Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1872-03-27
An Instanee Of fSlepten,Rntp,, super-tition
and RevemRe.

On yesterday we learned the particulars of n
case which cyinces, n depravity not often wit
messed in one so young and shows the latent
feeling of superstition that attaches TO the igno-
rant whose idea of fetishes and vaudooism,
though indehnable and vague y q seems TO eN-
ercise IN some W stahcesa surprising Influence.
In this city there lives a respectable and we'll
TODD colored man named stephen Banks, whose
niece, young girl named Ella also resided
with him. A week or two ago, Ella concluded
that her wardrobe needed replenishing and be-
ing rather too young to earn money by going
out to service she thought the easiest way to
procure tile necessary greenbacks would be to
borrow them from her uncle Stephen, which
she did one day in his absence taking about
thirty dollars.
This was the first time in Elias cventful life
that she had been possessed OF 40 much money
goods stores in lavish style. In a short time
she had got rid of considerable amount and
doubtless fearful of arousing suspicion by going
in too deeply at one place, she stepped into a
house further up street from the scene of her
first purchase and nonchalently asked one of the
statesmen to change twenty dollar bill, at the
same time throwing the IN on the counter.
Alive TO possible trade, he told her he would
do so If she bought something. This Ella
| seemed to think reasonable and she accordingly
purchased several pairs of stockings and pair
| of shoes amounting TO $3.50 and received the
correct amount in change.
So far SO good, but riches are dcceitful and
| this was to prove no exception to the rule.
While on her way home she was met by the
| svenging Nemesis in the form of her avuncular
| relative, who, with his brow lowering with rage
| at her perady, checked the youthful klepto-
manisst in her eItravsgant career and COM
PEELED her to return TO the stores where she had
| made purchases and recall her trades.
| This she did very unwillingly, but Stephen
| took his cash and was rejoiced ut It's recovery,
and doubtless felt constrained TO administer
| physical correction to check any growing pro-
pensity to appropriate goods belonging to anoth-
| or. Revenge, however, must have animated
her breast, for a few days after sho stated to n
friend that she had dreamed her uncle was
dead" But twas only dream and stephen S
| health was rs robust as ever, and nothing un-
| usual occurred until last Friday night, when
| the gentle niece armed herself with carving
knife and an axe, repaired to his bed wherein
| he was reposng, enjoying the sleep of an hon
est, hard working man, intending if the knife
failed 10 do its deadly work that the latter weap
on should be called into reqp1isition,
Like the Georgia "melish' when given a
Through to go home to cut sorghum, Ella
| raised the cleaning blade on high and the
murderous steel descended, but she miscalcu
lated her aim and strength, for instead OF sever
descended on his forehead and glanced off, in
ficting only scratch, and before she coulC
seize the axe, Stephen seized her and prevented
q frst-class local item being committed:
He was hurt Mt her tgerish disposition, ant
wishing to learn the cause of her attempt on hi
life, procured q flexible rawhide and persuaded
Ella to tell the story, which she did, giving he
dream in full and alleging as q reason tina
something kept telling her to cut short his life
Who or what the something" was, whethe
Esprit from the Vastly deep" or tina
of warrior deceased from happy hunting
grounds of Ashsntee, was not definitely ascer
tanned. But there was no poetry in Stephen
disposition and he famed her with his rattai
until she expressed desire to visit the Virgins
Springs for her health, though early in tn
season, and he procured Ella a hslf-fare ticke'
and she is at the time of this writing rustcatinl
in the borders of the old Dominion.