smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1878

It would scarcely be safe as general
thing to trust to the Intervention of
spiritual powers for the detection of crime
and for the evidence sufficient to convict
its perpetrators. But in murder case in
Connecticut grand juror. an able counsel.
learned Judge and we know not how
many others seem bound to convict .
person of the capital offence of murder on
the strength of revelations made by pre-
tended spiritual medium. The story is told
by the HEsALD's special correspondent in
another column. We are assured, on the
authority of one of the prosecuting
lawyers, that all the circumstances
attending the cruel murder Of poor
Mary Stannard were minutely described
to member of the Grand Jury
by the medium, even TO the description Of
the weapons used and the words spoken
during the enactment Of the tragedy. An
interview between our correspondent and
the clairvoyant confirms tho wonderful tale.
Exactly how the evidence is to be used on
the trial of the Rev. Mr.. Hayden, who has
been rearrested, is not explained. Perhaps
the medium is to be induced to pass into
the clairvoyant state and describe the MUIR
der after the fashion Of Hamlet's players.
But then how is the oath to be administered
that is necessary to make the testimony
legal? Who is to be sworn, the spirit or
the agent2 What Is to become of the right
of the defence to cross-examination?
Who is to vouch for the credibility of the
witness when the mediums themselves do
not seem to know whether they are used by
good spirits or bad spirits--by truthful
spirits or lying spirits Many such legal
difficulties suggest themselves in such
case. Even should they be overcome, who
can vouch that the jury will not be COM
posed Of men of common sense, who will
remember that the mediums wonderful dis
closures were made after he had enjoyed the
opportunity to examine the spot, measure
the distances and arrange blood-stained
stones Mt his pleasure, and SO make up their
minds that he is an arrant humbug?


It would be fortunate for the accused il
more material circumstances had not occa-
stoned his second arrest. Should it be
proved that he purchased arsenic on the
morning Of the murder, and that tho poison
was found in tho stomach Of the victim, it
will not need spiritual medium to convict
him of the cruel crime, nor will any efforts
of Spiritualism save him from the full pen
atty of the law.
Year: 1878

In Indiana, on the eve of the election,
several citizens were arrested on the charge
of attempting to colonize voters, the evil
dence of their guilt being very strong.
That is right; and we hope the officers Of
justice and tho citizens will be equally
vigilant in all the other States in
the detection and punishment Of all
election crimes. What Is wanted ID
full, fair, free and peaceable expression
Of the popular will, and whoever attempts
to prevent this in any manner deserves tho
severest punishment the law allows. We
hope the Indiana men now under arrest
will have prompt trial, and If they are
found guilty will receive exemplary punish
ment It is time to make it understood
that cheating in elections is o penitentiary
offence.
Year: 1878

Mr.. Kelly has recently gained SO many
and such conclusive victories that those
who have watched the turns of city politics
and of the situation. We think it highly
probable, if not certain, that he can elect
whomsoever he chooses to nominate for the
Mayoralty, and we have no donbt that he is
of the same mind. Naturally, under these
circumstances, everybody watches for in
dications of his choice. Some days ago
one of Mr.. Kelly's dailies drew atten-
tion to Mr.. Augustus Schell as gen.
tleman eminently fit to be Mayor
of New York, and tho quidnuncs at
once concluded that Mr.. Schell was the
coming man. But we remember that on
previous occasion the same excellent jour-
nal held up Mr.. Shepherd Knapp As also an
admirable and altogether at man for Mayor,
and before that Mr.. Babcock had been in
similar way handled before the public eye
Perhaps tomorrow some other equally ex-
cellent citizen may be named.


All this is very tantalizing to curious
public but we do not complain. Mr..





make us wait. We wish, however, that he
would bear in mind that with power comes
responsibility. We have always said for
him that he undoubtedly desires to serve
the city to the best of his ability. He can
not do this by naming Mayor who will be
in the public eye only q fgurehead. We
have not word to say against Mr.. Schell,
for instance but everybody understands
that Mr.. Schell is Mr.. Kelly's bosom friend,
and that if he were enthroned in the City
Hall Mr.. Kelly would be the real, though
not the ostensible, Mayor. Mr.. Kelly had
far better take the Mayoralty himself
Against that nobody would object, for he
would undoubtedly make an excellent and
efficient Mayor.


But Mr.. Kelly is understood to prefer the
place of Comptroller. Now we wish he
could see that he has fulfilled the arduous
duties Of that place SO honestly and ably
that no Mayor would displace him SO long
as he desired to remain in it. In that mat
ter we believe he can safely trust public
opinion, and while he has the power to
elect whomsoever he may nominateit it will be
better for his own fame and future success
if he shall select for the Mayoralty not
personal friend, favorite, but the best
man he can find willing to take the place.
Such an act, courageous and public spirited,
would undoubtedly consolidate his own
power and disarm his opponents in future
contests.
Year: 1878

Sir John A. Macdonald again finds him-
self Prime Minister of Canada Immedi.
ately after the resignation CT the Mackenzie
Ministry at Ottawa on Tuesday Earl Dufferin
left for Montreal with the intention of send
ing for Sir John A. Macdonald and offering
him the Premiership. 1t will be seen from
our dispatches that the meeting took place
yesterday. Earl Dufferin briefly informed
him that 1t was the desire of Her Majesty
accordance with the wishes of the people Of
the Dominion as recently expressed at the
polls. Sir John, Of course, bowed his acqui.
escence and returned thanks for the honor
conferred upon him. These are the usual
formalities incident to such occasions, and
the new Premier hns been SO often at the
helm of affairs in Canada that it is very
certain he performed his part of the
ceremony with the utmost grace. Specula-
tion is, of course, rife as to the gentlemen he
will call to his support. The new Premier
is remarkable among other things for the
tenacity with which he adheres to his old
friends, and as the list elsewhere printed
contains the names of many who were with
him in former administrations it is very
probable that we shall have to make few
changes in it when the official declaration
of his selection is announced. The major.
ity with which he returns to Office is 50
overwhelming that he will have no difficulty
in carrying his measures, and it is not i'm
probable that he will retain power for many
years.
Year: 1878

When Congressional district has thor
oughly good Representative at Washington
the best thing 1t can do is to keep him
there His usefulness increases pdri pdssu
with his experience. The Southern States
before the war understood the value Of tried
and capable Representatives, and this was
the secret Of their superior influence in
Congress. Fernando Wood ought to be
kept mt his post by the electors of the Ninth
Congressional district. His absence from
the next House would be loss to the city
OF New York. His familiarity with the
interests of the commercial metro polls, the
position he commands on the committees of
the House, his experience, ability and tact
combine TO make him ono of the city's most
valuable Representatives, and there ought
to be no doubt of his denomination and re-
aleckion.
Year: 1878

among his little coterie of hangers-on could


have furnished 80 large sum2 And even


if any of them had possessed the money


what motive could they have had for spend
ing it in such way? If the dispatches
are bogus everybody is cleared. but if they
are genuine the guilt lies inevitably at
the door of Mr.. Tilden, and he
cannot escape the consequences. II the
dispatches are not malicious inventions it
is preposterous to think that he can make
scapegoats of the people about him. Un-
less he denies. and supports his denial by
proofs, not many days will elapse before
the public opinion of the country will be
unanimous in a verdict which he has every
reason to deprecate.


We will not attempt to draw consequences
until the facts shall have assumed more
credible shape. But if, after sufficient time
shall have elapsed for denial and refutation,
no reply is made to this accusation and the
public settles down into belief of its truth,
it will be q great blow to the hopes and
prospects of the democratic party. Until it
is met and refuted democrats should pre-
serve becoming silence on the great topic
of ''fraud" which they have been Haunting
in the face of the country since the inau-
guration Of Mr.. Hayes. Nothing could be
more grotesquely absurd than such cry
on the part Of any democrat if it be true
(Which we cannot believe) that Mr.. Tilden,
in whose behalf the cry is raised, attempted
to procure the Presidency by bribe.
Year: 1878

mission tomorrow. was most grossly
maligned at one time not only was his
loyalty called in question. but it was as
serted and widely believed that he was in
capacitated for command by being drunk
ard. when the fact, well known to all his
friends. was that he never touched liquor
of any kind, but was ''cold water man" OF
tho strictest sect
Year: 1878

We still wait for full returns of the Ohio
and Indiana elections, but enough is
known to show that the democrats have
gained two and perhaps three Congressman
in Ohio and possibly one in Indiana. The
democrats have thus got much better out Of
their blunder than they had q right to ex-
pect or than they deserved, for they not
only took On unpatriotic and unsound
position, but they nominated some
men who we're fortunately beaten, because
they were unfit for place. The defeat of
the democratic State ticket in Ohio and
the essential weakness shown by the infa-
tion or so-called ''Obio movement" prob
ably eliminates Senator Thurman from the
list of Presidential candidates.


The notable feature of the result is the
poor show made by the greenback-national
party. It's leaders confidently and pub
licly claimed that they would elect three
Congressman in Ohio and three in Indiana.
So far as is now known they have not
elected single one. The rag baby" has
people, in spite Of their discomfort
with both parties, have shown them
selves wiser than the politicians.
The result ought to encourage the friends
Of sound money in both parties to bolder
and more aggressive efforts in the Novem-
Der States. It ought to teach the demo-
cratic leaders that they cannot succeed by
playing the demagogue. No one now doubts
that if the democratic party in Ohio had
dropped its silly "fraud" cry and its
equally silly imitation appeal, and placed
itself boldly on . sound currency plat
form, it could have swept the State.
But the democratic leaders in most
of the States have neither courage nor wis
dom, and that is the reason the people keep
them so long wandering in the wilderness.
1t is safe 10 say that the Ohio and Indiana
democrats have almost. if not entirely,
ruined the chances Of their party in 1880.
Year: 1878

IT WILL Nor BE VERY GREAT SURPRISE
70 the public to learn that an active lobby is at
work endeavoring to defeat the veto by thu
Mayor of the resolution to extend the St. Mich
olas Avenue Railroad from Tenth avenue to the
Eaaf River
Year: 1878

ACCORDING TO OUR SPECIAL CABLE DE-
nATcHEs this morning very uneasy feeling pre-
walls in financial and business circles in Glas-
cow. Very great indignation is expressed in
regard to the reckless management of the broken
hank.
Year: 1878

A WEDDING near Watertown, in this State,
the other evening had q rather tragic ending.
The bridegroom could not see the fun of the
immemorial tin horn serenade, and something
like pitched battle took place. One of the
Sercnaders and the bride were fatally wounded
Year: 1878

THE Six MILLION NINE HUNDRED THOUSAND
DOLLAR CrTr LOAN was awarded yesterday to
the combination of bankers. The reduction
which it will make in tho interest account will
Be gratifying to the Taxpayers.
Year: 1878

Thomas Walter, well-known citizen
of this city, died this morning at his resi-
dence No. 215 West street, after linger-
ing illness, of water around the heart.
Although he was not strictly confined to
the house, being able at times to walk
down town, still his ailments did not al
low him to excite himself. AT the time
of his death he was in the 77th year of
his age. He was born at the old home
stead in Christiana Hundred near Camp
bells shop. In early life he was appren-
ticed to house carpenter, and through
diligence soon became master of the
trade. After he was through his appren-
ticeship he continued to work az an en-
ployee, but soon gave up his situation
and started business for himself Among
the buildings that he erected are those
which consisted of the silk factories in
Brandywine Hundred. He came to this
city about thirty-fve years ago, and for
a time carried on the business of his
trade, but in 1845 he started the saw and
planning mill at the foot of West street.
opposite the Harlan ~ Hollingsworth
Cos works. Here he continued in bust
ness up to about six years ago. Having
amassed comfortable fortune he sold
out to Horace Cause, since which time
he has lived retired from active business
life. He was a member of the Society
OF Friends, and stood very high in the
community. He leaves a wife, son and
daughter His funeral will take place on
Friday afternoon.
Year: 1878

Try n correspondent asks, what is
the best method Of feeding cattle in win
Tr!' We don't exactly know. One
man might prefer to take tn e OK in bis
lap and feed him with spoon. Others
would bring him into the dining room
ana let him sit at the table with the old
folks, Tastes differ in matters of this
kind.
Year: 1878

A large portion of the last Democratic
Press is devoted to proof of the existence
OF Fiddlers' Green, by articles original
and selected, 1t is hoped that when
they die they will go To or VIXEN they 90
to they will die to that or some other
good place.
Year: 1878

Mr. JOHN MoRRIssEY Is said To be now on
his way home from Florida. much improved
IN health In the senate chamber at Albany
Monday was To be seen u beautiful bouquet.
attached To which was card reading: If
not here you are not forgotten.'-lN. y
Year: 1878

They are telling now about man


in Dubuque, who buried two dozen
bottles Of whisky in his cellar TWEEN
ty-three years ago and forgot all
about them, and when they were ac-


cidentalIy dug up last week. the
whisky was found to be superb.
How people will lie. The man may
have buried the whisky in his cellar,
but if he forgot about, it was be-
cause he was struck by lightning or
hanged the next day. 9n
Year: 1878

The principal subject considered by
the International Postal Congress, now
sitting Paris, is the means of establish.
ing system of international money or
ders for all the countries of the postal
union. The delegates from various
countries are unanimous as to the de-
STABILITY, but the rate of exchange is
the difficulty.
Year: 1878

Eds. Iele.-Thinking that few words
from this part of the world would be Of
interest to your readers, take the oppor-
tunity of few days of leisure to give
them some ideas of this portion of the
Arkansas valley. The river at this point
is about a half a mile in width and so
shallow that one acquainted with the Ford,
shod with pair of rubber boots can pass
over with dry feet. Upon the north side
Of tine river the bottoms are from enc half
to mile in width, rising gradually to the
table lands. These table lands are reck-
oned the best wheat lands in the State.
They are just rolling enough for drainage
and yet there are whole sections upon
which there is not waste acre and upon
which pillow or a harvester would find no
obstacle. The soil is from two to three
feet in depth with a slight mixture of sand,
and rich as any that have eyer seen.
Government land within eighteen or twenty
miles of the R. R. is taken with perhaps a
few exceptions which are not desirable.
R. R. land however can be had within one
mile of the station in any quantity TO
suit, and if one were looking for r. R..
land know OF no place where there is so
large body of first class land as at this
place. The town of Garfield was started
five years ago by company of citizens
from Geneva Ohio and named in honor of
our able Representative from the 10Th dis
trict. 1t is a small place yet and contains
4 church, schoolhouSe, hotel, two stores
and will soon contain another. There is a
water power here which is conceded by all
who have examined it to be the finest in
the Arkansas valley, and which could be
utilized at very small expense. And it
doubtless will be as soon as wheat enough
is raised in this vicinity. 1 should judge
that there were about one thousand OF
twelve hundred acres of wheat upon the
ground which looks very we'll Wheat on
sod or first ploughing will yield from twelve
to twenty bushels per acre. On second
ploughing the yield is from twenty to thirty.
l can find no instances of failure which
were beyond the control of the growers,
except the year of the grasshopper raid.
Barley does well. The yield upon second
ploughing is from fifth to sixty bushels pei
acre. Oats do equally well, but I don't
think that this will ever be a corn country


the elevation is too great, and the nights
too cool. But Barley yields so well that il
is used as a substitute.


Col. II. P. Wolcott is the gentlsmanly
agent of the A. T. & S. F. R. R. at thi.
place and will take great pleasure in show.
ing the Co.'S lands to all who wish. Mr.. E
W. Grover is the district agent for nerth
eastern Ohio and whose card appears il
your paper. More anon. S.
Year: 1878

In the month of July, 1777, the
American army was at Middlebrook,
N. J. Gen. Howe, with the main
body of the British army, held New
York, and it was known that Bur
gOyne was coming down the Hudson
with a heavy force. An EEglisL
feet lay in New York bay, and to-
ward the middle of the month July
it was reported to Washington that
an unusual movement was being
made on the water. He was uneasy.
1t was a critical period. A certain
movement he much desired to make,
and in order to make it successfully
not only must the utmost secrecy be
preserved, but, if possible, the at
tentiOn of the enemy must be drawn
in another direction. Fnallv,i he
prepared a despatch of seemingly
great Importance, directed it to
General Israel Putnam, which he
proposed to forward by an honest
Vermont Soldier. The soldier was
directed to don the garb of a CON-
mon farm labOrer, and to then re-
port at the headquarters of the Com
mander-in-C Chief, which he did.
Admitted to WaShington's presence,
he was directed to take off one of
his heavy shoes. A shoemaker was
present with his kit of tools, who
took the shoe in hand, and very
soon had the despatch pegged up
between the two soles.


When the soldier, who had wit
messed the operation, had put on the
shoe again, Washington told him
what he was TO do. He was simply
to deliver that shoe to General Put
man at a certain cantOnment be-
tween Princeton and the Hudson,
and he was to make his way
through the RamapO Pass.


"Bnt, General" " cried the man in
amaze, 81 can reach General Put
man just as quickly by another route.
Think of the Cow Boys and the
Tories in that pass. 1 shall be surely
captured"


'My good man." said the Com
mander.in- Chief, betraying not a
particle of anger, 81 do not require
you to think, but simply to act and
obey. If you fear to go by that
route l will send another in your
place. l know the danger"


"No, General, l will go"


And the man went; and lie was
captured, as Washington had known
he must be; and the enemy, keenly
on tile alert, found the despatch,
for the hiding place between the
soles of the shoe was an old device
found it, as the sender hoped It
would be found, and the contents OF
that despach led General Howe up
on a false trail long enough TO ena-
BILE General Washington to accom-
plish the purpose he had in view.
Year: 1878

he had betrayed his sinful secret.
TbiS shows how mueh good that
simple song may do, provided it
awakens in some young man desire
other than that of killing on the
spot. The unrepentaiil conSpirators
prepared themselves with he usual
quantity Of cake and other refresh
ments OF nature certain TO grease
the Victims furniture, and at about
O'Clock on the appointed evening
set forth IN silent procession for the
scene of their intended outrage. No
one who saw them suspected their
design, and even the local constable
who met them on the street never
dreamed that they were about to
stain the fair fame of Rhinebeck
with a deed adapted to make even
strong men turn pale with horror.
Presently they reached the victims
front gate, and they had Just en-
tered the yard and closed the gate
behind them, when from behind a
syrlngsa bush the proposed victim
stepped forth and confronted them.


His appearance but remotely re-
sembled that of person disposed
to quietly submit to an outrage.
He held a double-b -barreIed gun in
one hand and a chain in the other,
which was attached to the collars of
two large bulldogs. The handles of
a revolver and bowie knife pro-
truded from each Of his pockets, the
nozzle of hOse-pipe lay by his side,
and his general aspect was stern and
relentless. The invaders suddenly
convinced that their heIlish purpose
had been thwarted, turned to fiv,
but the gate closed with a spring
latch, and young lady, who tried
to climb over it and stuck on the
piekets, so complicated matters that
it could not be opened. While the
miscreants were thus thrown into
wild panic, the owner of the prem
ises, with unexpected lioerality, gave
them their choice whether he should
open the entertainment with the
shotgun or the dogs, or whether
they would prefer to be played upon
with the hose, without any prelimin-
airy whatever. With one accord they
chose the hose, and the estimable
citizen thereupon drenched them
with remarkable impartiality until
he fairly washed them out of the
yard; after which he fastened their
flight up the street by firing a salute
with both barrels and stimulating
the dogs to bark at the top of their
lungs.


There is a feeling in Rhinebeck
that the estimable citizen was not
surprised to any great extent, and it
is believed that the carnival of crime
which would probably have begun
had the surprise party been successful
has been indefinitely postponed. A
subscription for the purpose of pre-
ssnting piece of plate to the esti-
mable citizen will soon be started in
the villages bordering on the Hudson
and it is to be hoped that every honest
and peaeeable citizen will avail him
self of the opportunity to show his
gratitude for the noble defender of
human rights.
Year: 1878

How it happened that one day
last week a number of native Rhine
beckians determined to subject an
estimable ow-townsman to the
outrage of a surprise party, it is
hopeless to inquire. 1t was one of
those sporadic cases of crime which
battle the theories of students of So
cial science. No less than thirteen
persons were concerned in it, and
they banded themselves together un-
der the leadership of q man who
had hitherto borne a good reputa-
ton. The affair was managed with


much secrecy, and but for the timely


awakening of the conscience of one
of the conspirators, might have
proved disastrously successful. This
conspirator was youth who, though
easily led aStray, was not without
noble impulses. The night before
the date fixed upon for the commits
sion of the crime, he was passing
near a house in which female voice
was singing "The Sweet BY and By"
He remembered that in his earlier
days and innocent days his great


aunt on his stepfather's side, was ac'


customed TO sing that song. The
rsoolleution melted his heart, and =
sudden horror of the premeditated
crime fell upon him, lie fastened
to the house of the intended victim,
and with streaming eyes and broken
tones confessed his wickid designs
and solomnly pledged himself to
lead hencefOrth a better life. The
sstimable though stern citizen for
gave him, thanked him for his warn
! ing, aud told him to tell no man that