New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-05-29
GENERAL MOTIFS.

Before police cOurt in the town Of Meath
wales, fortnight ago, william Sparks WIS summo,}
Tor beating speranza Riley. He admitted the assault
but pleaded Justification Of a remarkable character ~
declared that the woman profcssed tell fortunes ana
went aDOui the country swndlng people He had baA,
trying to make cheescs but four OF them went %,
Jely In the process After he lad beaten tho woman
his cheeses came ont perfectly when asked If he be-
ieyed the woman to be witch he replied that he Vos
sure Of it, and when fined ten shings and costa h.
said that this was better than having his property
spoiled In remote parts Of Wales the belief in witch.
cfait ana IN many Old superstiOns Is sill prevalent
put II IL amazing that In nOurishiBg town OF nearly
10000 inhabitants such defence should have been
cOnscientiOuslv offered.
A gigantic hoax which angered and amused
the Australians, and possibly alarmed hern though they
won't admit it, was recently imposed upon Melbourne
newspaper IL stated that Admiral Asian the
commander OF the Russian squadron which recently Wis
tied the colonies, communicated to foreigner named
Bryant the contents Of dispatch from the Rus
sian Minister OF Marine in which he was instructed to
ascertain the condition OF Australian dcfences tbs
amount OF contribution each colony could pay and
whether the Irish would assist the Invaders The Admit
raj replied In cipher stating that Melbourne was AT his
mercy. and that the riches and stores were ncacsbe
Bryant Is represented assisting in the 90
the reply In the capacity Of trusted secret agent OF
Ruseia His reason for diyugng the story the
squadron had quilted Australia that he had received
that man named Bryant had had interviews with tho
Admiral, to whom he wished sell a torpedo. The Ad.
mral thought sufficiently the ngne telegraph
Bryants offer TO Russia but the weapon declined
The police Dave since identified Bryant French refu-
gee fronl New-C alcdOnia.
Missouri has ALWAYS suffered from a super.
abundance OF knaves aud blackguards who have given
to her unsavory reputation which recent events have
not tended to sweeten The latest offence against
deoency in that State Is respects the most sin.
gular Judge HenryD. Laughln, of the st. Louis Grim
inal Court having rendered decision affecting certain
gambling brought before him. took great offence at
q criticism of his decision published in The ST. Louis
Ereaiag Chronicle and doubling his power punish the
Editor, Mr. Stanley Waterloo for contempt adopted an
other method, and Monday last sent him the fol-
lowing letter: Sir That you may have
plead surprise when we next meet you now notified
to make such preparations for emergency you
may best. shall make it my business to you
soon" Inasmuch as he had previously announced 10
Mr. that he intended to postpone the vndica
on Of the rights Of the Court until the rights OF the c
zen are Viudcaed and had given notice that he should
wait for re racion or the name Of the author Of the
criticism no longer than the setting OF the sun ON Mon
day evening, ony one Interpretation could be put upon
his letter The editor was prepared but 81 last
counts the belgerent Judge had not met his Waterloo
A statement in the form of an affidavit,
TO by three respectable colored citizens Of Ok
ford, Granville County n. C., which has been sent to
TIE TRIBUNE, describes the present poverty and pros
pective distress of the cOored people IN that vicinity
The affidavit says: "The crops OF last year were
failure in corn, wheat oats, tobacco, etc. Up to this
time we been able to make out to feed families.
But from until wheat harvest about six weeks on
there is help for many Of U.S. and suffering is nev
liable, and in perhaps starvation The Coun
" Commissioners OF this county have made pro.
vision for any persons except absolute paupers, and
appeal to the charity Of friends for the relief
OF suffering human beings Whatever may be given in
their behalf shall be placed in the hands Of discreet and
honest men, who shall that none but the needy
supplied The above statement Is verified by respect
able men and any correspondence upon this subject
NAV be carried through L. W. Lasiter who Is
friend and n United States Commissioner who will
report what charitable friends may be pleased
TO do" This is said to be "A in which adequate
local assistance be reasonably expected for tho
reason that almost the entire community is suffering
from the failure Of crops.