Punxsutawney Spirit, 1907-02-11

              f  RRP 1 ■agpjps ■ : ; . ' f6ity Bditi°n! fpj|0 | J: litfttOtl0O JpSUIftf* ■ HUNDREDS OF BILLS STATE LEGISLATURE MUST YET CONSIDER VOL. I. No. 125. PUNXSUTAVCNEY, PA.. MONDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY II, 1907 STRONG FIGHT IS ON TO PLACE THAW'S WILL BEFORE COURT AND JURY IPRICE 2 CENTS BILLANTIS GET THEIR GOODS BACK I WATER HEARING IS me This Week Likely to Be Busiest So Far This Session. TO AMEND CONSTITUTION Prisoner's Attorneys Know Document Would Clinch the Defense. Attorney General to Consider Quo Warranto Matter at Later Date. It Mai Be Well Into June Before Adjournment Can Be Had. United Mine Workers' President Thinks Idea Is All Wrong. Senator to employ counsel for his defense, at the expense of the State. Senator Langtitt has Introduced a liill which would open the way to the remedy of nny and all defects In the present Constitution. He proposes that a eonventlop for the amendment of the Constitution In- held. There are so many amendments suggested that In many quarters It is deemed wise to make all changes by convention rather than by submission seriatim to the voters. A bill which was passed by the Senate last week provides for the election of a city clerk in cities of the third PAT EILDAY IS Fiii; i STATE POLICE WOMEN NOW EXCLUDED Vice-President of Pittsburg B.ank is First Witness Called Today. United States Court Judge Discovers an Error in Proceedings. Another published report declares that. Harry Thaw will be put on the wltrn ss stand in his own defense to testify that since his wife told him her story as related In court, ho has been visited by visions which warned him that his wife's life was in danger from Stanford While. This is reported that lawyers had been engaged to go over Mrs. Thaw's testimony and to engage detective® to secure evidence to refute it, with the Intention <>f giving the information so obtained to District Attorney Jerome. The story, howc ver, contained no details and lacked confirmation. By Publishers' Press. Continued on Second Page STRONG CHARGES ARE MADE Continudo on Second Page. ATTACKS GROOMES REPORT Continued on Second Pago RULES THE ACTION OUT Says Many Misstatements Are Made By the Constabulary Superintendent. II LOCAL LAW «ED PRAISE m HUH MM lESIIFt IH THE THAW CASE Fraud Has Not Yet Been Shown and Store is Reopened Today. Head of Anti-Vice Society Was on Trail of Stanford White. Measurement of railroads. Forbidding: railroad officials to own or have interest in stocks of mining or manufacturing companies. To establish rates for transportation <>f passengers by common carriers. Allegheny courts. Pay of legislators. HOUSE. I.EG 18LATl.'R 10 THIS WEElv SENATE HOUSE Bill requiring railroads to publish time tables in newspapers defeated. New county bill. Proposed railroad commission. To enable State to borrow $25,000,- 000. Senatorial apportionment tost. Constitutional convention. City clerk bill passed. Hon. S. Taylor North and Senator John S. Fisher "Written Up." ARE IN THE LIMELIGHT SAYS EVELYN TOLD TRUTH Noted Vice Hunter Issues Startling Statement Favorable to the Pittsburger. Words of Commendation Are Pub- lished in Philadelphia J V7 The decision of Judge Ewlng, however. restores t<» I'. Uillanti & Company their stock and it was turned owr to them Saturday evening. Just what action will be taken against Sunscrl now has ni>t yet been determined.The account of the operations of A. Sunseri were given In full In last Friday's Spirit, when it was beleived that he hud attempted to defraud several Pittsburg merchants out of $07,000. At that time it was thought that the Punxsutawney firm had assisted In tii«- alleged fraud, and the goods wciv taken over according to law. Attorneys for P. Uillanti & Company. of this place, were notified Saturday that tiie United States District Court at Pittsburg had granted their petition for the release' of the goods which hail been seized by the officers and were being held by them until an investigation of the operations of A. Sunseri, a Pittsburg commission merchant could be investigated. TO BAR THAW EVIDENCE FROM THE U. S. MAILS. President Asks Postmaster General to Refuse Papers Publishing Filth. itrniiHtcr U. ti- ll.—The to bar r printing $>• Thaw trial If the law. WASHINGTON. F I V T ' • - ! • i • ! 1 I li.lM . I '• k I 1 <| • rat Cortilyou to t.i from lh«' mails. nc\] the full details ..f t( .i*» may do 4*0 und< By Publishers' MAY DENY CANADIAN PAPER USE OF MAILS Obligation. Just as Borough Solicitor Jeff. O. Wingert had aboutif comp?eted arrangements to depaft for Harrisburg I to be present at th<(J hearing of a petition from the Burgess and other eltlzens for a writ nf quo warranto against the Punxsutawney Water Company which had been arranged for tomorrow before Attorney General M. Hampton Todd, a telegram was received this morning from the chief clerk of the Attorney General's office stating that the hearing had been postponed and that Mr. Wingert will be promptly notified when a new date has been set. In the papers filed as a suggestion for the proposed writ a brief history of thfc Punxsutawney Water Company is given after which the following charges are made: "That since about the first day of April, 1899, the said defendant Company has failed, neglected and refused to perform and carry out the purposes of its incorporation in that. "(a) It has failed, neglected and refused to supply the whole Borough, or even that part of it where it has laid its pipes, mains and connections, with a sufficient supply of water for drinking, fire and domestic purposes. "(b) It has failed, neglected and WfuaaiiL tQ supply the citizens residing in that portion of the Borough in which it has laid its mains and connections, with water fit for drinking and domestic purposes. "(c) It has failed and does fail, neglect and refuse to supply the public in said Borough with a sufficient supply of water for the extinguishing of fires, and by reason of said failure and neglect, on the part of said Water Company, there have been many large and destructive conllagrations. "(d' That the said defendant Company has and maintains within the limits of said Borough, a steam pump connected with Big Mahoning Creek, and in times of low water, and in times when fires occur in said Borough, it is so arranged that water is pumped from said Big Mahoning Creek into the main service lines of i the Company thus polluting, contam- I inating and rendering unfit for use, the Claim That the Company Has Not Fulfilled Many of Its The Senatorial apportionment of 190(5 is about to be tested by proceedings in quo warranto which require that Senator Crow, of the Thirty-second (new apportionment) district show by what authority ho exorcises the functions of Senator from that district. Both houses have adopted a resolution empowering the HAIlUlSBimO, Pa., Feb. 11.—Al- I though more than a • month has elapsed since the session of the Legislature of 1907 began, and notwithstanding both houses are working harder than has been at the beginning of the session, it becomes more apparent daily that the session will be longer than had been expected. Indeed there is probability that it will run well into June. There are hundreds of bills in committee, hundreds yet to come, and comparatively few of them have been reported. Yet : calendars are very large. So large i is the calendar of the House that on ; Thursday that body held two sessions to expedite its business, an exhibition of industry that is unusual so early in the game. There Is an Insistent demand that the capitol investigating committee report before adjournment, and there Is every Indication that its inquiry will be long and exhaustive. The auditing company is now scanning the bills for the construction and furnishing of the new capitol, and until this be completed' the committee will not be in shape to begin business. Besides, the Governor has not yet appointed his counsel, and the committee is in courtesy obliged to await his pleasure. It is expected, too, that the commtitee will not sit i during the sessions of the Legislature. | as all the members are more or less i interested in pending legislation. By Publishers' Press. Said to Have Printed Filthy Details of Evidence in the Thaw Trial. EDITOR FOR CHAIRMAN OF REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE to Stanford "He has come In my own life In such a way that I desire above everything else to sec his practices stopped in order that others may be spared the suffering he has brought upon me and mine. His ni'ine Is Stanford White, lie in an architect and he has Mr Comstock said: "I know that Stanford White was a human monster. I know that much of what Mrs. Harry Thaw has stated as a witness is true. 1 know that Stanford White's den In the tower of Madison Stjuare Garden was as .sin- described it. Comstock gave out an Interview at his home yesterday in which he declared that a year before the shooting Thaw came to him and told him of White's character and that he found one clear case against the architect. NEW YORK. Feb. 11.—Shouhl An thony Comstock, head of the antivice society, recover from an attack of pneumonia before the conclusion of the Thaw trial, he will be called as a witness for the defense and will, he himself says, give startling testimory to corroborate the testimony of lSvelyn Nesbit Thaw. , "As nearly as 1 can recall," said Mr. Comstock, "Mr. Thaw said to m< 1 want to tell you of a man who has depraved more young girls than air, man in New York. He is particularly given to pursuing tin4 young girls of the stage. it is a debt which society owes to Itself to halt him now before he brings shame and sorrow to any more victims. Mr. Comstock said that in the summer of 1905 Harry Thaw came to him and told him of Stanord White and charged that the architect was luring young girls to his "studio." "1 know that White made a business of despoiling young girls. 1 know of at least one specific instance. And what 1 know I learned after 1 had been given the lirst clues by Harry Thaw himself." "It Is iHir in'entloii t«> show that they could have arrest* d the man without nil of this shooting and that they did not act with good sonse and judgment, beenu-.< there wan not a shot tired from tho house after nine o'clock "This a pa in is Incorrect- Wo have heen satislied beyond a doubt that there was only one man in the house, this Jim Lahorie. and that he being out of his mind was not responsible for his actions. It is known that a priest at Florence offered to take the man from the house if the droops would s'op tiring, but they would not listen to his request, and continued tiring throughout the night, and finally dynamited the bullet-riddled house. "Although wo have not yet made a complete canvass of the Legislature We feel reasonably certain that our hopes will be realized in the repeal of the Constabulary Hill. No reasonube person can help but see that the great expense Incurred by the State In maintaining these troops Is not repaid by the service they give. We think that any small body of police could have done the same amount «»f work and perhaps could have done It much better.President Patrick Gilday, of District No. L', United Mine Workers of America, was in Punxsutawney last Saturday and when seen by a representative of The Spirit, he said: All the forces of the United Mine Workers of America are gathering at Harrisburg today and tonight the most noted bill ever passed by the Pennsylvania State Legislature will come up for repeal. This is the Constabulary Hill and the light promises to be a hot one, as those who oppose and advocate the repeal of the bill are pretty evenly divided. "In the report of the same affair Superintendent Groome says: 'Jim Laborlo, an Italian, Who had been seen during the shooting and two other Italians, were found dead in the ruins.' "Now we take exception to that. It Is very incorrect because we know and every other person who is familiar with the details knows that Sergeant Logan was not attempting to arrest two in en charged wlh murder. He just simply stepped in to arrest a man because he was making too much noise, according to the Sergeant's Idea, for Sunday. I want to say that it is too bad If, after a man works hard in the mines all week* he cannot indulge in a little harmless enjoyment on Sunday without being run off to jail, especially when he Is not disturbing the peace in any way. "We are prepared to show too, that the report of Superintendent flroome, which was prepared for the Legislature, Is not cored- For instance in speaking of the trouble at Florence, September 2nd, the report says: About 4 p. m., when Sergeant Logan of Troop P. alone, was attempting to arrest two Italians, charged with murder, he was shot at five times.' "Senator John S. Fisher, chairman of the Capitol Investigating Committee, although not forty years old, is J rounding out his second term in the {Senate. He was born anil reared in Indiana County, was educated in its I public school and at Cie Indiana St:it»• Normal School, and was admitted to the bar In 1892. He taught school for seven years, and studied law while v*crvlng as principal "f the Indiana ■ High School, from which he war I Muduated w.ien a youngster. He is j one of the leaders of tlie Indiana: County bar, and hr.s never held any ! public office, except that of Senator, to j which he was originally « leetod in J 1908. The member In the upper house at Harrlsburg, from this district, also received favorable mention as fo.iows: "S. Taylor North, of Jefferson County, chairman of the "Country Combine," is a prosperous farmer and stock raiser, and is serving his second term In the House of Representatives. He was educated In the public schools of Jefferson County, and served as a school teacher for six terms. He has held the offices of Auditor, Tax Collector and Assessor, and has served an enlistment in the National Guard of Pennsylvania. .Mr. North, while not given to speechmaking, is one: of the most active members of the House. He is ambitious to become a Senator, and may be a candidate for the Republican nomination in the Indiana- Jefferson district next year." The Philadelphia "North American' yesterday devotedflialf a page to comment on "men wyo are in the limelight on Capitol Hill." The writenp was illustrated with half-tone engravings of half a dozen prominent statesmen, among them being the representative from Southern Jefferson County, Hon. S. Taylor North. Of Mr. North's acapbillties and prospects th>» Philadelphia paper says: "Any newspaper publishing filthy evidence of a trial In court," said he, "would be guilty of a misdemeanor under the Canadian law." The postmaster general said that he had not read the report in the newspaper mentioned, but the law was char on the point and he would see that It was • nforced. OTTAWA. Ont , Feb. 11.—The postmaster general has been asked to deny the use of the mails to a local paper which printed the details of Thursday's evidence in the Thaw trial in New York • large fund has been collected in this city to char Stanford White's reputation of the injury inflicted by ■ he .uny of Mrs. Evelyn Thaw. It The report Is being circulated that •• •• referred While, the witness said, ••The was lu re a moment ago. but went out again." Several moments elapsed during which the prisoner un«: witness exchanged glances and smiles. Evelyn Identified the note which read: Attorney Gleason, for Thaw, testified that the envelope containing the will came into his possession with the seal unbroken last December. Evelyn Ncsbit was recalled and Delmas asked Jerome to produce? the note walch Mrs. Thaw wrote to her husband in Cafe Martin on the night of tho tragedy. After a long wrangle Jerome backed down completely and Lyons testified to having received from Harry K. Thaw, prior t<< April, 19011, the will over which the tight is being made. That it was in his possession up to the time he surrendered it in November, 190ti. Delmas again offered the will in evidence. Jerome objected and the will was temporarily laid aside. Delmas declared that this point had been establishd eby l)r. Wiley's testimony.J. H. Lyons, vice president of the Union National Bank, of Pittsburg, was the first witness. He was called to identify the will of Harry K. Thaw. Jerome immediately objected, contending that tiny must have further proof of Lie defendant's weak mlndedn ess. Mrs. Thaw greeted her husband before he was brought Into Court. Thaw appeared at 10:30 o'clock, looking fresh and in good spirits, but there was a Hash of disappointment as he noted no member of his family present in court. The first announcement of the day was an edict from the bench that, with the exception of six actively engaged newspaper women, no members of the gentler sex would be permitted to enter the Court room during the remainder of the Thaw trial. The order caused a buzz of indignation, but the protests were in vain and when Court called order only the six women designated were present. What Evelyn's testimony was to the plea of justification the will promises to be to the plea of insanity. The document is a jumbled mess bearing every indication of being the rambling of a weak brain. Today the tight Is being waged over the admissibility of Thaw's Nvill, which, if admitted, promises to be next, to the testimony of his wife, the strongest evidence in Thaw's defense. tloii is paramount, going to be some 'muck raking'."" The indications are that there will be. It is: "Is there NEW YOUIv, Feb. 11. — Every effort of Harry K Thaw's attorneys Is being bent today In the effort to have admitted in evidence the will made by the young millionaire on the eve of his marriage to Evelyn Nesbit in April, 190.1, but along Broadway throughout the "Tenderloin" and even along '"Ifth Avenue a different qucs- DOBBINS IN DANGER OF BEING DROPPED Continued on Page 2. SKI 1? BE THE PROBE ATTORNEY WINTRY BLAST ENDS AGED HERMIT'S LIFE Continued on Fifth Pago, RAILROAD GETS 1,510 ACRES ALOIS TRACK DOCTOR AND PATH FOtli HAG IN OFFICE Former Democratic State Chairman Likely to Assist in Capitol Inquiry. Frick and Mellon Interests Said to be Opposing Prominent Pittsburger. Farmers Had! Been Using Strip Originally Granted Union Pacific. Believed That Miss Slater Shot Dr. Merwin and Then Herself.Patrick McCole, Pittsburg Re cluse, Found in Hut After Much Suffering. Miss Maud Slater, aged twenty-threw old, who had spent several years on British steamships as a surgeon, and Everett IT. Merwin, thirty-eight years KANSAS CITY, Mo., Feb. 11.—Dr. years, a patient of the doctor's, were found dead In Merwln's office In the During the cold weather of the past few weeks he Buffered from lack of fuel and food and becoming 111, and without attention his condition grew serious. So far as known he had no relatives. He never told anyone of his family relations, but had lived entirely to himself. McCole was a well-known character In the West Find and had been living alone in an old shanty there for nearly forty years. PITTSBURG, Feb. 11.—Patrick Mc- Cole, a recluse about sixty years old, was found at a shanty in West Carson Street. Thirty-fourth ward, by neighbors Saturday in a serious condition. The police were notified and he was removed to the South Side Hospital, where In* died at ten o'- clock it hat evening. TOPEKA, Kan., Feb. 11. — The ' United States circuit court has awarded to the Union Pacific Railway Com! pany about 1,500 acres of Kaw Valley | bottom land abutting on the righ't-of- I way of the railroad between the western boundary of Leavenworth County to within a few miles of Kansas City, Mo. The Union Pacific claimed 200 feHt on each side of the road as right - of-way, und the farmers have been using the remainder of the land. When a double track was constructed the Union Pacific extended its right-ofway fence 150 feet on either side of the track. Sui'ts were immediately instituted by farmers abutting to restrain the company. The Prick and Mellon Interests aro said to have decided upon Mr. Robbnis' retirement, and arc said to have influenced other large owners of stock to vote against Mr. Robbing. Should the interests named wrest control from the present management, it ia believed the coal combine will pass into the hands of the United States Steel Corporation. NEW YORK. Fob. 11. — Rumors nre current in Wall Street that. Francis L. llobbins may be deposed as chairman of the board of directors of the Pittsburg Coal Company at the annual meeting in Jersey City today, and that he may also fall of re-election as president of the Monongahela River Consolidated Coal and Coke Company, which is controlled by the Pittsburg company. Indications of serious opposition to Mr. Robbins have been apparent for some time. 4,I don't know anything about it," said he. "I understand the committee will make the announcement." Mr. Stranhan said today he had not been informed that he was to be appointed.Governor Stuart will not discuss the mutter. He would consider it discourteous to the committee to announce the counsel without having first communicated with the committee and the latter Is not to meet until tomorrow.HA RRISBURO, Feb. 11. — Although Governor Stuart is not yet prepared to announce his decision there is reason to beliov«- that he may appoint former Democratic State Chairman James A. Stranuhan, of Harrisburg as chief counsel for the Capitol Investigating Committee. That James Scarlet, of Danville, also a Democrat, will be associate counsel also is probable. Mr. New married Miss Katherlne V. Milligan In 1880. She died in 1883. In 18J)1 he married again, his present wife being Miss Catherine McLaen. In 189G Mr. New was elected to the State Senate from Marion. County, Ind. He first entered the Republican National Committee in 1900, and he was reelected to represent Indiana In June, 1904. He waa vice chairman of the Republican National Committee during the last presidential campaign. Harry 3. Naw Harry Stewart New. who has been named to succeed Postmaster General Cortelyou as chairman of the Republican National Committee, was born in Indianapolis, December 31, 1858. He is the son of John C. New, for many years editor and publisher of the Indianapolis Journal. The new chairman went to the public schools of his native city and then attended Butler College. It is stated that Dr. Merwln had expressed annoyance because Miss Slater frequently wrote him letters, telephoned to him, and In other ways thrudt her attentions upon him. Each had been shot through the head and a pistol was found near the expended right hand of the girl. shows the gEii shot and killed the physician and then committed suicide as the result of insane jealousy. Hall HuildliiB Saturday, and evidence ROME — The Pope received Bishop Thomas Bonacum, of Lincoln, NqJj. The Pope said the conduct of American Catholics is a source of great conluct of American Catholics is a source of great consolation to him. BATON ROUGE, La. — Democratic Congressman-elect George K. Favrot was indicted on a charge of murdering Dr. Harry Aldflch. r: W f m M * S m