The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-03-16

Ihe western DlseFlcl OF virginia, 10 succeed
Capt. W. S. Lu:ty.
The anti-polygamY bill has passed both
branches of Congress and now goes to the
President. The effect will contribute 10 the
destruction OF polygamy in the United States
Mr. John G. Watts, at present Common
wealth's Attorney for Tazewell county, Va.
has been appointed U. S. Marshal for the
Western District of Virginia to succeed Hon
John F. Lewis, resigned.
Senator Lybrook and horse were precipita-
ted over an embankment in Henry county
while returning home from the railroad depot,
last week, and be experienced fearful bruises,
The horse was instantly killed.
The Legislature assemblies in extra SEES
sion to-day, the 10Th. 1t will have much
important business to transact, and unless
the Bourbons persist in their obstructive
purpose, can dispose of it all within rea-
sonable time.
There is new invention by which crude
petroleum is to be used for blast furnace fol
working OF steel. A test has been made al
rels of petroleum are sufficient for the work
ing Of ton of steel.
Hon. Sam'l Blatchford, judge of the District
Court for New York, has been appointed
associate Justice of the U. S. Supreme Court
to succeed Judge Hunt. The appointment OF
Judge Blatchford is highly commended by the
press of both parties, and is regarded as a very
wise selection.
Rev. j. L. NJ. Curry. agent for the Peabody
Fund, stated in an address which he delivered
a few days since before the House Committee
on Education, that there were two million
children in the Southern States who have moi
the proper school advantages, and that there
are eight hundred thousand colored children
at school in the same section, an increase of
one hundred thousand during the past year.
1t is understood that the subcommittee OF
the Committee on Ways and Means has virtu
ally agreed upon bill reducing the internal
revenue tax on whiskey and tobacco, and re-
moving the tax entirely from a number of ar
ticles embraced in schedule "a" The total
amount of reduction in the internal revenue
to be effected by the bill is estimated at abo III
$70,O00,000.
A letter from Geo. W. Melville. of the
United States Navy, who was with 1t. De
Long, of the Inflated Jeanette, gives the in
formation that the gallant commander of the
vessel, with the greater part of the crew, per.
ished at the mouth of the Lena. The tragic
fate of Franklin is repeated in that of DeLong
while seeking to unfold the mystery of the ice
sealed Polar Sea.
DR.. Barksdale, the elected superintendent OF
the Central Lunatic Asylum, when the action
of the Directors was made known in the cleo
ton of DR.. Brooks to succeed him, submitted
protest, claiming that the board had no right
to displace him, except fer cause, during his
term. II is intlmated that he and the Other
officials busted, will seek legal redress and take
their case to the Supreme Court. By act OF
the Legislature their offices become vacant
April LIST.
The letter we publish in another column
from Gen. Malone to the committee of invi
tation to celebration of Washngton's birth
day at Boston will be read with interest A.
piece of composition it is graceful and per
spicuous; as the expression of sentiment it is
all that could be expected of representative
of Virginia in the United States Senate; and
as a clear presentation OF the situation and
influences operating in Virginia, encouraging
We commend it to the careful perusal of oul
readers.
The sentence of Sergeant Mason, who
shot at Guiteau. in his prison, while on
guard, is very severe. He was tried by
court martial. and the result is that he is to
be dishonorably discharged from the ser.
vice of the United States, with the less OF
all pay and allowance now due to
him, or that may become due, and
then TO be confined at hard labor in
such penitentiary as the proper authority
may direct for eight years. The sentence
has been approved by Gen. Hancock. Pc
titions are in circulation for the pardon of
the accused.
The war feeling in Europe has somewhat
subsidized. especially since the reproof from the
Gar of Russia, administered to the Russian
General for his impetuous speech on the rela-
tions of Russia and Germany. It is asserted,
in some quarters, that this abatement of APP
prehension is merely on the surface, and that
there still exists in both natiOnalties c0ndi-
ton of fretful uneasiness and bitter resentment
1t is, however, only question of time when
the relations of the several great powers in
Europe will be anything but peaceful. The
% ,Iar OF,
ciety, and the growing dissatisfaction of the
masses. will either precipitate national con-
ficts or domestic upheavals.
We stated last week that Mr. J O. Massey,
an aged and highly respected citizen of Abe
marie county, and bis wife, who lived nine
miles southeast of Charlottesville, had been
brutally murdered. They were known to b.
in good circumstances, and it was supposed
that it was for plumber the murder was COM
mltted. Circumstances led to the suspicion
that several young men named Rhodes living
several miles distant, were the perpetrators Of
the deed Evidence developed and two of the
Rhodes boys and the mother were arrested but
James Rhodes, the instigator and chief agent
in the crime made his escape A reward was
offered for him. but it is thought he will not be
caught. He had but recently returned home
after an absence of several years, during
which time, it is said he served term in the
Tennessee penitentiary. The cause OF his leay-
ing home was that he attempted to kill his
mother and sister by poisoning the spring
from which they got the water they used.
The Sub Committee OF the House of Repre-
sentatives has completed the consideration OF
the contested election case of Bisbee against
Finley, second district of Florida, and prepared
report in favor of Bisbee, Republican. The
report is signed by the three Republican mem
bers of the committee, and Hon. John Paul,
Independent Mr.. Beltzhoover is the Demo-
cratic member and it is thought he may sign
the report. The testimony shows conclu
siyely that Bisbee was elected by 839 votes, al
though Finley was counted In" by 1852 ma
jority. 1t is known that the Second District
of Florida is Republican, and that the candi
date of that party has been three times counted
out by the Democrats, but in one contest Bis
bee was seated by Democratic Congress al
the heel of the session, after the Democrat had
drawn nearly his full salary. 1t is but fair
and ripht that Mr. Rishpe shou1d he seated