Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-05-13
AN AWFUL WARNING.
The WOuId-be Delegates to Political
Conventions.

conventions
CEeaUeIahd Leader.
Col. Denver told the following story in
the Ebbitt House, Washington, the other
night:
Col. COckerill, the father of John Cock
Grill, now editor of the New York World,
told it to him. TWAS during the days be-
fore the war, and just preceding a State
convention at Columbus. Col. Cockerill
lived at West Union, Adams county,
little town off the railroad, and he was
one of the delegates chosen from that
county. a few days before the
convention he, in company with
another friend, also a delegate,
took the stage at West Union to
ride to ChillicOthe, the nearest railroad
station, where they expected to get a train
for Columbus. 1t was a dismal, dreary
ride, and all day the rain pattered down
upon the roof of the stage, and now and
then drop would drip through upon the
passengers within. For the most of the
journey they were alone, but as night ap-
preached they stopped at station to
change horses, and here a third passenger
entered the stage. Col. COckerill noticed
at once that he was a foreigner, for though
it was too dark for them to see his
features they heard him humble some
thing over to himself in a strange
iargOn. COckerill spoke to him. The
stranger replied in a foreign language,
saying, l suppose, that he did not talk
English, and drawing himselfup into cor
ner Ofthe coach he wrapped his cloak about
him and showed other signs Of wishing
to be let alone. His wish was gratitied
by Col. COckeriU and his friend, though
they could not help noticing his strange
actions. He kept continuously talking to
himself, mumbling over sentence after
sentence, now loud, now low, and some
times gesturing slightly as he did SO.
After a few hours they became accus-
toned to this and ceased to pay attention
to him, when all at once Col. Cockerill
heard gurgle of the throat as though the
man was smOthering. He called the at
tentiOn of his friend to this, and putting his
hand to the strangers coat to open it and
give him air he'fOund it covered with
warm moist liquid. He at once called to
the driver to stop, that one of the
passengers was wounded in some Way,
his throat. The driver hallOOed
back that there was no stopping
place nearer than ChillicOthe, which was
now but few miles of, and that he would
hurry on. When the stage reached Chill
licOthe it was found that the mans throat
had been cut from ear to ear, and that he
was just alive. He tried to say something,
Uub AnNAG w as AAU OAlG DAGoCnb " uuutI-
stand him. At last German was brought
in, and it was then found that the stranger
was German. He spoke only few words
to his fellow cOuntryman, and then gasp
ing. died. The interpreter then gave the
dying mans words to the crowd. They
were that he had got into the stage at the
last station, and that during the night
these two men had jumped upon him and
murdered him. The crowd received this
oAa Will n
looks were cast on Col. COckerill and his
friend. They saw at once they were
in danger of being lynched. The
crowd demanded that they give an ac-
count of themselves. They told the story
as l have just told it, but the crowd
which knew them not laughed and jeered
at the idea of its being true. ''You are
delegates to the convention" said they,
''We will see if YOU are not delegates TO
the gallOws." ~ on are going to Colum-
bus" said another, II rather think you
shall go to iail.' Here a sober minded
man Of the audience asked them if they
knew anyone in ChillicOthe, and on Cock
erilPs replying that he was known to
Allan G. Thurman there was
great laugh. The affair looked des-
perate, and had itbeen in a Western town
it is likely they would have been hanged
at once. A moment later. however, and
Allen G. Thurman entered. He went at
once to COckerill, and saying, Chow do
you do, Colonel, | am glad to see you.
Are you going to the cOnvention?'' shook
hands with him very cordially. Col.
COckerill replied that as to going to the
convention he did not know; these men
said he was going to Jail. He then went
on to tell of the sO-called murder. AS he
closed Mr.. Thurman said to the people:
'My friends, this must be "A mistake.
These gentlemen are men l have known
for years, and 1 will be their surety. If
you will let them go on to Columbus, l
will be responsible for their return at the
close of the convention"
Mr.. Thurman was very popular in
ChillicOthe, and this speech put matters
on a different basis. Col. COckerill and
his friend were allowed to resume their
journey, and in few days they again re-
turned. When they came back they
found the affair cleared up for them. In
quiries had shown that the man with his
throat cut was a crazy fellow who had
attempted suicide several times before.
The night before the above adventure he
had escaped from his keepers, and, hav-
ing gotten into the stage, had quietly cut
his throat. Had it not been for Thurman,
however, and had the lunatic come from
a distance, it is hard to see how they
could have escaped