The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1874-07-10
McDOnald's Career in the West.

The following sketch Of the life of Sam
uel W. Mcdonald, now under arrest in Bal
timore, for the alleged murder of Berry
Amos, q short time ago, is taken from thu
C0uier-Jomnal!
Sam Mcdonald was a son of very
wealthy man in Baltimore, whose family
occupied the highest social position in thai
city. He himself was sent abroad to bt
educated, and spent several years at one o.
the schools in England. While still abroad
his father died, leaving his immense for
tune to be divided between his son and 6
daughter, his only children. Young Nc.
Donald's portion was something over o
half million of dollars, and, with proper
management, would soon have advanced
greatly in value. Shortly after his fathers
death the young man attained hismajority,
The family residence, just out of Baltimore,
was one Of the most elegant in the country
Here on the night of his twenty-first birth
day he gave grand dinner to various
friends in the city, and the celebration is
said to have been carried out in q style OF
almost unparalleled magnifcence. The spa
cious grounds were ablaze with light, and
fountain ran champaign in the yard. The
night closed with an orgie Of wine drink
ing, in which an amazing quantity was
consumed. Thus he started out upon o
career of dissipation which has hurried him
in four years-he is now but twenty five
to the horrible tragedy Of last Wednesday
light.
Young Mcdonald at this age was an ex.
raordinary specimen of manly beauty. He
was over six feet tall, straight as an arrow
broad chcsted, and muscular, yet as grace
full and agile as an athlete. A wealth Of
flaxen hair, and broad, fair forehead
deep blue eyes, and noble mouth, with
features perfectly classic in their outline
he was perfect type Of the Anglo-Saxon
Add to this the exuberant spirits which
always attend good health, and that name.
less magnetism which so few men possess
and the possession of which may be the
best or the worst of Gods gifts, he was q
most enjoyable companion, the life of the
social circle,and as much admired by men
as he was adored by women. Shortly af.
ter he had attained his majority he came
out to Terre Hautc, Ind, on visit. He
returned to that pleasant city few months
ity, stocked it with tue farm in the vicin-
cattle, and there inaugurated a series Of
designations which shocked the goodly lit
tie city to its centre.
He was soon ostracized from the society
of the town, and direful stories are told OF
the excuses into which he then plunged
There were two gamblers from the East
whom he had brought West with him, and
it is said that there were still more disre-
putable companions of another sex who
lived in the same house with him. From
this rendezvous he would take frequent
hunting excursions into the neighboring
prairies of Indiana and Illinois, the return
to be always celebrated by q debauch
Wine flowed like water in this hunting
lodge, as he called it, and cards followed
the wine on the table. 1t was said by
those who protested to know that young
Mcdonald spent over $4,000 the frs
year he lived in Terre Haute. Here he hal
since lived, and we are told that most, j
not all, of his original patrimony has beer
squandered. 1t was on visit to Balti
more that this last fatal tragedy was en-
acted.