The Osceola times., 1882-06-03

prison by another convict whom he
threatened to murder at the first oppor-
tunity. There was no reason TO doubt
that Jeffries told the truth IL was consis-
tent with bis character. He was a per-
feet devil of man. JetfTies was about
10 years of age and a lover of Mrs, Bur.
dell or Mrs Cunningham. DR.. Burdell
was often out at all hours of the night on
professional business. On these occa-
sions Jeffries used to visit the mouse this
is what he told himself. Several times
when he called be found Mrs. Burdell
crying and asked her what was the mat
ter. She told him that the doctor had
been abusing her. On one occasion he
replied 'Ill fix the old man If you only
say So The la st time he called be found
Mrs. Burdell weeping. She told him the
same story. 'pll fix the old -
Where is he p he exclaimed, with great
anger. He's down in the Office she re-
piled. Jeffries went down stairs to the
office with knife in his hand. Opening
the door cautiously, he saw the doctor
seated at desk, with his back turned to-
ward the door. He crept quietly up to
and plunged the knife into his neck. The
doctor sprang up instantly and caught
hold OF the young man, but at the same
time received several more stabs. The
doctor was large, powerful man, aud
swung the youth about, but could not
get possession of the knife. They strug-
gled around the room, the doctor an the
time receiving fresh stab-wounds. lie
finally became weak from loss of blood,
and Jeffries made his escape. When tel
ling this story Jeffries said.
cat one time thought | was goner.'
lie killed two men after this-the last
man was a relative of his-for which he
was sentenced to Imprisonment for life.
lie made the confession in confidence to
a fellow-convict. Jeffries threatened to
kill another convict, and one day when
Jeffries was reading a book in the hay
loft, the man he threatened came up be-
hind him with an axe and sn ote him
dead. For this he was acquitted"
The subject again changed TO the Fisk
shooting 10y Stokes, and to Stokes new
hotel just opened.
Stokes was picked up by the million
aire Mackey of California, and the half
interest in the Hoffman house was
bought for him." was the information
impaired by one of the group.
"That shooting of Fisk was the most
open anL daring case of murder commit.
ted in this city for some time" urged a
patient listener.
"Well, now, one must know the cir
Gun stances to judge properly of that
case" spoke up the justice, adding:
Stokes had to shoot Fisk to save himself.
At that time Fisk and Tweed had every
thing in the city pretty much their own
way. Many man was railrcaded into
state prison by those men for nothing at
all. Stokes knew thst about as well as
any man in the city, and when Josie
Mansfield was taken away from Fisk the
latter would stop at nothing TO get even
with Stokes" Very little discussion WIS
held over this subject.
The question of whether crime was
hereditary came up, and Justice Patter-
son recalled two instances as follows:
II knew gentleman who was well-to-
do in business. He was church nem
ber, and stoo high in the community
He had a most excellent wife, and one
ron aud daughter After the birth Of
the daughter, the father took to drink,
left the church and became an inveterate
drunkard He Rad six children after
this three sons and three daughters. All
six turned out bad. The three sons were
sent TO state prison, and two OF the
daughters husbands were also sent to
state prison, and they were bad them
selves. The first son and daughter were
models of rectitude, and the son did all
he could for bis unfortunate brothers.
The other day | had Red Fogalty'
and his wife before me at an examination
in Jefferson Market court about silk
dress which had been stolen from house
and sold by Mrs. Fogarty 10 the woman
who was arrested in the street with the
dress on Well, Mrs Fogarty carried a
bouncing boy with her, child of about
years, noisy fellow. He did not cry,
but roared, az If angry, and chartered. |
was passing through the examination
ROOM Mrs. FogaIty was standing with
the boy in her arms As passed my
diamond stud ghs;ened little, and the
little fellow made a grab at my shirt
front. caught his hand and put it away,
when he grew perfectly ill-natured and
mad because did so. The badness was
born in him."