The morning news., 1892-03-14

committee, which is composed OF Aldermen
Foley. Roberts. and Marcrura, met yester-
day morning At the court house and decided
70 reinstate Mr.. John Portman on the police
force. Portman resigned his position
because OF charge which was brought
against him that eighteen years ago be
had purchased hog which was stolen. At
the time Of his resignation hr. Portman
declared his innocence, but was unwilling
/ TO undergo all the ROtoriety of a trial. Al
| though the commissioners at first decided 20
allow Mr.. Portman to leave tho force they
sfterward concluded that II was thsir duty
70 make an investigation and L. there was
\ any truth in the accusation he should be
discharged and not allowed to resign AMI il
he was innocent his former place
should be offered to him. After
davits from all parts Of the state COM
menced pouring in, which were signed by
the best known citizens. and all the afl-
davits testified to Mr. Portman's excellent
character. So much evidence naturally had
its weight, but what decided the COMMITTEES
was a sworn statement from Magistrate j.
NJ ODaly. which asserted that he had been
one OF the officers before whom tho invests
CATION took place; that IL was conducted ia
the house of Mr.. Portman's enemy. who
made the charge. and that it was so evident
ly a case OF persecution that he became dis
gusted and left the room. After hearing all
the facts on both sides, the committee
thought IL was plainly their duty to take
such steps that Mr.. Portman's character
should be absolutely cleared of even the
shadow Of suspicion. Officer Portman will
resume his former duties Immediately.
Albany Ners and Advertiser: A terrible
death was met In West Doug aerty Friday
morning. IL occurred about o'clock and
resulted In a negro child being roasted alive
This casualty occurred on David
Browns Mobley place about seven miles
from the city and the particulars attending
1t are as follows: George Walker. Jr,
who had charge of the place, had returned
20 the house after getting his hands started
to work and had not been there very long
before he discovered one Of the negro houses
in the quarter on fire. When he saw it the
flames had reached the roof and were quick
ly enveloping the structure. Rushing to
the scene he was surprised to hear the
screams OF child and looking into the
house he saw a negro child or s years of
age battling with the raging elements. The
and the flames were leaping in mad glee
around the child. Mr.. Walker
called for asst stance but all who
could be of service TO him
were so far away they would be some time
in reaching him. Realizing this Mr.. Wal
ker jumped into the room that was almost
one solid sheet Of flame, risking his life to
do so, and, with an almost superhumAn
effort, grabbed the mattress on which the
child was lying. Bearing the bedding out
side the flames were soon extinguished, but
1t was soon seen that the chIld was beyond
human effort and would soon expire ia spite
OF everything that was done. The flesh was
burned almost to a crisp, the eyes were
burned out and nothing but the mouth was
recognizable. the child lived about an
hour after being rescued. 1t was the only
child of Abner Harris. very aged and
hard-working negro. The death was more
horrible than words can picture, and old
man Harris has the heartfelt sympathy of
all who know him. The house that
was burned, being the property of Mr..
Brown, was covered by insurance, but the
contents. belonging to Harris, were totally
destroyed without any Insurance whatever.
Augusta EUeninO Netos: A big case was
set for hearing before Judge Roney in
chambers Saturday morning. 1t is an ap-
plication of Mrs. BetheDia p. Martin of
Chatham, Va, for an injunction against
Joseph Pettyjohn, Mrs. Louisa Pettyjohn.
the National Exchange Bank and the Au-
gusta Savings Bank. Mrs. Martin IL Mrs
Pettyjohn's sister, and in her application
she sets forth that in January, 1888, she
loaned Joseph Pettyjohn So, 900 Of the mort
gage bonds Of the Danvile and New River
bonds, also q, 600 of the Franklin county
Wirginia) bonds and 5000 of Patrick
county (Virginia) bonds, and that Mr..
Pettyjohn. in consideration Of the loan,
promised TO account to her for them or re-
turn them to her. She claims that she has
often requested him to return the securities
or to pay their value, but that Mr.. Petty
john has failed and refused to do either.
Mrs. Martin AYERS that Mrs. Louisa Petty
hn hna ork, g.. 4
and that Mrs Pettylohn's business Is the
business OF Joseph Pettyjohn, who keeps to
himself all the fands of the business and
uses his wifes name only as d cover to pro-
tect his business from his creditors, he being
entirely solvent. Mrs. Martin, in her decara-
tion, ,goes on to say that she has been informed
that her bonds have been used by Joseph
Petty1ohn as collateral security for loans
obtained by him from banks in the city of
Augusta in the name Of Louisa B. Petty
john, and that the securities are now in the
possession Of the National Exchange Bank
and the Augusta Savings Rank, which
banks claim they hold the bonds as security
for loans which they claim to have made to
Joseph Pettyjohn, or Louisa Pettyjohn, or
one Of them. The petitioner prays that the
court will restrain Joseph and Louisa Pet
tyJohn from removing or receiving the
bonds from the banks or the proceeds aris-
ing from the same, and that the banks be
restrained from delivering the bonds to
Joseph or Louisa Pettyjohn. Mrs. Martin
further asks that the business of the Airing
ton Hotel be decreed the business OF Joseph
Pettyjohn and not Of his wife, Louisa Pet
tylohn, and that the profits OF the business
be subject to her claim. In conclusion
Mrs. Martin asks that Joseph Pettyjohn or
Louisa Pettyjohn be required to redeem the
bonds from the bank and deliver them TO
her and account for the interest on the Sc
curities, and in default that they be re-
Quired to account for the value of the bonds
and the interest due. The case was con-
tinued until next Friday, in order to allow
the defendants an opportunity to get up
some affidavits in reply to the petitioners.
FLORIDA.
The right-hand of fellowship was given
to ten new members at the Baptist church
last Sunday night at Barlow.
A large number of cigarmakers arrived
at Quincy from New York this week and
went to work in the Owl cigar factory.
Salomonson & Fessenden of Tampa are
planting on their beautiful property, East
Lynne" 200 Japan chestnut and 100 olive
trees. This property comprises 400 acres.
Jacksonville is to have another ice
factory. The building Is nearly completed
and part Of the machinery is right on the
ground. Guy r. Pride is the proprietor
aud owner.
w. P. Craig, president of the Palatka and
Heights street railway, proposes to spend
$4,000 in extending and improving his