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2 A CATAWBA ROMANCE THE STORY OF THE STRANGE DISAPPEARANCE OF JOHN MAGUIRE. FINDING OF THE EMPTY GRAVE Hickory’s Awlul Tragedy of Fourteen Yours Ago—Honest John Maguire’s Love and Jealousy of Pretty Phronfe Bolick -Jacob Holler’s Queer Story and Mysterious Uisappearance—Tbe Midnight Expedition to the Empty Grave in the Mountains. Special to the News and Observer. Hickory, N. C., Aug. 31. Within the range of human experience are sometimes found tragedies more aw ful, mysteries darker than any that ever had their origin in a novelist’s brain. Seventeen years ago Hickory was not the stirring, thriving business town of to-day. The traveller in this region saw here only a straggling village and gaunt, unpainted houses where now substantial business buildings and handsome finished residences show how the tide of pros perity flowed into her borders. But in that day, as in this, the inhabitants of the town had their plans and ambitions, their pleasure and happiness, their suf ferings and disappointments. Love, too, was here, not grown old by an existence prolonged from Eden. And jealousy growed into the hearts of his victims and wrought his woeful work just as he does wherever the sun shines. Love, not be ing always particular concerning his abode, made his home with a very pro saic person who was a harness-maker and whose name was a very unpoetic one—John Maguire. The objeet of John’s affection did not rejoice in a soubriquet suitable for a dime variety actress, for she was saluted by the eupho nious title of Phronie Bolick. But if her name was ugly, its possessor was not. On the con trary nature had made Phronie beautiful in form and feature. So fair did she seem to the harness-maker, that he became her slave. Nor was she averse to his suit; for they were married. He was happy for a season, his vision being far too short to discern the approaching shadow of death that was ere long to envelop him. His golden dreams did not endure. Foul suspicions took root in his mind. The rank weeds of discord . and strife sprang up where the sweet flowers of confidence and affection once bloomed. One night the people of the town were startled by the sharp crack of a revolver, followed by a woman’s piercing shrieks. Upon one back street Maguire’s wife was found with a bullet in her breast. Stung to madness, by her supposed infidelity her husband attempted to take her life. She recovered. Maguire was arraigned before the bar of the court in Newton to answer his crime. Rejecting legal coun sel, he conducted his own defence and spent the succeeding twelve months after his trial in the county jail. Solitude and confinement cooled the fiery passion of his blood when he came forth from prison. He sought a recon ciliation with his wife, expressing deep repentance for the wrong which he had inflicted on her. She received him again to her arms, and for some months they seemed to have regained their lost hap piness. It was the calm preceding the storm. In July, 1878, in the gathering dusk of evening, Maguire set out from his house to visit his brother-in-law’s home, a distance of about three miles. He took a much longer journey than he expected at the start, though he did not finish that which he undertook, nor did he ever return. Search parties scoured the sur rounding country. A mill-pond was dragged, but the guilty secret was not beneath its waters. After a while public interest in the mysterious disappearance waned. Other topics crowded it fiom attention, and Maguire was forgotten. His disconsolate widow, who bad been the object of many carious glances and not a few significant hints, after mourn ing the first husband for a period so several weeks, consoled herself of assuming the name of Holler, at the urgent request of Mr. Jacob Holler. The second match proved more propitious than the first The couple lived together in the utmost harmony to all appear ances, until the latter part of July. 1895. Then Jacob in some|way ruffl d the amiable temper of his wife, erstwhiles widow, whereupon she is said to have made the pleasant suggestion that possi bly he “might disappear like John Maguire did.” And Jacob, m truth, dis appeared, though without the aid of his wife. He varied Maguire’s performance by taking the Southern Railway route and seeking the “laud of the Dacotahs,” instead of the “Kingdom of Ponemah” and the “land of the Hereafter.” And he left a ghostly tale behind him, a story of foul and treacherous murder. John Maguire’s ghost had come'back from the grave to cry aloud for vengeance on his assisssins. Upon a lofty ridge, near the Catawba river, in the dense thicket, so Holler said, the brother of the woman had laid in wait for Maguire. Holler himself was pres ent. The golden sun light had faded into the gloaming when the victim was seen approaching the spot where he was to meet his doom. The murderer crouched down in the thick brush on the edge of the path. In a moment Maguire was within a few feet of him Tnere was an ominous click of the trigger springing backward mi a Fpurt of flame Lcked out from the muzzle of the gun. The next instant the thunder of heaven awoke on the moun tain, John Maguire sprang convulsively into the air, spun round once and again, and then plunged forward on his face, to the earth—stone dead. In that lonely and neglected spot his body was buried out (f sight, and there he had been .sleeping for nearly a quarter of a cen torv, so Holler said. Excited by these startling revelations, a party was secretly formed with the in tention to seek out Maguire’s grave. At eleven e’clock on the night of Au gust 17th, they met, provided with lan terns and arms sufficient to stock an or dinary arsenal. They stole silently through by ways and alleys until they were beyond the town limits. A walk of an hour and a half brought them to the foot ot the ridge where the mur der was eommittod. They gazed with rapt attention at its lofty summit blacks and frowning, in striking contrast with the moon lit stretch of road where they stood. Here they were joined by a fat gentleman with an expansive smile, who played part of guide. The ascent began, and proceeded with no lightning like swiftness. The slope was covered with a dense growth or bashes, inter spersed with stones and fallen trees. T' e men walked forward in silence, save for an occasional violent remark called forth by a swinging limb gently rapping some of the party across the face, or a stone testing the hardness of a foot. At last they reached the summit and bursting through a thicket found them selves in a small cleared space. The flickering and uncertain light ot the lan terns, gave to the surrounding trees a wiered and gigantic appearance. The air was full of the odor of jasmine and honeysuckle. From afar came the sub’ dued roar of the river. All was peace ful under the moon beams that strug gled through the leafy foliage, and a restful calm pervaded the spot as though flinty hearts and bloody hands had never marred God’s fair creation. A similar mound, six feet or more in length, covered over with leaves —there was the object of their search. The men set lanterns at the head and foot of the mound and began digging. With eager haste they pursued their work. With out cessation they pursued the task of digging until the picks rang sharply upon some hard object. Carefully they scooped the earth away and found —only a solid strata of limestone. The search had been in vain, and yet—and yet, the soil thrown out from the excavation was soft and black, while on either side there was a hard wall of clay. At the depth of five feet beneath the surface of the ground were leaves and roots of trees that had been severed years ago. Evidently that was not the first time that the earth had been dis turbed in this place. And some one had scooped out an opening bearing every point of resemblance to a grave. Had John Maguire been buried there, and then removed? Why did Holler flee? He has returned and says that his story was drunken maunderings. But why did the drunken man point out a place which John Maguire passed on his way to death? And why was the empty grave there? These questions the men asked each other as they plunged down the ridge through the night. Thos. M. Hufham. COMPETITION IS STRONG. All Three of the Big Cutter Buyer* Are on the Market—Sales Satisfactory. Special to the News and Observer. Locisbcrg, N. C., Aug. 31. Yesterday was again a large sales day of tobacco. Sales began at 9 o’cloek and continued steadily at the rate of 210 piles Eer hour till 8 o’clock and then one wart ouse had not been reached. This one was full also and had several loads packed down in the basement waiting for room to unload on the floor. The sales were entirely satisfactory to the farmers. All three of the big cutter buyers are repre sented on this market and the competi tion is strong. As the farmers finish curing and have time to strip their to bacco the weekly sales will be very heavy. The tobacco is very bright. Fourteen Now Doctors Licensed. Special to the News and Observer. ‘ Wrightsville, N. C., Sept. 2. The Board of Medical Examiners met in extra session at Wrightsville on Aug. 26. There were twenty-one applicants, fourteen of whom were granted license, and seven rejected. The following were licensed: J. T. Sevier, Asheville; W. T. Fuller, Reidsville; D. E. Sevier, Asheville; F. E. Hartsell, Concord, H. W. Carter, Fair field; John McCampbell, Morganton; O. J. Sawyer, Belle Cross; JB. R. Graham; Wallace; E. A. Moye, Jr., Greenville. 0. H. Barnhardt, Mt. Pleasant; W. 8. Hil liard, Asheville; J. P. Mellard, Asheville; W. P. Holt, Willardville; 8. M. Mann, Manteo. , Why Bloomers are so Called. To the Editor of the News and Observer. In last Sunday’s paper, I notice that you say you do not know why “bloom ers” are so called. Taking the liberty to suppose that you would like to know, and having been in formed, I take pleasure in telling you that “bloomers” are so called because buds and blossoms in society wear them. Another Piece of Fusion “Refawm.” Columbia, N. C., Aug. 30. To the Editor of the News and Observer. Before the Fusion Legislature ad journed, the county warrants of this county (Tyrrell) were readily selling at 85 cents in the dollar, but now they will not sell at any price; so much for Tyr rell’s Republican Representative. A good appetite and refreshing sleep are essential to health of mind ana body, and these are given by Hood’s Sarsapa rilla. (jjticura WORKS Winders In curing torturing, disfiguring, hu miliating humours ot the Skin, Scalp, and Blood when all else fails. SoM throughout th* world. Hnfi.h D*pot: T. N«W- Uir ft Sow*. 1, King Edward-*!., I,ondon. Foma Daoo ft»® Coax. Coar-, Bol* Frop* . Bo* too, U. g. ft. The News and Observer, Tuesday, Sept. 3, *95. Will Now Eat Even “Cold Crow.” Nashville, N. C., Aug. 3k To the Editor of the News and Observer. I send you an extract from the speech of W. R. Henry made here in 1892. It is the substance and almost the exact language used by him on that occasion: “If one drop of Populist blood should fall into the bottom of a well and that well filled with dirt and rammed with a maul, and grass should grow over it, and a sheep should eat that grass, I would not eat the mutton for fear of being tainted with Populism.” Yours truly, B. H. Sorsby. Get* Better and Better Every Issue. Greensboro Record. The Raleigh News and Observer gets better and better every issue. It is one of the best dailies North Carolina has ever had, and it is with pleasure we note its continued forward advancement. It May Do As Much for You. Mr. Fred. Miller, of Irving, 111., writes that he had a Severe Kidney trouble for many years, with severe pains in his back and also that his bladder was af fected. He tried many so called Kidney cures but without any good result. About a year ago he began the use of Electric Bitters and found relief at once. Electric Bitters is especially adapted to toe cure of all Kidney and Liver troubles and often gives almost instant relief. One trial will prove our statement. Pr ce only 50c. for largo bottle. At John Y. Macßae’s Drug Store. Rev. Dr. Parker la the beloved pastor of the Universal etchurch atFargo,N. 1)., and has also icon a pastor in Providence, It. 1., New York City and Troy, N. Y. lie says: “I regard Hood’3 Sarsaparilla the bs'-t blood purifier, and I have good reason fer this opinion. I era now £0 years of age. Four years ago I was p.fS’cted wiih rheun jtism in my back and limb 3, so badly tha t it w a >, ’ a pos sible for me to get my usual sloe-o at n’fhf. I lad just p*..-.billy re covered from the grip, vLiJi re duced my weight fee |'V I/ Hh '■/. ’ 1 > ( l'v r fy'ii . Eev, J. Park;-r # X>. ii. FarqojT*. IX 4o it 3. STy cr*-;e tite wes poor end I felt languid and weak, la fact i was in a very dilapidated con dition. Having heard and read eo much about the won.’? ful cures produced by Hood’s Sarsaparilla I resolved to give it a trial. I folio .vcd the directions, and be fore tl,e fifth h: ‘ tie v AniuLed my ap petite tvs 3 restored, IMt Invigorated and Strong. My rkeu:ru.tic difficulty had entirely dis appeared. I cannot but tnink very highly ol Hood’s Sarsaparilla.” J. N. Parker. F JZ 9 S Sarsa- I porilla Be Sure f* UTCS to Get Hood’s Hood’s Pills arc the best family cathartic and liver medicine. Harmless*, reliable, sure. FCbleke.ter’, KnglUh IM.nonO Brand. ENNYROYAL PILLS Original ud Only Genuine.. A /■Jsafe, always reliable, laoih ask f'ulX (psilM for ChickeeUre English Dia Brand In Red and Gold metallic »**li*i with blue ribbon. Take jW wJno oth«r> Refuse dangerous substitu- v rj ~~ afU * unitaiions. At Druggists, or send 4e. I W Jr In stampa for particulars, testimonial! and \t* 0 “Relief for uidlea,” in letter, by return [f MulL 10.000 Testimonial*. Name Paper. v, ,■ —*/ ditch enter Chemical to ,MadUon ftqunre, Sold by nil Local Druggist*. PklladA.» Fn- JOHN W. EVANS ~ lx-* CARRIAGE MANUFACTURER Naftbwwt Car. Marfan and Blannt Sts., RALEIGH, N.C. dpecial attention given to repairing &rd leo&lntlng WACHOVIA, Loan and Trust Company, WINSTON. N. 0. Paid up Capital, $200,000 Authorized Capital, $1,000,000 — o—■ A legal depository for Court and True Fund and General Deposits. Interest allowed upon special arrange ment. Established for the execution of all man ner of trusts and the management and settling of estates, acting as EXECUTOR, TRUBTEE, ADMINISTRATOR, ASSIGNEE, GUARDIAN, RECEIVER, COMMITTEE, or AGENT, And for the safe keeping of bonds, securities and valuables, Ac., Ac. DIRECTORS: R. J. Reynolds, N. S. Siewers, T. L. Vaughn, W. H. Ragan, J. W. Fries, J. W. Hanis, C. H. Fogle, 3. E. Gilmer, J. C. Buxton, J.A.Gray, W.B.Carter.F. H. Fries. F. H. FRIES, JAS. A. GRAY President, _ Vice Presd’t. H. F. SHAFFNER, See’v and Tress. Uses Mexican Mustang Liniment On his horses, on his drivers. OUR FIRST FLOOR NOW READY. 0 The plasterers and painters have completed their work upon our Ist floor and the various depart ments have been re-arranged and now we are in shape for new business. There are some goods una voidably injured by lime dust and these, with some ends of lines here-to-fore advertised, will be offered at such prices as to run them of before active fall work begins. Having made contracts for our popular brands of do mestics, Pride-of-West, Mason ville, Fruit-of-Loom, Barker, Lons dale, Percales and Sheetings, be fore the late advances in values, we now give our trade these new goods at the old prices as long as our contracts hold out. Beginning, Monday, Sept. 2, we will show our first importations of new dress goods for the fall. Mohairs, Siccillians Bouch Effects, etc. W.H.&R.S TUCKER&CO. H. MAHLER, Silversmith and Manufacturing Jeweler Sterling Silver Goods. Guaranteed ,000 o Manicure Sets, Pen Wipers, Silver Novelties, Tie Holders, Combs, Emery Balls, Paper Cutters, Belts, Match Boxes, Ladies’ Shirt Waist Sets, Coat Hangers, Lock Bracelets, Garters, Sleeve Links, Button Hooks, Books Marks, Scissors, Belt Pins, Hat Pina. 0 I also have the largest and best selected stock of tible and case goods to be foun In the city. No extra charge for engraving, Raleigh, N. C., Feb. 8.1895. Lyon Mfj. Co., Brooklyn, X. Y. Gentlemen:—Having seen Mexican Hustang Lini ment extensively advertised here Induces me to tell you how useful It Is to persons In the livery business. I have used it for the past 18 years on my horses for almost every thing that horses are subject to. For sprains and stiff Joints Ido not think It has an equal, and for such things as harness galls and rubs it Is wonderful. I once had a very fine driver who was thrown from his car riage in a runaway and so severely bruised about his shoul dors and breast that I did not think he would ever be able to get on a carriage again. I remembered, however, what Mexican Mustang Liniment did for my horses In case of bruises and had him use It constantly, and In about two weeks he was as good a driver as ever, and not an ache or pain remained. I know you must get tired ot receiving such letters, hut I thought I would add one more testimonial to the useful ness of Mustang Liniment. Yours truly, g ' W. H. LANCASTER. For 18 years in Livery and Transfer business. if ADVENT TERM THE FIFTY FOURTH ANNUAL SESSION ST, MARY’S SCHOOLS fUleigh, N. C. BEGINS September 19, 1895- Address ti e Rector, REV. B. SWEDES, A. M. RALEIGH KALE ACADEMY MOB SON A DENSO v, Principal*. 1 lie Lth year begins Monday, September 2nd. The course, well known for its success in preparation for college or business, is carefully adapted to the pupil. Hoard low. Send for catalogues. MOT It K DAME OF MARY I.A N I).—College ” for Young Ladies and Preparatory School for Girls. Regular and elective courses. Music and Art specialties. Conducted liy School Sisters of Notre Dame. Roland I'akh. near Baltimore. Md, VIRGINIA COLLEGE ForYOUNG LADIES. Roanoke. Va. Opens Sept. 12,1895. One of the leading Schools for Young Ladles in the South Magnificent buildings, all modern Improvements. Campus ten acres Grand mountain scenery in Valley of Va., famed for health. European and American teachers. Full course. Superior advantages in Art and Music. Students from twenty States. For catalogues address the President, W. A. HARRIS, 1). !>., Roanoke. Virginia. Bethel Military Academy, VIRGINIA. Prepares for Government Academies, Universities and Business. For catalogues, address Maj. It. A. Mclntyre, Bethel Acad emy’ P. O. Virginia Female Institute, STAUNTON, VA. Mrs. Gen. J. E. B. Stuart, Principal. The next session of nine months opens September 19th, with a full corps of supe rior teachers. Terms reasonable. Apply early. Catalogues sent upon application to the principal. •yy'T’ST WALNUT STREET SEMINARY for young ladies. 29th year. Is provi ded for giving a superior education in collegiate, eclectic and preparatory depart ments; also in music, art and elocution. Mrs. Henrietta Kutz, 2045 Walnut St., Phila. WASHINGTON & LEE UNIVERSITY, Lexington, Virginia. Academic; Law; Engineering. Opens Sept. 12th. For catalogue address G. W. C. LEE, President. SSMID-SUNMEigi July Clearance Sale OF ALL MILLINERY. —o— HI f have marked down a VV EaTrimmed Millinery to cos and less than cost. | | m |f— also reduced a TMV Em straw goods,' al FLOWERS, RIBBONS, Etc., Etc., — o— | Stamped Linen, fancy Ult Table Covers, Sllka and fringes to match at Bargain. Miss Maggie Reese, 209 Fayetteville St.. RALEI9H. N. 0. yyiNDOW SHADES THE SEASON FOR WINDOW SHADES f @3 ■© GOT HERE EARLY THIS YEAR. BUT 17 DID HOT GET AHEAD OF ME. My stock has already arrived and it is SIMPLY IMMENSE.- Come and See Them Yon need not buy unless you want to. Architect’s material and picture frames in great variety. All at WATSON’S ART EMPORIUM FRED A. WATSON, Raleigh, N. C. FINE MUTEST o Just received a shipment of fine mules now on sale at my stables. Also a number of fine horses. Call and see them. JOHN M. PACE. Raleigh N.C.
The News & Observer (Raleigh, N.C.)
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Sept. 3, 1895, edition 1
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