Democratic Sentinel, Volume 9, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 February 1885 — SENSATIONS OF THE DAY. [ARTICLE]

SENSATIONS OF THE DAY.

A Sleighing Party at Toledo Collides with a Bailway Train with Fatal Results. fire Murderers Sentenced to Death In tho Federal Coart at Fort Smithy Ark. A Helpless Man Sentenoed to the Penitentiary—A Lively Georgia Corpse. FOUR PERSONS KILLED. Sad Accident to an Ohio Sleighing Party. [Toledo special. 1 A party of nine persons from Oak Harbor, a small place east of this city, drove in a sleigh to Port Clinton. The road, three miles west of Port Clinton, crosses the tracks of the Lake Shore railway. On the return trip, as the sleigh approached the crossing, the west-bound express came up at the rate of thirty-five miles an hour. The driver, thinkiug he coaid clear the crossing ahead of the looomotive, drove on, but before the rear of the sleigh had passed the track the locomotive struck it The sleigh was smashed aud the occupants scattered about. Three fell upon the pilot of the engine. Miss Jennie Hoople, of Oak Harbor, and 8. 8. Hall, of Detroit, were instantly killed. Mrs. A. D. Theirwachter and Mrs. Charles Vogel were fatally injured. Mrs. John P. Vogel had an arm broken and was internally injured. John P. Vogel was seriously injured. and A. D. Theirwachter bruised about the head and limbs. Charles Vogel and Russell Rice alone escaped with slight injuries. Mrs. John Vogel and Mrs. Chanes Vogel died this afternoon at 3 o'clock. Others are likely to die. The scene of the disaster is peculiarly favorable for an aocident of this kind, as the road runs parallel to the traoks some distance before crossing. L. W. Adams was the engimeer of the train, and did all he could to avert the collision. The fault was with the driver of the sleigh.

A LIVELY CORPSE. Excitement at a Georgia Negro Funeral. [Valdosta (Ga.) telegram.] The colored people of Lowndes County are somewhat mystified over the irregular proceedings of a corpse, which refused the decent burial with which they were complimenting it. Craw Duncan had been for years a leader in colored politics, but he never took to religion. A few days ago he became violently ill, aud, going to bed, he was duly besot by weeping sisters and zealous preachers, but nil to no purpose. When the time came he died, and a large concourse of friends and acquaintances gathered to pay the last tributo to his memory. As is the custom among colored people, they sang over his body all night. The weird music that floated over the adjacent forest that night struck a responsive chord in the bosoms of the owls of baser note, and they joined in the refrain. About midnight a little bird flitted in ono door and out the other. This caused the assemblage to go on its knees, when the leader declared that “speerits could not harm ’ligious folks,” and the singing was resumed. When daylight came the weary watchers detailed one squad to build a coffin and another to dig tho grave. The rude casket was first completed and conducted to tho proper place. It was put on two chairs, facing each other, beside the corpse. Friends drew around to take a last look; pall-bearers put themselves iu position to bear the burden to the grave; tho coffin was held over the open grave, and at a word was let drop to the bottom. In an instant the lid went flying off the coffin, and the dead man arose and cursed with all the exuberance of a man who had worked on a canal. The mourners scattered in every direction; but tbe funny part of it is they insist ho is really dead, and will have nothing to do with him.

THE DEATH PENALTY. Five Murderers Sentenoed at Fort Smith, Ark. rFort Smith dispatch.] In the United States Court, to-day, five murderers received their sentences. Mason Holcomb, William Phillips, Fred M. Ray, William Meadows, and William Dickson were sentenced to hang on the 17th of April next. Ray received sentence first. When asked why the sentenoe should not be passed, he replied: “I am not the guilty person." Meadows replied to the same question: “I hate to be punished for a crime lam not gailtyof.” Phillips replied: “I have never killed a man. 1 never shot ITill. I never hurt a hair of his head. God knows it, and I know it.” Dickson replied briefly: “I am innocent.” Holcomb was so affected that he made no reply. The impression prevails that Meadows, who is a 16-year-old lad, will succeed in getting a commutation of his sentence. He and Ray were convicted of the murder of an old negro in the Cherokeft Nation last August. Phillips was convicted of the murder of his father-in-law, William Hill, last September. Holcomb killed one Fisher, a companion, while returning to camp one evening from a hay-field last summer. Hq pleaded self-defense at the trial, but the evidence proved that he was hired to do the deed. Dickson killed one Laster in 1883, in the Chickasaw Nation, at a dance. He was behaving in a boisterous way, and when Laster attempted to keep him quiet a difficulty ensued, in which Dickson shot Laster. All are white men but Dickson, who is a negro. DESPERATE DUEL. Two Texas Brothers-ln-Law Fight to the Death. [Alvarado (Tex.) special.J Dr. L. B. Allen and W. J. Wellbome were brothers-in-law and- members of two of the oldest and most respectable families in this section. Dr. Allen’s wife died a few days ago at the home of another sister, Mrs. W. A. Athley, and Wellbeme had come on a visit of condolence. Yesterday afternoon he and Dr. Alien met in a room to consult on business matters. They soon became involved in a quarrel, and Allen attempted to kill Wellbome, drawings pistol on him, the latter retiring from the room with the remark that he “did not care to settle that way. ” About 10 o’clock last night. Dr. Allen was returning from a lot where he had been to feed his animals. He met Wellboume standing beside the fence awaiting him. Both drew their pistols and exchanged four shots almost simultaneously. Wellbroue mounted his horse and fled. Dr. Allen staggered into the house, fell across a bed, exclaiming, “I am shot,” and expired almost instantly. The only shot that hit him passed through his body in the region of the heart. It is not known whether Wellbonme was wounded. Officers and a posse are scouring the country to effect his capture.

A WRETCHED PROCEEDING. A Convict Without Dogs and with but One Arm. [Joliet (Ill.) special to Chicago 'tribune.] Sheriff Newton, of Kendall County, reached the penitentiary this afternoon, having in charge four prisoners sentenced to prison from that county. Among them

was one William Bussell, aged 24, convicted of larceny, and sentenoed for a year. prison on his back, for the reason that the convict had no legs, and but one arm. Both legs had been amputated close to the trank and the left arm at the shoulder-joint. This remnant of a man was deposited upon the stone floor of the prison guard-room and the Sheriff produced his mittimus, showing that Russell was sentenced by Judge Charles Kellum, of Yorkville, to be confined in the Penitentiary for the term of one year at hard labor. The sight of this poor wretch in his utterly helpless condition as he was lugged into the prison on the beck of the brawny Sheriff oalled forth many expressions of disgust from the prison-keepers in the hall noi at all complimentary to the court that consigned him to a convict's crfL Russell lost his legs and one arm in a railroad accident. He was convicted of stealing a row-boat from a man in Plano and selling it at Peoria. Russell’s condition is such that he will need the services of an able-bodied convict to take care of him while he is in prison.

CABINET TALK. Gov. Cleveland Has Reached No Decision Tot. [New York special to Chicago Tribune.} The presence here of Senator Gorman and the conferences of numerous politicians with him yesterday have given impetus to the Democratic gossip about the Cabinet In his talk with Democrats he corroborates the impression that the election of Mr. Evarts as Senator has completely changed the whole Cabinet situation. It is gravely doubted among tbe leaders whether Bayard or Garland can be spared from the Senate. Mr. Evarts is recognized as a foe man who will require the strongest opposition that is possible to present. With Bayard and Garland token away from the Democratic side of the Senate ft would be weak in debaters, while the Republican side would be exceptionally strong with Evarts, Edmunds, and Sherman—especially npon constitutional questions. Mr. Gorman is said to express the opinion that the President elect has formed no positive opinions and has reached no decision as to the Cabinet that may not be changed twenty times before March 4.

BORN IN A SLEEPER. A Pullman Car “All Torn Up." [Chicago telegram.] It Is the unexpected that happens; at least so thought the inooming passengers on th* sleeper Niobrara, over the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad, yesterday morning. There was exoitement among tho ladies aboard, and dire confusion manifested by the gentlemen. The porter ran through the train in search of a doctor, and, fortunately encountering one, hurried him to the sleeper. His services were urgently needed by Mrs. T. Hanlon, a lady journeying from Helena, Montana, to New York. At 6:30 a. m. a child was bom to the house of Hanlon, and upon the arrival of tho train at the Union Depot the mother and babe were transferred to a sleeper on the Pennsylvania route, and continued their journey. A telegram from Fort Wayne yesterday afternoou conveyed the intelligence that mother and child were as well ns could be expected. “I tell you, boss, said the darky on the Niobrara, “if dat ar chile grows up, he’s a gwine to be a fas’ one. ”

WIFE MURDER AND SUICIDE. An Ohio Man KlUiThu Wife and Hangs Himself. rLa Crosse (Wta.) special.] Henry Katenhousen nnd wife, of Durand, lived together unhappily, fought frequently, and the woman was ffsuufiy the victor. Sunday he murdered her With a hatchet while his children were at Sunday-sohool aud buried her body in a cellar. Thursday a neighbor called at the house to get her to do some washing, and a daughter Informed him that her mother had disappeared and she felt sure something wrong hod occurred. Search resulted in the discovery of the crime, and Katenhousen was jailed. He acknowledged the deed, but pleaded self-defense. After breakfast this morning he attempted first to hang himself with his suspenders and then a soorf, both of which broke. He then twisted up a woolen jacket nnd tying the garment to a grating succeeded in taking his own life. HU knees were found almost touching the floor. He was about 60 and his wife 45. A BURIED WILL. It Is Found In a Coffin After Eight Years. [Buffalo (N. Y.) telegram.] Robert A. Wallace, of the carriage manufacturing firm of Harvey A Wallace, died about eight years ago, and, although he had repeatedly told his children and friends that ho had provided for his children, four in nnmber, by a former wife, at his death no will could be found, and the estate was settled according to law, each child receiving a portion, and the widow her third. She was also appointed administratrix. At her death, about a year later, she left a will disposing of the property that remained to her own children and a daughter by her firsffhusband, but leaving ont the earlier branch of the Wallace family. Interested persons, still searching for the original will, conceived the idea of exhuming the body of Wallace himself, and, there, between the vest and shirt in which the body was prepared for the coffin, was found the long sought-for wilL AN EAGLE SCREAMS. It Is Found in a Bfall*Bag at Vincennes. (Vincennes (Ind.) special.] There was excitement in the postoffice this morning. The clerks were hurriedly opening the mails when they heard a peculiar noise issuing from a mail-bag, and, opening the same, a large gray eagle fluttered out, causing a general stampede from Uncle Sam's sanctuary. The excitement was great for a time, but the bird was finally caught and enged. It came from the West, and is supposed to have been captured by route agents. It is a fine-looking bird. Postmaster Lewis is proud of his present. PATENTS. The Annual Patent Report. rWashinaten dispatch.] The annual report of the Commissioner of Patents shows receipts of $1,075,799, expenditures of $970,580, and a balance in the United States Treasury on account of the patent fund, of $2,781,695. There were issued 20,297 patents and designs; 116 patents were reissued, and 1,021 trade marks, and 613 labels registered; 12,301 patents expired, and patents were withheld in 2,839 cases for non-payment of the final fee. Of the patents issued, 19,013 were to citizens of the United States and 1,284 to foreigners. JOURNALISTIC STRIKE. Vienna Newspapers Refusing to Print the Reiehsrath Proceedings. [Cable dispatch from Vienna.] The journalist strike against the Reichsrath continues. The sessions of the last two days were absolutely ignored, and do reader of to-day’s papers,in this city would k: ow from them that such a body ns the Ileichsrath existed. Letters of oomplaint from indignant lumbers ore only printed, when accompanied by cash, at advertising rates. ' T - ' , .