davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
, 1866-01-12
A New Svs1nd1lng DcIZe-somethlnx
Quite Original and HefreshtuE.

Some time since, an Oil City chap made
bet with d comrade that he could 20 up to
Kittanning and sell the people there, and that
they would stand the sell. The stakes having
been deposited. OIL City started on bis excuf-
up ups Il The The best iote IN The place. socn a1 alter
he went to livery stable, and having hired
q horse and buggy, he drove out into the
street, and announced that he would sell fve
dollar grceubacks for four dollars.
As matter Of course he soon
had purchasers After selling a few
hacks for seyenty-dve cents, which oner was
also greedlly taken, the crowd In the mean
time growing larger. Having disposed Of =
number Of dollar notes in this manner, he Of
fered dtty cent postal currency for twenty
I've cents, then twenty-five cent currency for
!. dime, then dime currency for five cents, and
then remarkfug that five cents were Of no use
to any person, he threw handful Of this de-
nomination among the crowd. BY this time he
was surrounded BY very large conconsse OF
people, who believing him 10 be drunk Or
crazJ-they did not care v whIch-were willing
to take advantage Of his misfortune. He next
put his hand into his pocket and pulling ont
some lockets, said ''Who rants to buy lock
ct for q dollar, md give your money
back" 4number Of greedy applicanta stretch
ed forth their eaget hands, and soon be had
disposed Of number Of lockets at ono dollar
eaGh, na1qfng pack tae money along Win tho
ticket. He then put his hand into another
pocket, and pulling out some more lockets.
said t*My friends hoF~ arc sotno highor priced
lockets, who wants 1ocket for tlTo dollars ~
rs before, there were numerous applicants,
and when be Ind snpplied as many
as could raise the dve dollars, he quietly ssid,
my friends there u bona ide sale did not
say would give you back your Ave dollass,'
and drove away, having cleared about one
hundred and twenty dollars by the operation.
He then drove to the other side If tho river,
and having played the same game there, went
back te Oh City and claimed his bet. Since
then number Of imitators have sprung up,
and orc going around sE hiding people, adopt
pers will BE- warned against these fellows, but
those who do not, deserve to lose their money.
We notice that the people nf Waynesburg,
Greene county, havc been sictimized in sim
1ar manner,
, 1866-01-12
The Experience Of = Lodger-lttenapted
Assassination.
From The Cincinnati Commercial, 1oth.1


We mentioned yesterday mysterious oc-
currence at a boarding house on Third strest,
near John, the particulars Of which, In full,
are, na we now learn, rs follows: An elderly
gentleman: named Sidney Bowdeu, whose
family reside in Kentucky. q short distance up
the river, bad been boarding for few weeks
atthis house, kept BY Ar. Joseph Walters,
having business in this city. Upon retiring
on Sunday night at about half past nine
o'clock, he found In his room, which contain-
ed two beds, stranger, who had been taken
in rs boarder By Mr. Walters, and assigned
to this room: This person, tall thick-set
man, had already retired for the night,
when Mr.. Bowden entered and remarked that
u wns cold night, wishing to judge, from
the mans manner Of speaking, something of
the character Of his room companion. 4
reply was made in a careless, ordinary man
nes, and there the conversation ceased. Air.
Bowden then retired, placing under his Pill
low bis pantaloons, which contained what
money be had with hins. Being very restless
and nervous, from some cause unknown to
himself he did not sleep untll about four
o'clock IN the morning. and then his slumber
was Of an uneasy character. He had been
was startled by the noise Of blow upon the
pillow on which his head rcated.
spsipgins up and reaching the floor,
he encountered there his room companion
whose form he could indistinctly per-
celve. IN the dim Light from the street. The
stranger rnffan Immediately sprang upon
him, and they grapplcd and fought desper-
ately there, in the darkness, Bowdcn endeay-
oring, With but partial success, to shield his
head and body from the heavy, murdesous
blows Of the Wou]d-be assasafn's slung-shot-
blows which though partially parfied, cut
his head In an ugly manner, In three or four
places, and drenched him from head to foot
In his own blood. Sir. Bowden ut length sue
ceedcd In giving his assailant q blow from the
shoulder under the chin, which knocked him
10 the floor, and gave Mr.. Bowden IN oppor-
tunity to dash hole through the window,
and raiee m alarm, whercupon his assaitaut
made EA escape. It is probable that the
sconndrel was neak-thicf, who expected 10
ind considerable sum OF money in Alr Bow
denis possession.
, 1866-01-12
THE TRIAL OF JEFF. DAVIS

The opinion Of Attorney 0en.rAl Speed,
upon which It appears that the President re-
Hes for the correctness of his decision that
t'cf. Davis shall be tired before civil Instead
Of q mIii!nry tribunal, brings us to some sin.
Gtllar conclusions. Mr.. Speed says: "Whea
''the war was at Its crisis Jed. Davis, Com.
mander-in- Chief Of the army Of the insur-
'seuts, was taken prisoner, with other prom
+@incnt rebels, by the military forces Of the
Limited q States. It was the duty Of the mill
"tazy 80 to take them. They have been
''heIetofoze, and are yet, held as prisoners Of
" "todr. Though active hostilucs have ceased,
a state Of snar aM ezists oser Tie eonatry IN r.
" be'lion. Until peace shall come, in fact and
"in lev, they can rightfully be held IS p1is-
"one1u or Wet" :.
H.a stnte Of war still exists and JEFF Dnv1.
Is stil held As q prisoner Of var, It is difficult
10 sec either the impropriety OF Megality of
trying hHn by the same power which appre-
hcndcd him In the first instance, and which
still holds him in custody. ConcedIng that
the war still rages, and that persons may still
be held as prisoners Of war, the conclusion
would not be violent one thai the leader
of the rebellion might be tried by his captors
according to the usages Of war, for the double
crime Of rebellion against Hghtful authority
and lnhumanity to prisoners who aioretime
fell into his hands.
But another and more startling so!ecism In
Mr. Speeds opinion Is, that he indicates a
mode Of tsial which is absolutely certain to
tu,u Davis 1oosc, without the smallest pun
ishmcnt for bis unparalleled crimea. Flrst,
be Is 10 be tried by \ jury But where can q
jury be found who have not formed an opinion
as 10 his guilt or innoccuces Secondly, he is
to bc tried in the State and District where he
actually was at the time the crimes were
committed, to wit, at Richmond, Virginia.
supposing that Jury could be law
fully empanelled there, the chances
are ~ one Thousand to one TINT they would
not only acquit JET. Davis but would put
upon record = verdict that he had perfect
right TO institute = rebellion, that Virginia
had right to secede, and that the Govern.
mcnt of the United States had no right ia
cocrce the seeded States, or to capture Mr.,
Davis or 10 bring him to trial. What folly
then TO hold him any longer at Fortress
Monroe ut public expense for his rntions and
his kecpinxl Better, 3 thousand times, tu11
him loose ut once than submit 10 JURY o.
vleinla secessionIsts the question whethe,
| tho South or The North has been In The right
during the past Eve bloody and eventfu
Vearf
, 1866-01-12
A wORD on CAUTION,

The farmers throughout the whole reciou
seeking Chicago as centre, arc aeitating
measures of relief from what they deem the
extortionate charges Of railroad managers
md warchousemen. They declare that they
are taxed beyond their power of endurance
and that a remedy must be found. But while
this agitation is going on, one word of caution
We deem necessary. II would not bo sur.
prfstng If there we're jarkals snufang the
smoke Of this battle; and ceeminc the oppor-
tunity good one for them to hunt for spolls
among the farmers. The railroad fre,ght
charges arc high, Int opce paid there Is an
end of It, But suppose some bali. dozen
travieh fr11nws nfert mi fnr a caynnafon
, 1866-01-12
An Opposition Overland Telegraph In
Ceurse OF Construction.
from The San Eruuclsco Bulletin Dec l..

The new proposed telegraph. line across tho
continent, commonly known as the "Oppo-
sition,' Is progressing rapidly, aud present
appearances Indicate that VIC shall have two
telegraph lines ac1oss the plains within q year
The new company hare erected The poles from
shlngle Springs to Virginia City, and nearly
all Of them from San jose to Sacramento via
Stockton, while the poles are being put up on
the line OF the raf,road from Sacramento to
poles arc nearly all up for distance of
ITO miles The late storm has delayed the
work considerably, owing to tho impossi-
bility OF procuring poles, which arc brought
from Santa Cruz IN small vessels. The steam
eT Golden City, which arrived yesterday,
brought 500 miles OF wire, with hsulatofa,
brackets, batteries and other implements nc
eessa1Y to complete the line between here and
Virginia City, and the wirca are now being
strung between P1aceryi1ie and Car4ou Clty
II Is expected that the line will be completed
the contract being given for the csns.ruc-
tson Of the entire line to Salt Lake, to be
completed by July next; If the materials
arrive promptly. and the company meet with
no serious drawba Nr. Street has gone
East TO make arrangements for the constEuc-
tion Of the eastern section Of the line, which
& intended to meet the western section &s
Salt Lake or beyond. The former portion Of
the line Is to be completed under The contract,
to Omaha aud Atchison, two bsancnes from
Chicago, this fan. With Ordinarily air wealth
e, Is expected that thr me naswesn 3 nesp t
INTO nnernsjo1 Rv Sew Years: Those Sec
tfona ~ Tho ron,e "a the line Of railroads are
hpfne In mil thc Inst, the contractors wish
fnv r. eet thstr leaning done before winter
fairly seta Ia.
, 1866-01-12

On the a1st ult., The directors of the Grand
River Valley Railtoad-now being constructed
between Jackson and Grand Rapids, Michigan
met md resolved to extend their line to
MrskeGon, the centre Of the Michigan lumber
region. on tho lnkc shore, opposite and
little north Of Chicago. Inpursuance Of that
resolution, the officers Of the road arc now
organizing the extension, with every pros
pect Of speedy success.
The Grand Rapids and Northern Indiana
rond, which crosses the Michigan Central at
Kalamazoo. Will he completed and In opera-
tion to Grand Rapids this year, as also the
road first mcntioncd- The extension to Mus
kceon-thir1y miles from Grand Rapids-will
bring the lumber regions In direct comlnunice-
tiou by rs1 with Chicago, via either kala-
uazoo or Jackson.
These lumber regions have traded with this
city almost exclusively for years, and m
enorwouB business here is dependant upon
them. Nevertheless, they have almost wholly
been cut of from Chicago during the winter
mouths, and our merchants and lumber deal
c.s desiring to make contracts, or transatt
apy other business with parties in The great
pinerics, hare been compelled To undergo q
tedious sud c1hAusting journey by stage from
kalamazoo, willie II has been wholly impos-
sIb1e to ship goods or supplies afier the close
of navigation. The completion OF the pro
posed road, and especially Its ultimate extern
sion up the lake shore to Grand ISavefss,
will remedy a1l this, and add another Item to
the wealth and prosperity Of Chicago.
, 1866-01-12

"a the wand Of power, theY will seize it-as
indeed they are doing. It is affirmed that
now there is almost no scholarship At Eton,
except among the hundred poor boys, who,
by the laws Of the foundation, must always
he thore; and at The Universities the middle
class men arc bearing of the honors--
That class viii not have their education
marked out by their superiors- They will
arrange 1t for themselves; sud In ar angling It
while they will not neglect the new, neither
Will they forsake the old. Let them 60 on,
and, uniting the high spirit OF the old with
tho broad thought Of The new, devise and
estab1ish an education. which shall train
!: greatness Of soul as we'll rs expnsiou Of
mind, and form true grandeur Of character,
which shall make the Eng1and, that Is to be,
sill which the dial lave Of our hearts presents
to us rs the Ideal Of our Mother Land,
So let her stand In tho coming time fairer
than her daughter, If she can.
, 1866-01-12
CommlxAlouer -RoIilns-Lctser from I
s. Attorney BAAs-
EL!itnYs ChftHro Tr1hnDn.

N0G4F04kA40n&f- -EkO1l1Q1-&lGt26E from u
$. Attorney Ba&s-
Editors Chicago Tribune:
In your report Of the Free Trade League
meeting, held on the evening Of the 9th Inst,
one Of the speakers makes a1luslon TO Hen.
E. A. Rollins, Commissioner Of Internal
Revenue, In a manner which indicates that he,
In common with many others, labors under q
Misrepresentation as to who the present Com-
missioner Ia. The mistake very naturally
grows ont Of the fact that there arc two
men from New Hampshire occupying public
positions, Of similar uames-E. A, Rollins,
Rollins, member Of Congress from the Con-
cord District.
Whatever diversity Of opinion there my
be In regurd to the correctness Of the decE5-
ions Of Commissioner Rollins, apprehend
there can be no controversy, among those who
know him, about his integrity, general ability
and atte!nments: 10 Is a graduate Of Dart;
IN able lawycr. He Is esteemed by a large
circle of acguaintauces emlnently judicions
and fafr-minded man. =,
He hss occupied several Important public
positions In his own State. WAS chosen
Speaker OF the New Hampshire Legislature
while he was one Of the youngest members OF
that body.
He has been connected with tbs internal
Revenue Department since its organization,
and entered upon the discharge OF his duties
as Commissioner on the first OF November
last.
I am not aware that any decisions made By
Commissioner Rollins have been overruled BY
the courts.
I make this correction In justice to gen
tleman whom hare long known and highly
esteemed, and that public confidence may not
ueedlesely be shaken in m officer who occu-
pies one or the most difficult and trying posi-
tfons In our Government.
PERKINS Bass.
, 1866-01-12
Letter from Hon. John N. Bolts.
AUnCRS, cr1FRkR CoUxrr.
fAnr r

To Me Editors Of 17t Republic:
Iwas recently informed By friend, who Is d
member Of the Senate Of Virginia., TINT short
time since the t'Sew~ York Daily Ne1ps "a
paper that ! never see-contaioed statement
to the effect that was In Washington lobby
ing to keep the Southern Representatives cut
Of Congress, and invoking public condemns
ton, ETC, etc.
The public man who undertakes to correct
all the misrepresentation made of him by
those.who have either personal or political
object TO accomplish, will have little else to
do than defend himself against his defamers,
Yet, at such n iuncture Of our national affairs,
aud upon question involving the right Of
representation to q large section Of onf coun-
try, hardly feel myself justified or at liberty
to remain silent under 80 grnve falsiacatlon
OF facts; therefore AJAX the use Of your COL
iutely and uneoadt dttional1y untrue. 50 far from
It, have, to those members with whom I
have conye1sed on the subject, maintained
that every Representative, constitutfonalIy
elected, WHO was prepared to comply with
tie requisitions Of the Constitution and Iavs,
WIS a. fully entitled to take his seat as any
Of those now occupying seats In either House.
To have taken any other ground would have
been to admit that the States lately in rebel
lion had been out of the Union, and conse-
qucntly that secession WAS lawful and constl-
tutlonal position that nobody vii! suspect
posed that there could be no misnnde1stand-
ing North OF South, East or West.
have been to Washington frequently dur
ing the last seven months, generally at great
loss Of time and money, to obtain the release
Of prisoners Of Wnr, and pardons for those
years, would have been content with, If not
advocates of, my execution or my expulsion
from the State and when not for that pur-
poee, then to attend to my OVID private affairs,
, 1866-01-12
4 Lonely widow Robbed Of Her Llt&9o
4oArd-BAseHeaQ 0f the TT0nAActte0.

| One Of the most dastart1ly and outrageous
roobesies 1t has ever been our lot TO record,
;ook place near La Grange, Lorah county, On
| friday night last. Mrs. sartou, widow
lady. near sixty years tof ago, resides about
tour miles rom the centre of La Grange. On
| Friday night, alter she had retired, 4 knock
| was heard at the door. Mrs. Saxton got up.
| and inquired what was wanted. The parties
| outside answered that they were friends, and
that their wagon had hfokcn down in tho
road near tha house, and they wished 10 get
| light and some help in repairing the damage
The old lady, not suspeeting but what the
words were. true, told them to whit until she
l could dress, and she would render them all
| the assistance In her power. After dressing
| she opened the door, when two men came IN.
They had their faces blacked, and Al they en-
tered the house they made the remark that
they might as we'll 90 about their business, and
demanded Of Mrs. Sa1ton her money. She
| replied that She had none, when one Of the
robbers asked another Of the band, who WAS
At the door on the outside, not having enter
old lady said she had no money. He told them
to 'scut her id throat" They then made
an attack On the helpless old lady, and with
knife Of some kind cut 9 severe gash In her
neck.
She called to 4 little boy, some eleven yeara
Of age, to run to the nclghbos and tell them
she was being murdered. The robbers coolly
informed her that the boy was safe, a. he lay
in the next room with his throat cut Nxs-
Saxton becoming very faint with the loss Of
blood, and believing that ahc was about to
share the same fAto that the robbers said bad
befnllen the boy, she gave them her pocket
book. containing some 415.
The robbers were apparently acquainted
with her circumstances, and were not satis-
fed, but desired the rest Of the money, and
by threats and some violence, forced
her to give them what she bad In the house.
some S400in United States bonds, which sho
had safely hid, as she supposed In a bundle OF
, Eurs. The bonds were numbered ~ follows,
all ofthc denomination Of el0O: y, ,755-74.
159-14, ,76O-oo998, ,e47.
After procuring the bonds they abused
their victim In the most shameful msnncr.
and then left. The statement about the boy
Eas false, and was made only to frighten
31rs. SaSton, and keep her from raising an
alarm.
Mrs. saxton came to this city on Saturday
and informed Marshal Schmitt Of tho affair.
He Immediately detailed detective, who
proceeded to IaGrange for the purpose Of IN
Vestigatiug tho matter. One Of the neighbors
| Of Mrs. Sa1ton, who has not heretofore
borne the best of characters, was at first sus-
pected, but the detective came to the coucIs1-
sion that tho robbery was committed by par
ties who were not residents Of that town, but
had become possessed Of the fact that Mrs
Sa1ton had money In the house. Up to last
| evening no arrests had been made, and no
substantial clue had been obtained to the
/ perpetrators Of the deed.
, 1866-01-12
CHICAGO, JanuarJ II, 1866.
Questions to ssA Citizen OF Arkansas, !,
DAVENPORT, Iowa, January 9, 1865.


DAVENPORT, Iowa, January 9, 1866.
Editors Chicago Tribune
desire to inquire Of the "Citizen Of Ar
kansas, " who publishes q communication in
to.day's TRIBUNE, or "any other man." In
what portion Of that State and under what
law lnnde can be bought from the United
States Government for twelve aud hall cents
per acre, or for less than the minimum price
Of E-o5. The graduating law as It was
called, under which lands were sold bY the
Government for less than 81.25 per acre, was
repealed by the last Congress, If recollect
Alright. II I am mistaken in my statement
that there is not m acre Of land in any State
to be purchased Of the United States for less
than the minimum price, I hope SONIC one bet
ter posted Will currect me. Your correspond.
ent above mentioned endeavors to convince
us that TO increase our finances, We should
cmie erats to Arkansas and raise cotton. Many
fortunes may 1e made in cotton growing du-
ring the next two or three years, but parties
who contemplate going to that Stats Will do
well to reeollect TINT there has not been
more pcStilcnt rebel State than Arkansas.
considering the mental calfbre and capacity
Of her citizens. And her people to-day would
gladly exchange their positionl la the Union
for placc outside Of 1t II possible; that
there are no schools Of any account In the
Stats, no churches, NO society but the degen-
crate bntternuts who were too cowardly 10
enlist In the rebel army and get killed no
prairies Of any account ready Tor the plough,
the valuable agricultural lands having to be
cleared ofa heavy growth Of timber. Unless
man desires to 20 10 ArkAnsas in the capa-
city Of a" Missionary" and to fight his way
, 1866-01-12

with an Arkansas toothptek, which
Is about the only genuine means
of civilization that can be used there to any
advantage, he had better stay away: Instead
fSos Ss 1 On .ssss out uis aas is
cane brakss, agues, &c, how much better ard
more profitable 1t would be to tu1n our ener-
gies and capital to the development Of oar
own pra1rics, and mines and forests There
Is Too much of this disposition TO emigsate
South. and only when too late will many AZ
honest minded and worthy man find out his
mistake. A CITIZEN OF Iowa.
, 1866-01-12

that tho article, above referred 10, was copied
By tho Nfes from Philadelphia paper, pe1-
haps from the correspondent OF the fhiildet-
pbia lnqserrs, - that person, whoever he
some halfdoxen or more statements IN
reference to me, not one Of which had any
founsatiou In truth. Among them WAS one
referring to contract. which he unblnshinsiy
stAted had had with tho Confederate Gov
eminent, a1a which, bJ the WAY, vas cophd
Into the Richmond Tunes, think. without
comment. It u scarcely necessary to SAY.
that nsyer had contrsct OF any klnd With
The Confederate Government, nor ever had
any interest, direct or remove, IN any such
contract, snd that would have been the LIST
man In the Contederacy to hare proposed one
with them, whilst, presume, would havo
been the last man In tbs universe with whom
they would hare entered Into one that WAS 1t
JM &
, 1866-01-12
TIE FREE TRADE AND PROTEC-
TION CONTROVERSY.
Corrcctlon-Fact4 NOT TO be Perverted

Editor Chicago Tribune:
SIR: beg 10 state that In the article sigued
" Protection in your paper ofthis morning,
January 11th, the writer thereof has most
completely falsiled and reversed my state
ments made at the meeting on Tuesday even
Ing, January 9th.
Ha has asserted that ! said paid the du-
ties on the sfx casks of wood-screws, aud in
sinuatcs that sold them to my customers at,
no doubt, profit. On referring to the state
mcnt made On that evening, you will see
expressly stated that had to, and did, re-
export them to Canada, and sold them In
Montreal, whereby the United States lost tho
amount OF the duties thereon.
If any one doubts this, he can apply at the
Chicago Custom House, where tho export
entries are duly recorded.
lcou1d not pay o duty of 20 per cent, and
50 per cent added thereto, under the short-
lived act Of April q, 1864, y or nearly 129 per
cent duty payable at the then prenium for
gold. This was too much for the protection
of a monopoly who are paying about 20 per
cent MONTHLY Dividends,
EDWIN Hunt.