smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1867

An Innocent Man Convicted and Hung.


In recent trial of murder case at At
lanta, Georgia, in which the evidence was
circumstantial, one of the counsel for the de-
fence told the following story of trial
which took place in the same court thirty
years ago:


There then lived on the Bayou road man
about twenty-five or thirty years old. He
was not an educated nor wealthy mrn, but
he was honest and had good heart Hav-
ing had limb broken, he was intirm in
health. He made his livelihood by going to
the bayou ST. John every evening and catch
ing fish to sell in market the next morning.
One moonlight evening, while sitting on the
bank of the bayou, fishing, as usual, he saw
q lady dressed in white, in company with
gentleman, walking on the road beside the
bayou. They were quarrelling as they pass
ed him, and his attention was attracted by
hearing them quarrel. After they passed ne
resumed his fishing, and waited until he
had caught his usual supply. He then start
ed home with his basket. As he reached
the place known as the Caquet, he heard a
loud cry, and soon after feeble cry Adj
VanclnS III Ine 1ureCGlou OF the SOunQ, ne
saw woman in white gown lying on the
pavement, and, coming to the woman, he
perceived that q dagger had been stabbed
into her bosom. Thinking to relieve her, he
took the dagger by the handle and drew it
out. As he did so a watchman grasped him.
The woman was killed. The poor fisherman
was tried for the murder. The case was
made out clearly against him. He had been
detected in the very act, bending over the
body of the deceased with the weapon in his
hand. He was convicted, and hung at Con-
60 square. About six months after, trial
was going on in Judge Canonge's court
A citizen called as juror, said he did not
wish to be on the jury, and wished to speak
few words to the judge. The judge al
lowed him private conversation. Suppos-
ing that he might have scruples about capi-
tai punishment, the judge asked him if that
was the reason he object ed to being on the
jury. mo-" he answered, "that is not the
reason 1 saw the fisherman hung for the
murder of my wife. He did not do it.
did it myself from jealousy" The judge sat
petrifed The man made for the door, es-
capped, and has never been heard of SINCE
Year: 1867

1.-THE PLAN OF ADJUsTMENT."-We pub
lish, in another column, plan proposed by
certain Southern gentlemen who recently
met in Washington (Hon. N. Boyden and
Hon. Lewis Hanes of North Carolina, among
the number) for setting our national difficult
ties. We also give the remarks of the Raleigh
Sentinel on the subject.


1t will be seen that the plan proposes ne
gro suffrage and the only remark that we
are disposed at present to make on the sub
ject is, that it is strange that those who have
opposed the adoption of the Howard amend
ment, should now favor such plan as is pro-
posed. They professed to consider the How
ard amendment, which left the question of
suffrage with the States, as degrading; but
they are now ready to favor plan which
really degrades the Southern white man to
an equality with the negro at the ballot
box. -sr


We warn the people that many of their
Representatives in the Legislature, and poll
tical tricksters and demagogues generally,
are doing great deal of harm, and are un-
worthy of public confidence. We say, with
out any sort of hesitation, that the great mass
of the people are being deceived by so-called
"leading men," We are not a radical and
neither do we sympathize with the radical
party in any respect whatever; but at the
risk of displeasing the public saints and
"salt of the earth" and in defiance of the
strong party combination which now con-
trolls this State, we intend to speak out in
opposition to bad management Charlotte
Democrat.
Year: 1867

THE SKY AN INDICATOR OF THE Wealth
ER-The color of the sky at particular times
affords wonderful good guidance Not only
does rosy sunset presage good weather,a and
a ruddy sunrise bad weather, but there are
other tints which speak with equal clearness
and accuracy. A bright yellow sky in the
evening indicates wind; pale yellow, wet;
neutral gray color constitutes a favorable
sign in the evening, and an unfavorable one
in the morning. The clouds are again full
of meaning in themselves. If their forms
are soft, underlined, full and feathery, the
weather will be fine if their edges are hard,
sharp and definite, it will be foul General
ly speaking, any deep, unusual hues betoken
wind and rain, while the more quiet and
delicate tints bespeak fair weather. These
are simple maxims, and yet not so simple
but that the British Board of Trade has.
thought fit to publish them for the use ',f
sea-faring men, Scientific American.
Year: 1867

Saturdays sayings and doings in the
House revive and strengthen our hopes that
the XXXIXth Congress will not disperse
without having acted fully, decisively,s on
the absorbing subject of Reconstruction
The speeches of Messrs Banks, RAYMOND
and Others, fully justify the inference that
the President is now ready to meet Congress
at least halfway, and that a desire to act
;lecisively and comprehensively is rapidly
gaining the ascendant in Congress.


} We do not confidently assert that the Pres
ident is yet already to unite with Congress
in giving effect to such measure of Recon-
struction as ought to be framed and enact
ed we do say it is the duty of Congress to
frame and pass such measure, whether it
shall or shall not be signed and executed
Even though it were certain to he vetoed
and killed, such measure should be passed,
having first been rendered as unobiection-
able as may be. There need be no surrender
of principle; there must at all hazards, be
protection secured to the loyal inhabitants,
white or black, of the South; and we strong
ly feel that now is the time to perfect and
pass bill under which the States now un-
represented in Congress shall be reconstruct
ed on a just and loyal basis, under condi-
tions that secure to all their inhabitants
their just and equal rights. Thus far, we
believe every measure of Reconstruction
emanating from the majority in Congress
has commanded our support, though none
of them has been all We could have wished
it. Neither Of Mr. Stevens two bills of this
session-one providing for the rehabilitation
of the disorganized States; the other for
protection of their loyal people-was pre-
cisely to our mind; yet we have supported
them as steps toward the desired end, and,
at the worst, better than nothing. Far bet
ter that Congress should fail in an effort at
Reconstruction than that it should fail to
make the effort. We entreat the responsible
majority in either House not to close the ses-
sion without having passed Reconstruct
ion bill that ought to be accepted and which
provides for its own execution. Do not say,
at will do no good" but try.-M Y 7ri
bune.
Year: 1867

tivated to the highest perfection, and the yield
is consequently, almost as much as lands can
be made to produce


The crops through all this section of the
country are very good. The wheat, oats, and
hay have all made good returns 10 the farmer
for his labor, aud the corn crop is as promising
as ever before at this season OF the year:


There IS good deal Of money coming in tor
the crops just harvested, and the people look
forward with much hope to the future. Trade
is more active than for sometime previous, and
altogether we feel as if the hard times which
have been upon us are about to give way to a
brighter and more plentiful season.


SOMETIMES.
Year: 1867

An Act to regulate the Times and Manner ofhold-


ing Elections tor Senators in Congress.


Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep
resentatives OF the United States of America in
Congress assembled, That the legislature of each
State which shall be chosen next preceding the
eXpiat on of the time for which any senator was
elected to represent said State in Congress, shall
on the second Tuesday after the meeting and or
ganizaton thereof, proceed to elect a senator in
Congress, i'll the place of such senator so going
out of office, in the following manner: Each
house shall openly, by a viva voce of each men,
Der present, name one person for senator in Con-
gresS from said State, and the name of the person
so voted for, who shall have mai jority of the
whole number of votes cast in each house shall
be entered on the journal of each house by the
clerk or secretary thereof; but either house shall
fail to give such majority to any person on said
day, that fact shall be entered on the journal.
At twelve O'clock, meridian of the daY following
that on which proceedings required to take
place as aforesaid, the members of the two hou-
ses shall convene in joint assembly and the jour
nal of each house shall then be read, and if the
same person shall have received ma iority of all
the votes in each house such person shall be de-
clared duly elected senator to represent said
in the Congress of the United States; but if the
same person shall not have received majority of
the votes in each house, or if either house shall
have failed to take proceedings are required by
this act. the joint assembly shall then proceed to
choose, by viva voce vote of each memt er pres
ent person for the purpose aforesaid, and the
person having a majority of all the votes of the
said joint assembly, majority of all the mem
DcrS clectSU 10 DOtl HOUSES DcllS present anu
voting, shall be declared duly elected and in
case no person shall receive such majority on the
first day, the joint assembly shall meet at twelve
O'Clock meridian of each succeeding day during
the session OF the legislatugc, and take at leat
one vote until senator shall be elected


See 2. And be it further enacted, That when
ever, on the meeting of the legislature of any
State, vacancy shall exist in the representation
of such State n the senate OF the United States,
said legislature shall proceed, on the End Tues
day after the commencement and organization OF
its session, to elect person to fill sllch vacancy,
in the manner hercinbefore provided for the clcc-
ton OF a senator for Il full term; and if vacan-
cy shall happen during the session of the legis!a
ture, then on the second Tuesday after the le
gisature shall have been organized and shall have
notice Of such vacancy.


Sec. 8. And he it further enacted That il
shall be the duty of the governor of the State
from which any senator shall have been chosen
as aforesaid to certify his election, under the seal
of the State, to the President ofthc Senate Of The
United States which certificate shall be counter
signed by the secretary of state of the State.


Approved, July p, 1S66.
Year: 1867

Government Water Pipes.


Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Re-
prescntatlvcs of the United States of America in
Congress assembled, That the unlawful tapping
of any water pipe laid down in the District of
Columbia Dy authority of the United States is
hereby declared to be misdemeanor and an in
dictable oBencr; and pny person who may be in
dicted for and convicted of such offence in the
criminal court of the District of Columbia shall
be subject to such fine the court may think
proper to impose, not exceeding five hundred
dollars, or to Imprisonment for term not ex
ceeding one year And it is hereby made the
special duty of the commissioner of public build
ing to bring to the notice of the attorney of the
United States for the District of Colu mbia, or to
the grand jury, any infraction of this law


Approved, July 25, 1866.
Year: 1867

support and maintenance of the Home and the
orphOns partaking of its benefits


Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That the
affairs of this corporation shall be managed oy
board of directors consisting of not less than sew
enteen representing the District of Columbia, and
of seven each, from the respective States and Ter
ritories to be chosen in such mar ner as the con
stiution and bylaws of said corporation shall dl-
rect, and that the said directors shall have power
to make bylaws prescribing the duties OF the Of
ficers of said corporation, their term office and
to make all other rules and 1egulationf for said
corporation and the management OF its affairs,
subject to the provisions of this act.


Sec. 5. And be it further enacted, That said
corporation shall have power to receive under
child of any such soldier sailor, if so placed in
its charge by its surviving parent or guardian, or
in the abseuce of either, by any person having
tle care or custody of such orphan and while
such child remains under its care, and until with
drawn as hereinafter provided, discharged ac
corting to the regulations of said corporation, it
shall he subject to the same power and control
by said corporation any father or lawful guar
dian has by law over or relating TO such minor
child


Sec g. And be it further enacted, That no
such orphan chird shall ever be bound out by
said corporation.


See T. Anb be it further enacted, That the
surviving parent or legal guardian of and child
placed under charge of said corporation may at
any time be by them withdrawn theretrom and
any minor over sixteen years of age, upon his or
her own reqest in writing, shall be discharged
therefrom.


Sec s. And be it further enacted, That any
minor child so Withdrawn discharged pro
vided !e the proceeding section Of this act shall
nevertheless continue until majority under charge
of said corporation to such an extend as that the
said corporation shall have control and manage
ment of any moneys which may be due to such
minor from the government of the United States
by virtue of the services of the fathers of such
minor children, paying to such minor child or
children only such amount thereofas in the judg-
mcnt Of said corporation shall be necessary and
beneficial for such minor


Sec. 9. And be it further enacted, That the
property of said corporation, held or occupied
by them for the and purposes of their incor
pOration, shall be exempt from all taxes to be
levied nnder the authority of the Congress of the
United States, any municipal corporation
within the District of Columbia, and no person
shall lose or acquire legal settlement by resi-
dencc in the Home to be established by said cor
poration.


Sec. 10. And be it further enacted, That Con-
gress may at any time hereafter repeal, alter, or
amend this act.


Approved, July 25, 1866.
Year: 1867

There was "topsy' recently in the police
court in Detroit, in the shape Of q colored girl
who was called to take the witness stand. She
surveyed the witness box lew moments, and
after mounting the highest portion of it that
she could find, directed the court to "Go ahea
wild de SALE" evidently suppOsing that she va
to be sold.
Year: 1867

When you look down on me
And the button atop of my cap,
feel as if something had got in my throat,
And was choking against The strap.
passed your garden and there,
On the clothes line hung few
Pantalettes, and one tall pair
Reminded me, love, of you.
And thought as l swung on the gate,
In the cold, by myself alone,


How soon the sweesness of hoarhound dies,
But the bitter keeps on and on"
Year: 1867

NATURAL SUCTION PuMp.-Livingstone, the
African traveller describes an ingenious meth
cd by which the Africans obtain water in the
desert: THE women tie bunch Of grass to
one end Of reed about two feet long, and in
sert it in a hole dug as deep as the arm will
reach, then ram down the wet sand firmly
around it. Applying the mouth to the free
end of the reed, they form vacuum In the
grass beneath, in which the water collects, and
in short time rises to the mouth. 1t will be
perceived that this simple but truly philoso-
phical and etFectual method might have been
applied in many cases in different countries
where wafer was greatly needed, to the saving
of life. IL seems wonderful that it should have
been first known in the world, and that it
should have been habitually practiced in Afri-
ca, probably for centuries. 1t seems worthy
Of being particularly noticed, that it may no
longer be neglected from Ignorance. 1t may
he highly important to travellers in our deserts
and prarics, on some parts Of which water is
known to exist below the surface"
Year: 1867

An immense business is doing on the Kansas
Pacific railway in the transportation of cattle
from the herds at Abilene. Long trains are
moving daily, and about GVO hundred head were
received at the packing establishment at OttoWa
on the 3Oth uItimo
Year: 1867

TO CLEAR IRON FROM RusT.-Pound
some glass to fine powder, and having
nailed some strong linen or woolen cloth
upon board, lay upon it strong coat Of
gum. water and sift thereon some of the
powdered glass and let it dry. Repeat
this operation several times and when
the last covering of powdered glass is dry,
you may easily rub off the rust from iron
utensils with the cloth thus prepared.
Year: 1867

To- 1t is stated that there are three cx.
tinct volcanic craters near Red Mountain
City, Montana, which are so deep that the
light is entirely excluded from their depths,
and that when stone is thrown into
them no sound can be heard of their reach
ing the bottom.
Year: 1867

a sensational newspaper heads a paragraph.
" Death through a Chigon." On reading i
we discover that son cwhero in England a girl
set her dress on fire while twisting up her back
hair. We suggest that it should have been
Death through being Girl; for had the
back hair to roll up, and 10 larinS dress to
swing oVes the crate,
Year: 1867

Some time since a gentleman died in the
town OF Y, who, during his life, refused
to believe IN another world. Two or three
weeks after his demise his wife received through
a medium, a communication which read as fol-
lows: Dear wife, now believe. Please send
me my thin clothes.
Year: 1867

A commercial traveller lately l.ft shirt at an
Inn, and wrote to the chamber. maid tc forward
1t to h;m by coach, which produced the follow
hope, dear Sir, you'll not feel hurt,


ii frankly tell you all about it


We made SHIFT with your old shirt,


And you must make u shift without it.
Year: 1867

pas- One week from to-day, we are to have m election to dertcrmine whether or not we shall have Dis trict Court at Des Arc. We greatly fear the people of this and adjoining townships are not interesting them selves in this matter as they should !; ithat they are not engaging the support ofthcir neighbors, and striving to con 'iuce all of the importance of this mat tvr. We cannot but think that this matter is of the greatest importance to large portion of Prairie county. Their interests demand that this court should be established at Des Arc. Here it accommodates itself to the conven- fence and necessity of a large portion of the citizens .of'fhe county and will be 'a great step toward the easy and prompt transaction of county business. This measure win no duliht meet with some opposition, but why it should we cannot see; it is not proposed to hurt any one. Those who are convenient to the .eonnty site can still transact their business dt that place, and those who have parfiality for our county of ificcrs, will here have the same officers in power. There is ITO reason, we re- peat why this measure siionld not be heartily supported by all, in every portion of the county it is for the coun- tty's benefit and for the convenience of large portion of her citizens that it Is proposed. But there are some, per haps. who say the county is already sufiicicatly taxed and that itliis scheme will heap additional burtacrn upon the county. We endorse this sentiment :: we are too heavily taxed and because we ure will not propose to tax the peo- pie more. The establishment of this Court at Des Arc will not cost the county a dollar; it is proposed to build a courtroom by private subscription. and they who support us in this thin z may rest assured they will never be called upon to pay for it. Vote us the court and we will build the house or bear the expense. From these con- alterations we call upon the people oi Prairie county to come mp to our help on the 2lst. Let every one interest

 himself in this matter, determine to come out himself, aud de all he can to bring his ncigifbor to the polls ahd vote for a District Court at Des Are.
Year: 1867

The most important Presidential cam paicn that has ever come off in this coun. try will ere long open. Already lrelim - nary arrangements are being maae in some of the States, and already the claims oi different gentlemen ure freely canvassed for the respective party nominations. Al such time it is not out of place to consi- der the principles npon which it will be proper for che Democracy to enter into the contest Important among the issues that should be made in the platform laid down by the Democratic party are these;

 l. Nen-recognition in any form of the negro State governments created by Con gressipnal usurpation, and the maintenance as ;llne legitimate, of the old State gUverr. ments in the ten excluded States until such time as'they shall be changed by the people under their existing constitutions

 2. Protection to the negro in his civil rights tty the States everywhere; but q firm opposition to the attempt of Congress to control the elective franchise in any State.

 3. Retiring the national bank currency and ubstituting greenbaeks, so as to take up the bondsas speedily as can be done without deranging business or infating too muehthe volumo of currency.

 4. The payment of the national debt in say thirty years, in accordance with the terms of the contract, by small sinking fund so as to reduce and equa,ze the tariff and the enormous burden of taxation

 5. The cultivation ot spirit of harmony and fraternity among the people of all the States on the basis of the perpetuity'ot the Union and Constitution, and the detelmina. tion to "lct the past bury the past"

 6. The nomination of candidate, soes to unite all the elements of opposition to Radicalism for the overthrow of negro rule and military despotism, on the principle of mutual tolerance and forbearance as to former differences of opinion.

 This is substantially the platform adop- ted by the Ohio Democracy, and it is one upon which Democrats everywhere can stand It s'especiully important that the issue should be squarely and boldly made with reference to the status of the South opn States No proposition was ever Hiainer than that those States are already members ofthe Union under constitutions formed by their people, and that ell the legislation of Congress looking to recon struction,' us it is called, is most gross and fragrant usurpatidn.
Year: 1867

LIFE INsyRANeE.-Under the head of ''new advertisements" will be found that of the Sa- Louis Mutual Life Iu- surancc Company. This is the most responsible Company of the kind in the West, and nothing being so uncer- tain 5as life, or so sure as death, all men should make some preparation for the comfortable situation of those who are dependent upon them. Mr. j. F.. Mellard, the Special Agent, will be in Dcs Are in few days when any one desiring policy can avail themselves of the opportunity.