smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1878

In a few days the Jersey courts will in
all probability be called upon to take up
the threads of law and evidence in the
murder of the young painter Finley at the
Highlands of Navesink by George Franklyn,
an old man, who lacks one year of the
thrsescore and ten which the Psalmist
allots as the span of human life. An element
of mystery enters into nearly every murder,
and the one in question is no exception to
what seems to be the universal rule. The
facts, which have probably escaped the
recollection of our readers, are elsewhere
recalled by one Of our correspondents, and
it will be seen that the motives of the crime
are enveloped in as much darkness and un.
certainty to-day as they were months ago
when the deed was committed Finley and
Franklyn were to all appearance entire
strangers to one another. The one was
young, the other was an old man. There were
apparently no reasons why one should have
taken the life of the other quarrel, how.
ever, seems to have sprung up between
them, the old man resenting the familiarity
of the younger one and finally numbering
him in the most brutal manner. 1t is
limited that they had known one another
in other years, and that grudge had
existed between them, but no one appears
to be able to speak with certainty on tho
subject. If the public prosecutors have
any information on that point they do not
see fit to make it public. The case will
probably be called at the coming term
of the Court, and the lawyers may be able
to lift the veil of mystery which now en-
velops it. 1t certainly possesses some very
singular features
Year: 1878

There is one habit commendable in the
police everywhere. AS soon as man says
that ghost told him some one had been
murdered in certain place they investi-
gate, and il they find any reality in the story
they lay violent hands on the man who re-
ceved the information from the ghost.
Thus, if Hamlet had mentioned to any one
on tho Danish police that he was sure his
mothers husband had murdered his father
because n ghost had mentioned the fact to
him on the ramparts he would have been
Immediately locked up until tho Coroner
and Dr. Cushman, senior assistant saw
bones, had inquired into the facts. AT the
first glance this course on the part of
the police generally may seem to
be injudicious, as tending TO pre-
vent the Intervention of ghosts and
thereby to cut off extremely important
sources Of information. But the habit
seems to flow from an irreverent incredulity
on the part of the police as to the very
existence of the ghosts in these stories, and
their experience seems to justify their
doubts. 1t will be remembered that in the
case of the late Pesach Rubenstein their
Year: 1878

For some time the Long Island Railroad
has indulged in accidents with frequency
that limited at some more tangible cause
than mere bad luck, and the report which
we publish on another page shows that
causes are nearly as numerous as disasters.
The condition of the road-its rails, ties,
bridges roadbed, and ut least some portions
of it's service-i is worse than disgraceful
Ties SO rotten that cane can be thrust
down into them, bridge stringers with
rotten ends, rails which uphold ties in
stead of being supported by the latter,
rails which have jagged ends and split
flanges, roadbed containing little or
no ballast but the yielding sand and
light soil peculiar to Long Island, embank-
ments barely wide enough to accommodate
the ties, made only Of the same yielding
soil, which even wind can shift, are features
inexcusable enough to justify criminal
suits in cases Of accidents attended>b by loss
of life. Equally shameful is the danger to
which travellers are exposed by the over
work to which switchmen are subjected.
Last week fatal collision occurred near
Fresh Pond Junction. At this point our
inspector was informed that the switchman
has been working from fifteen to eighteen
hours per day, being in charge Of six flags,
nine lamps, three switches and telegraph
instrument, and at less pay than
some drivers of horse cars receive
Other switchmen were found doing
duty nearly as arduous, and fully as
many hours per day. The new receiver of
this road has earned handsome reputa-
ton elsewhere as practical railroad man,
so he must know of the disgraceful condi-
ton of his road and of the perils to which
thousands Of lives are subjected daily. II
for any cause he is powerless to remedy it
he can at least have enough regard for hu.
man life to run fewer trains, run them
slowly enough to enable passengers to save
themselves in case of accident, and plainly
warn the travelling public against ever
present danger. The captain of sinking
ship who should fail to apprise his passen-
gers OF their peril would universally be
pronounced heartless villain, and there is
no reason why the manager of worthless
railroad should not be held to as strict ac-
countability as the commander of founder
inc vessel
Year: 1878

Judge Westbrook, in Supreme Court,
Chambers, lately called attention to the
abuse Of which an order of arrest had been
he would thereafter grant no such orders
on mere general affidavits as to cause of
action. We hope other judges will follow
his example. Orders of arrest are not as
easily procured as they were in the good
old days of the Ring, when they were an
important part of the business fixtures Of
every rascal who chose to use them, but
even now they are used more for malicious
purposes than in the interests Of justice. So
long as irate creditors can, by stultifying
their consciences obtain orders against long
delaying debtors, just SO long they will
use them for the purpose OF venting their
spleen. The order to which Judge West
brook alluded was served at eight o'clock
on Saturday night an hour at which no one
could find and qualify bondsmen (; and in-
stances Of late arrests, so arranged by plain
tiffs' attorneys, are numerous, the object
being either to extort money under the fear
of being locked up over night, or to lock up
the debtor anyhow, if impecunious, to
crafty the spite of the creditor. The bonds
which are required from persons os-
tanning orders are supposed to secure
indemnity to persons wrongly arrested;
but even of this poor satisfaction
for annoyance and nominal disgrace
the injured man is usually deprived, for in
granting discharge upon discovering that
evidence does not sustain the complaint
upon which the order was issued a judge
usually forbids the defendant to sue for
damages! Except in cases of debtors abont
to leave the State the mass of orders of ar
rest in matters of debt is q disgrace to our
courts and travesty upon justice. There
is not q business house Of any importance
which could not demand dozens of such
orders on grounds as good as those upon
which many are issued, but they would
rightly consider such action malicious and
rascally. While debtors and creditors ex-
ist there will be delinquents in one class
and angry men in the other, but creditors
can devise torments enough without the
law being prostituted to their purposes.
Year: 1878

1t is quite remarkable coincidence
that the two most famous athletes in their
respective lines that this country ever pro-
duced are to encounter this week, the one
on land the other on water, antagonists so
skilled and enduring that it is no easy task
to say which will win. Daniel O'Leary
last March met the best men England could
produce, fought them q whole week and
moved them down one after another until
he left the best of them several miles be-
hind, and the worlds cham pionship belt,
like the Visitors Challenge Cup at Henley,
has actually crossed the Atlantic and is
now held Oh this side. But uncommonly
tough walker and runner as O'Leary is
John Hughes will cut out plenty of work
for him every hour this week. Once or
tionable policy of running nearly thirty
miles at the very outset of the race, q terribly
hard days work for any man, even if he had
not another mile to travel, but seemingly a
most foolish step where sixty miles more
must be covered before bedtime. Ii he
will SO far change his plan as TO watch his
opponent closely and walk when he walks,
quicken when he quickens, run when he
runs and slow when he slows, he will find
when Friday and Saturday come around,
and both men are well jaded, that he has
quite as much LETT in him as the champion,
and so can give him hard race over every
foot of the ground.
Year: 1878

In celebrated case lately tried in n
court in this city before a gentleman re-
Gently described in some European prints
as "Chief Justice Shea, OF the United
States," it appeared by the testimony that
there is man on the city police who
"don't care damn for Copernicus." Per-
haps the Police Commissioners were not
aware of this, but they are now informed,
and we do not see how they can remain in
different to the startling fact. One famous
instance in which man expressed his con-
tempt for the Equator has become proven
bal as grave case that convicted the law
itself of inadequacy, since it pre-
scribed no penalty for an offence that
morally was of the greatest magnitude.
But what is the Equator to Copper
nicus What is an imaginary line to
q great authority? But it is not merely the
dignity and repute of Copernicus that is in
danger Copernicus was cited as an au-
thority--as one whose word was an unan-
swerablc evidence that the day of twenty
four hours had ended when the twelfth
hour was sounded on the second turn oil
the dial II policeman may express his
contempt for Copernicus in such circum-
Year: 1878

stances he may express his contempt iof .
police commissioner next. and even Tor the
law and the constitution of the United
States. Where will such lightness END!
By the way, it appears that there is no law
to prevent Schwab or any other man from
selling his beer for the first hour of Monday
morning or any other morning. There Is
the Sunday law. whose operation ends at
twelve on Sunday night; and there is another
law the operation of which begins On hour
later. That hour, therefore, is, free but,
alas there is no justice in the courts tos
Schwah
Year: 1878

TIE YELLOW FEVER, it will be seen from our
dispatches this morning, still retains it's hold
upon the unfortunate Southern country. In
Louisiana and Tennessee the situation is worse
than it was last week. The fever seems to have
broken out with fresh virulence, and large
number Of new cases are reported. Material
aid is of course still necessary. and the meeting
Of the city clergymen of different denominations
this evening to help alleviate the distress is cx-
ceedingly timely.
Year: 1878

THAT MESDIcANcY has become regular bust
ness among at least q portion of our population
is shown by the story of the exploits of two
Italian vragoes which is printed on another page.
One of them, who pretended to be very old and
aecrepit, astonished three policemen by her
agility and the strength of her muscle. The
slight punishment imposed by the police courts
upon this class of people is more calculated to
encourage than repress crime of this character
Year: 1878

doubts were sustained. He was informed
by ghost of the murder of woman. who
was discovered as described. He was held
and found guilty of having known, without
any ghost, all that the ghost had told him.
1t is intimated that somebody up in Sara
toga has seen or intends to see ghost in
regard to certain points in the Billings
case, and we warn that person that it is
very dangerous practice.
Year: 1878

PENNSYLVANIA seems to be as badly split up
politically as the majority of the other States.
This years election is exceedingly important, as
upon it will depend the political control of tho
Commonwealth for some years to come The
outlook for the Cameron clan is not very brill
INIT
Year: 1878

New YORK, My l9.-The Times


Washington special says a gentleman in
the confidence of the President and having
perfect knowledge OF Mr. Hayes views
respecting the recent proceedings of the


democratic majority of the house, said this
evening that the President while main


tanning his natural equanimity of temper


was not inclined to look lightly on the sit
uatiuu lie did not think it matter to
treat with Indifference. Great events in
history had sprung from smaller beginning.


Tracing the movement from its birth the
President has been struck with Its rapid
growth. He points to the significant cir
cumstance that snch independent and
influential men as Alexander Ii. Stephens
are already powerless to stay the caucus
mandate. Whatever the result OF the
investigation might be, whatever disclo-
sures might result therefrom. the President
entertained no fear that anything could be
brought home to him. If any person
made any promises in his behalf, or entered
into any bargains. they did so without his
knowledge, aud ne hoped their acts would
be exposed. The President regards the
action OF southern democrats in supporting
the investigation scheme as uDgrateful in
the highest degree. irrespective of other
considerations When be assumed the ex-
ecutive Cf1ce he found the south, or at


least d large portion of it, distracted and
torn asunder by political strife, almost
bordering on revolution, He gave the
South reace. South Carolina. and espe.
ciallly Louisiana were restored to the rule
of the native population, and the carpet


bagger ceased to be an element in southern
politics. The President, of course, acted
from strict sense Of public duty, and
claims no reward at the hands of the
south for doing what he was bound
in conscience to do, but he can't
avoid being witness to the ingratitude
eviuced by the representatives of the south
to a man, who above all others, has had
their welfare and happiness 10 common
with the rest of the union sincerely al
heart With reference to his title the
president considered that it could be con.
tested, but there was only way to test the
question. fhat was by writ of quo soo7


rGato, which was the only remedy provided
by the law. When he became presiden,
the act creating the electoral commission
specially declared that nothing therein wa,
to be construed as impairing or affectius
any right then existiDgnnder the constitu


ton and laws to question by proceedings il
the judicial courts of the United States th,
right or title of himself and Mr.. Wheeler i


any such right at that time existed. The
president admitted that Mr.. Tilden's oDl,
remedy at present was by writ of o,tt
acarTqntO and such writ was a preropa-
tive writ and not obtaluable as matter q
right, but only in the discretion of th,
courts. and he doubted whether any cour


would grant it. The president also con
Icedes the power of congress to pass q
retro active law to provide other means o


testing the title to the presidency, as th,
Office can never be said to be in the past


but is always in the present. As to hi
impeachment being ordered by the house


the president has not the remotest ide,
that such an occurrence is among thu
Year: 1878

possibilities. The president is fully alive
to the exigencies that may arise and will
see to it that the public peace is main
tanned and the laws enforced at whatever
cost. He proposed to follow the policy
already marked out by his administration
and will take no step backward.
Year: 1878

The Red Wing passed up yesterday,
taking four car loads of freight from the
Peoria road


The Alex. Mitchell passed down to day


The Clinton will be up tomorrow
morning, and the Belle of Lacrosse down
later in the day.
Year: 1878

Did any of the men who complain of
wOman's extravagance, ever watch pa
tient little body as she caught odd minutes
In which she ripped and sponged and
cleaned, and turned out an old garment,
working away at ii until IL came out as
good as new? few cents spent. q deal
of labor. and the weary worker trips out In
a witching. elaborate costume, looking so
bright and happy that she is accused of be-
ing "only doll, with nothing to do" But
do you know the man who makes over his
garments2 He will hardly wear them till
worn ont, the style changes, you know.
How many times do the gentlemen send to
the halter last years trimmings TO be put
on q new frame to make their SUNDAY best
Verify. they are infinitely few. Girls and
women do have to learn some lessons
lessons they sometimes wish they were not
able to learn. They get deep in the prob
lem Of sham skirts. and how they shall
make the old dress serve the purpose Of
the desired new-and all this to save PEN
nies.-fE Ex.
Year: 1878

CANT RUB IT OCT."-"Don't write
there" said father TO his son, who was


writing with diamond on the window.


Why not?''
Because You can't rub 1t out"
Did 1t ever occur to you, my child, that
you are daily writing that which you can
not rub out? You made cruel speech to
your mother the other day. 1t wrote itself
upon her loving heart and gave her pain.


1t is there now and hurts her when she
thinks OF it,


You can't rub it out.
You wished a wicked thought one day in
the ear of your playmate. 1t wrote itself
on his mind, and led him to do a wicked
act. 1t is there now; you can't rub it out.


All your thoughts, all your words, all
your acts. are written on the book OF mem
CRY. Be careful the record is very lasting.
You can't rub it out
Year: 1878

COULDN'T DECEIVE HIM.-A man wear
ing a three story ulster on his back aud a
look of indignation on his face, halted
before Woodward avenue store vester-
dav morning. and looking in upon the
spring show of calicoes he exclaimed: :
Yes, spring show and be hanged to
you! You may pile up all the spring duds
you want TO. and you may blow around
about robins and blue-birds. but if pawn
this ulster this year before May then [
hope to freeze to deathl Can't fool mt
twice-nnl even with starched goods p
Detroit Free Press
Year: 1878

Best of all modes of shark chase, be-
cause most scientific and consequently
most amusing, is that recently adopted ia
her majesty's navy of combining torpedo
drill with shark fishery. A miniature
torpedo is enclosed in a bit OF junk OF
pork, and lowered with proper care. The
battery is duly charged and at the
moment when the huge fish seizes-and
as a pike fisher would say, "pouches"-
the tempting morsel, the circuit is COM
pleted. The effect is instantaneous. The
head and jaws of the monster are blown
into fragments and bubbling circle in
the water marks the spot where few
seconds before his dorset fin was showing
above the surface.
Year: 1878

The Swift County Advocate says; The
wheat crop in this county will fall short Of
the estimate made three weeks ago, at
least so per cent. In this section the aver
age will not be much over fifteen bushels
per acre and mostly no. 2, and 8.
Year: 1878

It is we'll enough for hot Yeather joke
to talk about running Donnelly as the DEM
district. but that will be the end of the
matter so far as the little jesuit is concern
ed. In fact he might run in all three dis
tricts and add his votes together, and then
there would not be enough to elect him in
any one of them, Hastings Gazette.
Year: 1878

years previous they had, supp0slng
him dead, given his daughter to a
respectable gentleman and lady of
Louisville, who were childless, to
be reared as their own; and that
they had afterward been informed
that the girl had sickened and died.
The father, supposing himself
childless, became resigned to the
sad fate he thought had overtaken
him, and few weeks thereafter re-
moved to Leeds and took charge of
a large factory there, hearing no
more from the Sisters.


And now another change of
scene takes place in this curious
life. drama. 1t seems that the gem
tleman and lady who had taken
Bartholomew's daughter became
deeply attached to her, and fearing
the Sisters or the father of the girl
might in the future seek to rob
them Of their idol, removed to the
country for a time, reporting pre-
ylously to doing so the child's death.
After this the Sisters lost all trace of
them, for on returning to Louis
vile they located in remote part
of the city from that in which they
had formerly resided.


The girl grew up to womanhood,
bearing the name of her foster pa
rents. She graduated at one of the
leading institutions of the city with
high honor, and has since been a
highly respected and accomplished


member of the best society. But
the girl knew she was not the child


of those who had treated her as a
daughter, and was restive enough.


Finally she told her foster parents


she could bear the suspense no


longer, and must hear from her


father if possible, if living. They


seconded her wishes, for she was


now twenty-four years of age. Ad-


vertlsementS inquiring for him were


inserted in New York, New Or


leans, San Francisco and London


papers, and six weeks ago the


daughters efforts to find her father


were rewarded by receiving letter


from him, announcing that he
would set sail by the steamer of the


following week from Liverpool, and
hoped to meet her.


On Friday last Mr.. Bartholomew
reached Louisville, and, calling at
the address given in the advertise.
menta, met the daughter he had
long mourned as dead. The meet.
ing was one that can only be imag
ined, for language cannot properly
) describe it. The finding of the father
will not take the daughter from
the loving couple that adopted and
reared her, for Mr.. Bartholomew
J will most probably make Louisville
his future home. He is now man
of ffty-three, with iron-gray locks,
but stalwart frame, and is again
the possessor of means sufficient to
establish him in business. And
this is the history Of two lives as it
was related to a News reporter and
vouched for by the narrator as
"true as holy writ" TO give any
more definite particulars would
identify the parties, thing that,
under the circumstances would
cast shadow on the lives of both.
Year: 1878

!. Once there was mule. He had pair
Of timber legs with heels vt the end Of
them. Mule thought his master did not
give him enough corn to eat. SO, one day
as the boss was passing behind him, he
lifted up his heels and boosted him to the
other side OF the barn. This Is what Mr.
Mule called a strike. He thought he could
get all the corn he wanted now.


Presently he wanted water. He didn'l
oct it though. He wanted more corn. He
didn't get that. He went to bed that night
without his supper. Next day he didn''
have to work; he didn't have to eat, either,
He didn't have any company. All he had
to do was to stand still and think. He
couldn't think why that master OF his
didn't come and feed him. The next day
was the same and the next.


Before that mule got anything to eat
again he had grown SO gannt and gentie
that be was willing to keep his feet on the
sround. The strike was ended.
Year: 1878

A physician writes to young men as fol
lows: My profession has thrown me
among women of all classes. and my ex'
periencH teaches me that Heaven never
gave man 81 eater proof OF his love than
to place woman here with him. My ad-
vice is: Go and propose to the most SEN
sible girl you know. II she accepts you.
tell her how much your income is. and
from what source derived; tell her you
will divide the last shilling with her, and
tI,at YOU will love her with all your heart
into the bargain. And then keep yonr
promise. My word for it. she will live
within your income. and to your last hour
YOU will regret that you did not marry
sooner. Stop worrying about feminine
unt,uth. just you he true to her-love
her sincerely, and a more fond, truthful.
foolish slave you will never meet any
where. You will not deserve her. ! know;
but she will never know it,"
Year: 1878

No. don learn a trade. young man. You
might soil your hanGs, wilt your shirt col
lar. and spoil your complexion sweating.
90 hang your chin over a counter; learn
30 talk twaddle to the ladies'; Part your
hair in the middle; make an ass your
self generally. and work for wages that
wouldn't support Chinese laundryman
on rice-fed rats, and leave big enough
balance to pay his wash-wOman-just be-
cause it is little more genteel in the ey q
of people whose pride prevents them from
pounding rock or hewing wood. and whose
poverty pinches worse than one of those
patent cross-legged clothes-pins, if the
truth We're only toid.-Einaira Gazette