The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-11-15
A HIGHWAYMAN'S CAREER.
TIE SECRET THAT WAS INTR USTEu
TO 4 KEEN POLITICIAN.
Rival and an Elopcmcnt-Tho Terror II
the Aheahnnies-A Politician In Arkansas
Exposure, Flight, Rum, and Death.


Rival and an Elopcmcut-Tho Terror II
the AlleRhnnies-A Politician In Arkansas
Exposure, Flight, Rum, and Death.
William Hill, patient in private asy-
lum near Glasgow, Scotland, died few weeks
ago. Many years ago there lived In Iredeu
county, North Carolina, a respected Presby-
terian minister named Curry the pride OF whose
life was an only son, Nixon by name. In whose
training the good man took peculiar delight.
The young man won the affections of a young
girl attending the same sc5ool, and 80 ardent
was their attachment that no rival was suffered
to come between them. When the girl reached
the age Of fifteen, her devotion to young Curry
became so manifest that her parents, wishing TO
secure for her what they viewed as better
alliance, forbade further intercourse between
the two. As a natural consequence, candestins
meetings were resorted to, and continued for
three years. At the expiration Of that period.
the hand Of the young lady was sought by the
son OF one Of Southern statesmen, and hor
parents tried % compel her acceptance, whereat
overtakcn. Then the young man turned and
shot his rival. who led the pursuit, killing him
Instantly The young couple then renewed
Curry took refuee with his betrothed In the
Allegheny Mountains, ne the head waters %
the Catawba, and there, Outlawed from society,
he became a highwayman. and speedily achieved
dreaded notOuety by the number and char
North Carolina offered 5000 for bis rrest. and
many lured ey the tempting offer, tried TO hunt
north Carolina Il Wa supposed t6st he had
died, or that he had changed MS base OF opora-
tuns.
One day. at the time Of the nrst settlement Of
the fertile delta OF the st. Francis YER IN what
is now Arr ansas, an immigr mt appeared In the
district calling himself John Hin. He was .
handsome, amiable man, and though bayins
only moderate mo ms. extenued generous hos
pitalty to all who visited his beautiful iit.Is
home. rendered dOuDlV attractive lY
ence nt a lovely wife. In short time he bo-
came the most popular man IN the settlement.
He was repeatedly elected to the legislature,
and there he was distinguished for powerful
and impassioned eloquence. lie became q
leader IN the nks Of hs party, was a member
OF the convention that framed the State Consti-
tuition, and re resented his district In the Sem
ate OF Arkansas.
Hills most intimate acquslntances were the
Strongs, four brothers, men OF wealth aud aiu-
Dition. close intimacy sprang up betweea
them, and lttl, In an unguarded moment made
the eldest strong conversant Win bis previous
history telling him that ne was the notorious
Nixon Curry OF North Carolina. strong then
requested IIill to resign hts seat Ia the senate.
but Hin refused, and the brothers conspired TO
ruth him. Sending to North Carolina they pro.
| c rcd requisition for his arrest and a copy OF
| the reward offered for his capture. The four
brothers, powerful anu determined as they wero.
| well knowing the char ,c.er OF the man with
whom they were To deal, secured the assistance
Of a dozen men, and surrounding his house.
ATTEMPTED TO effect his capture. On approach-
| ing the main entrance aud demanding his sur
| render one OF them S shot dead, md hires
| o hers were dangerously wounded and tho at
| tack was abandoned.
| ditiOnal reward for HilIs arrest, and hastily
hacking a few articles he set out with his wife
| and children for Upper Arkansas, where he
| knew Of the existence of a band of desperadoes
whose men bers he hid reason TO believe would
| protect him. He was oyertlken at Conway
| Court House and haltinG his wagon and ndinon-
| ishing hi wife and children to keep their places
| he stepped forth IN the lace Of his pursuers, and
| In n few eloquent words toic them why he quit
| North Carolina, at the same time assuring hts
| puTsuers that he would not be taken alive. ho
gailantry OF the action operated IN his favor.
| and the pursuit was ab ndoned. Constant pur-
suit had alre ady made him morose and quar-
relsoue, ana he began to drink heavily ana re-
sort To the gambling table as means OF sup
port. Que day 10 September. 1S45, while seated
at breakfast he told hts wife that he had =
ptemonition OF dent' and felt that he should
be killed thar day before sunset. Calling Ills
son william, hrieht boy OF fourteen, he made
him swear to kill the man who should kill his
father.
The Circuit Court ofPope county being In ses-
slnu, he attended IL with young man named
How rd, who vas engaged 10 his eldest daugh-
ter As soon a they reached tho viii ge Iiiu
began TO drink and exhibited all unusual di pos
s'tun t. gu rrel. He insulted every one ne met.
AID finally rtatened to clean the Court House;
he d shed into the court room To tie conster-
nation OF JUDGE, jury and lawyers. Young
H0wIrd tried to rest al him. but ~ ring like a
tiger lie turned upon tine youth ana ielled him
to tie nOOr, I the same time draw Ing "A pistol.
lie excl4tmed; XIII me, or III klll YOUR ihs
man, in a mumeut uf extreme angui n. drew 4
knife aud buried II In the bowels OF llill. lie
Howard quit Arkansas. and several years lator
Joined the Confederate forces under the CONS
mand Of Cot. Long. Al the close OF the war ne
oatn he hau taken AZ ms fathers inst nee, shot
the former aud lied to Europe. lac Joined ths
French army and served through tine Franco
Prussian war, hut W subject to nts Of tempo.
Tary insanity, Finally his ease became hopeless
and h WAS pl ced toy his friends ~ n asylum
near Glasgow, Scotland where he recently died