Rensselaer Republican, Volume 17, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 January 1885 — Another Fire in Kentiand. [ARTICLE]

Another Fire in Kentiand.

Don’t forget to remember that it is 1885, for the first time, to-day. ;v*h..v.. -•-.. .. *.' ILL ■■'■■J .... .!■■■ ■!■■■. We wish all of our readers a Happy New Year, with, perhaps, .some mental reservations in regard to delinquent subscribers. Next Monday, January sth, is the day set by the Adventists for the end of the world. Should it happen that they have struck the right day at last, it will be a huge joke on the Democratic party. Our inside pages are of ilnusUal Value and interest this week. They contain three extensive chronological tables, giving the records, by months, of all the notable deaths, disasters, and occurrences, for the year. The paper is well worth careful preservation, for the purpose of future reference. Ex-speaker Randall is making a sort; of political, proselyting tollr among the more civilized and prosperous southern cities, and making speeches in favor of his peculiar views upou the tariff and revenue. From the reception accorded to Mr. Randall, it is evident that the ffee trade delusion is fast losing its grip, in the more progressive Southern communities.

The circuit Court meets next Monday, and tlie question as to w hat is to be ddtte with Wartnei'; the self confessed aitirderer of John Dreger, is a topic of very great interest, throughout the county. In all probability he will plead guilty, and throw himself upon the mercy of the count. Such a course, upon his part, will certainly be much to the advantage of the people of the countv, from a financial point, at least; and will in our judgement certainly be no Worse for the criminal, himself. While Thfe Republican has no wish to anticipate nor to influence the action of Jticlge Ward in case bf a plea of giiiltjr, fre venture the bpinion, formed Upon general principles, that in Such a contingency, the penalty wotttd be something less than capital. We do not form this conclusion from an opinion which to Sbiiie extent ill this circuit, bill wllich we have good reasons to believe erronious, that Judge Ward is opposed to the death penalty, on principle, but rather because it is Un established principle in criminal practice, except in cases of Extreme atrocity, to grant some ieiileiicy to criminals who plead guilty 1 ;. And, although the killing of John t>veger was a cold-blood-ed, mercenary and butcherly deed, it is still, in sonie of its eleittents, not of a eharactei - to rank in that Category/ The man’s desperate poverty is some small extechation bf his crime, ancl separates ip, by a wide degree of heiuousuess; from iuany murderous deeds of malice, Inst and tiU'er wautouess, recorded in thb daily papers Of the country bvery d&y. v

Onv neighboring town, Kent* land, was visited by another disastrous five, at £u early hour last Mou’ipj' corning. Cunningham’s Btwo story brkfc building was U; also the two story frame mos the Mhsbhs. Another building, bidongiiig to 8bbtes, was wrecked !iy the f tMt'burned brie ft building it, Six Lntsiuess esHhmetib* were bar net! out. ' «w-' M: these all goods were ■li the other till were Hhss -foots ftp to c Hollars, and is covered by iig re strong rumors set purposely, uobable arrests.,