Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1858-05-29


4 Tnr oouxrr Uosvsnslds leSGtps our
Republican friends in the country will endsaver y
be present At the County Convention, called to ts
place on Saturday, Ssh prox. Tor the parpQss q ~
pointing delegates to the state and congfssslonsl
Conventions. It is important thai these primary
meetings should be we'll attended.
TnE LATx CALAMITY. -UNNAruRAL Sus-
r,closs.-We were aware that in every community
might be found mon with peculiarly constituted
minds who are ready to give crednce to almost any
absurd story or suspicion that might be copcocted
BY crased or malciously- individuals, but
it asonishes us beyond measure that candid and
sensible men should entertain such unnatural
and unjust suspicious againss Mr.. Brown as have
been bruited about the streets since the calamity
which befel our city last week. II such men win
take pains to obtain the facts in the case and weigh
them impartialiy they cannot but dismiss their un-
just surmiscs. Mr.. Brswn's past, gqoq character
alone should shield him against such ACCUSE
tions without positive evidence. But the fact
that he was found gagged and insensible from blows
inflicted and was taken out Of the building where
he would have suff,catcd perishcd in the flames
if he had remained few minutes more-and that
his subsequent condition, according the testimony
Of reputable physicians, corroborates his own state
ment of the circumstances Of the casc-ought to Be
conclusive evidence to every sane and unprejudictd
mind that there no collision on his part to OBJ
tain the insurance money on his stock of goods At
the peril Of the lives and property Of his fellow
citizens. W ~ ~S
Yesterday some friend Of Mr.. Brown unwisey
but unthinkingly, no doubt, communicated to him
the nature of these suspicious, again threw his
sensitive mind from its balance, and during the al
ternoon and greater part Of the night he was ravng
monomania c intent on Furnishing those persons who
he had been told ginated and were circulating the
reports. In one Of his paroxysms, he escaped from
his attendants, got out of the house and ran moro
than two squar s down Second street, but finally
became exhausted and after being taken to his house
was induced to 60 to bed, where he finally fell
asleep and has since been gradually recovering
This is truly singular and dcplorabls affair
throu shout.-Daily, 9th.
RW Our statement of the arson and at
tempted murder affair last week erroneous in
some unimportant particulars Mr.. Brown states that
he was not sure when he discovered his dog at his
dwelling that he had locked it up in the store but
thought it possible he had neglected to d. so, and
therefore suspicious were aroused in his mind
about anything being wrong at the STORE 1T has
been asked why he walked the back part of the
room when his object was merely to return the
dog. He states that he did it to get q pan Of
milk for some pups left in the store. lie is under
Al. 81 llDpn a. tho
he was tripped down was inflicted by hatchct, but
his physician is inclined to believe from the ap-
pearance of the wound that the instrument used
was slung shot. There has been much quibbling
on our statement that there no fracture or con-
tusion apparent on the head There was and is yet,
however,a severe bruse on the head indicating that
a blow was inflicted sufficiently hard to a
cussion Of the brain while the hat and hair pre-
vented severe outward wound. From the incised
wound of the mouth and some scar6cation Of the
hand, it is judged that the handkerchief was not
thrust down the throat with a bowie-knife las We
stately but with dirk. A bowie-knife would nave
left severer wound if grasPed in the hand in the
manner the victim says he caught the sharp instru-
mcnt used by the;rufians.
MYSTERIOUS DIsAPPEARANoE.-AG German
baker, named Victor Smith, who has been in the
employ of Adam Rculing during the past four
years, mysteriously disappeared last night. He left
the bake shop about six O'Clock, for the purpose.
as was supposed of going into the yard to saw some
wood, but has not since been seen by his friends
He was observed by persons on the street to pass
down Chestnut street towards the river, and was
seen few minutes afterwards at the foot of Iowa
kbo
1t is fear ed he has been drowned though there
no circumstances to induce the belief that he com
mittcd suicide lie was in unusually cheerful spirits
yesterday. He had his work apron on at the time
| he left-was in his shirt sleeves and wore glazed
cap and gray -mixed cassnet pantaloons. HI was
somewh, It over 20 years of age, medium size, with
light hair, slim face and rather prominent nose.
His fellow -workmcn think he had money about
him at the time. Any information concerning him
will be gladly received by Mr.. Rculing Daily,
yesterday.
- ACQUITTED. The two men arrested last
week on charge Of attempting to murder Mr.. Brown
and then setting fire to his store, examined be-
fore Mayor Meason yesterday and acquitted for want
Of evidence in any manner duplicating them. The
names Of the men were Joel Hill md Frank Mil
lard. The latter reports Rock Island as his place
of resd,ncs. Mr.. Brown, the most important wit
ness, unable to be present. The only testimony
that produced against the accused was that they
were seen passing the Court House square Is or 20
minutes before the alarm of fire! They were at
that time going n an opposite direction from the
locality Of the FIRE. This circums tance, with their
"sus pcious looks" led to their arrest It was,
tbotf stc1o md inei.
for public opinion was at first very strong against
them, and if an examination had not taken place
the popular mind would have been unsatisfied. The
counsel for the prosecution ]. Carskadden, Esq,
County Attorney for the defence, Hugh ]. Camp
bell, Esq. The prosecution made a motion to con-
tnue the trial, but the Mayor overrulcd it and dis
missed the prisoners after only a few remarks by
the lawyers.-Daily, 2sth.
SHANNON HELD To BA1L.-The trial of
VIM. Shannon, on charge Of countcrfelting govern
ment coin, took place before U. S. Commissioner
! Humphreys, yesterday, and resulted in requiring
bond in .the of thousand dollars for his APP
pcarance at the term of the United Srates District
Court at Iowa City in October next. Shannon has
not yet given the required bail but says he can pro-
duce it.-Daily, 9th.
| GRANDv1Ew INSTITUTE. The enterprising
citizens Of Grandview, in Louisa county, IL miles
from Muscatine,) are finishing fine building for
educational purposes. Its dimensions are As by IS
feet, (two stores) and its cost about $4,000 The
school Ito be called "Grandview Institute'') will,
bessscncd the first of next month with an efficient
| corps Of teachers from the East.
PoRr LoUIsA.-Our friends, Humphrey,
Arnold Co., Of the above pl ace, are doing an ex-
tensive forwarding and commission business, be-
sides dealing in dry goods, groceries, lumber, reap
ing and threshing machines, &c. They are popular
business men and deserving of great success.
HYDRoPHoB1A.--Keep look out on the
CANNES. Hydrophobia is prevalent throughout the
entire country, and may soon develop itself among
the dogs Of this city. Last week Mr.. Neidig killed
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