The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1899-02-11
WING OFFICE TELEPHONE, No. 90.
CECIL ,!A,,| e9aM EA WING.
asHt altfhAN
SATURDAY, FEB. II, 1899
NEWS In BRIEF.
local Matters Boiled Down for Hasty
PeruSal by Busy Readers.

PeruSal by Busy Readers.
There is some excitement in three OF the
lower counties on the East, RI Shore of Mary
land, over what is reported to be a floating
barroom on the Choptank river.
The tomato is king in Caroline county,
since peaches are but little relied upon, be-
cause Of failures, and the low price of corn
and whea; leave but little surplus in the
farmers pockets.
Work has been commenced on the road
between Aberdeen and Havre de Grace Two
car loads of shells are being put on the
road and the farmers are engaged in hauling
and spreading them. The road when COM
pleted, will be greatly improved and is ex-
tensivey used
Somebody is going to get n nice present
free at Startling & Beck's Elkton drug store
in few days. To every purchaser of 25
cents worth of cigars they give a ticket to a
graphophone which they will award by draw
ing numbers. The machine is the latest pat
tern, with "a rolls.
Charles Duke, eoored, who. it is alleged
recently murdered James L. Jones, of Kent
county, Del, and who was chased in woods
by a pursuing party near Fayetteville, is
said to have crossed the Maryland line, and
is now hiding on the Maryland side of the
Peninsula, trying to make his way to Vir-
ginia.
Thomas Kirk, colored, who was shot
through tho window of his home, at Town
Dnipt ,rbila Il
proving from his wounds which are in the
face and neck. Up to the present time the
authorities have been unable to End any clue
to the one who committed the deed, or what
their motive was.
Joshua Bennett, aged So years died sud,
denly at his home in Havre de Grace on
Friday morning from heart failure He felt
some pain in the back of his neck ane went
to drug store and bought plaster, which
his wife put on his neck, and left the room.
In a few moments she heard groan and
went to his side and found him dying.
Frank Reybold and John Stemple, of
Delaware City, had an exciting experience
among the ice in the Delaware river, off
Delaware City, early Saturday evening. For
some time they foated aimlessly about on
a cake of ice in the binding snow Storm
until they were rescued by a party of young
men from Delaware City, who risked their
lives by going out in sturgeon skiff to save
them.
Mrs. Cordelia Botkin was on Saturday
sentenced to the term of her natural life in
the San Quentin Pententiary, California, for
the murder Of Mrs. John p. Dunning, OF
Dover, Del, whom she killed by means Of a
box of poisoned candy, sent through the
mails, as IA gift from friend and unsuspect-
ingly eaten by Mrs. Dunning and some OF her
friends. Her sister, Mrs. Joshua P. Deane,
also died from the effects of the arsenic with
which the candies were loaded. Judge Cook
grant the appeal for new trial made by
Mrs. Botkin's attorneys, who held that Cali
fornia had no jurisdiction in the matter. IL
a comprehensive review OF the case Judge
Cook showed that California did have juIis-
diction in the matter. Mrs. Botkin, when
asked If she wished to say anything in her
own defense, exclaimed in dramatic tone.
-StIldlhiy nave. Say Whdt nave shlu
from the nrst-that l am innocent OF this
atrocious crime. Her attorneys gave notice
that they would apply for a writ OF probable
cause.
The tearing down Of the old hip. rooted
residence OF "God Smith," known as "Nlilk-
toddy Hail." recalls one Of the most inter-
esting characters in the local history of Kent
county. "God Smith and Milktoddy Hall
are curious names, and here is the curious
history of their origin. Kent county, like
every other inhabitable spot on the globe
has always had many members of the numer-
GUS Smith family. Nathan Smith married a
Miss God and. to distinguish him from all
other Smiths, he was ever afterward known
as "God Smith," "Milktoddy Hall" well
the story goes that "God Smith" had seri.
Gus stomach trouble. rendering 1t impossible
for him to take any solid food. So liquid
diet was determined upon, and milk toddy
as the particular liquid. In over fifteen
years he never took a mouthful OF any solid
or Of other liquid than milk toddy. II he
left home the eyer-present bottle of milk
toddy went also; II he stayed to supper OF
dinner he took his place at the board, but
milk toddy took its accustomed place at his
plate and the toddy constituted his only re-
freshment. After fifteen years OF thriving
on his chosen diet he determined to venture
on bit of solid food. But with the expert
ment came death. The weakened stomach
gave way and "God Smith, -" the proprietor Of
"Milktoddy Hall, passed away.