Newspaper Page Text
THE WEEKLr CONSTITUTION. ATLASrrA, GA., TUESDAY MARCH 9 18P6
11
' ALL THROUGH DIXIE.
■WHAT THE SOUTHERN FOLKS AH
SAYINO AMO DOING.
A ccU*T ot Oormtat-uornti to Dmh - A era
ScaieUO-Two Bortnado Flabt-TU. CUT. •
cm DTin-Horrlbl* If order*—Lyncher.
•t Work-Oth.* lUtter* of Mot*.
Florida.
Ur. Tait, the founder of the Sera Sot* colony,
|cai arrived at JaekHnvtlle. He claim, that
Mleelealppt.
At Jackion, Hits., last Saturday, P. H. Low*
nr, ion of the foreran r, bad a itrect flfht with
Frank Burkltt, editor or the Chickasaw Mcrscnter.
The affair grew out of the editor's ttrlcturea on
Governor Lowry.
Kentucky.
Her. Samuel B. Wllion.agcd slxty.el|ht,dled
today. He was the leader of the split which
caused the establishment of the Southern
Presbyterian church.
Louisiana.
George A. Peet, the manager of theGullett
company's gin works, at AmiieCity, is still con
fined to his room by the injuries received in
the recent assault made upon him by his dis
charged workmen. The publication of the foe's
- has created great excitement and Indignation.
Last Saturday night, Ur. Peet went to the
depot to take the train for New Orleans Near
the platform he was met by two men in masks,
who seised him and dragged him off to
a secluded place, where several
other men, also in masks, wero I
waiting. Ur. Peet's bands wero tied and
gag was placed in his moutK. The loader of
the gang then told Ur. Peet that lie had dis
charged several of his employes and filled their
places with others impoited from outside of
the state. For this action they proposed to
punish him. Ur. Peet's clothing was stripped
to the waist, and he was mercilessly flogged
with a heavy rope’s end until the blood ran
down his back. At last he fell fainting to the
ground. The lynchers then departed,
leaving behind them a writ
ten warning for Ur. Peet not
to return to Amite City under penalty of
deith.
West Virginia.
New* has reached Coredo of the lynching, 3 days
«cco, of Colonel V. A. Witcher for the murder of his
wife in a small community in Virginia, just aeroa
the line of McDowell county. Colonel Witcher
wak a well known character here, and a local poli
tician of note. He was an unsuccessful candidate
for the Mato senate, prosecuting attorney and
United States representative at different times.
He was in command of a regiment ot
guerrillas during the war, after which, It
u said, he spent a number of years
among the Mormons at Ralt Lake. Startling stories
are told of his life there, where his ready wit and
tine manners procured him a high place In the
church. He was married here four times, and was
extremely talented, but dissipated,and never lived
happily. Ilia first marriage was in Virginia, **'-
native state, and ita fruits a daughter, who \
adopted by a wealthy family of Vlmnia, after
death of Its mother, and flourished tor a time as a
belle in southern cities. She is now a member of
the fashionable deml mondo in the south. Ilia sec
ond wife deserted him for another man, and ho
•tain married. This wife died, it is
alleged, of 111 treatment, and through her death
('olonel Witcher came into possession of a small
estate In Virginia. Then he married a prominent
belie. Little is known of his subsequent lift,
a cent that he lived most unhappily and sunk r. r „
in the social scale. Their quarrels became pub-
s nuisances, and the little community was on tho
point of running them out;of its limits.when Witch
er beat his wlft to death one night, for which he
was promptly hung to a convenient tree.
Virginia.
While William P. Bain, a politician, of
Sussex county, wai walking along; the road
with a friend named Morris, he was suddenly
and unexpectedly shot and instantly killod by
his cousin, Quincy Bain. Tho weapon used
was a double-barrelled shotgun loaded
with* buckshot Both barrels were discharged
simultaneously, the loads lodging in the head
' of the unfortunate man. Fearing that his
victim was not lifeless, the murderer fired a
bullet from a pistol through tho back part of
the head of the corpse, and then fled. He
wonld not have escaped, however, but for tho
fket that Morris, the murdered man’s friend,
was unarmed*
For Mint timo port a bitter (end has *X'
iated between the two men, fiowiu out of an
alleged attempt made by the murdered man
to commit a criminal assault on Qoncy Bain's
wife, for which he was arrested. At tho
time of his ataasainatlon he was out on bait
for his appearance at tho county coart of
8nsaex, which meets op next Thnrsdsy, to
answer the charge against him.
The murdered nun had also killed hts man,
having stabbed to death, a few years ago, T.
W. Atkinson, a prominent cittxon of Sussex
county, with whom bo beesmo involved In a
difficulty about some private matter. He suc
ceeded, however, In obtaining a verdict of
acquittal. _____
Texan.
A largo number of Chinese Atom Califor
nia have passed through El Faso on their way
to New Orleans and tat. Tsai cities. Many
of them am alio locating in tho terrltorlnl
towns of New Mexico and Arisons, San
Francisco Is represented as swarming with
Mongolians, who have been driven oat of Ore
gon and Washington territory, and tho
pressure, it to claimed, is be
ing relieved by “the six companlee”
shipping them east, where antagonism against
the Chinese is not as strong as on the Pacific
the latent antagonism them, and anti-Chlneoe
leagues have already been organised at So
corro and other towns in New Mexico, and at
Tncaon and Tombstone, Arisons, which places
am suffering item a heavy increase In their
Chinese population, and which may lead to
their violent eviction, as was recently (ho earn,
in Washington territory.
Them was surprise at Fort Worth Friday at
the great railroad strike that began at '&30 p.
m. Them was no intimation that it was com
ing. When the whittle blowed. every ma
chinist, car repairer, section band baggage han
dler,and in feet every man who bolongs to,the
Knights of labor, assembled and stopped
work. The business of the Texan Faeifle and
the Missouri Pacific was greatly retarded for a
time. Three hundred men had stopped work
in an instant. The orders came from Bedsits.
The cense* am Bid to bc| numerous, butt the
chief one Is that #1.G0 per day Is demanded
as a day's wages for ekiUed laborers, who now
receive $1.15 per day. .
- --^-hbBmtarfarigtggAndmmyrtgtt
Jck. Howard immediately flod on
r wounded. Howard was an eccentric
He bitterly assaulted tho.Mlooq
vrhaH are both at the point of death. Many
s defend Howard's action, savins tost he
wai highItnmg and »driven lodaiperatloa by
the saloon keeper, and their friends
North Carolina.
Thursday morning, last, at Baleigh Mrs.
Joseph Miller, aged aeranty years, was bemad
to death. She was of feeble mind, and fa
two yearn bad not spoken. Her husband left
her for a few minntao, and seeing the smoko
pouring oat of the doom of the boose, retain >d
tofind bis wife in flames. Ins few minutes
she died.
. A brutal and deliberate murder occurred Fri
day afternoon,about thirty miles east of Ash i-
vine, and near Marion. Herbert Bird and bin
two sons, heretofore considered good an I
pmeeSble citizens, own n tract of land throat'i
which Ur. L. C. Bright and n prominent chi
ton, a neighbor, had what he considered a
right-of-way. Ho waa parsing over it. The
Birds had warned him not to come on tho
land. Yesterday ho was pasting there and the
diipnto commenced, when the three Birds fell
upon him with dubs and beat him to death.
A sad homicide occurred eight miles of Old
Fortpiaceorera disputed road. Doe Bright,
George and Joe Byrd aro tho parties con
cerned. It seemi as if them had been
bad blood eneeudrod over a road right sold to
Bright by the Byrds. He tbright) wan re
pairing the road and was assaulted by the
Byrd brothers, and in the meloc one of the
Byrds struck Bright with a fence stake, frac
turing his skull, of which he died on the 4 th
init,
. Revs. Williams and Powell huvo been
rival pastors in the two Baptist churches in
Contents Nock township. They were both
earnest workers and each had bis following.
B®ih wore Hardshell Baptists, and each took
CMcial pride in his church, trying to rnako it
the more attractive than tho other’s. JTlro two
lived near one another, and some time ago dis
puted over the bonndiy line of their property.
Williams went to Powell’s house and atarted
to mason with him about the matter.
Both
ordered
warning
make him suffer for this Indignity. When
Williams returned homo and Informed his
wife ofthe occurrence she told him they could
not live in the samo county with Powell. The
daughter alao urged her father to make it hot
for the man who had insulted him.
Saturday morning Bev. Ur, Williams, armed
with an nz, and his daughter and wife armed
with knives, went over to Powell’s form todo-
mand an apology. As they approached the
house Powell came to the door armed with a
long duck gun. He pointed the gnn at the
party and warned them to come no nearer.
Williams hesitated, bnt his daughter moved
forward, saying; “Come on, pa, hu old single-
barrel gun ain't loaded.” williams then rushed
forward with his ax up-llftcd. Powell let him
come within twelve feet of tho house, and
then taking deliberate aim, fired. The entire
charge of sqnirrel shot went into William’s
two legs. Be foil, and Mr. Powell, fearing the
two women, shut and barred the doer, and
then, loading his gnn, bore on them from the
window.
The wounded man begged to be taken
home. They carried him. His physicians
fear that both legs will have to bo amputated.
Powell surrendered himself and pleads self-
defense. He said be was so disabled with
rheumatism that he was forced to shoot In or
der to protect himself.
Tennessee.
Monday morning, in NasviUe, In tho crimi
nal court. General Washington read tothejnry
tho indictment against Ben Brown, murderer
of Frank Arnold. The criminal courtroom
wac early densely packed, ao that
one of tho jurora came near fainting. Judge
could not secure seats to leavo the courtroom.
Ben Brown waa accompanied to the econo of
trial by bis wife and baby, and the three sat
very near togetherduriogtheforenoon. Brown
aetrd as on tlioprecedlugday, except at certain
points in tho testimony of the witness, young
Nnaby Arnold. As tbo wltneai began surely,
but emphatically, to unravel foot upon fact
which directly criminated tho prisoner, tho
latter was seen to grow paler, hang his head
and move anxiously and uneasily
about in bis chair. Ho intenso grew
bis excitement at one point that
bis faro grew perfectly livid, bis eyes flashed
and it waa feared that he would make an
auault upon tho witness. Suddenly, however,
a practiced composure settled ovor litm, ana
be rat as if nothing bad happened. At din
ner time, when the prisoner was to be taken
to Jail, the outside crowd, then numbering
many thousands, gathered in front of tho main
door to the building to see Ben
Brown, The officers had almost slipped
him softly outside of tha east
door, when some person saw them and gave
the alarm. Instantly the Immense crowd
rushed with a mad break In that direction.
Tbs panic seemed to abate as soon as all had
gated upon (he prisoner.
Friday afternoon and were In seaaion until neari;
midnight. The reporters were excluded, bui
there’s no secret that the meeting waa ona of riot
ous diversity of opinion, and* regular relit will
reran. Bald one member: “The whole d—d
thing Is gone to h-11. 1 fool as
had u I did when Blaine was nominated..
The bore of contention was the number or con
ventions, and this was fixed at two to be held the
ICth ot Mi ...
»y and the loth of Aururt, respectively,
Italian hand e( General Manor is said to
ctcd tha whole proceeding, and thsoptn-
are directed
An arrest waa accidentally effected at Chattanooga
lari Sunday. A young negro named Will Foster
was arretted for vagrancy, and after his arrari It
wai teamed that be bad ravished a littl. whlto
■art named Annie Seward, at Soddy, Friday night,
■b* la the daughter or the weighmaaler at tna
mine* roller areaulted her while «he was leav
ing the company .tore, dragged her behind the
bmldlngana committed the deed.
Ibis guilt end will rarely lieng.
I Friday, at Birmingham a seniatlotal turn
was given to the care ol the Paraoaa. Women by
lanexpectedl damaging testimony from Kmily Par
sons, a younger daughter of the elder defondant,
about fifteen yean old. There waa Km. oonfilct of
iterilmoor ri the preliminary trial, Emily, account
I .Uier, she had walked offKma dlrianco with
foimer; that her ririer remained at the boose
... Ji a gun In her band.; that ahortly afterward a
shot was fired, and that on remaning to tho houw
they found tha old man on the floor with a load of
■hot In him. . .
Alabama.
The vernation ofthe day is tha published
letters from Colonel D. 8. Troy. presldcnt of
the Montgomery waterworks to W. D. Bice, of
Boston, n stockholder in the Capital City water
company. Colonel Troy areal Is the character
and good standing of tho city und the poreonal
Integrity of Mayor Beese.
lout Thursday morning a Are destroyed
M. L. Coeley’e store, two miles from Montgom
ery, and Mr. Cosley wan horned to death In
the building. The remains were found after
the flame, had partially died oat, and tha
shocking discovery made a big actuation. Tha
prevalent opinion is that Cotley waa murdered
end the store burned to conceal the crime.
Enough remains were found to establish the
bellefthst his death waa flram foal play. Sev
eral pistol shots were heard in the early part
of tha night in tha vicinity of tha store.
Allen Alexander, a negro politician and
tnrbalent spirit during reconstruction -times,
died in Mobile in Jail. He went to Mobile from
Georgia during tho war, and settled In Bald
win county, where he domineered the whites
by a military organisation of colored voters.
In lens be moved to Mobile, and became a
member of the republican executive commit
tee and soon held n clerkship in the pestoffie*.
There la laas intempenne* among tha work
men of Birmingham than haieverbeen known,
which is attributed to tho strong Influence of
Bam Jones on tbe people. The scene of the
approaching gubernatorial straggle will bo
Birmingham and Montgomery, with the eyes
of the state watching both. Mobile waa eoeb-
ered oat of tha next convention, Montgomery
wants all. Blimtngham claims the nomlnatijn
and will posh Lane for all he is worth. Hois
net an avowed candidate hot pose* es a digni
fied reirreentatlve of tha paopi* and will b*
ippoitedby tbe young democracy.
There will be a lively race for con trees be
tween Colonel Bankhead and Captain Martin,
tha present incumbent. Bankhead has bten a
candidate for some time, and was bastes by
Martinet tha last nomination. Bankhead's
friends claim Martin, to secure the nomina
tion, announced he would retire after his term
of office expire* and allow his competitor a
chance. His friends claim h. did not, and the
result will be a bitter fight.
Speaking of newspapers, Walter ByaJi, tho
young editor of the Anniston Hot-Blast was in
the city this week and had mieh to say of tbe
future of Anniston. He said;
' “I have no doubt bat whit steel will bo
made in Anniston iu leas than a year, the
Woodstock Iron company has increased it*
capital stock to $1,000,000, and It now oalied
the Woodstock Iron and Steel company.”
“What do yon think of the foture of Annis
ton 1"
“I believe the place Is advancing materially
and Rill show n marked development of pro-
greea during this year. Several new enter
prises are going to be started and the popula
tion it increasing dtily. Tbe ettisens are hope-
ful of an advanced state of substantial growth
which it snro to come.”
A rumor has been circulated that the offices
of the Georgia Pacific railroad wonld ho moved
frtu) Birmingham, and that the officers would
bo removed by tha Blchmond and Danville
ayitem during this year, os soon os the through
line was finished.
President Johnston was asked bow the
work was progressing in the extension.
“At well as possible; tbe eon tracts aro bcin rftot
as fart as they arc needed, and the work has
already begun. We horn to bo doing business
over It In lets than twelve months.
A horrible murder eras committed Friday nights!
8colt>8tation, 30 miles weri of Selma, on the Cin
cinnati, Selma and Mobile railroad. When tho
midnight paMenger train stopped there the con
ductor, In starting Into the depot, found the door
locked. Suspeeilnr, after repealed unanswered
knocks, that something must be wrong, ho broko
open thedoor, and went Into she office. There ho
found the agent, Frank B. Cooke, In bed, and strik
ing a light, discovered that his head had been
■put open with an ax. Cocke was alive, bnt too
for gono to give any account of tbo assantt, and
died ihortiy afterwards The depot had boon
rilled of everything north having, and It l> sup
posed robbery waa tbo Incentive to tha munlor. A
few yean ago tbe agent at Newborn, 12 miles from
Beotia, on tbo same irailroad, was killod with a
crowbar In tbo night, and tho depot robbod and
burned. Cocke was about S3 years old and un
married.
South Carolina.
David H. Wheeler, a wealthy citiaen of Lex
ington connty, who resides just across the
Newberry line, was shot about sunset by
George HcNaiy. Wheeler had been at New
berry attending the public isles, and was two
miles below Prosperity, on his way home,
when he was fired upon twice from the road-
aide, the second charge taking effect In hla
arms. McNary need a donblo-barrel shot ran,
loaded with buckshot They bad an altercation
Saturday because Wheeler had rafted the prop
erty of one of his friends under a din-
trees warrant, and Saturday morning he an
nounced his intention to shoot Wheeler. It is
not thought that Wheeler’s wounds aro so-
riotu. McNary was arrested Wednesday and
bound over to court. Ho says at tho timo of
the shooting ho called to Wheeler to stop, and
upon his refusing to do w, fired upon him.
Tbe Cnlbreath lynchers ecu camo up for trial
In tho March term of tho court of general
sessions of Edgefield county. Tho court room
and public square wero crowded with tho
tblrty-oue defendants and olio hundred and
C5 witnesses. Tho defonflanta were all presont,
and were men of every cast of countenance,
and differing aa widely In age as in festnres.
After tho usual prelimlnurics the cans was
postponed until tbe August term of coart. The
two dark chapters constituting the history of
this cacc, which followed each other in close
succession last summer, are yet fteah in the
minds of the people. Mrs. O. T. Cnlbreath,
living apait fiom her husband, wns left by her
mu one nlghtnnder tho protection of a young
friend and neighbor, named Hammond, whom
ho asked to occupy hla room during hiaabrance
aa a protector for bis mother. Reforo bed-tlmo
young Hammond went into tho yard with a lit
tle child, and waa shot dead a few feet from the
door. From threats which Mr. O.T, Cnlbreath
was alleged to havo made, and from tbe evi
dence adduced at the coroner’s inquest, ras-
plclon rested upon him as the perpetrator or
Instigator of this assassination. A few weeks
later the second chapter—a terrible sequel to
this lawless beginning—wss enacted in the
heart of the town of Edgefield, under the very
shadow of tbe temple of Justice. On the night
of September 21st Mr. Cnlbreath was In tho
office of his attorneys, Messrs, Gray A Prana
when the tnimp ot foot wss heard
without and a voice at the door de
manded admittance. Humors of a
movement to lynch Cnlbreath were al
ready in circulation, and though ho had not
given them credence before, when disgniaed
voices demanded if bo was srithln, apprehen
sion sprang into conviction, and in obedience
with whispered directions Cnlbreath hurried
Into a back room Just before tho crowd of
mssked men without forced their way into tho
office. Seeing that Cnlbreath tna not there
(hey pushed forward to tho inner door and
entered. As they did so Cnlbreath fired, bnt
hia aim was spoiled by the excitement of the
moment or by a shot received in the shoulder,
and his ball fiew wide of its mark, onuking
through the partition over the
door only an ineh from tho
ceiling, and falling harmlessly to tho
floor in tho front room. Two shots wore fired
by Cnlbnath’s assailants, one pawing through
aback door behind blm, and the other shat
tering his shoulder. Calling upon, hi* assail
ant* not to shoot him like a dog, he was seised
and bound and dragged between two men
nearly a mils back ofthe oonrthonso, where ho
ire* shot in tho baek.and left for dead. A res
cuing party was organized, and on their way
to tho soone of tbo shooting, met Cnlbreath,
wounded unto death, dragging himself back
to tho village. Ho was plana in Jail, where
ho died next morning. Bnt before dy
ing, be gnvo tbo name* of several men
whom he said he bad recognised among his
assassins, and from bis statement and tha cir
cumstances surrounding tho affotr, the grand
Jury found tra* bills against tho following
thirty-one defendants;
Thompson, in Jail at Spartanburg for a fe
lonious assault on Mrs. Lancaster, near Glenn
Springs last Friday, who gras taken from pris-
Main street
boose, and hanged to the limb of a tree, was
about twenty years old and of brutal passions.
He assaulted a negro woman last weak, bnt
the being very strong resitted him. He also
attacked*white woman on Friday, who es
caped him. This was before he came across
his unfortunate victim. Mrs. Lin-
caster is a highly esteemed
woman, the mother of two children, and about
to become a mother again. WMla in Jail
Thomson confessed to |the crime, and when
they carried him oat to tho grove ha wss ask
ed frhe bad anything to say. He said; “Yea;
I did tha deed. I do not know what made mo
dolt. I deserve to be hanged. Give me a lit
tle time to pray." After praying awhile he
was swung np and left hanging. Several per
rons in the crowd were drank, bnt tho treater
number were sober. The banking took plvco
at five o’clock, tad *t sovsm the town to ss
2 nlet u Sunday. Several colored men were
i the crowd that entered the Jail.
GEORGIA NEWS.
THE NEWS OFTHESTATE BRIEFLY
CHRONICLED.
ror.it Tlrm~MmA Sosa aid arid Caw-r apricfttij
Sira ot BSTiatx-riv. M.rric. a Xla ot Six-
Un-OlllMll Mushroom, lor th.
AHUM Mark.! - Other Item*.
Clarendon county hat Its band of regulators,
edging from the following remarks or tbo En
terprise: A few days since a party of men went
to the house of Susan Stokes, a white woman
living in tha weatren part of tho county, and
took from her boose John Roach, a colored
man Who claim* to have been boarding there.
They carried Botch out of tho boose to a
neighboring branch or swamp, tied him hand
and feet, removed bis clothing, tad fan him
a severe whipping, using long gam switches.
After tbe whipping Beach was left tied. The
following Monday Boach swore out warrants
.gainst Mam B. B. Bryant, B. J. Aycock.B.
J. Maker, T. T. Bryant and John Johnson.
These gentlemen at a preliminary trial htld
last Friday before Justice Wilton ware bound
over for trial at tho next court.
At Chester, Saturday, th* Jury In tbe
In York eoonty German mstslee Is prevailing.
Tbe disease is said to bo spreading and the peo
ple an much alarmed In consequence.
'‘-Th. Constitution Ear tho Campaign.”
Stay intelligent man fa Georgia thouli
Unit. Don’t you k uilhoti It. Sukcrik
at sacs.
Saturday night Lola wta thrown intoaseaof
excitement caused by the killing ot United
States Marshal John Merritt, ot GaineovIUe,
at tbo hands of John Ooflbo, s prominent citi
zen ot this place. It seems that Merritt,
Deputy Marshal F. F. Cape and Joel
Coffee and several others were sitting in Lo
gan’s restaurant conversing socially, when
John Coffee came in and after atandlng with
the crowd a few moment, taking part in tho
conversation, said; “Merritt, let me tee you
privately a moment-" . *
A few moments after Coffee and Merritt
had pasted ont of the door four or Hire shots
were heard fired in qnick tncoewion. The
reports of tho pistol came from the street near
the entrance of tho bonding. Tho men
rushed out and found John Merritt laying on
tho ground near tho corner gasping for
breath. The night waa dark and no ona
could be seen near tho dying man. He wu
picked np and carried into the restaurant
When he drew one breath and died. Merritt
died without uttering a word of any kind.
Deputy Martha! F. F. Capo yourcorrespondent
which occurred at Lola to-night: “Three
of us,” nid Cape, " Merritt, Otbnrn and I, left
Gainesville yesterday morning on a raid Into
Banks connty. We left tboeare at Lnls where
we were Joined by Deputy Collector Strong.
After spending the whole of yesterday In a
fruitless search and lyiogout all night, we
reached Luis this evening between sundown
and dark, tired and sleepy, and intended to
S it aboard tho down pamengor at 9 o'clock for
ainesville. While awaiting tho arrival of
the train wo went into what la known at
Logan’s restaurant,* house situated on the
left of tho railroad from here, almost directly
opposite the depot building.
“Logan,tho proprietor,wu in the front room
of the house, Mrs- Logan wu in tha cook room
adjoining, busily engaged in preparing sapper,
while Merritt, Osborn, Joel Coffee ana myself
and the little son of Logan were Mated around
a pleasant lira In another room. Merritt wu
seated in Aront ofthe Are, Iwu on his right,
and Joel Coffee and Osborn at his left. Ho
wu entertaining the party by propounding
questions from Walter Taylor’s riddle book,
and wo were amusing ourselves trying to
gueet Uro answers to tbo queetions. In tho
midst of this John Coffeocamo in and stood
between Merritt, who ns still rotdlng,
and tho :flre, and spoke to
very pleasantly. After a moment
ho approsebed Merritt, touched him on tho
nrnr, nodded to him, gave him to understand
that he wished to speak to him privstely and
went ont, followed by Merritt. As they passed
out tho door Logan uw them and remarkad
jokingly; 'Yes, by G—d, you are fixing to give
somebody away now.’ A moment after he
mtde this remark ilvo pistol ahota were heart
in quick succeKion, ana some one outside sail
"Ohl” three timet. I Immediately sprang to
my feet and rushed ont, asking u I did. ao:
'What is tbe matterT
Logan replied; “Somebody's killed,
think,’ and seized hit lantern. Wo than
went out together, followed by tho others, and
aronnd tbo roraer, about eight or ten feet, we
uw Merritt lying on bis faco against the boose.
Logan called for water end dashed some on him
end tamed him over. Howu still alive, but
by the timo we got blm in tbo boose ho wu
dead. We mtde a buty examination and
found only one wound located near th* heart.
Soon after I came sway on tho train, leaving
him there surrounded by loving
friends. As breve a man and u
true a Mend u ever bresthod. Why John
Go like should have killed him I do not know,
Coffeo wu not drinking, and not a word wu
passed in anger so for u any of ns canid bear.
It wu a crncl, cold-blooded murder. Commie-
Martin and Joo Hell arc preparing to go to
Lola now on horseback.
Seven years ago Merrett killed a man, Be
low, at Longview, about a woman. Ho hu
never been arrested for It though It wua
cold-blooded murder. He went to Texu and
remarried tbreo years ago.
Tbo cause of tbo killing of Merritt it Kid
to be that Merritt tried to lndnee a woman,
named Leila Burden, and who livea with Cof-
feo and sssists him in running a little doggory
near Belton, to pilot ftjm to an Illicit still,
which, It wu thought, Coffeo wu raoning.
The woman promised Merritt that tha wonld
do to, and u toon u aha uw Coffeo tho told
him wbstMerriltwu after. Coffoo loadod hit
pistol and swore vengeance.
Saturday Coffee met Section Muter Sellers
and said, palling ont his pistol:
“I Intend to kill that d—n scoundrel Mer
ritt, and this Is the way I will pat fire balioii
through hit etrtsed heart.”
Some few weeks tinea Mr. John Faucet t,
living in the upper portion of Dodge connty,
conceiving the idea that phosphorus wu snro
doath t* rata, broke a lot of matches, mixed
tha same with tome ttnaage and placed It in
bit corn crib. Tho story u foil la told in a
fewwords: The rata were destroyed and with
it the com crib and it* entire contents,
amounting in tho aggregate to about 200 bosh-
els of com.
Hawklntvllla Dispatch: Mr. ElUah Pate, of
Dooly connty, is unusually sprightly for a man
of seventy-raven yean of ago, hot he still hu
an eye for the tender and tha lovable. A few
days ago be wu married to Mite Bailey, a
young lady of sixteen mmmere. He moved
to Dooly connty about forty-five years ago,
and settled near a Iain pond, '
wu an alligator. The 'gat
This went on for over forty years, and at lart
western bacon got ao high'and doer meat bo-
esmo to scarce that our old friend thought tho
time had coma for him to “stand np for hit
rights,” u tho snU-proolbltlonUta toll tha ool-
ored voters. Ho bo loaded “old Betsy Jane”
with a few ounces of powder and a pound of
leaden baUa, and he went down to tho pond to
settlo accounts with the old nmphtbloas non-
star. The ’gator wu on tiro hank and enjoying
tha warm rays of tha ton. Mr. Pate pulled
trigger, and the old pig-eater rolled over in the
agonleo of death. Aa to deer hunting Mr.Pate
can relate some interesting stories.
One day, in hia seventy-fifth year,
he went out to kill a deer, nts
dogs rtn a bock into a swamp sad tho animal
Th* old gentl
caught it by it
rushed npon tha buck,
ita horns, drew cat hi* pocket-
knffe end art Its throat. Now, tappono he It
over seventy-five years of age. is there any
reason why he thou id not have a young wife?
Norris, the murderer of Elliott, in Haralson
county when brought into court waived hearing
and was committed to Jail to await trial in su
perior court. He nearly succeeded in break
ing Jail the first day. Hals now lodged In the
Iron cage. Elliott, the murdered nun, leaves
a wife sad fra small children in n helpless
condition.
The dwomstancot, u related by those who
were near thekllling,areaboaturollewt: On
th* day before tbe homicide there wu a road
working on the Cedartown and Dnketown
read, about six miles northeast from Buch
anan, where twenty or thirty of tho neighbors
collected, Norris and Elliott being in the
crowd. Daring tbe day, while tbe men were
at work, Norria did tire plowing and the other
men moved tbo dirt. Elliott and tome of tbo
men began to Jak* Norris about tho mannor of
using tha plow, which ao offended Norris that
he seemed to be mad during Uro whole day.
At is usual in such oust, when Urn men per
ceived that Norris wu angry they con-
tinned their Ain all tha more, never dream
ing that anything serious wonld grow ont of
it. At tho clou of tbe day the hands had
not finished their *1 totted work, and agreed
to return on the next morning (lYednttJsy)
and finish. A* they diaporaad for the even-
lag Norris renarked qnito significantly to
ooo of tha men that on Uw next day tom* of
them would find that h* would ose a differ
ent Instrument. While the Joking wu going
on It tear* that the remarks made by Elliott
were especially offensive to Norris. At an
early boar next morning tbe workers begun
to assemble at tbe nme place, and when six
er eight bad arrived, Norria stopped into tho
crowd, picked up a hoe, and without uyiug a
word, stepped Immediately behind Elliott,
who wu shoveling, and pretended to com
mence work. Tbe men were apparently aU
in one hnmor, and no one expected any dlffl.
ctrlty except the murderer. Norris punned
bis work only a few seconds, when, without
giving hit victim a moment's warning, ho
raised hit hoe and dealt a tremendous blow
npon the back of hit head, foiling him to the
sharp edge ofthe boo. After numerous blows
thehoebandlo broke, when the mnrdoror
Mixed tbo ehovol which ElUott bad
been at work with and oompletod
bis deadly purpose. The murdered man’s head
wu laid open to the brain In several places,
•udbelived but a short while. After Norris
had slain Elliott ho endeavored immediately
to make his escape by’ruuning through the
woods, bnt be wu overtaken and eaptnred
within a short distance of the men who wore
present, and wu taken to Buchanan foil.
Quite a serious altercation ooemred two miles
cast of Carrollton this afternoon between two
brothers, H. H, snd Grant Gilley. A few
weeks ago one of them loaned tho other hit
dog. Yesterday ho unt for it, whereupon
hit brother refuted to tend, claiming the dog
as his. Today H. H. Gilley camo to tho field,
where Grant Gilley wu at work, saying he
had come to whip blm about the dog. Grant
told him “All right, he wonld bo ready to set
tle it u toon u he could unhitch bis male.”
While he wu unloosening the Meet, H. H.
Gilley esme np to him end struck him on tho
hud with a large rook, fracturing the skull.
Grant Gilley, though stunned by tho blow,
drew his knife and ont hit brother In seven
placet before they were separated.
Forest fires are destroying the woods in
Worth county.
A true bill Iim been found by the grand Jnry
of Walker county against McCoy, for the mur
der of KeUett.
Mid dogs and mad cows are making it quite
Interesting for the good people of Murray Jut
at tha present time.
The acreage in planting and setting oat of
the LeConte or sand pear hu been hugely In
creased in Worth connty this season.
Clsrketvllle presented a lively scene dnriu
the trial of Robert II. Morris for tho murder o
W. J. Henderson. It will be remembered that
on tho 2nd of November last, in Haberebsm
county, that Jasper Henderson wu foully
murdered while at tbo house of hit brother-
in-law, Ben Dodd. Some one find npon him
with »shotgun loaded with buck-hot, thirteen
of which took effect in Henderson’s back, some
two or three entering directly over the tplno,
killing him instantly.
The body bad been dragged a distant!* of
one hundred and fifty yards to the woods, lit
erally tearing tbe skin and clothes la pieces,
and in then robbed. Soon after the gnn wu
fired Bobt. Morris stepped Into the door and
laid:
“I have killed Jus. Henderson, bnt I did
In *elf defense.”
A state's witness swore that Morris said ho
had killed the d—n rascal, and did not mind
it any more then he did killing * gooso.
Morris fled tho connty soon after, bnt wu
captured by a detectlvo in Alabama, near tbe
coal mines, snd brought to Cltrkotrillo for
trial. The trial -wu watched with unusual
interest, and lasted for two days. After re-
mtining in their room all night, tits Jury
brought In a verdict ot guilty.
Judge J. H. Brown then sentenced him to bo
banged on tho ldth of April next. It Is said
that Morris laughed when tho sentonoowu
pronounced.
Saturday the celebrated atock law cosocnmo
up for a hearing before tbe ordinary or
Elbert county. Tbo case hail boon to tho
supremo court on a bill for prohibition, audwas
aent back by that tribunal to tbo ordinary, for
blm to declare the result of tho eloctlon. Tho
.rouble In tbe ease wu that part of the vote
had been consolidated and returned to tho
ordinary, which part gave “no fenco” a ma-
orlty, Tho remainder of tho vote wu re*
umed to tho ordinary without being eon.
lolldatcd, and the wholo vote taken together
gave “fence” a majority. After elabo*
rate and exhanativo arguments by Messrs.
W. M. Beeto snd M.P. Been for the fence
] -arty and Means, F. U. Colley, Joseph N.
' Voriey and John P. Hhannon for tne 'no
fenco 1 party, tho ordinary granted an action
directing tna superintendents of the election
from the several precinct* to astemblo on tbo
10th of Mtrch snd consolidate tho vote of tbo
S hole connty. This it in effect, a decision In
vor of tho ’fence’ party, nnlcsa somo of tbe
precincts should bo thrown cat for irregular],
in in the election. Several of tbo inllitla
districts of the county will probably hold eloo-
tlona on tbo question u early u practicable.
Prisoners Injtll at Valdostamadoan attempt
(kstbalrllbariyth* last weak and two sun-cod.
cd in affecting their escape. Four negroot
iflned in Jail, Richard Townsend and
BIllBpancer, charged with murder, and Joo
Hmlth and Minnlo Davis, recently brought hero
from Utnch county. Hlnnla Davis had boon
kept in a room separate from tbe Jail proper,
bnt upon her ulieitatlonabe wu allowed to
remain in the corridor of the jail with tho
other prisoners during tho day. About aovon
o'clock last Bnnday night Jailor Simpson went
np stairs where the ceils are allotted, for tbo
pnrpou of locking Minnie Davis r-’-
usual apartment. When be opened
door to the corridor and stepped Inaldo to call
her, three ofthe prisoners nudo * rarh for tbo
door. Mr. Simpson had a dim lantern with
him. This wu soon extinguished. Town,
lend had nearly rcacbod the
door when bo wu stopped
by Mr.Blmpton. A lively tussol ensued, In
which Simpson wu thrown npon tho floor and
Townsend grabbing for his throat. The (slier
realizing hla situation and appreciating the
unequal fight, gave the alarm. Fortunately
two men happened tube near the Jail at the
time, and they hastened to tha retene. When
they reached th* scent of action it wu found
that Joe Smith and Mlnnls Davis had otetped,
and Townsend, tho murderer, conid not lie
found. However after a careful search he wu
discovered secreted on top of the Iron cells. It
seems that when be got ont of hit ceil, ho (ra
ceme confuted in tho dark and coaid not find
tho door leading from tbo Jail.
The eowt bitten by a rabid dog on Mr. J. V.’.
Brower’s place In Chattahoochee connty aov-
ernl weeks ago, wero aolscd with hydrophobia
on lut Sunday and wero killed by the man
who owned them. These animals, alter they
were attacked, exhibited by their movements
no instinct peculiar to tbo cow, bnt acted liko
tho rabid dog by which they were bitten. An
other dog which wu bitten at the More time
tbe cowa were, wu killed last Saturday. His
owner confined him at home until lut Satur
day, when he escaped and wu killed about
one mile from heme. The dog wu not mad
before bo wu kiUod, but bis owner wu mad
afterwards.
Tbs saddest accident that hu aver happened
i this section, occurred Yesterday about nine
mile* from Uogaasville.
Mr. Gaston McCarter is a well-to-do and
ranch esteemed farmer of Meriwether county,
and married a daughter of ’.Squire Thompeon,
who also stands high In that connty. On yes
terday Mr. McCarter became enraged
mlachiovUm* cow that had
bothering him for aome
time, and in a moment of passion grabbed hia
■ in and shot at tbo cow, bat instead of shoot-
g the cow bit and instantly killed his nine-
ycar-oid MO, who wu beyond tbe cowin tho
woods and out of his fathei’a sight. Mrs, Mc
Carter la prostrated with grief, and fears are
entertained for her recovery. Tho boy wu
Mr. McGuter’t oldest child, and a great fa
vorite. The affair hu cut a deep gloom over
thenelghberhood,andMr. and Mrs. McCarter
have the 'sincere sympathies of their many
Diced*. The boy Wu buried today.
Tbartdty t young ton of John GiU, switch-
~ entire Central railroad, 'while pitying
ran nsplintcr into hisfoot. It did not preseut
n serious appearance and his parents regarded
tho accident sstriflingand did not examine the
footcareAllly- Tho little fcllowdid not seem to
feel tny pain until night, when a fever set
in and lockjaw ensued. Despite of every
meant resorted to by bis phyririans, deatiiaoon
relieved the young sufferer.
Tbe Jonesboro News tells tho following:
Mr. Henry Hutcheson, who lives In tho upper
part cl Clayton connty, and raises principally
produce for tho Atlanta market, on ono or hit
recent trips bad nnmeromcalls formushrooms,
and finding that they brought a good price, ho
decided that he had a good thing of it. So to
proenro tbe delicacy to satiate tbo palate of tbo
epicure, he put all the force on hie place to
gathering what ho caallod mushroom :. Ho
collected together u ranch u two mules coaM
pall and boxed them nplnnlcellttlo braes and
started for Atlanta; bnt to his astonishment
and disgnst, he found that InatAad of tho vege
table mnsbraom, he had a trro-horso load of
“bog-stools,” or what Is sometimes called
mushrooms. The snthoritiea ordered him to
takei them ont of the city for fear that thoy
would bo tho means of poisoning tbo town.
ProXihltlon and the railroaA commistlon
Kill be tin laue in erery courtly in Georgia in
IfjMttlire races. Snbterihe for Hi* CONSTI
TUTION and keep potted.
THE STATE CAMPAION.
“Governor McDaniel may decline to enter the
gnbernatorlal race,” said one of hla Wends on yes
terday, "almply because ot bin reluctance to enter
Into arararable for an olllco that hu already yield
ed him ail its dignity snd prestige. Bnt it is ab
surd to talk C.r his Ineligibility. He is clearly eli
gible, and If be doea;not decline to ran he will b
elected. Hshunude Jnst raeh a basinets-like,
sensible governor ru the people want. Ills not too
much to ray that bit four year’s administration Is
without a tingle mistake, and is the beat adminis
tration Georgia hu had In twenty years. Tha peo
ple know this, and If ho mu they will reelect
him.''
"If Governor McDaniel retirea, and I do not be
lieve be Rlllretire,''thts gentleman went on to uy,
“Bacon and Slmmontwlll not bavethe field to them
•elves. At least two new candidates will sppurjnot
counting Farmer Livingston who may ha consider-
cd In tbe field aneady.”
Per centra, a prominent official who Is for Bacon,
soys: “A prediction is It you srantt Well, Mc
Daniel twin: formally decline. Bacon will bo
nominated by acclamation. That's all I"
“No excitement, then, this ycart”
"Yes; after tha nomination. Tho railroad com-
mission, prohibition, the convict lease, tbo Slate
read lease, are questions that no convention can
_ will be Am.”
Klmtnon*, quoted In tbh eol-
ght rxo again to uyi “My
willing to retire
be people. Then there a
Tho mend of Judge Him
.un lart Sunday, sought
statement that Judge Firm _
from tho gubernatorial rare
Bacon two thirds ofthe del
the five adjoining counties,
Let mo repeat it, fn tho moot .
•Inform. Judge Hlmmons holds that
folks do not Indorse him and want ]
not uk outsiders to lake him. If Mr,
Judge Simmons'. Proposition,
From the Butler, Oa,, Herald.
Much hu already been ubl by tbo press of
out auto regarding Iho next guberuntorlul candi
date, J udgo T. Jj ajmnioos^and^ Hon. A. o. Daoon
Er
Lmana l» lira eholeo of a m«|orlly of
^^^^HTaylor county. Wo copy from Tim i
CouriTinion of nundar lafa
fair and lumt ht ■ • ■
FwMMSi,' 0 .
more could be uked or
to irtlfifl
that more could bc'uked oMilm! 0 H«°J? mhm>T
tho rarest of men, and should he bo placed In tho
rasiuon a* governor, ho would prove ail honor to
From tho Colombia, ao., Seminal.
Tho forogoiiiR ban tho trim ring of mngoanl-
*“ “ *■ - ‘ only rorno from
* ‘four utoto in
tv. Such a proportion could only
—jotanof ono who had tho good or o_. _
vJow. nuptopotitloalM fair in every iiartJ
aud cannot fall to meet tho approval or Mr. 1
nnd hla friend*. Judge Hlmraon* doc* not m
bind other*, only hlnuclf. Tht* proportion on tbo
part of Judge Simmon*, coupled with hi* letter
withdrawing from thd liut gubernatorial race, hai
endeared him to u* and wo unhraitatlngly pro*
nounco In favor of blm. Ho would mako an ablo
executive and glvo BalUfactlou to tbo m&ue* If
row tiioHnmtor. Oa., Republican.
Wo find tho above among tbo "Constitution-
i” In Tin Atlanta CoxsTrrirnoM of Sunday, and
ini ih| ptowltlmi of Jndn StauBona ana hi*
lend, a flurmrA Now. If Baron lias mch a boom
OwmaaaaoMi —*
t bimVScejrt tht]
leading cltlxcn* of Bumtcr' in reference to tbo
gubernatorial ranvam. and wo aro aalUfled that
Judge HlamonM l* by far tho atronrcit man ot any
whoro name* have been mentioned in that connco
lion. Bacon maybe on a nowupspcr boom with a
few paper*, but Simmon* I* on a boom with tho
ynm tbe Ferry, Oa., Journal
If tbe raco fur governor of Georgia ba*, or la
be, narrowed down to a choice between Hon. A.
, Jiacon and Judge T. J. Hlmraon*, we aro emphat
.. ally In favor or Jndgo Hlnimon*. Wo aro limit
hat, between thaaa two, the vote of Houston coon*
y would be for Simmon* by an overwhelming ma*
wnty. ,
If on* A* O. Bacon*
From the llawklntvUlo Neir*.
Th!* distinguished Georgian honored oar
town with a visit on Monday la*t.IIe bojmany
warm friend* and ardent supporter* in oar
connty, all of whom aro anxious to see him
suitably rewarded for his noble work in behalf
of tbo state and tho nieces* ofthe democratic
party. When tho next gubernatorial conven
tion HMcmbltH and tho name of l'nlaskl la
called, we Hilly believe the response will be
“Two vote* for the Hon. A. O. Bacon.”
From tho BamcsvUlo Democrat.
Major A. O. Bacon I* one ofthe most proba
ble candidate* for governor of Georgia. Tnafc
fa to lay, It I* most probable hi* friends will
Insist on hi* running: most probable that if bo
ran* he will l>e nominated, and if nominated
that he will bo elected.
MARRIED IN OEOROIA.
lfr. E. E. Haneoek and MIm Mollie Yarbrough,
ivlor. Mr. Frank 1fcdalra and it In .Mary
ftlnv, hivamiah Sir. M. A. O’llyne arnTMUf
_ jnnle Klelly. Havannah Mr. Thoms* Duggan
and MU* Kellie Flchon, Havannah......Mr. Thomas
T. Persona and Mia Lncv Kinobrougb, Talbouon
Mr. Joe K. fmnwm and MIm Mantle Abrnhaur,
j jiaranfle.*~.Mr, Lewi* Saxon and Ml** M*ry
John “on, Lexington.... Mr. W. F. King and Mr*.
Mary I* CrawfoFd. Calhoun Mr. Kufu* II. Baker
and MU* Fannlo Lee Meader*.
Prohibition will be aettled one way or the
other ihle yytr» The conflict will be fierce.
.Subscribe for Tjik Constitution.
PIED IN OEOROIAt
Mr. W. H. Colbert. Atlanta....Mr. Abraham P.
Clarke, Marietta.,..Mr. A. J. Clieney, Cobb Gouty
....Mr. Henry Knnla, HyIvanla....Mr. John w.
Kerry, Sparta......Hoy, W. V. WMkee, Qatnawljle~*
ffilL & Columbus....Dr. J. D. Fllokcn,
WaVbln l toti.....!Mr. Thomai Col well, BlalnvlV
Mr. Usarus Jones, Gave Hprlng.w-Mn. Georgo
M- Lwton, otfflg-sdsa & n V£o‘3fc;
„ rif ..... ,
Mr*. Kev.'j. J*. Harmony <irov*\...Dr.
Joshua King. Home.. ..Mr. Murry. Harmony Grovo
. ..Mr.Thom** If. Murphy, Home....Mr*. E. Sul-
dnfb. Ho ford Mr*. Kllxa K. Fwaln, to Grange
Mr. J. T. J. Dnnuaway, Atlanta....Mr*. John T.
Berry, Bpaita. ,
Tho Campaign Open.
Tbe present year will be ono of Qcorgta’s moat
Important election years.
WhoWUllbo Governor? Will it bo McDaniel,
Bacon, Mmmou«, I.ester,Carlton, Felton, or wbot
Who Will be Attorney-General? Anderoon,*
JlnJacy or Little? Who will be elected to the legis
lature?
Prohibition! What will be done with that lstaef
What about tbe people and the railroads? What
abotd the Stale road lease? The convict leaseTbo
lsbor question?
All thwe matter* will come up for rottlement
this year. _
The Constitution Will Keep You Potted. It
Is confessedly the beat newspaper In tbe state—no
)«r*e»t, Lett and foiled, ttt. Uro chMjxrt; only
41.25 a yeti, or It a rear In club, of five.
Youc.nnotdowlih'miTHX Comrircnox! Sena
for Ittt oncc infi Mart with the campaUn.
A Lively Coote.t
It la *olnx talc, and Tin CortvnrCTroR wM tell
you alliboir.lt.
£ut«crlbc at once.