The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1874-03-06

that under the Articles of Confedera.
tion TO the present Constitution.
Yours, WILLAMETTE.
IN LOVE WITH HER PARsoN.
The quiet city of Sedalia (Mo. was
few days ago treated to a frst-class
social sensation. The scandal was
brought to light in the smoke Of a
shotgun. Judge Cochran approach
l ed VIM. G. Buchanan with such a
weapon, cooked, cxclaiming to two
persons who were standing near by,
in conversation with Mr.. Buchanan,
"Get out of the way" There was a
scattering of the innocents and Mr..
Buchanan was left alone. Judge
Cochran fired and ITO bird shot were
lodged in the left leg of Mr..
Buchanan, ranging from the middle
of the thigh down to theankle. The
Judge made his way to the nearest
Justice of the Peace and gave bail
for his appearance for examination,
and Mr.. Buchanan proceeded to tie
up his leg.
The explanation Of the rencounter
is this: They have q young and
good-looking Presbyterian preacher
in Sedalia, Of the name of Rev j. I'll.
Miller. He went there in 1872, with
a character above reproach and with
bright prospects. He.is now enjoy
ling the effects of scandal that may
cast shadow over his future that
cannot be lifted. When he went to
Sedala he became the guest of w.
@, Buchanan, wealthy and enter
prising citizen, and for long while
lived there in harmony with all.
But there came a cloud upon the
horizon of that happy household.
Mr.. Miller received an anonymous
letter containing unmistakable decla-
rations of love, and being an honest
and conscientious pastor, he left the
abode where danger lurked. He
Thought the letter came from his
hostess; and as she was very adroit
in the use of her pen, he "got
stared and took himself to another
boarding-house. He fled to the fire.
side Of his friend, General Smith.
But the letters followed him. Atlast
the epistles began to display spirit
of jealousy. "Hell hath no fury like
woman scorned." The writer of the
letters, whom the Bazoo says Mr..
Miller declared to be Mrs. Buchanan,
began to accuse the young minister
of being in love with another woman.
This, after she had, in spell >of
sickness, willed him her Jewels. and
sent them to him. The tone of the
letters suddenly changed to execra-
ton, instead of admiration. Then
Mr.. Miller threw himself on the
justification of his congregation and
exhibited the letters to q committee
Of bis parishioners, who took copies
Of them and returned the originals to
Mrs. Buchanan.
The copies we're freely shown to
any who desired to see them. They
we're not excluded from the eye of
Mr.. Buchanan himself. What did
the apparently injured husband do?
Did he rail at his wife and sue for
divorce? "Nothing of the sortP
He denounced the copies as forgeries
and declared that his wife had never
written line to Mr.. Miller. Here
was contradiction little less pointed
than that between "Mercy Merrick"
and "Grace Rosebury" in the NesO
-Magdalea, The genuine letters were
gone and the copies were uncertitied.
Mr.. Buchanan gave credence to and
circulated a scandal in regard to Mr.
Miller and Mrs. Judge Cochran, and
publicly spoke Of o disgraceful con
nection between the two. The pub
lie statements were the cause Of the
shooting, Judge Cochran being work
ed up to pitch Of desperation in
defense Of his wife.
The Sedalia .Bdzoo's editor got
hold of the entire batch Of letters and
published them. Those attributed |
to Mrs. Buchanan breathe b warm
spirit Of friendship, but there is little
that could be deemed to express love,
while the style is not strong or "tak-
ing" We don't blame Miller. The
batch also contains an epistle from
Mr.. Buchanan to Mr.. Miller, which
is quite abusive; also, an anonymous
letter to Judge Cochran, whichis very
pointed in its reflections on the
Judges family.
Ii Mr.. Miller's presence in Sedalia
is not more productive Of good dur
ing the year upon which he has just
entered than it was in 1878, he
ought to seek another field. Sure
ly his work, as exhibited in the
narrative we have endeayored to give,
is not the most soul-saying that could
be imagined.