Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-05-01
FROM CHICAGO.
Correspondence of the Ledger

ling nature, closely verging on a ira
gedy. But such was the case. While
the religiously inclined were returning
from different places of worship a
thrilling scene was being enacted in
the Criminal Court, presided over by
Judge Rodgers. Briefly told it was
this The jury in the Stevens murder
case had just given their verdict of
IA years in the penitentiary against
the prisoner, Peter +. Stevens, who
murdered his young wife last summer
by shootingher Stevens was being con-
Quoted from the courtroom by ,Jailer
Currier, when Mrs. Young, the mother
Of the murdered wife, rushed up to
Stevens, put a pistol to his head. pulled
the trigger. and it snapped! Yes, the
little gun did not go off. Why? Be
cause the handkerchief in which the
weapon was kept concealed insinuated
itself between the hammer and the
cartridge. Thus a little bit of cam
brio spared the life of a murderer.
Mrs. Young made a second effort to
cock the pistol and it was only by a
vigorous exertion of giant power that
Colonel Currier wrenched the weapon
from her. She struggled desperately
to carry out her purpose. But the
effort Overcame her, aud she now lies
in a critical condition. She has not
been arrested, and it is not likely
she will as she has the sympa-
thy of the community. 1t is
possible she will die from the
prostration caused by the strain
upon nature of the eighteen long days
Of the exciting trial. The verdict of
the jury is accounted really remark
able. 1t is impossible for any intelli-
gent mind to reconcile itself to the
belief that other than a verdict of
murder in the first degree should have
been returned. 1t appears that at
least one juror, 7. w. Watson. a
printer, was of this opinion up to the
very last moment, but finally gave in.
If Peter is a good boy he will only
have seven years and three months to
serve. This is in accordance with a
State law Of 1872. A motion has been
made for new trial, but it is likely
Pete will set this aside for fear another
jury might be printers like Wat
son. To-day Pete had his red mus
tache amputated and distributed
among the Jail birds as souvenirs. In
Il few days he will be down with Chi
Cages Angel.
by the way, is it not strange that a
jury will find two unfortunates, Sherry
and Connolly, guilty of murder, for a
crime committed when crazy with
whisky, and they should be hung.
while such a cool murderer as Stevens
should be merely nominally punished?
To your correspondent it looks bad.
Mark Gray, the mentally light indi-
vldual who target-practiced at actor
Booth, is burning up with some kind
OF fever, and very restless. This pm.
his pulse was up to 100, and no one
but the doctor was allowed to see
him. 1t is more than likely the poor
fellow is mentally diseased.
Thomas Hogan, a grocer in South
Chicago, whom a policeman shot last
week in self-defense, while in the dis
charge Of his duty, is dead. The off
Ger, Lundberg, is under arrest.
The late State treasury robbery at
Springfield, ILL.,, was the cause of the
arrest Of one James Carroll on sus-
picion. James has proved an abb,
and is now free. Jeems was o. X.
Shot dead was little Roger Can
ified yesterday, by a playmate named
Joe Tinan, both aged eleven years. 1t
was all in play.
By the way, if x-President JEFF
Davis is eligible to the United States
senate, and the paople of Mississippi
feel like honoring him again in that
respect, whose business is it but
theirs? Papers in this latitude quote
Southern journals as |deprecating the
sending Of Mr.. Davis to the senate.
Or course any journal has a right to
express its belief about any PROPOSE
ton Of public policy, so has any writer
or verbal freeman consequently your
correspondent takes the liberty to re-
mind the country at large that Mr..
Davis has always been an honor to his
constituents, State and national, and
in every land where the United
States of America is known he
is appreciated for his trans
cendent abilities as a statesman, SOL
der, scholar and social gentleman.
He has no superior in any intellectual
body. The State of Mississippi is un-
der no obligations to cater to the per
sOnal enemies Of Mr.. Davis, North or
South, East or West. If Nh. Davis
is Objectionable because of his rebel
record, then what of Alexander H.
Stephens, General Gordon, General
Chalmers, General Garland, Colonel
Hooker, and the other ~brigadiers y
who fought so CALAMITY for the Con-
tederqoyY What is their position ?
Are they in congress by virtue of a dis
honorable compact or are they there
by national and constitutional right?
There is not an honorable, intelligent
man Of my acquaintance North, leav-
ing politics out, but who would hail
Mr., Davis election to the United
States senate as tho great connecting
link in reconstruction. Mr.. Davis Is
one Of Mississippi's grandest minds,
and ifho is, as | said before, eligible
to national Office, she has no better
selection than he to represent her in
terests in the upper house of the
national legislature.
The Lqgan-Lowe 'unpleasantness"
iS among the sensations. There are
many here who think John A. was a
little on the fence in 1861. OF course,
~ this be was not alone. If Mr..
Lowe is correct in his position, a
iudiciOus hurting hack of Iogonis lie