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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 14, Issue 711, 23 August 1869, Page 1 (Supplement)

DURING a thunderstorm, recently, at Halifax, a lad, six years of age, son of Ben* jarain Hargreaves, miner, Norwood G-reen, was killed. The deceased had taken shelter in an outhouse, and immediately after one of the flashes ot lightning a portion of the roof fell, killing him instantly. Curious Obituary Notice. —Our English graveyards yield some curious fragments in the way of epitaphs, but we have never yet met with such a marvellous combination of business and bathos as is contained in the following obituary notice, culled from a Spanish paper:—" This morning our Saviour summoned away the jeweller Siebald Illmaga from his shop to another and a better world. The undersigned, his widow, will weep upon hia tomb, as will also his two daughters, Hilda and Emma, the former of whom is married, and the latter is open to an offer. The funeral will take place to-morrow. His disconsolate widow, Veronigue Illmaga. P.S.-Thia bereavement will not interrupt our business, which will be carried on as usual, only our place of business will be removed from No. 3, Tessei de Teisnturiers, to No. 4, Rue de Missionaire, as our grasping landlord has raised our rent."

Society in the Southern States of America.—Southern society la the remoter districts appears to be in a very disorganised state. We find a very able article in the New York Tribune, which sheds a painful degree of light on the social condition of Texas. "To give you an idea of the state of things here," writes this correspondent, "I need only refer to Baker and Bickerstaff, the outlaws. They are leaders of small parties of desperadoes, and roam over the country committing every kind of depredation, from the meanest to the most horrible and indiscriminate of murders." A catalogue of Baker's crimes is then given, from which it is manifest that a more bloodthirsty ruffian never lived. Later accounts report that Baker had been killed by a man whose life he had attempted to take several weeks previously. He left his intended victim for dead, but the latter fortunately recovered, and was the instrument by which justice at last overtook the assassin. The man who shot him will receive two thousand dollars from the State of Texas, and one thousand from the State of Arkansas. The people of Jefferson are in a state of great excitement consequent upon the murder of Lieut. Smith, a retired officer in the federal service, who had rendered himself obnoxious to the whole community by the indiscreet boldness with which he gave expression to his. opinions. He was attacked by a mob who endeavored to kill him, but he defended himself with so much courage that lie not only escaped unharmed, but shot two of his assailants. He then gave himself up to the commander of the troops who were stationed in the town, and he, to ensure the poor man's safety, transferred him to the public gaol. The mob, however, broke into the gaol and murdered both Lieut. Smith and several negt-oes, who appear to have been confined on charges manufactured for the purpose. Murders and lynohings are the order of the day iu several of the Southern States.