, 1877-12-31
DEECIIEIs.
Ills 81 Life Of Christ" rlnrca Him Once More
on "tiso Ragged Edge"

nccchcr's "1.t'o Of Christ" II will bo rcmem-
berc,1, went up like kite.
Yesterday It can,c back like a boomerang.
In brief, Dcccl,cr is called upon to pay back
$4,000 and the royalty thus fAr received, md
damages TO tho amount OF $4,000 will bo dc.
manicI lrotn him.
Such wns the emphatic bombshell whtchburst
in Brooklyn yesterday afternoon.
II appears That IN 1868 lceehcr entered into
contract with Mc.trs. J. D. Fprll 4 Co. to write
life Of Christ In two volumes: lie was to have
$4,000 cash down, atld o certain royalty besucs
on every volume sold. 1t was stipulated that
lc should begin at once, md 70 on ilni.hing
The work In eighteen months, or as soon there
after n practicable. -...
pcccher besa', to write, sud tho Fesls spent
MONEY larlshly in pictures, cngrarings, presses,
paper. and composition.
Orders flooded tho mnfl-bnGs.
It looked NJ though fortunes wero to bo made
on the instant.
Then llcccl.cr 1agge1.
Copy dhln't come to hand.
Money wns spnnt In car-fArc, stationery, poat.
age-stamrs, md stoc-lcather to induce the rev.
esrnd author to hurry NY.
:lho iirst volume was finished, untl sold we'll.
but COPY still Jagged.
In other words, although nearly ten years nro
pasAed and gone, the second volume Is only
half written, tho publishers aro In bankruptcy,
md 1itlGntion ts oi, tho tapts.
Mr. Ritter, tho Assignee, offered TO sci! all
tho i1rm's ELECTS, atno1lg which WIS tho +" Lilo
Of Christ" A man. then unknown, authorized
the Asslgnee to pny f2.5O0 for the work at
! private sale. On consultation with the RcgIeter
10 tsanKrnDtcr, tho Ass'snee asceEta:l1rd that he
| had nn power 70 soil t. privately. THEA lie Was
authorized to bid up to that figure nj II sale by
| auction.
this prize were. tug, F1r:1s. Btechcr, and the
| Christian CH:oa Publishing Company. The
Forsls wero not In position to purchase.
Decchcr wns out OF town, and waa to be ont Of
represented tho Publishing Company. failed
to take my interest In the matter. They all
Brcrneu 10 overlook tho 5nct that the co,tsriet
was part and parcel Of tue assets to lo sold. It
Is updcrstooi that ono bright legal luminary
| decided that 1}cecfler WINS not Responsible be-
cause tic Furs hail failed tn publish, but that
was kuockcd & ureat deal higher than the Kite
by tho mild remark Tint Gyen the M Foras couldn't
ten. Another snga euunsctor inststci. Tint tho
statute Of Limitations would protect ueccller,
hut the fact nevertheless, re'sHincd TINT eAo
! Cpptract WA n sealed instrument, and, there
FORE, binding for twenty. years.
Mrnnwisilo ttu,e waa E!id!ne swiftly, und The
day nf tho salc drew near.
not 30 ms Of tho srihe Of BceeheF.
Thu desks, mil CHAIRS. ind sufIs were sold,
antl presently, 50 How much an, I o(rcrnl for
sTha Lie oi Christ /" nskcd tho ar,ctloncer.
"What goes with IT,, said NIL elderly 'nar, In
Rpccs with nrgo double chin, pickwvkian
| sts,nlach. and 1nltn rubber RllOrs.
"All tho publishing paranllcrnalfa. books,
platcs, pictures, nuA contsaet,h replied tho 8ue,
iioneor. "Arl how much docs tic Ecntlcmuu
:" One Thousand do3lars,r salt Pckwlck.
aOnc tIousaill dol!arAt On, ehnmc! Oh dc
One s',.usana tlollars for Henry Ward 8ecshcr'a
CVme now, my friends. Rnllv rounti tho stanta
Soys; rally uy,ce agalts. What do you olfert
What do hedrt"
Ono thousand dollars,' was tho calm re-
vi Y7,,r r,v .vor,1f Wall ccn,temer jlosyr
| shc uues, Uue thousapd lIo,lnrs, once, twtec
third and lust caj.-si, ,O fur tho Life vi Chris
10 M, -t,'
- Mr. Cnsh,a ..
"Uh! al,! Call In tomorrow, pay your blli
anl settle at ths.;lesk, slr.'
Mr, Cas', rai,e,i tho next ,tny nntl settled
and INSTANTLY placed his papcrs Il, thu hand
uf Mr, Dscrjler's ancient opponent, ex.Judg,
William Fullerton, With Instructions to pro
law provides. -,
Tl,v runtIemon's other name IA Wright, bu
) further Information Is not yct offered on tina
subject, Judge Fullerton simply know him a
: Mr.. Wright, Atr. Ritter addressed hlm respect
fully as hlr, Cash, and Ford II Co., In tho com
nart @ pe,son Il tso.s literary ,assnsr, was so,r
I to sny tint hu had no Information on the sui
j, Jet; ,ro vn,,,r,oo ro.,.,,,r b., tno .on, ,,c
ulacci In cOryjst's iur,tls, a,,I wben scun last
!: eyorI1,e, saii; = Ihe wtiolo matter is il nut
shell, mud Il very simple. Mr.. Hccehcr madc
In spitu Of tiiat ilo obtalnol $lO.0O0 from III
and subsequent royalties, all of which, with 1t
i. icrest, ns must ply hack, bes|aes rompcnsatsn
u 81 the 9a.n256es " .astai"ea" 1 ....o,. ;,
= original contractors stoo.lt'
i ITrcciacly. liz tla,i bought a1l their rsQh
title, and Interest IN tlio wl,olo thing. Tho fal
i, Seceer + terribly i 9'sma j. @ tse !! 1at,s "
!. Hnarf",' b"".sne in,niorine. beseechiur hin