Newspaper Page Text
THE CONSTITUTION.
.IYOL.XVH.
ATLANTA. GA„ S TUESDAY MORNING. MAY 26 1885.
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
’thb coming of the rose.
vilLfifg^tetwhieli are never seen
except by elves on tbe dewy green,
Y ere rolled apart at a touch today,
And aU the roses are on their way,
doming to fill the land with ligat.
To crown the summer with garlands bright.
Sweet within sweet and fold on fold,
gfmsonjmd while, and cloth ol gold-
Thla with its fiery heart aglow.
That with the lustre of falling snow.
See them ton on the prlckhMbedg*.
See their foam on the meadow's edge.
Blooming as fair by the roof of tkateh
As w here a prince** may lilt the latvJA,
Scattering odors put * and sweet
On the dusty road or -’he thronging street,
Enflllng the grasp of aiude desire
By the jealous watch oi ;he sentry brier.
Everywhere Is the fragrance poured;
Barth is a garden of the Lord.
Tilde ot the bower and light of the lane,
Tlie rose is timed to a mernr strain;
11 uilc and perfume, joy ana June—
Nothing la jangled or out of tune.
Bird atilt on tbe jeweled spray
Weaves the rose In his rollicking lay;
Child at sport by the cottage door
Never was half ro alad before;
\Vhich the lovelier, bud or rose,
Tbe clasp that hides, or the bloom that grows
Fairer ana bravet hour by hour,
Till we gaze entranced on the perfect flower?
Foraebody wiser than you or I,
Bear little questioner, must reply.
J. at I stoop to your rose-bud lips,
Cites through which innocent laugh ter trips—
I, as I bend with a kiss to meet
Tbe wistful eyes in their candor sweet,
Know that the bud so fresh and free
Is the dearest thing in this world to me.
Margaret E. Sangstcr In Harper's Young People'
TIE SilETHMR:
What Became of the Old Hair
Trunk.
BY BIBB ARP.
Uenron ttu hi. name—Tom Demon. He
moved to our county and purchntcd a anug
little farm in tho ▼alley about eight mile,
from tom. Ho had a wile and tbreo children
imd a negro man nntno Hick. When Demon
camo into tho ..ttlement thero was a tittle
cloud came with him—a cloud ovor hi.roputa.
lion tor honeaty. It waa whiapered around
that hia nabora who lived near hia old homo
Wero willing for him to go, for they raid that
liia hega and hia ahoap increased faater than
was natural and their’a decreased iuaomo
mysterious manner.
Dot still Denson was amombor of tho chnroh
SSd being gifted with languago would aomo-
times talk and exhort in meeting and lead in
prayer. Ho waa emotional and fervent and
soon mado trionds in bis new homo, and tho
I'.uiA-lct n-tlnfs .tnjtritSfc y-re«tl/iy9q ■'
woman of good fatuity, she was wofl fminnored
and industrious, but had e kind of pleading
pitiful expression ns though aha was living
under apprehension of trouble. Denson had
family prayer night and morning, and always
prayed loud and a good long timo; hia nogro
man Dick came regularly to prayer and said
omen and amen in good Mothodist iashlon,
hut Dick toon got under a cloud and it got
larger and blacker as time rolled on, for the
nabora said there was a rogue in the aettle-
ment. Chickens were mluing and tho mill
had been broken open, and Diek had carried
chickens to town to sell ono Saturday night.
IT he relationa between Dick aad hia master
Were very eenflding—much more so than was
usual between master and slave. They wero
companions and consulted with each other,
and Ibis was after while talked abont to
Beneon’a prejudice. It Diek stole chickens
and sold them who had the money? that was
the question. Some little debts had followed
lemon from his old home, and he had been
Rued in tho magistrate's court and had paid
them Hull) by little and it waa a mystery
Where he got the money lor his crop was not
harvested and ho had nothing to sail. Hut
Btill Denton got along and mat the brothoron
on the Sabbath with a cheerful iaee and
prayed and exhorted as usual. There it one
other (act, an important fact that mnat bo
mentioned. Denson owed a balanco ol five
hundred dollar* of purchase money upon bit
place and had been suod ior it in the circuit
court.
Three miles below him farther down in the
Talley lived a respectable old gentleman whose
Same was Montague. He had raittd a
anmerom family, but five ol his tost aad at
many daughters were all married and most ot
them bed settled in tho naborhood and were
established and comfortable upon fardis the
old gentleman had given them, for be was
S uite wealthy. He was a solid man of primi-
vo habile, a member of the Freebytcrian
church and exemplary in all bit eonduct
Raving tho suspicion that ha waa a little too
fond ottold, and when ha loaned it exacted too
high a rate of interoat. He lived ofi ot hle“Iu
trust," a. be called it, and ha firmly believed
that hia gold waa hi.. Uls loan. w«r< general-
ly made to thrifty prosperous man, bat tb.
poor and th, distressed were turned awty
with the assertion that he did not hare a coat
In tho world. He called bis pocket tbe world
but bis money was kept in an old hair trank.
The weight of many years fatd dimmed the
old man's light and almost stopped np hit
cert. Hit aged wife was alto deal, bat other
(rise they were In good health and almost
every Sunday there was a gathering thereof
children and grand children and the old
cauple were going down to the grave most
happily considering their wants and their
ambition. Sometimes they had one or more of
their numerous posterity to stay over night
with them, but most generally tb.y were
alone in tbe great big bouse, and the old man's
cold was in the old hair trunk under his bed.
Hia t umerena slaves and domestic servant*
eecupicd the esbint close by. They were
faith ul and obedient, for moat of them had
been burn in hi. houe.hold and knew no king
imt "muter" and aoquetn but “old mUtU,"
and they were prond of hia wealth and hi.
** ffcwr.iny morning in th. ipring of tb. yesr
there we. a wild alarm in the Montague
household. The old hair truak waa gone. Mr.
Hoots sue never failed to give a glance that
way nbenhesnwe. ’* *‘ l *
their cabins,for it was not yet sunrise, and tbe
wild panic began. The ball was opened,
“Fore Uoddeyt stole old master’s trunx, fore
God doy is— tuk it outen de winder—lore God
dey did." Dun Dob,run Jesse, run Jake, run
children, run for mas John and mas Tom and
mss George—run for everybody and tell 'em
come quick—run honey,dont stop nary mlnlt."
And they did run. In less than an hour tho
children and many nabors came in hot baste:
some on loot and tome on horseback, and ail
wild wltb desperate energy to catch tno rob
bers. It did not take long to track them
through the garden aad over the garden foaee
end through the cotton patch to tho woods
tbet bordered tbe clearing. And there in the
undergrowth of oak and pine bushes was tho
trunk—tbe old hair trunk. It was wldo open
and there waa no more money in it than thero
waa in tbe eld man’s "world.” Hissoven
theusend dollars in gold wts gone. He had
counted it all tho day before and the week be
fore and knew tbe emount. The old man tot
tered feebly to the sceno and cried. The
shock was too much for him. Hit daughters
led him baek sorrowfully to the house, and ea
he bowed along ho shook his head and ex
claimed “Benson I Tom Benson did it," and
he kept up the refrain, and as tbe crowd ptis.
cd to and fro Benson was In every tongue and
the darkeys took it up and cried “Benson" on
tho run.
Old Mr. Montagne had a reason for suspect
ing Denton. About two weeks before the rob
bery Denson called ono morning and requested
a lesn of fivo hundred dollars, wherewith to
lilt that mortgage off of hi. land and .ava it
from sale under tho sheriff*, hammer. Ho
pleaded hi. great necessity in touching lan
guage, and when the old man declared ho did
not havo a cent in tho "world” ho grew
desperate with disappointment, and as ho rose
to go pointtd his finger at him and said: "I
know you have got it and ten times over and
God Almighty will curse you with it yet be
fore you die," and bo left him greatly irri
tated.
Tho old man had known somewhat of
Benson long yoart beforo when they both lived
in the same county, and he did not like him.
Denson had served on a jury once when the
old man had a esse In court and the jury
found against him one plea of usury and the
old man lost hit "intrust." lie did not like
his methods nor bis Methodism. Hocoula
not think of tny other man in all his acquain
tance who was mean enough and smart
enough to commit the robbery, and outaido ot
this acquaintance it was not possiblo for any
one to know be had any money or where the
trunk waa kept. And Dick, the black rascal,
Diek htd visited Mr. Montague's promises
more than once on Sundays, amLhad come up
to the old lady’s deer and saluteff her and ho
could have teen the trank under the bed and
told hit mister whero it wss.
Thus tho account stood, and whllo the more
thoughtful nabors wero looking around the
trank in tbe woods, they suddenly discovered
tracks—tracks of a horse and a mule. They
found where the animals had been hitchou
while tho robbera went alter the trunk, and
vsry near by where the mulo was lied, there
It was his habit as fixsd
as putting on bis garments. He thought at
Crtt that his old eyss deceived him and ho
stooped down and fait for it with outstretched
band. Hastily droning himself be looked the
zoom .gain and discovered a window up—a
back window that looked upon tha garden. It
bad not been rated lor months. Hia wifi, bad
noticed hi. mussel menser and got up hastily
and heard his excited voice and saw hia misery
aihe exclaimed "gone—itgone—the trunk,
look at tba window,” and ha tank down in
pitiful despair. Tba old lady hurried to the
open window and looked open tbe ground and
Raw nothing but a box—an old hex that the
robber bad stood upon. Tottering to the door
Rhe screamed fcr the servants and the/ came
and thev screamed loo and sounded the alarm;
then came the tegroea generally from out
If about
tree high with a slanting
It had been long dono and tho top edgo was
hard and dry and sharpo and there on tho
point ollt was a little patch of sorrel hair.
Tho mulo hid skinned his leg and left the
mark behind. This discovery settled it end
removed all doubts, for Denson had a bay
hone and a sorrel mule. Henson and Dies
were the robbers.
• * v w-h to tried .totto trd>w c.daiarmiPn
tbo :p»i. mofnlx^abl theXoiHagliW^ohMAM.i,:
end (heir resoluto nabors mounted their stood*
end went galloping up tho valley road to Bou
ton’s liouBO. Without ceremony or invitation
they entered hia stablo lot and broughtout tbs
lorrel mule, and on close inspection found a
skinned piaco on his knro, and tho sorrel hair
was all of a color. Bonion and Diek were
i hero and looked on with aniasement, either
Reigned or real. Poor Mrs. Benson stood ia
her door with clasped hands, and looked the
picture of alarm and despair. Tho children
[stood by tb.ir mother and clung to hor gar-
mints ns they looked in her face and then at
the crowd of deiperato men, who had invadod
tho sacred precincts ot their home.
The leader of the crowd mado a motion to
his companions and uttered between his teeth
"taka them." Denson and Diek were seised
and tied and csrried hastily away. They wero
mounted upon the mule and tho bay, and the
party were soon for beyond tbe cries and
•bricks of mother and children. An hour's
f ride found them in a lonely dell back of tbe
Montaguo farm, and there thoy dismounted
and prepared their victims for confession and
rciituatiou,or otherwise for tbe scourge. It was
in vain that Benton and Dick protested their
innecence and plied for meroy. They wero
stripped and pinioned to two trees not fir from
etch other, and as stroke after stroke brought
tbe warm blood spurting from their veins they
called upon God lor mercy, for man had none.
"Oh, my God,” groaned Denson u the tears
ran down bts face. "Oh, Maa Tom dey it
kii!]n'ofmo,”tcr<amedDick. "Be a man, Dick,
for Jesus sake," replied Benson; and » tho
scourge went on until the avengers began to
fear tur the lives of their victims and bald a
whispered consultation. One of the more con
siderate walked awsy quietly and carelessly
and took another look at the sear on the mule.
Returning he talked to Denson and told him
how much batter It would be ior him to give
up the gold, end promised that he should not
bo prosecuted if be would do so, but Benson
maintained hie innocence with prayers and
tesra, and the avengers were outdone. Salt
and water had been brought to garnish their
wounds, and half dead with pain the victims
were remounted and allowed to go borne. It
was a sad rtturu to a ladder bsarthalone.
During tbe next lew weeks while Benson and
Dick were being tenderly nursed and were
slowly recovering,this bold end daring robbery
robbery and burglary in the night time. Ben
son end Dick wero arrested, and for lack ot
friends wero pnt in jail. In duo timo BonsOfl
was put on trial. An able counselor and do.
quent advocate was employed by him—a
lawyer who had doubts of his guilt and sym
patuized with hia misfortune. Tho prosocu
lion was vigorously urged and aa vigorously
defended, mid rcs".'iLiv.'m averdiit ot guilty,
lor tho patch of sorrel hair was in tho way aud
proved fatal to liberty. The caso was carried
to tbe supremo court of tho state, aud the ver
dict cfiirined and Bcsscn was scntoncod to tho
penitentiary for twenty years. Alas,for the
broken-hearted wife and w
dren. The UtUe farm wa
sold for costs of the prosecution.
Tho father went oil in chalno ono way
aad his wife and children anotbor. Thoy re
moved to Mississippi wbero Mrs. Denson had
kindred, who though they were poor gave lnr
a kind aid welcome home.
Denson had served tbreo years of his term,
He was growing old and prematurely gray,
and wss known among the convictc ns Jere
miah, for his lamentations wero aad and fre
quent. He grieved most of .11 because of tho
taint that his conviction entailed upon hi.'
children, and never failed to assert his inno
cence to visitors. Ono day about thia time hia
cenneel received a loiter—a very remarkable
Utter, written and eigned by a ruaa whoso
name is Robinson. It was written in a dun
ged— tbe dungeon of a jail in a distant county
in thia eteto. It was well written and was
scholarly in languago, aud said in substance
that the writer was charged with robbery and
burglary, and the evidence waseonolusiveani
bo was only waiting tho setting oi tbe court »<
pleed guilty and begin tbe term of hia service
of twenty years in ttto penitentiary. But there
wss a men thire by tho name of Denson whom
bo did not want to meet, for Benson wss aerv
ing and suffering for a crime he did nut com
mit, and if hie counsel would visit the writer
sufficient evidence would be furnished to
establish hia innocence. The letter was or
such a character as to merit confidence and
demand immediate attention. The counsel
lost no timo in making tho journey; rnhou he
arrivid and was admitted to the prisoner’s crII
he foukd a gentleman of culture and imprei-
live manner—a man who looked more like a
poetlhen a felon. He wss surrounded by
many evidences of refinement, Shakspciro
and Dyrcn and various novels were upon his
table. Die clothing was of fine quality and
sat well upon his well formed person. Tbe
counsel wss not long in recoivlng his confes
sion, for it wts a confession or bis own guilt in
committing tbe Montague robbery. Uew.u
educated a physician he said and received his
diploma from a Virginia college. In bis youth
be bad became laacinated with the romaue i
that portrayed a brigand’* life, and after re
moving to Bt. Loula ho wu induced by soma
leDowa of kindred minda to join in a series ,f
advinturcs, whoroby tho rich and miserly
could be made to disgorge, and tha poor and
needy be lifted up. “We have” laid he, “di’-
tributed thousands and thonaanda of dollarglu
Ibia way and saved but little for ourselves, for
we enjoyed tho excitement and peril of u-.c
calling mcro than wo enjoyed the booty. A
few veers ego our line of eervico wae from S ,
Bonis tu I’ensacola, and tho old maa Monti.--, -
wss directly on tho route. Wo learned t
ho wea a miser and that he hoarded his g-ivif
Thowcck beforo he waa robbed my pal on i
stayed over night with him, for ho was
remained unaccounted for and wos a weight in
ecalo of evidence—a weignt not ns heavy ns tiro
little patch of sorrel hair, but with both to
gether his conviction wss settled.
Kext morning, which waa Sunday, the
counsel on both sides went down to Mon
tague's. Sons sud aont-in-Uw had gathered
there aa usual to spend the day and comfort
the aged ancestors. In due time the lawyers
mado known their mission and exhibited all
their proofs. The travelers book waa eaJled
for, and there at tho top ol a page was Win
Tht mpson'a name, and tbe apolllug waa just
aa it waa sworu to and tho dato was correct,
and the half billa were identified, for iue old
men had made a cross mark upon the corner
cf facb. The children wero all reluctantly
c -i.vir.cril, but the old man ehook his head
solemnly and declared It ali a lawyer’s trick,
"ifthelravelcre took tny money," said ho,
"Denaon told them where it waa, and Benton
helped them.” He refined utterly to sign a
petition to tb~ ‘ ’ —
but the fonti
an assurance that Benson’s cei
advise or take a fee to aue or prosecute them
for damagea, for by thia time it,Waa pretty well
knewn who the mtaked men were.
Becson’a attorney proceeded next day to
Mllledgetillc, which wu then tho auto
rapital.Uowell Cobb waa tbe governor—a man
of great tenderness of heart, and when tho
whole cue was made folly known to him be
said with much felling: “Tbe poor old min;
what sufferings of mind and body bo has en
dured. I have noticed him every time I bare
visited the convicts, and woadered if there waa
net possibly aomo mistake. He had a plead
ing and heart broken look. Let us go them at
once and release him.”
When the waraen called Denson to thorn, it
wss with a choking uttorance that the govenor
undo known their miaalon. It came upon
tbe peer man with a shook ot aurpriso and joy
that sunk him to bia knees, and he wept ilka a
child. "Tho Lord be praised,’’ he exclaimed.
"I laid that though Ilo alay mo yet would 1
trnat in Dim. Oh, my wile and my ohildron—
thank God, thank God, for His inurcy endur.th
fidever." Hia rhapsody knew no hounds, and
his follow prisoners stopped their work to
listen and to wonder. Denson’s striped gsr-
menls wero soon discarded and he wu clothod
in a decent citisen; dress; with glad emotion
he bade good-byo to all, taking each by the
hand and telling them to trait in God and do
right. On arriving at his county town where
be was tried and convicted be spent a day in
meeting the few friends hojbed there, and then
with the means lurnished by the govenor ami
bis counsel continued bis journey to MUsls-
slppi la search of his family,
bt me six months aiterwards his counsel wero
nrprticd by an unexpected visit from him.
Ife looked once more like a man, and was
clean shaved and well crested and had less
stoop in hie broad shoulders than whon they
it.w him last. It did not take him long to din-
cioso his business. He had a letter from tn
sminent lawyer of Mississippi, advising a suit
io be brought in the United States court against
bis lynchers tbe Montagues and their clan for
damages. Uls former counsel, of courso,
loa’a naborhood wu almost solid against him.
They believed in hia guilt. As soon u he wu
able to ride in a buggy he went to town with*
his wife end there sent for tbs sheriff and paid
off that mortgage with fire hundred dollars in
gold. This capped the climax. Thia mada
the Montagues desperate- The night after-
wsrde filteen masked and mounted men visited
bis house sgain, and Mixing Hanson and Dick
gigged and tied and blindfolded them and
took them away to part# unknown. They
were kept hidden for a week, and were alter
nately whipped and atsrved, and every day
brought new horrors. Benson endured it all
wiih htroism, but Dick gave up repeatedly,
and when under the excratiating luh would
piomiM to tell it all if tnsy would slop. Then
be would confect hia guilt and declare that
i made him go, and Mu Tom had de
money, but be didn’t know whar he bid it.
■Now Dick—now Dick,’’ Benson would sty,
’speak the truth if they kill you—you know
that aint so, is it Dick? would you tall a lie on
scut best friend Dick?" And Dick would re
ply : "oh, Mu Tom dey will kill me if I dsnt
tell tnmfin.” As a lut retort they built up a
biuibheap and laid their victima on it and sat
it on fire. The lima looped quickly through
tbe dry fagots and Heked their clothes, aud
next tneir akin, and they ware lustily pulled
off the heap and their boning garments
drenched with water, and stiU they gave no
sign. This wu tha last, and tha vteUmi were
still alive. They were kept two more days to
recover tha lile that wu nearly gone, and then
during the dsrkneke of the following night
were returned again to their home.
Soma two months altar this tha circuit court
convened in the county town, ami certain
members of tbe Montague family attended and
went before tha grand jury. They exhibited
tba patch nf sorrel hair and recited the other
triuenese of guilt, and procured a true biU h:
iiayca over men* wun mu. ior noww > >
irmcd.io i■r,i«miiiin£trnv»"' r:. J wa ' -
a blooded Kentucky more aud my compm.
wss woll mounted on a fiuo Jargn ; • rrei
That night we made obsorvitioi.
xdflMflfcjnuto brcukiaet » gave iSS '
twenty dolJar gold piece to pay our ,
caw fie was plotted to hnndfo it. I saw him
go to his bed-room end unlock tho old hair
trunk and get tho change, and ho had to un
tie a bag of coin to get it; then ho produced a
i mill old lut her bound book which he said
was his travelers book. Indeed it had ita namo
rndely written upon tbe cover. He Hiked our
names, end 1 gave him mine as William
Thompson, of Kentucky. Ho wroto it down
with a pencil at the top of n page, and e
my name without an “h" or a "p
marked it “paid" end foil out tho "i” in that
word. 1 remember theso things distinctly,
We traveled on to n little villsgo a few mlfos
awsy and remained there untU tbe dark of the
moon. Wo left one evening under pretence of
visiting eomo friends in tbe country and than
continuing our journey southward, but by the
time it was dark we reverted our course, end
by ten o’clock bad passed old Montague’s
bc-usc, and secreted ourselves in tbe woods a
ajquartcr of a mile back. Tboro wo waited
until tbe hour when deep sleep Islletb upon
man. With our dark lantern it waa easy to
find cor way to tbe house and the window,
end still easier in our stockings to take the
trunk train under the bed where two old deaf
J i.non* wero sleeping. Now in thst trunk wo
ouail tho seven thousand dollars in gold, and
wo found tho two left hand halves oi two one
hundred dollar bills on tbo Bank of tho Stato
of Georgia. Tbeso two halves I hare kept and
they will be sent you in a few days. They are
marked 1<iter A, end one is numbered 1090,
and tbe other 3097. 1 bare here tho supreme
couit report, of this state that oontains tho
sworn testimony of old min Montague,
and be does not mention these bills.
He says he lots nothing but gold;
but he did, and ho knew he did, end
no doubt put tbo officers ol tbo bank upon
notice. I suppose be had sent off the other
bahts in a letter and was waiting to hear
from them before he sent these. Now, tny dear
sir, what more do you want? is this not
enough to releiu Demon?”
It surely is, said tho counsel. Ho ssnt tha
jailer for a magistrate and had Dr. Itobinson
sworn to bis confession, and wu preparing to
leave when tho doctor arau and said! “One
thing more, uiy dear nr. I havo been here
long enough to reviow my Ufa and consider my
great mistake. I have not done bodily bann
so any ono ’ ' ’—”
but I here
child. Sbehaa
her grandmother, and they know nothing of
my manner or Ilia. It has bean two years
lineal saw them, but thev have not suffered
for anything. My gold watch and chain Is
vrry valuable, and I will hero it ssnt you so
that juu may send it to bsi, I shall never see
her sgain," and his voice trembled and fell u
be uttered the last sentence.
The counsel learned that Robinson had late
ly robbed an old man la that naborhood of
four thousand dollars and bad blundered
in his boldness, for ho wu punned, surround.
ed and caught with the money on his parson.
Tha twenty years sentence would about wind
up his life, and he knew it aad was resigned
to his fate. He had taken bis ehances and
lost.
In a ftw days after the attorney returned to
hia home he received a letter enduing the
half bills. The letter wu mailed in Louis
ville, Ky., and said this only: "by direction of
my friend I enclose you them half bills.”
Thero was no signature. He immediately
interviewed Montague's attorneys and anbmit-
ted everything to them. They began tbe
peroral of tho locg contusion with a earelsu
It credulity, but u they read along a change
earn# over them—a change from doubt to con
viction, and when tha half bills were exhibited
tho eider attorney said with emotion: "He It
innocent—no man knew of thou half billa
but Mr. Montagna and myself—I charged bins
to kiep it a secret, for I thought the robber
would seek to collect them from the bask and
it would give us a clue to tba gold.” Let it be
meotioced here that on tba trial of Benson ha
was unable to prove tbe fact that Mrs. Ben-
son’s father had sent her the five hundred dol
lars that saved tba farm from sale. Hs was
old and bed-ridden nnd could not attend
court, for be lived n hundred miles nway and
the filerd who brought tbe money wu on bis
way to the neat end could not be beard from
in time. So the goll that be paid the sheriff
lane, i nave not none ocuuy narin
> in pursuing my unlawful avoeatiou
s brought dishonor upon my only
is liae no mother, and ia living with
declined his case which was no more than ho
axbaetad, and he went te Marietta where the
federal court waa held, aud there procured tbo
services of an ablo jurist who at oico filed
fifteen separate actions against flltcon men,
and in each action had tho othor fourteen sum
moned as witness by tho United States msr-
,skol. Rich wen was suod for ten thousand
dollars damages for hie arre t and Imprlson-
-’ meet aud mol treatnont whllo tboir prisouor.
Whot n consternation win thore in tlio M-
W.'.^t-r a id'MMfcp
dry bones! 1111111 whut RRSIWafti'
limy hurry to town aud neck conforouco with
fhelr lawyers! But thoy found little comfort.
Tho lawyers socmed holjdcn i, for thoy know
thojpower and tho rigor of tho folorsl court.
They knew tho inflexible Integrity and tho
stern just'eo of tha old judge who prodded
and they know tho ability and vigor of Bin-
son’s counsel. After much consultation it was
K ccd thst tho Montaguo lawyers should visit
rlctta, and if possible, effect a compromise
and Uks tbo cues out ol court.
In this thoy succeeded. Fifteen thousand
dollars wss paid over te Bauson’s counsel
without dolsy. Ho took ono third oi it for Ills
fee and Bonion returned to his loinily with ten
thousand dollars in his pocket. With this sum
ho purchased another farm and wao living
happily with bis wile and children whoa last
heard from. And Diek was thero—Dick, who
wu roleuod without trial, bad followed bis
mislreas and wu her faithful and trustly
friend during his msstcr's imprisonment. Wo
do not know but can only imsgino how ho re.
joiced with hor and her children whon Benson
surprised thn long borcovod household with
bis nreMuco. |
But what of Dr. Boblnson, tha bold aniH
dashing brigand—tho dupo ol such rominoss
ts Jack 6boppberd and tho B
and tbo Italian bsudlt. In du I
sent to tho psnifontiarv for twsnty years. His
culture end hia bearing and rood conduct soon
gave him promincnco and favor with the
warden. Ho gave tho convicts good advice
end sot thorn n good example. Ho organized
a Eebbsih school and booarno fond of tha scrip-
fares. Ho sought to niako amends for his put
conduct by reclaiming the bod men within tho
prison wails. Time and sgain he had sd
iunitleotocscRpobuthowouidnot u;o
Howie urged to ssk for a pardon from tho
S ivsnor but he refused, rail even intimated
lat ho would not accept It if offered to hlmfi
Hor he declared ho had a miaalon to iccornpli-di
end there was work for bln: to do that nobody
else would do
Time rolled on—Robinson had boon iu sir*
vice about three years. Ho had ministered
liko a good fJsmaritan among his follow
prisoners. Ha nursed them when sick, and
though there was a nominal physlclsn who
wu paid by the government, Dr. Robinson
was the real on* who used nil professional
[skill and knowledge among thorn.
lAbnut this tima tba war Drake out botween
i he states, and when a lew josh alter Sherman
made his march to the tea aod wu foat ap
proaching Milladgevllle, Governor Brown
went down to the penitentiary and mada tho
convict! a spaeeb. He told them oi the
wrongs our people had suffered, and oi tbs In
vasion ol our state by armed forces, who were
burning end dcetrqying evesything in thsir
B sth. He pictured to them the niter desola-
on of those whom Sherman left behind him,
and how helpleu women and cbildreo were
Seeing lor their livae to escape the brutality ol
foreign hirelings. He told them he wu go
ing to discharge them all and turn ths-n on*,
and that it did not follow that they ware not
patriot* because they were convicts. And he
nojedend believed they would *t»ad up,
fight for end defend their state and their
people and kindred.
With a wild hurrah Dr. Robinson threw op
his hot end shouted: “To arms, to arms re
brave.” He bad tho ksttla dram beatjor
volunteers, and organised a company onto
men acd wu unanimously elected captein.
Their stripes were discarded and soldiers
VICTOR HUGO DEAD.
THE LAST END OF THE GREAT
FRENCHMAN.
An Attendant Prevent* tho Otter of Spiritual AaaUU
U.M from He aohlng tho Dying Man- Tho Af
ghan DIaputo-TfcO English In Kffypt-
Other Old World Newo Kotos.
THE TRACKS OF CBIUE.
Taeii, 22,—Viclor Hugo tiled at hal
ratt one. It is roporUd that M. Hugo bo<
queathed bi*.manuscripts to Franed, and that
be left ii to ihe republic to select a burial
place for hia renvaina, and to dooido as to tho
form of his burial*
Tho ministry will request tho chamber of
deputies to adjourn ns a token of rospock to the
memory of tho deceased.
Victor Hugo’s condition waa 10 manifestly
worse this morning that hia death waa regard
cd aa certain to lake piaco wikhin a few hours.
When ibis fact becamo known, Cardinal Oui-
bert, archbishop of Paris, aonk specially to
Hugo's residence, olTering io visit him and
administer spiritual aid and tho ritei of tho
Catholic church. M. Lockroy, the poet’s son-
in-law, who waa In attondanco at the death
bed when tho cardinal’s protror came, replied
fer Hugo, declining with thauki tho sroh-
biehop'e Under saying for the dying mant
I, bat he docs
their hands, and they marebad forth freemen
aad patriots, and joined tbe state troops and
fought manfully and well, bnt their efforts
were al] in rain to irmt tbe onward march of
tbe foe. When Governor Brows resumed the
cccnpation of the state capUal»and the war waa
over Dr. Robinson returned singly and alone
to serve out hia ten trace, bnt wai refused ad
mittance. *»Ko air/* said tbe governor with
tench feeling. °Ho, eir, yott have no boaiaeas
there,doctor, for your patients are ell gone."
A few years ego the writer of thl» reminis-
croce b«d a letter irom a friend fa St*
#, My t ffice,” as!d he, “ft next door to th«.s of
Dr. Robinson, well known to yon as ilo a-
tagLe’s rcbker. Ho la practicing hie wrote*
•Ira with MteeeM la the city. liin daughter is
bepp'ly married, and be iius wi‘#fl bur and U
highly esteemed.’**
“Victor Hugo it expecting doalh k
not desire the terricet of a priest. 1
The governmet proposes a civil funoral for
Victor Hugo at tbo expense of tho state. Tho
i twspapcrs of Faria appear in mourning this
evening. It is believed tho funeral will bo
the grandest seen in Franco for a contury.
In tbe senato M. Leroyor doliverod
a eulogy on Hugo. Tho spoakor
raid that tor tho past sixty years Victor Hugo
bid been tho admiration of Franco and tno
world. He had now entered immortality.
His glory belonged to no party but to ail men.
Frnr.o Minister Brlsaon delivered an eulogy
in the chamber of deputies. Ho said tho
whole nation mourned tho loss of Victor
Hugo, and moved that tho funeral of tho poet
bo conducted at the stale’s expease. Tho
motion wss greeted with applsnso. The sen
ate and iba chamber adjourned in rospoct to
the death of Victor Hugo.
M. Tlouquct, president of tho chamber of
deputies, has requested Collaat, tho minister of
tho interior, to allow Hugo’s coffin to bo
pieced under tho arc do triompho for
twenty-four hours. Tho municipal
cfuncil bos expressed tho wish that tho re
mains bo intrnod in tho Farthonon. This wish
will bo considered by tho council of ministers
to-morrow. Tho donth of Hugo dwaris ovory
other subject, political aa well as social.
A storm was raging whon Victor Uugodiad.
Tho newa of tho death was announced to tho
eisimbled crowd by Victorian Bardou. Tho
dying man lay in a tranco for somo hours bo-
foro tho end. Ho awoko suddenly, raieod hia
head, gazed at his family nnd friends standing
around tho bed, and sank back lifol^ss.
When tho death waa nnnouncod, thero was
an ind«cent rush of ronortora to tho Iiouso, and
tl o servants wero obliged to royol thorn. M.
J.ockioy closed tho front door, lowing a tablo
in ibo street for visiting cards. Tho body has
hern embalmed. Immense quautilii's of
flowers arc arriving at his residonco. Half of
Juh f..rtur.cot frmu'S in bequeathed
by Hugo to his daughter. Adoio, who is in a
lunatic asylum. It wua Hugo’s wish that his
tors fihfuld bo/oaftcr join in
/ictor Hugo’s houEO werotbrongod with nco
pio fast night up to r lato hour. A rogialorhad
been placed ouUido tho houso aud tno people
waited for houra for an opportunity to inscribe
tboir nsmes. Tbs crowd milntalntia a ravarant
mJcdco during tha antlra tima, oonvaraation
being carried on in bushed tones. Tho offi
cial deputation appointed by tho academy to
attend tho funeral will consist ot the last tour
members elected to tbe “Forty Immortals' 1
Those aro Messieurs Faillcron, Mazndo, Coppoo
and Dehfsseps. Tho clorical papors deuouaco
AT. Lockroy for withholding the Archbishop
<• i:ilurt’n letter from thn dying )»<•<•♦.. Tiioy
claim that tho answer returned by M. Lockroy
was entirely unauthorized, nnd thoy think
that had M. Hugo scon tbo archbishop’s loiter
le might havo accepted tho religious aorvices
which were thereinThu featoraa o
the dead man, which had boon distorted with
pain during his last houra of auiroring, havo
since bis death resumed their wonted expres
sion of calm serenity.
roiBiox orixioxs or nuao.
Bbslir, May 23.—'Tha newa ol Vlotor
Hugo's death was received hare with numer
ous expressions of grief and sympathy on tbo
part of educated Germans. Theso attribute
Hugo’s anti German feeling to r spirit of gen
uine patriotism.
Vikama, May 2.1—The newa of Viator Hu
go’s death has created a deep impression of
grial among all classes. It is expected that
various literary and artistic societies will send
delegates to his funeral.
Loadox, May 23.—Tho Time* dovotes an
editorial article to tho death of Victor Hngo.
In thia it says:
Tbl* event Is ono that touches tho wholo civil*
lud world. Victor Jingo was, hr common con-
■cot, tbepreatrm poet sfore Goethe. Ta all, cvn
to the realists In llbnatnre, thii chief of rouantl*
— r ardad different-
donbtUes mod-
nine time ad*
pport*
Victor Hugodid not attain the highest literary
rank, but be was a generous and magnUloent
ivilsi. whose music whi long haunt tbo ears of
mankind.
Victor Hugo wished that bis body should be
bnried by the remains of hia wife and daugh
ter in a little graveyard of tbo parish church
of Villa Quit r, on tne right bank of tho river
Seine, half way between It >uen and Ham.
This with will be " * *
carried out, unless tha gov*
ernrnent of France, to which Hugo left tbo
cntlro control of tbe question of hie burial, de
cide to have the poet’s remains interred in tho
Fantbeon. In the chamber of deputies this
afternoon, M. Floquet delivered an eloquent
eulogy upon Hugo. M. Brlsaon, French
prime minister, proposed a grant by italo of
H,0OO to defray the ordinary expenses of tho
iuncral. I’ropoial waa at onee adopted by
deputies by a vote of 416 to S. M. do
Lalarge moved that tho I’antheon be aeculaa-
lud In order that Victor Hugo might bo
buried there. Urgency was voted for this
motion by ballot of 22 j to 114.
M. AlUin Targe,minister for tho interior,
aakea the deputies to postpone the voto on tho
previous question until tho noxt sitting of the
chamber. Tha motion of M. DeLa Forge,
waa then referred to a committee, and tho
chamber of deputies adjourned until Tuesday
» | I n.ark of reap* cl tu tins deudj ot. Tho
Fret eh senate subsequently approved voto of
f4.C*0 for funeral expenses. Tne funeral will
taka place next Friday.
Crowds are still (locking to tbe late resi
dence of Victor Hngo depositing wreaths of
Immortals.
i Targe, minister of tha interior,
_ zed tha friends of Victor Hugo, to
allow tbe poet’a remains to lie in atate for three
days under the are de triomphe. The body
will be conveyed thither to-morrow and placed
lb a catafalque. Hugo bequeathed $10,000 b>
tbe poor. He left a request that h*i
body should be conveyed to t’ne
grave In a “pauper beam’* without say re-
ligicus rites. In a document containing this
n quest Hugo affirms hia belief in Hod- A
fund tor a national maanmrat to tne dead
ixat baa ainady been opened. It ts notdeA*
ni*e)y derided when tbe ftmara) of Victor
Hugo w 111 cccur, bnt it will probably nd take
r!*c# htftre Wcdneaday,
No Original Ideas Among Crtm!na!s~Grlme
Averages Up Like tho WUont Crop.
From tho Detroit Freo Prct/.
“The study of crime brings forth some cu
rious faetta,” observed an old detective, tho
other day. “Whllo you may know juet how
& certain shot in billiards ought to boTnade,
it may not be possible to make it successfully,
go with our business. Wo may bo ablo to
-pick up all tho clues in a murder cose, but
tho next thing is to catch tho mnrderor."
“ What aro your curious facts?’’
•U>no of them ia that all criminals commit
or lino alter certain rules. It h ri rely, iu 1 1,
that you And a crook working on an original
idea. Tho burglar works alter the stylo of
100 years ago. Tho tbiof has no now Ideas.
All our murders aro committed after what
might bo called tho old fashioned way. I
sometimes wish somo offender would dorelop
something ilo win law breaking. For inslanco,
I can point you to a caao whero as niauy as
thirteen attempts havo boen mado to ontor a
certain resilience within the last two years, ■
and each attempt at the aamo window with
tho rnmo tools. Jsu’t that monotonous?
“Another of tho curious facts is that crime
arciogcB up with as much certainty ai tho
weather or tho crops. If it gains one month
it will logo tho noxt. If it falls ofi in ono sea
son it will piok up at anotbor, ao that your
figures for ono year will notvary greatly from
another, except there aro special reasons for
it. Wo send about so many criminola to prison
each year; about so many givo us tho slip;
about co many commit their first offouso,
havo a cioso ahavo from stato prison aad aro
■* *■’* *'idlng honost lives.
s fact fa tho^shortsfghtodnoss
of criminals, oven whon crlmo is deliberately
planned. In a murder caso in tho interior of
ilir fliiti' hiPt year you r. member tl.o murderer
claimed that somo ono roachcd into tho bed
room window and hit ills wife with a club, tho
blew causing her death. In liis confession,
made after four or fivo days, ho acknowledged
that ho had bcon planning tho crimo for
weeks. Now soo now blind ho was. Tho
window-cash was nailed down at
each corner. Ho broko off ono nail
and loft tho other I Ho wns made to boo
that no inon, no-matter wliat his hoight,
could havo reached into tho window tar
enough to atriko anyono on tho bod, ovon wltb
ahoo-handle. In planning hia porlcct safety
he committed half a dozen ot tho stupidest
blunders ono ever rend of.
Take tbo caso ot tho averngo burglar. It
comes to ho known around Ills usual haunts
that ho is broko for cash. Indeed, ho volun
teers tho information himself, makes a haul
and returns to givo himself dead away by his
reckless extravagance.
“It lithe aamo with a common tbiof. If
he would steal and hido his plunder fir nwhiio
ho would givo us inoro bard work, but tho
idea with him scorns to bo that if ho is not
nabbed in tbo very act bo has nothing to fear.
Ho can’t wait to disposo of his plunder, and
hia manner of offering it for salo is a givo-
oway in itfcll. Tho old thief Icarus caution,
ofcouino, but tho nldost of thorn drop foot
prints hero and thero.
“Boo Low easy it is to drawn war man of
crlmo I Tho bond robber will sooner or intor
seek to negotiate with bankors or brokers.
The store robber will work bfa silks and vol-
vets off at auction. Ho may not jiorsonally,
but his ‘fonco’ will. Tho clork or cashier, who
is embezzling from $1,000 to $5,000 per year,
will spend it m wine, cards, horses and 9’"
’* Wb.-U h«AB*ko4 « i
lafiand QivMB'Va,
The thief who s
silver pitcher, garden hosa or other arti<)&|
wants the eash for it right awuy, and ya*
moy figuro on turning him up at somo socond-
l)i*i.<11 lorot.r tho pawnbroker’s.
"Tho ruts of crimo aro ns plain as tho iron
tracks of a railroad. You can figure to a
moral certainty what a criminal should do
nr.d will do, but that isn’t catching him.
Thero hasn’t been a murder committal In
Michigan for twenty years without my
feeling monillv certain ns to tho inurderor,
hut whut I feel nnd proof* to convict aro two
different matters.
"And ono of tho curious facts i« that
many criminals givo thomsolvos away. Not
ono man in thirty can commit murder with-
cut eventually sharing his aocret with somo
one. Tho burdon of guilt scorns too groat for
ono pair of shoulders.
"Phipps, who was hung at Sandwich,
schemed overy way to break Jail, and risked
his li/e to get out of Canada, but ho hadn't
hod his liberty twenty.four houra beforo
ho wonted to givo himself
up. Ho Jioaded for the fur west,
but stopped at Fuilman in disgimt, and
actually took pains tolotthreo or lour indi
viduals know who ho was. Bomo criminals
will overdo thi* tiling, and by tho vohemncce
ol their protestations excite suspicion. Others
show guilty by timidity,and vetotborsby their
show of indifference or cheek. I have picked
up an * Header '•«» the street with n > other duo
than his manner of glancing at his follow po*
dcstrisns. I havo arrested others who looked
everybody In tho face as frankly as If they
felt it a crlmo to steal a strawberry. Thoy
wero overdoing the thing by too much frank*
ness.
“Tell mo to day the namo of a man in any
certain business whom you havo reason to be-
liovo it bard up and cannot pull through his
financial straits, and 1 can toll you pretty
closely as to what will result. It no bolongs
to a certain class thore will bo an honest as
signment. If to another cortain class thore
will Lo a bogus chattel mortgage, or soma of
the stock will bo smuggled away. If to a
third, thero will bo an incoadi&ry flro to secure
tho insurance. You can count on thoso ruts
in crime aa certainly ai upon tho ismodi, but
tbo criminal who follows them very often goto
to tho end of the furrow and takes a now de
parture before ho can bo ovortakon."
OLD AGE IN BLBBRT.
uGrici auu wun
Some Itemarfcable ILxausiilea o£ Longevity—
li Healthy County.
From the Elbert on, Ga., Leader.
It was tho remark of General Toombs that
tbo “Elbertcounty people lived longer than
any within bis knowledge.”
Harmon Lovingood lived 103 years and wae
received into the Methodist Episcopal church
acuih in bia 102d year.
John A. Verdel died in his Diet year.
Mrs. Barah Feck was 94 when she died, arui
bo wss Mrs. Fleming, tho mother oi lleary
Fleming.
Mrs. Mildred Gray, who is aUll living, to v.t
years old.
Mrs. Mary Morrison, mother of J. J. M Tri
ton, died agod 93 years, three months and tea
days.
Miss Ear*ah Gray died in her 92.1 year.
Mrs. 8i/aan Johnston was 88 voarsof age and
ao waa ll'iram Jones when be diod.
Mr. W Uliaui Gaines wae M at hit demise.
Mr.F^njamln Andrew, father r.f A*bury
ALdrcrw of ElbertoD, was 91 year* old when he
departed thia life. . . s
Martlet Bskcr, a colored man, died in hia
tl/.yeer. .. . Ayw
George Hughes, colored, Is said to be I4j,
f.nd ts still living. Since emancipation he hae
devoted almost all bis time to fiihiag—a heal-
U,J •!«( .cd fi.h are wholwim.. Hit n.if ti-
bers ssy they aee no change tn him for tha last
’ Ktty Rembert, a n.tir. A&ii-.u, lived to m
Ibo fiffh feneration of her dctrenJ.ute and
til, Id the opinion of Hon. W. H. Mat*
tox, between 109 *ml 110 ?e»ri when «h. died,
file wm Li. proper!/ prior to «m.ncipa»te«.
Rarbara Colton wu anpoMd to he 130 wh.a
tbe .book off tht. mortal coil. Tba wnter
knew her well, aud found in bor old R(. pw«
tonified.