Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1875-12-09
q IAEEEK.
TIE Secret 4 hat Was Entrusted to IL keen
Politician.

TIE Secret 4 hat Was Entrusted 10 II l\ce"
Politician.
from the New Yolk Sun
William Hill, Il patient in a private asylum
near Glasgow, Scotland, died few weeks
ago Many years ago there lived in lreden
county, North Carolina, a respected Presby-
terian minister named Curry, the pride OF
whose !ife was an only son, Nixon by name,
in whose training the good man took peculiar
delight. The young man won the affections
of young girl attending the same school,
and SO ardent was their attachment that no
rival was suffered to come between them.
When the girl reached the ace Of Is her dc
votion to young Curry became so manifest
that her parents, wishing to secure tor her
what they viewed as a better alliance, forbade
further intercourse between the two. AS
natural consequence, clandestinc meetings
were resorted to- and continued for three
wears. At the expiration of that period, the
hand of the young lady was sought by the
son of one of our Southern statesmen, and
her parents tried to compel her acceptance,
whereat she eloped with young Curry. The
couple were oyertakcn. Then the young
man turned and shot his rival, who led the
pursuit, killing him instantly. The couple
then renewed their flight After q long and
heated chase, Curry took refuge with his be-
trothed in the Allegheny Mountains, near the
headwaters of the CalaWba, and there, out
lawed from society, he became a highway
man, and speedily achieved dreaded motor
iety by the number and character OF his dar
ing exploits The Governor of North Caro-
lima offered S., 900 for his arrest, and many,
lured by the tempting offer, tried to hunt him
down. Suddenly he was missed from North
Carolina. 1t was supposed that he had died,
or that he had changed his base Of opera
tons.
One day, at the time Of the first settlement
Of the fertile delta Of the st. Francis river, III
what is now Arkansas, an immigrant ap-
pcarcd in the district calling himself John
Hill lie was a handsome, amiablc man, and
though having only moderate means, eXten-
ded generous hospitality to all who visited
his beautiful little home, rendered doubly at
tractiye bY the presence of lovely wife. III
a short time he became the most popular man
in the settlement. He was repeatedly elected
to the Legislature and there he was distin-
guished for powerful and impassioned clo-
quence. He became leader in the ranks OF
his party, was a member of the convention
that framed the State Constitution, and repre-
sented bis district in the Senate Of Arkansas.
Hills most intimate acquaintances were the
Strongs, four brothers, men of wealth and
ambition. A close intimacy sprang up be-
tween them, and Hill, in an unguarded mo-
ment, made the eldest Strong conyersant with
his previous history, telling him that he was
the notorious Nixon Curry, of North Caro-
lima. Strong then requested Hill to resign his
seat in the Senate, but Hill refused, and the
brothers conspired to ruin him. Sending to
North Carolina they procured lequisition
f0r af 1,n rI Of
fered for his capture. The four brothers,
powerful and determined as they were, well
knowing the character of the man with whom
they had to deal, secured the assistance Of
dozen men, and surrounding his house, at
tempted to effect his capture. On approach
ing the main entrance and demanding his
surrender one of them was shot dead and
three others were dangerously wounded, and
the attack was abandoned.
The Governor of Arkansas published an
additional reward for Hills arrest and hastily
packing few articles he set out with his wife
and children for Upper Arkansas, where he
knew of the existence of band of despcra-
docs whose members he had reason to believe
would protect him. He was oyertakcn at
Conway Court House, and hating his wagon
and admonishing his wife and children to
keep their places, he stepped forth in the face
of his pursuers, and in few eloquent words
told them why he quit North Carolina, at the
same time assuring his pursuers that he would
not be taken alive. The gallantry of the &C
ton operated in his favor, and the pursuit
was abandoned. Constant pursuit had al
ready made him morosc and quarrelsome,
and he began to drink heavily and resort to
the gambling table as means OF support.
One day in September. 1916, while seated at
ho< <o11 Il fo NOT no hoH q
monition of death, and felt that he should be
killed that day before sunset. Calling his
son William, bright boy of IA, he made
him swear to kill the man who should kill his
father.
The Circuit Court Of Pope County being in
session, he attended it with young man
named Howard, who was engaged to his
eldest daughter. AS soon as they reached the
village Hill began to drink, and exhibited On
unusual disposition to quarrel. He insulted
every one he met, and finally threatened to
clean the Court House; he dashed into the
court room, to the CONSERVATION of judge,
Jury, and lawyers. Young Howard tried to
restrain him, but, glaring like tiger, he
turned upon the youth and fclled him to the
floor. at the same time drawing pistol he
exclaimed: "Kill me, or Ill kill you" The
man, in moment of extreme anguish, drew
a knife and buried it in the bowels Of Hill.
He died soon after.
Howard quit Arkansas. and several years
later was heard of in San Antonia, Texas,
where he joined the Confederate forces under
the command of Colonel Long. At the close
of the war he was met by William Hill, who,
remembering the oath he had taken at his
fathers instance, shot the former and fled to
Europe. He joined the French army, and
lAh~ ~, hsvf
was subject to fits of temporary insanity.
Einallv his case became homeless and he was