Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1884-11-13
M}isrellaueuu5 geading.
WEARY OF HIS LIFE.

| ~
WEARY OF HIS LIFE.
THE ATTEMPT OF Ex-GoVERNoR MOSES TO
| HANG HIMSELF.
| From the Detroit Free Press, October 81.
Ex-Governor Franklin J. Moses, of South
Carolina, charged with stealing $15 from the
Rev. E. l.. ReXford, d. d., pastor of the
Universalist Church, by obtaining that
amount from him by falsely representing
himself as the Rev. DR.. Hicks, of Washing
ton, spiritual adviser of Guiteau, the assas-
sin of President Garfield, made an attempt,
about o'clock yesterday morning, to hang
himself in his cell in the county Jail. The
prisoner made rope from two handker-
tied one end to his scelldoor. Hethen kicked
stool on which he stood from under his
feet, and was struggling when the noise
was heard by a prisoner who occupied an
adjoining cell. The inmates of this ward
are not locked up in their cells atnight. This
saved the ex-GovernQr's life. The prisoner
who heard the nOissrarGs and going into
the corridor found Moses hanging. His
face had turned black, and in minute or
two more he would have been strangulated.
The prisoner used an old pair of scissors
which were allowed in the ward for hair
trimming purposes to cut the would-be sui
eide down, and laid him on his bed, where
he was revived through the eXertions of
other prisoners, who had been awakened by
cry of alarm. Moses said but little of his
attempt, although he acknowledged that he
was determined to die rather than 60 to
prison. He realized the position he was in
and for some time had been very despond-
ent. This was the first attempt at suicide
in the Jail for many years:
When Moses was brought into the police
court Yesterday afternoon for trial, he looked
very pale and feeble and displayed some
nervousness. He was neatly dressed in
black, but had an unshorn face, which ne
turned away from the spectators who gath
cred to get glimpse Of him. In front of
the prisoners box sat Rev. DIR. ReXtOrd
with his wife and daughter, ready to pro-
ceed with the case. Moses eyed the rever-
end gentleman whom he had sWindled, but
did not speak to him. At 2.l5 o'clock JUS
tice Miner called the case Of John F. May"
when his attorney, George x. NJ. Collier,
arose and asked that il be continued until
the mental condition of his client could be
established. He said that since the last ad-
iournment of the case he had made diligent
efforts to get witnesses here. in his behalf,
but had failed. He had correspondent with
number of persons in the Southern States,
who were acquaintances of the prisoner,
and received several answers; but on
account of the election excitement they
could not come here until after the close of
the campaign. Among the letters received
was one from the secretary of the navy, who
wrote that the son of the prisoner is in the
naval department in California. 1t was
certain that he could not come to help his
| father out.
| Justice Miner replied that the case had al
ready been continued an unusual length of
| time, he could not see how the prisoner could
be benefited by another adjournment.
| There is no positive assurance that witness
es in his behalf would be present at a future
time. If continuance was granted it could
only be done until November ., as the case
! will then have been in court for month,
and under the law it must be disposed of in
| that time-otherWis the court would have
no jurisdiction.
! Mr.. Collier said tha,she was authorized by
his client to say that if he does not furnish
any evidence at the time the case is adjourn
ed to he will withdraw his plea Of not gull
ty and plead guilty. The attorney agreed
that if the Court was disincined to grant
another adjournment it would be useless to
proceed to trial, as the facts in the case were
we'll understood and trial would be waived.
The Court said that he had been very in
dulgent in the matter of continuing the
case, both to the complainant and the defend
ant. The business of the court demanded
that it be disposed of within the time pre-
scribed by law.
| Mr.. Collier said in answer to this chat an
adjournment of two or three days would be
of no benefit to him.
Justice Miner: "What do you intend
to show for your client ?"
Mr.. Collier, 81 desire to prove by medi-
cal testimony that my client is entirely
irresponsible for his acts. He has been
travelling from place to place engaged in the
business he is charged with here. don't
know anything about him except what he
has personally told me and what l have
seen in the papers,"
The Court: II have nojudicial knowledge
of the case"
Mr.. Collier consulted Moses and then an
nounced that he would withdraw his plea
of not guilty and enter one Of guilty. The
attorney asked the Court whether he would
defer passing sentence.
Justice Miner said he could not do this,
and then addressing the prisoner asked him
if he desired to withdraw his plea.
81 do," replied Moses.
"Have you anything to say for yourself?'
81 desire to say so much that l dO not
wish to trespass on the time Of the Court in
s'Y0u have the whole afternoon before
you. l will listen patiently to what you
say"
Moses again said that he did not wish to
90 to trial, and the Court then sentenced him
to imprisonment in the house of correction
for ninety days without the alternative of
a fine.
Mr.. Collier asked that the prisoner be al
lowed to remain in Jail until Monday be-
fore being taken to prison, which the Court
granted.
Moses was then taken back to Jail. He
was visited by patrolman who had known
him in South Carolina while he was Cover
nor, and pleasantly chatted with him for a
few minutes, recalling incidents of the time
when he was in power.
The handkerchief with which he attempt
ed to commit suicide will be kept by Turn
key Troy as curiosity, and care will be
taken that he will not repeat his attempt
during his stay in Jail.
The charge against the prisoner of obtain
ing money from the Rev. J. c. Atterbury
under false pretences will be heard when
his term of imprisonment expires. Much
more trouble is in store for the celebrated
convict in different parts of the country.
SLEEP, TRANCE AND DEATH.-The re-
lationship between sleep, "the cousin of
DEATH" and death itself, is probably real
as we'll as apparent. The distance which
separates them is great, but there are inter
mediate connections, grades of dissolution
as of development. Among these the SINH
lar states Of trance and Information are
worthy ofspecial notice. For sleep and TOR
trance one cause, for eXhaustatiOn chiefly of
| far hi,f