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THE O’NEILL FRONTIER
D. H. CRONIN, Publisher.
D’NEILL, NEBRASKA
In japan the well-to-do have almost
Always In their houses one room called
the "chamber of the Inspiring view.”
Its essential Is a beautiful view, but
taste is catholic In Japan, and the de
lightful view may be a blossoming
cherry tree, a glimpse of a river, a
Jnlnlature garden or only the newly
fellen snow. In that delightful coun
try they get up parties to visit the ma
ple trees In the glory of autumn color,
pr the fresh, untrodden snow, as In
this country one gives theater parties
And dinners.
j According to an English authority,
fwe eat more than any other people. It
takes 29 pence a day per capita to feed
jus. The Briton grows fat on 28 pence,
the German on 21 pence, a Frenchman
on 19 and an Italian on 9. The same au
thority tells us that we work and pro
duce In proportion to our eating. Our
jannual exports are about In the same
proportion. But we are not as sweetly
Inclined as our British cousins. They
Uat seventy pounds of sugar a year
land we but sixty-seven per capita.
| There are 22,400 publishing houses In
(the United States, with a working
icapltal of J314.000.000. Tbe census fig
lures show us that In 1900 the value of
jthe product of the industry was J347,
k)56,000, to produce which Involved an
"outlay of J36.000.000 In salaries for offi
cers, J86.000.000 for wages, J56.000.000 for
rents, taxes, etc., and J87.OO0/OOO for ma
terials, supplies and freight; 1,290,
000,000 pounds of paper were used last
year, and 80 per cent, of that went to
the newspapers.
One-half of tbe world's production of
coffee comes to the United States. We
pay over Jl,009,000 a week for our coffee,
and send the money out of the country,
Germany and France together last year
consumed only half as much as we did.
We consume 800,000,000, or about ten
and one-half pounds apiece, every
year. . Most of this coffee comes from
South nnd Central America, some from
Porto Rico, the Philippines and Hawaii.
Richard McMlchael, managing pro
prietor of Congress Hall at Saratoga
Springs sixty years ago and for a great
many years after, died at his home In
Brooklyn a few days ago. Congress
Hall when be ran It was as famous a
hotel as there was In the country and
was the favorite resort or southerners
when they came to drink the waters,
remaining so until the outbresk of the
rebellion.
Some statistician has figured that
there are 600,000 Smiths in the United
States. Three thousand are employed
by the United States government and
nineteen Smiths die every day. In New
York alone there are 126,000. Includ
ing the Smythes and other variations,
the family 1b roughly estimated to com
prise 1,000,000 In this country.
They dug the bruised and battered
form of the Inventor out from under
the ruins of his flying machine. "I
want to say,” he whispered hoarsely,
"'that my Invention Is going to be a
maglnflcent success! I have found out
Just what ails It!” Waving the sur
geons away, he continued to talk to the
reporters.—Chicago Tribune.
William P. Frye of Maine boasts of
being the only great-grandfather In the
United States senate, a girl baby hav
ing arlved at the home of his granson,
William Frye White, In Washington.
Mr. Frye Is willing to acknowledge that
there are great grannies In the senate,
but revels In the distinction of being
■the only great-grandfather.
The ship Terra Nova has now sailed
Jfrom Englnnd to relieve the Discov
ery. The British government, which
.lias appropriated J200.000 for the expe
dition, Is acting without the advice of
jthe Royal Geographical society and the
Royal society, which originally sent out
jthe expedition, assisted by a grant from
jthe government.
. Loncion's *ocini condition is distress
ing. Inside the so-called outer belt It
pas a pauper population of 107.600
bouls, and this figure does not Include
Vagrants or the Insane poor. Twenty
one per cent, of the entire population
over 65 years of age. exclusive again
Pf vagrants or Insane, are paupers.
The commerce of Colombia has not
peen reduced to figures for several
(ears, because of the Intermittent war.
he total volume of trade In 1897 was
about $20,000,000. Of this about one
fourth came to the United States In tho
shape of coffee, gold and silver ore,
bides, tobacco and drugs.
William McAdoo, formerly a demo
cratic member of congress from New
Jersey, and assistant secretary of the
navy during Mr. Cleve-land’s second ad
ministration. is now mentioned as the
probable successor of General F. V.
breene ns commissioner of police in
New York city.
Water plays an Indispensable part In
tmtli the environment and the Internal
rhemlstry of life. It forms more than
palf the weight of most living things,
►nd all the active parts of animals and
plants consist of water holding the
pthe .ngredlents In solution or sus
pension.
The United Kingdom has Increased
|ts export trade about 7V4 per cent,
since 1872. Its population has Increased
*0 per cent. In the same time. It ex
ported to the United States and Ger
many $580,000,000 worth of goods In
1872. and only $365.000.000 In 1902.
The coal from the Glamorganshire
Held In South Wales is regarded as su
perior to all other steam coal by the
tiavles of the world. Its rival from the
(United States Is the Pocahontas coal,
jfrom West Virginia.
According to the leading paper of
Viennn, Austrian exporting circles are
contemplating the fitting out of a
Steamship for a floating Industrial ex
filhitlon to vist the ports of the East
ndies and eastern Asia.
King Edward has conferred a baron
etcy on Lord Mayor Ritchie, of Lon
don. In commemoration of his recent
entertainment of King Victor Emman
del and Queen Helena of Italy, at Guild
.<faall.
President and Mine. Loubet, of
[France, have sent a bewildering eol
-leotion of toys to the two little Italian
princesses, Ycdande and Mafalda,
among which Is a rabbit that plays the
violin. _ _
There ace In round numbers 2,500,000
telephones In use In the United States.
Their use has increased ten fold In the
past six years. There are nea-ly 250,
400 telephones in farm, houses.
In Maine there are elxteep spool fac
tories that cut up enough wt'lte birch
trees to make $00,000,000 spool* a year,
about which are ultimately wound
*10.000,000.000 yard* of thread.
DEBT OF NEBRASKA i
! GREATLY INCREASED;
—
i Semi-Annual Report Shows •
Deficit of Over Quarter
of Million.
HAS HEAVY OBLIGATIONS
io Declares State Auditor in His Stats
ment Filed With the Governor—
State’s Total Liabilities Are
Over $2,000,000.
Lincoln, Neb., Dec. 15.—Within si,
months the Interest-bearing debt of tlu
fetate nas increased more than $260,000.
Ho declares the state auditor In his
semi-annual report filed with the gov
ernor
I The total Interest-bearing debt of the
state amounts to $2,282,903.71. On June
fl, 1903, the debt amounted to $1,997,
1)71.98.
t State Treasurer Mortensen declared
jtha»t tax collections were halting and
inconstant as a result of the revenue
Itlgauon, and the auditor said that the
rpproprlatlons of the last legislature
lud raided the state funds. The two
muses combined to Increase the in
lebtedness of the state.
Much misinformation exists In regard
$o the revenue law. Its provisions will
Iiave no effect whatever on taxes al
eady assessed or on the labors of as
essors during the last year. Whether
he act be constitutional or not these
puins must be paid. Taxpayers ac
cording to the state officials, have as
sumed that the contributions for the
date government would be Increased
tnd then to have concluded that the
aw was already In operation. State
Treasurer Mortensen complains that
axatlon money arrives very slowly and
fie Is struggling hurd to provide the
fitate with funds.
State Treasurer Mortensen has al
ready made arrangements to pay off
140,000 In warrants December 16. He
'has Issued a call for $60,000 more on De
cember 21, and he announced this
morning that he intended to call In $50,
(100 In warrants December 28.
“We would like to retire $160,000 In In
terest-bearing warrants if possible,”
said State Treasurer Mortensen. “At
present we are sure of getting at least
$140,000 out of the way."
The actual increase In the state debt
Is $265,505.23. Should the state treas
urer be successful In his effort the debt
vould be reduced to $116,606.23.
WHY BLOODHOUNDS FAILED.
Whereabout* of Beulah Thomas U
Now Explained.
York. Neb., Dec. 15.—For two days
the eounty court room has been crowd
ed. The preliminary hearing of John
Blair, who is charged with Interfering
with justice In secreting and hiding
Beulah Thomas, who Is the prosecuting
witness In another case against Blair,
wherein he Is charged wth assault, is
oeing held.
Bryce, Blair's hired man, testifies
that at the request of Blair he went
to the Thomas house and drove the
Xlrl west of Arborvllle to Anderson’s,
ind that he had scattered cayenne
pepper over his trail Immediately after
so that no bloodhounds could follow
the trail. This account for the poor
work of the hounds.
TELEPHONE CO. TURNED OUT.
Fremont Counoil Orders Poles anl
Wirss Taken Down.
Fremont, Neb., Dee. 14.—The city
touncll declared the franchise of the
8"r*inont Telephone company forfeited.
Contrary to the general expectation, no
pne appeared on behalf of the company.
The council passed a resolution which
leclared the rights of the company for
feited on account of Its raising rates,
md Instructed the street commissioner
'.o cause the poles and wires to be re
moved within ninety days.
Houses Robbed.
North Platte, Dec. 15.—The residence
or Lew Hastings and the Roy Vernon
.louse, into which Alex Weston was
Having, were broken Into. Two watch
es, two or three diamonds, a revolver
and a few dollars In money were
stolen from the Hastings house, and
from the other house three valises filled
with miscellaneous articles were taken.
; The grips were found near the house In
the morning. A suspicious looking
haracter, who gives his name as F. C.
Howard, and a cripple named James
Burke have been arrested. Burke had
boarded a westbound train and was put
off at Hastings. It Is said that the
itolen revolver was found on Burke.
Hand Hurt in Corn Crusher,
Columbus, Neb., Dec. 15.—A. A
Jones, a farmer living just across the
Platte Hver, In Butler county, had his
right hand ground off In a corn crusher.
- He was brought to this city and the
j injured member was amputated at the
wrist. He was oiling the machinery
when the accident happened and sever
al large cogs were broken from the
wheels In crushing the bones of the
hand. Mr. Jones is a county commis
sioner.
Had Miraculous Escape,
Humboldt, Neb., Dec. 15.—John Hole
click, a young farmer who lives a few j
miles south of town, had a miraculous
escape from violent death about dusk. !
He had been hauling grain to Powers' I
elevator and was just starting home '
When crossing the tracks he caught
sight of the fast Blllings-St. Joseph
passenger train too late to stop and
jumped from the rear of the wagon just
us the train struck it with terrible
force. Both horses were Instantly
killed, one of them being considerably
mangled, and the wagon was carried
quite a distance and completely
wrecked. While it was a serious
shock, the young man fee.s grateful to
have escaped with his life.
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Goes Up for Six Years.
Pender, Neb., Dec. 12.—Judge Graves,
today sentenced Andrew Lee, the over
coat thief who broke Into the Wlngert
harness shop, to six years In the peni
tentiary. Lee pleaded guilty.
After Mother-in-Law.
Papilton, Neb., Dec. 15.—Mrs. Will
lam Nelson, upon whom a warrant was
sworn out by her son-in-law, George
Sandy, charging her with threatening
his life by dire methods, was placed un
der bond* to keep the peace.
Upon the death of William Nelson a
dispute anise over the disposal of hla
property. It was alleged that Mrs. Nel
son made an .assertion that if Sandy
was out of the way all the property
would be hers, feandy grew afraid of
the wrath of his mother-in-law and
had her arrested.
!
IS GOVERNOR LIABLE?
Lawyers Think He Will Have to Paj
the Colby Shortage.
Lincoln, Neb., Dec. 11.—Is the gov
ernor of Nebraska liable for any short
age which may occur when the delin
quent one is an official deputy? This
question has been raised since the al
leged shortage of Adjutant General Col
by has become a matter of public dis
cussion, and several lawyers are of the
opinion that the executive may be held
responsible for any peculations of an
appointee who serves the state without
bond.
The governor provides a bond for $50,
000. A number of officers give no bond
and are recognized as the governor's
deputies. This is true of the deputy
game warden, the deputy labor com
missioner and the adjutant general. The
governor is named in the statutes as
the chief game warden and the labor
commissioner. His deputies are re
sponsible to him for their official acts.
Is not the executive and chief of the
department responsible on his bond to
the people? ^
A test case will arise out of the Colby
matter in case It Is discovered that
there has been a conversion of the
state's money and a wrongful use of
funds. It is claimed that Governor
Mickey has been conversant with the
situation for a long time and no effort
has been made to straighten out the
accounts, and he has failed wholly to
take the people into his confidence.
There were rumors and reports, but it
remained for the grand jury to make a
formal Investigation.
Governor Mickey has been con
strained to remark that the legislature
made a mistake when it failed to pass
an act to have appointed a state ac
countant whose business It would be
to check up the books of the various
state Institutions and offices at any
time.
"Had the legislature enacted that
law," said Governor Mickey, "General
Colby's books would have been checked
up by this time as well as the books of
former adjutant generals. I did what I
could to get such a law passed and I
hope the next legislature will do it.
There Is no question in my mind that
if we had had such an officer the
Bartley shortage would never have
lappened.”
COURT IS IN SESSION.
An Important Murder Case Has Beer
Continued.
Hartington, Neb., Dec. 11.—District
court is in progress, Judge Guy F.
Graves on the bench. The case of the
state vs. August Smidt, for shooting
and killing one Houser accidentally,
while out at a Sunday beer drink, has
been continued over the term.
The state of Nebraska vs. Alexander
Blair, for killing Charles Ballet, his
stepfather, in a drunken quarrel, has
been tried. Blair was found guilty of
manslaughter. He will be sentenced
the last of this week.
Attorney Robert Hunter of Sioux City
has been attending district court this
week.
Nelson Bros., who opened up a gen
eral store at this place during the sum
mer, have decided to quit business and,
are closing out their stock at auction, i
Holiday stocks are large, but mer
chants claim business is quieter than in
lormer years.
DEATH FROM SCALDING.
Three-Year-Old Freddie Clausen Over
turned Coffee Pot.
Fort Calhoun, Neb., Dec. 11.—Little
Freddie Clausen met with a serious ac
cident which resulted In his death. He
pulled a pot full of hot coffee over on
himself. He was so badly scalded that
when his clothing was removed the
flesh came oft with it. He was about 3
rears old.
FATAL ACCIDENT.
Young Farmer Dies From Injuries ir
Corn Sheller.
Columbus, Neb., Dec. 11.—Herbert L.
Crosier, 24 years old, a young fanner
living in Walker township, is dead.
While engaged in shelling corn, his
right hand was In some manner caught
in the sheller, and before It could be.
extrlcuted his entire arm was ground
off to the shoulder. He was brought to
the hospital, but had been so weak
ever since that no operation could be
performed.
Use of Telephones Successful.
Columbus, Neb., Dec. 11.—The Union
Pacific has recently put in here a long
distance telephone, which is used to
call up any of the Omaha oflices at any
time of the day or night. The telephone
works over a telegraph wire, and gives
the best of satisfaction. All important
ifilces between Omaha and North
Platte have been furnished these
'phones. It was first In the form of an
experiment, but It Is now said they
vill be retained.
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Veterans’ Campfire.
Pierce, Neb., Dec. 11.—Pierce post
191, Grand Army of the Republic, held
a campfire, which was attended by a
fair-sized audience. Comrades W. W.
Quivey, J. Dean and Charles Worker
gave their experiences during the civil
war, and Judge J. A. Williams made an
excellent address. Music was furnished
by Comrade J. Dean and Miss Cornelia
Worker. The northeast Nebraska
Grand Army of the Republic encamp
ment will be held here next summer,
and the old vets are already beginning
o w'ork up enthusiasm.
Raise Values of Land.
Lincoln, Neb., Dec. 11.—Both Land
Commissioner Follmer and Deputy
Eaton have been out a greater portion
of the last several weeks Instructing
the county appraisers in their work in
the reappraisement of school lands. To
date returns have been received from
these counties: York, Webster, How
ard. Phelps, Harlan and Gosper. The I
Increase In valuation by the appraise
ment In these counties is from 160 to
100 per cent.
Poultry Exhibit.
Beatrice, Neb., Dec. 11.—The Si uth
enstern Nebraska Poultry association
will hold an exhibit In this cltj De
cember 15 to 19, inclusive. The associa
tion offers a large number of cash pre
miums.
MYSTERIOUS REATH.
Body of Jack Robson Was Found in a
Cornfield.
Audubon, Ia„ Dec. 11.—The coroner's
Jury investigating the death of Jack
Robson, whose body was found ill a
corn field on his farm, decided to hold
a post mortem examination. The body
was taken to Extra, and the post mor
tem will be held today.
It Is reported that the body of Joe
Robson. Jr., who died this fall will be
exhumed to investigate the cause of
death.
saT bribery can
HOT BE PUNISHED
Effect of the Missouri Supreme
Court Decision in Butler
Case Startling.
OPINIONS OF LAWYERS
They Point Out That Decision Entirely
Varies From a Like Case in New
Jersey, and Almost Pre
vents Punishment.
Si. Louis, Dec. 15.—Can a conviction
Of a briber be secured from the Mis
souri court when the supreme court
passes on the case?
This case is seriously asked by law
yers and publicists since the decision
of the court In the Butler case. Many
lawyers have frankly said they doubt
If the crime of bribery, which President
Roosevelt In his recent message de
clared one of the worst In the calendar,
can be legally punished In Missouri, in
view of the decision In the Butler case.
Criticism of the supreme court be
cause of Its decision Is swelling into
a chorus which seems certain to bring
some of the critics before the bar of
the court for contempt. Last summer
the court called up a country editor
and fined him for contempt because he
charged that a railroad company had
too much Influence on a certain decis
ion. The people of the editor’s home
city raised a fund to pay his fine, and
when he appeared before the court he
had a telegram In his pocket telling
him to draw on the treasurer of the
fund for the cash to pay the fine.
An attorney familiar with the boodle
prosecutions said that the court’s opin
ion established a precedent for making
the question of a man’s guilt of bribery
dependent rather upon the legality of
the act or measure which the bribery
affected rather than on the act of giv
ing or accepting the money to influence
official conduct.
“In the Butler decision,” said this at
torney, “there is no question as to
whether Butler offered Dr. Chapman
money to influence his vote on the
award of the garbage contract.
"All emphasis is laid on the fact that,
therefore, Di. Chapman had no vote on
that question to sell. For this reason,
It Is argued, Butler was not guilty.
“No cognizance Is taken of the fact
that legally or otherwise the board did
award the garbage contract and that
Dr. Chapman did vote on the award.
No weight Is given to the further fact
that the awarding of the contract was
soon to come before the board of health
when Butler approached Dr. Chapman.
Those Charged With Bribery Escape.
“Now under such a construction of
the law a man charged with bribery
has only to prove that the measure
concerned In the charge is Illegal in or
der to clear himself of the charge. If
he cannot do this he may be able to
prove that he was not legally elected or
was not holding office legally. There
fore, the offer of money to him was
not bribery.
"If the indicted man Is a briber In
stead of an official all he has to do Is to
prove these same things regarding the
official or the measure to secure a de
cision In his favor.
“Assuming that Kratz Is returned for
trial, his case Is a good Instance.
Kratz was to have received money for
voting for the Suburban franchise bill.
He Is charged with bribery. But the
Suburban franchise was knocked out
In the courts because when the mu
nicipal assembly passed it no petition of
property owners along the streets it
covered had been presented In Its fa
vor, as the law requires.
“Kratz may plead, therefore, that he
had no authority or jurisdiction to vote
for the franchise bill; that the money
was offered him to induce him to do
something which he could not legally
do; that, therefore, he was not guilty
of bribery. The case parallels that of
D.lilos ovnnllu
Farris Case of Same Nature.
"The Farris case is another of the
same sort. The alum bill which Farris
is said to have been bribed to support,
has been knocked out by the supreme
court. Farris can say that the anti
alum money was paid to him for some
thing which the supreme court has
ruled he had not the right to do. There
fore, he is not guilty of bribery.
"These instances show how the issue
is transferred from the act and Intent
of the bribe-giver of bribe-taker to a
purely technical question as to the le
gality of the measure the bribery is to
inlluence.”
The contentions of Circuit Attorney
Folk on this point before the supreme
court, as stated in his submitted brief,
are of interest in this connection. His
argument was as follows:
If Dr. Chapman had accepted the
$2,500 offered by defendant, it would
be no defense that the ordinance giv
ing him the right is unconstitutional.
"The consequence of any other doc
trine would be that an official could
take money to Influence his official con
duct and when prosecuted could go in
to the question of whether or not he
really received a majority of votes at
the election. All cases of bribery by
elective officers would resolve them
selves into election contests.
"There is a distinction between cases
where an official is paid money to do
something outside of his official du
ties, an inspector to burn a distillery,
for instance, and where an official has
a de facto power by virtue of an un
constitutional law.
"The object of the law against brib
ery is to preserve official acts from
taint and corruption. Supposing that
an unconstitutional ordinance gave the
members of the boara of health the
right to vote to reject or accept bids
for reduction of garbage, and one of the
members accepts a reward to vote in
favor of a certain bidder, who is award
ed the contract. If the constitutionality
of the ordinance is not questioned the
successful bidder enjoys the fruits of
his contract obtained by bribery and
the public interests are betrayed.
An opinion of the New Jersey su
preme court is quoted, the opinion be
ing in the case of State vs. Ellis, in
which a member of the common coun
cil of Jersey City was offered a bribe
to vote for a street railway franchise
bill. The defense contended that the
council had no jurisdiction to pass the
Dili and that, therefore, the oiler to a
ITSHARD TO AGREE.
Democratic Senatorial Caucus Didn’t
Decide What to Do on the
Cuban Measure.
Washington, Dec. 15.—The demo
cratic senators held a caucus today for
the purpose of discussing the advisabil
ity of attempting to amend the Cuban
reciprocity bill, but adjourned to meet
again next Monday, without arriving at
any conclusion. The caucus was spir- j
lted, and was sharply divided on the (
point at issue, some senators contend-I
nftmber was not bribery. The court in
its opinion said:
Ruling by New Jersey Court.
“It is contended in the next place
that the facts set forth ir. the indict
ment constitute no of^nse Inasmuch as
the common council has not Jurisdiction
to grant the application for which the
vote was sought to be bought. In our
opinion, it is entirely immaterial
whether the council had or had not jur
isdiction over the subject matter the
application. If the application was in
point of fact made, an attempt to se
cure votes for it by bribery was crim
inal. It need not be averred that the
vote, if procured, would have produced
the desired result, nor that the official
or that body of which he was a member
had authority by law to do the thing
sought to be accomplished.
“If the common council of Jersey
City had not the authority to grant the
application referred to, the act of the
defendant in endeavoring to procure
the grant asked for, was more criminal
because he sought by the corrupt use
of money to purchase from the council
an easement which they had no au
thority to grant. He thereby endeavor
ed to induce them to step beyond the
line of their duty and usurp authority
not committed to them."
BISPHAM SEEKS DIVORCE
Action in London Develops Interesting
Scandal in Aristocracy.
London, Dec. 15.—The hearing of the
divorce suit of David Bispham, the
opera singer, was commenced in the
divorce court today just after Mabel,
Lady Russell, was granted a separation
from her second husband, William
Brown, a coachman who had posed as
a noble.
Mr. Bispham charges his wife with
misconduct with Robert Newton Shaw,
a young American, and with Major Ed
ward Studdert, an English officer. Both
the corespondents deny all the allega
tions against them. Bispham, the peti
tioner, is now in America, and his evi
dence was read to the court by Bar
grave Deane, K. C., for the petitioner.
He informed the Judge that he had
learned that Mrs. Bispham had gone
away, taking both her children with
her.
Shaw and Major Studdert were pres
ent in court. Both are spruce young
men and the latter is conducting his
own case with much coolness and de
liberation. The husband's allegations
as regards Shaw concern a certain
night in June, 1897, when Bispham was
away from his home in Kensington.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Bispham are na
tives of Philadelphia and they first
met their countryman, Shaw, at a din
ner given in London in honor of Mr.
Bayard, then the American ambassa
dor.
In his depositions Bispham declared
his wife had asked him if he would
change places with the good looking
young man next to him, and when the
company separated she greatly sur
prised him by asking Shaw, who was
an absolute stranger, to call. He de
nied that the real reason why the
change of seats was made at the din
ner was because another woman
would insist on talking to him across
several intervening neighbors.
Butler Accuses the major.
A circumstantial story of misconduct
alleged between the two was related by
William Boston, a former butler of
Bispham’s. Butler Boston also declared
that Major Studdert had occupied Mr
Bispham's room, sometimes as often
as three times a week during Bis
pham’s absence. Early one morning he
stated he had seen the major coming
out of his bedroom in his pajamas and
wearing Mr. Bispham's old dressing
gown.
Blspham, in his evidence regarding
the relations between his wife and
Shaw, stated that immediately on his
return his wife conlessed to him that
Shaw had kissed her. Shaw wrote a
letter of abject apology and he over
looked the affair as a boyish indiscre
tion. Afterwards he was horrified to
find that Shaw had left his wife $5,000,
and Shaw gave him Mrs. Bispham's
receipt as proof.
This receipt, declared Bargrave Deane
in his opening to the Jury, was really a
love letter, and Mr. Blspham was hor
rified by the gross treachery to this
woman in Shaw’s handing this love
letter to her husband.
Deane read the letter, which ran:
"Why this illness? Surely the gods
have been sufficiently brutal to us. Ah,
my Bobby, why can’t I nurse you back
to health. Couldn’t you manage to for
get me, or remember me only as a busi
ness friend who owes 4Ms per cent, on
$5,000 every year? What is it all worth
if you are to be separated from me all
that time?
"Your devoted Kitten.”
The case w as not concluded when the
court rose.
Countess Russell Again Free.
The Russell case was disposed of
with more expedition. Mabel Lady
Russell, attired in a flowing fawn col
ored ulster trimmed with ermine and
wearing a hat of the same shade sur
mounted by an aigrette, told the story ■
of her second marriage and'obtained a
decree nisi on account of her hus
band's cruelty and misconduct. No
defense was offered. Bargrave Deane,
K. C., narrated how the respondent,
William Brown, in reality a groom and
the son of a coachman, had come in
the guise of Prince Athrobold Stuart
de Modena and won the countess’ hand.
His subsequent trial and sentence at
the Winchester assizes last July for
having made a false declaration at the
marriage registry were briefly touched
upon, and the petitioner then took up
the story from the date when she for
gave him and allowed him to take up
his residence at Bray lodge.
For some weeks she said he had be
haved extremely well, but then he be
gan to stay out late and became rude
and wouldn't speak, and that sort of
thing. When Lady Russell taxed him
with misconduct he is alleged to have
sworn at her and struck her so that
she fainted, and then her mother, Lady
Lena Scott, who also gave evidence to
day, ordered him out of the house.
Rumor has it that Mabel Countess
Russell is already contemplating an
other marriage to a man well known in
London society.
New York Bank Statement.
New York, Dec. 12.—The bank statemen.
is as follows: _ !
Loans, decrease .$1,108,500
Deposits, decrease . 44,700
Circulation, increase . 50.200
Legal tenders, increase .1,030,500
Specie, Increase . 722,000
Reserve, increase . 1,761,500
Surplus, increase . 1,772.675
Ex-U. S. deposits, increase . 1,774,575
lng that numerous amendments should
be presented, others holding out
against any effort whatever to change
the character of the bill, and standing
for a straight party vote against it.
The senate today resumed discussion
of the Cuban reciprocity bill. Foster ;
of Louisiana opposed the bill on the
ground that its enactment would prove
injurious to the sugar and other im- |
portant interests of the United States.
The fluctuation of the light of Nova
Geminorum is often as much as half a
magnitude in twenty-four hours, like
that of Nova Per eel No. 2.
MARINES LANDED 4
AT A KOREA PORT
Japan’s Excuse Is That There
Was Rioting That Required
the Step.
RUSSIA MAY SEND A SHIP
If Korea Makes Protest tho Incident
Would Give Russia Excuse to
Precipitate Entire Eastern
Difficulty.
Seoul, Korea, Dec. 16.—The Japanes*
landed marines at Mokphe yesterday
to suppress rioting caused by a strike
among laborers. It is reported they
fired upon the mob, killing several peo
ple. The strike was among the Korean,
coolies, employed in the foreign con
cession, which precipitated clashes be
tween Koreans and Japanese. The af
fair, it is thought, may cause local
complications, and possibly Russia may
send a warship, should the Korean gov
ernment resent the landing of marines
by Japan.
Russian Reply.
London, Dec. 16.—The terms of the
reply of Russia to Japan have been
communicated to the Japanese min
ister, Baron Hirsha, by the government
at Tokio. The minister said the nego
tiations were still incomplete, but he
significantly said he saw no reason to
change his previously expressed opin
ion that a peaceful settlement would
result therefrom.
After a careful examination of the
Russian draft of agreement, the for
eign office is inclined to the belief its
immediate acceptance by Japan is un
likely, and that further parleying will
follow, but regards the draft as a step
toward a pacific settlement.
Baron Hayashi said to the Associated
Press that the reply was in the form
of an agreement which, if satisfactory
to Japan, may be immediately signed, .
in which all the pending questions re
ceive final settlement. He had received .
no communication from his government,
regarding his participation in the mat
ter and expressed the belief the Russia
Japanese matter will be amicably set
tled. A synopsis of the agreement be
tween the governments is not available..
Fleets in Wai* Paint.
New York, Dec. 16.—A cable from
London says:
The Morning Telegraph announced
today that the Japanese fleet has been,
painted black, the color used in war.
The Russian fleet in the east has also J
been painted black. The special car- "
respondent of the Telegraph, who has
gone from Tokio to Port Arthur, cables
that on the way he passed the Japanese
war fleet off Sasebo engaged in evolu
tions and firing practice.
GOVERNMENT’S CASE.
Brief Filed in the Appeal of the North
ern Securities Action From the
Circuit Court.
Washington, Dec. 16.—The brief of the
government In the case of the Northern
Securities company and others against the
United States, on appeal from the de
cision of the circuit court for the district
of Minnesota, was filed today. The docu
ment was prepared by Attorney General
Knox and Assistant Attorney General
Day, and covers 180 printed pages. After
.stating that the bill in the case was origi
nally brought by the government to re
strain violation of the anti-trust low by
the Securities company in the consolida
tion of the Northern Pacific and Great
Northern railroads, and that the decision
of the court below was favorable to the
contention of the United States, the brief
enters into specifications as to the reasons
for the action.
The supreme court today began hear
ing arguments in the case of the \
Northern Securities company, J. J, ■
Hill, J. Pierpont Morgan and others, f
against the United States, on appeal
from the district court of Minnesota.
The decision was that the purchase of
the greater share of the stock of the
two companies constituted a merger,,
and was contrary to the Sherman anti
trust law, and the case involved the
community of interests principle. The
court room was crowded inside and
outside the bar. Attorney General
Knox was present with an array of
assistants, while the opposition was
represented by a long list of distin
guished counsel, including former At
torney General Griggs and John G.
Johnson of Philadelphia. Justice
Brown was the only member of the
court not present.
John G. Johnson, representing the se
curities company, made the first argu
ment. He announced the three rail
tvays and the securities company de
sired to be heard by their counsel,,
while it was stated for the government
that only the attorney general would
speak. Mr. Johnson said the purpose
of the company In acquiring the stock
of the railroads had been, not to pre
vent competition, but to conserve the
interests of their own property, and
contended that in holding the stock it
had the right to control it.
NO ROOM FOR SPENCER
Remains of the Greatest English Phi
losopher Cannot Rest in West
minster Abbey.
London, Dec. 16.—The Westminster
Abbey authorities have declined to per
mit the ashes of Herbert Spencer to be
sepulchered in the British Valhalla.
They were informally approached, but
expressed regret that it was impossible.
Prime Minister Balfour, who had
many controversial bouts with the dead
philosopher, expressed himself favor
able to burial in the abbey, but the
jdenn and the chapter proved adverse,
ut is said no question of religious be
lief could have entered into the matter
because Darwin lies in the abbey.
LOOKS LIKE WAR.
American Marine Landed at Colon tc
Oppose Colombia.
Colon, Dec. 16.—A company of ma
rines from the United States shipPrai
|ie landed here today under command
i>f Captain Butler, and entrained for
(r'anama. This step was in conse
quence of receipt of information that
Colombian troops have landed in that
direction with the object of marching
i n Panama. If this is confirmed it will
mean the beginning of a long campaign A
i f guerrilla warfare on ihe Isthmus. I
The destination cf the marines is said I
to be Vaviza, up Sai: Miguel gulf and 1
the Tuira river. ^