Democratic Sentinel, Volume 12, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 May 1888 — WEEKLY BUDGET. [ARTICLE]

WEEKLY BUDGET.

THE EASTERN STATES. Fanny Davenport has sued the Manhattan News Company in New York for infringement in publishing “La Tosca” as a novel Claus f freckles has bought a piece of land in Philadelphia for $459,000, and will at one : proceed to erect a sugar refinery. A suit has been begun in the Unfted States Court at Hartford, Conn., to wind up the affairs of the Hooeac tunnel through a receiver. George, alias Harry, Benson, the Patti ticket swindler, committed suicide at New York by jumping from the second tier of the Ludlow Street jail to the floor below. Time and again during the proceedings looking to his extradition to Mexico, Benson had declared that to return thither was equivalent co signing his death warrant, and that he would rather die than go back. Benson’s swindling career was perhaps the most marvelous of which there is any account in the world. Born of French parents in Alsace forty-one years ago, he was given a brilliant education, and at an early age he entered journalism in Paris, where he made his mark at once. Before he was 30 years old he was editor of one of the Parisian dailies, and the high mode of living into which he drifted at that time led to his subsequent criminal career, as he was unable to procure the means of indulging his tastes by legitimate means. Then he perpetrated a most stupendous series of swindles, and finally, in December, 1886, made his famous haul in the City of Mexico by selling, $26,500 worth of bogus Patti concert tickets. While a prisoner in London years ago he attempted suicide by setting fire to his clothing in his cell. In the Methodist General Conference at New York a motion was made providing that hereafter it shall require a two-thirds vote to constitute an election of Bishop. After considerable debate the motion was carried by a vote of 202 to 131. The greatest gathering in the history of the Presbyterian Church assembled at Philadelphia on the 17th inst The General Assembly, which began its centennial session on that day. is the largest and most important Calvinistic assemblage ever seen in this country, and its deliberations promise to have an unusually important bearing upon the status of American Presbyterianism. There was a lively contest for Moderator between the venerable Dr. McCosh, of Princeton College, and Rev. Dr. Charles L. Thompson, of Kansas City. The Western man captured the p.um by a good majority. One man was blown to pieces and two seriously injured hv the explosion of a magazine containing 3W kegs of powder, at Stockton, N. J. Scores of houses were ruined by the tremendous copcussion. The action of the Philadelphia Post, of the G. A. 11, in electing Gen. Joseph E. Johnston (ex-Confederate) a “contributing member,” has brought an order from the Department Commander declaring that such election is irregular, and not in accordance with the laws and rules of the order. Mrs. Scofield, involved in the death cf Broker Hatch at New York, has been discharged by order of Judge. Lawrence.