Nebraska Newspapers

    ' x - e-
DAKOTA
COUNTY HERALD.
MOTTO-AU The News When It Is Hcwi,
DAKOTA CITY, NEBRASKA, FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 1911.
NO. 43.
VOL.19. ' .
(a a
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SLEUTHS DOG FUNK
HARVESTER COMPANY'S MANA.
QER 8AY8 HE IS BEING CON
STANTLY SHADOWED.
GETS THREATS OVER PHONE
Declares Detectives Haunt His 8tep
Even Into Committee Room at
Washington Repeats His 8prlng
field (III.) Testimony.
Washington. A decided sensation
was caused In the Lorlmer Investiga
tion when Clarence S. Funk, whose
story precipitated the present In
quiry, disclosed Just before leaving
tho otand that since he told the story
to the Helm committee he bad been
followed day and night by prlvato de
tectives which ho Intimated woro em
ployed by Edward Hlnes, the Chicago
millionaire lumberman.
Funk also said ho had received
many threats over the telophone and
In anonymous letters, and It there
upon developed that tho committee
of the United States which Is con
ducting the Investigation has been
annoyed by similar sinister warnings.
Consternation was caused among
tho members of tho committee when
Mr. Funk declared, upon cross-examination,
that the detectives who had
been haunting bis footsteps had fol
lowed him to the committee room and
had takon tholr places among the
spectators.
Mr. Funk admitted that he knew
the name of one of the detectives and
could produce him before tho com
mittee. Tho Investigation was brought
to a temporary halt while the commit
tee retired and had a consultation
with the witness. This conference
lasted an hour, during which tlmo Mr.
Funk made an effort to find the de
tective. Falling In this, tho hearing
adjourned, and it is expected that the
detective will be summoned beforo
tho committee.
Mr. Funk's Interesting disclosure
came after a long and rather dull ses
sion In which ho repeated the testi
mony he gave the Helm committee
at Springfield nnd told again the story
of how Edward Hlnes approached him
and asked him to contribute $10,000
to help make up the fund of $100,000
spent In getting Lorlmer elected by
the Illinois assembly.
Mr. Funk did not remember men
tioning the names of Roger Sullivan
and one of the Weyerhausers to H.
H. Kohlsaat, to whom he related his
conversation with Hinea.
ALASKA COAL CLAIMS VOID
Cunningham Filings Are Dlsallowea
by Land Commissioner Sanctioned
by Secretary of Interior Fisher.
Washington. Tho famous Cunning
ham Alaskan coal land claims, through
which It has been alleged that tho
Morgan-Guggenheim syndicato planned
to extend Its vast interests in Alaska
and to control one of tho most valu
able coal fields In tho world, were
finally disallowed by the department
of the Interior.
Walter" L. Fisher, secretary of the
interior, having approved the depart
ment's decision, as handed down by
Fred Dennett, commissioner of the
land office, tho last door is believed
to have been closed to tho Cunning
ham claimants. Tholr attorneys have
threatened an appeal to the United
States Supremo court, but such an
appeal can be based only on some
point of law Involved and not on
the findings of fact as announced by
the department.
The Cunningham claims have been
in the public eye longor than two
years. They brought about the Bal-Hnger-PInchot
investigation by con
gress and the dismissal from tho pub
lic service of Chief Forester GIfford
Plnchot, Louis It. Glavls, a chief of
field division In the land office, and
several minor officials, noth Plnchot
and Glavls were dismissed for Insub
ordination Incident to their attacks on
former Secretary Balllnger.
ROOT AMENDMENT IS LOST
Provision Proposing to Change Paper
Section In Reciprocity Bill
Defeated in Senate.
Washington. Without even tho for
mality of a record vote the Root
amendment to the reciprocity bill
passed into oblivion.
In the first test of strongth on reci
procity the senate defeated tho paper
trust proposal by a viva voce vote. A
few scattering nyes, followed by a
roar of noes, told the story.
President Taft expressed great sat
isfaction over tho result. Tho friends
of reciprocity accept tho result as a
plain argury of what is to follow when
the vote is taken. Scores of amend
ments await to be disposed of yet,
and there are still more .to bo intro
duced. Thoy run tho entire gamut of
tariff revision. Out all amendments
will be resolutely voted down.
6,000 Cattle Are Drowned.
Grand Junction, Colo. Bursting of &
reservoir containing 6,000 acres foot
of water caused damage of $100,000.
Fivo thousand cattlo wero drowned
and several bridges wo r swept away.
Thomas Dwyor telophrred warnings
to ranchers below.
Arrested, Kills Hersolf.
Wheeling, W. Va. Placed under ar
rest at her home, Mrs. Minnie Mc
Drldo swallowed carbolic acid, hurled
the bottle at a policeman's her ' and
died within a few minute'
THERE ARE
. fffoi S,
We May 8ee the Coronation of a New Ruler In Our Own Country 8ome
Time.
RAIL MERGE UPHELD
COMBINATION OF UNION AND
SOUTHERN PACIFIC RAILROADS
DECIDED TO BE LEGAL.
JUDGE HOOK FAILS TO AGREE
In Dissenting Opinion Jurist Declares
the Government's Petition to Be
Well Founded and It Should Have
Been Granted.
St. Louis. The United States cir
cuit court of the eighth district hand
ed down an opinion that tho purchase
of the Southern Pacific railroad by the
Union Paclfio "did not amount to a
direct and substantial restraint of
either Interstate or International com
merce." The recent decision of tho
United States Supreme court in tho
Standard Oil caso was cited among
others by Judge Elmer B. Adams, who
wrote the majority opinion. Supreme
Court Justice Willis Van Do Vuuler,
while a circuit Judge of tho eighth
district, participated in tho hearing,
deliberation and decision in the caso
and concurred in tho opinion. Judge
William C. Hook filed a dissenting
opinion.
"Our conclusion," said Judge Adams,
"Is that, all tho facts of tho case, con-
siderod in their natural, reasonable
and practical aspect, and given their
appropriate relative signification, do
not mako tho Union Pacific a substan
tial competitor for transcontinental
business with tho Southern Pacific In
or prior to tho year 1901.
"Certainly tho desire to appropriate
the trifling business done by tho
Southern Pacific on tho minor lines
or to suppress competition of traffic
which was in the aggregate of such
small proportions could not have been
tho inspiration of the vast outlay in
volved in the purchase of tho Hunt
ington stock. It did not amount to a
direct and substantial restraint of
either interstate or international com
merce This is not sufficient to bring
It within tho condemnation of the anti
trust law."
Tho court held also that the invest
ment of the Harriman Hnc3 in the
Santa Fo was not for acquiring con
trol, and that If it was for obtaining
Inside Information concerning tho op
eration of a great competitor they
chose a lawful way for doing it
"Tho conclusions of fact dispose of
this case," tho conclusion concluded,
"without tho necessity of determining
the question much debated In brief
ind argument whether securing con
trol of tho Southern Pacific company
by purchasing stock of Individual own
rs could in any view of the caso have
sontravenod the anti-trust law.
"On tho facts of this case, with all
their reasonable and fair Inferences,
we conclude that tho government has
failed to substantiate the averments
of ltB hill.
"The bill must bo dismissed and a
lecree will bd entered t that effect"
Orphans' Home Dedicated.
La Grange, 111. About 10,000
Masons attendod tho dedication
Orphans' homo hero. Tho ceremony
was conducted on tho front porch of
tho building by the Grand Lodge,
Most Worshipful Grand Master Al
bert B. Ashley officiating, with Uov.
William Whlto Wilson as grand ora
tor. The spectacular feature was the
parade, of which Georgo M. Moulton
was chief marshal, with Robert J.
Daly and It. C. Fletcher as assistants.
Indict 190 In Poll Frauds.
Wnukegan, 111. Overseer Wilbur
Glen Vollva and 189 other officers and
members of tho Christian church In
Zion wero Indicted at Zlon City,
charged with perpetrating election
frauds at tho Zion City elections April
6 and 18, Involving in part control of
tho church founded by tho lato John
Alexander Dowle. Two hundred wit
nesses woro heard. It is alleged that
Voliva and his co-workers In tho elec
tion brought morabers of tho church
from all parts of the United States to
voto.
OTHER CROWNS
BONAPARTE WIFE DIES
PRINCESS CLOTHILDE, WIDOW OF
"PLON-PON" EXPIRE8.
Since the Fall of the French Ehiplr
Sho Has Led the Life
of Nun.
Romo. Princess Clothildo Bona
part, imperial nun of the Bona
partes and widow of Prince Napoleon
Bonaparte, who was nicknamed "Plon
fion on account of his alleged cow
ardice during the Crimean war, died
at Montcalleri. Her son, Victor Na
poleon, pretender to the throne of
France, was at her bedside with Dow
ager Queen Margherlta of Italy and
Dowager Queen Maria Pia of Portu
gal. Tho princess was sixty-eight
years old and a member of Italy's
royal house.
Ever since the fall of the French
emplro Princess Clothllde had made
her homo in tho Chateau of Monca
Here, near Turin, which she has con
verted into an orphanago and Into a
hospital, and where sho led the life
of a Sister of Mercy, devoting herself
entirely to works of charity. Tho only
time that sho left Moncallero was
when her husband, who had treated
her with such cruel neglect, lay dying
at homo and ho passod nway with his
head on her shoulder, completely re
conciled. Sho has never appeared at any court
functions slnco tho meinorab!n dav
when after tho proclamation of tho
republic at Paris she drove in full
stato, in an onen carrlaco and four.
with outriders, through tho streets of
Paris, and oven through tho turbulent
Faubourg St. Antoine, to take tho train
for Italy, all tho men doffing tholr hats
aa she passed in token of respect, her
departure presenting a striking con
trast to that of Empress Eugenie, who
fled in disguise under the care of her
American dontist, tho late Dr. Thomas
Evans.
ALBANIANS SLAIN BY TURKS
Army of 60,000 Massed Near Border
of Montenegro Crane Tells
of Horrors.
Vienna. Rellablo advices have
been received hero from Albania
that the situation thoro Is extremely
critical. Turkey has massod 50,000
troops within a day's march of tho
Montenegrin frontier.
Charles R. Crano of Chicago, who
has Just arrived at Vienna from Cet
tinjo after traversing Albania, de
scribes the conditions ns lntolorablo.
Tho Turks, ho says, aro devastating
whole districts, killing prisoners, refu
gee women and children, burning
houses and crops, and blowing up
churches. A largo body of Albanian
women and children Is caught be
tween two wings of tho Turkish army
and escape Is Impossible.
Mr. Crano adds that 25,000 women
and children havo fled to Montenegro
and aro starving there, tholr only
means of subsistence being boiled
grass and various roots thoy are able
to gather.
ILLINOIS POWER BILL LOST
House Members by Vote of 75 to 61
Defeat the Pet Measure of
Governor.
Springfield, 111. Lacking two votes
of the necessary 77, tho Deneon-John-son
waterway-water power bill was
defeated In the house. Tho voto was I
76 to 51, two short of a constitutional
majority.
Forty-Eight Hurt by Cars.
San Francisco. Forty-eight per
sons, nil delegates to tho International
Sunday School convention, now in ses
sion hero, woro injured in a series of
strePt car accidents. Many of tho in
jured wero from Toxns. It Is believed
none of tho number was seriously in
jured. Horseman Dies at Bement.
Bement, 111. Col. A. S. Burr, owner
of Thornton stock farm, ono of tho
best known horsemen of tho mlddlp
west, is dead.
INDICT LUMBER MEN
FEDERAL GRAND JURY INDICTS
FOURTEEN.
Officials of Organization Are Charge,
With Violating the 8reman Law
and Accused of Conspiracy.
Chicago. The special grand Jury In
the United States district court re
turned beforo Judgo Landls indict
ments against 14 secretaries and for
mer secretaries of wholcsalo and re
tail lumber dealers' associations in
tho western territory, charging a con
spiracy to restrain Interstate trade In
violation of the criminal provisions of
the Sherman aDtl-trust law.
Thoso indicted are:
Arthur S. Holmes, Dotrolt Mich.,
secretary of tho Michigan Rotall Lum
ber Dealers' association and editor of
tho Scout, a trade paper owned and
controlled by lumber dealers.
Georgo P. Sweet, also socrotary of
tho Michigan association.
Wlllard C. Hollls. Minneapolis, sec
retary of tho Northwestern Lumber
men's association.
Henry A. Gorsuch, Kansas City,
Mo., secretary of the Southwestern
Lumbermen's association
Bird Crltchfleld, Lincoln, Neb., sec
retary of tho Nebraska Lumber DeaV
ers' association.
E. E. Hall, also secretary of the Ne
braska association.
Harry C. Scearce, MooreBvlllo, Ind.,
secretary of the Retail Lumbor Deal
ers' association of Indiana.
H. H. Hemenway, Denver, Colo.,
secretary of the Colorado and Wyo
ming Lumber Dealers' association.
Louis I. Hellman, also secretary of
tho Colorado and Wyoming associa
tion. H. S. Adams, Chllllcothe, 0 secre
tary of the Union Association of Lum
ber Dealers, and also of tho Ohio As
sociation of Retail Lumber Dcalors.
B. N. Hayward, Columbus, O., also
secretary of tho Ohio association.
A. L. Porter, Spokane, Wash., secre
tary of tho Western Rotall Lumber
men's association.
R. P. Bransford, Jnlon City, Tenn.,
secretary of tho Rotall Lumbor Deal
ers' association of West Tennessee.
A. C. Rlghtor, Pittsburg, Pa., secre
tary of the Retail Lumbe Dealers' as
sociation of Pennsylvania.
Throe men escaped Indictment by
giving testimony beforo the grand
Jury, thereby wrapping themselves in
the cloak of immunity prescribed by
law. They are Paul Lachmund, Mil
waukee secretary of tho Wisconsin
Retail Lumbor Dealers' association:
George W. HntchklBH, Chicago, secre
tary of the Illinois Lumber and
Builders' Supply Dealers association,
and at present secretary of the secre
taries' burenu. and George Wilson
Jones, nlso secretary of tho Illinois
association and assistant secretary of
the secretaries bureau.
Each individual Is lndlctod on two
counts, tho first nlleging a conspiracy
among tho retail dealers to restrain
Interstate trado and commerco be
tween tho manufacturer and whole
saler and tho consumer, nnd tho sec
ond charging a conspiracy to suppress
nnd eliminate competition which or
darily should exist between whole
saler and manufacturer nnd tho re
tailor In supplying tho consumer.
SHERMAN AIDS IN RESCUE
Vice-President Assists In Dragging
Two Men From Beneath Over
turned Auto.
Washington. Vico-Prosldont Sher
man, ono of his secretaries and his
chauffeur Holed tho part of rescuers
In an automobllo ncldont between
Rockvillo nnd this city, dragging
two men from undcrneat n run
nbout that had toppled over an em
bankment, and convoying them to a
hospital in their own car.
William A, Kemper, an employo of
tho government printing omco, ono of
tho men Injured, Is suffering from In
ternal Injuries. His companion, Clif
ford, S. Burch, escaped with bruises
and cuts. The accident was duo to
Kemper trying to run around tho
Sherman car in a narrow stretch of
road.
AEROPLANE ON A RAMPAGE
Airship Starts as Aviator Tries to En
ter Seat Exciting Chase
Follows.
New York. A wild aeroplane
romped over tho aviation field
nt Garden City, L. I., for 20 minutes,
Injured four men and finally wrocked
Itself on an embankment
Andro Harport, an aviator, stepped
out of tho aoroplano whllo tho engine
was going at half speed to adjust a
rear plane. As ho tried to re-enter
tho seat tho aoroplano started and he
was thrown to tho ground.
It dragged him 200 feet and when ho
released his hold ho was badly
bruised. Half a dozen mechnnlcs
gavo cliaao and wero bowled over In
succession, three of them being cut
and bruised.
Balloon Is Lost in Sea.
Bremen, Germany. Ono of tho four
balloons which ascended at Paris fell
Into tho North sen near tho Island of
Julst of tho East Frisian group. A
vlolont storm prevailed. Two pontons
were aboard tho balloon.
Gas Blast Hurts Eight.
Eston Park, Colo. Tho Stanley ho
tel, built at a cost of $500,000, was
partly wrecked by an explosion of gao.
Eight persons woro Injured, ono seri
ously. None of tho guests woro Injured.
LUMBERMEN OBJEGI
NOT FAVORABLE TO THE WISHES
OF THE RAILROADS.
j HEARING GIVEN IN JULY
Transportation Lines Want Permis
sion to Increase Lumber Weight
on Carload Lota.
AH railroads doing business In Ne
braska have Joined In a requost to the
state railway commission for permis
sion to Increaso tho minimum weight
on lumbor in carload lots, It Is said
lumber dealers throughout the state
will protest against the desired per
mission. Tho railway commission will hold a
hearing July 18 for tho purpoBo of
hearing tho applicants and thoso who
doslre to protost. A formal notice of
tho hearing will bo issued to all con
cerned. Recently the commission re
ceived a letter from a Council Bluffs
lumber firm protesting against the
proposed Increaso In minimum
weight but at that tlmo no applica
tion was beforo the commission.
Tho rallroadB doslre to mako tho
minimum weight on lumbor tho samo
as now applies in interstate traffic
In Nebraska. If the desired permis
sion Ib given tho minimum weight on
cars less than thirty ftot which now
carry a minimum of 20,000 pounds,
will be lncrensed to 30,000 pounds;
enrs over thirty feet long and loss
than thirty-four feet, which now carry
a minimum of 24,000, will bo Incroased
to 30,000; enrs over thirty-four foot
which now enrry a minimum of 30,
000 pounds will take a minimum of
94,000 pounds.
Colored Vinegar Ruled Out.
Food Commissioner Jackson has
given notice to wholesalers and Job
bers that thoy must eoso to sell
colored distilled vinegi after August
1. This ruling of tho fox t. commission
er la based on an old law, ono passod
In tho year 1897. which says that all
vinegar shall be mado of fruit or grain
from which It purports to bo and
shall contain no artificial coloring.
Distilled vinegar is whlto when it Is
first elder vinegar and this la ruled
upon ns injurious.
Chance for Creditors.
Claimants having bills against tho
Farmors and Merchants Insurance
company havo six months lu which to
file tholr accounts, according to Re
ceiver Charles Knapp. Tho lattor ex
pects to apply to tho court within a
few days for permission to sell real
ostato owned by tho concern nt tho
tlmo It went under.
Boone County Appeals.
Boouo county has appealed to tho
supremo court from a Judgment ob
tained by four towns In tho county
for the return of half tho road tax col
lected on city proporty since 1883.
Agricultural Exposition.
Local men nro planning for tho
holding of an agricultural exposition
in this city next winter in connection
with tho meotings of organized agri
culture. It Is the Intention to havo
florists' products and an extensive
display of apples nnd other fruit in
connection with tho rest of tho expo
iltlon. Will Help the Guard.
Tho coming of Major Penn of tho
regular army to act as Instructor for
tho Nebraska national guard. It Is bo
lioved by many of tho officers, will ro
suit In much good to tho organization
in general.
Reformed Spelling.
Reformed spelling will bo recog
nized as correct, In the stato superin
tendent's department, and tochers us
ing reformed orthography will not bo
graded down or criticised, according
to a letter wrltton by Stnto Superin
tendent Crabtroo to E. Benjamin An
drows who la favorablo to roformed
(polling.
Elections Confirmed.
An order Issued by tho adjutnnt
general confirms tho olectlon of two
uow officers for Company 8, Second
rogiment, at Beavor City. First Sor
geant John Stovens waB olocted cap
tain and Sergeant James W. Axtoll
"hoson for second lloutonant.
First Regiment In Camp.
Adjutant General Phelps has been
spending eovoral days nt Blair, whero
ho wont with Company H of tho First
rogiment, on Its camp for target prac
tice. Tho company Is only a yoar old,
but was found by Gonral Pholps to
be in a good state of organization
nnd offlclonry. Tho Albion company
also hold target practlco last wcok.
Chance for Boys and Girls.
Under the direction of the stato su
perintendent's office a Btato poultry
raising contest for boys nnd girls is
to be undertaken In Nobrnska next
year. Tho samo plnn is to bo follow
ed as in tho cornrntslng and domestic
sclenco contests, which havo already
boon established. MIbs Anna V. Day,
assistant to Stato Superintendent
Crnbtreo, will have charge of tho poul
try contest nnd has betun reading up
on all subjects pertaining to tho rais
ing or healthy chickens and gottlng
more eggs
BOY8' CORN CONTEST.
Chance to Win a Prize and Honor at
Well.
To the Nebraska boy under IS
yearB of ago, growing the largest
yield of corn from one acre of Ne
braska land in 1911, $50; tho second,
$25; third, $20; fourth, $15; fifth, $10
and to tho sixth, seventh, eighth,
ninth, tonth and eleventh, $5 each.
Tlieso nro the prizes to bo given in
tho boys' ncro corn-growing contest
by tho stnto board of agriculture.
The entlro labor of preparing tho
ground, planting, cultivating nnd har
vesting of this ncro of corn Is to bo
porformed by tho contestants who
enter by recording tholr namos in tho
office of W. R. Mellor, secrotary, Lln
coin, not later than May 20.
Tho acre Is to be measured, husked
and welghod in tho presonco of two
disinterested freeholders, rosldents
of tho county in which tho ncro of
corn Is located. Tho commlttoo is to
forward affidavit as to weight and ro
qulromont of specifications In tills
contest to the secretary of tho stato
board of agriculture not lator than De
cember 1.
Tho contestant shall nio with the
secretary a full and dotatled account
of his method of performing tho work,
fertilizers used, if any; whothor bot
tom, hill or tnbla land, and tho char
acter or kind of soil on which tho
crop was grown; with an accurate
account of the cost of production,
rent of ground, cost of plowing, har
rowing, discing, planting, cultivation,
husking nnd overy feature of expense
In labor, seed, fertilizer, etc., based
on tho actual tlmo that entered Into
the production of this aero of corn.
On request prlzo wlnnors must for
ward a sample of ton oars of corn
grown to W. R. Mellor, secrotary,
Lincoln.
Commission Approves Schedule.
Changes In tho train schedules ot
tho Union Pacific railroad wero ap
proved by tho stato railway commls.
slon. Thoro woro no objections reg
istered ngalnst tho now tlmo card,
with tho exception of ono emanating
from tho Kenrnoy Commercial club.
Marking the Oregon Trail.
Activity In marking tho Orogon
trnll across tho stato Is not looked
for until ufler July 5, whon tho com
mission appointed by Governor Aid
rich to suporvlso tho work will meet
toj canvass bids submitted on tho
markers. A limit of $25 has "boon set
upon tho cost of each of tho markers,
nnd it has been intimated by tho
members of tho trail commission that
It would bo desirable to fall under
this amount. Automobllo clubs over
tho state have volunteered to lend
nsslatanco in tho marking of the trail
and preparations nro being made for
a number ot Interesting ovonts at tho
tlmo tho work boglns.
Tax Ferret Wants Job.
Assorting that ho would mnko no
nioro than ono man in a thousand
"sore," nnd that tho stnto of Nobrns
ka, should It employ him, would bo
surprised at tho amount of proporty
ho would uncover which Is now burled
from taxation, J. P. Wlttlnglll has
written a lettor to the state board of
assessment asking for employmont
horo as a "tax forret." Secrotary
Ilonry Seymour hns written tho Ken
tucky man that thoro Is no such posi
tion as ho speaks of in this state, and
thnt consequently ho cannot be glvon
employment horo.
Pioneer Returns for Visit.
John S. Gregory, now of Galveston,
Tox., nnd who was tho first lawyor,
the first county commissioner and
tho first member of tho legislature
from this county, arrived hero for a
visit with old friends and acquaint
ances. Mr. Gregory, who Is nearly
four score years old, had many inter
esting experiences to relato of early
days In this county.
Rate Hearing to Go Over.
Tho indications aro tho State Rail
way commission will postpone final
hearing o nrato classlllcatlon which
was sot for July 6. Tho railroads de
slro to submit a groat many proposed
changes and It will bo lmposslbla for
shippers and Omaha and Lincoln
Commercial clubs to be ready July G.
Commander of Q. A. R.
Thomas Brown was elected com
mandor of tho Grand Army of tho Ro
public of South Dakota, and Mitchell
was chosen for next reunion.
Hospital Building.
The stato board of public lands and
buildings nwnrded a contract for tho
construction of a hospital building at
tho stato homo for soldlors at Grand
Islaud. With $15,000 appropriated by
the last legislature tho board expects
to construct and furnish a hospital
which, although modest in tho matter
of cost, will provide all ot tho com
forts of a first-class hospital for the
voternns of the civil war who nro
members of tho state homo and who
are fast bocomlng helploss bocauso of
increasing years.
Prof. Coldwell Off for Europe.
H. W. Ouldwell, ono of tho best
known inembors of tho unlvorslty fac
ulty, accompanied by his wife and
daughters, left a few days ago for a
yoar's vacation in Europe, the first
in moro than a score of years which
ho has taught In this institution.
Prof. Caldwell has beon connoctod
with tho university continuously
slnco 187C, whon ho ontored college
as a freshman. He has mot classes
year in and year out with punctual
regularity and has taught classes at
sovoral of tho mldsummor sessions.
THE LAZIEST IN
IS FOUND AT LAST
FOR TWELVE WHOLE YEARS THIS
WEARY MAN HAS STAYED
IN HIS BED.
IS AN INMATE OF P00RH0USE
With an Appetlta That Would Sham
a Qoat John Muncla Spends Hla
Existence In Bed Laughs at Any,
Suggestion of Work.
Jersey villo, 111. John Muncla is the
laziest man on earth. Furthermore
he is proud of his somewhat degrading
distinction. For the last 12 years he
has lain on hla bed In tho Jersey coun
ty poorhouao, eight miles from Jersey-
villo, and replied to every command
that ho nriso and work with peals ot
weird laughter. Physicians have ex
amined him time and time again and
they declare that ho ia freo from any
Infirmity that would incapacitate him
from active work.
Now an old man probably seventy
ono years of age ho admits that he
was born In Indiana at some point
which ho calls "below Fort Wayne,"
and that his father died when he vu
eleven years ot age. Byoud this he
refuses to bo Interviewed nnd usually
anowcrn his questioners with a burst
of gleeful laughter.
He simply is an excellent example
of what strength of character will ac
complish for a ma Slnco the day,
12 years ago that ho mado up his mind
to koop to his bed ho has made that
his one object In life with the result
that he has succeoclcid, perhaps, even,
boyond his early expectations. For a
time tho poorhouse officials tried to
force him from bed by refusing to
bring his meals to him but John, un
perturbed, simply giggled, turned his
face to the wall, and waited. After a
time the poorhouse people were van
quished and forced to bring him food
for fear that he would starve to death.
He is u small, slender man with a
clean-cut intellectual looking face, yet
his appetite has been unimpaired by
his long stay In bed. Ho demands
his three meals a day and upon get
ting them cats every crumb that la
handed utoTiUm. yis average meal
would put to" rouflhe most husky
farmhand, yet his limbs are shrunken
from disuse.
Tho only physical exercise that this
laziest of men permits himself Is the
Old John Muncla In Bed.
screwing up ot his eyes, accompanied
by a wrinkling of tho forehead much"
as though ho wero busily engaged In
solving some very difficult and Intri
cate problem.
During his entire twenty years stay
upon tho county poor farm he has not
given bno clue to his boyhood or the
past of his youth. Tho first that was
known of him was when he turned up
in St. Charles county, Missouri, later
removing across tho river to Jersey
county, Illinois. The last piece of
manual labor with which he has been
connected was a bit of wood chopping
for a farmer of Elsah, 111., and seem
Incly he still regrets it although ho
alludes to It with a halt chuckle.
It was 12 years ago that tho old
man one morning announced he would
stojr in bed, except for tho time need
ed to go to his three square ones a
day, and ho kept the promise. A year
later, wearied by the walking thui
necessitated, and by the exertion ol
dressing himself, he said that there
after ho would stay In bed. Only once
In eloven years has he violated that
resolve. One very hot day during
the summer beforo last ho found him
self without drinking water in his
airy second-floor apartment where he
lies alone, nnd descended tho steps to
get the drink, also returning unaided.
Ho may have thought to do this unob
served, but he was detected, and in
mates of tho place still remember the
Incident as an astonishing one.
During the 20 years which tho old
man hns spent as an almoner of Jer
sey county he never has been seen to
look at a book or paper, and the rea
sonable theory that he cannot read
Is hard to reconcile with bis intelli
gent, educated, almost refined appear
ance, even wben lying on a cot In a
poorhouse dormitory.
Despite his apparent dislike for con
versation with other people, and hla
dlsuBo of books and papers, he can
tell tho day of week, tho day of the
month and tho year with as much pre
cision as though a calendar hung be
fore his bed
Chuckling, wrinkling up his face and
sorrowing his eyes, occasionally talk
ing just enough to tantalize persona
curious about his paBt, old John prob
ably will carry his secrets, It he haa
any, to the graveyard behind the poor
house hill. And mcanwhilo he will re
main In tho bed which has supported;
bis work-hating frame for the last 11
years, and consume enough dally pro
vender to teed a harvest hand.