Smyrna times., 1880-11-10

SHERIFF FRANCIS NJ. Dunn of this county
retires from his Office, we think, with the
full expression of the people as having
made competent and efficient officer. If
there has been one word of censure for
| any official act, we have not heard it. His
successor Thomas T. Lacey of Frederick is
well spoken of.
IT used to be the law that. mill owners
were required to keep up their dams in
good travelling condition for the benefit
of the public who used it. By an act of
recent session of the Legislature, the
mending of holes, worn planks, &C., is the
work of the road overseer and the people
must hold him responsible for their condi.
ton as any other place they pass over.
They seem, some of them at least, to have
forgotten it, if they ever knew it.
| The election news on the morning of
publication seemed so decisive as after the
first feelings of victory on the one side and
defeat on the other, to put politics to a
peaceful rest. And so it was, but on Thurs
day evening from two or three sources news
came, without proper authority it is true,
but that which had been put to bed sud-
| denly sprang up with a new vigor, and on
that evening and Friday excited more feel
ing than on the first and correct news
The statement was that New York bad
after all been carried for Hancock, or Gar
field had a questionable majority. 1t set
things about face for a time, and altogether
kept politics the uppermost subject for the
whole week.
DESPERATE FIdHT.-On Monday morning
last about daybreak difficulty occurred
between two of the colored hands at tho
residence of Mr.. Horace Spruance near
town thatresulted in bloody reencounter.
While Cesar Potts, the cook, was pouring
some water from the kettle, some of it ac-
cidently fell on the foot of "Phil," one of
the farm hands who had his foot resting
on the stove. Phil Immediately sprang up
and tried to smash Caesars head with q
chair. Caesar in turn broke his skillet over
the head Of Phil. Phil then seized a
butcher knife but after several severe cuts il
was wrested from him by Caesar, who dealt
him some severe blows. At this time Mr.
Spruance appeared Oh the scene and sepa
rated the bloody contestants, the efforts oil
the other men failing. Phil was driven
out of the house and told to go to the barn
to his work. 1t so happened that in the
light the kettle was up set and the fire put
{ out. Cesar had to GO to the barn for new
kindling, where Phil seeing him seized &
corn knife and commenced to carve hin
up savagely. Cesar was again too mucf
/ for him; after desperate struggle tn;
/ knife was wrenched from his hand and b,
, in turn got desperate hacking. Mr..
again separated them and drove " Phil" of
the farm, and he went down the road sing
7 ing with the blood streaming down hi
r face. Both parties were severely cut abou
D the head, face and body, and the wonde
is that one or both were not killed. Case
did stand in danger from a severed AFTER
r which was taken up by DR.. Swinney. Tn
q following night "Phil" returned clime
into the sleeping room and the fight wa
renewed with revolvers, but both me
were caught and held until Mr.. Spruanc
could come. Caesar was locked up and
G threat to have an officer to arrest Phil
}. caused him to make hurried exit fror
:. the place, and it is supposed from tn
State. Caesar has been living with Mr..
y for some time and has been uniforml
d peaceable and quiet. Phil came there tw
rs or three months ago from Maryland an
Il had been drinking the night before.
u KENT COUNTY TEACHERS INsTIUTE.-Th
es following is the programme of the lnstitut
8, to meet here one week from to-day:
ia WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER nth.
Afternoon, "a O'Clock.
le Organization.
"a Music.
80 Assigning of Homes.
. Discussion. subject. Institutes.
- Report of the Executive Committee.
ID Nomination of Officers
n. Evening, ~ O'Clock.
le Music.
IN Prayer.
~ Music.
ks Select Reading.
Lecturer. Dr. VIM. Il. Purnell
ry Music.
50 THURSDAY.
y. Morning. 80 O'Clock.