The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-08-22
Strange Lisc or a Murderer.

A writer in TIE Tnomasvjlle IVatchman gives
the following singular biography Of James High
tONer, recently convicted Of msnslaughter in .ha
county Three years in dungeon it seems is nothing
About tsenty one years ago young lady Of
tbis secien Of country, belonging to respectable
'aoIy, becams tee victim OF n vile seduccr; the
ituit wos . boy, Who Is the subject Of our nara
tive His mother, ss is the case usually with tnoss
Of her sex who are unfortunate, married a man oil
low breeding, and in ahverse circumstan es, coDee
euentIy Der son was destined 10 receive but limi
ted share Of educa ion moral training. At ten
DER age bis character vas peculiar, and In soyle re-
spccte very extraordinary. When only seven yeas
old be was attending sugar cane mill; by some
mesns lis lett m and hand sere crushed, By which
accident be forever lost tue use Of his hand.
At tie age OF ten he Was bitten BY a rattleenake
being nearly alone ON the place, re had to cal to
bis aid ell the presence u mind Of which he was
master. Fortunately be- used the proper an.idote
and thereby saved bis life. In the short pace Of a
lew IDtntbs he was again bitten by Of the same
spscies Of yeptiles By pursuing the same course az
heretofore, he Was again rescued from the jaws oil
death.
Between the age OF twelve and fourteen he made
seyerfi ate mpts to take the life Of his sepfather
which shows that ne would not be imposed on.
About that age he also snapped, several times, a
icaf ed mufket at ne gbb0r. When fourteen year
ola he was Knocked down by lightning, and oil not
WIS attacked, wlile hunting in tn woods by very
bryce pantoer, The panther soon tore him down :
be exhibited great presence OF mind by feigning
desth. The panther then carried him into the
swsmp, covert him up with sticks and grasa, after
which be took his leave in search Of more prey.
Our hero after the PAINTERS departure, arose aad
made bis escape home. He was badly t0rn--two Of
bis jaw teeth we've bitten out, and many wounds
wtIe il ficted.
Ruths was not thus to die, for he soon recovered,
and ver soon after his recovery gave bis step IA
tner q severe IniI ping and left him. Excepting
another slight shock by lightning, lis path was
smooth. Until nineteen, when he became enauro ed
Of young LADY; though feu,ina in higher sphere,
bis Superior IN intellect and family, Yet she was
smitien by the boy Of misfortune, and resolved to
Many him, nOtH outstanding the opposition Of her
re a;ives, who made threats against hero.
Bnt what cared he, who had successfully battled
against raft csnakes, pan,hers and even the high
POWER Of heaven, for the threats OF man. Nothing
dau0,td re continued TO urge Lis claims after iiud.
ing ell bis cnorts or compromise unavailing, he
commenced determined course. lie piocuf ell his
ictLse, placed magistrate ~ a conspicuous point
IN The DDS, 3Do pro eeded himself on foot TO the
hcase that sheltered her wnom be loved-secrctly
flcsj tie door OF her chamber, and conducted her
obs Ut five miles through the woods to the place Of
reDdtzyous. 4,
Before arriving al the place upon which the
by ritbisl sltar bad been temporarily erected lu.
minated ty tie blaze Of lightaood knots aud the
pae rays OF the moon alone, orr hero fell into his
forncr path Of bad luck for he was bitten by
noccasen snake; but he was too we'll used to snake
bites 10 sntT tlet occurrence TO rctard his progress
st ucb nome ntous crisis and like brave and un.
dauDied boy, pursued bis conrse aud In accordance
Nth bis Inscriptions. was lawfully married about
IL or o'clock Ut night HIS moccsson bite did not
long keep him in bed, for he then possessed nurse
Of ceasng attention. After bic flnal re ovefy he
carrie his wife TO the homo which he had provided
for her, hoping thar his cup OF misfortune was then
tull and tnat Re would then enjoy that bliss attend
ing rnaIrifd life. G
But he was not destined ling TO enjoy that re-
pose which be 10 much sought. He Boon became
entsD2lcd in quarrel. with one Mr.. Wheeler; the
result was Wheeler Was killed, and our hero after
regular trial in court OF justi e. was convicted of
and now at the age Of twent has gone
leaving lis rife his anticipated babe, and his sweet
hone to the penfe ntarv, there to BE- ipcarccrated
with its dismai als the space Of three years.
template his past life and not say, surely no L. the
child OF misfortune Have his misfortunes ended
alas who can tell That fact ID yet concealed by
the dark curtains Of futurity.