The Judge asked if a regular panel of
iuroM hcd been made. The call of the
lorors was than commenced and when
twenty-four had answered to their
names, JuJge Wright asked* if any of
those who had been called had any
excuse to make. The call was resumed
«od at the close of the call of the eecond
twenty-four, the came question as to ex
cuses was asked.
lhetiist panel was seated in the jury
boats and the called proceeded and one
hundred and one juorors answered to their
1 The* Judge then announced that the
csllsd would ba suspended as about two
hundred more names remained uncalled,
a E d asked if any whose names had
been caihd, or who had been summoned,
bad any excuses to make why they could
not serve.
A nuuibnr approached the Judge’s seat,
ons juror had o sick family and was txsu-
ied, another was a bonded officer of a
nilrosd and was not exoused; another
Hid bis beating was dofeotive; the Judge
named, “Do yon hear me?” "Yea"
•*»e’d try yon for a jaror." The Chief
of Police w>s not exonsed ; a road com
missioner, Deputy United States Mar-
ih.l, a juror wtth palpitation of tho heart
and a practicing pbysioian, a justice of
(he peace aud a man whose nama was
notin the jury box fared betier. A ja-
toi gave in as an excuse that be had to
work at nigbt cod tben shifted to the ex
cuse that he was loo unwell to serve.
Tfce Judge informed him that he mast
either go io bed or Eerve, end directed
the Sheriff to send a bailiff after him
every day and if he was at work
to bring him before tha court. A toucher
in the publio schools was ordered to the
jury box; a superintendent cl a manu
facturing company was informed that the
law could not excuse him; another man
said he had thirty or forty hands under
him who would not work while he wa9
away, and was inf ormed that they would
bate to try and get along without him.
Many trivial excuses ware offered ana
rtj oted in a summary way, much to the
abasement oi the crowd.
The Absentees were called and their
names turned over to the Solicitor-Gen-
cra>.
The first panel of forty-eight was call
ed up.
The first juror was Mr. Z. B. Wheeler.
He bad formed and expreseed an opinion
from baying heard a portion of tho evi
dence.
To Mr. Emanuel Domingos, the pris
oner objected.
Mr. C. C. Smith was pronnnnced com
petent. Hs bad read a portion of the
teeumony.
Mr. H*U—I want to show that he can
not be without bias.
The Judge tben said proceed.
Mr. Hall—Mr. Smith—
Solicitor General—I object to him as k
ingtue juror a question. He has ren
dered himself competent.
Mr. Bartlett read authority for his
position.
Mr. Whittle argned that they wanted
merely to explain what the juror said
himself.
Judge Wright—This is not strictly
within the rule, but the object of the law
is to try by perfectly unbiased juries. I
think it is in the disoretion of the court.
I have found it best in a ci39 of tnis
magnitude to get peifectly impartial ja-
tws.
Mr. Hill—Wo want him to mike an
explanation.
Mr.fcSmiih pr93.sed.id to explain bis po-
The Solicitor asked the voire dire ques
tion again.
Mr. Smith—I; reading the pip3r hear
ing the testimony under oatl?
The Court—Wnat wasyoar impressinr.?
Mr. Smith—I only read a portion, but
foraed and expressed an opinion, and
•a of the same opinion still.
Mr. Hall—Where did yon read it?
Mr. Smith—la the Telegraph and
MfcEXSOiB.
Mr. Holi—Whose testimony? "*
Mr. Smi.U—Askew’s ; and only a por
tion of it.
Mr. H«U—That la yoar opinion yet?
! Mr. Smith-Yes. *
Mr. Hal!—I hare one other question :
t would like to prove that the report in
t“e Tiligraph and Messenger was cor*
te £j*a regard to the testimony.
Tbe Court—I don’t think it necessary.
Tbs prisoner is entitled to enter this case
*ith impartial jnrors. I set Mr. Smith
Aiid?.
Mr. Booth had formed and expressed
bn opinion, a, aleo had the next three.
_Mr. Beddiogfirid had formed and.ex
pressed an opinion from reading foe
newrpapers.
„*fb Joshua Tinley was next called,
bsa stated that he was prejudiced.
By the .Court—Would yon not do tha
on your oath?
**’• Tinley—i have not seen the crime
committed nor beard the evidence under
»tb, but f*om other reading he stands
“dodged, and I fcave formed and ex
ited an opinion.
„*?* Court—You have no prejudice
*^ e Prisoner himself ?
Witness—No; I havo no prejudice
■Wnct him. I have not seen the crime
committed nor—
Court—I don’t want any speech
“M will not have it. The queetion is as
[tv*English language can make
iud lon 8cem t0 be an ,nteI1 ‘g en t man
00 yon can answer then yes or no.
JJj court then pnt the question and
Plaited that under the last oijsanb n
Eh? ° r ' re i adioa can arise between the
•nT. acoused from any cause.
n « witness was set aside.
^WilUm King was objected to by
Tho flm juror sworn was Mr. Charles
Pwdj H ® Wa3 th ® e ‘ 6ventb of the
Five more were rapidly eet aside.
, r ‘ E. P. Smith did not recollect
g e.bar he hand the evidence or not.
Jjij y w ** compelled to answer catrgori-
Numb^r nise'cen was prejudiced.
a - Coletcaa was ftcce P ;e<J
The i r'goner objected to the twenty-
third jaror, and the State to the twenty-
ant i.
Borne little sensation was caused when
Mr. Sol Johnson’s name was called. He
did not recollect whether he had heard
the evidence or not.
The Court—That answer won’t do.
Yon have bean in court before? Mr.
Johnson— Yes, sir; I can’t recollect,
though. The Court—Mr. Sheriff,
take Mr. Jonson to jail until he can an*
ewer. JohBon: Well, I will have to go.
The oonrt called him before the bar, and
after conversing awhile Mr. Johnson an
swered. He stated that aooording to
the beat of his knowledge he would an
swer, and answered no. The juror was
pronounced comp3tent and objected to
by the State.
Mr. John Mark3 was sworn on the 0:d
Testament side of the Bible, the Jndge
saying, that la your own book, yon can’t
go baokon it; that’s Moses’ work:
Mr. A. J. English, tho thirty-seventh
juror, and Mr. Mr. Charles Pfenning, the
forty-seventh juror, were sworn in. One
other juror to whom the State objected ex*
hansted the first panel. The second pan
el was called.
Many were prejudiced, one opposed to
capitsl punishment, and not until the
twenty-savonth jaror had been called
was another added to . the jury in the
pereon of Mr. J. W. Hines. The twenty-
ninth, Mr. A. M. Lockett,was next Bworn
and the coart took a recess until 3 o’olock.
Oo reassembling the call was resumed,
and the second juror, Mr. Lavoisier La*
mar, sworn end took his seat, and the
next juror, W. M. Bonner, was also
sworn in. A gap of three followed, when
another juror was taken in, Mr. Bobctf
Hamlin.
Another panel followed and the elev
enth and twelfth jarors, Benjamin Tid
well and William Parker taken, end
made the tenth and eleventh members of
the jury.
Juror after juror was then set aside.
The jury had been made up except one
man. Bath sides became very paxtioular
During the oall the court said that a ja
ror must either have Been the crime
committed or heard evidence under oath.
That is the question. If the juror has
read the papers and formed and expressed
an opinion on what he has read in the
papers, then he can inform the court of
that fact.
ittr. H. A. Haight announced that he
waa opposed to capital punishment. The
Jndge asked if a man were to shoot his
grandmother from behind a log on a dark
night weald he be opposed to hanging
him. [Laughter.] Toe jaror responded
"Yes,” and waa set aside for cause.
A new panel was required, and an addi
tional forty eight were sworn,making one
hundred and ninety-two men sworn m
the case. Mr. W. B. Pettie, tha second
man of the last panel, was sworn in, be
ing the one hundred and sixty-sixth juror
put npon bis his voire dire. After minute
instructions to the jury, the oonrt ad
journed till half-piet eight o’clock this
morning.
To sum up the day’s work, it may be
said it was a gcod one. The jury has
been made np much more rapidly than
was anticipated.
The jary is oomposed as follows s
Charles Craig, J. G- Coleman, Charles
Pfenning, J. W. Hines, of the city ; A.
J. Eaglish, of Godfrey District; A. M.
Lockett, of Howard District; Levolsier
Limar, W. M. Bonner, Bonert Hamlin,
Benj. Tidwell, William Parker, W. B.
Pettie, of the Warrior District.
This morning the evidence will be
commenced and will probably consume
the day,
STATE LEGISLATURE.
Atlanta, July 7, 1879.
THE SENATE
having adjourned from the 3d till ic-day
there was no session on Saturday.
THE HOUSE
met at tbs usual benr of nine s. m„ Spe
aker Bacon in the ohalr. The exercises
were opened by Dr. H. H. Tuoker. The
journal was read and approved.
Mr. Davis, of Houston, having given
the nsml notice thereof ■ moved to con
sider so much of the journal as related to
the action of the House in rejecting H.
B. 190 offered by himself and prohibiting
bans and trust companies and loan corpo-
rations from charging more than the le
gal rate of interest on their advances and
loans, under penalty of forfeiture of the
entire debt, principal and interest. Mr.
Davis spoke at length on the motion to
reconsider.
Mr. Wright, of Richmond, moved to
table the motion to reconsider; the yeas
and nays ware oalled on tho question, but
the oall was not sustained. The ques
tion was tbeu put by division and the
motion to table was lost.
More debate ensued, when Mr. Jordan,
of Wilkes, called tee tha previous ques
tion; call sustained and the motion to re
consider put and carried.
A MESSAGE 1'lt at THK 6KNATB
asking the concnrreuoe of the House in
several bills which have been passed in
the Senate.
THE CjURTBSY OP (EATS
was extended to tl-ssr*. S. O. Mitchell,
A. B. Thomas, A. E. Cochran and Pail-
lip Csok.
MR. DAVIS, OF BAEBB,
Chairman of the Committee of Confer*
enoe on the wild laud investigation made
a report.
Mr. Walteis, or Dougherty, moved to
postpone the reading at the report, and
that five bandred oopies be printed for
the ase of the House. The motion pre
vailed.
Mr. MoCnrry, of Hart, moved to r-ns-
pend the regular order of business in take
up the xeport of the committee on judi-
oiary, on Ioesl and special bills. The
motion pr6vaifed aud the repoT taken
up.
Toe re was ao'j irity and minority re
port. Both reports were read and are as
follows:
Mr. Turner, of Brooks, Chairman of
the Judiciary Committee, made the fol
lowing majority report:
“ Mr. Speaker, the Committee ca the
Judiciary have had under consideration
a resolution with reference to the intro
duction of iooal and special Lilts, upon
which they instruct me os then; chair
man, to make the following report > The
committee reoommend that all lccil and
special bills be laid by the members of
the House before the committee on "Lo
cal and Special Bills.” and that eaid com
mittee b=> iiKUuotcd to prepare resola
tions to be submitted to the Hons?, and
to ba paesed by a two-third vote author
izing said.committea to consider and re
port such bill to the House, notwith
standing that fifteen days after the or
ganization of this General Assembly have
already expired, eaid bills to be specified
by their titles in said resolutions. And
further, that said Committee may from
time to time oon3ider aud report susb lo
cal and special bills as may belaid before
it, first obtaining the passage of a resolu
tion of the Hcnse, Iik9 that herrin provi-
dad for to specially authorize the same.
The committee farther recommend that
this report be adopted in lieu of the reso
lution referred to tbe committee.
(Signed) H. P. Tdbnee, Ch’m..
MISCBITY REPORT.
Mr. Speaker, the uadsmigned, mem
bers of the Judiciary Committee, resptet-
fnliy submit th8 following minority ro-
poit, and c?k its tdiptiou in lieu of the
report submitted by the majority of the
committee, to-wit:
Resolved, That it is the sense of the
House that, this being a prolongation of
the eesBion of 1878, no Iooal and speoial
bills can be introduced or considered at
this session, unless the House by a two-
thirds vote upon each bill presented di
rects its reference to the Committee on
Local and Speoial Bills; or noless the
House by a liko vote order the bill to a
first reading and then its reference to the
Committee on Local Bills, or to some
other committee.
Resolved, 2d. That members presenting
Iooal or epeoial bills will do so r ‘he
manner prescribed in Rule 43 \e
House for tho introduction of pst-tiocs,
memorials, etc.
Signed by Fort of Sumter, Turner of
Coweta, Harrison of Stewart, Pike of
Jackson, J. E Stroether, W. E. Luff-
man, Dupree of Macon, J. H. Polhill,
and Gray of Catoosa.
A long debate followed tbe reading of
the two reports, participated in by many
of tho best men in tho Honse. The mi
nority report was adopted as a substitute
by a vote of 91 to 30.
The special order of the day was ihe
consideration of the bill introduced by
Mr. Russell of Chatham, providing for
the creation of the office of Keeper of the
Archives of the State.
Tbe bill was referred lo the Committee
on Finanoe.
Thomas Butler, (eoL), moved a sus
pension of the rules to introduce a me
morial and refer the same to the Commit
tee oa Edaoation.
The speoial committee on tbe M. and
B. R. R. met this evening. Honse ad
journed till nine to morrow.
CABSIiYNN.
THE WILD LAND COMMIT TEE’a RETORT.
The committee, after organizing on
the 13th of December, adjourned to
meet again on the first Monday in June.
Since that time they have been engaged
in the investigation and enbmit a lengthy
and comprehensive-report, the following
b3ing a synopsis of it:
1. As to tbe number and against what
lots of laud, giving the number, district
and county; for what years the
tax fi. fas. have been issued by tbe
Comptroller General of the StaAe, aad
whether legally issued or not.
We called npon the Comptroller as to
tbe number issued during the years
1874, ’75. *76 and ’77. 20.525 n. fas.
were issued. Tbe statement was made
ooosc-lidated and not itemized, the Comp
troller contending that his office was
one of record and not of book-keeping,
and jlhat it would require a very long
time 1 ' and a great, amount of labor, to
make the statement os required. We
endeavored faithfully for several days,
with the assistance of a skilled account
ant, whom we employed for,the|purpose, to
verify the statement; but, owing to the
fact that in some instances more than
one fifa is issued against the same lot
of land ; that the taxes on some of tbe
lots were paid after the check marks
(indicating the fifa) were enteied against
them, and those particularly were kept
m the office and treated as mere matters
of record and not of account, we
could not verify it without tracing each
lot of land from one book to another from
year to year. This applies to the years
1874, ’5, and ’6.
As to whether these fifaa were legally
issued, we think they were. In all ca
ses where the laud was in default
of both retnrn3 for taxes and pay
ment of taxes, except that the
aot of 1874 requires tbe fi fa "shall
be directed to tbe Sheriff' of tbe county
where the land lies.” Whereas, tbeee
fi fas were directed to ail and singular
the Sheriffs of eaid State, oommiueo waa
not prepared *o pronounoe oa validity of
such fi fas.
In many oases fi fas were issued where
lots were returned but negligently not re
ported by lax receivers to the Comptrol
ler General, and in eome instance a mis
take were made in the wild land office
and fi fas issued against lots not in de
fault. Such fi fas are void and titles do
not pass.
Report cites two instances: “The
general tax book” in Comptrollex's office
shows 332 lots in virions parts of the
State returned by Ranndo & Co., and
Fox & Co., of Baltimore. Liter in the
books said lots it was seen that D. Lott
bad more lot3 sold than fi fas charged to
him in tbe wild land office.
Investigation revealing that tax fi. fas.
he waa ebarged with in tha wild land of
fice were a part of the lands of Rsundo &
Co. aDd Fox & Co. whiob which were not in
default, having been regularly given in to
the Comptroller before fi. fas. were is
sued. The committee called on the
Comptroller. He furnished additional
statement of D. Lett’s fi. fas., and ex
plained that he kept this list in a sepa
rate book in his eafe (a copy of which
books were attached to tbe report.) He
•issued and transferred fi. fas. to Lott be
cause he (Lott) paid tbo taxe3 as a part
in 1875, and closed those fi. fas. for his
protection, and that he might indemnify
himself for tho money he paid. The
committee were unable to find any Fox
& Co. A telegram from Baltimore
elicited the information that no suoh
firm was in that city. Boando & Co.
wa3 a firm in Atlanta which went into
bankruptcy in 1871. Two of the firm
are still living in Atlanta. They
did not own the lands. They
testified they never gave any au
thority to give tho lot3 in or pay the
tax(8, and never had heard of D. Lolt
until now. Tha record ehows 223 of
tbeso lots transferred to D. Lott. Com
mittee denounces the transaction by
which Lott gets control of 100,000 aores
of land, was without the (lightest shadow
of authority aud positively oontrary to
law. Lott testified he only paid taxes to
get possession of laud.
Comptroller claims he knew nothing of
the fraud perpetrated in this way.'
Another instance, in whioh lots of
Walsh & Co., of New Xork, were sold
by mistake or oversight in the will
land officer, which sales are void.
IL Aa to the number of fifas, refer
ence was made to the first part of
tbis report. No separate or dis
tinct record of tbe amount of
a fifa is kept in ‘ the office, and
can only be ascertained by tracing
its history, whether issued for one, two or
three years, done by reference to the di
gests for these years, ascertaining rate of
tare?, State and county and doubling the
same. Each lot thns requires time and
it wsb impossible to examine the whole
number.
The names of transferees are of record
and accordingly were not copied.
The testimony BhowB. that the face
value, that is the tax and oostof fifty
cents on each fi. fa., was paid to tbe
Comptroller General when they were
transferred except in the Raundo & Co,
and Fox & Co., lots, for whioh on>y the
sum of fifty cents per lot as cost, was
paid, the tax "a having been paid in 1875.
As to legality of transfers, the com
mittee reports that it had give most
carefnl attention,
Tbe facte were ascertained and the acts
on wild land consulted besides, but au
thorities and c*nclusions reached that
ibe transfers by the Comptroller General
were authorized by law. He cites the opin-
ni so of the Attorney General. It merely
decides that these fi. fas. are transferable
by the cfficer whose dnty it is to transfer
them. It does not decide that the
Comptroller General is that cfficer,
though we believe that it was under
stood by the Attorney Ganeral and the
Comptroller General that the opinion
was intended to and did cover that point.
With great., deference to the learning
and known ability of the Attorney Gen
eral, we think that opionion au error—
one of thceo errors 'that any man, how
ever learned he may be, is liable to
make.
The act of 1874 authorizing the issu
ance of fi, fas. requires that they ba is
sued against the land and not !'ue persons
owning the land.
This faot would prevent their transfer by
anyone. Section891 of oode cited by
the Attorney Genoral relates to execu
tions issued against parsons.
The section limits transfers of fi. fas.
against persons to the enforcing officer.
The Comptroller is not such officer, as he
cannot levy end sell. He cannot execute
the writ; ha <nn only issue it. Even
this act of 1S74 requires fi, fas. to be exe
cuted by the sheriff of the county where
the land lies, audit commands that they
be directed to that officer. It. is conten
ded that the Comptroller oan execute the.
fi. fas. because he C3n order or suspend
sale. So can plaintiff in sn' ordinary
fi fa., but he must appeal to
officer to whom it is directed. . But tbe
Comptroller is not vested with-any die-
cretion. He has no control on a iy time,
place or manner, bus the Sheriff h »». Tho
governor is the only ono who can suspend
and only for a limited time.
The great question ia, were tbs fi. fas.
transferred stall? We think not. “The
history of all the wild lands taxdigiala-
tion in Georgia, demonstrates the true
meaning of the act of 1874. AU previous
acts failed to provide sufficient protection
to the^trno owners, Rnd the evils likely
to grow out of the enfoicement of those
lawa were bo apparent .that they
were never enforced i The Executive from
time to time suspended there enforcement
and they were all repealed oil maiurer
thought. The Legislature of 1874, to
obviate tho difficulties of the previous
acte, as to proper protection of the own
ers, who, in inaoy cases, were uarepre*
eented estates, widows, orpbac3 and lu
natics, passed this act, throwing every
safe-guard around the rights of the true
ownets and tbe State, (for the State is
the true owner of many hundreds of
those ljts) by requiring the ’ Comp
troller General to keep a complete
xeoord of the “numbers of all such land
and the amount of taxes oolleoted there
on and to whom sold,” and requiring him
to recieve the purohaso money, and to pay
it to t&e true owner, on his making sat
isfactory evidence of his title °to tbe
Comptroller-General. The Comptroller-
General is required by every coustrao-
tion of tbe aot to watch and proteot the
interest of the owners. He ia a trustee
for their protection. By no principle of
law or policy could he transfer this trust
tb an irresponsible stranger. If th9
State could pirt with all its pow-ra and
rights by a transfer of the fi fas, S3 claim
ed, why require the Snenff to make re
turns to the Comptroller-General? The
aot requires the Oomptroller-Ganeral to
keep up with tho history of every lot he
issues a fi fa against. It is beyond hu
man power to do this, if the fi fas are in
the hands of hundreds of nDoffioial spec
ulators, as they new are. Tbs aot clear
ly oantemplated no power or agenoy be
tween the Comptroller-General and the
Sheriffs, but provided for direot inter
course between these officers. Any
transferee comiog betwaen them is an
interloper, and an enemy to every inter
est of the Slate and its cittzsns.
Ia staling these views we d-ern it prop
er to go farther, and Bay, that no tide
did or could pass at any sale had under
transfered fi fas. There are two good
reasons for this outside of all questions
of frand. First, these sales are conduct
ed by and dictated as to time, eto, by
unauthorized parties, who bad no pow
er to represent the State and the true
owners, as they seemed to be manipu
lating the sales and all their consequen-
oes to snit themselves and whose inter
ests are in direot cotfliot with the
interest of the true owners of the land
and the State. We assimuiate the trans
ferees to a stranger who unlawfully gets
possession of a fi. fa., and forces the de
fendant’s property to a sale, without tbo
consent or authority from the plaintiff,
who is especially interested in the result
of the bale and which is known to pur
chasers at such sale, as all purchasers are
bound to know at tbeee sales.
The second reaaon why these salos are
void, is when these transferees paid the
tax to the comptroller general, such pay-
ment instantly beoame aa extinguish
ment of the State’s claims for taxes and
tho power to sell for snoh tares forever
extinguished. It was a payment of the
taxes because the reoeipt of the taxe3
was tho extent of the comptroller gen
eral’s authority and “a payment of the
tar, whether by the owner or any one
else will void the eale.” 73 State Penn.
Rep., 4&4 and the other authorities
above cited. We find from the evidenoe
that the comptroller general charged on
each and every fi. fa. the sum of fi ty
cents for costs. We examine ,all the
laws of the State bearing on this
subject and wo find no authority
either expressed or implied, for suoh a
oharge The fee bill of the Comptroller
General contains no each item. The act
of 1874 mokeB no provision for it. The
Comptroller General, however, relies on
tbs wild land aot acd the set of 1875,
p ige 15, for antbority for this charge.
This aot is on the anbjeot of railroad tax
fi. fas.and it does not touoh this enbjeot
even by analogy. It is a negative stat-
n!e and dees not contain the express del
egation of right to tax costs as is required
bylaw. It flx68 no amount, nor does it
define the services tor whioh tbe costs
shall be charged. This is too indefinite
even os to railrosd tax fi. fas. The wild
land aot is silent on this snhj set. “All
officers charging coals and exacting pay
ment from tne pockets of the citizsn must
always show tho authority of the law to
do so.”—10 Ga. R9p. 643; 2 Kelly, 240; 9
Ga. 1C9. The Comptroller General has
treated these costs of fifty cents per fi
fa. as his legitimate perquisites. We do
not think this in acoerdinoe wilh tbe law
but directly oontrary to it. Section 100
of tha oede provides that all fees ahargad
by tbe Comptroller General Khali ba by
him paid into the treasury. We couid fled
no repeal of this, and therefore if he were
entitled to oharge fifty cents per fifa
costs, he would ba entitled to keep it as
bi3 perquisite. The evidence showB that
the transferences wore the prinoipal pur
chasers of lands under the sales of-fifas
transferred to them. We have made as
thorough an investigation as we could in
the time we had, as to whether any of the
public officers of the State were interes
ted in any of these fifas and sales.
We could find no evidence that the
Comptroller Genoral had any interest in
the transactions, except hiB charge for
costs, but we are'pained to have to re
port that Dr. A. J. Bell, a clerk in the
wild laud office, and who w&3 tbe active
managing party to the transfer o£ fifas,
who principally kept the records, and
conducted the correspondence on this
subject, was engaged in the speculation.
To what extent we are not fully sat
isfied. Tbe testimony connecting him
with many lots np to'a certain point, he
then disappears. In one instance he used a
flatitions name on the records as trans
feree, and thereby reserved the lots
charged to the fictitious parson for bis
own benefit. The evidence discloses all
the minutffl of this transaction. We
take occasion here to say that no suspi
cion oan attach to either Mr. Wright or
Mr. Hardeman, clerks in the office, ia any
of the wild land transactions. Their
conduct h&3 been proper and right in ev
ery point we investigated. Wo respect
fully refer to the evidenoe on this sub
ject, The proceeds of the sales under
these fi. fa3. have, in a majority of cases,
been absorbed wholly or in pirt by the
transferees, cither by charging against
the fand arising from the sale or excess
ive costs which they did not pay, or by
pretending to be true owners of tbe land,
and inducing the sheriffs to turn the ex
cess over to them as such true owners,
and, in many instance?, by combining
both ways. The sheriffs permitted them
to do thU under the circular issued by
the Comptroller General to them, dated
November 1st, 1877, instrncting them as
follows:
“In all will land sales.the excess of the
money over and above the tux and all
costs, must be paid over to the owner of
tbe land if to be found at the time of the
saK 'vif the owner is not to be found,
the i cm of money in excess of taxe3
and costs must be sent to me to be depos
ited in the treasury to th9 oredit of the
owner as a trust fund.” Taking advan
tage of these instructions of the Comp
troller General to Sheriffs, in some in
stances transferee?, would gather up any
kind of titles, however fictitious or fraud
ulent, and for the express purpose would
present them to the Sheriff, and under
these, claim the entire prooeeds of the
sale. Tney yet hold these moneys, in
some cases large amounts, and as in
stances of this we refer to the evidence
showing that the transferees in Dodge
county, retained an excess of $9,142.92,
and that Dr. Litt has retained the en
tire proceeds of the sales in twelve coun
ties. Bat the most common way o! de
frauding the true owners and the State,
has been in excessive charges for costs.
In almost every instance the tiaaafer-
eas have made contracts with newspapers
to do the advertising by tho square,
thus gotting it done for about ten cents a
lot, and when they settle with the sheriff
or the State, they deducted from the pro
ceeds of the eale from $2 50 to $5.03 a lot,
gensrally $4.00 being charged. This is
of course illegal. There is no law fixing
the printer's fee. Whatever is aotnally
and in good faith paid for advertising a
levy can be taxed at costs against the do
fendant in fi. fa, in those cases, against
tbe fund arising from the eale of the land,
and no more. They also made contracts
with the sheriffs to have the soles made
for a small proportion of the usual costs
for sheriff’s levies and sales, aud they
charged in the settlement full sheriff’s
costs, and, in many instances, more than
sheriff’s costs. Some times they would
oharge $2.00 for a levy of one of these
fi. fas., when the Act of 1876 expressly
fixes it at thirty-five cents. In many in
stances they would charge $3.50 for mak
ing a deed, they being the purchaser?,
and seventy-five cents for recording the
deed. As one instanoe of this we refer to
the sheriff's return of the sale under
Mr. Germany’s fi. fas., in Terrell
county. We believe that every
officer and person acting in these
if he were acting illegally, is bound to
render a true no count to the true owner
or the State when oalled on to do so.
They would be quart trustees for the true
owner, or the State as the ease may be,
and cannot charge a priee greater than
that paid for any services, it has been
impossible for ns to ascertain tbe
amounts of the excess in the hands of the,
various transferees. It would require
the oemmittee many months to ascertain
it. It would require a caloulation as to
eaoh aud every lot of land. This is all
m a sea of ohaos and a world of confu
sion. It oan never be straightened. While
we are on this subject we respectfully
oall your attention to that oircnlar of the
Comptroller-General to Sheriffs above
alladed to. The cot of 1874, seotion 8,
expressly charges the Comptroller-Gen
eral with tha daty of deoiding who these
true owners are; it is an offioial duty
cast upon him, that he cannot delegate to
Sheriffs. Maoh of tbe confusion that
has grown out of these wild land matters
is directly attributable to this circular.
We fied many frauds of various species
acd kinds, practiced by these transferees
and others at sates. In many instances
they bulled eni beared the market by
many unlawfal means and devices, too
numerous to mention in thia respect.
This discloses many of them. We are
eatisfitd that a volume of Buch frauds
could be gathered. We were compelled
to pas3 over a great many evidenoes of
this kind, because we had not the time
to include thorn in onr investigations.
We only include fair examples of them.
To unearth them all wonld be an endless
task, for as one of the heaviest transferees
himself expiesses it, while testifying be
fore the cjmmittbe, “The land sharks
went every man for himself and the devil
take the hindmost.” There is no record
of saleB in quito a number of counties
in the Comp'trallec General’s office; the
transferees and sheriffs having made no
return or eettlemont with that cfficer. Ia
some counties sales were made by the
sheriffs for the trausfereea without first
making levies, and without even having
the fi. fas. ia band on the day of sale.
The Comptroller Genera! has allowed
these exoessive costs to be defiuoted by
the transferees, notwithstanding he was
informed of their proceedings. He re
plied to complaints mads to him oa the
snbjaet, that he had nothing to do with
It. We think the primary oanse of all
thsBe frauds and troubles is attributable
directly to this misapprehension of the
law, for had the law been administered in
its letter and spirit the frauds could not
have been committed, and there would
have been no oonfusion. And if per-
ohance the oourta or Legislature should
hold valid or ratify these sales, we see no
reason why the Comptroller General
wonld not be liable to the State on-his of
ficial bond for a.l these moneys in the
hands of transferees or others. The
State cannot condescend to litigate viffi
these hundreds of people who now hold
this money, but should in the event allu
ded tlook direotly to the officers whose
mistakes diverted it from the Treasury,
leaving him to look to the people dealt
with for his indemnity.
It may be necessary for ns to say
something of the expense we have incurr
ed m this investigation. Oa this subject
we can state that we have been extreme
ly careful to have the necessary service
done at *tfae least possible expense, con
tracting for the lowest figures. The out
side service we have employed has been
efficient and faithful, and should be paid.
We therefore recommend that the Audi
ting Committee of the honse audit this
account and report it for proper action.
We think the testimony taken in this
matter is a fair exposure of the frauds,
aad to be properly understood by the
Legit Lture and the people, should be
printed. We there recommend that it be
printed for the use of the General As
sembly.
In view of the wholesale fraud com
mitted in these transactions we respect-
fully recommend that this Legislature
pass an act declaring all these sales held
undsr transferred fi fas, null and void,
as eome of the' courts have already de
cides, and another to withdraw all pro
tection of any statute of limitation or
law of prescription from all such titles or
others founded on them, or emanating
from them; and this committe beg leave
to continne their organization for tho
purpose of preparing these bills and re
porting them as soon as possible.
D. A. Russell, _
■ , A. J. CtfANDLSB. 0
- • On the part of the Senat
Louis Strickland,
John O. Maund/
Parrish D. DavIs, ,
On the pait of the Honfe,
Mr. Chandler offers an exculpatory rial--
nority report, exonerating tho Comp
troller General.
BY lELEURAPH
Havana, July 6.—The Bugar maikot
daring the week has ruled active and
strong at ad vanoing prices,and operations
wonld have been heavier but for the high
pretensions of holders. Nos. 1 to 12is
6j@7$ reals gold par arrobe; Nos. 15 to
20as 8@9I-eals. Molasses sugars, Nos.
7 (O 10, oi©5|-reali; Museavado common
to fair, 6J@s$ real;; centrifugal sugars,
Non. 10 to 13 in boxes and hogshead?,
8}(§8$ reab; stock ia warehouse at Ha
vana and Matansas 09(5 bores, 737 bags,
726 hogshead?; receipts for the week 2,-
900 boxes, 2.250 bags, 2,840 hogeheadr;
exports during the week 9,800 boxes, 8,-
500 b3gs, 7,800 hogsheads, including 205
boxes and 4.400 hogsheads to the United
States. Tobacco dull. Spanish gold
212@212). Exchange firm; on U. S. 60
day?, gold, 8@8ipremium; short 9@9);
on Loudon lS»a@20; Paris 6£@6.
Constantinople, July 6.—The report
that Ex Sultan Murad has esoaped, is
eemi-officially denied.
Capetown, Jane 17,via Madiera.—The
troops have commenced an advance from
fort Pearson to fort Ohelmsford, and a
junction has almost been effected with
Col. Wood, who is also advancing. The
rumor that an armistice had been agreed
to is not confirmed.
Roue, June 16.—It is asserted that Sig
nor Sella hae bean entrusted with tho
formation of a new cabinet.
Paris, June 16—Gen. Oa3tleman has
asked to be placed on the retired list in
order to be able to attend the funeral of
the Prince Imperial.
London, June 16.—Tho Observer's cor
respondent at Paris, understands that
Prince Jerome Napoleon and his two sons
will attend the funeral.
IndianAP0LI3, July 6.—Tne printers’
strike ended here to-day by the newspa
per publishers acceding to the demand
for 33J centB per thousand ems.
Hartford, Conn., July 6.—Alanaon
Work, who for nearly forty years Was
employed in the Missouri penitentiary,
for three years on a sentence of twelve
years for trying to help slaves to free
dom , died in this oity to day. He was
eighty years old.
Philadelphia, Jnly 6.—Kennard IL
Jones, Chief of Police of this city, died
this morning after an illness of two
months.
Mekchantvillb, N. J., July 6.—The
residence aad barn of Adam Martin were
destroyed by fire last night. Mrf. Still,
an elderly lady neighbor, died from
fright.
New York, July 6.—Advices from Rio
Janeiro to June 8 report that the dismis
sal of the Minister oItthe Interior by the
Emperor, on advice of the Premier, on
account of differences between the former
and his colleagues, has caused much ex
citement. A scene of great uproar oc
curred ia the Chamber of Deputies on the
6th, occasioned by an interpellation
brought forward by the dismissed minis
ter. The galleries were occnpied by an
narnly crowd, who applauded and hooted
the Deputies in turn. The President
was ultimately oompelled to suspend the
sitting for two hours, and ia the interval
stationed a guard of 400 soldiers outside
of the building.
This step caused great excitement
among the popalace, and the Premier
and finanoe minister were grossly insult
ed on the streets and at the entrance of
the chamber.
The disturbances were renewed on the
following day—the mob inenlting the
ministers when proceeding to a Cabinet
counoii. The troops finally dispersed
the rioters, but not until several persons
had been wounded. The city ia now
guarded by patrols.
Washikqton, July 7.— Secretary Mo-
Crary has isauei an order placing Adju
tant General To -cssndln charge of the
work of oedifying the army regulations,
under the recent aot of Congress. The
statement that Colonel Roberts, of Loui
siana, has been plsoed iu charge of this
workisnotoorreot.
London, Jaly 7.—The report ele-
graphad by the Pari3 correspondent of
the Times, of the ainkirg of*a steamer
and loss of 35 lives in a harrioane on the
river. Doubs in Franos was republished
in the Journal deJura, without date or
other details, and ita authenoity is doubt
ful.
A B Jilin diepatoh to the Homing Post
sayB the prospect now regarded as cer
tain of the early adoption of the high
protective tariff, has caused the mer
chants to import large quantities of
goods in advance, so as to escape in
creased duties. Hence a great falling
off of trade is feared, apparently with
good reason, after the new tariff shall
become a law.
Bismarck, in tbe face of eerioua objec
tions, insists upon an inoraaes in the du
ty on foreign corn.
The Times’ Berlin oorieapmdsnfc says
tbe sooond reading of the tariff bill be
ing now complete tbe third reading will
ba merely formal and the measure will
probably ba completed by Saturday, when
it is intended to prorogue the ReiohBtag.
The Liberals and Socialists mads a des
perate stand ag&iaat the duties on coffee
and petroleum, Her Bebel declaring
they would breed muob discontent and
faruieh a fresh atimnlas for social and
demoor&tio agitation.
Panama, J a oe 28.—Lima advices to the
18th repors a battle at Caloma and the
capture of that point by the allied Cailian
f oroea. The losses are estimated to ba
about 1,500 killed. No offioial report of
tl.a action has been received, and the
statement la discredited.
Au insignificant enoouuter ia reported
at Qaillaqna on the river Loa, in which a
smalt Chilian advance guard was beaten,
several kiljpd and the reat captured.
Campero was reported lo ba within 20
milei of Ca’oma on the 16lh, r sling, pre
paratory to an attack on that plaoe. Re
ports from Iqalque state that there were
font thousand Chilians at Qallaqua, whioh
Would teem to indioate that no advance
was made on Caloma from Peruvian ter
ritory.
The offioial organ of Peru publishes a
letter from a distinguished gentlemsn at
Iquique where he took notes of tho fight
of the 21st of May from Chilian prisoners
taken from the ships engaged in it. The
latter states that the eommtuder sad
crew of the Esmeralda were thoroughly
demoralized during the ooabst, tbe crew
actually recognising no commander, and
throwing tbemcelves naked into the water
before the Huascsr bed given the Euner-
alda t&e fatal blow.
London, July 7—The person who sup
plied the pistol to Alexinder Silovitff,
with which he attempted to assassinate
the Emperor of Russia, is a medical doc
lor from Weimar, Germany, who ia also
proved to have procured the poison with
which Salovitff attempted suicide after
his failure to kill the Czar, and to h ivo
owned thehorae by means of which the
assailants of General Mesentsoff attempt
ed to escape. A telegram from St. Pe
tersburg auihoiitativdly Btalei that he
has been sentenced to be hanged very
.shortly. -
, 'Londsn, July 7.—A dispateh to ^:ha
Times trora Yeaqpa says; The walls of
tho fortress at Wi Jden, SilisUa, Uustohuk
acd Vienna hsiS ' been deetroyejl and the
earth works left to fexpcanrehif the wrath-
A dispatch to the Daily Newt frpm Par
is, says*: The authorities fcojrp have in
terdicted a crest meeting at the Bor
deaux Alhambria where M. BlV.qai was
advertised to speak. * ‘
Lord Chelmsford's dispatch to Sir B«-
tie Frere, of June 6tb, staling t^t-pend-
ing King Cettawayo’s answer, \ymje
woud be no military operations, apparebt-.
ly means only that the Zulus will not be
actually attacked pending the reoeipt of
Cettawayo’s answer, as all the account*
ogre# that the advansa has oommenoed-,
London^ July 7.—A. long telegram front'
Lord Chelmsford received at war c-ffiie
lo-day, atatos that King Cettaway has
not yet yielded to tbe proposals made to
him.
London, July 7.—The London corres
pondent of the Liverpool Courier says:
An agreement was signed Saturday on be
half of tho orginal promoter of the Pan
ama Canal Scheme, resting their rights
in M. DeLe?sepB as representative of the
future stockholders of an inter oceanic
canal company. Subscriptions for 750,-
000 pounds in twenty pound shares will
be opened in London. Parle, Frankfort
and New York simultaneously in about a
fortnight.
London, July 7.—A. dispatch to the
Pall Mall Gazette says the new German
Consul General for Samoa has received
orders to abstain from all interference
with internal affairs, Tae suggestion of
certain interested parties that Germany
ehall annex Samoa finds no favor in high
quarters.
A lairage capriole of accommodating
8,0C0 bead of cattle to facilitate the im
portation from America is about to be
erected at Barrow inFurnesa, Lanca
shire, which is connected with the whole
rail .ray system oE England.
At Robstock, Somerset county, 809
colliers have atiuok.
Norwood, N. Y., July 7.—The butter
tub dry houso, with about 15,000 tubs,
owned by the Norwood Lumber Compa
ny, was totally destroyed by fire last
night. Loss $30,000; no insurance.
Cincinnati, July 7.—A special dis
patch from Shelbyvills, Indiana, says
Girton, Semour & Kent’s grain elevator,
with 7.500 bushels of grain, was burned
Saturday evening. Les3 $10,000, insur
ance $5 500.
Providence, R. I, July 7.—To-mor
row at 11 a. m., at St. Mary’s (Catholic)
Church, in New York, Bishop Hender
son will celebrate a pontifical requiem
mass for the repoEC of the soul of the
late Prince Imperial, of France. Colonel
Jerome Napoleon Bonaparte and his
brother from Baltimore will be present.
New Yore, July 7.—Judge Potter in
the Supreme Court this afternoon grant
ed a writ of habeas corpus and certiorari
in the casa of ChaBtine Cox, the self-
confessed murderer of Mrs. Hull.
While a part of the tenement bouse
in Jersey Oriy, known as “the ship” was
being torn down this atternoon, the roof
fill npon tbe crowd of women and chil
dren and five were more or less iDjared.
Newton, N. J., Jaly 7.—-A large blast
furnaoe at Franklin furnace, New Jersey,
waa fired up laBt Saturday after having
been unnsed several years. This morn
ing the employes, numbering about a
hundred, struok for higher wages.
Ottawa, Ont., Jnly 7.—Oa Saturday a
boy named Van Dette quarreled with his
six-year-old sister, and shot her with a
revolver, tbe ball lodging in her temple.
She died to-day in great agony.
Dnsveb, Col., July 7.—Jas. H. Croft
and Charles G. Wabooth' were arrested
at Alamosa on Thursday for tbe mnrder
of William S. Yske last month. Last
Saturday' they were taken from ibe jail
by ona hundred oitiz ins and hanged to a
oottonwood tree.
Phil&delphia, July 7.—Steamer Sax
on, bound irom Boston, reports seeing
a balloon of pecular construction descend
ing to the Ocean on the 6-b inst., forty-
five miles southeast of Sindy Hook, four
teen milea from the “Saxon,/ but jaat
ahead of an unknown bark.
GalveiTsn, July 6.—A News special
from Saudulenio, eays JereCordora, tbe
Mexican who murdered Robert Trimble in
Jnly, 1877, was executed to-day in the jail
ojrndor in the presence of physicians
and reporters. On th9 eoaffold Cordora de
lated his innoasnoe and made same
statement in writing yesterday. The
drop fell at 11:25. The only signs of a
struggle were a few convulsive shudders
and the msn was declared dead at 11:45
The body was lowered ten minutes later
and turned over to his parents, Cuido-
ra exhibited the utmost coolness to the
last moment.
Boston, July 7.—A collision occurred
to day in the habor between the steamer
John Earner on her way to Nantasket
and the yacht Undine. Both were dam-
aged, but no lives lost. The steamer re
turned to the wharf and landed her pass
engers.
Pitt.:BU*o, July 7.—A man named At
kin?, -71 years old, shot and instantly
killed his wife, aged 73, at Greeneburg
yesterday,in a dispute about a small piece
of Lend and then put the muzzle of tbe
gun under hie chin and ehot himself.
Nobfolx, July 7.—Judge Willis, of
Elizabeth City County, at the recant
term of bis court rendered a decision in
the case of the Commonwealth against
Harrison Pkosbns, to the effect that terri
tory oeded to the United States by the
consent of the State ia nnder the execu
tive jurisdiction of the United States
Government, and that the revenue laws
of Virginiahave no force or effect there.
The euit was brought to determine
whether the Hvgeia Hotel at Old Point
Comfort waa liable to tbe State for li
cense, The Commonwealth’s attorney
has appealed to the Circuit Court.
Louisville, July 7.—The trial of Bu
ford for the killing of Judge E liott com
mences' at Otrenton to-morrow. It is
generally conceded that the plsa of tbe
defense will be insanity.
EoaTON, July 7.—The Golden Gat?, the
smallest ci aft that ever started for a trip
around the world, left her inoeiings in
thia city this afternoon. She is s hoonT
rigged, 19 feet in length, 2) feet depth of
hold, 117 tons burden, and carries a crew
of two men.
Nashville, July 7.—Bamli Smith
and John Hril, two negroes, who mur
dered Major Pugh at Murbreeaboro not
long since, and who were Friday sentenc
ed to be hangfd August 8’.b, centered
tne crime to-day.
Ban Feaeciscj, July 7.—The Are'i 3
yacht Jennette ia offioialiy aunounoed to
sail to-morrow aftersoon.
Xo Reason,
BT 0 AX LO CTA IX3BT.
How o.uid eh-i fail to understand
Tne loving, ling’ring clasp at hind!
The winning smile, the tender glance—.
Passion’s moat tel on g ntteranoe,
‘J he sweet, transparent strategies
Th»t needlessly in lore’s wise
He need ; the voice in which she heard
Lore’s gamut in a airgto word,
Love has so miny eigne, all set
With Truth's wa eiguet ring; and yet
With intuitions clear and fins,
She read alight its every tiga ;
For in her betrt she held tne key
To all tbe tub He mystery.
How could she fail to understand
The careless, loosened clasp of hand,
And when, by slow degrees, the gla&cs
Lost tenderness, by wnat mischance
Could shs net see ? When from the tone
All food signifietnee was gone,
Why was htr ear so dull ? Aud when
The signs ware plus to all, where, then,
Her woman’s intuition ? w; se
Bef ire, why fail lo recognize
This truth as well? Dear friead, you know'
That dootrino taught us lorg ago—
We liked it not, and yet in Booth,
It h9id within a gstm of truth,
And reason has no skdl cor art
’Gainst unbelief that’s of the heart.
—Gen. Gourko, Governor of 8t. Peters
burg, is a very practical man. He reoeired
a letter which aud he would be poLoned.
Not at alt Alarmed he sent for his cook and
thus adlreased th\t personage: 'You esc
thU letter. R?&d it very well. Now keep
in mind,'the diet time I get the colic I will
hang you l
—ilemphi8 Lodger: Nearly ten thousand
barrels or potatoes have been shipped from
tbis to Northern markets, and it ivsafa to
calculate that not less that $49,000 has been
returned to the growers. The pricee realized
range fiom $3 5J to }5 50 per barrel, a few
special lots reaching a still higher figure.
—A recent performance of 'Around the
Word in Eighty Days’ In Orenburg, Bassis, '
was marked oya tragic disaster. A fire
breaking out in the scenery, a German ac
tor lost hia life ia the fluneg, while the panic- -
stricken audience, in a mid endervor to es
cape, crushed three persons to death and
itjared mspy others.
—Boston ia to have a little of woman snf-
age. Women are permitted to vote for
embers of the Bohdol Committee, and an
ppeal haa bsen istusd by Mrs. dgaesiz and
wenty other ladies expressing their faith
hat ’those women who care for the wiee
cBtraetion of children will avail themselves
of this opportunity.’
—The Btroogeat chosted, it not tha sweet
est singer of the world is oue Mono, who in
tb3 Berlin Variety Iheatre treats hid audien
ces to selections fiom the 'Troubadour,’
while a weight of 7.0 pounle rests upon his
breast. Ho chtliengea the singers of the ■
world to compete wich him in his epedlalty
for a purse of 5J0 marks.
—A brother and xister, aged 12 aad 9, In
mates of the Hou-e of Beioge at Greeaborg,
Ind., packed a little wagon lull of food and
ciotbee liom ihe stare-room, and escaped
with the Bluff. When overtaken the girl
was hugging a coll baby and riding upon the
wagon, being pulled by her brother. They
left their wagon aud Aid into the woods, ,
where they were captured.
—Since the question of Stated’ rights Is,
in one form or another, to be a leading issue ’
in the coming political campaign, a suit re
cently brought in the Unite a States Court in
Massaohudetie becomes of interest. The
Eastern railroad in that State has a New
Hampshire ertditor. Tho Has arhusetts
Legislature reorganized the debt of tho rail
road iu a manner distasteful to the New
Hampshire msn, who thereupon brought
suit iu his own State to attaoh the properly
of ihe company is filass&chu.otta. The Uni
ted States Cou.t is now called upsn to en
join him from such prosecution.
Cheip Qcimse —Mr. Weightmsn, of Pow
ers A Weightnian, Philadelphia, one of the
two quinine manufacturing firms in this
country, announced t j a reporter on Tues
day tbe intention of his firm to discontinue
that industry, which, ha end,could not be pro
fitably maintained against foreign competi
tion. This is virtually a concession that we
have been paying too much for the support
of ‘a gnat American industry.’ The Phila
delphia papers s peak sadly of this blow at
‘a great industry,' but, coming down to facts,
it appears that Powers A Weightmsn have
only eighty men engaged in making qainino.
—John Murphy was Francis Murphy’s
chief assistant in last year’s temperane a re
vival in Philadelphia, and w.s known as
Morphy No. 2. He was an eloquent speaker,
and became exceedingly popular. He burst
into the Philadelphia Times a feW days ago,
in a state of hilartons intoxication, and said:
‘The temperanoe rocket u played out. Mur
phy No. z is me name, and well ye know’t.
There's reporters here now who came to
Concert Hall when I had me shoulder to the
whael and pr.nted me word# of eloquence —
burcin elcquonos they oalled them. Bcgob,'
it waa messlf that was bumin’ for a drink
while I uttered them, and I tell yezlwas
the.big globule in tbe bowl of cold water that
■
peronce tooket is played out. I’ve only got
drunk twice in the ust week by signing tbe
pledge and catching a dollar from thetb-
etineaee chaps. Dead to ea ch ’em f jr a lea
dollar note.’
—The Ktupp gun woiks of Germany are
of Immense dimensions. One of the estab
lishments employs 8,5f0 workmen, and con
tains 293 boiiers and engines, which, com
bined, h.vu 110,000 horse power, and operate
77 trip hammeis, varying m weight from 810
to lOo.OOO pounds etch Bin09 1877, 16,004
cannon have been turned out; 300 are made
on an avert go every month. Daily 18.000
tons of ooai and coke are consumed, and 21,-
OlX) gu Jets are in use. A railroad track,
with 24 loo motives and 703 trucks, is in
operation witnin the works, aud between
them and the nearest railway station. Tbe
establishment baa 24 telegraph stations, aad
8 fire engines for protection against confla
gration. In the mines oonneoted with these
works there ara 6.310 workmen. Iron ore
the company gets (10m its own lands in ths
north of Spain to the extent of 290,110 tons
annually, whioh five steamers that it owns
convey to the factories. Ths company haa
built 3,278 tehementa for its employees, in
which 16 299 persona live- The grain used
in the bakeries that supply these people wilh
bread is bonght by agents of tbe company in
large quantities, ohitfiy in Odessa, tho Bn«-
sian grain pott. Four common bchools and
an indnetrial school for girls and women
provide tha elementary instruction needed
by th's city of footojy Lands.
—The Briti.h Government has at last sue-
ceded iu putting down the secret societies
of religions mnrderers in India called Thugs,
who, in the service of their goddess, Doerga,
strangled and plundered travelleia. Tbe
labonom prooess of hunting them out occu
pied thirty years, and it is only lately that
some of tha ndic.-ean’s were brought before
the Frince of Wales, cneof whom boasted
Of having committed sixty-seven murders
with his own hand. The god Juggernaut is
no longer suffered by the Government to
crash the devotees who fling themselves
QDder hi* chariot wheels. It is not long (since
a host of sacrifices were offered by certain
m 11-Brahmin tribre; the villages where this
tock place, n-.ed to porohase tor the purpose
men, women, and children, the so-called
Meriahs British officers have hod the diffi
cult task of effecting the deliverance of these
Maiiahs and the snpprees on of the sacrifi
ces, panly by force and partly by gentle
means A single officer. Major Usmpbeil, in
the course of eighteen yean, according io
the i outomporary Be view, rescued fifteen
bandit d men doomed to this sacrificial death.
It required watchfulness and energy of the
British officiate to put down the practice of
murdering young girls aad burning widows.
This prohibition of the praatioa of Suttee,
and the law allowing widows to marry again,
were denounced as an attack on the Brah-
minist religions rystera, and reckoned among
the pretext* for ths Sepoy minify The
value 0/ human Ufa ia to a Hindoo infinitely
below that of a cow; he had rather kdi tea
men than in j ore ono cow.
rorroViLL*, Pa, July 7—Tee Bin’s
at Big Mountain, Back Ridge Storeicg
aud Luke Fuller Colleries at Sttawakns.
and Grhlba and Shepps men at Lccn,t
Gap, struck to-day for an advance of ten
cent* on wager; 1200 men and hoys are
idle with no indications of & compromise
mama*