Madison County AlArchives News.....Items from The Huntsville Weekly Democrat May 31, 1882
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Kenneth Stacy klstacyfamily@aol.com November 27, 2006, 3:38 pm

Microfilm At Huntsville Library May 31, 1882
PERSONAL MENTION

  Dr. Jas. A. Beasley returned on Wednesday last, and Miss Mary Beasley, on 
Monday, from Lagrange, Tenn., whither they went summoned by the illness and 
death of the Doctor’s son-in-law, Dr. J. J. Pulliam, a highly cultivated and 
most estimable gentleman.  Mrs. Beasley remained with her daughter, Alice, 
Mrs. Pulliam, who has many sympathizers here in her deep affliction.

  Mr. James A. Pickard, his wife and son, returned from Tennessee, last 
Wednesday.  We are glad to learn that his health has improved.

  Rev. R. K. Brown, of the Methodist Conference, preached the Commencement 
Sermon of the Huntsville Female College at the Methodist Church in this city 
on Sunday last.  It is highly commended.

  Mr. John H. Newman and family, from their villa on the Tennessee, and Miss 
Annie Steele and Mr. Tracey Steele, of Chattanooga, are at Col. M. W. Steele’s.

  Mr. S. R. Cruse, Sec’y of the M. & C. R. R. Co., was in our city, yesterday.

  Mr. and Mrs. S. J. Mayhew returned from the Presbyterian General Assembly at 
Atlanta, Monday night.

  We regret deeply the death of Thos. W. McAllister of small pox, at Memphis, 
Tenn., last Friday.  He was, for years, telegraph operator at Huntsville, and 
was transferred to Memphis by Western union Telegraph Co.  He has many friends 
here who sympathize with his wife and two children in their bereavement.

  We are requested by Sheriff John W. Cooper to say that he intended to reply 
to the strictures of last week’s Advocate on him, with reference to Aaron 
Hammond’s going to the coal mines, but that Mr. Wm. E. Matthew’s card 
(published in this weeks Democrat) renders a reply from him (Cooper) 
unnecessary.  

  Mrs. Ivy, formerly Mrs. Prince, the accomplished music instructor of the 
Huntsville Female College, last year, is attending its Commencement.

  Mrs. Richardson, (nee Gordon) is visiting her brother, Geo. S. Gordon.

  Hon. Jas. P. Gibson, Judge of the Cherokee County Court Texas is in our city.

  Mr. Chas. C. Withers of South Bend, Ark., and Mr. Alonzo S. Elliott were in 
Huntsville last week.

  Rev. W. C. Hearn is in our city.


MARRIED:

BARRY. – STEELE. – At the residence of the bride’s father, Col. M. W. Steele, 
in Huntsville, Ala., May 24, 1882, at 11 a.m., by Rev. Dr. Ross, Mr. Wm. S. 
Barry, of Mississippi, to Miss Berenice Steele.
  The bridegroom and bride left on the 12:30 train, the same day, for their 
Mississippi home.  We with them a long, happy and prosperous union, and trust 
that there will be no barrier to their bliss, but each will, always, be able 
to say to the other:
“Still so gently o’er me stealing,
Memory will bring back the feeling,
That I love thee, love the still.”

LOCAL ITEMS

A railroad collision occurred at Paint Rock Station, M. & C. R. R., last 
Saturday p.m.  We understand that a freight train, John Aday conductor, was 
standing on the main track when it ought to have been on the side track.  
Another freight train Otey Figures conductor, came around a curve going West 
and was too close to check the train in time to prevent a collision. All 
hand’s on both trains, except Figures, who was in his caboose, jumped off. The 
trains collided, wrecking both engines and 5 or 6 cars.  We hear that Aday and 
his engineer were discharged as responsible for the collision.

 “Explain it if You Can” Explained
Mr. Editor
  My attention has been called to an editorial in last week’s Advocate 
headed “Explain if if You Can.”  In this article, the editor uses my name in 
connection with one Aaron Hammond.  The facts are as follows: Upon the 
application of the wife of Aaron Hammond, I consented to pay the fine and 
costs in two cases, in which Aaron had been convicted in the County Court of 
Madison County, February term, 1881, amounting to the sum of one hundred and 
seventy-seven dollars and twenty cents.  The agreement with Aaron and myself 
was, that, if I would pay the fine and costs, he would work for me until he 
had paid me back the amount I had paid our for him.  Upon this agreement I 
paid the above sum.  Aaron then, moved to my plantation, conveying his wife 
and two children.
  I advanced Aaron, in the way of supplies for himself and family, some thirty 
odd dollars.  After remaining with me until the latter part of June, 1881, he 
became dissatisfied, and desired to leave my employment.
  He told me that he desired to go and see Judge Richardson; that he preferred 
working out the sentence that would have been imposed on him; to remaining 
with me.  I told him that if he was dissatisfied, I did not want to keep him; 
but that I had paid his fine and costs and advanced supplies for himself and 
family, and that he must secure me for the same.  He readily consented to do 
so.  I overtook Aaron about half a mile from my house.  I asked him where he 
was going.  He replied that he was going to see Judge Richardson.  I came on 
to Huntsville with him, and, after reaching town, we went together to Judge 
R.’s office, and Aaron told the Judge that he preferred working out the 
sentence that would have been imposed on him, in the coal mines, to remaining 
in my employment; that I had paid the fine and costs and advanced supplies, 
and that he did not want me to lose it.  Judge Richardson told us that he had 
nothing to do with the matter that Aaron’s fine and costs had been paid and he 
had been discharged; that the matters was entirely between Aaron and myself.  
Aaron told me, then, that he was willing to be hired, at the coal mines, and 
for his labor there to be used for my reimbursement.  
  Aaron was to be allowed credit for the time he had worked with me. I applied 
to Capt. Taylor, Clerk of the Circuit Court, for a statement of the time that 
Aaron would have been sentenced to the coal mines, for his fine and costs. He 
furnished me with the same.  I addressed a letter to Comer & McCurdy, Pratt 
Mines, Ala., stating the facts and asked if they would hire him.  They 
consented to do so.  I told Aaron that I had written to the proprietors of the 
coal mines to hire him to them, and that I was going back home.  He, then, 
told me that he was willing to remain with Mr. Cooper, the Sheriff, until the 
arrangements were perfected.  Mr. Cooper, at first, refused to take him at 
all, and, afterward, consented to take him as an accommodation to me, but not 
in his official capacity, I agreeing to pay all costs.  Aaron went with Mr. 
Cooper of his own free will and accord, without force or compulsion on my part 
of that of the Sheriff.  I told Mr. Cooper if Messrs. Comer & McCurdy wrote to 
him, that he would be authorized to turn Aaron over to them.  This letter was 
written, and Aaron was delivered to the agent of Comer & McCurdy.
  These, Mr. Editor, are, substantially, the facts.  I had paid out a 
considerable sum of money for the fine and costs of Aaron and for supplies.  
He became dissatisfied and preferred working in the coal mines to remaining 
with me, and by his labor to reimburse me, no force, or compulsion, or 
persuasion, was used by me or any other person, that I am cognizant of, to get 
Aaron to go to the coal mines.  He went of his own free will.  I thought, and 
still think, that I had a right to hire him anywhere I chose, with his 
consent, to pay me back the money I spent on him.  I have heard no complaint 
from Aaron as to the arrangements made between us.  He is not at the coal 
mines as a convict from Madison County. Messrs. Comer & McCurdy paid me for 
his hire, to reimburse me for the payment I had made in behalf of Aaron. My 
recollection is that the statement I forwarded to Comer & McCurdy shows that 
Aaron’s time expires in December next, and not in April, 1883, as stated by 
the editor of the Advocate.
W. E. Matthews.


U.S. NEWS

  Gen. John B. Gordon, President of the Georgia Pacific Railroad, is now in 
Europe on the business of his Company.

  Gen. John G. Barnard, one of the most distinguished engineers in the U. S. 
Army, died on the 15th inst.  He has been suffering from brain disease for 
some time.

  Vanderbilt’s deposit in the U. S. Treasury exceeds the entire banking 
Capital of New York City by ten millions of dollars.  He holds $60,000,000 in 
U. S. Bonds.

  Col. George, of Gen. Longstreet’s staff during the war, is now 
Superintendent of the Texas Penitentiary; and Col. Ed. Cunningham, Hood’s 
Inspector General, is lessee of the Texas convicts. 

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