davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1893-07-01
A SINGULAR CASE.
A Supposedly Murdered Wan In
sEail With His Convicted


GalvesterD, Tex, June IA. That
truth is stranger than fiction is eS
empIilied in the following uniGde
case made public to-day by Mr. Wal.
ter G. Wilson, reputable attorney
of this city. In December. 1892,
Peter Meggs was tried tor the mur.
der of Mike Ferry. The trial oc
Cured in Grimes county, on Dec. 8.
Meggs was convicted of murder on
circumstantiaI evidence, and on Dec.
70 he was sentenced to imbrison-
n,ent for life. He is now serving
his sentence IN Huntsville. A short
time ago Mike Ferry, the supposed
to have been murdered man, was
convicted of felony in western Tex
as. He is doing his time IN Hunts
vile. Meggs, the man convicted of
the murderer of Ferry, and Ferry,
the man whom Meggs was convicted
of numbering, are both serving their
sentence in the same prison, and see
each other frequently. This situa-
ton is unique. There have been
many cases where Supposed Tanr-
dered man has turned up in time to
save the neck OF a man convicted Of
numbering him, but in this case the
matter is different. Ferry Is a con-
vicl, convicted OF felony. He
cannot testify in court; he cannot
identrf, himself so far as Mike Fer
ry is concerned, as Mike Ferry IS a
murdered man. So far as Peter
Meggs rs concerned, Peter Meggs is
III the eyes Of the law a murderer,
and under The law the man whom he
(Neggs} was convicted Of numbering
connot go iuto court and answer that
Meggs did not murder him. Ferry
cannot prove that he isn't dea3, even
II he is a very much live man, and
the State is supporting Illegal corpse:
but who ever heard OF a corpse cat
iag, drinking aud wearing out
clothes? There is novel in taat
story.
sir. Wilson has been retained TO
procure pardon for Meggs-a par.
don for d crime that Meggs never
committed. In reference to this
case, Mr. Wilson said: Il am en-
deavoriug TO get pardon for
Meggs. Eerc Is a man gho is serv-
ing a life sentence for crime that
he never committed. Alongside OF
him is Tie man who was supposed to
nave been murdered, convicted Of a
felony, and therefore, debarred from
going to coart and testi!ying that he
was not murdered The conviction
Of Meggs was purely on clrcusnstan-
tial evidence A writ of habeas
corpus adtestlicandum would lie
were Ferry, q witness and in. Gus.
tody. But Ferry being convict
cannot identify himself. The only
way for me TO proceed in the matter
Is to have witnesses 60 to Huntsville
and identify Ferry as the Ferry who
disappeared from Grimes county,
and | car zee no reason why Meggs
shall not be released at an early
date"
"Well, Mr.. Wilson," asked the re
porter, has Meggs any remedy for
.edress in case Of bis release?'
"On the theory that The State can
do no wrong, no one can maintain a
suit against the State except hv per.
mission of the Legislature.-N. O.
Picayune.
The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1893-07-01
FGzpT,aCE,

Correspondents will please send
all cnmmunicatioLs Sc HAT they will
reach the Office "Wednesday night to
insure publication the same week.
The morning call., 1893-08-23
TWO YACHTS.

It is admitted that w. K. Wander bilt
has got lne finest yacht in the world un-
less the one just built for the Emperor of
Germany be finer. 1t is 10 be presumed
that so patriotic a ruler as the present En-
perOr of Germany ordered yacht of home
construction. Whatever might be its cost
the money would be distributed among
German workmen. w. K. Vanderbilt be-
longs to the class of Americans who do
not hold their own country in high esteem
The father of the present head of the Van
derbilt house is at least credited with a re-
mark which has bsen construed as the re-
verse of complimentary. But Vanderbilt
saved $4,000 in duties by having his yacht
built in England.
The morning call., 1893-08-23
BASTiNG STANLEY,

DR.. Carl Peters viii draw down upon
himself hornets nest if lie unbosoms
himself of his opinion freely on Stanley
as traveller. The little. stocky man who
went through darkest Africa at 'he head
of long procession of natives officered by
Europeans does not possess the most
amiable temper; but he has iron resolu-
ton and will Of his own. If he cannot
get his own wav in command he breaks
out into gusts of passion and torrents Of
vehement language, which would be quite
startling in a boatswain. But, with all
his faults. he is commander who attains
spurpose. Nelson. one of his staff, who
recently died at Zanzibar, said of him that
he was devil, but that he was splendid
leader, and be would serve with him
again. No doubt Stanley did attend to his
own comforts with solicitude. His meth
DDS with the natives have been harsh, and
he has used the rife more than any other
traveller But he is what the world calls a
successful man. and that is something.
The morning call., 1893-08-23
THE CLOSURE CARRIED.

Mr.. Gladstone's majority stands by him
faithfully. He has kept it together well
throughout the most trying session this
generation has seen, and he is now with
cheerfulness near the end Of his home
rule task. The House has carried by a
majority Of thirty-fve his motion to closure
the report of the measure on Friday
From the total numbers in the division,
800. ii is evident that about half the
members have paired for time and will
not return until the third reading division
demands their presence. Mr.. Chamber
lain'S last ditch effort protesting against
the degradation of the Commons into a
voting machine comes with peculiar grace
from the statesman who famiiarized the
caucus in England The absurdity of
linking expedition in getting any work
done at all with tyranny by the majority is
evident when the twelve or fourteen
weeks devoted to the subject with weari-
some Iteration are considered. There was
no real attempt to debate honestly the
propositions of the bill. but a most
malignant effort to undermine it by the
strategy of filibustering and talking to
DEATH" 1t was a foolish policy, seeing
that the ultimate hope of the opposition
was in the action of the Lords. The
Lords will kill the bill, and why waste
time in the Commons? Simply to defeat
other business of the Government. So the
majority is justified in being firm at last.
The morning call., 1893-08-23
PEOPLE TALKED ABOUT.

Wilhelmina, the little Queen of the
Dutch. is called IL all official documents
'the King"
G. A. Saia aud Mr.. Gladstone are said TO
be the only two men in Great Britain who
can speak italian without trace of accent.
Governor Tillmsn has secured from the
Patent Office at " ashlngtOn a trademark
for the protection of South Carolina'S long
time betweens.
The Queen of Italy has founded a So
ciey for the reform of street children by
eachiug them some useful occupat ton.
Over here many Of her little subjects shine
unalded.
Archaeological Institute at Athens, is con-
vinced that his excavations at Issarik
have unearlhed the actual Troy of Homer
He will continue the siege with renewed
zeal.
Don Jose Galindo. Mayor OF Valencia,
Spain, has been sentenced TO fourteen
years each on 217 indictments for falsify-
ing public documents. or 303S wears in all
They might have taken off those odd
thirty eight.
The prize founded by the famous Ger
MN, Grillparzer for the encouragement Of
dramatic composition has not bee
awarded lately, as the judges could not
agree. Possibly some of them wanted to
recognize the talent of the tank builder.
The death Of Sarah Bowman at Ephrata,
Pa, almost puts an end 10 one of the many
peculiar religious orders of early Pennsyl-
vanIa. The sisterhood to which Sarah
Bowman belonged was founded about $50
years ago, and form lOSg lime flourish he'd as
Il cOmmunistic organization.
The morning call., 1893-08-23
WHAT IS A FAVORABLE BALANCE

The Boston Herald insists that the ma
tion that imports more than it exports
presents a favorable balance Of trade
The Herald gives the following example :
The United States in the year ending June
30, 1892, had thousand million dollars worth
of surplus merchandise which it was prepared
10 sell, and which 1t did sell. II II could have
received for these 4 thousand million dollars
worth OF foreign merchandise which its people
wanted, the exchange would have been a
healthy one. But If it only got in value four
tifths OF what it sent out, the exchange was
not healthy, aud the balance ot trade, instead
OF being in its favor, was against 1t.
If the United States sold one thousand
millions worth Of merchandise it either
received thousand millions worth in
return or it received less merchandise and
the balance in cash or in American securi-
ties. Ii il SOLD 81. 1.O00, 00O, 900 worth and re-
ceived $500, 600. 600 in merchandise and
5000 10000 in cash or securities the bal
ance of trade was in its favor, since its ac-
counts were squared and it held 5000 000.-
coo of the money of other nations. 1t is
considered better TO get money balance
than to have TO pay one foT the reason that
all nations are irving to sell goods for
money. The Herald assumes that because
but $500. .000. GOO worth of merchandise was
received against $1,000, 100000 the ex-
change was not healthy. But the $780,
600, 600 coin made il healthy.
The morning call., 1893-08-23
THE HOUSE COMMITTEES.

TIE committee appointments indicate a
belief on the part of Speaker Crisp that
brains are exclusively a Southern product.
1t Is not so much that he has given one
third of the States two-thirds of the chair
manShips. but that he has included ali the
important committees in the two-thirds.
The committees to consider and report upon
vital measures are, with hardly an excep-
ton. presided over by Southern men. At
the head of these committees in power and
imDortance is the Ways and Means.
Whatever bill is reported by this committee
will probably pass the House. Party dis
cipline will force it through. That COM
mittee holds the fate of the great manu-
featuring industries in its hands. 1t is not
only the thousands of millions of capital
which the committee may imperil, but
the millions of laborers in their employ.
At the head of this committee is West
Virginia man named Wilson. Doubtless
MIR. Wilson is fairly able el-round mem
Der, but it is not known that he has given
the manufacturing interests of the United
States especial study. He is scholarly
man and will doubtless bring to his labors
whatever light may be derived from a
perusal of college professors essays on
the question of free trade. The committee
next in Importance at the present time is
that of Coinage, Weights and Measures
At the head OF this committee is Bland of
Missouri. This is the same Bland who
threatened the other day to leave the Dem
Ocratic party if it did not provide for free
silver coinage. Bland would be followed,
If he should 90, by quite number OF
Democrats, and it is thought best to keep
him from going. So he is allowed to re-
main at the head Of the committee.
OFerrall of Virginia, McCreary of Ken
tucky and Wise of West Virginia are at
the head of the Committees on Elections.
Foreign Affairs and Interstate and Foreign
Commerce. Blanchard of Louisiana gets
the important place at the head of the
Committee on Harbors and Rivers. The
Pacific Coast does not get one chairman
ship against three important ones to West
Virginia.
The morning call., 1893-08-23
ANOTHER WAR SPECK.

War clouds have been rising rapidly of
late and fading even as they rose. A few
days ago England and France were on the
verge of war over Asiatic plunder, and
now France and Italy are al swords points
The question between England and France
did not greatly interest our people. 1t be-
ing understood that Siamese territory was
TO be taken it did not seem to matter much
which European power took it. So far as
Americans took sides at all they followed
their sympathies. Some took the French
part because they like France better than
England; some took the English side be-
cause in their opinion England could do
10 wrong.
The present imbroglio concerns US more
nearly. It is, in fact, our Chinese question
taken over to Europe. The French Gov
eminent may not consent to be held to a
strict account for the action of its citizens
in repelling competition. The Italians on
the other hand are incensed at the treat
ment their countrymen have been sub
j-cted to in France. The Emperor of Ger
many stands behind Italy aud insists that
the French Government first apologize
and then pay. He Will contend that the
Italians ha6 broken no law in coming int
France. They had simply undertaken To
do work at less wages than French workers
demanded, and thereby had excited French
animOSity.
In the fierce competition for the markets
of the world human life and human SER
vices Sre cheapened. Wages appear to be
trifle cheaper in Italy than in France,
and not unnaturally Italians seek to better
their condition by emIgrating to France.
But France does not want to incense It's
populace. With an area about half as
large again as California it has about
twenty-five people for our one. There is
consequently not much room for foreigners,
except the classes who come to France to
spend money acquired in California or
elsewhere.
The morning call., 1893-08-23
GOING BACK TO EUROPE.

The bard times in the mining regions of
Pennsylvania and the West are having the
effect of setting a current of emigration in
flow back to Europe. The emigrants are
mainly Poles and Italians, who must in
deed be in low straits when they find
labor prospects more encouraging in their
native land. This is not a movement to
be regretted. Had American labor been
the rule in the mines of Pennsylvania the
coal barOns and mll-owners would not
have amassed such disprOportionate wealth
out of poorly paid toll and existence for
workpeople would have been more IN
consonance with notions of civilizs ton.
The effect Of these immigrants taking to
mining has been to bring wages down to a
very low point, and thus to drive out all
Americans who can do better, and who
are at least enierprising enough to 90 else
where In search of employment. The
aversion to mining under the conditions
obtainable is also stimulated by the sys
tenn OF paying the men in goods and in as
little money as possible. Wages 90 In
house rent. food. clothing and liquor with
out direct payment in money, and the
workman is feeced by the exorbitant
profits. Such methods enforced by the
strong hand of the employer on foreigners
ignorant of American institutions, and
having only a smattering of our language.
could not have been applied 10 American
workmen who had a commons school edu-
cation and value personal freedom. De-
gradaton of the workman reacts on the
country as a whole. One good result of
Poles and Italians returning to Europe
The morning call., 1893-08-23

thoughts. He has exploited Europe pretty
thorOughly-at all events England, Italy
and Greece-and he is sure to discover a
fresh field in the United States unless he
Is over whelmed with attentions which
leave him no time for note-takng. Paul
Bourget is one of the writer's Of the epoch
VINO lead and mold literary work In
france who is so eminent as TO have a
coterie of admirers and imitators, and in
the artistic sense has set up schooi. AT
an age when Thackeray was just getting
into notice by his Great HoCgariy
Diamond" Paul Bourgrt S famous with
many works to his credit and his healthy
physique and energetic, ardent tempera-
menu promise progressive WORKS Tor many
years. There Will be curiosity to see his
hrst study of America and American
types In his keen. analytical style.
Besides giving the absolute security OF
The Government to depostors, the English
postottice savings banks do considerable
service to employers and wOrkpeOple by
issuing postal notes for small sums from
one shilling upward. The lowest charge
for these notes is a half penny (nne cent?,
Dut note for sovereign costs on " three
cents. Such notes pass from hand 10 hand
as currency and are used to pay wages or
TO make small payments by post or By hand
10 tradesmen. They are understood to run
three months. but by putting stamp on
they are practically good any time. Bank
notes below S25 ara not issued in England,
but 50 notes are issued In Scotland ana Ire
land. Postal notes are now commonly ac-
Cepted abroad.
The California Midwinter Fair bill is
now through both houses OF Congress,
thanks TO the tact of Senators White and
nj Don taf iyaI / nd fO Z ho
abstentiOn from asking Congress for money.
II Is the first act passed by this Congress.
NOW that the ceremony Of turning the first
s2adeful of sand on the site is at hand,
tile inauguration of the enterprise may be
considered complete. Bll has begun well
and let san Francisco see to 1t that tue fair
ends wells.
The Ordnance Department at Washing.
ton has completed i've 13-inch Cotton guns
for the navy, the largest weapons likely to
be furnished TO any type of vessels now In
contemp plation. Heavier guns are unnec-
essary. If half a ton shot from such In
fants cannot do enough OF execution it is
oil little use to expect more efficiency from
a gun of 110 tons. The Cotton gun with
smOkeless powder should have a penetrat-
ing power far beyond the present resist
ance OF armOr, which. however. has the
best OF the fight from not being shattered
when pierced. In the English service the
gun OF 81 tons is certainly not better than
the 13-inch, and for shipbOard that of AZ
tous is considered quite formidable enough.
The duel in a lOdging-house on Howard
street is an extraordinary affair. and nice
case for the lawyers, unless there is very
black record against the in ntruder who was
caught under the bed. robbery under
the circumstances would have been an
easy matter had Upson gone 10 bed sus-
Decting nothing. The burglar showed the
nerve and recklessDesS OF desperation, but
found more than his match. and the police
have pro badly made good capture.
The morning call., 1893-08-23
FERRY TERMINI.
Plans for StreetCars Are
Finally Fixed.
A Lot of Claimants for Money Due
for Work on the Seawall-Fisher-
men Want a Market.

At last the long-continued conferences
between the streetcar companies and the
HarbOr commissioners over termini at the
foot of Market street are at an end. The
plan illustrated in last Wedn esday's CALL,
with one slight modification, was adopted
yesterday.
There was feeble protest against Chief
Engineer Holmes recommendation that
the several hOrse-railways be required TO
use what is known as the combination, or
girder rail, that paving stones be in con-
crete, and the JOINTS grouted in ce-
ment, and that the space between the
tracks and two feet at either side be paved
by the railroad companies with such ma
terIal as the commission required for paw
ing the remainder of the street. This
recon- endati0n was adopted.
b. JOost president of the San Francisco
and San Mateo Railroad, was in attend
anee, and requested terminal facilities at
th g foot CT Market street.
1t was sugges ed that his franchise ended
at Steuart He said ne would buy his way
for right 10 the ferry, whereupon the
board promised him track alongside of
the three lines south of Market on East
A committee OF fishermen waited IN the
board with a request that they be allowed
TO establish market at their wharf, such
as existed In former years. They prom
lSed that the expense TO the State should
be light. 1t is the purpose of the fisher
men 10 have sales only at fixed hours, say
4 to A. NJ. aud to P. NJ, instead of at
all hours, as at present. The matter was
referred 10 the c ief engineer and the
Chief Wharfnger, with instructions TO re-
port at to- morr0w's meeting.
After these matt RS were disposed of the
Harbor Commission turned itself into a
court, and heard arguments from trio of
lawyers whn represented a host of cred
ItoTs for work done on section B of the
seawall.
The chief engineer had presented a re-
port stating that the work had been COM
pleted. and recommended the payment of
S28. .704-one-fou of the amount of the
contract. The great problem before the
board is who are entitled to this money.
The contract was undertaken originally
by the brothers Owens, who failed and as
signed the contract to j. NJ. Woods.
Finally, the work was done by the bonds
men.
Sullivan & Sullivan have a claim of S16,-
600 due to the bOndsmen. Lawyer Camp
bell has the claims of thirty-four labOrers,
aggregating $780, Darby, Laydon & Co.
have claim of 5000 for bridge work, and
j. NJ. Woods a charge of $1,000, subject to
deduction OF $4,000 Tor unpaid labor.
Each OF these creditors served notice on
the board demanding the unpaid S2S, ,704
The matter was referred to +. 5. STRAIT
ton. attorney for the board, with instruc-
tions to report next Tuesday. There is no
probability of the rival claimants settling
their equities outside of court, and the
Harbor Commits sioners will withhold pay
ment until IL IS legally settled who is en-
Titled TO receive The money.
The morning call., 1893-08-23

A Chicago Iaper has compiled list of
the daughters Of Columbia who have mar
ried foreigners of rank, aud very broadly
implies that their faces were n OF their only
fortune, since they carried eff millions as
dowry. The sum total of dot during the
last fifteen years is estimated at hundred
millions. The list of the happy and un-
happy could probably be extended con
siderabIy. The Right Honorable Joseph
ChamherIain's name is omitted. He mar
ried Miss Endcnt,. Ii can scarcely ba
alleged that Mr.. Chant mberlain married for
money, as he is very wealthy oD the profits
of ScTew-makIng. But the Implication is
true of most Of those who have sQuandered
fortunes and have now only their titles to
sport The wife OF the Marquis de MOres
brought her spendthrift five million dol
lars, and of what remains of it she will do
well 70 retain o tight grip. These mar
rlages of con nvenience for the empty vanity
of title have been ridiculed pitilessly
but they take place at an increasing ratio.
The jury of artists at Chicago set aside
Mr.. Boyd Thatcher's plan of Judging That
plan would have demanded in one single
cranum all the talents possessed by
Michael Angelo, Raphael. Titan, Cor
regio and VelasqueL. Seeing how very
much was required it seems strange that
Mr.. Thatcher did not undertake the du-
ties himself Each picture was examined
by the jury collectively. They seem 10
have been prodigal of rewards. Medals
have been showered around on a very
large group of artists from each country,
but owing TO dissatisfaction with the syS-
TEN France, Russia, Belgium and Norway
withdrew from competition, and some of
the German and Dutch artists declined to
present their works. The name OF Josef
lSraels does not appear among the Dutch
artists, yet no name stands higher inter-
nationally, If indeed any one is quite bis
equal in power. The English have done
exceptionally we'll both IN oils and water
colors, but not to have n single artist from
France mentioned is a blemish. Boyd
Thatcherism has produced many jars. 1t
will be well 10 avoid these unpleasant epi-
.sodes at the Midwinter Fair.
The dangers of kissing are almost too
numerous to sum up. Leaving out of
reckoning all the oscuiations stolen or
contraband of war, there is the very
solemn ceremony of swearing to tell the
truth on police court gospel, with the
pages clean, but the binding grlmy and
greasy, and which Is, we must believe. over
run with microbes, millions OF them perhaps
within square millimeter. 1t is prudent
to open such treasure and salute the
leaves instead of the cover. No particu-
lar harm can follow the fathers kiss. the
mothers, or sisters, if not imprinted on
the lips, but these customs vary. The
bride at wedding in the East has, through
the cOrdialities attending the ceremony,
communicated diphtheria TO score of
persons. She had "a sore throat at the
time, but the symptoms excited no atten-
ton until she fell positively i'll. Now the
malady has declared itself among the guests
whose Fluctuations she received. This is
an experience truly lamentable.
brilliant light in the literary galaxy of
France is now touring through America,
no doubt picking up material for book