Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-02-04

| Legislature with a Neg OF
der, but His Red Right Hand Is
Stayed
From the New Orleans Times, Feb. !.
Not many days ago the sweepers at
the Mechanics Institute, who were en-
ployed IN cleaning up the Senate Cham
Der, after the adjournment of that
body, were surprised to find scattered
about the floor a large quantity of gun
powder. 1t was distributed In such a
manner as precluded the possibility Of
The thing being the result of accident,
and very naturally, the fact, on becom-
ing known to the members of the Leg
islature, and persons who frequented
the Institute, gave rise to much con-
lecture as to its import, and exercised
a few Of the nervous sort not a little,
for the circumstance brought to mind
the Guy Fawkes plot, and In their vivid
imaginations they pictured the Insti-
tute and hundreds of people blown
skyward, not heavenward, and into
nothingness, in the fraction Of a sec
ond. The absurdity of the thing how
eve presenting itself to those few
weakened individuals, after a time
they became treasured, and the eircum-
stance may have been forgotten; at
any rate, matters went serenely on
until yesterday, when the whole thing
came to light, and In the person Of an
aged man, Thomas King, who has for
weeks haunted the halls of the build
ing,
Yesterday afternoon, not long after
the adjournment of the Senate, King,
whose face and form was quite famil-
lar TO all the employees IN and about
the Institute, went into Lieut.. Gov.
Antoine's Office, and IN a little while
came forth, indicating by his manner
and department that he was much dis
satisfied with something that had trans
pired within. He went to the entrance
of the Senate Chamber, and planting
a six-pound canister of pOwder-in
the top of which he had made a small
opening-near the door, told the peo-
pie who were standing near him to get
out of the way, for he meant to blow
the old building to atoms. He was
standing, at the time, Ove= the canister
and when adjuring the spectators to
''stand from under" he deliberately
produced a smallfOurb arrelled revolver,
and remarked that he intended to fire
into that key of powder, and those who
loved life, had better leave, for there
was no time to lose. 1t was very evil
dent that the old man meant business,
for his ann was most determined,
and every feature denoted that he was
bent upon the execution of his threat.
Realizing the imminent danger which
threatened them, two or three men
sprang quickly forward, wrenehed the
pistol from the old fellows grasp, took
possession Of the powder, and by this
decisive action prevented the execution
of a terrible and horrible threat. He
was Immediately taken to the First
District Police Station OF Carondelet
street, and there locked up, charged
being insane
King is a man who has lived his three
score and ten years, is of large frame, |
quite erect, and IS fully SIX feet
IN height, and talks wei, though it Is
evident ne Is not altogether sane,
and the cause of his mental alteration
owing to the loss Of property.
At ar interview last evening hestated
hat he came to the city about four
weeks ago from the parish Of st. Ber-
lard, where he has been residing for
some years. to see Gov. Kellogg for the
purpose of getting redress for wrongs
sustained, by reason Of a certain law
Enacted several years ago, whereby he
vas defrauded of all his property.
He spoke of some official IN the par
sh of PlaquemineS, into whose hands
he property was placed and who made
way with it; wherefore he King now
holds the State responsible, and he
lverts hat he is q determined man and
VII have redress or be avengedin some
manner. He alleges that he boarded
It a house near the CustOmhOuse, and
or four weeks went down to the State
House every day to see the Governor
md have his little claim adjusted. He
mpOrtuned the door keepers but could
gain admittancetothe presence of
us Excellency, and at last the thing
became so m~onOtOnOus that he deter
on decisive measures, andto that
nd went down on Old LeYee street yes
erday morning, where he purchased a
anister Of powder, for which he paid
wo dollars and fifty cents. Armed
nth this destructive package, he wend-
d his way to the Institute, and after
he adjournment of the Senate, ap-
lied to the Lieut., Governor, to whom
Ie represented his grievance and stated
is wants. Mr.. Antoine, he says, treat
d him with great civiity, but referred
i'm to Gov. Kellogg.
He told the Lieutenant Governor
hat Kellogg was a bad egg, and would
Ot even see him, therefore he AN
Oine) had to come to terms, there and
hen, or take the consequences. Mr..
ushered the old man outof the
Dom In a kindly manner, and did not
ay the least attention to the threat
made, and was greatly surprised when
lformcd, a few minutes after, of the
circumstance which had taken place In
be hall.
Subsequent to Kings arrest, Mr..
interviewed him atthe station,
Inspecting probably that the old man
ad been hired to execute a foul plot,
ut the prisoner shows cOnclusively
hat he was actuated by the prompt
ngs of his own bitter feelings. he
- 49, II Ill xs4 ba avauOad