The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1854-09-02
ABBEE H, SOUTH CAROLINA SATURDAY MORNING SEPTEMBER m
Strange Life of a 16nrderer.

/ ~60 @~AAO W q 04Hx00x0I.
| Awriter in the ThomasvilIe Watcb,nan
gives the following singular biography OF
James Hightower, recently convicted of
manslaughter in that county. Three vears
in dungeon, is nothing to what he has en-
Fdured:
About twenty-one years ago a Young
lady ofthis section of country, Belonging to %
respectable family, became the victim Of
q vile seducer; the fruit was a boy. who i,
the subj ect of our narrative. Her mother.
as is the case usually, married a man oflow
breeding, and in adverse circumstances.
consequently berson was destined to re-
ceive Dat limited share of education or If
moral training. At tender age, his char
acter was peculiar, and in SOME respects
extraordinary. When on.y seven years old
he was attending a sugar-cane mill: bv
some means his left hand and arm were
crushed, by which incident he forever lost
the use of bis hand. At the age of ten
years he was bitten by ratlc-snake; being
nearly alone on the place, lie had to call to
aid all the presence of mind of which he
was master. Fortunately he used the prop
er antidote, and thereby saved his life. In
the short space of few months he was
again bitten by one of the same species of
reptiles; by pursuing the same course as
heretofore he was again rescued from the
jaws Of death.
Between the age of twelve and fourteen
he made several attempts to take the life of
his step-father, which shows that he would
not be imposed on. About that age he also
snapped, several times, a loaded musket at a
neighbor. When fourteen years old, he was
knocked down by lightning, and did not re-
cover for some time. At the age Of sixteen
he Was attacked while hunting in the woods
by very large panther. The panther soon
tore him down. He exhibited great pres
ence of mind by feigning death. The pan.
ther then carried him into the swamp, cov-
cred him up with sticks and grass, after
which he took his leave in search of more
prey. Our hero, after the panther's depar-
ture, arose and made his escape home. He
was badly torn-two Of his jaw teeth were
bitten out, and many wounds were inflicted.
But he was not thus to die, for he soon
recovered, and very soon after his recovery
gave his step-father a severe whipping and
left him. Excepting another slight shock
BY lightning, his path was smooth, until
nineteen, when he became enamored of a
young lady. Though figuring in higher
sphere, his superior in intellect and family,
yet she was smitten by the boy of misfor-
tune, and resolved to marry him, notwith-
standing the opposition Of her relatives, who
made severe threats ags.iSss:. CIR hero. But
what carea ne, who had successfully battled
against rattlesnakea, pauthera, and even the
high power of heaven, for the threats Of
mana Nothing daunted, he continued to
urge his claims, and after finding all his ef.
forts tor . compromise unayaihpg, he, COM
menoed determined couue. He procured
his iicenss, placed magistrate &c 5 sconve.
nicnt point in the woods, and proceeded him.
self on foot, to the house that sheltered her
whom he loved, secretly forced the door Of
her chamber, and conducted her about five
miles through the woods to the place of
rendezvous. 80
Before arriving ut the place upon which
the bymenial altar had been temporarily
erected, illuminated by the blaze Of light
wood knots and the pale rays Of the moon
alone, our hero fell into his former path of
bad luck, for he was bitten by m0ccssin
snake; but he was too we'll used to snake
bites to suffer that occurrence to retard his
progress at such momentous crisis, and
like brave and updaunted boy pursued his
course, and, In accordaaea with his sntici-
pations was lawfully married, about twelve
or one O'Clock at night. His n,occasin bite
did not keep him long ii bed, for he then
possessed . nurse Of nneeasing attention.
Aftss final recovery, he carried his Wis to
the home be had provided fos hef, hoping
thst Ills cup Of niistorturs Sas now full,
and thst he would then enjoy that bliss At
tending . married life. vtt X e.t.f ,s.s
But he was NOT destined loag to enjoy
that repose which he so much sought. He
soon became entangled ID d quarrel with
one Mr., Wheeler. The result Ms Wheeler
was killed, and our hero, after aregular triaf
il q, court Of justice was convicted Of man
slaughter; and nov, 1t the age Of twenty,
hns gone, leaving his wife, his anticipated
babe, and his sweet home, Is the psnisent;a-
Try; there to be incarcetated within ;te dis
md wai.s for the space os tlsrSs years.
lWhich % him must Be lonpt lonr! Who
j can contemplate his past xEie, and NOT say,
d surely be iSths child spf misfottunet Hse
.this nafstbFtanss ended4 sAiaas swhocantsii 1
The DARK curtain Of fututitys cohcsaas the
lfsst Of bin histpgy. ;i.st i u.
So Sa7dt5 = k.s IN; "A
IL 4. IsA man Ind wiifs both hobaf e saksa tht
Il twiss -sf cestsi1 gsnty ysuaSn rs q ststs o, o,
sfeHpel u shs 2Wses hSa1spa III ach9he
Ihssd inbdlh hanls 8 81. s. IS 3
4 Ys HlaFoss a e % % ~ IS. s.