The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1873-07-19
ATRRarDnH TRAGEDY I'm BELGIUM. =

ATzRRtDhH TRAoEDYs1N BELGIUM.
The Belgium newspapers give the sfoI-
lowing account.lot dreadful tragedy
that occurred three weeks ago in little
village near Brussels: A farmer and his
wife had plotted to murder their niece
during her sleep, to rob her of 1900
francs that she was taking to her sick
mother. In order to foil the future
searches OF the police, they, previously
to perpetrating the crime, were engaged
in digging large hole in their garden,
so AS to bury the body in it, when the
young girl. who, not being asleep. had
heard her terrible sentence, rushed ou.
by the window, and ran to the police sta
tion, distant one mile only. But as soon
as she was out, the daughter of the wicked
farmer, who was not expected home that
night, came back, and, not wishing to
awaken anybody in the house, went
nciselessly into the bed where her cousin
had been lying a few minutes ago. She
soon fell asleep, and thus her mother,
not being aware of the Providential sub
stitution, owing to the darkness of the
night, broke her own daughters head
with an axe. This being done, the two
were going to the garden, carrying the
corpse, enveloped in bed-spread, when
two gen d'armes. accompanied by the fu-
gitive girl. rushed into the house with
lanterns in their hands. At the sight OF
their niece, whom they thought they had
murdered, the two wretches took off the
covering and found their unfortunate
child killed by their own hands. The
man. taking large butchers knife,
plunged it into his breast, and fell dead
on the ground. As to the woman, who
WAS prevented from committing suicide,
she became insane, and is now shnt up
III Il lunatic asylum, where she is expect
ed soon to die from mental exhaustion.
\ moro horrible account has rarely been
registered in the annals of crime.
S---
Livery dny either the telegraph or some
New York paper assures us that the COM
bination known as the ''cotton corner"
must inevitably break in twenty-!onr
hours, but good many twenty-fou
hours Eave passed and the corner still
retains control Of the price Of the staple.
From all appearances, however. the fight
between the bulls and the bears of the
cotton exchange is one OF the most obsti-
natcly contested and desperate struggles
Which has ever taken place in the great
commercial centre of New York. II the
bulls succeed in holding their ground
and they lave done it most successfully
so far-the initiation Of prices may not
only help them, but also benefit the
Southern planters and the factors from
whom they have received such heavy adj
vnnces. But if the bears find themselves
able to break the comb nation there will
be crash from which the most disas-
trous results may "ris". The decline in
prices, if it comes, will take place just
before the ii.w crop comes into market,
and tho planters will have to stand the
brunt of the fight. The reaction
which will naturally follow--will come
too late. and before there is rally in
prices the crop VIII be out of the hands
OF the producers and Ia the hands of the
spectators, who will reap all the advan-
tages, while the farmers must pocket the
loss.
lie CASH SYSTEM IN ST.. LOUIS A
number of leading business men in St.
Louis have held meeting and resolved
to adhere to the rules of the Merchants
Exchange OF !hat city. requiring that in
future nll mercantile transactions shall
be on cash basis. It is agreed that on
and after the 18th Of July, nil sales shall
be for cash, (unless other wise specified, J
and all bills SHALL be payable on delivery
OF the property sold, or warehouse re-
ceipt therefor. This rule is chiefly in.
tended TO apply to the produce and grain
trade, and it remains to be seen whether
the merchants OF st. Louis will act up to
it. The plan of cash payments on deli
very has been adopted in the tobacco and
pork trades, and with the best results.
Aud so it would be found in all branches
Of business, facilitating operations, re-
lieving responsibility and risk, prevent.
ing future difficulties, and avoiding final
bankruptcies.
y Dnblin correspondent, who. we will
guarantee, has seen copy of Dr.. u.
Jayne's almanac, and who cold trace q
resemblance between al alligator aud a