The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-12-17
A HIGHWAYMAN,S CAREER.
A Rival and an Elopement-The Terror oil
the Alleghenies-A Politician in Arkan-
sas-Exposure, Flight, Rum, and Death.

sas-Exposure, Flight, Rum, and Death.
William Hill, patient in q private asy-
lum near Glasgow, Scotland, died few
weeks ago. Many years ago there lived
in Iredell county, North Carolina, re
spected Presbyterian minister named
Curry, the pride of whose life was an
only son, Nixon, by name, in whose train
ing the good man took peculiar delight.
! The young man won the affections OF a
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 age of
fifteen, her devotion to young Curry be-
came SO manifest that her parents, wish
ing to secure for her what they viewed as
better alliance, forbade further inter
course between the two. AS a natural
consequence, clandestine 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 the Southern states
men, and her parents tried to compel her
acceptance, whereat she eloped with
young Curry. The couple were over
taken. Then the young man turned and
shot his rival, who led the pursuit, kill
ing him instantly. The young couple
then renewed their flight. After long
and heated chase Curry took refuge with
his bethrotned in the Allegheny Noun
tains, near the head waters of the Ca
tawba, and there, outlawed from society,
/ he became a highwayman, and speedily
achieved n dreaded notoriety by the
number and character of his daring ex-
ploits. The Governor of North Caro-
lima offered $4,000 for his arrest, and
to hunt him down. Suddenly he was
missed from North Carolina. 1t was sup
posed he had died, or that he had chang
ed his base of operations.
One day, mt the time of the first set
! tlement of the fertile delta of the st.
Francis River, in what is now Arkansas,
an immigrant appeared in the district
calling himself John Hill. He was a
handsome, amiable man, and though hav-
ing only moderate means, extended a
generous hospitality to all who visited his
beautiful little home, rendered doubly at
tractive by the presence Of lovely wife.
In short time he became the most popu
lar man in the settlement, and so lie con-
tinued for ten or twelve years. He was
repeatedly elected to the Legislature,
and there he was distinguished for power
full and impassioned eloquence. He be-
came leader in the ranks of his party,
was a member of the convention that
| framed the State Constitution, and rep
resented his district in the Senate of
! Arkansas.
Hills most intimate acquaintances
/ &c
wealth and ambition. A close intimacy
sprang mp between them, and Hill, in an
unguarded moment, made the elder
Strong conversant with his previous his
tory, telling him that he was the notori-
Gus Nixon Curry of North Carolina.
! 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
a requisition for his arrest and copy of
the reward offered for his capture. The
four brothers, powerful and determined
as they were, well knowing the character
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 approaching the
main entrance and demanding his sur
render, 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 a few articles he set
out with his wife and children for Upper
Arkansas, where he knew of the exist
ence of a band of desperadOes whose
members he had reason TO believe would
protect him. He was overtaken at Con-
way Court House, and halting his wagon
and admonishing his wife and children
to keep their places, he stepped forth in
the face of his pursuers, and i'll few
eloquent words told them why he had
quilted North Carolina, at the same time
assuring his pursuers that he would not
be taken alive. The gallantry of the
action operated in his favor, and the pur-
suit was abandoned. Constant pursuit
had already made him morose and quar-
relsome, and he began to drink heavily
and resort to the gambling table as a
means of support. One day in Septem-
ber, 1845, while seated at breakfast he
told his wife that he had premonition
of death, and felt that he should be
killed that day before sunset. Calling
his son William, bright boy of four
teen, he male him swear to kill the man
who should kill his father.
The Circuit Court of Pope county
being i'll session, he attended it with a
young man named Howard, who was en-
gagged to his eldest daughter. AS soon as
they reached the village Hill began to
drink and exhibited an unusual disposi-
ton 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 q
tiger, he turnedupon the youth and felled
him to the floor, at the same time draw
ing pistol, and exclaiming: "Kill me,
or III kill youl" The man, in moment
Of extreme anguish, drew knife and
buried it in the bowels OF Hill. He died
soon after.
Howard quit Arkansas, and severa
years later was heard of in San Antonio
Texas, where he joined the Confederat,
forces under the command of Col. Long
A Al. r IL. A