A WEDDING TRAGEDY.

Waikato Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1511, 11 March 1882, Page 3

A WEDDING TRAGEDY.

Oxk night in January was the occasion of a wedding near Watsonville, somewhere in one of the frontier States of the Union. The biidegioom, Rossi byname, decided to make it a grand affair, laid in a bountiful stook of wine and whiskey, and caused bonfires to be kindled all around the little house in the redwood canon, in order that the many guests should be accommodated. Among those who went without invitation was a gang of ' ' toughs" from Whiskey Hill, a little village about a mile and a half away. It had not been the programme to have dancing, but as many desired it a fiddler was sent for. During the dancing the hat was passed round, and these " toughs" refusing to contribute, were notified by Rossi that those who did not pay could not dance. They thereupon went outside and began to fire off their pistols, some of the shots striking the house. Rossi went out and told them if they did that any more he would make a "prison of it for them." As he turned to go in, one Jose Tejada stabbed him in the back with a dirk. The knife went between the sixth and seventh ribs and passed into the lung. An Indian, who had been teaming for Rossi, jumped forward and shouted that a man who would stab another in the back was a coward, or words to that effect, at which a brother of Tejada struck him over the head with a pistol, and then shot him, the ball ploughing a furrow over the top of the scalp. Rossi was mortally wounded. The sheriff of the county and five of the following went in hot pursuit of the gang, following them day and night for four days At last they got certain information of their hiding place, but the exact locality they could not ascertain till they had, m the expressive words of the narrative, " swung one man up till his tongue hung out." The liiffians, it was at la&t found, lay hid in a hollow tree, and at two in the morning a desperate fight began. After two of the criminals had been badly wounded they smTendered but the worst of the gang got off with a charge of buckshot in his stomach that was expected to render further pursuit iinnecessary. The rest were taken back, aud of their ultimate fate in that country of rough-and-ieady justice there can be little doubt.

Ax alfalfa field is very desirable in connection with a dairy — in fact, it has become an almost indispensable auxiliary in America. The South Australian Commissioner of Crown Lands has notified his intention of forfeiting a number of selections in the south-eastern district for dummyism. Over 100 farms in Orange county, New York, are advertised for sale by a Newburgh real estate agent. The reason given are that the land is played out, and that the farmers are desirous to try the West. It is proposed to establish a society in Kansas for the purpose of publishing a Herd Book for Scotch polled cattle, on account of their increasing numbers in the United States. The net profits of the limited company, R. Goldsbrough and Co., for the first six months amounted to £28,339, out of which a dividend of 10 per cent, was declared. Grazing land in Friesland, ' the garden of Holland,' which a few years ago was worth £S3 to £133 per acre, and was letting at £6 and £8 per acre, is fetching now from £2 to £3 as the annual rental. The cause of the depreciation is American importation of produce. The new pure cash system now being initiated by G. and C. will certainly prove a benefit to the public. It has been a great success in Sydney and Melbourne, and when strictly earned out the customer who bujs at an establishment where the poods are ni.u ked low to ensure a rapid sale must be .i croat gainer. G. and C. sell their drapery, milliner)', and clothing: at Mich prices for cash as gives the buj er the advantages of a shareholder in a co-operative society, without the risk of being called upon to bear a portion of the loss should the ) ear's business prove unsatisfactory. Garlick <tnd Cranwell will aim to retain the confidence which the public ha\e lutheito shown them, and aic determined to give the puie cash system a fan trial; whether they gain or lose the first year Country bu) cis on remitting cash withordei will . be supplied with goods at co-operatvc prices ; just the same as though they made apcrsonalsclcction. Furnishing goods, such as carpets, floor cloths, bedsteads, bedding and general house furniture, the largest portion of which is turned out at our own factory, willbe marked at the lowest remunerative prices, and a discount of five per cent, will be allowed to those who pay at the time of purchase. G. and C. honing realised the entire value of their stock dunng their late cash sale, the present stock is Nrw and cheaply hough i. — An inspection invited — Garlick and Cuanweu., City Hall Furnishing Arcade Queen street, Auckland.