Delaware State journal and statesman., 1865-12-25
LIFE IN KENTUoKY--TERRI
TRAGEDY.
A SCENE FOR A NovEI1sr.

SCENE FOR A NOVELIST.
The owensboro' (Ky. } Monitor says:-"A
few days since, Mrs. Heady, who lives in
Union county, Kentucky, sold her land and
received some eight hundred or thousand
dollars in cash. A day or two after she re-
ceived the money, stranger called late in
the evening and desired to get lodging for
the night. The lady declined, but the stranei
ger insisted, and Mrs. Heady consented TO-
let him remain over night. At thes usual
hour of retiring, the stranger proeeeded up
stairs to bed. Late in the night he was
aroused by the lady of the house, who told
him that three or four persons were trying
to break into the house, and She believed
they were robbers, who had come therefor
the purpose of robbing her Of her money.
The stranger arose, seized his pistol, told
her to go down stairs and open the door
when he told her, and to get behind the
door as she opened it, and that he would del
fend her. Placing himself so that he could,
see by the light of sllse door when anv one
entered, ne gave the word-the lady open
ed the door, and in rushed a man who no
sooner placed his foot on the door sill, than
he fell dead by a bullet from the strangers
pistol. A second man rushed in and fell
dead by the second shot The third appear-
ed and was severely wounded by the third
shot, and turned and ran off, leaving a trace
of blood behind him The men who had
been killed were blacked, and when the
backing had been washed off their faces,
Mrs. Heady recognised with horror her own
son-in-law as one of the men, and the other
was near neighbor and friend. It was be.
lieved that the mounted man was her own
son. We did not learn the names of the
parties killed, nor that of the stranger who
so providentially appeared to save the old
lady, her money, and perhaps her life
----s~s-------
ROMANCE IN REAL LIFE.-Our readers will
probably remember Colonel S. S. Goode,
who formerly resided in Decatur, was made
Colonel OF the 21st Illinois infantry at Mat
toon, and was subsequently, dropped by Gov.
Yates to give place to Colonel (now Lieut.
GEM Grant. We find in the Decatur Tri
6ane quite romantic story about him. II
seems that, AFTER undergoing many strange
and startling vicssitudes in life, and buffet
ing the dark waves of adversely and misior-
tune, he has at length become a wealthy and
titled gentleman. By the death of his cous-
in, Sir Jasper Goode, who recently died at
York, England, he has fallen heir to estates,
the rental of which amounts annually to
three thousand pounds sterling, and also
succeeds to the title, by inheritance The
incidents and adventures through which
this singular individual--now Sir Samuel S
Goode-has passed. would fill large velvet
covered volume. At the age of nineteen he
was a midshipman in the Texas navy-then
engaged in the war of independence with
Mexico-and was promoted TO Lieutenant in
three months, for cutting out a Mexican
bungo under the guns of the citadel of Vera
Cruz. In the war between the United States
and Mexico that Immediately followed, he
volunteered in the American army as a pri-
vate, but by his gallantry, soon won for him
self Captains commission. In the dias-
trous filibustering of Lopez, he commanded
a company-was taken prisoner at Cardcnas
and escaped the garrote by the daughter ofa
Spanish ofiicer-who became enamored Of
him-opening the prison doors. Undeterred,
however, by his narrow escape, he next
embarked in Walkers first expedition; from
this he also managed to escape, after passing
through untold perils and suflorings. ASS all
our readers are already aware, he raised
company in this city when the guns from
Sumter reverberated through the loyal
North, went to Mattoon and was elected
Colonel by his regiment (the 21st) BY
some means, however, he was deprived of
his command, and Gen, U. S, Grant, then
plain citizen, was appointed in his stead
Weary and despondent, through this disap-
pointment, he neglected his profession-tho
law, and by some chance drilled into Carlin
vile, this State, where, at the time he re
ceived his fortune, he was keeping bar in
drinking saloon lie passed through this
city on Thursday night last, en- route for
New York, there to take steamer for Eng
land, honor and fortune springfield (Ill.)
Journal.