Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-04-19

sst iu the County Court room on yester-
day, a verdict Of unsound mind a re-
turned by the jury summoned in the case
BY Sheriff Anderson. Steps will be
taken to have a guardian appointed to
take charge of the estate of the dsfenl.
ant, so as to protect it from waste and
loss.
The Mississippi levee is broke at Delta
and the angry waters now Aow into the
Yazoo Pass, Ccldwater and Tallahatchie
rivers, overAowingthe surrounding plant.
atoms in the lowlsnds. The break oc.
Cured on Monday evening and it is do
ing considerable damage to planting in
terests. No details or particulars as to
the damage done has as yet reached us.
In a criminal point Of view Memphis
is fearfully dull, as but few arrests are
made by our efficient police patrolmen
either by day or night and crime is at a
discount in our midst. OF course there
is some petty thieving going on, but no
crimes Of any magnitude are committed
here as Of yore. Indeed, Memphis at
present, is the most peacaole city on the
continent.
Oxford, Mississippi, has contracted with
Randle, Heath 4 Livermore, the we'll.
known feundyymen of our city, for the
iron work of the Cook 4 Heath patent
jail, which the 0xouions intend building
in their city in order to prevent the .es-
cape Of criminals. Over this celebrated
patent Jail should be inscribed the we'll.
known poetical motto: Eye who enter
here leave hope behind"
Decoration Day at EImwood comes of
on the 24th Of May next. The Southern
ladies of our city should go to work and
organize for the great anniversary. As
a correspondent Of the Appeal Of this
morning says: Arise, people of Mem.
phis, and do something as to this noble
cause, especially you ladies Of the
Christian churches. Let each one take
sweet flowers aud lay them on the graves
Of our dead heroes and patriots"
A little case of shooting with intent to
kill, which took place between two
negroes a few days since, was up for
hearing yesterday before Esquire Spell.
man. all day a crowd of about two
hundred negroes, men, women and chill
dren, congregated around the magis-
trate's Office, blockading the sidewalk and
street, and each seemed to be intent on
hearing the case in all its developments
as to facts and law. As an admirer Of
the science Of law the negro stands
ahead of all other races OF people. There
is a mystery about it that captiyates the
superstitious mind OF the black man.
Now hat a lady has invited the men
to refrain from smoking, chewing and
other ex%travagances and give the money
which would be spent for these social
~luxuries to the poor, on in~corrigible
bachelor rises and demands for the same
good cause that the ladies' OF the city re.
frain from wearing expensive hats, pin.
backs and other costly mysteries Of the
toilet and contribute the cost of the same
in like manner, on the principle of the
old adage, whats sauce for the goose
is Auc for the gander." Our social SCI.
euce commissioner is of opinion that but
little revenue will be derived from these
propositions coming from either side Of
humanity, for as Shakespeare says: "Dost
thou think that because thou art virtu-
GUS there shall be no more cakes and
| ale ?" atc