The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1882-01-26
A Strange Story.

a strange story comes from Union
county, Ark, but il is as true as it is
strange, TO wit: That three young men
were sitting on their horses in the road,
| discussing the probabilities Of rain from
cloud which just then was rising in the
west. The youngest Of the group. named
John Freeman, referred TO the drought,
| and remarked that God who would allow
His~peoplc TO suffer this couldn't amount
TO much. As he was speaking thi. the
boys were encircled with lightning and the
speaker stunned severely though his com
panions we're unscathed Recovering. he
renewed the subject, reyling the SUI
prcne Power. Instantly, Il bolt
Of lightning flashed from the cloud
overhead and The young man fell dead in
his tracks. Nearly ever bone in Iii.
boots were torn from his feet and the
clothing from hi. lower ex.remi,ies. The
body presented horrible appearance,
being a blackcned and mangled mass Of
humanity. His companions were stunn-
ell and thrown on the ground, but no,
seriously injured. The funeral OF the
| unfortunate young man occurred the next
day, and attracted {. large crowd, Tie iarg-
| er portion Oi whom were drawn ihitlIer by
| the rumor Of The strange events preced-
ing the death Of Tic deceased When the
body MAS deposited in the grave aud the
loose earth had been thrown in until the
| aperture was filed, and while the friends
Of the dead man yet fingered in the
cemetery. a bolt of lightning descended
from cloud directly over the burial
| place and struck thc grave, throwing the
dir. as il a rlvw had passed lengthwise
through il, No one was injured but
those present scattered almost paraIyzed
with terror. The incident is exciting a
great deal Of attention ministers and
religious people generally holding that
the young man was the victim Of the
wrath OF an offended God, while others
assert that the case was simply a
wonderful coincidence, having no connec-
ton With causes either physical or super
natural
MAJORITY RULE IN THE JURY Room.
The Massachusetts Legislature has be
fore II bill, which is the result of 4
feeling Of considerable strength in the
community and among jurists, that justice
should not be defeated by the want of
absolute unanimity in n jury. How
large proportion of the jury should be
required TO give verdict is not fixed by
the bill, and it is presumed that there
will be long and careful discussion of its
practical bearings, even if the principle
is admitted at all. Bu, it is felt by many
that the opportunities which are now
given 10 the prisoner 20 prove his limo
ccnce, and the additional safeguards ii
the law against injustice, might be fairly
Offset by some provision against fraud ]
cbstinacy in the jury box, if one can be
devised that is equitable and practicable
It will not be easy, however, to fix limit
and the advocates Of the change may be
told that the better way for reform
would be to give n better choice in the
jury, rather than in necessity OF it.
unanimity. That there is room fol
improvement will probably not be deniec
f by anybody who thinks Of the man,
notable instances of the defeat Of iustic,
, through fraud or ignorant obstinacy il
! the jury box.