Madison County AlArchives News.....Items from The Huntsville Weekly Democrat September 6, 1882 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/al/alfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Kenneth Stacy klstacyfamily@aol.com January 2, 2007, 11:56 am Microfilm At Huntsville Library September 6, 1882 PERSONAL MENTION Ed. Baxter, Esq., of Nashville, Niles Merriwether, of Memphis, and Capt. A. B. Schell, of Louisville, were at the McGee House on Monday. Among the guests of the Huntsville Hotel in the last three days, we note C. C. Swoope, Courtland, R. B. Mason, Athens, G. P. Houston, Memphis, Mrs. John Brownlee, Mrs. Swan Sullivan and child, Mr. and Mrs. J. Walker Coleman and three children, New Orleans. W. F. Heikes, of the Huntsville Nurseries, has returned from St. Louis. Capt. Julian, the jolly old soul and true Democrat of Tuscumbia, was in our city all last week. His daughter, Miss Nellie N. Julian, is visiting Mr. A. M. Hewlett’s family. Maj. W. H. Scruggs, of Nashville, is visiting relatives here. Hon. Wm. Richardson left, yesterday p. m., for New York on financial business of Madison County, to be gone 10 or 12 days. Hon. H. C. Speake has gone to Florence, to hold the Circuit Court. We regret to chronicle Rev. Dr. Ross’s illness for a week or more, and hope he will be soon well again. Rev. Mr. McQueen of Decatur, spent several days in Huntsville, last week. Geo. B. VandeVenter returned from Birmingham last Sunday, to stay a week or so. We hear that J. M Hinds, U. S. Marshal for the Northern District of Ala., has gone to Keokuk, Iowa, where Judge Bruce is sojourning, to get his official bond approved, and is expected here next week, to assume the Marshalship. Mrs. Cheatham and daughter, Edith, and Miss Ellen Nance have returned to Nashville. Rev. Mr. Kone got back from Virginia Monday. Wm. Banister left for the Medical School, Louisville, Ky., last Saturday, and Miss Annie Banister for Seguin, Texas, Tuesday. Ex-Marshal Sloss has gone to Washington, D. C. Tis said, Marshal Hinds has appointed John W. Raines Office deputy and D. N. Cooper deputy at large. Rev. Dr. D. C. Kelly, of Nashville, is expected to preach in the Methodist Church here, next Sunday Miss Bessie Nichols, of Nashville, and Miss Hattie Brasacker, of Little Rock, who have been visiting Dr. Pynchon’s family have gone home. Mr. Thes. I. Humyhrey and his two sons have gone to Gainesville, Texas, to buy cotton during the next season. Mr. Tom Trotman came from Dallas, Texas a day or two ago, and has returned with his family. Mr. T. A. McCoy, formerly in the butcher business here, now of Thornton, Ind., is visiting friends here. B. F. Ludwig got back, last Friday, from the Grand Lodge of the Knights of Pythias at Detroit. Chas. R. Pickard has a business position in Nashville, and has gone there with his family. Tis said, Col. Lowe will get back from Colorado by Sept. 15. Mrs. Jos. B. Bradford has rented her residence here to Mr. J. Coons and will move to Madison. LOCAL ITEMS Yonng Men, Take Notice ------------------------------ The Huntsville Daily Aid Association pay $3 to $6 per day, one-fifth in cash as soon as proof is filed, balance in forty days. Officers, W. P. Newman Pres’t, W. A. McNeeley Vice Pres’t, A. Erskine, Jr. Sec’y, O. B. Hundley, Treasurer and Legal Advisor. Address all letter to A. Erskine, Jr., Sec’y. At the present term of the Madison Circuit Court, the following negroes were convicted and sentenced to hard labor for the county: Of Grand Larceny: Dixie White, one year and 321 days. Appeal to Supreme Court. Lum Seay, plea of guilty, one year and 236 days. Lacy Jones, alias Rice, one year and 180 days. Charles Bradford, one year and 272 days. Ed. Walker, convicted at February Term 1881, and not then sentenced because sick, one year and 227 days. Burglary and larceny, Allen Kelley, one year and 270 days. Appeal to Supreme Court. Anderson Love, assault with a stick, $100 fine and costs, secured and defendant discharged. Wm. Drake, assault, plea of guilty, fined $5 and costs, secured and defendant discharged. The case of Thomas H. Hewlett, charged with murder in the 2d degree for killing Sandy Bynum, occupied the Court from Tuesday to Friday of last week, and was submitted to the jury, without argument, under the written charge of the Court about 4 p.m., Friday. Saturday morning, the jury rendered a verdict of “not guilty.” George Houston, a mulatto negro, 18 or 20 years old, was convicted of the murder of his father, Hark Houston, about two years ago, and sentenced to fifty years in the Penitentiary. The Court adjourned for the term, Saturday evening. Railroad Suit ---------------- Mr. John W. Grayson, a stockholder of the Memphis & Charleston R. R., has filed a bill in the Chancery Court of this (Madison) County, praying the Court to annul the lease of the M. & C. R. R. Co. to the Va., East Tenn, and Ga. R. R. Co., as unauthorized by the M. & C. R. R. charter, illegal, contrary to public policy, null and void; also that the M. & C. R. R. Co. be enjoined from the payment of $400,000 to the E. T. Va. & Ga. Co. for the cancellation of the pretended lease, and from an issue of new bonds to the amount of about $5,000,000, as proposed by a resolution of the stock holders of the M. & C. Co. at the meeting in Huntsville, August 22, 1882, against which resolution complainant, Grayson voted; also, to put the M. & C. R. R., with all its property in the hands of a Receiver and that the Register in Chancery be ordered to make an account between the two Companies and report the same to the Court. The bill is filed by complainant for himself and in behalf of other stock holders who may choose to become parties complainant, is very long, and seems to us to present a strong case for the legal and equitable interposition of the Court. Walker & Shelby, Cabaniss & Ward, are counsel for complainant. We understand Humes, Gordon & Sheffey, as counsel for defendants, have filed a petition to transfer this case to the Federal Court, the officers representing the two Railroad companies being non-residents. Everybody, we believe, says the crops of cotton and corn are better than we have every known them. This may be somewhat an exaggeration, but the crops of corn are, and of cotton promise to be, very abundant. We have heard is suggested that corn would be as low as ten cents a bushel. We would not be surprised at 25 cents a bushel. Unfortunately, cattle, hogs, and even fowls, are scarce, and we may, for the next year, have our meat houses in the North. But we will have our corn cribs and oats, clover and grass barns at home, and, if our farmers have learned a good lesson from their sad experience for the past year and many years past, they will have plenty of bread and meat, so soon as they can provide themselves with tock hogs and cattle. ALABAMA ITEMS Insurrectionary Speeches in Shelby ----------------------------- Judge Lynch Kept Quiet ----------------------------- Harpersville Correspondence Shelby Sentinel Our usually quiet village was considerably excited a few days ago over the performance of a “friend and brother,” known in this community at “the red negro.” About two weeks ago this negro made his appearance in our midst, claiming to be a Catholic Priest. His peculiar dress, a red uniform with yellow gown, attracted crowds of negroes wherever he went, and it soon became evident that there was some mischief brewing. Last Tuesday it was reported that he would speak to the negroes at negro a church about one mile east of our village that evening, and some of our citizens determined to hear from him and find out what he was after. Accordingly at the appointed time they repaired to the church and found quite a large crowd of negroes assembled, listening to, and vociferously applauding, the incendiary utterances of said “Priest.” He told them that he was a native of Tennessee, but had been living for the last ten years in the North. That be belonged to the Garfield and Arthur Club, and had been sent down here, with three hundred others, to organize them into companies and otherwise prepare them for the reception of the arms which the people of the North would furnish at the proper time. That the Democrats must be killed out and their property divided among them—the negroes. That this country properly belonged to the negroes and they must have it. That the negro women had been at the wash tub of the white women long enough; the time had come for a change. That the people of the North would back them, and Sherman’s army was ready to come to their assistance whenever they made the strike. This and many other foolish things he told them. And it is said that at all his allusions to killing out of the Democrats dividing the property and putting the white women to the wash tub, they would cheer and yell like hyenas. You can imagine, Mr. Editor, the excitement such utterances would cause in our community. At one time it looked as if Judge Lynch would hold court that night in spite of all that could be done but wiser counsel finally prevailed. T. J. Martin, Esq., issued a warrant for the arrest of the incendiary and he was sent to Columbiana and lodged in jail. OCCASIONAL. The Decatur Convention ------------------------------ This Convention of Delegates from all the counties in the 8th Congressional District of Alabama met in Cantrell Hall, Decatur, last Wednesday, August 30. In our last week’s issue, we announced the action of the Convention in brief, resulting in the nomination of the Hon. Luke Pryor for Congress. We gave, then, the temporary organization with Hon. Wm. Richardson as Chairman and L. H. Grubbs as Secretary. Now, we copy the official report of the rest of the proceedings from the Decatur News, as follows: A committee, consisting of the chairman of each county delegation, was raised on permanent organization, who reported as follows: For permanent President, Dr. F. W. Sykes, of Lawrence; permanent Secretary, L. Hensley Grubbs, of Morgan, Ass’t Sec’t Frank Coleman, of Madison. Dr. Sykes took the chair and in a most graceful way addressed the convention briefly, and then called for motions and resolutions. At this moment, Gen. Joseph Wheeler, who was seated in the rear end of the densely packed hall, rose to his feet and, before the sound of his voice reached the rostrum it was drowned by cheering of the whole audience, two-thirds of whom were on foot hallooing at the top of their voices, waving handkerchiefs and hats and giving demonstrations of the most intense enthusiasm and greatest admiration for the gallant and noble hero, whose bravery and gentleness in war are only equaled by his fidelity and patriotism in peace. When quiet was restored, Gen. Wheeler said: Mr. President and Gentlemen of the Convention: “You are the accredited delegates of a constituency, who as a brave, virtuous and honorable people, are the peers of any constituency on earth. I desire, through you, with the warmth of a gratitude which comes from the deepest recess of my heart, to extend to them my thanks for the confidence they have reposed in myself, and which I am gratified to find is continued to this day. I came here to do all in my power to secure harmony and unanimity of action, for the wisest of us might well doubt as to who should be our leader in the important struggle upon which we are about to enter. “Sparta hath many a worthier son than he, This be Sparta’s epitaph on me,” but, certainly, I may say that this district has none who loves it better, or will labor with more earnest effort for the cause of our party, which we all know to be the cause of our country. I repeat I came here in the interest of harmony, and I find the name of a distinguished citizen and my own urged by various delegates. The distinguished gentleman referred to is not present, but he is known to all. He has held the highest position in the gift of the people of this State. His candidacy will harmonize the elements, and with him as our leader, our efforts will be crowned with victory. I am not a delegate to this convention; if I were a delegate, or if this convention was resolved into a mass meeting of citizens, I would take the liberty, as a Congressman elected by your suffrage two years ago, to say nominate him by acclamation. Yes, gentlemen, I would say nominate by acclamation, the Honorable Luke Pryor, your late honored Senator, and with the aid of such gentlemen as I see before me, success is certain; and, in behalf of our party, I ask of you that kindly help which I know you will grant, at the same time, pledge to you my services to work wherever you may direct. With your permission, I nominate for our leader, Hon. LUKE PRYOR, of Limestone county.” The nomination of ex-Senator Pryor produced a demonstration second only to that which had just preceded it. No other name being put before the convention, it was moved that Mr. Pryor be nominated by acclamation which was done by a rising vote, amid rapturotis applause. Col. L. R. Davis in his usual characteristic style and forcible speech, guaranteed that the nominee, who was then on a fox hunt, would accept the honor so worthily and generously bestowed and pledged a large majority for him in Limestone. The following resolution, offered by J. W. Morgan, was passed unanimously. Resolved, That we, the Representatives of the Democracy of the Eighth Congressional District of Alabama, do hereby express our high appreciation of the faithful and able services of the Hon. Jos. Wheeler, for many years past, as well before as during his canvass, for a seat in the 47th Congress, and, also, his labors in that body, a place from which he was removed by the arbitrary and unjust decree of a Republican majority. Hon. William Richardson offered the following resolution which was likewise unanimously adopted: Resolved, That the Democracy of the 7th Congressional District, in convention assembled, adopt and reaffirm the principles enunciated by the National Democratic Convention at Cincinnati in 1880. On motion, the following named gentlemen were appointed a committee to notify Mr. Pryor of his nomination, viz: L. Hensley Grubbs, Chairman; G. T. McWhorter, J. E. Wilson, W. C. Chardavoyue, W. M. Jackson, Wm. Richardson, F. O. Hart, Sam. Blackwell and Thos. N. McClellan. J. W. Morgan, A. H. Kellar, J. W. Harris, jr., E. F. Comegys, E. J. Oden, J. J. Turrentine, L. H. Scruggs, and R. C. Hunt, were appointed an Executive Committee for the 8th Congressional District. (Subsequently, this committee organized by electing J. J. Turrentine Chairman, and Thos. N. McClellan Secretary.) Repeated calls were made for Col. W. W. Garth and Mr. Sam. Blackwell, both of whom came to the rostrum, and in the most felicitous way, addressed the convention in speeches full of thoughts that breathe and words that burn, and, offered their services in the campaign, which they firmly believe would end in routing the enemy and a complete victory for the nominee. Col. Garth closed his remarks by saying that, two years hence, he hoped to have the pleasure of naming, as the nominee for Congress from the 8th district, General Joseph Wheeler. Mr. Blackwell heartily endorsed and adopted the suggestion, which was received, in both instances, with prolonged and enthusiastic cheering. The Convention then adjourned sine die. LEGAL NOTICES Regular August Term, 1882, Court of Probate ---------- Estates of C. C. Clay, dec’d ---------- Decree of Insolvency and order for Settlement This being the day appointed to hear and pass upon the report of insolvency, heretofore filed in the court by E. F. Walker, administrator, with the will annexed, of the estate of C. C. Clay, deceased, asking and praying that said estate be declared insolvent: It is therefore ordered, adjudged and decreed by the Court that E. F. Walker be and he is hereby required to appear before the Judge of this Court on the 5th day of October, 1882, and make settlement of his accounts of said estate; It is also ordered that notice of the time appointed for said settlement and the nature thereof be given to the creditors of said estate, by publication for three successive weeks, in the Huntsville Democrat, a newspaper published in the County of Madison, State of Alabama; at which time, all persons interested can appear and contest said settlements, if they see proper to do so. WILLIAM RICHARDSON, sep6-3w. Judge of Probate File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/madison/newspapers/itemsfro1239gnw.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/alfiles/ File size: 17.1 Kb