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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 5, 1899)
THE OMAHA DAILY BEEi StrSDAY , PEBBUAUY 5 , 1809 , Tinipp i TIP r nriv i Tiinv TABLLS ARt tlVL A TURN flaw Sensation Sprung ID the Boaid of Edncatioa Investigation. ACCUSER NOW BECOMES THE ACCUSED Vnn KIMcr ClinrRcil vllli Itclnir In on n Conl Contract nnil FtirnliililiiR ( liu SrliooU with 1'anr Material , Member J. E. Van GJWcr of tie Board of Education hw had hl turn In charging his fellow moenbore on the board with corrup tion and receiving bribes. The talriea have turned , -however , and now Member Van Glider Is to bo called to account for delin quencies ot another kind , but just as e rl- ous. At Monday night's meeting of the board , in all probabllltly , Van Glldor will bo called upon "to explain the charges. It he fails. It Is very likely that another Inves tigation of a public character will be in order. In a 'word Member V&n Ollder Is accused of using his ptwl.lon to secure an Indirect contract for. furnishing the public schools ot Omaha with coal , of foisting ocal ot'o , qual ity Inferior to tbo kind required by < ontraot , and of reaping the benefits In dollars and cents that reunited , The Investigating committee Hayward , Blajck and Teal which examined Into the charges filed by Van dlMer , has also In vestigated thooo ngaln&l Van Ollder , nl- "though the matter has been kept very quiet. Such evidence is reported to .havo accumu lated to substantiate the accusations ngolnst Van Gilder that he is to be called upon for a.n explanation. If ho cannot explain away tSio charges , Jio Isto bo called to account In a public Investigation. Conl front Vnn Olhlcr'n Ynriln. Tbo alleged corrupt coal deal itook place In the nckool year of 1S97-189S , which ex tends from the middle of oao year to the middle of thd other. In the fall of 1S97 Karr & Davldsoa wxro ; awarded 1-ho contract for furnishing "the " public schools with coal during the year. This contract provided that tbo coal should T > o of a specified qual ity. If the coal was not of this quality It was to bo rejected and the contract for feited. During the wtntwr of 1S07 nnd 1893 Karr Sj Davidson supplied -the public schools with nil the coal that was needed. There voro numerous complaints from school janitors that the cool was not of the re quired quality. All the coal , however , had passed the Inspection of t'he custodian of supplies and -was pronounced , satisfactory. Consequently no investigation waa held. Evld-enco has been unearthed now , .which goes to provo that this ccal was of inferior quality. Van Glider's conacotlon with this coal ( leal was disclosed by Investigation. It was ( learned that the coal which Karr & David- eon supplied to the public schools was se cured and bought from Van Gilder & DoollUle , of which firm School Board Mcna- Ijor Van Glider is a member. Van Gilder & Dcollttlo bought this coal from the Oraaba Coil , Coke and Lkno company , which In turn bought It from n wholesaler. Thl * Information Is said to have been es- tkbUtihcd as true beyond a doubt by the investigating committee. The books of the Omaha Coal , Coke nnd Lime company have been examined and show the sales. The tooka of the Knrr & Davidson company , whltih firm recently dissolved partnership , are Bald to show the transaction by which the coal passed from Van Glider & Doollttlo to Karr'fi Davlrfson. These deals have also been testified to by members ot these 'firms , it Is eald. ; - It cannot bo learned as yet whether or not Van Glider & Doollttlo succeeded In mak ing any profit on the transaction whereby Mao co.il was turned over from the Omaha Coal , Coke and Llmo company eo Karr & Davldcon. There la evlaonco to show , how ever , that a p/oflt waa made upon the coal us delivered equal to the difference between - twoon tiho price of the Inferior coal that was"supplied by Karr & Davidson and the contract price paid by the Board of Educa tion for a.coal of superior quality. Driver Tell * the Story. It Is stated tbat the Investigating com mittee has the testimony bearing on this point from a driver who conveyed some of this coal from cars to the public schools. Ho swears that the coal waa of quality that was far Inferior to that demanded by tbo contract ; tbat he was directed to fill his wagon about two-thirds full with this inferior coal and the other third , or the top layer of coal , was ot a quality demanded by tbo Board ot Education in Its contract. This load was carried to the scales and weighed In the presence of the Board of Education custodian of supplies. Besides seeing that the weight of the load was proper , this cus todian also examined the coal , but he only examined the top layer , going on the sup position that the coal was the same througti the entire load. In this way It is said that between forty nnd fifty carloads of inferior coal wore de livered to the public schools of the city during the school year of 1S97 and 1S9S. Each caiload amounted to about twenty tons ot ' / 1 X' ' coal. Expert coal dealers have informed the Investigating committee that the 1,000 tons of coal so furnished were worth all the way from 30 to SO cents a ton less tlian the teal that was required by the contract CATAIUUI OP STOMACH. A Pleninnt , Simple , but Hnfe and Ef fectual Cure for It. Catarrh of the stomach has long been con- eldered tbe next thing to Incurable. The usual eymptoms are a full or bloating Ben- gallon after eating , accompanied sometimes with MUT or watery risings , n formation of piaes , caualng pressure on tbe heart and luces and difficult breathing , headaches , flckla appetite , nervousness end a general played out , languid feeling. There Is often a foul taato In the mouth , oofclid tongue , and if tbe interior of the vtomach could bo cecn it would show a ( lltay , Inflamed condition. The cure ot < hls common and obstinate trouble Is found In a treatment which caueea the food to be readily , tboroushly digested before it has ttm to ferment and Irrlrtato the llcato mucous curfacra of the stomach. To secure a vrompt and healthy digestion la the one necessary thins to do , and when normal digestion Is secured the catarr al condition will have disappeared. According to Dr. Horlanaon th safc-st and bttt treatment ia to use after each meal & tablet , composed of DIatase , Aseptic P p > sin , x llttlo Nur , Qolden Beat and fruit ootdj. These tablets can now bo found ot all < lrui ctores under the narao of Stuart's Dy p pla T blet , and not belns a patent mtdlolnt , can bo ueJ with perfect safety and Mauranco that healthy appetite and tHorouch dlgetlon will follow their regular use after meals. Mr. N. J. Dooher of 2710 Dearborn otrett Chicago , III. , writes ; "Cttirrh U a. local condition rcsultinc from a inflected cold lu the head , whereby the llnluc membraiw of tta nose becomt * Inflamed and th poison otts discharge therefrom , pasting backward into 4he > throat , reaches the * tom&ch , thu producing catarrh of the etomucb. Medics nuthorltlfi prescribed for m for tfar > year * far catarrh ot rtomtch without cure , but to. day I < un the hippteat of m u after using only one box of Stuart's Dyiptptfa Tablet ] . I cannot Cud appropriate words to express my foot feellnc. I have found fleeb , appe ttto az > 4 Bound rest from their use. " Btutrt'i Dyspepsia Tsbleti la thd Eite t preparation aa well aa the aimplen an < l mcut convenient remedy for any farui-uf la- daestk ! > n. catarrh of otomach , bllllouaneoa , aour stocn.cn , heartburn and bloitins utter eceala. Send for little book , mailed free , on atcm- cb troublea , by addretitcs Stuart Co Mir- tall , Mtrh Tb Ublola tan be found at ail which the Bourd of Education entered Into with Karr & DavUton. This U the case ni made out before the Inrettlgatlng committee 4t the board. If there remained any doubt In the minds ot the committee as to the truth of the RCnn- dalous transactions zet forth. It was dispelled yesterday afternoon whllo the committee was in session nnd Investigating the charges preferred by Van Glider agalnit other mem bers of the board. In tbe middle of this session Chairman Itnj-vvrntl of the committee \vaji called to the telephone. He returned nnd catling out the remaining members of the committee was In consultation with them for some time. Later the committee reconvened and Went on with Its business as It nothing has tians- splred In the Interim. When Chairman Hayward was called , how ever , it was to listen to a mcssngc that one ot the Important vltnessca In the coal ca e bad been offered $50 to Icavo the city. The money was to bo furnished by ono of the parties who figures prominently in the case. The firm of Karr & Davidson has recently dissolved , on account ot dissensions between the partners , It Is said. One of the firm la C. II. Davidson ; the other is Myron D. Karr , city councilman. OM3 IXVKSTIOATIO.V IS CONCLUDED. vrltli Evidence In the Al- CrookcilnenM In IlooU llcnl. The committee which haa been Investigat ing the charges preferred by Member Van Glider azatnst sorno of his fellow members on the board completed Its labors yesterday afternoon. This session again proved to be dovold ot Interest to tbo subtle and but three or four spectators wcro present. It was equally as unscnsatlonal ns the Brat meeting of the committee on Friday night. Agent Wedgwood of the American Book company was practically the only witness , and the taking of his testimony took up al most nil of the meeting. He was called In defense and was employed to refute the charge that the city Is being beaten by the company In the price pnld for Us books. A goodly portion of his testimony was also In relation to the question whether or not the book company Is a trust. Agent Wedgwood declared that tbe Amer ican Book company is not a trust , but a stock company or corporation. There is no place. In his territory ot Utah , Nebraska , Wyoming and Colorado where nny other book company may not enter Us books In competition. Slnco tbo organization of tbe company , however , the various publishing companies have practically agreed upon a rate of exchange for old books , while here tofore companies frequently exchanged new books for old on even terms. The book companies , however , had never combined on n price for books. The result of whatever agreements have been made as stated has been to reduce the price. The witness said that the company has never given a cent nor offered it for the vote or influence of nny member of the Board of Education. AH the agent's work in Omaha and elsewhere consisted of solici tation and explanation ot the merits ot hie books. "Besides that , I try to conduct myself seas as to make the board members think I am a pretty seed fellow , " continued Mr. Wedg wood. "That they would rather favor mo than any one else. " On cross-examination Agent Wedgwood said that his company has been organized under the laws of New Jersey. "The corporation state where almost all trusts are organized ? " ho was asked. "I never heard It called that , " ho an swered. The witness atood pat on his previous dec laration that the American Dock company Is not a trust , that Its officers and directors are not Interested In other publishing houses and that there is no compact between it and other publishing houses. After being organized , however , the company bought out other publishing companies. "As in the formation of other trusts , did not the stockholders of the companies which sold out buy stock In the now company , and were not some of them chosen as dlrec- ' tors ? " The word trust riled the witness and he exclaimed : "That Is Insulting , impertinent and false and not becoming to a gentleman. " With -the word trust stricken out , the witness answered la the negative. Some time was spent In trying to prove thai the company Is a trust without any marked BUCCCM3. "What's the object of this questioning ? " broke in Commltteeman Black. ' "If the American Book company Is a trust it cannot legally do business In this state and nny contract It makes It a nullity , " answered Attorney D Bord. Returning again to the wltnosa , the attorney asked : "Did you say -to Captain James A. Bowen , editor of the lland-McNally geography , when he was here at the time the board was selecting geographies : 'The majority of those d n fellows will vote for my book becAussthey have to ? ' " "I never did , " -was the answer. "Captain Boweu said that there waa no use of tryIng - Ing to set his book * adopted In Omaha and I told him I had ua cinch and he had better stay. " School Board Member Thomas was re called to the stand by Van Gilder. Ho was asked to produce the stub from which the W Moore check had T > een torn. He said that It had probably been destroyed. Ha was also asked for the statement of elec tion expenses that had 'been presented iy Moore. That , also , had been destroyed. "Did you send It to the Amcrlcin Book company , " asked Vnn Glider's attorney. "I did not.1 * responded Thomas. , and with some heat he continued , "Ask your further questions decently. " Member Thomas left the stand after mak ing a alight correction In his testimony as reported by The Bee. He said : "The Bee stated In connection with last night's proceedings that I told Hess that he might use the Moore check as he dcslrej. What I did tell Hess was this , he could not use the chock to coerce , blackmail or force Mcor to resign , but otherwise he might say anything about it that he wished. " This completed tbo Investigation , All the testimony 'has ' been taken in shorthand and will bo re-exainlned by the committee. Con sequently it Is not expected tbat any decl- elon will be reported at tomorrow night's meeting of the Board of Education. CLEANING THE CITY STREETS Engineer Itoneiriitor Will Continue WorU in LonR n ( lie Appro priation Land. A couple of gangs of men were at work upon the ztreets yesterday clearing away the snow lelt 'behind by the snow flurries of the last week or so. Tbe money for thla purpose Is being provided out of tbe appro priation made n short time agoby the council for street cleaning , "We are doing now what we should bo allowed to do im mediately after every snow etorm , " says Chairman Hoiewater of the Board of Public Works. "It the snow is cleaned away at once , tbe cost of cleaning the streets would bo much less than if It Is allowed to melt and freere , and moreover there would bo no such filthy depdslU in the streets , over which so much complaint was made this winter. " Vnlon Tobacco Company ALBANV , N. Y. , Fob. 4. The Union To bacco Company of America , New York City , today flloj with the secretary of state a certificate of Increase of capital from $19- 350.000 to S2OOO.QOO. The capital Is divided Into { 12.000,000 common and $12,000,000 pre ferred stock ; the preferred stock-at $ per cent , noncumulitlve dividend. This com pany was incorporated few days ofo by the consolidation ot the Vnlon Tobacco and the Nona Amtilcan Commercial companies. MOISE CASE BEFORE- SCOTT Charge that Names to Application for Liquor Llcenso Wera Forgeries. TESTIMONY OF EXPERTS IS NOT ALLOWED To rncllltntc I'rcllntlnnrlon for nn Appeal , Further Hearing Goon Over Vnttl Friday. Mayor Moores , Chlet of Police "White , Clerk Davis of < the Fire and Police commls- slon end the city attorney were tied up In Judge Scott's court for a second day la the ? hearing of the Motso mandamus CAC. As the logical result of the way the case turned out the day previous the burden at proof was shouldered by the respondents &nd Mr. Gonnell put on tbo stand as an ex pert to testify as tothe several forgeries o n-amcj on the Molse petition. Richard Car rier , who for 3 ears -has been the assistant cashier of the Omaha National hank. Mr. Carrier never got any chance to testify. Wright objected on the ground that no protest h 4 been filed against "the " charac ter of the petition in time and because , the answer of the respondents , said he , virtually recognized the petition as good on Its face. This gave the court a chance to philoso phize considerably on the various questions Involved. Judge Scott said a public officer must j.ct In good faith and If he would favor ono man at the expense of another liU actions generally would bo questionable. Mr. Connell reiterated bis position that the board could refuse to Issue a license for eauso and In that event Itwould not bo subject to review and mandamus could not He to compel it to Issue a license against Its honest judgment It the applicant had the same right as a protcstant , the proper procedure would bo on appeal. As to the tlms In which objections are to bo made , the petition lies "ttormant for two wocks and under the law the board cannot consider It until after the tire weeks have passed. The hoard's sworn duty Is to examlno all the records and to refuse to grant a , license unless all the provisions of tie law have been compiled with. Mr. Connell said he could product * a collateral supreme court de cision to substantiate his contention. The relation to the board of the applicant for a license was practically the am as though be had. no standing If the law's provisions had not been compiled with In. every par ticular. He , the city attorney , would prove that the > petition did not have the requisite number of names , because ho would prove that several had been forged. Too Late to Attack Petition. After a great deal of reasoning , Judge Scott sustained Wright's objection , holding that the board should have disclosed to Molse & Co. In time the niture of the rea sons for refusing a license , such as the forgeries to the petition and the character of the saloon kept by Jack Norton under the Molae license of last year. By not so disclos ing the reasons , the court said , the board had not acted In good faith and had waived Its rights ; further , such reasons could not he kept locked up until too late for a hearing and then be Interposed to stop the mandamus process. "Jt is too late now , " said the Judge , "to attack the petition. " He also held that the answer of the board ehould have alleged when the fraud was dis covered , if the fraud had not been discov ered in time , but that It had failed to do so. Connell urged the point that a man could he prosecuted for violating the law If his license had been obtained In an irregular manner , as It would be held that he had never pos sessed any legal license at all. Besides , the community has rights as well as the In dividual , andthe , Board of Fire and Police Commissioners Is to protect the commu nity. Judge Scott finally admitted that Molse and Norton could not run two different es tablishments under ono license. Mr. Connell before the noon hour at tempted to get testimony from Sir. Carrier on the names of M. B. Sanders , J. H. Vn- plln and Kate Fisher , on the MoUe petltio.i , but in every Instance Wright repeated his technical objections and the court sustained them. He offered to show that L. J. Hender- ehot , an employe of Molse & Co. , had circu lated the petition for a , license and , without any authority whatever , had signed the three names mentioned , but he was met with the same objections and rulings. Ho took an ex ception every time , eo as to pave the way for an appeal to the supreme court. The same success attended the efforts of Mr. Connell to show by the testimony of William Lauer , one of the signers of the peti tion , that his name had been written with out his consent by another party. Court TfUU SIoiHC. City Attorney Connell felt constrained to talk plainly to Judge Scott during the " progress of tbo case In the "afternoon. He was endeavoring to prove by Stenographer Charles A. Potter of Judge Slabaugb's court the connection of Jack Norton with the Molse establishment and the character of Norton , from the district court records of the case In which Norton was tried for gambling and Phillips , the Wichita man who operated the "pin game , " was the principal witness against him. But not a bit of this kind of evidence could ho get In. Carroll C. Wright , representing Walter Molso and Harry Hayward , still pursued his tactics of objecting on the ground that there had been no written protest ftl d with the board within two weeks after the Molse application for a license had been made and the court as Invariably sustained Mr. Wright. "I take exception to the oft repeated state ments of the court , " said Mr. Connell , "In which he constantly assumes things not proven , namely , that the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners has not acted In good faith and has violated the law In not dis closing to MolBo & Co. Its reasons for not granting a license. There has not yet been a scintilla of evidence to prove this and it should be remembered that we are here as respondents to show cause and are entitled to make a showing in our own behalf - half , and yet we are not permitted to put In a bit of evidence to demonstrate to this court that the board acted in good faith. " Judge Scott had all along in his rulings acted upon the assumption that the board bad not proven that it bad acted In good faith and what Mr. Connell was seeking was an opportunity to ehow _ that It had had plenty of good reasons for refusing the license to Molse & Co , The objections against Molso & Co. , be said , were before the board long before any prosecution of Tom Dcnnlson was thought of , Prove * Sale of Liquor * . The retort of Judge- Scott to this was : "It may bo that a judge is to sit on a bench Ilka a knot on a log , but I propose to speak my mind. If you don't like it well , there is only 42,500 a year in this posi tion , gentlemen , and I can make a great de&l more practicing law , But while I am hero I will speak my mind ; nor will your Van Ettcns Ecare me , either : " Mr , Connell did ultimately succeed In ob taining eomo evidence of a. pointed character from Michael Douglas , a former bartender for Jack Norton. He showed from Douglas that Molsa & Co. had run a wholesale con cern at 214 , and -Jack Norton & ealoon at JIG , South Fourteenth street , and that they were two separate and dlstlnnt establish ments. , the saloon being completely parti tioned off from the store and there being two different entrances , both in front and in fha rear. Sometimes , said the witness , Nor ton exit his liquors from Molse & Co. , and Bometlmes ha procured them elsewhere. Judge Scott ruled out the questions re- ipaoUnv the class of people who frequented the Norton Mloon and there tbo case ended for the day- "Tho community has * ome rights la thl matter , " Mr. Connell urged against the pro fuse reasoning of tbo court In favor ot the Tights of the individuals. "Wly dMn't the community fllo a pro- lest , then ? " asked the judge. "Tho Board of I-'Ire nwl Police commis sioners represents the community , " replied Mr. Connell. Before adjournment for the day , Judge Scott said he would bo willing to have a stipulation the effect that Jt Is conceded fort the board had acted In good faith , en tered In the records , to facilitate the pre liminaries for an appeal , but as the attor neys could not reach an agreement a con tinuance was taken until I'rlday. UNDER FIRE BEFORE MANILA Private AVllIc DctnlU III * Hx While I'onltiK UN n Turret fur Spnnlxh Snldlcrn , Private C. F. Wllte , late of Company L , First Nebraska Volunteers , who bos resumed his position la the postoffice since bis re turn from the Philippines , remarked that lie felt rather shaky when waiting for his com pany to get under fire before Manila. In speaking ot his experiences lie said : "Our regiment was under Ore three days , August 3 , C and 13. We relieved each other by battalions Jn the trenches , occupying them for twenty-four hours at a time. I remember our first experience.Vo were stationed on the right and in front ot an old convent. From S o'clock In the morn ing until 10 at night we lay there listening to the whirr of the shells nnd the spiteful zip ot the Mauser bullets. It was the former tdat wo feared. The Spaniards had the range down , fine and dropped shells among ua with painful frequency. For tunately many of these had 110 effect , as they failed to explode. Private Lewis was the only man killed in our regiment. Ho was struck on. the aide of the head by a piece of shell. So terrific was the explosion that three others were knocked down , but escaped uninjured , except for the shock to their nerves. I remember that as we lay tboro behind the breastworks trying to get a little sleep that the majority ot ua found It Impossible to rest or remain inactive. Wo tried to pass tbo time by singing and tell ing stories , but It was. alow work. Colonel Colton and Captain Taylor wcro on the firing line constantly. Neither seemed to know what fear was. Toward 10 o'clock the fire of the enemy changed from a desultory popping to volleys. Our officers became moro active and the order to fire was given. Wo had 200 rounds each and I think the average number fired In the next lour nnd a half was about fifty-five. Finally Colonel Colton and Captain Taylor climbed to thereof roof of the old convent. They viewed the scene ns hcst they could and the order to cease firing was given. "The moment our men were given some thing to do they steadied down and I do not bollevo that any thought oC the danger to which he was exposed. It was the waiting for something to do that always nffectcd us. us."I was with the regiment only two days after the surrender of Manila. I was de tailed to work In tbe postoffice and while there had plenty to do. Then for a time I looked after the mall of the different reg iments , delivering It to orderlies. The of fice was In charge of an assistant superin tendent of the mall service from Oregon. " "How do you account for the unpopular ity of Colonel Stotzenburg ? " was asked. "The feeling against him was partially duo to the desire of the regiment to see Colonel Colton succeed Colonel Bratt. Colonel Colton Is an admirable officer and certainly has the confidence of his men. On the way 'back on the Ohio 1CS men our of 185 signed the petition to the governor to take steps to temove Stotzenburg. Another reason which I think liad more effect upon the men than any other was that whenever there was a promotion to be made , Colonel Stotzenburg invariably recommended on ot 'his university boys' for the place. If they had 'teen seasoned men we would not have cared so much , but somehow he did not care a snap for previous services In the Na tional guard. When Phil Russell was ap pointed lieutenant every man in the regi ment almost bad It In for him and had ho not been a first class fellow and a fine of ficer be would have had a bard time. As it is , I think be and Lieutenant James Cos- grove , formerly of Company F of Lincoln , are the best junior officers In the regiment. They are very popular with the men and can be depended on for any service , " PUPILS FOR .HIGH SCHOOL One Hundred YoniiKxtcra Have I'nimcil from the Grammar Grade * Dar- JiiST the La t Term. The winter term of the present school year commences on Monday. On that date and for two weeks following children will be received for admission Into the primary grades In all tbe schools In the city. This does not apply to the kindergartens , admis sion to which can be secured only at the opening ot the fall term. Superintendent Pearso says that the num ber of students who will enter the High school-on Monday Is 40 per cent higher than the usual number at this period of tbe year. These students number about 100 and will put the High school In a considerably more crowded condition than It Is nor- . "Tho crowded condition of the High school is unfortunate , but , like the man who has been long sick , we are used to It and wo jvill take care of the new scholars in some way , " says Superintendent Pearse. "The number that will be sent from the grammar schools to the High school is remarkable when you consider the number of absentees there have been this fall and winter owing to the smallpox scare , vaccination and the grip. " Councilman 3lerct > r'n Uefoime. 05IAHA , Feb. 4. To the Editor of The Bee : In the statements made to the city council by Andrew Koseuater at its last mooting , the essenceof his accusations against me was : First , an Insinuation that I was Implicated In securing a fraudulent count of the ballots In my election. As evi dence that 'there ' was no fraud In which anyone ono was Implicated , I submit tbe following ; State of Nebraska , Douglas county , as. ; Charles E. Winter , clerk of the county court of Douglas county , Nebraska , being first duly sworn , deposes and eays , tbat a contest against George- . Mercer was com menced in the county court of D > uilas county , Nebraska , for the office of council man , for the Ninth ward , city of Omaha , on ithe 10th day of May , 1897 ; that tbe Allots pertaining to the said office were produced in court and that I personally assisted in tbo counting of eald ballots In open court , together with the contestant , Fred W. Simpson ; that there were no material changes disclosed by the count and tbat on June 24 , 1S97 , said cent eft was , upon motion of contestant , dismissed at contestant's cost. CHARLES E. WINTER. Clerk of the Court ot Duglaa County , Nebraska. Subscribed In my presence and sworn to before me , thla 4th day of February , 1889. ( Seal. ) HAKnV NOTT , Notary Public. Tbe second , That I had used my otllco of councilman to ec-curo Immunity from tax ation which should justly and properly have be n levied. To prove that I was Justified in opposing tbe tax levy in questlcn I otter the following * OMAHA , Feb. \ . Councilman Mercer Dear Sir : In reference to your inquiry con cerning the proposed levy to cover the ono- balf cout of griding streets la Walnut Hill , which was rejected by the council , I will ay , aa I advlied you at the lime , that such proposed levy waa invalid and in the form la which it was propped its rejection by tbe c/vunrll wi&a proper. W , J. CONNELL. City Attorney , Ai the statements ot Mr. Rosewater were conspicuously publUhoJ by you , I will be grealty obliged if you will also publish this letter. Tours truly 0 , W. MERCEH , VICTIMIZES A POOR WIDOW Cadet Taylor , Posing 48 a Friend to Mrs. Dennis , Squanders H Money. - TURNS THE CASH INTO HIS WILDCAT BANK Lnlcr He L'nm tlic I'roeeiMl * ot n l.l Inanrnnpc 1'ollcy on AVortlttc * * Property I" "Which lie linn nil Interest. Among the fraudulent transactions with whljh Cadet Taylor , whose nomination for surveyor of customs Is pending in the United States senate , Is charged -the most pathetic Instance occurs In connection with his ad ministration ot the affairs ot Mrs. J. 1) ) . Dennis , widow of General Dennis , who died a. little over four years ago. Through trustIng - Ing too implicitly in the .honor or Taylor , who posed ns a sincere friend of the family , Mrs. Dennis lost nearly the entire amount of the insurance which eho received from the Northwestern Masonic AW association and to this day she has never been able to realise any material sum on a check for $8,500 $ which she entrusted to Taylor in his capacity as a friend and fellow Mason ot her deceased husband. $ General Dennis left no estate , l > ut he had life Insurance amounting to 410,000 , of which $ S,500 was held in the Northwestern Ma sonic Aid association. Immediately alter the funeral and whllo Mrs. Dennis was still overcome by her bereavement Cadet Taylor proffered his services to assist her to se cure the money on these policies. It was necessary to secure an agreement from her sons , who were In tbo cast and had an In terest in the policies , before the money could bo paid to Mrs. Dennis and this Tay lor offered to secure , Ills aid was thankfully accepted and early in the spring of 1SD3 the money was paid to Mrs. Dennis In this city. The proceeds of the $1,500 $ policy were ap plied to settle up tbo general's affairs ami the check for $3,500 $ from the Northwestern Masonic Aid association 'was turned over to Taylor with power of attorney. Mrs. Dennis never received the money for the check and It was not untH sometime after that she was able to secure anything to show what had been done with the money. Finally Tay lor gave her a pass book on the Globe Sav ings bank which showed that the amount had been deposited April 20 , 1895. Invented In AVorthlciiB Property. The money remained In the bant for some tlmq. when Taylor Invested the bulk of the amount in two mortgages given on property owned by various organizations practically Identical with his Globe Loan and Trust company. Ono mortgage for 52,500 was on a. lot nearly opposite 4io old street car barns on Lake street , the property of the Globe Loan and Tmst company. At that time tie mortgage was long past duo and the de linquent Interest amounted to belween $600 and $700. The taxes on the property were also unpaid for several years back , tbo lot was way below grade , and the building was out"of repairs. The other mortgage was for ? 2,200 on a lot on Fifteenth street , about three blocks south of Vlnton , which waa ownpd by the Llnwood Park Land company , another off-shoot of tlio Taylor establish ment. This mortgage had also run out some years before , but on Taylor's assur ance that both documents were gilt edged security , Mrs. Dennis took the mortgages and gave Taylor a check for $3,400. Turns Out "Well for Taylor. The Investment turned out to bo a prac tical presentation of the money to Taylor. The interest -was never kept up In either case , although by dint of repeated urging , Taylor occasionally paid her small sums on account. Finally Mrs. Dennis put the mat ter In the hands of Attorney W. E. DeUord , who brought foreclosure proceedings In the district court and also applied for a receiver for "tho properties. This induced Taylor to agree that it the proceedings wcro dropped ho would pay Mrs. Dennis the- rent ot $15 month received tor the South side properly , and apply tie rental of the Lake street building on the hack taxes. This was after the fiftal proceedings been delayed In every possible manner , and as a result , Mrs. Dennis has received about Jl.OOO from first to last In return for the check ror $8.500 that she trusted to Taylor's keeping. She still had a each balanca of about $2,000 In Taylor's bank when it collapsed , but was never able to get any part of it in her own possession. Neither Mrs. Dennis nor her attorney waa willing to discuss her Injury at this time , but llio facts are familiar to the members ot the Masonic fraternity and can be readily sub stantiated by these and tbo records of the district court. All this time Mrs. Dennis was In most straitened circumstances , which makes her mistreatment by Taylor the more resented by her friends. The re mains of her husband were brought to Omaha for burial and although she was left $10,000 In Insurance she has not been able to get enough money out of Taylor to pay for the cemetery plot. IMucka a Poor MlnUter. An almost equally pathetic "incident has arisen out of the misappropriation of the funds of the Mechanics' Loan & Building association , organized by Cadet Taylor for the benefit of himself as secretary and his bank. One ot the subscribers to shares was a poor Baptist minister , Rev. J. H. Shepherd of Blair. Mr. Shepherd paid In between $300 and $400 to the Taylor build ing association , none of vblch ho has ever been able to get back. His health broke down and he was compelled to remove to Chadron , Neb. , where , after a while , his health failed again and ho was left com pletely destitute. Ho wrote repeated letters to Taylor asking for a part of the money and many other letters to friends in Omaha imploring them to do something to get back his own. Finally so helpless did he become that not long ago a collection was taken up among the Baptist ministers of the state to assist Rev. Shepherd in bis precarious condition. The IrrlKatlou Ditch Swindle. Another of the swindling schemes put Into operation by the Taylor outfit In conneuilon -with the Globe Loan and Trust company was under the name of the Yellowstone Park Land and Irrigation association , formed In the summer of 1891. It purported to have a capital of $1,000,000 ° , with 1500,000 paid In and to be tacked , not only by the Globe and its officers , but also by wealthy eastern capitalists. On solicitation by Taylor and other mem bers of the Glebe company , a number of working men and farmers living In Omaha , South Omaha and western Iowa , wcro in duced to mnko a contract with the Irriga tion , association by which , In consideration of payments varying from $100 to 5SOO , they were to itake up land In the Greole/ farm colony in the Big Horn basin in Wyoming and -to receive the benefits of the big and expensive ditch which the Irrigation associa tion contracted to complct and operate. Theceptlflcates _ of stock which constituted the contract , provide that each share should entitle the holder to tbo perpetual use during each year of water from the G rev ley Colony ditch , the annual charges for main tenance and repairs to be not leas than 15 cents nor moro than CO cents per acre yearly. Some of the purchasers were given guarantee * that the ditch would be finished by May of the following year. Cadet Tnylor There In I'l-mi * ! , The first cash payment for which receipts were issued , included transportation for one person to tlie farm In Wyoming and return. This trip waa for the purpose of satisfying the purchasers that the scheme was on in earnest. At this first visit of Inspection BEFORE DURING AFTER La Grippe - * TRY Tito World Famous Tonla fOR BODY AND DRAIN Slnco 1S63 , Endorsed by Medical Faculty immediate lasting- efficacious agreeable Sold at All Druggists Everywhere Avoid Substitutes the victims were shown men nnd .cans at work upon the Irrigation ditch. Upon their relurn to Omahn many sold out their busi ness nnd removed with their families to Wyoming. Cadet Taylor nnd the president of his bank , who was nlso president ot tbe Irrigation association , accompanlo-1 some ot the colonists to Wyoming. On arrival they found that the people who h.vl bo * > n digging the ditch bad discovered the fraud nnd refused to continue the work t ntll money was put up to pay them , Ot course the mqnoy was never put up. The ditch was never completed. The work whlc'i ' was dona has never been paid for. The company never had nny $500,000 of paid up capital nnd the poor victims who had removed their families to the land , which was uwli-ss without Irrigation , lost all that thcj- had put up nnd were compelled to wor' : their way back to Omaha as best they could. Many ot them hnve not been able to get back yet. Among some of the victims were Ira Waters nnd William , Tracey , who formerly resided near Panllllon , ex-Policeman Cock- erell of South Omaha and George B. Kollur nnd C. R. Heflln of Omaha. About thirty families in all arc said to have boon swindled by this concern. POSTPONED FOR ONE WEEK Ilnllronil Otllclnlx'ot Heady < < > Meet CHy Council oik < hc Sixteenth Street Viaduct Mntter. Another conference on the matter ot the now Sixteenth street viaduct waa held In the council chamber ot the city hall yester- dey afternoon. Those present were Councilmen - men Durkley , Blngham and Lob k , City Comptroller Westberg , City Engineer nose- water , W. R. Kelly ot the Union Pacific and J. B. Kelby of the Burlington. After an hour consumed in talking about the needs of the viaduct and the Importance of Its early construction an adjournment waa taken until next Saturday when the talk will bo resumed. Mr. Kelly catd the Union Pacific was de layed In reaching a conclusion owing to the prolonged absence of Mr. Hurt , but now that that official had returned Mr. Kelly said ho would take up the project with him at once , and promised a definite answer within a few days. Mr. Kelby for the Burlington said ho would be ready to make a report In a few dnys ana , upon this representation It was agreed to meet next Saturday when It Is expected there will bo a show down. The question ot unsettled claims by the city against these two railroads for repairs to the viaducts now In existence was also taken up and dtscused and the attorneys of the two roads with City Attorney Connell will try to get together shortly to pass upon the various Items. PLUMBING BILLS QUESTIONED Ilonnl of I'ulillcVorl ; in Invontlcntc Prices CIiurKt'iL Uy Fldenatriuk for 'Work at Jail. The Board of Public Works will bold a special meeting Monday morning to con sider the bills of Plumber Fltzpatrlck for the plumbing ho installed in the city jail. According to the contract , the cost of the plumbing would net him about $3,720. In addition to thl amount , however , he has put In a bill for extras , for $1,100 , which Is de clared to be excessive. The plumbing Inspector specter has refused to approve the latter bill. "There Is no doubt that this bill for ex tras Is altogether too high , " says Building Inspector Butler , who is a member of ho Board of Public Works. "That bill Is ample- to pay the entire cost of the work of In stalling the fixtures and the Dxturea them selves do not by any means cost $3,700. The bills wHl bo considerably cut down before they are allowed. " They Want nil Old Soldier. At . meeting of Command No. 1 , Union Veterans' union , Department of Nebraska , Friday evening , the- following resolutions were unanimously adopted : Whereas , There are honorable old soldiers aspirants to the United States senatorshlp before the legislature of Nebraska and , be lieving that ono who has served his coun try faithfully la times of war omd peace should have the support In preference- all others ; therefore , Resolved. By Vicksburg Command No. 1 , Union Veterans' union , that wo request the delegation of Douglas county to support and ratu fir an old soldier for United States senator ; and further , Resolved , That all old soldiers throughout the statp be requested to use their Influence with tbo representatives In the legislature to vote for an old soldier for senator. The Mont Jleiunrlnl > I < " Remedy of tlie Aite for all who are WrnU , Nrrvuux nuil Hun DUIVII Cimtx NotlInc | to Try , If You Hnve Any of ( lie Following Seuil Tour Nniuu mill Ai- for n Frvc Trliil 1'nckiiKr , Do you feel cenerally miserable , or suf fer with a thousand nnd one Indescribable bad feelings , bath mental anil physical , amonsr them Ipw spirits , nervousness , weariness. llfelessuM-H , wenkneps , itlzzlneeu feelings of fullness or bloating after eating , or sense of "Eoncneas" or cmptlneBH of stomach in morning1 , ttesh soft and lacking firmness , headache , blurring of eyesight , gpccks floating before the eyes nervous Irritability , poor memory , chilliness , alter nating with hot Hushes , lassltuil- , throb bing , Burgrllnff or rumbling- sensation In bowels , with heat and nipping pains oc casionally , palpitation of heart , short breath on exertion , ulow circulation of blood , cold feet , pain nnd oppression In cheat and buck , pain around the loins , ochlnfr and wearlnet > H of the lower llmbrf , rirowufnebs after meals , but n'rvoua wakefulness - fulness at night , Jan-a'or In the. morning , and a. constant feeling of dread an it uomethlnK awful was about to happen ? If you have any or all of these syinptoma send your name und addreaa to Hayes & Coon , S17 Hull Did ? . , Detroit. Mich. , and they will gladly bend you a free trlul liox of Dr. Dix Tonic Tablets , The most per fect remedy known. You will be delighted with them pnd they may nave your life. They are put up In tablet form , pleasant to take and easy directions , which , If you follow , will positively and effectually cure In a short time , no matter how bad you may be , or , It you prefer , you can pet a full elzed box at your druggists for only 50 cents. Wo don t as ) ; you to take our word for what Dr Dix Tonic Tablets will do send for the free packat ; * and irlve thnm a Us' , t'u minuted after you take the first tablet ) ou will feel better. A Crimson Sky Is beautiful to behold , "When eccn through a tlitn glasd containing Krug Cabinet Lager Beer It nppcnrs to butter advantage. Hut ono small KliiPsful two or three times a day Is sulliclcnt to build up tno fnill so all skies have Uio crimson appearance. It'H u quick builder for the indisposed and a < 3 a stimulant and. tonic no other ts tnoro wholesome. KUIU KH no nmiwiNG co. , Tel. 420. 1007 Jackson Street. CHICAGO ( ireaf Rocklsland Imife - Best Dining Car Service. Only Depot in Chicago on the Elevated Lee GET THE CBXDINE Swift's Premium Fnt np In 1-ponnd Cnrtonn Only. Never Sold In Italic- * Pare Pnrk Dcllcloaily Scuoned. The Ucat That Money Can Boy. WHEN OTHERS PAIL CONSPL * DOCTOR Searles & Searlea SPECIALISTS. We uccr rally treat all NERVOUI , CHRONIC AM ) PRIVATE ) UUeaieu of men anil vronien. WEAK MEN SYPHILIS BEXUALLT. eur d far llfo. Night KmUslorj. Loit Manhood , Hr < fils ° , Stricture. < Verleoc Pllw. ,1. ? ' a ° Srrhia Fistula , Ol mnd t. RwT Syph * Ulcers , Dltbetoi. Bright' ! Olsui * cured CONSULTATION FREE , Stricture Blait by new method without pain or cuttln * , Cull on or addreia with itamp. Tr tminl by mall. DR. SEARLES & SEARLES Hg. 210 The dark daylight room of the I3ee Building , lighted by prysmatic lights , located on the Second Floor A good location for any business This room will be rented for $1522 a month if taken by February J5lh Janitor service , heat and light is included- elevator night and day See R C Peters & Co. , Bee Building.