davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-12-20

JUDGE BARRETT, of New York, a
close observer of evidence in divorce
cases, expresses views on the subject
of marriage as civil contract and as
a sacrament, which show the cause of
vast deal of the unpleasant mar
riages of the age. Though minor
can nowhere enter into contract
which is legally binding, in most Of
the states they may make this most
solemn of all contracts. Judge Bar
nett thinks that nowhere should per-
sons under twenty-one years of age,
be permitted to marry without the
consent of their parents or guar
dians or of proper tribunal. He is
convinced that all marriages, no mat
ter at what age, should be required to
be entered into with more formality
and solemnity than are common at
present. Marriage without ceremony
should be abolished. The law should
not recognize as husband and wife a
man and woman of whose union there
is no evidence but their own word.
He believes that one of two positions
must be taken boldlY-either that laws
be based throughout upon the sacra-
ment idea or upon the civil idea. He
holds that limited divorce should be
abolished; that when divorce is
granted it should be absolute; other
wise there must be scandalous eva
sions of the law.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-12-20
Wanted a Will.

A colored man about sixty years of
age, blind in one eye and walking
with cane, hobbled up into the office
of GrisWoldstreet lawyer yesterday
and announced that he wanted to
make his will.
"Got muc0 property to leave?"
asked the lawyer.
"Well, sab, I'ze possessed of dog,
a cook-Stove, wheelbarrow and two
fatiro1s dat my fust wife left me-
"And whom are you going to leave
them tor"
my darter, Nancy, ober in Indiana
street. I've married again, you know,
an I wants to put dat property whar
my present wife can't git it. She
doan' git muffin belongin' to me if l
can helpIt."
"It will cost you s5 to have a will
drawn"
"Shool Can't cost dat w
eyes, it will"
"Den 1 recken I'll administrate on
my stuff before I die. Would that
work ?"
Certainly"
.Den I'll run the dog off, lend dt
wheelbarrow, pocket de flat-irons, an
stan by to rush de cook stove outen
de house de fust time de old woman
goes to de grocery. Kin L git war.
rant here?
"What for ?"
EUR assault an battery. When de
old woman finds what I'Ze done shell
walk all ober me, an 1 might as well
save time by gittin' out de warrant
now."
He was directed to the proper place
and he went away saying that il
would perhaps be still better to have
her arrested and sent up for ninety
days in advance.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-12-20

REGARDING the proposition to re-
turn old rates of tariff on wool and
other imports, the Philadelphia Rec
ord says:
This is not a good Congress in
which to secure the restoration of any
duty reduced in the tariff act of last
Congress, and accordingly the attempt
to increase the duty on wool will
prove so much labor lost. There could
be no more unreasonable time for
such movement than now, when a
strong current has set in for a general
reduction of duties on raw materials
and necessaries of life. Wool comes
under both descriptions. The average
rate of duties on woolen manufac-
lures is more than 90 per cent, and
can be considerably reduced without
any injury to business interests, and
to the positive advantage of the
masses of the people. In this reduc-
tiOn of duties on Woolen manufac-
lures the wool growers Of the coun-
try will find their interest. More
Spanish. African and Brazilian woods
will be imported, and there will be a
greater and steadier demand for
American woods for mixing with
them. Thus commerce and manufac-
lures, as well as wool growing, will
be benefited by reduction of the du-
ties on woolens. But to restore the
duties on wool would be step back
ward which the present Congress is in
no danger of taking.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-12-20
MARSHALL.
Espselal to The Statesman. |

Especial 10 Inc statesman.
MARSHALL. Dec l7.-This morning about
9 o'clock tho news was announced that John
Dahmer, OF our city, had. committed suicide by
shooting himself through the brain. Coroner
Case at once summoned jury and repaired to
the residence of the unfortunate man and
found him lying on his back on the floor cold
and dead. A pistol was found on the table
near and wound in the forehead just above
the left temple showed too plainly the cause
of his death. After examining the body the
coroner and Jury repaired to tile Office OF the
former where the testimony of several Witness
eS were taken. We will give the facts as n ar
as we can. Mr.. Dahmar had been on health
seeking trip for the last few weeks at Hot
SPRING, Arkansas. aad returned home yester-
day. He was sill in bad health but in seem
ing goO-' spirits. He went to bed rs usual last
night and slept with hts nephew. Mr. Dah-
mer aroused the young man this morning
about O'Clock and told him To go and ope" up
che saloon; this the young man did at about
so'clock. Some one went to Mr.. Dahmer's
was found dead Apistol shot was said t. have
neighbors at about seven o'clock. Nothing is
certain, however, about this. A paper was
found lying Ou the table, on which was written
a check, and note, in German. Mr.. NJ. Is
raelson identified the hand writing ~ being
Mr.. DAhmer's. He said the writing showed
no signs of excitement, but was written in a
nrm, bold manner. The check was as follows
..Messrs. Garrett s Key. Please pay Mrs: e..
WOltL my cash OdldIlce uue me. signed. JnO.
Dahmer, Marshall, Texas, Dec 1S, 1888" This
was written in English The note was trans
lated by Mr.. Israelson into English. 1t was as
follows:
my ailments are so great that cannot live
long, therefore. l am compelled to make an
end of my life, as am unable to look upon my
children and relation any longer, so farewell
all, and remind me to my beloved children -
JOAN Dahrman. As to the circumstances that
have brought about this sad termination of q
useful citizens life. we cannot say. He has
been despondent ever sin his wife's death
about sixte months ago, and lately has beer
in very bad health. His business was prosper
Gus, and family relations pleasant. He was {
member Of the Legion Of Honor. and Knight:
OF Honor. His life was insured for $1,000.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-12-20
WASHINGTON.
News Gathered About the Capital
City.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1S-At meeting of the
Senate committee on finance the nomination
of Walter Evans for commissioner OF internal
revenue was taken up and it was determined
to report the nomination favOrably to the Sen
ate. Senators Sherman, Aldrich and Vorhees
were not present.
The committee on rules of the House met
two committees to be made out OF the old edu-
cation and labor committee, to consider the
two subjects separately, one called the com
mittee on education and the other on labor. 1t
was also decided to recommend the creation OF
a committee on rivers and harbOrS. Inc queS
tion of submitting the improvement OF the
Mississippi river TO the river and harbOr COM
mittee. was discussed The decision OF the
matter was left to the House: 1t was deter
mined to recommend the retention of all select
committees of the last House, except such as
related to personal subjects. The census COM
mittee was dropped also. Mr.. Keifer was in
structed to report a resolution, without recov-
mending its adoption, for the appointment OF a
committee of nine on woman suffrage.
The request that correspondents be admitted
to the House lobby, was considered ana unanl-
mOusly disagreed to.
The commission appointed by Congress to in.
veStigate the railroad mail service, recommend
more complete system of gauging rates to
pay or carrying mails on rail road routes.
The postal service has been placed on 5OOC
miles of new railways from July /, to Decem-
Der 3. The increase is mainly in the South,
Southwestern and Western sections.
The president has appointed John @. Wyman,
of New York; III. Watkins, of New York, and
Frank Fl, Truesdell, of the District OF Colum.
bia, commissioners to examine the completed
portion of the Northern Pacific railway IN
Washington Territory
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-12-20
Novel Beverage.

Beef tea has become popular bar
room beverage in Omaha. The de-
mand, which began to be lively early
in the autumn. has now attained such
proportions that the prohibition folks
are perfectly delighted. Said a phil
osophical barkeeper to reporter the
other day: "At hrst we laughed at
the idea of going to the trouble of
making it, but now we laugh because
we do make it. We sell over one
hundred drinks per day, and as it is a
ifteen-cent drink there is no reason
why We should not smile. Who
drinks it, did you sayi Why, every
body; the man about town who has
been out with the boys comes here in
the morning and calls for beef tea: the
business man comes in the afternoon
and braces his system with beef tea
the temperance man who drops in
with a bibulous friend takes beef tea
and. in fac everybody is becoming {
slave to l.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-12-20
KYLE.
Especial to The Statesman.

KYLE, Dee. 18.--This morning. at o'clock,
telegram was received by Capt. Thos &.
Martin from Sam s. Mcdowell. OF Lockhart,
stating that horse had bean stolen the night
before at Lullng, giving description of the
same, and Martin at once gave instructions to
his son and another party to proceed out on
the Lockh2rt road 30 prepare for his capture,
put Al that moment the thief was seen riding
mo town. No horses being in sight to ride,
several of the boys walked leisurely down to
the railroad crossing TO meet the thief and
take him In, but the negro "smelled a mousse
and put whip and spurs to his then wearied
horse to make good his escape, but the boys
nred perfect volley of shots after him, and
on foot ran him to a adjacent field, and by
this time Capt. Martin had arrived on horse
pack with shining revolver in hand, and the
fellow, though claiming to be deaf and dumb,
when told to drop his coat and sit down, in
stantly ebeyed, and sat down on the ground.
Quite crowd by this time had congregated in
mont or the telephone telegraph Office and the
party from whom the horse was stolen received
the reply that the horse and thief were safe
all In less than thirty minutes from the time
the information was received.
The closing exercises of the first term of
Kyle Seminary, under the MANAGEMENT of the
san Marcos River Baptist Association, is going
on. During the week a grand concert will be
given on Thursday and Friday night.
Recent rains have made an abundance Of
stock water.
Our town has been infested for week or
more with all sorts OF trampS. Our town not
being Incorporated, and the citizens getting
tired and not being able to sleep with open
doors, a certain lot of them were taken from a
freight car and q good whipping administered,
with the equest that they leave town. They
There have been il3 cars of stock shipped
frtIsre in the last thirty days, and there are
lose5 head to ship to the pan handle.
One hundred white immigrants from North
carolina and the Eastern states arrived this
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-12-20

SENATOR BUTLER, of South Caro-
lima, is disgusted with the conduct of
Northern Democracy. and he has pre-
sented proposition, that Southern
Democrats refuse to join the North
ern Democrats in making presidential
nominations. This plan, he claims is,
the only way to meet the sectional
issue, raised by Northern Democrats.
1t has the merit of frankly recogniz-
ing the issue and putting the oppos-
ing sides to square test and a de-
cisive trial of strength. Its results
would be in no degree doubtful. The
North would sweep down the Demo-
Gratis who have suffered everything
by suspected sympathy with the
South during the war and by defend
ing the just rights of the South since
the return of peace; and half the
Southern States would cut loose and
cast their lot with the dominant SEN
timent of the whole country. But the
question would then be settled, and
that is what Senator Butler wants, a
result which he will never see reached.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-12-20
An Interview with jeff DaYis.

Correspondence Indianapolis News.l
"Has your History of the War been
o success ?" L asked of him.
81 know very little about it since
putting it in the hands of the pub
fishers. If the amount of money 1t
has brought me is criterion, L should
say that it has not been successful"
"Are you engaged in any similar
enterprise now, and do you expect to
give any more utterances upon the
questions involved in the civil war ?"
"None at all"
sDo you contemplate ever making
tour of the North? have seen by
the papers that such trip was not
improbable"
"When you see anything Ia the pa
pers about me you can almost accept
the contrary as the truth. do not
now ever expect to 60 North. l am
living quiet life, removed entirely
from public observation. receive
numerous invitations to make public
addresses, but 1 habitually decline
them, even those coming from my
own neighborhood."
"What is the hope Of the Douthp
"Her vast timber regions, stretch
| ing from the Pearl river east to the
coast, almost as yet untouched; her
mineral resources Of almost un-
bounded value, and her rich soil capa-
BILE of producing almost everything
that grows. AT Birmingham, on the
Louisville & Nash lie road, in Ala
bama, a great city has sprung ur
among the mines, and all through the
South are evidences of growth. Then
/ the soil and climate are favorable fol
stock-raising, and the South will coir
| money from this advantage. The
South is great undeveloped quaint
ty, but its Importance will not remain
| long unknown.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-12-20
GALVESTON.
Especial to The Statesman. |

lCpCClaA " 1nc CldloS1ldH.l
GALV HsToN, Dec. 17.-Mary RawleS. the
thirteen year old girl who was feared yester-
day to have been abducted, is to-day reported
by her father as having returned home at 8 :3C
O'Clock last night. The police we're not nOtifi-
ed till to-day OF the girls return. Mr.. Rawles
tells strange story. He says his daughter
oame home from school Monday with fever,
and the superstition is she wandered away
Wh lie deleriouS. Her statement is that she
found herself lying on the ground near the
beach Hotel last evening" and upon recovering
CONSCIOUSNESS returned home immediately
arrangements are being made for a series of
match game OF base ball between the Brown
stockings OF Dallas, and the X. .. Ms OF Gal
weston, TO be played in this city the first week
IN January.
A bold attempt to perpetrate a huge swim
die upon wealthy GalVestoIian, was made
mere last Friday. Two welldressed men,
olaiming to be from Tombstone. A. T., sue
eeNded In some manner of introducing them
selves to tho gentleman in question and so far
worked upon his unsOphisticated nature as to
interest him in the purchase of three alleged
gold bricks which they offered for S16,0OO
meeting was appointed, and an expert was
present. As usual drill test was made by the
sWlndlers, and the trade would probably have
Deen closed but for the expert proposing the
saw test. This caused hitch In the negota-
lions. and the pair from Arizona disappeared
from the city. A leading jeweler is also mixed
up In the case. The police peremptorily re-
fu1a to give names
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-12-20

the whole country are rivited, with
hope upon Democracy. 1t has PROM
ised that the necessities of the Amer
lean people shall be made cheaper,
that taxes sufficient only for purposes
of government and not for monopoly,
shall be imposed and collected,
and by the act of the House
of the Forty-Eighth Congress its
honest purposes are to be judged and
verdict rendered in November, 1854.
The Republican party realizes which
way the popular tide is running, and
it is trying to stem it by crying Free
trade" and Solid South" against
solid North" Its cry will be un-
availing. 1t will not alarm sensible
voters. The popular tide now run
ming against the Republican party
will increase in strength. and finally
sweep it out of power. The Republi-
can party has nothing to offer the
people. Its virtue and honor are
gone, and it is now but the tool of
monopolies. When the people ask to
be relieved of needless taxation by re-
duclng the tariff on necessities it OBJ
Jects, and offers to take the tax off
whisky and tobacco, but refuses to
touch iron and coal and salt and
blankets, and hundred other things
the people want and must have. Cor
rupt and servile, it hopes to keep itself
in power by threats and prophecies
of evil, which appeal only to the timid
and stupid. In the interest of pure
government it needs to be defeated,
and if Democrats be true to principles
enunciated, if they be not double
faced, triumph will come.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-12-20
TAYLOR.
Especial to The Statesman. |

Especial to The Statesman.I
TAYLOR, Dec. 1s,-The freight depot at this
place sock fire yesterday evening on the roof,
supposed 10 be by the sparks from passing
engine. hole about ten feet square burned
bsforo the nre boys got their machine in play
A strong southWind WAS blowing at the time,
and had it not been for our waterworks, and
ths energetic firemen composing the company
eur CITY would have again gone the spout up
Dy the fire 1end.
The assignee OF ]. Melasky s. Go, finished in
yolclng stock Sunday and opened doors yester-
uay. Inc store has been crowded ever since
Dy anxious buyers. The stock is said to have
lnYolsed about $20,o)0. Thy have on hand
Yreat many unsuitable goods, part of them be-
Ing the remnants from b. Melasky's stock at
Austin, when he closed out dry goods for
Our merchants appear all TO be doing good
business this week and all are in healthy con-
Sn Gitloa % T financially. The house of Melasky &
70. AT Taylor suspended on account of failure
slesrsd good until the Austin cash.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-12-20

GERMANY is selling ships, guns,
ETC., to the Chinese, and is not only
getting the finest sort of prices, but is
enjoying the hope that they will be
well used against France. AS the
Chinese are not accustomed to fighting
with anything much more dangerous
than fire crackers, 1t is suggested these
munitions may change ownership as
soon as the war opens in earnest, and
really prove donation to the French.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-12-20

THE verdict in the famous Dwight
life insurance case should give gen
eral satisfaction. Except in cases
where glaring fraud on the part of
the insured can besshown there should
be no such thing as successfully con-
testing the payment of a policy.
When an insurance is affected the
matter is entirely at the option and
under the control of the company.
Its agents secure the risk; physicians
in its pay examine the applicant;
every step is taken under the direc-
ton of parties in its interest. The
wise company is the one that lets its
policy holders know that insurance
really does insure.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-12-20

While California is excluding the
Chinese, her immigration association
is busily inviting immigrants, and
for this purpose California business
men and railroad companies have
contributed S10,583 this year. The
association reports as follows: "From
November 2, 1882, to November 1,
1888. there were 1918 pre-emptions on
167 $40 acres; 9O5 homesteads on 1884,
1859 acres; S55 other entries on 100,-
516.49 acres, m king total of 3078
entries on 393, ,273 acres. A low esti-
mate of all kinds of entries made in
the state Is 5278 on 100000 acres. Of
these not less han two-tifths are for
speculation. and in probably 1900 cases
the apple Mt had to perjure himself
to receive title, leaving 300 actual
settlers, representing 1000 increase
Of population In the past year"
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-12-20
PRODUCE MARKETS.

81. LOUIS, Dee. 1s.-Flour Zoe better: fami-
Us.
Wheat advanced early, but broke and closed
hG% below yesterday; No. red. 021z
cash; 81 OF bid for December; 81 ca January;
81 0oh February; 81 121s Nay.
Corn opened niger in the early dealings, but
closed lower at 46hG46xe. cash; 46alc. De-
545ss. May.
Oats lower, but slow; sohO30ssc cash;
1ohc December; size January; 36s. May.
Whisky steady at d Il.
COrnmeal firm at ~ %.
Provisions frm but slow,
Pork Arm; old, e14 q; new, $14 IS in job
lots.
Bulk meats, long clear. 7.soe; short ribs, 74O;
short clear, T.o6. Some small lots sold lower
than these figures.
Bacon slow; shoulders 6h; long clear sA
shert rib, sAs; short clear, SIC; hams,
ia OlSc.
Lard nominal.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-12-20
TYLEB.
SPECIAL TO the Statesman. i

ASpNS-hA " otfibCehiti4sJ
TKLhR, Dec. 1s.-The supreme court re-
Tsrsed and reman1ei: Young ct al vs.. Gray ct
al, from Rusk; Williams vs.. SIudgett, from
bockwall; Neal ct al VS.. Steel, from Tarrant.
Amrmed: Chambers VS.. Brown, from Johnson;
Norton vs.. Cantogrell, from Dallas; Gage ct al
vs.. Sagers, from Hill: Texas & Mississippi
;ver railroad vs. Robards ct al, from Smith;
S6Srte ct al vs. LangdOn hers, from Navarro.
hehearings refused: COthron vs.. Harmaduke,
eb al, from Lamar; PalO Pinto county vs. Gano
q sons, from Palo Pinto. Rehearings granted
and transferred TO Galveston: Ball, Hutchins
q 20. vs.. warren, from McLe man; V. DeLeon
o. al vs.. State, from Travis.
Inc supreme court will finally adjourn Fri
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-12-20
A Bad joke.

TRRRR HAUTE, Ind, Dec. ia special to
the Express from Paris, Ill. says Sanford
Norris, with other boys, arranged a practical
joke by having Tod and Orlando Norris, Wins
ton Griffin. Jr.. and Ben Mclaughlin steal some
apples. Sandford Norris and the other boys
were to be concealed, and at the proper time
fire gun into the air. Instead, by almost
criminal fatality, the gun was pointed directly
at the boys, who were close together. Tod
Norris was perforated with ffty-one shot and
died Orlando Norris was seriously injured.
as is Griffin and Mclaughlin. 1t is thought
Griffin will also die.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-12-20
TIE Rastron Adue tisnr i

THE Bastrop Adve tiser is mis-
taken, it is hoped, in saying that Prof
Mallet accepts1 position in the-Texas
university because he believed Ma
hone would succeed, and that he and
other professors would be turned out
of the University of Virginia; that
the defeat of Malone makes it posi-
BILE now for him to cemain in his old
position in Virginia.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-12-20

THE expectation of adulterated teas
from China to the United States has
fallen off from 14,685,000 pounds in
1881 to 8,65O,OO0 pounds during the
past year. 1t is believed that this
large reduction results entirely from
the enforcement of the inspection Of
March last. What effect the late ju-
dieial decision that non-poisonous
adulterations do not come within the
scope of the law, will have, is yet to
be seen. 1t will most probably stop a
good work begun.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-12-20
The Trunk Lineg.

New YORK, Dec Is--Chas. Francis Adams,
Jr., Hugh Riddle and Jno. c. Gault, Trunk line
arbitratOrs. heard the appeals from awards
per cents in the London freight pool, made by
Commissioner Fink with which 1t Is alleged
there is great dissatisfaction. Al trunk lines
were represented, and submitted arguments
The Pennsylvania road is said to be the most
dissatisfied with the present schednle OF per-
centages. Commissioner Fink denied in an
emphatic manner the report that the Pennsyl-
Vania road threatened to withdraw from the
association, and said the assOciS ion CT roads
was never more stable than at pr sent.