Evening star., 1884-07-29
Betts> Checkered Career.

THE BLOoD-CURDLING STORIES OF HIs LIFE IN THE
SOUTH NAN WHO WAS QUICK ION TIE TRIGGER"
A correspondent Of the New York Times sends
from West Point, Ga, many particulars OF the life
OF Wm H. Belts, the lawyer, recently Of this city,
who died suddenly in Alexandra, Saturday. Belts,
he says, was member Of one OF the most respect
ed families OF Alabama He was tmbued with all
the sentiments OF ehivalry prevalent among south
ern youth previous to the war, ready to resent an
insult almost before IL was given, and at the same
time ready TO lay dow his life for friend or to
suffer martyrdOm for q sentiment. In those days
h fsn %ls p9e aoa m
and Montgomery none was faster than the brilliant
Belts, and the alurements Of the game soon led
their hooks firmly fastened into him and thus led
him along in tue course which proved to be one of
ever downward grade.
Belts served as colonel In the confederate armv
1t was while stationed at Pensacola, Fla, that his
first act OF violence Of which record exists was
mtted. Col. Belts had his wife with hira, and one
evening the lady complained to her husba nd of the
manner of one of tn" men In camp. Col Belts asked
his wife TO promenade around the camp with him
Whsn you see the man point him out, said he
Not suspectng her husbands determination. pres
emily she said "There he is" Almost Instantly a
bullet went whzzing from the revolver Of her hus-
band, who coolly continued his promenade. AS the
killing was done 10 defense OF bis wtfe's honor no
trouble followed to him, and In the events OF life on
the field the affair was soon forgotten, except
among those most Intimately concerned IN it.
When the war closed Belts found himself with
out money. east among reckless men in Columbus,
gambler. he had rCOlnS which were elegantly
Htteu up, considering the times, and 1t was his
wont 10 entlce therein unsuSpectlng cOuntrymen
who had just disposed OF their cotton when he
Mad won the Victims money and wanted to get rid
OF him he would ask him if he ever saw hoo
dOo." or course the victim had not. Drawing
aside curtain which had closet In the room,
there stood fuli-sized 1nanikin, with candle
dimly burning inside the SKULL which thus gave
light to the eyes The stranger would be only too
willing to leave so horr BILE place. TWO of Belts
intimate friends at this time 3l1lt Malone,
who had murdered three men. IOr the last OF which
he was convicted and sentenced to death, and
Penn BedeIl who had killed Policeman Raspberry
In Atlanta Malone coAm.tte suicide the day on
Which he was to have been hanged, and thus
gained nominal victory over The law. Bedell
was shot dead 1t may readily be imagined TIL t
"here three Such men thriyed they had things
pretty much their own way. 1t was the period
Just previous to reconstruction. There was no
law, and an officer who attempted to make GRIM
lnaiS think there was was not long IN discovering
MS mistake. one day one OF the bullleS of the
town was imposing on a little boy. which so
anSered Belts that he let him have a lively luStl-
ade. only wounding him, however.
Afterwards bettS killed marshal who at
tempted TO raid his house at West Point, Ga Sub
tihatlng that he was burglar. lie was always
acquitted OF the charges brought against him
6ettS aculeVed considerable notOIiety at Kings
ton. New York, last December, by assault.ug Dis
tllct Attorney Clearwater. He was engaged in de-
Tending some men charged With burglary. Belts
was prevented from dong serious damage to
the district attorney by Detective Robert A Pink
erton, who lnterfered He lett the city to avoid
arrest. dispatch from this city to the Tunes to-
day. says only few persons are aware that Be Is
Mtt bis death aInong congenial surroundings He
Gled stretched out upon gambling Table. where
ne was placed by gamblers III ganlDing saloon In
that there was no time for his removal 10 another
place.