Year: 1878

Escape and Final Capture...A Romance in One Chapter. A case with all the romance of a novel has just taken place in Georgia, attract ing much attention. Several months ago young man named Bob Southern, who was a handsome, reckless fellow, became enamored of Kate Hambrick, the pretty daughter of a well-to-do citizen of Pickens county. For few weeks their married life was happy, but soon Kate became jealous of another young lady, and at party one night she for bade her husband dancing with the lady or she with him. They dld dance, how ever, and Kate Southern then seems to have determined upon desperate re- venge. She went outside of the house and found her father, from whom she borrowed 8 pocketknife. As soon as she received it she opened it, and concealing it in her dress, re-entered the ballroom. Without any warning at all she rushed upon her supposed rival, uttering some hoarse, half articulate sounds, and plunged the knife into her breast and throat. Of course, consternation seized the guests and before they could inter- .fere. Miss Conort was fatally wounded. A young man named Honey rushed to the door, and closing it quickly, put his back against it and swore that no one should leave the room. The men as 8 general thing gathered about him to sustain him. Bob Southern drew his pistol, and taking his wife by the arm, said, "Gentlemen, I am going to leave this house, and my wife is going with me {; I'm gong to do it if I have to shoot though ]" With this he started for the door, and showing through 1t was soon lost in the darkness. ~

 However lightly Bob Southern had treated his wife's requests or commands before her crime, he attached himself to her with desperate devotion after it was committed. He at once began to arrange to get her out of the clutches of the law. In this purpose he was assisted by his father, William Southern, and his brothers, James and Miles. The family of the wife seem to have taken no part in the matter. The old man Southern and his wife however left their farms in Gil mer county and came over to Pickens and put their lives and fortunes at the disposal of the husband and the wife. They were all desperate men, and soon succeeded in getting Kate in their com pany, when they fled from the county. They travelled in such force that they were able to prevent any searching in- quiry into their affairs by the people of the rural districts through which they passed. They succeeded, therefore, in dropping out of sight and nothing was heard of them until short time ago.

 W. W. Findley, of Fannin county, learned that the fugitives had settled upon 8 farm near Franklin, N. c. He secured four assistants and started. Getting positive information as to the locality of the farm on which the fugi- tives had settled, they hurried on. They reached the farm at nearly dark, and found it deserted. They were informed upon inquiry that the parties occupying it for the year past had given it up the day before and gone off with all their provisions up the turnpike. It was be- lieved that they were making for Tennes- see, their policy being evidently to crop only one year in one locality and gnadu- ally reach the West. Findley pushed out, in hot pursuit, riding day and night. They were enabled by occasional inquiry to track the fugitives with certainty, and, arriving at Murphy, N. c, discov- cred that they were only an hour or so ahead. They had passed through Mur- phy, evidently intending, as is the cus- tom with wagon travellers, to get into the woods and camp out.

 It was discovered in Murphy, also, that the fugitives had pushed through the turnpike gate without paying toll, and after an insulting altercation with the gatekeeper. This official reported that they were very heavily armed, hay ing several guns and pistols, and that they were very insolent and defiant. He was just organizing party to go in pur- suit of them and collect the pikenge, when Findley, fearing that this might interfere with his plans, took him to one side and confided bis story to him. He asked the gatekeeper to suspend opera. tions for awhile, promising to bring the men back to him. He then disguised himself thoroughly and started out or horseback to locate the camp and identify the people. It was dark and rainy night, and he had considerable difficulty in progressing at all. He had only gone about two miles when he saw camp fire gleaming. Riding boldly up to it, he was halted by man who seemed to bt doing patrol duty. Findley made som, commonplace remark and rode up to tn, fire. After inquiring as to the road, h. departed. He remained at the fire lont enough to recognize the whole party ant

 to even get glimpse of Kate Southern

 as she peered out from the wagon cover

 After riding short distance he made ldetour and returned to Murphy. H,

 there secured a few additional men

 headed by Detective Howell. who iye'

 in Murphy and was perfectly familia

 with the country, and at four o'clock Ii

 the morning started out to make the cap

 ture. It had been determined to com

 pletely surround the camp and close i

 simultaneously from all sides and de

 mand surrender. This plan was cal

 ried into effect, but it was found tha

 the Southerns, for some reason or other