smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1879

The practice of carrying weapons about
the streets is an absurd and perniclous
one Young men go about armed with
revolvers and pistols as though they were
in land of savage instead of civilized
community, where the duty of defending
life and person is delegated by law to Of
fcers paid to protect The accidental
killing of young Baldwin is attributable
to this practice; and it is one only of h
long list of such accidents due alone to
the fact that men and boys go about like
wild Comaches with weapons on their
person.


What reasonable excuse is there for
this folly? The chances are ninety nine
in a hundred that no man who conducts
himself as a gentleman should do, and
keeps out of bad company, will ever have
occasion to use a revolver or pistol, un-
less he wants to practice at target And
the danger would be greatly lessened it
the law would take rough hold of the
pistol carrying fools and make an exam
Pile of few of them.


A drunken idiot, and that class is nu-
merous, steps into saloon, whips out his
revolver at the least provocation, bangs
away, and there is a painful accident to
be written up. Others, with less excuse
for their idiocy, fool with firearms, as
Sumlng IDem 10 Uo uuIOduSuj Llil lu0f6 lS
an unlock ed for discharge, and some dear
one, often wife, child, brother or sister,
is sent to their last account. Of course
| there are regret and poignant sorrow
| even the idiot can feel-but regret is
unavailing.


What is needed is a law authorizing the
arrest of any person on sight who goes
about the streets of city with arms on
| his person, and unless he can give sub
stantial reason for wearing them, he
should be fined heavily, or be shut up in
a lunatic asylum. 1t ought to be accept.
ed at law as sufficient evidence of natural
idiocy or temporary insanity if any per
son is caught in a civilized community


with arms worn to defend himself against
assault. He overestimates the value ot


his precious person. and his formidable


ness as magazine of arms. There is ter


times the danger from his blunderins


handling of weapon that there woulc


be were he to draw the thing with pre-


meditated purpose to fire to hit a givel


object.
Year: 1879

The American Museum of Natural His
tory, of this city, has ust been enriched
by a contribution Of three slabs of sand
stone taken from the Connecticut Valley.
The donor of the slabs desires that his
name shall not be mentioned in print,
but the specimens are said to have come
from Turner's Falls, Mass. On two OF
the slabs are impressed large foot prints
of some amphibious animal. Professor
Hitchcock names the animal the Bronto
zouna giganteum. The beast is. or was in
ancient times, reptile of enormous size,
as the prints of his feet on the slabs pre-
sented to the museum show. The theory
of the geologists is that this monster was
formed something like frog; that he
walked mostly on his hind legs, only US.
ing his fore legs when it was necessary
for him to drop down to rest. 1t is esti
mated that he lived about II, 500, 900
years before the appearance of man on
this earth.


The third slab is covered with the
marks OF the feet of some insect which is
unknown to the present generation
From the foot prints the geologists have
determined that the insect was of the
ephemana genus. Insects of this class can
live in the water several days but on the
land they survive for but from one to
twenty four hours. The theory regard
ing these foot prints is that the insect
found himself on dry land, with the tide
receding and in attempting to gain the
water he left these marks upon the sand


which are presumed to teach the nine


teenth century something of the history
of the past.
Year: 1879

What is to be done with people who
persist in hourishing firearms in the face
of family and friends, after the repeated
warnings they have had of the danger to
which they expose them2 If a servant
girl persists in pouring coal oil on a light
ed fire, and an explosion follows in which
she is fatally injured, she takes the con
sequences of her ignorance, but fellow
who points pistol or a musket at his
wife or child, just to frighten them, and
is amazed to find it discharge its deadly
contents into their heads or hearts-what
is to be done with him? Is he to be ex
cused and allowed to go free of punish
ment for his criminal carelessness? Ought
he not to be held responsible for man
slaughter, at least? We have incidents
to report almost daily of this careless,
reckless foolishness. A painful case of
this kind was reported yesterday in a
special dispatch from Louisville. A ne
gro named Pettway living with woman
named Lizzie Gray, was fourishing a
pistol about the room occupied by them,
repeatedly pointing and swapping it at
her, just, as he says, to frighten her. She
told him not to do SO, and warned him
that it was loaded; but paying no atten-
ton to her admonitIon. he pulled the
trigger again. and this time it was dis
charged, the contents entering her brain
and killing her instantly.


Now, il it was not a purposely devised
accident, if he did not intend killing her
under the pretense that he did not be-
lieve the pistol loaded, what ought to be
done with SO arrant fool2 He would
possibly profit by his experience, and be
careful how he handled firearms in the
presence of others hereafter. But his
caution is gained by fearful experience
He can not restore the life taken in this
foolish manner. His criminality is in
pointing the weapon at the woman at
all. There is no law making it penal
otfense; but there ought to be- 1t ought
to be understood that it is statutory
| offense, and making one liable to serious
consequences. to point any frearm
whether loaded or unloaded-since who
| can tell how it stands ?-at another per
| son.


Had Pettway pointed the pistol at his
own head, pulled the trigger, and blown
| out his brains, what there are of them
| the loss would have been inconsiderable
| and the Coroner would have returned 8
verdict of accidental self slaughter. But
the case stands differently when. in his
mad folly, he has killed another; and he
is the more to be censured that even an
unlettered negro ought after the repeat
ed and daily multiplying incidents OF the
sort, to have exercised some caution in
| handling the weapon.


1t is not unfrequent that children are
killed in playing with firearms. But
there is some excuse for them. They
are not supposed to be familiar with them
to be conscious of the imminent danger
to which they expose each other. But
that grown up people should indulge in
the fatal folly of pointing weapons al
each other for the sport of witnessing the
| terror of those thus menaced, is incom
prehensible. Yet it is almost daily oc
currence, and it is to be feared that unless
penal consequences are made by law tC
attach to the practice it will never cease
Year: 1879

And still the missionary cause wakes
stronger, New Bedford has a clever
young lady worth million dollars, and
''of rather pious turn of mind who
made up that mind that she would be a
missionary. Could any thing be more
beautiful The church accepted her
services, and when asked what field of
labor she had in view, she pensively look
edsdown at her lavender gloves and re.
piled II think l will 90 to Paris"
Year: 1879

An obligng spirit prompted the Jersey
farmer who put two pound milestone
in every turkey he sent to the New York
market. He knew the buyers would
find the stones indispensable when it
came to carving the IoWls.
Year: 1879

The crowning need of man is pair of
slippers over which he is fully convinced
he has exclusive ownership, and not q
nondescript article that he knows as
soon as he has lett the housr in the morn
ing his wife will put on, and will 60 scuf-
fling around in all day.
Year: 1879

Senator Thurman asserted in q
speech that northern mechanics and
laborers were compelled by their
employers last November to vote
the Republican ticket. When
called upon by the Teller committee
for the facts he admitted that he
had no evidence except the state
ment Of Ben Butler.
Year: 1879

LABoRERs' STRIKE IN NEW Y0RK.-The labor
ers employed in digging holes for foundations
OF posts on the Metropolitan Elevated railroad
In New York quit work yesterday on being in
formed that their wages would be reduced IRON
$l5O 10 81 .25 per day. The number OF strikers
was about coo. Police reserves were ordered on
duty TO preserve order. The men are expected
TO resume work at the reducrfoD
Year: 1879

SICKNESS IN THE SOUTH.-The southern cores
poDdentS OF the COurief-Journal report there is
no yellow fever In the south, although some sort
OF sickness seems to have been caused by the
disinterment Of bodies Of persons who died of
yellow lever
Year: 1879

GOV. HAMPTON.-It is said that it Is probable
that another amputation Of the leg-bone will
be necessary In Gov. Hampton's case. as the
over In its present condition. The Governor
says he suffers more from the old bullet wound
i n his hip than from the amputation.
Year: 1879

The POTTER COMMITTEE.-lt is the purpose Of
the democratic members of the Potter investi
eating committee to conclude the Investigation
thls week, so as to give time for the preparation
OF reports on each side
Year: 1879

SENATOR SHIELDS, of Missouri, drew his pay
and mleage-some sleO-on Saturday and laid
it on his desk. leaving it there when he left the
chamber. The money was cared for by q page
who took charge OF it until the owner turned
up. The Senator did not know of his loss until
his attention was called to 1t, and then he was
LOT Ii to believe it,
Year: 1879

A MEETING Of the sub committee of the Senate
committee On commerce will be held tonight.
to hear persons interested In the Reagan inter
state commerce bill. The chances for the pas
sage of this bill st tie present session are very
slim
Year: 1879

EX-G0y. HUNT SAYS THE UTEs MUST Go.-EX-
Governor Hunt, OF Colorado, who made the
treaty with the Ute Indians under which they
now occupy the valuable reservation upon
which they are located, arrived in the city last
night and is at the Ebbitt House. He thinks
the UteS Will have to be removed from their
reservation, and that all attempts to treat with
them will be futile. He says the government
made mistake in ever attempting TO treat with
them. He does not think that Gen. Hatch and
the commission are in danger, because Ouray
has both the power and the inclination to pro
tect the party.
Year: 1879

net earnings was the residue after deducting
the operating expenses from the gross re-
ceipts, but the Companies contended that to
the expenditures should be added the
interest on the bonded Indebtedness of
the Company. On the first point the
court sustained the government, and on
the second also, with one qualification. Hav
ing yielded priority to first mortgage bonds,
the government must according to this
decision, allow the sum payable as interest
upon it to be deducted from the gross re-
ceipts as part OF the expenditure.


One result of the decision lies in the i'm.
portant bearing it has on the Thurman bill
passed at the last session of Congress, as il
affirms substantially the correctness of "net
earnings" as defined in that bill. Thus the
contest that is coming before the Supreme
Court on this measure is narrowed down
considerably.
Year: 1879

Now that the Potter Committee has found
out how the New York Tribune came by the
cipher kilograms it is to be hoped it will
make haste to investigate their contents.
But little more than month remains for in
quiry and that time can easily be used up in
collateral matters. It is very little conse-
quence how they were made public. What the
public wants to know is whether or not thew
are genuine, and if SO whether the Tribune's s
trauslations were correct. 1t is to be feared
that the committee isn't half so curious about
these matters as the public.
Year: 1879

THE English Admiralty Courts are con-
tronsed with tolerable delicate question of
international law. When the United States
war-vessel Constitution grounded on the
Welsh coast, an English tug helped the his
toric, old ship to get aaoat. The master
them made demand for salvage, which the
commander of the Constitution regarded as
exorbi tant and refused to pay. The master
of the tug is now seeking to libel the ship
and enforce his claim. The Admiralty
Judge, to whom he applied for writ was
exceedingly cautious, and seemed to be in
some doubt about his Jurisdiction. Later re-
ports, however. state that the motion to ar
rest the vessel has been dismissed.
Year: 1879

THE decision of the Supreme court on the
appeal Of the Pacific railroad from the court
of claims recently announced, is one of good
deal of Importance not only from the pecu-
mary benefit which the Government will de-
rive from it but because it settles long-vexed
questions. The particular case decided was
the appeal of the Union Pacific but the deci-
sion applies equally to the Central Pacific.
One OF the points related to the date at which
the road shall be held to have been COM
pleted, and the other to the meaning OF ''net
earnings" The Government contended that
Year: 1879

The House Committee on Agriculture are
in pursuit Of Commissioner LIE Due and
claim that they have evidence that he
has been misaprlying appropriations. The
Democrats are so accustomed to cry thief
without particle of evidence that no one
will take any stock in their charges until the
proof is furnished.
Year: 1879

The Massachusetts, Legislature has finally
fixed the annual salary of member of that
body at $500. The strongest opponents of
the reduction were the Butler men, who
shouted all summer SO Justify for economy
and reform
Year: 1879

We do not read anonymous letters and commun
cations. The and address of the writer are in
all cases Indispensable. not necessarily for publication
but as a guaranty Of good faith.


We cannot undertake to return or preserve CON-
munications that are not used
Year: 1879

New Haven Register: A boy will draw two
overgrown companions with great care and la.
Dor up long hill on his sled, but IL his little
sister gets on for ride he will tip her over in
to the first snowdrift. RON away and let her pick
herself up as best she can.
Year: 1879

All, you pesky, pretty rogue! How
dare you steal his heart away by youI
bewitching smiles, your graceful curls
and softer Establishments. You must
not practice deception. You must not
make others believe that your health is
good, while inwardly suffering tortures'
You know your heart palpitates after
running up flight of steps or climbing
a steep hill or taking any active eXer-
else. Your head aches. You have lost
your appetite. You have cold feet and
hands, swimming of the head. You
are becoming nervous, cross and fretful.
You occasionally have II hysteric spell


Don't enamor, don't entice young men
until you can claim your health, as you
are now unfit for wife. Send at once
for bottle of English Female Bitters,
it will restore you to perfect health.
Year: 1879

At McHenry mines last Saturday
night coal oil lamp exploded in the
telegraph Office, throwing oil over the
operator. The instruments and table
were destroyed. 1t is good rule to fill
and clean lamps every morning, and
thus save much risk.
Year: 1879

The person that got my pocket-booll
at the fair can save exposure and prose
cution by returning same to me, or
the law will be enforced. know who
has it, and il had better be returned
soon. HALLE KILEY.
Year: 1879

THE THEATRE.-There was fair audience
at the Theatre last night 10 enjoy the sec
ond presentation OF Diplomacy" by the
Warde IL Barrymore combination. The
cast was the same as on the first night OF
the engagement, and the performance was
even more attractive. We see no reason to
change the opinion already expressed in re.
gard TO this excellent company. 1t is one OF
the best we have ever had in Richmond, and
deserves crowded houses every night. The
stage-setting is admirable. and the play
itself agreeable and refined. Our Theatre
soers will miss n splendid performance il
they fail TO see the company now at the
Theatre.
Year: 1879

A most brutal murder was committed in this town some time during the night of Thursday, August 18th. On Friday morning about six o'clock e. m., tho body of James Maher, youth of nineteen years of age, was found dead in lot be- longing to Mrs. Douglass, a few rods east of the residence of Hon. Thomas Bull. IL had evidently lain where it was found some six or eight hours. as there was but slight warmth in any part of the body. and the larger portion of the body was quite rigid. The murder had evidently been committed in tho highway, and then the body had been dragged from the north side of the highway across it, through the fence and some six rods into the lot ad- joining, where it was left in full view of the passers by There were evidences of d severe struggle in the highway, for some four or five rods to the ditch, where evidently the final strug- gle was had, and death occurred, doubt less, almost instantaneously at last The dirt in the road was greatly disturbed, and the coarse grass in the ditch was beaten down as though horse has rolled in it. The murderer had evidently placed the body in the position he did, on pur- pose, that it might be early discovered. He had placed the head up hill, placed one arm under the body, the other over the heart, ono leg being drawn out straight, and the other slightly curved, the face turning to one side, as though quietly sleeping. Then he had retraeed his steps to the road, and carried tho hat to the body, placing it at it's side. If ! the murderer had simply Gesired conceal ment he could have rolled the body in- to q shallow brook not rod distant, that was covered with tall coarse grass, where it might have lain for days, until decom- position had notified the senses of the existence of the corpse. A jury of in- quest was called, and the body viewed. There were no external indications of

 violence except some slight scratches across the face and forhead, and a black ened appearance of the throat and face, as if there had been stangulation. or ap- 

 called, and made full post mortem eI- animation. On removing the scalp and skin of the throat the cause of death was at once apparent. There had been severe strangulation as if the throat had

 been strongly grasped, and there were | four or five confused wounds on the top and back side of the head. which crushed through to the skull, scratching 1t in several places. asd producing severe consussion on the substance of the bIain.

 The blows were so severe. that there is no doubt, that the first one did the cruel work, Still blow followed blow, and. after all it seems, that when all was over. the murderer had some hope his work had not been fatal, and so he placed the body in the lot, in an easy position. await ing discovery at dawn .a The jury of in quest immediately proceeded to take evidence, and continued its labors through Friday and Saturday, when not having completed them, it adjourned to Monday morning ate a. m. The jury does not disclose the evidence taken by it; bu5 the community strongly suspect two or three persons of being implicated ! in the crime. Disclosures would not

 further the ends of justice.

 NAMELEsS.
Year: 1879

One feature of the present century is the startling number of terrible accidents. The last horror, in the form of a boiler explosion, occurred on board the steam tug Esse.r of N. J., at the Montgomery street wharf, last Wednesday morning. Fireman Fuller was fatally injured, and Engineer Saffery seriously. As both men were sober and reliable, it is hard to determine what was the cause of the accident.
Year: 1879

A grand scheme for the entire liquida- tion of the public debt of Japan ill twenty six years, has recently been inaugurated If the country remains in q peaceable condition, the leading potentates feel con- fdent of the success of the plan.
Year: 1879

Two of the great men of the day, Wes- ton and Rowell, have landed safely in New York. The former has emphatically stipulated that there shall be no smoking in the building during the coming walk. which is certainly first-class idea.
Year: 1879




A couple, after a courtship
of over fifteen years, were re-
Gently married in Kentucky.
The wedding was to have oc-
Cured in 1861 when the war
broke out, but the conflict
which dragged all classes of
people into its whirlpool, claim
ed this lover as we'll. He took
one side, her father took the
other. The old man never for
gave him. He swore as long
as he lived his daughter should
never marry a rebel. He kept
his word. One by one his three
sons passed over the river and
out Of sight. His wife, broken
hearted, followed her boys to
the grave, and finally none of
..he happy household was left
but the patient girl and her
stern ol d parent. The war
gave back her lover uninjured,
but the inplacable father
stood between. He refused his
consent to the marriage. and
she would not wed withot it.
And so many years rolled away
-an obstinate old man-two
loyal lovers. A year ago he
died, and this long-delayed mar
riage has just beel consum-
mated.
Year: 1879

Iof manner; he was brusque and
Luncompromising- a man fowhom
lit was impossible 10 endure a II.
wal, who aspired to a leadership


and who was jealous Of all who


contended for it with him. This


man had supported the State of


Franklin in its early days,
but afterward, probably because
The saw that Sewers influence
was likely to oyershadow his
own, threw the whole weight of
| his influence in favor of a return
to the jurisdiction of North ('ar-
|olina.


So rapidly did the fabric of
the new State perish that three


years after its establishment, IN
the words of a recent writer upon


the subject, mo Legislature at
all could be assembled, and it
was one Of the duties of the Leg
islature to elect the Council, and
as the Legislature at its last ses-
sion had failed to do this, the
Council was soon a thing of the
past. To complete this cata-
logue of misfortunes, Judge
Campbell, the head of the Judi
ciary, accepted Office under the


Government Of North Carolina.
Gov. Sewer was left alone in his
official dignity. Even this sole
relic of the Franklin Government
would not in the natural course
of events remain long exempt
from the general wreck, for the
Governors term expired on
March /, 1888, and it being a
constitutional function of the
Legislature to elect the Govern
or, and there being no Leg1sla-
ture to perform this duty, it fol-
lowed inevitably that after
March /, 1888, there would be
no Governor of the State of
Franklin"


Such were the facts, and the
State of Franklin thus ended.


Sewer finally became Cover
nor of Tennessee, and for many
years served in the House of
Representatives E at Washington.
Year: 1879

a


The quinine manufacturers are
naturally indignant at the pas
sage of the bin removing the du-
ty, and like most angry people
are a trifle illogical. They as
sure the southern members that
the price of the drug will go up
instead of down; that in place
of three dollars and thirty-fiye
cents per ounce the price will be
five dollars; and in the same
breath declare that they have
withdrawn all orders for bark, land
will in all probability cease man
ufacturing altogether. w hys
Manufacturers do not usually
close up a business just when
the profits are doubling. If, too,
as they assert, the Philadelphia
firms have sold the drug at small
profits which they might have
made extortionate, and also re-
Trained from adulterating it out
of conscientious regard for the
well being of the American peo-
pie, why do they not perseyere
in their philanthropy now, when:
as they threaten, we are to be
poisoned with bad cinchona and
they can save us without loss tc
themselves? Their threats and
forebodings may prove true OF
not, but they will not alter the
verdict that their monopoly has
been selfish and extortionate.