MWPT- u c p-c^i/EP
■$RE/jr BRIT/JIH nKtfO
I know it’s the sort of thing 1 ought
to leave other people to say, but I
think Aunt Mildred liked having me
stay with her. It's not to be wondered
at, perhaps, for she was a lonely little
woman.
Bobbed of her iiusband by deatli only
three years after marriage, her son
1 Jackie—a bright little fellow of 7—two
brothers who had gone abroad, one to
■Canada and the other to Australia—
mother and myself completed her cir
cle of relations. So every year I used
to come up from the country to stay for
a month with her at Streatham.
It was about a week after my arrival,
and auntie and I were chatting before
the fire in her boudoir, when the serv
ant brought in a card. Aunt took it,
and read “Mr. Andrew Stewartson.”
On going into the drawing room half
an .hour after, I was surprised to find
he was still there, and I noticed that
aunt had evidently been giving him aft
ernoon tea.
"Nora, dear.” said my aunt, as soon
as I entered, "this is Mr. Stewartson.
Let me introduce you. Mr. Stewartson
—this is my niece—Miss Maequeen! Mr.
Stewartson has only recently arrived
from Montreal, dear, and I’m sure
you’ll be interested to know lie's a
great friend of your Uncle Frank's.”
Mr. Stewartson rose to go.
"Let me see,” he said, almost as if to
■himself, “what did I do with my
gloves?”
He thrust his hand into his coattail
pocket, apparently to feel for them, And
Instantly his face became the picture
of dismay.
“Great heavens!” he exclaimed. "I've
been robbed!
“How very vexing!” murmured
auntie sympathetically.
"Yes, it is." asserted the Canadian,
“It's not the loss of the money—that’s
nothing; but it upsets my plans for
this evening. I'd arranged to meet an
old friend at 6 o'clock at Charing Cross,
dine with him and go to the theater
afterwards. It's nearly 5 already, and I
don't see how I'm to get over to my
rooms at Hampstead and back to Char
ing Cross in an hour. But one can
hardly have an evening out on this.”
He drew out a shilling and three cop
pers and looked at them disgustedly.
“But—surely we can arrange a little
matter like that, Mr. Stewartson?”
said auntie kindly. "Can I—can I er—
offer to lend you-”
“Would—er—would seven pounds be
too much?”
“No, I think I can manage that. If
you'll excuse mo I'll just go and get it.”
When auntie returned with the
i Then it dawned upon me what my
! aunt meant.
. "Where is lie?” I said.
| "In the drawing room he asked for
me—just like the other man, and gave
| Susan his card. Here it is!"
I took it and read: "Mr. James Good
' win.”
"It does look rather suspicious.” I
replied. "What are you going to do?”
"Do? Why, send Susan for a police
man, of course! What else should I
do?”
Susan was sent oft with a smile on
her face, which showed that the er
rand was quite in accord with her taste.
1 followed Aunt Mildred into the
drawing room, and was at once intro
duced *o Mr. James Goodwin, from Syd
ney. I knew it was very rude, but,
for a moment, I stared in amazement.
Gould that open bronze countenance,
lit by a pair of the frankest brown
eyes I ever saw. belong to a rank
fraud? If it were so, I vowed that I
never again would I attempt to judge
a man by his face.
We managed to get out a few com
monplace remarks, hut the conversa
tion soon lagged.
At that moment Susan entered the
room, closely followed by a police of
ficer. The sight of the latter was
quite enough for aunt.
‘Here he is, constable!” she ex
claimed excitedly. "Take him In
charge—take him In charge! We man
aged to keep hint talking here till you
came,” she added triumphantly.
Mr. Goodwin rope to his feet.
"What Is the meaning of this?” he
asked.
“I should think you aught to know,”
said my aunt severely.
"Pardon me, but I don’t! If this Is
a joke, I’m afraid I haven’t caught the
humor of it up to the present."
“It's no joke, sir," interrupted the
constable; “but, if I understand the
matter light, you’d best come along
with me and give an account o' your
self at the station.”
The. man in blue led the way to the
door, but paused on the threshold.
"It’ll be necessary for you or some
body to come to the station, too,
ma’am,” he said, looking at Aunt Mil
dred. “There's the charge sheet to
sign, if needs be.”
"Oh, I can’t—I can’t!” replied aunt,
who was getting a little hysterical.
“I’m so upset. I feel ready to drop!
Nora, dear, you must go and tell them
all that’s occurred.”
When we were ushered into the in
spector's presence, and after what I
suppose were the preliminary formal!
HIRE IJORflCt, ,
\ I VL uUtj/
money, the cheque was signed and
ready.
"I'm sure I'm deeply obliged to you,
Mrs. Vincent. I shall not forget that,
hut for you, I should have had to fore
go an evening enjoyment with an old
chum."
And Uncle Frank's friend shook
hands warmly with us both and took
his departure.
• • * . * • * •
It was when Jackie was having his
tea that the bolt fell.
"Mother,” said my small cousin be
tween mouthfuls of bre^d and butter
and jam, "Such a nice gentleman spoke
to me as I was going lo school this
afternoon. He gave me some choco
lates and asked me what my name
was. and where I lived. So i told him,
and then he asked me if I'd got any
uncles that didn't live in England, and
I said there was Uncle Frank in Mon
treal and Uncle Ralph in Sidney.
"And then lie asked me if I was sure
they lived there, and I said I was,
’cos I'd seen the places on tlie map.”
"How very extraordinary!” exclaim
ed his mother, when Jackie had con
cluded his narrative.
“I think it's rather mere than ex
traordinary. aunt” 1 said, a little ex
citedly. "I'm afraid it means that
you've been swindled to the tune of
seven pounds'.”
When she informed the police, il was
■only io learn that others in the nighbor
liood had been victimized in a similar
way, and it was believed that two im
posters were playing the same game
it was a few days later, and I was
pulling tile finishing touches to my toil
el le previous to a shopping expedition,
when auntie came hurriedly into my
room.
"Nora! Nora!" she exclaimed in a
•state of great excitement. "He's come
—he's come."
"Whose come, auntie?" I asked in
«as: otiishment.
"Why, the other one they told us
■about, and, naturally, he's from Syn«
tney—a friend of your Uncle Ralph's,
at course:
ties had been gone through, Mr. Good
win said quietly:
"I should like to ask. inspector, if
you know Sir Horace Burroughs, of
•The Firs,’ a house not far from here,
I believe?"
"Yes, I should think we do," replied
the Inspector.
"Ah! Then will you kindly send
some one to him at once with this
card, and say I should be extremely
grateful if he would come here imme
diately?”
Evidently impressed by tiie request
the inspector dispatched the messen
ger, and then turned to me.
"This appears to be rather a strange
affair,” he remarked in an official
mariner.
"I—I think so, too," I stammered.
"I—I believe it's all a mistake.”
"A mistake!” repeated the inspector.
"Kindly explain.”
"Well, you know, there have been
some Impostors calling at houses about
here lately, pretending to have come
from abroad, and—and aunt thought
tone. "1 think I'm beginning to see
daylight now!"
"Why, it’s like tills," I continued,
eager to get througli the explanation.
"Aunt Mildred was swindled only a few
days ago, and, as you had no letter of
introduction, she concluded that you
were a—a sort of second attempt." And
1 related the story of the so-called Mr.
Stewartson's visit, and the loss of the
£7.
"By Jove!" ejaculated the Australian,
as soon as I had finished. "It seems it s
little more than a joke after all.”
A telephone bell rang briskly in the
adjoining room, and the inspector went
to answer the summons.
A few minutes later the inspector re
turned.
"Here is Sir Horace, I believe!” he re
marked to Mr. Goodwin, and a minute
ialer the baronet entered the room.
"Why, Jim, my boy!” he exclaimed,
seizing the Australian’s hand and
shaking it heartily, "what’s the trou
ble? You’re not in any scrape, surely?”
"No, no. Sir Horace! It’s only a
misunderstanding, and a word or two
from you will clear It all up, no doubt.”
The position was quickly explained
by the Inspector. Mr. Goodwin putting
in a sentence here and there.
‘‘Pooh! Kldiculous!" commented the
baron%t, when the explanation was fin
ished. "Look here, Inspector, you
know me. I tell you, It'n preposterous!
Bless my soul, I've known Mr. Good
win since he was a hoy—stayed at his
house, too, when I was out in Sydney
last year! It's absurd to suppose lie's
trying to defraud anyone of a few
pounds—absolutely absurd! Of course,
it's all a mistake!”
"That’s just what I thought myself,
sir,” observed the inspector meekly;
‘‘and, after what you've told us, I
should not, of course, think of detain
ing Mr. Goodwin any longer.”
"Then, that's settled!” said Sir Hor
ace cheerfully. "Gome along. Jim, my
boy, you’ve got to have dinner with
me tonight —I'll take no refusal, so
come along!” And the genial baronet
made his way to the door.
Mr. Goodwin came over to where 1
was standing.
“Goodby, Miss Macqueen." he said in
a low voice, ‘‘at least—not goodby, only
au revoir, for I mean to call on your
aunt tomorrow and analogize for all th»
trouble I’ve caused. Do you think she'll
see me?"
"I've already told you that It's we
who ought to apologize.” I answered:
“and I'm sure aunt will be more than
glad to have an opportunity of doing
so—if you—if you would really care to
call again.”
"1 should like to come very, very
much,” he said earnestly.
It certainly seemed so, for he called,
not once, but many times. And one
day he- But that Is another story.
Mr. Burbank’s Latest Miracle.
Hamilton Wright, in the World To
day for April: The spineless cactus,
the latest plant marvel originated by
Mr. Burbank, probably' gives greater
promise of usefulness to man than any
other of Mr. Burbank's creations. The
spinless cactus In an Improved variety
of the ordinary wild cactus known as
the prickly pear, of which there are
numerous species and more than a
thousand varieties. Bulk for bulk,
spineless is about half as nutrltous as
nlfalfn, which has been pronounced by
the United States department of ag
riculture to be probably the best all
around of known forage plants. But,
acre for acre, the yield of spineless
cactus will be far greater than the
yield of alfalfa. An agricultural ex
pert of national reputation asserts that
the spineless will make it possible to
double the present population of the
globe through the peopling of the des
erts. The spineless cactus is relished
by all kinds of stock. Horses, cattle,
sheep, hogs, chickens, geese and other
animals thrive on it. When fed with
cotton seed or other hydrocarbons, it
will make a complete ration In fatten
ing stock for market. In one respect
it is superior to alfalfa, as damage of
ten comes to stock by allowing them to
run free in a green' alfalfa field.
As a commercial proposition it will
cost from $10 to $25 per acre to plant
spineless when once it is generally
grown. It can be produced Just as
readily as the spiny cactus, and with a
great deal less profanity. It will, of
course, be raised front cuttings, and
these need merely be scattered over
i the earth. Should a cactus be tipped
over and the top touch the ground that
portion will immediately send out roots
exceedingly long and slender. An ad
verse season will not destroy the cut
tings which have been scattered over
the soil to grow. If the plant is wound
ed it will immediately seal Itself up
so that no moisture escapes and remain
in a hibernating condition until a rain
comes, after which its leaves are three
or four times as large as they were
before. Like the camel, the cactus
stores water, chews its cud and digests
It food at leisure.
Indian Voters in Oklahoma.
Kansas City Journal: At the las\
election In Oklahoma three tribes of
Indians voted. These tribes are the
Poncas, Kaws and Otoes. Since the
election four years ago these tribes
have treated with the government and
have allowed their lands to be allotted.
With this the members of the tribes
became citizens, with the full power to
vote.
The Kaws took the liveliest Interest
in the election. There are forty-five
members of the tribe who are entitled
to vote, and twenty-three of this num
ber are full bloods. Everyone of the
forty-five, without exception, voted.
The Kaws are nearly all republican.
Each Indian who could not read Eng
lish was allowed two interpreters, a
republican and a democrat, who went
with him into the booth and assisted
him in voting his ticket. With the
Ponca tribe the election was somewhat
different. They had no fixed Ideas, and
they wanted to vote as their friends de
sired. The judges and clerks worked
hard until noon, and succeeded In get
ting only ten of the hundred eligible
voters of the tribe to cast their bal
lots.
Pat Gibney and Judge Pox.
Boston Herald: Every spring Pat
Gibney, a well known Taunton char
acter, goes over to East Taunton to see
the herring run. He hasn’t missed see
ing this sight any year since he arrived
from Ireland thirty-nine years ago.
East spring, after watching the her
rings for half an hour or more, Pat's
I curiosity was satisfied, and he started
| for home. Not having much money,
he decided to walk home and save th«
fare. He was trudging along the road,
with his “T. D.” pipe in his mouth and
blackthorn stick in hand, when an au
tomobile came up behind him. Turn
ing, Pat saw the familiar face of Judge
Fox.
"Good morning. Pa’..’’ said the judge.
"Morning, your honor," said Pat.
"Jump in, Pat, and I’ll give you a
ride to the green,” said the Judge.
They had not gone far wheii Judge
Fox turned to Gibney and said:
"Well, Pat, you would be a long time
In Ireland before the Judge of the town
would give you a ride in his automo
bile.”
“Faith, an' I would, your honor,” said
Pat, "and you’d be a great deal longer
over there before they'd make the likes
of you judge of a town.”
Varieties of Insurance.
Insurance Press: "How many kinds
of insurance are there?" asks a corre
spondent of the Insurance Press. By
a coincidence we received in the same
mail the business card of an enterpris
ing local insurance agency in a west
ern city which claims to have on sale
“all kinds of insurance and bonds."
Here is the western agency’s list: Fire,
life, safe, rents, theft, credit, patent,
marine, tornado, accident, burglary,
sprinkler, lightning, plate glass, trans
portation. tourists’ baggage, bank and
messenger robbery, tailors' and furni
ture floaters', physicians’ and * drug
gists’ liability: travelers’ samples, fidel
ity, official, guaranteed attorney’s de
partment, contract, judicial and court
bonds, teams, health, postal, elevator,
casualty, flywheel, leaseholds, automo
bile, contingent, steam boiler, landlord’s
liability, workmen’s collective, liquor
dealers’ license, general liability, hold
up insurance, bank accounts.
According to tne late returns, there
are 1.756 distinct trades being carried
on in London and its suburbs.
A SENSATION
_ |
President of the First National
of That City Got Away With
$1,600,000.
DIRECTORS MAKE IT GOOD
Immediately Deposit Funds to1
Secure the Bank in Per
fect Solvency.
—
NO ARREST MADE AS YET
Frank C. Bigelow. Former President of
the American Bankers' Associa
tion, Is the Defaulting Of
ficial of Institution.
Milwaukee, April 86.—Frank G.
(ttgelovv, president ot the First Na
tional bank ot this city, and former
president of the American Bankers'
association, has defaulted with the
Dank's funds to the extent of $1,600,000.
The directors of the bank have depos
ted In the bank a sum sufficient to
Tiake the Institution perfectly solid.
Bigelow has not yet been arrested.
Bank Is Very Rich.
The capital of the bank was $1,500,000;
•ill-plus $1,250,000. Bigelow lias slgneij
iver property to the bank amounting
o $300,000, making the net defalcation
U.200,000. Aside from the surplus, the
aum of $1,635,000 has been subscribed
by the directors to meet any demands
which may be made on the bank. The
•omptroller of the currency has been
notified and asked to make an imme
diate examination.
Bigelow's defalcation became known
to the directors of the bank on Satur
day night. He admitted today that the
amount had been lost In speculation,
and that he had falsified the books to
cover up the defalcation.
Another in the Affair.
Henry G. Goll, assistant cashier of
the bank, has been removed, charged
with having been a party to the falsifi
cation of the books.
Notice has been issued by the direc
tors announcing that a sum has been
subscribed sufficient to protect the de
positors. Bigelow was in bis office at
the bank as usual up to noon looking
over books and papers. His manner
was greatly agitated.
Arrangements are being made for the
arrest of Bigelow, and probably Goll,
this afternoon. Bigelow has long oc
cupied a foremost place iji financial
transactions In Milwaukee. Only last
year he was president of the American
Bankers' association.
He was also prominent in Milwau
kee’s social set. While the news of the
defalcation Is likely to create conster
nation among depositors, ample provis
ion has been made to more than meet
any emergency.
Chicago Was Called On.
Several prominent bankers of Chicago
were called to Milwaukee In conference
with the directors of the First National
bank, and promised to lend any as
sistance which might be needed. A
million and a half dollars was received
from Chicago at 1 o’clock. At that hour
the news of the defalcation had spread
to such an extent as to cause a run on
the Institution. The crowd which gath
ered numbered about 200.
Wheat Corner Did It.
Those who sought to withdraw their
funds were small depositors, and they
are being naid off rapidly. There has
been no great demonstration, and the
depositors are acting calmly. There has
been no excitement at any other bank.
An intimate friend of Bigelow's said
this afternoon that wheat speculation
was the cause of the downfall of Pres
ident Bigelow and his son Gordon, both
of whom were caught heavily In the
Armour-Gates battle in May wheat.
Chicago, April 24.—The brokerage
firm of Macy & Co., of which Gordon
Bigelow, son of the president of the
First National bank of Milwaukee, was
a member, was dissolved today.
bnu I IN A nlu I.
Congressman John M. Pinckney, of
Texas, and Two Others Slain at
Hempstead.
Hempstead, Tex., April J8.—At a
mass meeting here called for the pur
pose of petitioning the governor to send
rangers here to enforce the local option
law, J. N. Brown, a leading lawyer
and a stanch anti-prohibitionlst, begun
shooting, which became general in an
Instant. Three men were killed, one
i man was fatally and two others se
I rlously Injured.
The dead:
i J. N. BROWN.
CONORESSMAN JOHN M. PINCK
NEY.
TOM PINCKNEY, brother of the
congressman.
John Mills, a leading prohibitionist,
It is feared cannot survive the ulght;
Doc Tompkins, private secretary to
Congressman Pinckney, and Rollin
Brown, son of J. N. Brown, are badly
wounded, but just how seriously cannot
now be determined. There are many
armed men on the streets, but it Is not
believed there will be any more trouble.
The governor has been informed and
I will s6nd rangers here.
COLLEGE MAN’S VALUE
Judge Holds That in Killing One the
Railroad Relieved His Folks of a
Burden.
Bloomington, 111., April J8.—A unique
point In a damage suit has been brought
out by a decision of Judge Wright In
the Champaign county court. Last fall
a railroad dining car was derailed and
Ralph Roberts, a student of the Uni
versity of Illinois, was killed. The de
fendant's attorney moved that the suit
be dismissed on the plea that the plain
tiff has not Introduced evidence to show
that any person was depending upon
Roberts for support, and that being a
college man he really was an expense
to hts parents during that period of
life. The judge decided that the point
was well taken and dismissed the case.
An appeal will be taken.
WILL HELP ROADS.
Federal Government Will Back Funds
for a $30,000,000 System in the
Philippines.
Chicago, April 36.—Active railroad
construction In the Philippine islands
will begin within a year. Bonds lo the
approximate amount of $30,000,000 are
to be Issued by the syndicate which
contracts for the building of the lines
and 4 per cent, interest on the bonds
will he guaranteed by the government.
The construction will approximate
1.000 miles. Seven hundred miles wilt
he built on the Island of Luzon, tV*
largest of the Philippine archipelago,
and the remainder Is to be divided be
tween the islands of Panay, Negros,
Cebu. Leyte and Samar In short lines
of from 40 to 100 miles each.
While no definite announcements
have been made by the government
concerning the plans, the information
has been given by a person intimately
associated with the work that the Phil
ippine commission now Is considering
the installation of a railway system In
the Islands. Within a week or ten days
the outlines being prepared by a Chi
cago engineer a III be completed and
will he forwarded to the Philippine
government. As soon as the plans are
approved bids will be advertised for
along the lines embodied In the pros
pectus.
uo a 11 up-vw- wmc oy aicm.
The advertisement will call for bids
for constructing a comprehensive rail
way system for the Philippines with
broad guage track and first class mod
ern equipment in every detail, based
upon American standards. The line to
be built Is Intended to be the finest In
any country In the orient.
The basis for the new railway sys
tem for the Philippines Is the bill passed
by congress last February. This pro
vides that for the purpose of aiding
In the construction of such lines In the
Islands as the Insular government may;
specifically authorize the commission Is
empowered to enter Into a contract!
with any railroad company. It further
Is provided that the total liability of
the government shall not exceed an;
annual amount of $1.200.0(H) and the;
guarantee of Interest Is limited to thirty'
years.
F. A. Delano Working on Prospectus
F. A. Delano, recently elected vice
president of the Wabash railroad and
formerly general manager of the Bur
lington system, has been at work dur
ing the past two months drawing tip
the prospectus which will govern the
bidding for the government contract.
His preliminary work is nearly com
pleted.
The government lias not gone ahead
with this preliminary work without
first being aasurred that there would be
plenty of capital forthcoming to build
the railroads. It Is expected eighteen
or twenty syndicates will submit bids
for Ihe work. Assurances have beem
received from financiers and capital
ists.
It was argued by the advocates of
the new railroads that they will save
the government much money by lessen
ing the cost of transporting troops and
supplies. It was said the annual de
crease In expenses on this score will
more than equal the amount guar
anteed as Interest should the lines he
unable to earn a cent beyond enough to
pay the expenses of operating.
Supplies Must Be Imported.
Mr. Delano explained yesterday that
the cost of building the Philippine
roads would not exceed >80,000 a mile.
It would not reach this figure were it
not necessary to import most of the
supplies from Ihe United States. Even
timber must be transported across the
Pacific and he errsoted In order to save
ot from the white ants which infest the
Islands. As an offset to the expense
of transporting supplies Is the cheap
ness of labor in the islands.
ANOTHER STOCK FLURRY
Market Again Had a Little Panic of
the Lawson Kind—Was General
Weakness.
New York. April 26.—Violent ana
feverish lluctuations 111 Ihe prices of
stocks this morning Indicated an un
settled state of speculation. The oper
ators were confused in the interpreta
tion of th« acute weakness with which
the market closed on Thursday last,
before the Easter holidays. The re
turn to the stock exchange list of
Northern Pacific was another confus
ing element. To these were added the
slump In wheat Saturday, indicating
the collapse of the corner, and the Hurry
In the call money market on Thursday.
To add to the uncertainty, the Lon
don stock market was closed today. Ef
forts were manifest to control the
market by supporting special stocks,
which had the effect of steadying Ihe
market. Within fifteen minutes after
the opening Northern Pacific sold at
167'2. This stock has been nominally
quoted at 180. During the first hour
Union Pacifle sold off some 3V4 and a
number o£ other leading stocks a point
or more. The bear operators \vere very
active on the short side, and they over
sold the market and were driven to cov
er during the second hour. This caused
some vigorous rallies, but the recovery
was checked before reaching last
Thursday's closing level, and the mar
ket became very dull and uncertain.
WHEAT STILL TUMBLING.
More Liquidation Carries Cereal Stil
Lower in Chicago.
Chicago. April 26.—The price of
May wheat continued on a wild down
ward plunge here today, sales being
made at one time at 6% cents per
bushel below Saturday's closing figures.
General liquidation was again the fea
ture of an extremely exciting session.
Before the first hour of trading had
elapsed May had fallen to 93% cents,
a sheer drop of 17% cents from Satur
day's high point. At the opening the
prices were off 2 to 4 cents, at 96 to 98
cents.
Buying by Armour & Co. caused a
temporary check to the decline, prices
hovering around 97% cents. Another
break soon occurred, the price dropping
to 93Vi cents. Distant deliveries were
weak, although July was supported
quite vigorously by Armour & Co.
Heavy rains over the entire winter
wheat belt from Nebraska south to the
gulf created bearish sentiment in the
distant futures.
Improved demand was maidfested
during the last hour of trading, and the
market became quite steady. May clos
ing 7 cents lower, at 93 cents, and July
down 2 cents, at 84% @84% cents.
Corn became quite demoralized and
the close was near the lowest point of
the day. May was down 1%@1%
cents, at 46 cents, and July at 46%
•enls. the net loss being lVi cents.
N. P. AT HIGH POINT.
The Stock Released by Northern Se
curities Dissolution Is Quoted
Up to 168.
New York. April 26.—The Northern
Patiftc railroad stock, which has been
released by the distribuation of hold
ings of the Northern Securities com
pany, was traded in on the stock ex
change tiVay for the first time in four
year'. It was quoted at $1.<8@ 1.67%.
• ‘M
LAWSON GOT AWAY
WITH A MILLION
Boston Man Sold Short, AcL
vertised for a Bear Market,
and Promptly Got It.
THEN HE BOUGHT STOCKS
When It Was Over He Put the Million
in His Pocket and Started for
Boston, Giving Wall Street
the Merry Ha Ha.
New York, April 25.—Thomas VV.
Lawson took advantage yesterday of
the psychological moment In the his
tory ot Wall street tor a bear raid, and
carried off profits amounting to almost
a million dollars, according to the
statement of brokers who claimed to
know of his transactions. Seldom
If ever. In the history of the street
have conditions been more propitious
than yesterday. The signing of the
stock tax bill by Governor Higgins;
the near approach of a decisive battle
in the far east: the closing of the stock
exchange Friday and Saturday: the
possibility of trouble over neutrality
between Tapan and prance, which
might draw England: the marvelous
ly high prices of stocks—all these
things rrntrlbuted to the opportunity
which Lawson was shrewd enough to
turn to his advantage.
Brokers all over the street who were
heavy losers were indignantly protest
ing against the action of the board of
governors yesterday in voting to close
the stock exchange for a three days’
holiday in times when conditions are
so unsettled. Many brokers In their
imger openly charged that certain,
members of (he governing committee
were in league with the bear operators.
Prices Took Tumble.
Prices of all stocks broke on an av
erage of about four points and Wall
street, which since the memorable day
In December when Lawson made his
first bear raid, had laughed and joked
about the Bostonian, went to bed to
night trembling under the blow which
he struck and feeling that he had made
good his threats. Tne results today
showed that Lawson has been prepar
ing for weeks for this raid. One story
In the street was that James R. Keene
wit* the man who had helped him to
engineer the deal. Keene's friends de
nied this.
Lawson’s first move was to announce
In an advertisement that a panic was
at hand. He addressed to bank and
trust company managers an appeal be
ginning thus:
You are loaning hundreds ot' millions of
your deposits to stock gamblers upon
i stocks and bonds at prices which in a pan
ic can decline TO to SO per cent, more than
| those at whlrh you have taken them.
This will mean failure to many insti-,
i tutions which hold the people's savings.
The American people are In no mood at:
i present to have their savings sacrificed to
stock gamblers.
Therefore' ' ,
It behooves you to heed when your at
tention is called to present conditions.
This is the purpose and only purpose of
j tills advertisement—that you cannot plead!
| Ignorance when too late.
The Insurance Fight.
And to policyholders of the big In
surance companies he offered some
suggestions, opening up thus:
When my story, "Frenzied Finance,” be-|
gan, 1 said, “The 'System's' votaries who.
run your companies are using your funds
for their personal enrichment.” I said
nothing stronger than this.
A howl of "Liar"’ went up throughout
the country.
Today the highest officers in these com
panies are accusing each other of almost
every crime In the calendar outside of
murder, ami proving it. The president of
llie Equitable says its vice president and
owner has looted the treasury. The vice
president answers by giving back what
he admits he has secured, and charges
that where he too*' tens of thousands, the
other directors an” officers took rniilions
Madc a Huge Cleanup.
This announcement he followed later
In the day with a telegram which was
sent to all the brokers In the country.
Some brokers claimed that Lawson was
shot 300.000 shares of stock at one time.
Lawson, in tils rush to sell stocks short,
even employed Rockefeller's own brok
ers.
It has been known in Wall street,
and. In fact, was publicly announced
by Lawson himself that he has been
short of stocks. Toward the close of
the flay It was learned that Lawson
was buying stocks to cover his short
sales. This buying by Lawson kept the
market somewhat steady toward the
close, and it Is reported that Lawson,
succeeded In covering the greater part’
of his shorts for the day, as well as the
short Interest which he has been car
rying for weeks. By way of comment
on bis day's work. Mr. Lawson sent
out the following telegram: ^
A despetate attempt was made with
Louisville and Nashville to stay the gen
eral decline. One of the most desperate
attempts to hold to an artificially built
structure Wall street has ever witnessed
was tried today. Poor Wall street: It re
fuses to see the hand writing on the ceil
ing. Wall street Is probably permanently
missing Its opportunity, for the ceiling,
may not be there Monday.”
WAS A DRY DAY.
St. Louis Saloon and Barber Shopv
Were Closed.
St. Louis, Mo., April 25.—In response
to the orders of t£e police department
that the Sunday closing law must be
obeyed, saloons and barber shops were
closed here so tight that there were no
back doors open and the front curtains
were drawn, revealing the interiors of
the rooms.
In East St. Louis the saloons were
permitted to be open, but Mayor Cook
had issued a statement to the effect
that all saloons that became disorderly
would be closed instantly.
In St. Louis county notification was
issued several days ago by Sheriff
Herpel that he would enforce the Sun
day closing law yesterday. Several
fights were reported as resulting from,
efforts of the authorities to enforce the
closing. At Wellston one man, whose
name as not learned, was stabbed and
seriously Injured in a saloon fight.
Kansas City, April 24.—With less
than half a dozen exceptions the sa
loons in Kansas City, Mo., and Kan
sas City, Kan., and wine gardens in;
the suburbs were closed again. There,
were a few arrests for direct violation*
of the Sunday closing law.
GOULD BACK OF IT.
Announced in San Francisco That the
New York Financier Is Promoting
the Western Pacific.
San Francisco. April 25.—Local pro-,
moters of the Western Pacific Railway
company make a formal announcement
today that George J. Gould and his.
j overland railroad system are behind
tiie road which will be constructed,
without delay from Salt Lake (Tty Wji
; Ban Francisco. ►
