AMERICAN GOSSIP.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2340, 16 September 1880, Page 2

AMERICAN GOSSIP.

A CURIOUS CASE. Seventeen nights ago a man left his home at nine o’clock to pay a butcher’s bill. Ho kept a boarding-house, and was doing well. That night he did not return, nor yet the next. His absence being bruited about the neighborhood, all his creditors sent in their bills, while the wife not being able to pay the same and having no tidings of her truant lord was Forced to sell out. and retire to a small homo of two rooms. Fourteen days after Daniel’s departure a friend of Ids was awakened by a rapping on his window at three o’clock m the morning, and going to sec what the cause was, he observed Daniel, who implored him to take him in, which he did. The poor man fell into a lit of weeping, winch continued for hours, and in fact lie is still watering Ids shirt-front with eye-water. His clothes arc all clean even to Ids stockings, and Ids diamond studs still rested in the bosom of Ills shirt. Hut whenever Ids head or stomach is touched ho screams violently, and for four days has eaten no food. He knows nothing of what has happened to him. and at times is incoherent in his speech. Altogether it is a strange case, and the third of the kind which has happened in two years. He is supposed to have been sand-bagged or poisoned. Since truth is stranger than liction, there is also another very curious case of A SLEEUV AVOMAv. There is a woman in San Francisco who falls to sleep every time sho sits down, and even when standing by the window sleeps there, to Ihe no small surprise of the passers-by. Some months ago she had a tumor taken Irom her side, and ever since has had continued pain in the back, allayed only by taking laudanum, which dose, from 1-5 drops, she has insensibly augmented to throe teaspoon fids a day. As she eats her breakfast the spell comes on, and she sleeps for hours, and no matter what her occupation may be, olf she drops into the embrace ol: Morpheus. She cannot give up the drug, and the poor woman has so little strength that upon awaking from her sice]) she is unable to stretch forth her hand. THE IiAEES’ WAI.KIXG MATCH. The furore for walking matches never subsides. They follow one after another, and appear to be got up for the purpose of lilling managers coffers more than as legitimate amusement —if amusement it can be called. I vow it brings shame upon respectable womankind to have the sex degraded in this manner. Fancy a dozen women tramping night and day, accoutred in short dresses, groat leathern brogues, a whip in one hand, a sponge in the other, with a quill toothpick between the teeth. There was a new departure, in the way of a child’s walking match, the other night. One hundred little children, in fancy costumes, went three times round the track, and wore rewarded with fifty prizes, wliicli brought iorth a deluge of tears from those who did not win. It was a charming sight to gaze upon the the wee toddlers, each carrying a bonnet, and all gorgeously caparisoned in silk and satin ; though really decent mothers thought such wee things would have been better off in bed. THE I.EL'EVKE MURDER.

The shooting of Dr Lefevro, a sur-geon-dentist of Sail Francisco, by Mr Schrocder, a banker, whoso wife alleged that the doctor had taken improper liberties with her while she was under the in 11 uenco of chloroform, created an immense sensation. Those who knew the dentist, particular!}' the attendant nurse and the medical man who always administered the chloroform to the patients of Dr Lefevro, declare that at no time did he ever use an anesthetic except in the presence of them both. As the trial proceeds day by day, various strange facts come to light. It now appears that Mrs Schrocder and the dentist had been on terms of intimacy for some time (nothing novel or strange for fast San Francisco), and a week or two ago, before the shooting, Mr Sehroedcr, who was in a hank on this side of the water, received a telegram, which instantly changed him from a jovial, good-tempered man, into a motose and half-crazed creature, his conduct exciting general comment among his friends. This telegram is

supposed to have been from a friend telling him of the dentist’s visits to his wife in his absence, and finally, the husband, having proof of the stolen intimacy, watched, and caught the aggressor coming from his house after dark. Then he taxed his wife, and she confessed. His state of mind had increased to almost madness, and it had taken all the watchful assiduity of Ids father-in-law, Dr Stebbins, to prevent him from committing an act of violence upon the person of the dentist, until the day the deed was done. The tale as told does not speak nine!) in favor of the woman at the bottom. Nor when a wife goes thus astray is she woith the price of blood, and one wonders why Mr Schroedcr did not adopt the usual course taken of immediate divorce. It is a peculiar and most distressing ease, and what the outcome will be is not seen as yet. Prison life made comfortable for the assassin for a year or two ; the ease continued from time to time upon technicalities; and then, once more a free man, Mr S. will walk out of bis bondage. Such is the usual mode of settling “ high-toned ” killing in this community, and so I surmise will it be, but that remains to be seen. —“Silver Pen,” in the ‘ Auckland Herald.”