The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1859-01-25
s25,O55, l29 14,569,722 av. 81 ~

OPIUM SMOKING The New York correspon-
dent fthe Richmond Enquirer says that, in add-
ton to the poisoned liquors, which produce so
much disease and death in New York. another
practice, engendercd by cupdty and fostered by
vltiated taste is coming into vogue, both in England
and in this country, and which promises to be more
destructive in it's effects than all the poisoned H.
quors ever invented, and that is the smoking of
Opium mixed with tobacco, in pipes, &c. Already
Persian and Arabian Smoking Tobacco is paraded
before the public which is said to contain an ad-
mixture of prepared Opium Once the habit of
Opium smoking takes possession of its votaries,
there is no hope of reform. The only end is stupe-
faction and death. 1t will be terrible day for
humanity when Opium smoking shall spread among
the people of England and America And the
time may arrive when this great evil, which Eng
land attempted to fasten upon the Chinese, may
recOil UPON her own people and upon Curses
sometimes go home to roost' May civilization be
saved from this, the greatest of all curses!
RoBBED.-The Cincinnati Times relates the
following incident, said to have occurred on the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, few days ago:
Mr. John Lindawood, of Cadiz, Henry county,
Ind, passenger of the train, and as through
passengers very apt to do, dropped into snooze
soon after dark.--He occupied seat near the
rear. After snoozing while, jolt of the cars
awakened him, and looking up he saw, just above
his shoulder, the head OF the passenger occupying
the seat just behind him, and at the same time he
observed that passenger slip his pocket book from
his breast pocket and instantly arise and make for
the door, Mr. l.. endeavored to catch the dishonest
hand but failed; yet just the thief reached the
door he caught one of the skirts of his coat. The
thief pulled hard, and so did Mr. Lndawood, and
off came the skirt. The thief was just outside the
door when Mr. Lndawood caught the other skirt
of the coat, and off it came. The cars were then
under full Roadway.
The drowsy passengers in the car just began to
understand the nature Of the difficulty between the
two parties, when the thief parted with his entire
coat tail Several of them ran to the assistance
of MIR Lindawood, but too late. The thiefprcferred
to risk broken neck to the State Prison, and
leapcd off the cars while they were under way
Whether he was killed, hurt or escaped unnjured
we did not learn, but il is said he must have went
down Is or 20 feet before he reached bottom.
The pocket-book which he stole from. Mr.
Lindawocd and kept contained SCI. Another one
containing 5000 he failed to reach.-Mr Lindawood
was regrettng his loss when the conductor proposed
an examination of the thiefs coat tail This
done, and to the surprise and qualification of the
passengers. two elegant gold watches were found
in the pockets. 1t was unanimously voted that to
steal from thief is no crime, and the conductor
passed the watches over to Mr. Lindawood to repay
him for his loss. There is no danger of the owner
ever calling for them The time pieces valuable
Ones and Mr. Lndawood made full 500 by being
robbed that tine.