JURY DISAGREES
IN HARGIS CASE
No Verdict in Trial of Youth
Accused of Murdering His
Own Father.
Irvine, K>\, Dec. 29.—Tlie jury in the
-case of Beach Hargis, charged with the
murder of his father, Judge James j
Hargis, this afternoon reported their
inability to agree and were discharged.
'The jury stood nine for acquittal and
three for conviction.
SAYS CASE MUST
TAKE ITS COURSE
Washington, Dec. 29.—In an official
.-statement issued at the White House
today regarding presidential interfer
-enee. in the cases of Gompers, Mitchell
and Morrison, of the American Federa
tion of Labor, now under sentence for
contempt of court, attention is called
to the fact that cases are still before
the courts; that no matter what the
president's opinion may he as to the
justice of the sentences imposed, he
cannot take any action looking to par
don, or express any opinion as to the
merits of the cases.
Text of Statement.
The text of the statement follows;
“Various appeals have been made to
the president to interfere by pardons
in the case of Mr. Gompers and asso
ciates. Those making the appeals are
unaware of the fact that the matter is
still before the courts. It is a civil
suit between private parties. There
has been no way by which the govern
ment could have Interfered, even if it
iiad desired to do so. Whether the sen
tence of Mr. Gompers and associates
is excessive Is not at present of con
srquonce, because he cannot take any
action or express any opinions while
tlie case is pending before the courts.
When the decision is made, then the
president can promptly consider wheth
er the terms of imprisonment are ex
-of salve or improper, but it is of course
impossible for the president to act
while the appeal is pending, for he has
nothing whatever to act about. The
•courts must finish with the case first.
Tlie defendants are at the present mo
ment at liberty on bail.
Is Watching Case.
"If the defendants see fit to abandon
their appeal the matter will then, of
•course, be brought before the executive,
1n which case it will receive immediate
and most careful consideration. The
defendants have a perfect right to
prosecute their appeal and if unsuccess
ful in the final court then to ask for
pardon or commutation, but as long as
they are prosecuting the appeal the
president has nothing to do with the
matter.
The president lias already instructed
the department of justice to keep him
fully informed as to the progress of
the .case so that in tlie event of it be
coming proper for him he may have
ait his disposal all the facts which will
•enable him to decide whether there was
justification for the sentence, and
whether there was lust occasion for
*ome punishment. But at the present
the president has no more to do wtih
tlie case than with the $29,000,000 fine
Imposed by Judge Landis on tho
Standard Oil company, which is also on
^appeal and concerning whicli the presi
•dent has also been repeatedly asked to
interfere by well meaning persons who
«lid not know that he could not inter
fere while, the matter was still before
•tlie courts on appeal.”
DEVELOPMENTS IN
BIG GRAFT CASE
4 SEVENTEEN ALDERMEN
4 TO BE ARRESTED.
4
4 Pittsburg, Pa., Dec. 29.—According
4 to a report published here tod Ay, 17
4 members of the city council have
4 been notified they are under sur
4 veillance and must not leave the
4 city; that they will be called upon
-4 to answer charges in connection
4 with bribery prosecutions. Another
4 report says these men will be ar
4 rested either today or Monday.
4
44+44f+4
Pittsburg, Pa., Dec. 29.—Andrew Car
t ,i gii was the "angel" who put up
about $150,000 to clean Pittsburg up
morally, according to a well defined
i f port here. This cannot be verified,
nor is it denied by those who should
know.
The story is told at the Duquesne
dub and the Pittsburg club that the
same man who told the Pittsburg con
ditions to President Roosevelt also went
to Andrew Oscrnegle and laid the array
of facts before him. The result was
that he was authorized an expenditure
of $150,0C0 in detective work. etc.
Representatives of the Voters’ league,
t.l:e civic reform organization that pre
cipitated the municipal seandai, caus
ing the arrest of seven members of the
council and two former bankers, today
announced that they have received as
surances of federal government help
in the forthcoming prosecutions. The
department of Justice, representatives
of the Voters' league say, has already
taken steps to thoroughly Investigate
all national banks serving as deposito
„ l ies for city funds.
An air of expectancy prevails here
as to the nature of the next steps to
be taken in the investigation of the
graft scandal. From many rumors it
is believed the investigation will be
thorough and widespread, and that
every person implicated will be In cus
tody by the first of the year. Very lit
tle official information is being given
to the public. Those interested in the
prosecution and defense are holding
numerous conferences, but these meet
ings are behind closed doors.
HIT BY PASSENGER;
SKULL IS CRUSHED
Webster City, la., Dec. 29.—Mrs. K.
A. Carrington was probably fatally in
jured by a Northwestern passenger
train this noon.
She attempted to hurry over a cross
ing ahead of it and was struck. The
impact hurled her BO feet. Her skull
was badly crushed.
BACHELOR FEARS TAX, WEDS.
Montlcello, N. Y., Dec. 29.—Edward
Oreeve, nearly 60 years old, who has
lived like a recluse for several years,
•was married to Miss Fannie Murray, a
comely woman of 20.
"Why did you marry?” his neighbors
at Bushville asked the happy bride
groom. who, they thought, would be
•the last man to wed.
"Well, you see, I have been losing
money lately,” said Greeve, half apolo
getically. “I am certain the bill taxing
bachelors will be passed by the legls
f lature. I have no money to spend fool
ishly. and I think 1 can save money by
vetting married.*
Famous Millionaire
Sugar Refiner Dead
CLAUS SPRECKELS.
San Francisco, Cal., Dec. 29.—Claus
Spreckels, the famous sugar million
aire, died today from pneumoniu, aged
80 years. I
Mr. Spreckels recently returned from
New York. On his arrival home he
was suffering from the effects of a cold I
which developed into pneumonia.
He was born at Lamsted, Hanover,
In 1828. Coming to the United States
in 1847, he was employed at Charles
J ton, S. C., and New York. He went to .
San Francisco in 1856, where he con
ducted a store and later a brewery. He
, established the Bay Sugar refinery in
i 1863, procuring the raw material from
i Hawaii. He invented new refining pro- ,
i cesses, out of which he grew rich. He j
i acquired sugar properties in Hawaii
j and was largely interested In sugar
j beet raising in California. He was a
large owner in the Oceanic Steamship
company, plying between San Fran
[ cisco and Honolulu.
I SEVERAL RUSSIANS KILLED
IN BATTLE WITH POLICE
—-- I
Moscow', Dec. 29.—Baron Cotte, chief
of the secret political police, was killed,
and Colonel Muraki was wounded, in a
fierce encounter today with revolution- |
ists entrenched In a suburban villa.
During the fight several policemen were
killed and others wounded. Troops were
summoned to aid the police. A regular
battle ensued.
The artillery had finally to be brought
up to bombard the villa before the rev
olutionists were subdued. The occur
rence is the most serious since the up- i
rising In December, 190G.
The leaders of a revolutionary organ- 1
izatlon w'ere holding a meeting. Th»
police got wind of the affair and sur
rounded the villa with the purpose of
making arrests. As they' approached
the house the revolutionists opened fire.
This resistance was unexpected, and
the police withdrew'. Then the infantry
were sent for, and with this reinforce
ment a second advance was made. The i
police and soldiers had to retire a sec- |
ond time, and it was in this encounter
that Cotte was killed and Muraki
wounded. When the artillery appeared
a few well directed shots put an end
to the trouble.
The losses sustained by the revolu- I
tionists are not vet known, but they ,
were doubtless heavy.
STANDARD REPLIES j
IN OWN DEFENSE
—
' i
Advertises in New York Paper
That “Oil Crowd” Is Being
Abused.
_
New York, Dec. 29.—Under the cap
tion. “Standard Oil Company—A Pro
test and a Warning," the following is
printed in the advertising columns of
the New York World:
26 Broadway, Dec. 19, 1908.—To the 1
Press and Public: Moved by many re- i
cent publicantions of false, misleading 1
and injurious statements regarding its.
acts, motives and associations in busi
ness and otherwise, the Standard Oil |
company, at the risk of tiring' the pub- i
lie by reiteration of a well-founded
complaint, hereby enters a protest and
a warning against all such unauthor
ized and unfounded publications.
It has, for instance, been widely I
stated of late that the Corn Products
Refining company and a proposed cor
porate body to engage in the smelting |
industry are either directly or indirect
ly related to or financed by the Stand
ard Oil company. These and all such I
statements are untrue. The Standard j
Oil company is interested in its many !
industries growing out of tile pro- |
ducing, manufacturing and marketing
of oil and its products, and in no oth
ers.
Another branch of misstatement
lightly indulged in is of the kind attrib
uting outside commercial and specula
tive action to the company in the guise
of “Standard Oil interests." “The
Standard Oil crowd," "the Rockefeller
Interests." "the Standard Oil banks,”
and so on, often backing up these In
ventions by socalled statements of “a
Standard Oil official" (unnamed), "one
close to the Standard Oil," and so
on, through the various shades of
anonymity.
Against these and similar inventions
we take, then, this means of bringing
the matter before the public, for the
public's as well as for the company's
protection, and respectfully insist, as
we have done before, that no credit
whatever be given to any statement
regarding the Standard Oil company’s
views, acts or intentions unless the
same be duly vouched for by an exec
utive official of the company or by its
designated attorneys.
Chas. T. White,
Asst. Sec. of the Standard Oil Company.
James Corrigan.
Cleveland, Ohio, Dec. 29.—Janies Corri
gan, 79 years old. who has been in a flnan- ]
clal struggle witli John D. Rockefeller and !
who since has wrested millions from ore. I
c(ial, vessel and furnace industries, died I
of an operation for appendicitis.
MISSING CASHIER
SEEN IN TEXAS
Fort Dodge, la., Dee. 29.—John
Standring, the absconding cashier ol
the State Bank of Corwith. Ia„ for
whom creditors are preparing to offer
a large reward, is said to have been
seen in El Paso, Tex., by Iowans a few
days ago.
He has been missing since Novem
ber of last year and claims against tha
bank for $20,000 were filed at the first
meeting of the creditors held here yes-1
terday. j
CHRISTMAS TREE
CUSTOM UPHELD RY
FOREST SERVICE
Pinchot Sees No Way 4,000,
000 Trees Can Be Used to
Better Advantage.
Washington. Deo. 29.—The country’s
forests again have been called upon to
supply about 4,000,000 Christmas trees
and again many persons have asked
themselves and havo queried the
United States forest service, "is the
custom a menace to the movement for
forest preservation ?”
In the millions of happy homes over
the country where the younger genera- j
tion has made the Christmas tree the
center of play since early Friday
morning, there are many mothers and
fathers who have given the question
more or less thought. From Sunday
schools and other organizations also, ,
which hold an annual celebration !
around a gayly trimmed evergreen j
for the benefit of the little ones, has j
come the question whether it is con
sistent to urge conservation of forest
resources and then to cut millions ot ,
young trees every year to afford a
little joy in the passing holiday sea
son.
They’re for Use.
“Yes. it is consistent and proper
(hat the custom should be maintained,"
has been the answer of United States
Forester Gifford Pinchot in every case.
“Trees are for use, and there is no
other use to which they could bo put
which would contribute so much to
the Joy of man as their use by tha
children on this one great holiday ol
the year. I
“The number of trees cut for this
use each year is utterly inslgniflcantt i
when compared to the consumption for I
other purposes for which timber is
demanded. Not more than 4,000,000
Christmas trees are used each year,
one in every fourth family. If planted
four feet apart they could be grown
on less than 1,500 acres. This clear
ing of an area equal to a good sized
farm each Christmas should not be ai
subject of much worry, when it is
remembered that for lumber alone it
is necessary to take timber from an
area of more than 100,000 acres every
day of the year.”
LILLEY~CAMPAi’GN~
CASE IS BEGUN
New- Haven, Conn.. Dec. 29.—The
election court to inquire into the cam
paign and election expense of Go v
ernor-elect George L. Lilley, opened
here today upon the application of i
George L. Fox, a schoolmaster of this
city, under the provisions corrupt '
practices act passed by the general
assembly in 1905. The sitting of this
court is of exceptional interest, not
alone to politicians, but to the legal
fraternity as it is claimed this is the
first election court to set up in this
country.
At the November election Mr. Lil
ley was opposed by a faction in his
own party. The strength of this an
tagonism was shown by the fact that
while Taft carried the state by over
44,000 plurality, Lilley had slightly
less than 16,000. The present inquiry,
should It reach the stage to taking of
evidence, is expected to go back into
the canvass for nomination in the
spring and summer.
The campaign expenses of Mr. Lil
ley were returned In a certificate to j
the secretary of state at $23,000, those
of Judge Robertson, democratic nom- j
inee for governor, at $33,000, while |
the anti-Lilley republicans spent over !
$15,000.
HOW TO KILL LIONS,
BY FAMOUS HUNTER
London, Deo. 29.—Selous, the lion kill
er, explained today that while he col
lected the other equipment for Roose
velt's hunting expedition and will go
with him to Mombassa, where they will
arrive April 22, they will not shoot to
gether in East Africa and Uganda.
"President Roosevelt’s party,” said
Mr. Selous, at his home at Worplesdon,
"will go one way. 'William Mcltfillan
will join me in striking out another.
There is no doubt, however, that we
may come into touch more than once
with the president's party.
“Nearly 150 native bearers will carry
the president's equipment. They will
travel for a week or 10 days, making
for some point where game may be
found. There they will halt for a week
or even a month at a time. In East
Africa they should find plenty of
giraffes, antelope, buffalo and lions.
"In hunting lions you go out on
horseback early in the morning on the
high plateau in hope of catching a lion
who has delayed too long feeding and
cannot get back to cover. When you
overtake the beast he generally comes
to a halt and catches you growling. At
the first moment you slip off your horso
and shoot him. Sometimes the lion will
charge at you. If he does you gallop
out of the way and await another op
portunity. If he charges while you are
off your horse and you fail to hit him
as he comes at you. it may not be a
delightful experience.”
PRISON CONGRESS
BEING PROMOTED
Washington, Dec. 29. — Secretary
Root, in the best sense of the word, is
an international promoter. He has pro- j
moted the cause of peace and arbltra- I
tlon; he has promoted friendly and
commercial relations with the South
American republics; not by letter
merely, but by making a tour of that
continent in person. And now he is
the natural and official promoter of
another great international enterprise
which is philosophic and human. The
International Prison congress, an or
ganization as wide in its scope as the
International Tuberculosis congress
which met in Washington in the fall '
is coming to this country in 1910, and I
Secretary Root has asked congress' for [
$50,000 to show the European delegates
some of the best things achieved in
the United States in improved methods
of dealing with crime. It's an inter
esting history, that of the International
Prison congress.
MAYOR OF A WYOMING
TOWN FREEZES TO DEATH
Sheridan. Wyo., Dec. 29.—The body of
John S. Taylor, who was serving his fifth
term as mayor of this city, was found In
a clump of bushes a mile north of town,
where he had evidently frozen to death.
He went to Denver some time ago ands
returned to Sheridan Sunday night. When
he left the train here has was seen to start
north and to stagger as if in a dazed con
dition. Search was made for him, with
the result that his body was found yes-,
terday. He was 38 years of age and leaves
a widow and two children.
TARIFF FRAMERS HAVE j
BIG TASK IN SIGHT
—
With Testimony Completed,
j They Must Now Put the j
Measure Together.
Washington, Dec. 28.—The tariff !
framers have some idea of the diffi
cult and complex questions involved
in the problem of revising the pres- '
ent tariff law. With over 6,000 pages
of testimony, voluminous reports and
thousands of letters giving informa
tion of great value in connection with
the tariff the subcommittee which will
draft the new bill will be occupied for
a number of weeks In revising the
present schedules.
The tariff framing committee, which
consists of the republican members of
the ways and means committee, held
two meetings today. Much routine
matter and details concerning "sched- \
ule A” of tile tariff were disposed of. |
"Schedule A” provides for duties on
chemicals, oils and paints and as there
were few requests for changes, this
schedule will probably occupy much j
less time by the committee than some !
of the others.
As the members of the subcommit- '
tee have been sworn to secrecy post- j
tivo information as to the conclusions
reached is hardly obtainable. It is
understood that the committee will
reserve for later consideration, those :
paragraphs about which there is any
serious difference of opinion and that it !
will summon further witnesses when- ;
ever it desires more information. The
general impression is that the com
mittee will make few changes in the ,
chemical schedule.
LABOR WILL FIGHT
TO BITTER END
Washington, Dec. 28.—The whole j
question of sentencing tor contempt of
court Gompers, Mitchell and Morrison
by Justice Wright yesterday, will be 1
threshed over at a meeting of the ex- j
ecutive council of the Federation of
Labor, to be held here January 11.
This meeting will be notable, un- |
doubtedly, because the vital issues af- j
fecting labor are involved in the action
of the court. Resolutions sustaining
the attitude of the leaders of the big j
organization, with its 30,000 odd coun
cils and 2,000,000 members, will be sub
mitted for action. The policy of the
federation, in view of the court's ac
tion and the scathing arraignment car
ried in the decision, will be outlined.
President Gompers was not at his
office today and no information was
given out there as to where he could
be found.
Morrison at Work.
Secretary Morrison, who was given
the lightest sentence of the trio of lead
ers—six months—was at federation
headquarters, however, busy with his
routine duties. Active steps in framing
the fight against the carrying out of
the sentences are not likely until next
week. Morrison said today the plan,
so far as the officials of the federation
themselves foresee, is to do nothing
about it until after the holidays.
"We purpose,” he added, "to exhaust
every effort to sustain our right to free •
press and free speech. I am confident !
the position taken by the federation is
right; that the citizens of this country
Will ratify the attitude of the federa
tion in this matter."
It is not likely that arguments on the
appeal will be heard in the court of
appeals in the District of Columbia un
til March, perhaps not then. The de
fendants have 40 days in which to per
fect their appeal, and upon proper 1
showing the court, in its discretion, ;
may extend the time.
The ruling by Justice Wright was the 1
absorbing topic of conversation here to
day. Both sides are preparing for a
legal battle which it is believed will
add an Important chapter to an already
famous case.
COULDN’T HAVE HAPPENED
IN CANADA, SAYS LEADER
Montreal. Dee. 28,—Alphonse Ver
ville, M. P., president of the Dominion
Trades and Labor congress, says Cana
dian labor is thoroughly disappointed
at the outcome of the Buck conspiracy
case at Washington.
"Sentencing Gompers and his asso
ciates to prison for carrying on a boy
cott by publication could not have hap
pened under the laws of Canada,” says
Mr. Vervllle. "Not because our laws
are less stringent than those in the
United States, but because our Ju
diciary has a wider conception of
equity, due to our sense of British fair
play. American capital has decreed
that Gompers and his associates shall
suffer ignominy and imprisonment and
will succeed sooner or later In placing
them behind bars, but when this hap
pens it will make some issues in Amer
ica which will threaten the peace of
the republic itself. The conviction of
Gompers will create more friends for
organized labor than anything else
could possibly have done. Americans
in bulk will not stand for persecution."
STEVENS’ ASSASSIN
IS FOUND GUILTY
San Francisco, ' 'a 1., Dec. 28.—In
Whang Chong, the Korean, who shot
Durham White Stevens, the Amerl
■ ean diplomat and adviser to the Ko
rean emperor, in this city on March 23
of this year, resulting in Mr. Stevens’
death two days later, was found guilty
of murder in the second degree by a
jury In Judge Cook's department of
the superior court.
The trial was concluded shortly after
9 p m., and the Jury returned a ver
dict a few minutes before midnight.
The entire day and part of the night
session was taken up with arguments
by counsel for both sides. Sentence vf.ll
be passed December 20. The minimum
penalty provided by law is 10 years,
and the maximum life imprisonment.
MRS. SUTHERLAND, WRITER
OF PLAYS, IS DEAD
Boston, Mass., Dec 28.—Mrs. Evelyn
Green leaf Sutherland, a well known
newspaper and magazine writer and
author of several plays, died at her
home* here today, as the result of a
burning accident.
— - ■ ■ ^ i .1.
TRIES GAME HIMSELF.
New York, Dec. 28—George McManus,
the newspaper artist who created the
famous ‘ Newlyweds and Their Baby,”
was married last night to Miss Flor
ence Bergere. of St. Louis, at the Ho
tel Belleclalre.
The couple applied for a license at
the bureau in the city hall yesterday,
and waited for a long time in the city
clerk's ofllee to avoid reporters. In
this, however, they were unsuccessful.
Mr. McManus gave his age as 27.
His bride Is 22.
The bridegroom formerly lived in SL
Louis.
PITTSBURG TAKES
LEAD FOR GRAFT
Disclosures Already Made Put
Record of San Francisco
in the Shade.
Pittsburg, Dec. 28.—Pittsburg has
moved Into first place In corruption and
municipal graft. The record of San Fran
cisco Is left far behind. Furthermore, it
Is stated, the sensational developments
thus far are mere preliminary and that
subsequent proceedings against additional
couneilmen and business men will startle
the whole country.
From the testimony offered it was hint
ed that over three score councilinen are
"easy to reach,” with sums ranging from
$100 to $0. In the passage of ono ordinance
alone it was testified that sixty council
hien had divided $45,000. The evidence
showed thnt the graft system is gigantic.
The evidence was brought out in the hear
ing of the seven councilinen and two for
mer bank officials were arrested on
charges of bribery, corrupt solicitations
and conspiracy. W. W. Ramsey and A. A.
Vllsack. former president and cashier of
the German National bank, were first
arraigned. It was testified that they had
been approached by Councilman Johc
Klein, one of the accused, who stated the
bank would be a depository for the elty’f
funds if It ' would do as other banks have
done.”
Accept $17,500.
After several conferences the bankers
placed $17,500 on a table in a room of the
bank. Councilman Klein and a compan
ion entered the room and left it in a short
time. The bankers then visited the room
and it was said the money was gone. The
bankers were held in $14,000 bail 'each.
The seven councilmen, President Brand
and Members Klein, Stoffel, Wasson, Me
ianey and Ferguson, of the common coun
cil, and Atkinson of the select, were then
called.
The principal witness was Robert Wil
son, a private detective, employed by the
Voter’s league, of Pittsburg. Mr. Wilson
testified that he engaged a room in a
local hotel and cut holes In the door and
walls of an adjoining room.
Then a series of meetings were ar
ranged with councilmen. His assistant,
Herbert Jones, posed as a business man,
desiring certain ordinances passed, and
during his conferences with the council
men, Wilson and a stenographer were 1
stationed in the next room making a full
record of the transactions.
Klein the Leader.
During the conferences, he said, Council
man Klein had much to say regarding
how completely the councils were con
trolled. He also declared that Klein and
Brand each accepted $500 from Jones in
payment .for securing the passage of an f
ordinance.
At another meeting Klein, it was testl- |
fled, told Wilson it was hard to divide
money among the councilmen. Council
man Klein, Mr. Wilson testified said that
the councilmen had different prices. Some,
Councilman Klein told them, wanted $100,
some $75, some $25 and some $6. According
to Councilman Klein, Wilson related, the
35 councilmen were known as “hoodlums.**
It was also possible, the witness said, to
secure some votes in return for a suit of
clothes or street car tickets. All the ac
cused men were held for trial and re
leased on bond.
“Other arrest* are likely to be made
shortly,’ said District Attorney Blakely
last night. Mr. Blakely took charge of the !
cases against the accused councilmen and
bankers immediately after the close of the
preliminary hearing before Police Magis
trate F. J. Brady.
More Arrests Expected.
“Every effort will be made by this of- ;
fice," continued Mr. Blakely, “to complete
the w-ork started by the voters of the
league. The Voters’ league will probably
continue to make informations and cause
arrests of others conected with the scan
dals, but independent of such action the
district attorney’s office will cause any
arrests which the evidence we secure jus
tifies.’’
The next arrests, it is said, probably will
bo in the ranks of those charged with
corrupting the officials.
“Where there is so many bribe takers,
there must also be a number of bribe giv
ers who are equally guilty,’’ was the sig
nificant remark of one of the prosecutors.
There is much speculation as to whether j
the accused members will be allowed to
continue as councilmen.
WIZARD OF FINANCE
RETIRESJROM GAME
New York, Dec. 28.—Broken In health |
at 67—though a giant in stature—un- I
der the tremendous strain of financial
responsibilities, accompanied, as they
have been, by strenuous publicity,
Thomas F. Ryan today announced that,
on the advice of his physicians, he had
withdrawn from official connection
with all but three of the corporations i
with which he has been identified. |
These are the Morton Trust company, i
the National Bank of Commerce, and
the American Tobacco company. He
steps out from active management of j
34 corporations.
This wizard of finance once said he
would retire from business life when
he had made *100,000,000. Estimates as
to his present fortune differ greatly,
i though a common guess in the financial
district hangs between *50,000,000 and
*100,000,000.
Eight Big Deals.
He concentrated his energy on eight
big deals, which together completely
develop corporation history and con
nections. They are:
1. The acquisition of the Broadway
Street railway franchise, after Jacob
Sharp had been sent to prison. This
was the corner stone of the present
Metropolitan system.
2. Gathering in the stock of the Third
Avenue Railroad company and turning
it over to the “Met."
3. Formation of the Metropolitan
Securities company.
4. Obtaining control of the State
Trust company, which loaned Ryan's
' secretary *2,000,000 when funds were
' needed, and the key of many funding
operations.
5. Development of the socalled to
bacco trust.
6. Getting control of the Seaboard
Air Line railway.
7. Formation of the *26.000,000 Na
tional Bank of Commerce.
8. Getting control, by the purchase
of James Hazen Hyde's stock, of the
Equitable Life Assurance society, with ,
its *460,000,000 assets.
MOTHER SHOOTS OWN
DAUGHTER AT PLAY
Chicago, Dec. 28.—While helping her
mother decorate a Christmas tree.
Pearl Locke. 3 years old. picked up an
old revolver, and said to her mother,
Mrs. Earl Locke:
j "Shoot me mamma.'"
The mother, unaware that the re
volver was loaded, pulled the trigger,
shooting the child through the heart,
, killing her instantly.
The revolver had been in the house ;
for six months and only one chamber i
was loaded.
GOMPERS SENTENGEG
TO ONE YEAR IN JAIL
IN CONTEMPT CASE
While John Mitchell Draws
Nine Months and Secretary
Morrison Six Months.
Washington, Deo. 25.—The
famous contempt case of the Buck
Stove and Range company against
President Gompers, Vice President
Mitchell and Secretary Morrison,
of the -American Federation of La
bor, was decided today by Justice
Wright of the supremo court of
the District of Columbia, adverse
ly to the federation officials.
Mr. Gompers was sentenced to
12 months’ imprisonment, Mr.
Mitchell to nine months and Mr.
Morrison to six months.
The case grew out of the alleged
boycott of the company’s product®
and the putting of that company
on the unfair list. The federa
tion’s alleged violation of Judge
Gould’s recent mandamus has at
tracted wide attention.
History of Cass.
The Buck company’s prosecution of
the officials of the federation began In
August, 1907. The original action was
n test case wherein It was sought to
enjoin the labor unions from using
“unfair" and "we don't patronk ■" lists.
In their light against firms and Indi
viduals.
Justice Gould Issued a permanent
Injunction forbidding the publication
of the company’s name In these lists.
Mr. Gompers. in an editorial in tho
Federationist of January last, mado
known his Intention not to obey tho
court’s order, contending the Injunction
issued was In derogation of the rights,
of labor and to abuse the injunctive,
power of the courts. Messrs. Gompers,!
Mitchell and Morrison subsequently'
were cited for contempt. This phase'
of the case has been before the court)
for many months.
Denounces Defendants.
Judge Wright’s decision was a scath
ing denunciation of the defendants.
He recited the conditions antecedlng
the Injunction and referred to the fact
that for 25 years the Bucks plant had
been operated as a I»-hour shop and
always had maintained an "open shop.”
Ho also spoke of the numerical
strength of the American Federation
of Labor with Its 2,098,0*0 members, of
its repeated Indorsement of the boycott
of the Bucks company, through tho
American Federationist. Speeches by
the defendants, letters and circulars
etc.
The court referred to the use of
"wo don’t patronize" list and "unfair"
list of labor organizations. He said
the members of the union were forced
and coerced Into supporting It "wheth
er Individually willing or unwilling,
approving or disapproving," by various
methods. The court read extracts from
a number of resolutions of labor or
ganizations bearing on the Bucks’ case
as tending to show the methods of in
fluential members of unions “and these
methods” the court remarked, “seem
to be known as persuasion."
Had Been Browbeaten.
Customers of the stove company, tho
court said, had been intimidated, brow
beaten and coerced out of their busi
ness relations with their customers "by
direct interference with and boycott of
their ‘customers’ ’ trade relations with
their own customers and the publio
generally.’’
Following an exhaustive discussion
of the conspiracies in restraint of trade.
Justice Wright said: “From the fore
going. it ought to seem apparent to a
thoughtful man that the defendants to
the bill, each and all of them, have
combined together for the purpose of
"bringing about a breach of the plain
tiff’s existing contracts with others,”
"depriving the plaintiff of property,
(value of good will of its business)
without due process of law;” “restrain
ing trade and commerce among sever
al states.” The ultimate purpose of tho
defendants, the court said. In this con
nection. was unlawful. Their concert
ed project an offense against law, and.
It added, they were guilty of crime.
Coming to the question of violation
of the court's injunction. Justice
Wright said: “That Mr. Gompers and
the others had in advance of the in
junction determined to violate it If Is
sued. and hail in advance of the injunc
t:on counselled all members of labor
unions and the American Federation
of Labor and the public generally to
violate it in case it should be Issued,
appears from the following, which ref
erences point out also a general plan
and mutual understanding of organiza
tions and their various members.”
The court here read a mass of ex
tiacts from reports of the proceedings
of the conventions of the federation,
reports and editorials from columns of
the American Federationist, and tha
•labor press generally. In support of hla
statement that there was predetermina
tion to violate.
“Contemptuous Violation.”
The judge pointed out wherein each
defendant had persisted in “contemp
tuous violation” of tho injunction,
“which infringed the constitutional
guaranty of freedom of press and
speech.” He says this defense doesn’t
fill the measure of the ease, that tha
injunction interferred “with no legiti
mate right of criticism or comment
that the law has ever sanctioned and
the respondents' intimation that it
does so Is mockery and pretense.”
The court added that the constitu
tion nowhere conferred the right ta
speak, print or publish.
Pending appeal to the United States
court of appeals for the District of
Columbia, all three defendants were
released on bail, Gompers on $5,000;
Mitchell on $4,000, and Morrison on
$3,000. A local surety company fur
nished the bonds.
$120,000 FOR 15 CAXTONS.
Manchester. Flngland. Dec. 25.—A
Manchester paper states that J. Pier
pont Morgan paid $120,000 for the 15
c'axtons, part of the famous library of
l.ord Amherst, of Hackney, recently
disposed of at public auction.
WOMAN RIFLE EXPERT
BRINGS DOWN WOLF
Yankton, S. D.. Dec. 25.—Mrs. Robert
O'Neill, of James River, a very clever
shot with a rifle, brought down a wolf
near her husband's farm Wednesday
morning Mrs. O’Neill mn across the
wolf while out with her 22 rifle and
got him right behind the shoulder In
a businesslike way. The wolf was
: bowled over dead at the first shot.
Fted lights can be seen at a greater*
[distance than green.
