Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-11-25
Sensation Scayengers.

The sale of the effects of Rev John Selby
Watson, who murdered his wife at Stockwell,
England, took place lately at auction. Inorder
to prevent, as far as possible, the entrance of a
large crowd, one shilling was charged for a cat
alogue, but, notwithstanding, a large number
of persons paid the entrance fee >" and satisfied
and articles within the dwelling which had been
at all associated with the murder. Many went
even so far as to take away leaves and twigs
and shrubs in the front garden as mementOs.
The sale commenced about ten O'Clock in the
forenoon; but long before that time a large
number of persons, chiefly composed OF the
usual brokers and buyers at sales had paid
for the catalogue and found access to the house.
Every nook and corner of the house seems To
have an interest for the visitors, and stains and
spots of all descriptions were put down as those
of blood. The room In which the unfortunate
lady was found, although, as far as possible,
kept closed, was, when opportunity offered, en-
tered, and the corner in which the body was dis
covered closely scrutiniZed and commented up
ON. The catalogue comprised 22S lots, but the
chief attraction in it seemed to be those articles
closely associated with the murder. The usual
household effects were knocked down at about
an average price. One lot, comprising photo
graph in gilt frame, two small pictures and five
pictures framed and glazed, fetched II. IS,
including the portrait, as announced by the
auctioneer, of the reverend gentleman. Some
pistols, to which reference made
made in the report of the examination at the
police court, fetched a few shillings, and two
Silk gowns, a cassOck and girdle, and hoods
belonging to Watson, realized about 81 los.
A Trinity college medal, gold Masonic medals
and other articles of jewelry, fetched fair prices
Ii will be remembered that, according to the
evidence, the reverend gentleman ordered a
large iron-bound chest TO be made, in which, it
is supposed, he intended to conceal the body of
his victim. This cost II. 5s., but was yesterday
sold TO person at Hammersmith for as. Every
article, as before stated, having the slightest
connection with the dreadful affair was closely
watched, but the utmost interest was manifested
upon the stuffed arm leather chair, in which il
is supposed the deceased lady was seated when
the first blow was struck, being brought for
ward. 1t had piece of the leather cut out upon
which blood stains had been found. There was
much anxiety to catch sight of the chair, which
fell to purchaser for LIS. The books and
papers, etc, of the reverend gentleman were
disposed of privately.
IT is WONDERFUL how abuse follows use in
every human matter, and how cunning man is
in pervertiDg his blessings. The new anesthetc
hydrate of choral, is already taken in excess by
persons in search OF unnatural stimulant or Sc
dative. The London Lancet calls attention to
the enormous manufacture of this medical novel;
ty SAYS, in fact, that ii is sold by tons q week
We have the authority of Baron Liebig that one
Ger German manufacturing chemist actually sells
an apprehension that it somehow gets into the
British beer, while the London Spectator az
firms that it is kept by thousands of ladies in
with this powerful agent, taking doses of it de-
teImined by within or appetite, without the eau
ton which knowledge of its powerful proper
life; and the same thing is true Of morphine,
ether, and chlorofOrm; yet thousands of women
are tampering with all these daily. Perhaps II
would be safer to stick to absinthe or maraschino
SPECIFIC FOR DIPHTHKR1A-The Italian
journals publish q letter from DR.. Giovanni
Calligari, describing the remarkable succ ess
which has attended bis treatment OF diphtheria
with picnic acid. He relates the losses he
formerly experienced among his patients when
cauterization with hydrochloric acid, and
observes that this cauterization can no more
eradicate the morbid principle than tearing the
leaves of plant will destroy the root. He now
simply uses gargle of picnic acid and distilled
water, with external applications Of new fan
mel; the food and drink TO be taken cold. After
the adoption OF the treatment DIR. Calligari lost
but one patient out of ffty-eight. He requested
the italian Journals to publish this discovery
Picnic acid IL the agent which Is now being
used in this country af a remedy for cancer, and
see ms likely to effect an immense saving Of lives
formerly hopelessly sacrificed to that disease.
0An ingenious Kentucky prisoner set Gre TO
the jail, and leisurely slipped away while the
population were engaged in subduing the
flames.
1Five civil-righters escaped from the B,r-
tow, Ga, Jail, and an intelligent local pace
says "neither the jailor nor the prisoners are TO
blame"
1There is a specter at Portsmouth. Va
which throws itself across the railroad trac, a,
night as a train approaches, but prudently gets
out OF the way again. -