The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-11-02

AS II rule, IL policeman is not IL person
troubled ovcr-much with sentiment or
romance. \ course of life like theirs IS
not ono calculated to WOO their minds to
the contemplation Of the unreal. Being
terribly realistic fellows, they would,
doubtless, OH hearing noises in q house
ut night, more readily suspect burglars
than ghosts. Therefore, when officers
OF the peace arc ready to testify to the
facts hereinafter to be related, their
say-so must be accepted with smaller
allowance OF salt than is usual in such
cases. 10 bo brief, few years ago. in
New Orleans, Il small elderly female, q
vasrant, Mary Arm Murphy by namo,
WAS placed overnight in Il cell in the
station OF the Fourth Precinct. In the
| morning, il was found that she had com
lnittr.l suicide by hanging. Now comes
tho extraordinary part ot this story, to
the truth Of which the police of the
precinct are ready Mt any timo to pro-
'iucc their testimony. Since that event
| fnl night, there have been thirteen at
icinpts ut suicide III that snmo cell, four
OF which lave resulted fatally. Of these
attempts, six havo taken place within
tho past year, nad two havo been attend
cd with fatal results. OF all these at
e"nrta. mono have been made by men.
ma nil by young women Of evil ways
| Eho cell Is, therefore, believed to be
hauntcl-and haunted, too, by 10 less
thing than the ghost Of The little cid
woman previously referred tn. Accord
li5 to the story OF at least two persons
who have been confined overnight in
that same cell, the npparition of Murphy,
strangely and frowslly clnd, faded and
wrinklcd, cnIno to them suddenly and
cndcavorcu to force them to hang them
selves. LII each case, il suggested that
the occupant of tho cell should tear her
,!tesS into strips, and so accomplish the
work Of sclf.tlestructicn. 1t WAS only u
lew nights ago that IL young woman, con
!iuuu III the cell, attempted her life,
making tho thirteenth in the fatal list.
LII tLo cas-: oi all these, the yinGictive
sl;iriS Of old Mrs. Murphy appeared to
the intended victim, the Mcphstophclcs
al rcttlcoats to the Fausts in hoop.sl,irts
Of tho haantcd locality. and, with din-
boi.c"l arts, urged them TO the expert
tnoit which would SO have delighted the
heart oi hr. Calcrait, Of Newgate.
Y SAD SUlciDE.-Wo deeply regret to
State that Mr.. Charles Ii. Giles commit
ted suicide i'll this place, about o'clock
on Tuesday last, by shooting himself in
the head with pistol. We know the
sad news will DO received with feelings
OF sincere sorrow by largo number Of
friend; throughout this and the State Of
Georgia, where he WAS we'll known and
much respected. MIR. Giles was young
man of generous and manly impulses, IL
genial companion, firm and true friend
lIo was gallant soldier in the Confedc-
rate army, aud there is but little doubt
that severe and iucurablc wound in tho
back, which Eo received at the baltic Of
Sharpsbnrg, gave him great bodily suf-
fcring, and created the depression in his
mind noticed by all some weeks before
committing tho fatal not. Union Times
\ private letter from Washington con-
tains these significant facts: "Thcre is a
constant tide of Government clerks,
printers, &C., now getting leave of alb
scncc Of from six to fifteen dnys There
is scarcely any ono here. l havo heard
OF cases where men were compelled to go
homo and vote. They get half-farc
tickets, and doubtless many passes.
\ Grant organ remarks: "Another
term Of four years would. undoubtedly.
finish up all our work in tho South. -
Doubtless, and finish up the South at
! the same time.