The Jasper Weekly Courier

A Wasted Life.

The Baltimore American gives the following concerning Samuel W. McDonald, the alleged murderer of Berry Amos, the gambler: "Upon the death of his father, the late William McDonald, who owned a very large and valuable estate, this, his only son, who now stands charged with the crime of murder, inherited a very large fortune, amounting, it is said, to about $285,000. Although still very young, being just twenty-five years of age, it is notorious that for years past he has been leading a very wild and reckless life, indulging in all manner of extravagances, and consorting habitually with evil companions of both sexes; and thus it comes that in the very bloom of his early manhood, with large possessions of earthly goods and many capabilities for honorable usefulness, this young man is now committed to a felon's cell, charged with the awful crime of murder. On the 9th day of March, 1870, Samuel W. McDonald, the accused, celebrated his twenty-first birthday by a grand dinner, given at the then country residence of the McDonald family, Guilford, on the York road. Cards of invitation were issued, and the guests present comprised some of the leading citizens of this city and Baltimore county. When young McDonald came home from Europe, before attaining his majority, where he had received an education, he had opened to him the best society in this city, and his career seemed a promising one, but he soon developed a taste for the companionship of the vicious. Some two years ago, the widow of Mr. William McDonald, and the mother of this young man, married a Swiss gentleman, said to be of some distinction, named John De Sbeyr, and the couple now reside in Nice, Italy. More than a year ago the son left Baltimore, having purchased a fine farm near Terre Haute, Ind., where he has since been living a very luxurious life. He returned only recently to this city on a visit."