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Lyttelton Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1353, 31 January 1865, Page 3

An Old Max who has Shot Shut Pkksons — At one point of the Tennessee River there is a plact that has become a terror to steam-boat men, and in passing it they always find some place to securt themselves until the boat passes. At this point an old man, sixty years of age, has made his headquarters for a long time, and the peculiar " crack of his gun" is familiar to river men, and sends a thrill of terror whenever it is heard. He has a long heavy-barrelled gun, originally a squirrel rifle, which has been bored out three different times, until now'the largest thumb can be easily turned in il>e muzzle, and the aim of the oid man is one of deadly certainty. The murderous sentinel is always faithful upon his watch, and his retreat has so far bnfflid all attempts to catch him, from the fact that he is so surrounded with dense swamps anil deep ravines. Well-informed men estimate that this old man lias murdered in this way not less than sixty persons, and yet he performs his murderous work with as much earnestness and vigour as when he first commenced.—New York Daily News.

The Federals seem to have begun recruiting in Ireland again. One of their agents has just been arrested in Athlone. He is a man named Murphy, a native of Ireland, but for years resident in America; and the charge against him is an attempt to enlist lour soldiers of the 25th Regiment. He met them in a public house, and soon got into their good graves by paying for drink. After some time he introduced politics, and abused the English Government, spok# of the probabilities of a risi. gr of the patriots in Ireland, when she would have her own again ; that America was willing to assist her in the struggle, and thought that Irishmen ought to aid his adopted country in the present war. He then asked one of the soldier# in a whisper whether he was Irish and a Koman Catholic. The soldier, a lad from Gal way, replied in the affirmative. He then ask. d him if lie ' was willing to take servit e under the American flag, promising him, if he got nine others to go along with him, a liberal bounty and commission for himself. Four of the party seemingly assented. when an oath was attempted to be administered In the meantime, one of the soldiers, havipg left the house while these proceedings were going on, informed the police, and the prisoner whs taken into custody. Murphy has been committed for trial. He is about sixty years of age, of military appearance, with grey beard and moustache. In Ilia portmanteau we<;« found a number of printed papers relating to military matters. He had ten sovereigns and soma silver in his parse, and a letter telling him where to look for money if h* should require it.