Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1882-12-02
A Horrible Story,

EVANSVILLE, IND, Nov. GA
startling story comes from Spotts-s
vile, small town upon Green
river. in Kentucky, about eighteen
miles from this city and was reia-
ted TO passengers on the steamer
Grace Morris, which arrived here
this afternoon. About five miles
back of town lives farmer named
Thomas Hughes, his family con-
4sisting of his wife and three chill
dren, the youngest being an infant
of six months the Oldest five years,
a boy the second three years old, a
girl, and the youngest also a girl.
The Hughes were old-time Baptists,
and faithfully attended services in
a little church situated on the road
some six miles from Spottsville at
every Sunday morning service and
also at Sunday-school in the after
noon. On yesterday morning they
took lunch with them and remained
for afternoon exercises. Those who
attended were the father, mother,
and the two oldest children, leaving
the infant at home in charge of a
col0red female servant. Some time
after their departure she desired to
make visit to neighboring coll
ored family, and making a pallet
on the floor in front of the fire.
place, she placed the baby upon it,
and locking the door, departed to
make the call. She was absent
until dark. In the meantime the
family returned from church. They
were unable to obtain entrance at
first, as the key of the door was not
in its accustomed place under the
doorstep, but was finally found on
a window-siil. They entered, and,
on going into the kitchen, the par
ents of the little one lying before
the fire, were startled by the scam
pering of rats from the body of the
child, who lay bitten and lacerated
almost beyond the recognition of
its mother. It's face and neck pre-
sented terrible appearance. The
little ones nose and ears had been
bitten. off, while its throat, COM
pletely to the spinal column, was
eaten out. The little ones eyes
were sucked from their sockets, and
cheeks gnaWed from the Jaw to the
cheekbone. An investigation re-
suited in discovering the fact that
the little ones feet had also been
almost eaten off. All the toes were
gone, and the flesh had been bitten
off up to the ankles. Some warmth
yet remained in the infants body,
but it is evident that it had been
dead for several hours.
HONESTLY and justly should the
laws be executed. No present good
or necessity of partisan policy can
justify wrong-doing by a party in
power. There will be no need,
because OF the decisive Democratic
majority, for the substitution of the
non-elect for the elect, and, what
ever the vices of Republican major
tiles when ejecting and seating
members, the Democrats will not
follow their unworthy example.
1t was the loss of moral character
that lost Republlcanism its pro-
tracted mastery of the country.
Reformation i'm official morals is as
indispensable as in practical politi-
cal and partisan action. Republi-
cans only ridiculed and despised
Andrew johnson because he con-
stantly appealed to the Constitution
and the laws. These have been
violated shamelessly and set at
naught until the people absolutely
proposed, in condemning the Re
publican party, to condemn perjury.
Hubbell was only the impersona-
ton of vices which the country
abhorred.l Therefore the Democrat.
ic Congress, aside from its addict
edness to the philosophy of "strict
construction" will obey the laws
and interpret them with judicial
and non partisan fairness. Men
will be given seats, in cases of con-
tested elections, as the law and
right and decisions of courts direct
and not as partisan selfishness die
tates. No such gross outrages will
be practiced upon successful Repub-
licans claiming seats i'm the House
as Democrats have been forced to
tolerate, and law and right, in ODE
dience to partisan necessities, will
not be violated. Democracy means
the government of the people, and
the people in recent action at the
ballot-bOx have shown that they
condemn knavery and will approve
honesty.-Anaericdg Register iii Z