Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1877-12-11
General News items.

Nine women have been elected coun-
ty superintendent of schools in Illinois
at this years. county elections.
Eight of the principal business houses
and two dwellings at Athens, Ohio, were
burned on the ard insts The loss is esti-
mated at from 1000 to $4,000.
The county bridge over the Scioto
river near Chillicothe, Ohio, was burn
ed on the 3rd inst. The loss is estimat-
ed at from $50, 900 to 100000.
The Pope has accumulated fund OF
SIS, OQ0,0 900, which is held by Tortonia
and some French and Brussels bankers,
for the pay of ex-pontifical soldiers and
officials, and divers other purposes in
cidental to the papal interest.
The last Ohio Legislature, which was
republican in both branches, passed a
law excluding colored men from the
State militia. White male citizens only
are eligible The colored people think
this strange proceeding and are look
ing around for the cause.
The steamer Massachusetts last Tues
day night took a family from Dorches-
ter county. Md, who go in advance OF
other families from that county as set
tiers in the region of Dymer's creek,
Lancaster county, Va. They take
horses, pigs, farming utensils, and gen
eral farming outfit.
A observation-disclosures Rande, pri-
soner about whom many columns are
published in the Western newspapers,
was captured near st. Louis after he had
killed one Of four policemen who had
hunted him down. Last summer he
murdered man wantonly in st. Elmo,
Ill. and was chased by mob. He shot
down three leaders of the pursuers, one
after another using his revolver with
wonderful GOODNESS and skill. He is
young, educated, and has occupied
Methodist and Presbyterian pulpits.-
He also writes poetry, usually in praise
of the beauty of women.
+ A sensational divorce suit of ar extra
ordinary character came up for trial in
the ST. Louis Circuit Court last Friday
week, and was decided in favor of the
husband On the 9th of March, 1875,
Frank M. Gordon was married at the
Southern Hotel to Estella T. Gordon, a
niece of Hon. Judah P. Benjamin, the
-el-Secretary of State of the South
ern Confederacy. Immediately after the
ceremony Mr.. Gordon made some pecu-
liar discoveries which warranted his APP
plication for a divorce against his wife
of an hour. The case dragged its slow
length along through the courts until
Friday week, when decree was grant
ed IN favor of the plaintiff.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF DELE
GATEs.-Mr. Henry G. Allen, the new
ly elected Speaker of the Virginia House
of Delegates, is native of Botetourt
county, but since the war has resided at
Woodstock, Shenandoah county, where
he married. He is son of the late Judge
John J. Allen, who was for anumber OF
years judge of the Virginia Court OF
Appeals. Mr.. Allen il about thirty five
years of age, graduate of the Univer-
sity of Virginia, a lawyer by profession,
and was for a short time judge OF
Shenandoah County Court. He was a
r TT
Gus which nominated Mr.. Allen he was
pressed for the peakership because OF
his pronounced views in favor of de-
handing REIMBURSEMENT o. the State
debt, and upon that issue alone was
chosen over Hon. Marshall Hanger, the
able Speaker of the House for the past
six years.
The POna iS rpnOrtad tn ha uorca