smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1859

April 14th, 1859.


l, William A. Buxome, depose as follows: On
the night of April 18th, 1889, / was in consulta-
ton with B. F. Hollis about getting up fire ; he
said to me, "Can't you get one up, in Mexico, and
then they will not think it was our Company that
got it up" SAID, Eyes" went up and tried
it. but it would not burn ; | came back and b. f.
Hollis gave me some spirits of tuTpentine to wet
some tow with which l did. He then told me
l then went back and set fire to it again; how it
turned out is well known.


In conversation with Hollis he told me he set
fire to the Stable in the Fourth Ward, on the
night of the 22d of February last. The kndling
he used was pine wood, split up fine, and satura-
ted with turpentine.


At the fire at the old Ice House, at the foot of d
street. Hollis told me he started it,


The fire on Commercial Alley, Hollis told me
he kept watch whilst VIM. -- went into the
house and set fire to it, which took about one
hour and a half


At the time the houses were set on fire on the
corner of Seventh and G streets, NJ fold me
he set fire to the Ii. | saw him leave the Engine
House with something he said for fire; he told
us after he came back that he went across the
Slough to the old barn. but found some one in
side, and then went to the above named place !;
but some few nights after he burnt the old barn
down, for he said he would burn it anyhow.


On the night ofSth january last --- ---
asked me if could not go out and get up fire I;
l told him l would try; went to house on lth
and G streets, but there was a Spaniard sleeping
there | told him the owner of the house was ago
ing TO expose him and he had better leave.


The above was written in the presence of A. j.
Barkley, without any c"mpus,on Ur fear on my
part. WILLIAM A. BLUX0ME.
Year: 1859

uldFys


This individual has made a full confession
Of the crime, notice of which has several
times appeared in this paper. lie sends us
from the Station House the following letter,
which, as being connected with matter of
very general interest to the public, we pub
ish for what 1t is worth;


MARysvrLLE, April l4th, 1859.
To THE EDITOR OF THE DEMOCRAT In this
mornings issue, you commented very hard
on the person that was arrested for the crime
of arson. If you knew the whole crcum-
stances connected with the case in question,
you would perhaps have some compassion on
the person who now has got to pay the pen
alty for his offense The facts are these
associated with certain Engine Company in
this city lin that Company there were large
number of those who were very fond of sett
ing fire to empty houses for the purpose of
having fire; l was frequently pressed to
take hand in it; under the influence of H.
quor. tried ito what effect is already
known. In that Company there are many
worse men than am,-members of the Com
pany who have played larger part in the
game than have; men who encouraged me
on to do what l have done, for was not a
member of the Company. and if was arres.
ted they did not countenance me in any way
whatever, but they were ve:y thankful for
my services before this affair happened, but
now they do not know me when / am in
trouble. Therefore, think l an justified in
exposing them. If 1 had kept away from
them 1 should never have done what have
done. All ask is for the public to wait and
see which is the most to blame. me, or those
who got me into the scrape.


WILLIAM A. BLUxoME.
We annex the following statement which
Bluxome has made in his own handwriting
and over his own signature. Itsreliability re.
mains to beiudged of upon judicial investi-
CATION.


STATEMENT OF VIM A. BLuYOMF
Year: 1859

3 We published yesterday March 15) very
strange and very sad story from Washington.
With the recollection of Sir Creswell Cres-
wells clients before our eyes we are not about
to fly into paroxysms of virtuous indignation
because in the United States, as elsewhere wo-
man is sometimes frail, and man generally vim
dictive. Such things are of all ages and of
countries, and this Washington story about Mr..
and Mrs. Sickles and Mr.. Key might at any
given season find its counterpart in the scan
dalous chronicles of any of the European cap
itals-London included. It is true, indeed,
that the husbands vengeance was swift and
severe. Such is not the way in which such in
juries are resented in England; but, according
to the civilization of country, so is the fash
ion of its revenge. One nation uses stiletto,
another revolver, another an old flint gun, a
fourth barrister. We employ the fourth
weapon; in the United States the second comes
more famliarly to the hand of an outraged
husband. The remarkable part of this occur
renee, then, as far we are concerned, is the
form which the husbands vengeance assumed


Had such story as this happened in Eng
land, and had the husband in due course put
his case into the hands of the family solicitor,
and that useful parsonage, still in due course,
feed counsel and brought it before the Judge
Ordinary we should scarcely given the report
a second glance. Deny it who may, the truth
is that habit renders all persons but the imme-
diate family, friends and acquaintance of the
parties to such suits, profoundly Indifferent to
the matter. We can haidly say if equal apa-
thy exists on the other side of the Atlantic,
when injuries of this class are avenged in the
terrible fashion of this Washington tragedy.
At the first sight, the fact that an injured
husband at once rushes to the conclusion that
nothing but the blood of the adulterer can be
accepted as an expiation for his wrong, would
seem to argue higher conception of the mar
riage bond than the one which obtains among
ourselves We can not, however, at the same
time, forget that American hands are quick 20
shed blood for the injuries of far inferior
class to those of which we are speaking.
Year: 1859

ss ANY aIetter fails to reach the person for whom
-saH MI it was intended, account OF eareessness
y sinfhe direction Posmasters often blamed


for thatwhch the fault of the persons sending the


letter When you write letter commence by writing
Post once and then write the of the State
= For instance when you in want of HARDWARE


OF any description address your letters in PLAIN


U.x0to ROLLER HOWARD9
sss.0ne door East of the Bank AshLdsd Okio.-Fs5a


March 10th sI659.Z2m41 = =
Year: 1859

At Yankee Jim's, on Wednesday or Thurs
day of last week, bank blast was let of
which shook the town equal to an earth
quake. Three hundred and seventy-five
pounds of powder was put into drift, run
for the purpose, sixty feet into the hill, and
well tamped in. The explosion of this i'm
mense quantity ofpowder so completely con
hned at such depth in the earth, had the
effect Of cracking the ground for a great way
up the hill side and of loosening the gravel
so as to render the washing by the hydraulic


process quite easy; also, saving much of the
done heretofore
Year: 1859

The Placer Courier, speaking of the mining
prospects in that vicinity, says;


The diggings generally, around about, are
paying well and the working men all have
their pockets well lined with cash, and sport
it freely at rondo, poker and kindred games
Year: 1859

INDIAN WOMAN MURDERED.-We find the
following in the Placea Courier of May %


An Indian squaw was murdered at Owl
Creek, about two miles below Yankee Jims,
on Saturday morning last, by her husband ;
cause-iealousy of white man who had been
in the habit Of visiting the ranchrre. 1t
seems that the woman had deserted her hus-
band some time last winter, and refusing to
again live with him, he determined to kill
her. On the day above mentioned, he was
discovered by some white men in the act of
sharpening up his arrows and arranging them
in his quiyer, aud was asked what he in
tended to do lie replied, "kill squaw." lie
followed the woman and some of her female
companions about one-half of a mile from
the rancharie and out of the reach Of the
other bucks of the tribe, and shot her through
with an arrow, killing her dead upon the
spot. The funeral vail was immediately
raised by her companions, who took her to
the camp, and performed the funeral rites
by burning the body and singing the death
song. The men of the ttibe turned out il
pursuit of the murderer, but with what sue
cess we are not informed.
Year: 1859

FURIOUS HoRsE-A well known horse
tanner yesterday morning mounted wild
bay steed, on C street, for the purpose Of
breaking. The animal no sooner felt him OF
his back than he reared and plunged desper-
ately, jumped stialegged, and did everything
conceivable to get rid of his rider The lat
ter stuck to him as if he had grown on hi'
back like knot on a tree. At last the furi
Gus beast leaped madly forward into the mid
die of an excavation made for laying the
pipes for the water works, when he fell head
foremost with tremendous force, and with
his entire weight apparently upon the rider.
Every body expected to see the daring horse
man killed, but he sprung to his feet stimuli
taneously with his rising steed, and catching
him again after some trouble, remounted and
rode him triumphantly This horse break.
ing is q dangerous business.
Year: 1859

BosToN, March 24.-ln the House to-day, the vote
rejecting the bill to purchase the Hancock Mansion
was reconsidered. 1t was then amended by pla-
cling the matter in the hands of the Governor and
other State officers, and Secretary of the Board of
Education, giving them the power to make the pur-
chase, if they deem it expedient, and providing
that the house shall not be used as Executive
mansion. In this shape the bill passed to third
raadinr
Year: 1859

Nor So.-The story that the President of the
United States took occasion to visit Daniel E.
Sickles during his current confinement in prison
here, is untrue, learn from party who
knows the fact beyond question. The story that
the President has written sympathetic letter to
Sickles is also a cdnard of the same character
We feel sure that no communication whatever has
passed between the President and Mr.. Sickes since
the killing of Key Wash. Star.
Year: 1859

Paris March 6 correspondence Of the London NeUS.


There great variety of opinions as to the
real Specification OF the article in the Monieur. So
far as my own observation extends, | should say
that the general impression among men connected
with the court is that the Emperor feels himself
checkmated by the unexpected tendency to coali-
tion of the German Powers, and that if he has not
changed his policy, he has at least adjourned the
executions of his designs 1t is certain that the ex


traordinary repugnance of all classes of society in
France to war has been represented by persons
near the throne with boldness of language alto.
gether unparalleled. The grand question, and one
upon which next week will probably throw much
light, is whether the official article is reculade OF
not. That its statements are profoundly untrue nc
one doubts. Indeed, many of those statesmen who
are most opposed to war openly express their ap
prehension that the transparent mendacity of tht
article will discredit the government in foreigi
countries to an unprecedented extent. Turin is th


place from which the true Interpretation of the
ticle may be expected to come. 1t will be very
curious to see what the people who have been cry
ing "Yiva Verdi will say to it. The French semi
Year: 1859

Curious SroRY.-The Bulletins ST. Louis
correspondent writing on the Goth of March,
tells the following curious story Of Samuel
Stofer, late member of the Kansas legislature
and present agent for the Delaware Indians:


Several months ago, while he was journey
ing one night in the mail coach between
Lawrence and Leavenworth City, n horse
man rode up to the side Of the vehicle, and
asked if Mr. Stofer was inside On putting
his head out of the window to see who ad-
dressed him, he received heavy pistol ball
in the face The would.be assassin accompa-
MED the shot with a violent imprecation OF
two and expressed his exultaton at its ap-
parent effect, and then galloped off in the
dark. The wound was a cruel one, dreadful
ly lacerating Mr.. Stofers face, and knocking
out nearly all the teeth in the lower jaw, as
well as fracturing the jaw. bone itself. The
wound sloughed badly during his recovery,
so much so that the left check was deprive ed
entirely of flesh. and hideously deformed
thereby To repair this required the incest
surgical skill, and q surgeon equal to the
task was luckily found among the practition-
ers of Philadelphia One of these, under
whose care Stofer placed himself. resorted to
the rare operation of replacing the lost flesh
by cutting piece from another part of the
body and sewing it into the cavity In this
case a piece was taken from the calf of the
leg and applied to the face. 1t proved sue
cessful, for wonder, and the patients face
now bears no noticeable mark of the wound
other than deep eicatrice running around
the portion introduced by the surgeon, After
a comparatively brief stay in Philadelphia,
Mr. Stofer was enabled to go on to Washing


ton and solicit the appointment he has just
received.
Year: 1859

ANEoDorE OF THE LATE Mr.. KEY.-A dis
tinguished member of the bar in this city
happened some time since to be dining with
p. Barton Key, Esq, who has just ended his
career at Washington. After dinner the con-
versation turned upon the constancy of wo-
men, and Mr. Key expressed and defended
with great warmth, the opinion tlat women
were naturally inconstant, and could always
be induced 70 transfer their affections to the
last man who would address them with the
requisite batteries and appliances. He part
ed from his friend by pleasantly hoping that
he might never practically realize the un'
soundness of his own opinions, and 10y saying
that he would send to him a little poem he
had translated from the Spanish, which en-
bodied his own sentiments on the subject
The next day he sent him the following:
One eve of beauty, when the sun


Was on the stream of Guadalquiyer,
To gold converting, one by one,


The ripples of that mighty river.
Beside me on the bank was seated


A Seville girl with auburn hair,
And eyes that might the world have cheated
A bright, wild, wicked, diamond pair
She stopped and wrote upon the sand,


just as the loving sun was going,
With such small, white shining hand


You would have sworn twas silver flowing
Her words were three, and not one more:


What could Diana's motto be?
The syren wrote upon the shore:


"Death-not INCONSISTENCY"


And then she turned her languid eyes


So full on mine that, Devil take me-
/ set the air on fire with sghs,


And was the fool she chose to make me.
st. Francis might have been deceived


With such an eye aud such hand
Yet one week more and believed


As much the woman as the sand


IN Y Times
Year: 1859

Also, have a few of these celebrated Machines.
They are just what every Farmer wants. The com
pact arrangement Of different parts Of this machine
the great simplicity of It's construction, the strength
and durability Of its workmanship the small amount
of power 1t takes to run it, together with its effective
operation in thrcshing and cleaning, at least much
grain of any kind any other four six horse ma
chine in use, combine to justify us in believing
that it cannot fail 1t becomes known, to be the most
useful and popular machine in the country. The CYL
indcrs OF the above machines are from eighteen to
twenty -four inches in length. Each Of the Ohio Ma
chimes have Trucks, HORSEPOWER Levers, and the
usual amount of extras.


We safely recommend our present lot of Thresh-
ing Machines as being the best that have ever been inn
ported, as they were all made to order. Give us
call before buying.


THOS. OGG SHAW,


BIB Sacramento street.
Year: 1859

Law AND LAWYERS. - young girl named Fanny
Carrick lately placed in the San Francisco House
Refuge by the efforts of citizens. She about to be-
gin life Of infamy in the house of the notorious Belle
Cora. The girl escaped from the institution and was
captured by the superintendent of the House. while she
riding out In Belle Cora's carriage. Her counsel,
Judge Freelon and H. H. Byrne, FURNISHED by Belle
Cora succeeded in wrestling the girl from the hands OF
the Superintendent by means Of habeas corpus and
she is now probably ''safely lodged in Belle Cora's
brothe The Alta says that the mother of the girl
dissolute who aids these lawyers in their nobIe
efforts.


The Carson Valley paper says, George Detrider and
Jim Lilly partners in the stock business in that valley
had personal conflict Wednesday, August 10TH
They riding together, unaccompanied by any one
when quarrel arose concerning some stock in dispute
between the in the progress of which Lilly fired shot


from his revolver Detrider missing him and killing
his horse The horse fell Detrders leg holding him
fast and while in that position Lilly rushed upon him
and cut him badly He also made an attempt to fire his
pistol at Lilly. but it missed fire.
Year: 1859




the number of burglaries recently committed iu
our city, We mentioned the fact that the negro
fellow that robbed the store of Valentine & Son,
some months ago. was yet in this city and that he
w1s susp acted of being engaged in the robberies
that have lately taken place. On Saturday mora-
ing last the master of this servant authorised us
TO say that he would give any one an huudred
dollars who could connect his man with any OF
the robberies. and expressed the opinion that he
was DOW entirely honest. This may all lie SO, and
YET those who know the negro, may not fee. safe
rs long as he is in Richmond. The better plan
would be to employ him in the country altog eth
| er, aud thus quiet the minds of those who doubt
his reforWation.
Year: 1859

Tue HUsTINGs COURT will com mence
its March term to day, and as a large number OF
Commonwealth's cases are to be tried, the labors
of the week will be heavy. The most important
trial to take place, is that of the negro man. who
stands charged with stabbing with intend to kill
Mr.. Robert G. Alien, his overseer. The proof
against him is of the most positive character. and
the reader may therefore readily anticipate the
Judgment of the Court.
Year: 1859

CITY COUNCIL II his body will hold its
last regular meeting this afternoons and conse,
quence, will have large amount of business to
dispose of. Labor as the members may, they viii
hnd impossible to wind up the operations of the
year at one sitting, but can readily get through
with all before them, by having few special SEES
stone. The completion of the revision OF the or
dinsnccs is of vast impoft to the city by this
Council, because if left unfinished their successors
will have the entire work TO 60 over.
Year: 1859

EXCITING ScESE.-The Utica IN. " Observer
learns that at Herkimer, on Friday after rnoon, Cor
nelius Collins, of that place. was at the railroad
ticket office, aboutto take the train for New York
ana elope with O strange woman, carrying off his
child and leaving his wife behind. Mrs Collins
followed the party to the ticket office and seized
her child. Collins drew pistol and fired for the
purpose of killing the child, as he said The ball
missed the intended victim but shattered the
hand of the mother. Collins was arrested and
| toaged In jail The excitement was SO great that
Collins barely escaped being lynch
Year: 1859

SALE or GoAL.-The New York Board OF Conncis
men have adopted an ordinance for the prevention
OF fraud in the weight Of coal, by requiring every
cart employed 10 the delivery Of coal to have an
accurate scale attached 10 IT,
Year: 1859

0Brien, was before the Mayor last Saturday, and
came very nigh being sent to jail, for disorderly
conduct in front of the theatre last Friday night
Scores OF bad boys have been In the habit of as
sembiing at the theatre doors at night and dis.
tufpihs the audience by Their noise and rude
ness, and to prevent this in future police officer
is to be stationed there to arrest them. Ths pri-
soner promised not to be guilty of lounging about
the streets in future, and the Mayor therenpon
discharged him.
Year: 1859

PLEASANT Day-The weather was so
alarmingly delightful yesterday, that all who
conid do so, in the streets and in the suburbs
enjoying the warm sunshine and refreshing breeze.
In a parts of the city the peach and apricot trees
are in bloom, the grass looks green enough for
May, aud the rose buds are swelling AZ II about to
burst forth 10 fall bloom. Spring seems to have
begun in earnest, but biting fr0sts may yet nip
the swelling buds before the end OF March.
Year: 1859

-" Who Of our city authorities will be the
first to connect his name with u full supply Of
water for the thirsty by suitable appcudagcs
to the street hydrauts with drinking vessels at
tachcd, where all might drink in these days Of
heat and dust. The sulopns ore now the only
resort for the thirsty, let tie cheap and humane
plan be inauyurascd rs indicated,
Year: 1859

a SAN Francisco paper says that there are
" certain set of Mexicans in that city who
make it their revolving business to obtain
Mexican half breed girls from different parts
ofthe coast, by purchase or otherwise, and
when they reach certain age, sell them to
the highest bidder.
Year: 1859

NEVADA CoURT OF SEssIoxs.-We learn from
the Nevada Democrat, that Mrs. Julia Moore
who was indicted by the late Grand Jury for
the crime of abortion and causing the death
OF the mother, was tried before the Court of
Sessions last Saturday. The trial occupied
the whole day, and the Court room was
crowded during the whole time. The jury
found the defendant not guilty. An indiet-
ment was also found against Mrs. Moore for
murder, which will be disposed of in the
District Court
Year: 1859

A PORTION of the basement flooring of the
San Francisco City Hall recently caved in
with the tremendous weight of we'll known
member of the San Francisco Bar, who came
nigh breaking his leg in the descent.
Year: 1859

THE Nevada Democrat, in speaking of the
measures being taken to erect monument to
the memory of Senator Broderick, says;


1--WE learn that it is the intention Of the
friends of the late Senator in this county, to
call meeting for the purpose of aiding in
the movement. The meeting will be held as
soon as the necessary steps are taken below,
so that there may be a concert of action.
Year: 1859

IRs- On the 26th of March, the Northern
transportation Company's propeller Lady
of the Lake, exploded on Lake Erie. The
cook and one fireman were lost, with q full
cargo of flour and provisions.
Year: 1859

SnITrIM WooD-We saw, yesterday, a


petritication which came from a mining 10.


cality three miles north of "Humbug," in
Nevada county. 1t was brought down by


Mr.. Campbell formerly member of our


Board of Supervisory who has been engaged


in mining op, ratons in that region. 1t was
! found a very considerable distance under the


snrface of the earth and was broken from


piece ofpetritied substance ten or fifteen feet


in length. l. was embedded in slush of n vel


lowish color and thoroughly coated with the
same. The petriicatiou is the most complete
that we have ever seen, and the specimen in
question a most beautiful production of geo
logical formation 1t is evidentlya piece of
the species of wood celebrated in scripture
as the Sittim wood, out of which the Ark of
the Covenant and other sacred articles of
Jewish worship were constructed, the re-
semhlance being 50 close as to admit of very
little doubt. The probability is all the better
from the fact that the Shittim
Wood is at this time actually growing in the
mountains adjacent.


This wood, which is species of the acacia,
is hard and smooth and Of grain so fine
that the naked eye can scarcely discover
fibre in its texture. No doubt it will be ex
tensively used, some day, in thss country, in
the manufacture of elegant furniture and
every species of superior cabinet workmna
ship.
Year: 1859

EE- Harry Lightner was tried yesterday
by the Recorder for using abusive language
towards an unprotected female. The Reeor
der gave him sound lecture and dismissed
him with the injunction not to repeat the Of
fense. on pain of severe punishment
Year: 1859

CALL FOR MEETING. call for a meeting,
for the purpose of forming District, or
County, Agricultural Society, is published in
another column. The call is signed by some
of our best citizens We wish them all sue
cess in their laudabe enterprise.