Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1883-06-20
Notes on Current Events.

The New York Herald sharply says
in reference to the trial for murder
that must follow the killing of Dukes
by young Mutt that Pennsylvania
jury "can neither convict nor acquit
him without subjecting the State to
new disgrace.
The Greenbaekers of Ohio put up
their candidate for Governor on Wed
nesday, and next day the Prohibition
lists put up theirs. Judging bv the
number of delegates at the two Con-
ventions, we should say that the Pro-
bibitionists are five times as strong as
the Greenbackers.
Captain Webb, the English swimmer
who first swan across the British
Channel, is now preparing to swim
across the Niagara River below the
Falls, so that he will pass by the
famous whirlpool. These are strange
investments that men make of their
lives in the hope that they will receive
back their lives aud money besides. In
this case the sum promised to Captain
Webb will be paid to his wife if he is
killed.
A remarkable murder case has just
been tried at Mor 1t Sterling in the
State of Kentucky. Vaughn Helton
was shot dead in bed beside his wife
and child. John Barnett and seven
other men were indicted for the murder.
On his trial Barnett withdrew his plea
of not guilty and pleaded guilty. Five
of the other seven prisoners followed
Barnett's example, and with him were
sentenced to Imprisonment for life.
Now three other men, who were called
as witnesses for Barnett, have been
indicted for completely in the murder.
1t is very rare that the law has to deal
with so MANY criminals all concerned
in single crime.
The notion that was lately put into
practice by a Philadelphia newspaper
of cabling to this country every Sun
day night the sermons of the London
pulpiteer, Spurgeon, has been abandon
ed. The price was too heavy for SER
mons which were too cheap. They
proved to be Improbable to the paper
which footed the cable bills for them.
In fact, it was at once evident to those
who read them during the few weeks
of their publication here, that we have
in this country hundreds of preachers
who are in every way superior to
Spurgeon of London-who are better
reasoners and theologians, more per-
suasive, more learned, more imagina-
tive, and not less pious or enthusiastic
than Spurgeon. The Philadelphia
paper which cabled Surgeons sermons
from London rendered some service bv
bringing this truth home to the Amer
lean mind
France has got her war in NADIA
gascar as nicely started as her war in
Tonquin. But in Madagascar as in
Tonquin, she has not advanced much
further toward victory The official
report of the bombardment of Majunga,
seaport of Hovas, shows that after
taking possession of the town the
French forces came to halt. The
worst is to follow there as well as in
AMMAN. The Hovas could not, of
course, resist the gunboats; but they
have now instituted land blockade
around the seaport and have cut off
supplies. The majority of the Sakala-
vas arc reported to have adjusted their
quarrel with the Hovas and are now
acting with them against the invader;
so that the French thus disappointed
in an ally, will have to increase their
army in Madagascar by troops from
home before they can contend success
fully against the natives. The latter
have an army of Regulars numbering
90, 900 men with firearms, and horde
of so, 900 spearmen who would do ef.
foctive work in the forest which lies
between the coast and the Hovas cap
tai. The drain upon the troops Of the
Republic intended for foreign service,
to reinforce the armies in Madagascar,
Tunis and Tonquin, is n serious one,
and the French are likely to be locked
up in Majunga for long time before
they are ready to move. 1t may be
so long indeed that possibly they will
prefer compromise with the Hovas
to an attempt to conquer them.