The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-01-25

Ala. A strange fatality followed
killed by railroad accidents. About eight
years ago Al Raleigh, a fireman in the
Southwestern road, was killed. About four
years ago Gus Rsle. gh, q conductor On the
East Tennessee road, was killed at Lumber
| City. 1t will be remembered that in a diff
ficulty with a negro, the negro struck him
on the head with piece Of stick, COnduc-
tor Raleigh was knocked down, and in fall
ing his head fell under a moving car and he
was crushed to death. The negro escaped,
and has never been captured.
Among the cases from the Macon circuit,
which will be tried next week by the state
supreme court, is one which has attracted
much attention, and which, no doubt, will
become one of cause celsbre Of Georgia.
The case is appealed to the supreme court
by tbs Travellers Accident Insurance Com
pany, in the hope of reversing the decision
of the lower court, who found that Mrs
Thomas J. Sheppard was entitled TO all the
| money she claimed because of the loss Of
her husband. The story Of the suit is that
during the year 1885 Thomas j. Sheppard
insured bis life in several companies, and
also in the Travellers Accident Insur-
ance Company for 5000. Shortly
after doing 50 he went hunting and
his gun went of by accident while be was
standing in a boat He was wounded 80
badly that he fell into the river and his
body was never recovered. At the legal
time Mrs. Shepherd applied for the money
and it was refused on the ground that Mr..
Shepherd was not dead. The company
allows that Mrs. Shepherd is acting in good
faith, but they claim that since the accident
her husband has been seen in Alabama
living under the name of Thomas Murras
Horton, and it is claimed that he
never was hurt, but disappeared in order
to procure the insurance money
for his wife and unborn child. In the APP
plication for q new trial the insurance
company gives forty reasons why the
decision of the lower court should be re-
versed. Col A. o. Bacon is Mrs. Shepherds
representative. and be thinks the claim that
his clients husband is alive is ridiculous.
He says there was absolutely no reason for
him to run away. He had been married
only q short time and was exceedingly
happy, and was making enough TO support
a family.
Hon. R. j. Sledge, of Texas, takes a
cheering view of the prospects of the
farmers alliancs in all parts of the country,
and especially in Georgia ''Since the meet
ing in St. Louis. he said ut Atlanta Thurs
day, "the alliance has taken on new life.
There are two excellent causes for this. One
is that we formed a sort of alliance with the
knights or Labor, and the other is that we
expect to do great things for the farmers by
the extension Of the national
bank system. The Knights of Labor
will, we think, be of great
assistance TO US in pushing claims which we
| have against the federal government Di-
rectly after the war a tax of $l5 was i'm
posed on every bale of cotton raised in the
south. As peace had been declared, this was
a discriminating tax, and though it was en-
forced during the years of 1866 and 1867,
1t was clearly unconstitutional, and was
finally repealed. During the years it was
collected, however. Georgia alone paid $11,
100000 to the government, and this money
we are now trying to get back The
knights Of Labor will use their in
fiuenoe with the northern members
of congress and the senators, and we
feel confident that our just claim will be
recognized. Our idea Of the national banks, u
Mr.. Sledge continued, lis a very simple
one. We wish to have the same monetary
system for the farmers, which is now
accorded ths bankers. They put up their
security at Washington and are then
allowed 80 per cent. of the face value OF
their deposit. We want bonded warehouses
to be erected and so arranged that when 6
farmer deposits his produces he can Obtain
50 per cent of its market value. Ii this il
done, the farmers will be in better coudi
tion than ever before, and have no doub
that it will soon be carried into effect"