The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1861-07-02


shall be liable such taxation; and also land and
slaves shall be taxed according their value and the
tax on slaves shall be much but than that
on land according to their respective values but the
tax on slaves may be laid their general average
value in he State their value in classes in
spect to age and other distinctive properties in the
discretion of the General Assembly, and the value be
assessed in such modes may be prescribed by law
Provided, That nothing herein contained shall prevent
the exemption from taxation of soldiers in the public
service or OF free males slaves in of bodily
mental inhrmity, of such real estate hath hitherto
been exempted by law
DEpLoRABLE OCCURRENCE.-We regret to
learn that Mr. j. +. Hough was killed at Monroe,
Union county, on Monday, the 24th, by shot
from pistol in the hands of James Richards. As
the case will undergo judicial investigation, We
will not give all the reports we have heard Of the
affair, more than to say that it is supposed that
Richards aimed to kill Mr. Hayden, the Intenda Mt
Of the village, before whom he had been arraigned
for some misdemeanor. Soon after the examina-
ton of Richards for being engaged in a fight, he
inquired for pistol he said he owned, when Mr.
Hayden drew it out of his pocket and remarked,
" here it is" Richards demanded it and Mr. Hay
den handed it to him, when he (Richards) stepped
back and cooked it, for the purpose, he sad of
showing that there was no cap on it, but there was
cap on it, and it was discharged, the ball pass
ing through MIR Hough's head, killing him n-
stantly. 1t is not certainly known whether
it was fired Intentionally or accidentally. At any
rate, it is not supposed that Richards had any
malice towards Hough, although the whole com
munity much exasperated at his conduct, aud
he Immediately committed to Jail. Richards
kept hotel in Monroe,
IF tba
christian and inoffensive man, beloved and respect
ed by all By his untimely death the county loses
first rate officer and the community valuable
citizen. He leaves family to mourn their ire
parable loss
We learn that habeas corpus writ has been
issued by Judge Dick, and that Richards will be
examined before Judge Osborne, at Charlotte, on
Monday next.
Since the above put in type, received
the following:
MONROE n. c., June 27th 1861
Mr. Editor: 1t becomes painful duty to COM
municate the mourntul intelligence of the sudden
and untimely death on the evening of the 9th
instant, in the town of Monroe, of Mr. Joseph F.
Hough, Clerk of the County Court of Union
County, who was one of very best and most
justly esteemed citizens, by the discharge of
pistol in the hands of James Richards of said
county, which he aledges purely accidental,
and 1t is scarcely probable to suppose from the re-
latuns existing between the parties, between
the deceased and sny other person, that any human
being could have had any malice i-teeling
whatever towards deceased-for no man ever
lived who amable universally
esteemed and beloved by the entire circle of his
acquaintance than was Mr. Hough His death
was OF those inscrutabe dispcnsations of Provi-
dence which no human wisdom account for,
which is greatly deplured by this whole commu-
nifty and casts over it shadow Of gloom and sad
ness such as it has never before experienced. And
every manifestation of and regret for
the unfortunate occurrence, and of sympathy
and coincidence with the severely afflicted and be-
reaved widow and orphans and friends Of the de-
ceased has been both publicly and privately ex-
pressed.
Very great excitement pcrvades the public
mind in consequence of this tragic occurrence,
and simple justice to the party implicated requires
that the public mind should not be biased by any
partial statements made of it by persons laboring,
and perhaps honestly, under the effect of that
element
1t is deemed improper to state the particulars
connected with and leading indirectly to this
fortunate occurrence inasmuch the whole matter
will undergo judicial investigation, and il is but
reasonable and it is the duty of every fair minded
and law-abiding citizen to calmly and patiently
await the result of that just and legal investiga
ton. Very respectfully, 5. III. w.
We have received the proceedings of public
ing held at Monroe the 25th, at which resolutions of
respect for Mr. Hough and coincidence with his family.
passed. We are unable to publish the proceed
ings this week, did not receive them until
forms nearly ready for press They shall appear
next week.
The Confederate Congress will assemble in Rich
mond on the Goth July.
The Baltimore papers state that the Confederate
troops at Martinsburg and Harper's Ferry have
destroyed forty-eight locomotives belonging to the
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad.
Bishop Polk, of the Episcopal Church, has been
appointed a General by President Davis. He
will have command of brigade on Red River.
Bishop Polk is a graduate of West Point, and
native of Raleigh, n. &.
Returned TO THE NoRTH.-Rev. NJ. B. Grier of Will
mlngton and Rev. P \. McMartin of Hills boro, have
their respective fields of labor and returned
to the North. They both popular and useful min
listers of regret TO their many friends
this State that their sympahies were not with the