Ifl ACTS ON THE DEFENSE CAUSE OF THE CUBAN REBELS IS NOT HOPELESS. The Insurrection Strong: and Dally Gaining- Ground A Letter From the Island Sets Forth the Situation Plainly Revolutionists Heretofore Humane America to Be Appealed to for Belllg rent Rights Losses of Spain Thus Far. Spain on the Defense. Chicago, Aug. 31. Joaquin A. Ver gas, ex-Mexican consul here, has re ceived a letter from a friend near to the high Spanish officials in Havana. It is dated August 22, and has this to say of the progress of the insurrection on that island: "The insurrection is strong and daily gaining ground. As a proof, ever since the very beginning the government forces are the ones who are on the defensive, while the insurgents are the attacking party. Spain began active measures to quell the rebellion February 24 last with an army of over 70.000 men, regulars and volunteers. Of these, though, by battle and disease, she has lost in six months about 1 8,000 men. In some localities the troops have found them selves in such perilous situations that many of the soldiers and some of the officers have suicided, while others have lost their reason. The Cubans have fought with unexampled bravery, and have so far conducted themselves with manliness and honor. For in stance, the Spaniards left their wounded comrades on the field to die. They are taken in and cared for by the Cubans, and when restored are set at liberty. But this humane conduct is not likely to last, for Martinez Cam pos' party is continually working on the Cubans to get them to institute a veritable reign of terror. If that hap pens, the torch will bo applied broad cast over the whole island and no Spaniard will then be spared." THIRTEEN MEN DROWNED. Two Colorado Klines Engulfed by a Hushing Torrent. Central Citv, CoL, Aug. 31. The accidental flooding of the Americus and Sleepy Hollow mines yesterday afternoon caused the death, it is be lieved, of thirteen miners. Every ef fort is being made to rescue the unfor tunate men, but little" hope is enter tained. A little after 3 o'clock the water in the lower workings of Fisk mine, east of the main shaft, broke through the old workmen of a vein that has not been worked for a num ber of years. Coursing eastward it struck the Americus, where two Italian miners, whose names have not been learned, were at work in the lower part of the shaft. They were both drowned. In its course the water diverted to the Sleepy Hollow mine, the easterly por tion of the Fisk vein. Fourteen men were working in the Sleepy Hollow, three of whom escaped. A courier was sent to the adjacent mines and all the workmen escaped. The rescaer who first descended in the bucket. Mr. H. P. Risk, was found at the 330 foot level. On reaching the surface he was almost in an insensible state. Other volunteers went down afterward, but were net successful in reaching a lower point in the shaft, owing to the raising of the water. Ex tra water buckets were sent for and brought to the mine, which are now working with a view to lowering the water. GUMRY OWNERS BLAMED. They Are Censured for Employing an Incompetent Engineer. Denver, CoL, Aug. 31. The cor oner's jury, after six davs' investiga tion of the Gumry hotel disaster, made its report last evening. It says that the testimony was conflicting and that it is impossible to fix the responsibility for the disaster on any one person, but that the owners, Peter Gurury and II. C. Grenier, were blamable for re quiring of their engineer sixteen hours' work out of twenty-four, and for em ploying an inexperienced engineer, whose habits were dissipated and un reliable. Engineer Hellmuth Loescher, the re port says, had been drinking on the night of the disaster, and further he had not examined the safety valve to the boiler for two months, proving him to be unfit to occupy any position of responsibility. The city boiler in spector is censured for failing to in spect the boiler after recent repairs were made upon it. The report closes with a recommendation tnat an or dinance be passed regulating the use of steam boilers. LOVE POTION POISON. A South Dakota Girl Xearly Kills the Object of Her Affections. Sioux City, Iowa, Aug. 31. For some time Lena Dahl, daughter of a farmer living near Westfield, S. D., had loved Henry Halseth, a young and prosperous neighbor. Last week she visited a medium and bought from her an alleged love potion. Tuesday she succeeded in putting the stuff into a bottle of cold coffee, which he took with his lunch to the fields where he was harvesting. Then she watched him from behind a hedge. At noon he drank the coffee. Soon afterward Halseth became seriously ill. A few drops of the liquor still 'remained in the bottle and a brief investigation showed that strychnine entered large ly into its composition. The fortune teller decamped when she heard what had happened. The girl has not been arrested nor has she won Ualseth's love. BANKER FRANCE DEAD. The St- Joseph, Mo., Financier, Stricken Suddenly 'With Heart Disease. St. JosEm, Mo., Aug. 31. Charles B. France, for many yeans president of the State National bank of this city and one of the richest men in this city, died suddenly this morning. flis death was entirely unexpected and was due to heart disease. He was 55 years old. He leaves a wife and two chil dren, who will Inherit one of the rich est estates in the Platte purchase. OUR PRODUCTS ABROAD. Comments and Criticisms of the Amer ican Consul at Liverpool. Washington, Aug. 31. The mar kets for United States products in Great Britain are reviewed in detail in recent consular reports. At Liverpool cattle from this country are re ported as superior to the native cattle, the latter including many immature and young animals slaugh tered for food and also a greater pro portion of old animals. Consul Neal at Liverpool reports, however, that sheep from tha United States and other coun tries do not compare favorably with the British, lacKjng taste and tender ness, and it is suggested by experi enced men that this might be greatly improved by shipping the sheep young er, say 1 or 2 years old. Large quantities of apples are re ceived from various countries of Europe, but the importations appear to be regulated by the size of the ap ple crop in the United States. Ameri can apples command the highest prices. Forty-five per cent of the wheat and ninety per cent of the flour in the Liverpool consular district come from the United States. Consumers depend to a large extent on the importations of bacon tnd ham from the United States and Canada. The strongest objection made by the Liverpool trade to hog meats packed in the United States is that of insuffi cient curing. The consumption of American canned meats is falling off and that of Australia is increasing, due largely to relatively high prices of American goods. Consul Neal recom mends that the United States make more of the finest goods for export to compete with other supply sources. SEIZED BY GERMANY. An Amcricau Citizen Thrown Tnto Prison at Hamburg:. Decatur, Ind., Aug. 31. R. M. Romberg, a prominent livery man of this city, left here about two months ago to visit his old home at Hamburg, Germany. Word has just been re ceived here that he has been taken by the German officials and sent to prison for twelve years. The crime with which he is charged is that of whip ping an official in the army prior to his coming to this country. Romberg came here about twelve years ago, and has during his stay here accumulated quite a fortune, lie is a prominent member of the Democratic county cen tral committee, lie has a wife and five small children here who are wild over the news. FIVE RECEIVERS NAMED. Judge Sanborn's Order in the St. Joseph and Grand Island Matter. Omaha, Neb., Aug. 31. The order of Judge Sanborn of the United States circuit court in the case of the Central Trust company of New York against the St. Joseph and Grand Island has been filed in the circuit court of Ne braska. The order provides that the five Union Pacific receivers be ap pointed receivers of all the property and franchises of the companj', and i directed to maintain and operate such j lines and property until otherwise or dered by the court, as a part of the Union Pacific system. Rebel Reverses Reported. Havana, Aug. 31. General Antonic Macco attacked Plantation Union near San Luis. The garrison of the fort, fifty-nine in number, for three hours sustained the fire of the insurgents, who finally retired, leaving among the killed Lieutenant Juan Vega and among the wounded Captain Marces Ramier, who died soon afterwards. Six sharpshooters and swordsmen of the command of Lieutenant Colonel Tejera recently succeeded in ambush ing and killing the insurgent Lieuten ant Rablo Lanonde. The insurgents succeeded in making their escape through the country districts, but troops are in pursuit. A Windfall for a Rank. Painesvillk, Ohio, Aug. 3i. When the Painesville Savings bank collapsed four years ago amcng the assets found was 5250,000 worth of stock in a West ern mine. At that time the mine was thought to be worthless, but it is pay ing a fair dividend, and the stock is nearly at par. The indications are that the depositors in the wrecked bank will secure a good dividend, with the prospects that ultimately they may receive their deposits back in full. Salvation Army Cavalry. Denver, CoL, Aug. 31. The Salva dion army of Denver organized a caval ry corps of young women yesterday and last night Brigadier General French of St. Louis dedicated the new branch of the service at the First Bap tist churoh, which was hardly large enough to accommodate the crowd. This corps enjoys the distinction of be ing the only mounted Salvation army fighters in the world. The Wrong Man Was Killed. Grand Rapids, Mich., Aug. 31. John Smalley, the supposed train rob ber, killed by deputy sheriffs at Mc Bain, was, it has been learned, at Brinton visiting his old neighbors last week at the time of the hold-up and until after the killing of Detective Powers in this. city. The train rob bers and the murderer of Detective Powers are still at large and the offi cers have as yet obtained no definite clue as to their identity. White Caps to be Prosecuted. Excelsior Springs, Mo., Aug. 31. Nothing has been heard from the two men who were taken from the city jail here and whipped Tuesday night The colored people are highly in censed and have taken steps to have it legally investigated. CONDENSED DISPATCHES. The steamer Bawnmore, ashore in Oregon, is a total loss. Rain deluged the Johnson county, Kan., fair exhibits at Olathe. The Kentucky Democratic state com mittee issued an address to the party, pleading for harmony. It is said that the administration is going to turn down General Miles in selecting a successor to General Scho fleld. Four prisoners escaped from the Btoddard county, Missouri, jail by &w lag the bars in two. THE NEW COMMANDER A KENTUCKIAN CHOSEN CHIEF OF THE TEMPLARS. He Was Elected by a Practically Unani mous Vote Pittsburg Selected as the Place for the Next Knoampment Rain Somewhat Dampens the Enjoyment of the Knights Points of Interest Visited abont Boston. The New Commander. Boston, Aug. 30. The grand en campment of Knights Templar, at its session this morning, elected Right Eminent Sir Warren Larue Thomas of Kentucky, grand master to succeed Most Eminent Sir Hugh McCurdy. Three hundred ballots were cast, of which the successful candidate re ceived 295. Very Eminent Sir Reuben H. Lloyd of San Francisco, was chosen deputy grand commander. Pittsburg was then chosen on the first ballot as the conclave city in 1808. The following officers were elected: Deputy grand commander. Very Emi nent Sir Reuben II. Lloyd of San Francisco; grand generalissimo, Very Eminent Sir Henry D. Stoddard of Texas; grand captain general, Very Eminent Sir George M. Moulton of Illinois; grand senior warden, Very Eminent Sir Henry W. Rugg of Rhode Island; grand junior warden. Very Eminent Sir W. B. Melish of Cincin nati, Ohio; grand treasurer, Very Emi nent Sir II. Wales Lines of Meriden, Conn., re-elected. A dull gray sky and a rain-soaked earth rather discouraged the Knights when they turned out for the day. Black and white plumes and closely fitting uniform coats gave way to fa tigue caps and business suits. Out-of-town excursions were as numerous and as attractive as yesterday. Golden Gate commandery of San Francisco visited Brock on. where the members were en'-rtuined by Bay State com mander. Cambridge commandry took its quests, Washington of Atchi son, Kan., on a trip to Silver Springs, R. I., for a fish dinner. The Knights of Arkansas and Texas, with their ladies, were welcomed at Lowell by the directors of the Southwestern Te'.fgraph and Telephone company. Luncheon was served at Lake view, anl the party was escorted down the Mcrrimac va'.le- to Lawrence. Some of the Arkansas cominanderies and thoe from Toronto, Canada, visited Worcester as the guests of the Wor cester county commandery To-night the exolus of knights be gan, several cominanderies leaving for home. Large numbers will go to morrow, but many of the delegations, especially those from Western states, will disband her.. TRAIN ROBBERS SENT UP. Quick Justice Meted Out to the Nebraska liaudits Given Ten Years. North Platte, Neb., Aug. 30. Hans and Knute Knuteson, the two young Nebraska farmers who held up the overland express on the Union Pacific at Brady Island one week ago, were taken to the penitentiary last evening, with a sentence of ten years each for the crime. They pleaded guilty. The proof of guilt was absolute. They said they were impelled to do the work by the knowledge - that a great fortune might easiij be made. They s-aid they secured Ie.-s than S50 from the safe which they blew open in the express car. The through safes, which resisted their efforts, were filled with treasure. The boys have worked on farms in the sand hills several years and were not re garded as desperate characters such as their bold conduct in holding up an express train crowded with people in dicates them to be. They said they had been camping near Gothenburg for more than a week previous to the robbery, and one of them, Knute. did considerable trading, visiting the stores so often that he became well known to several of the merchants. They took the wheels otf the wagon in which they had been sleeping, and, together with the body concealed them in the woods near camp where they were afterward discovered. Saddling the two horses they rode toward Brady Island, at which point the train was boarded. The horses were con cealed in a deserted barn about two miles east of the place where the rob bery afterward took place. Then they proceeded to hold up the train in the most approved stylo. PANIC IN A CIRCUS TENT. Cloudburst and Tornado at Uloornlngton, 111. Two Lives Lost. Bloomington, 111., Aug. 30. A cloudburst, accompanied by a tornado, swept the vicinity of Bloomington yes terday afternoon, raging torrents filling the dry water courses in a few minutes, sweeping away trees and the tents of the Wild West show at the fair grounds. Five thousand people were panic stricken and drenched, but miraculously escaped injury and death. A ravine near Miller park filled and overflowed Morris avenue. Mesdames Riddle and Roberts, of Ileyworth were driving home with daughters, aged 2 and 7 years, re spectively, when their buggy was swept from the bridge by the flood. The children were drowned and the women rescued with difficulty. Streams in the country have filled the valleys so as to almost swim horses. Hundreds of Houses Burned. Amsterdasi, Aug 30 . Fire at Hooge, Sewaluwe, Brabant, has destroyed 343 houses. Fifty families have been ren dered homeless. No loss of life is re ported. The Lead Prod nctlon Increasing Washington, Aug. 30. A bulletin ias been issued by the geological sur vey, giving the production of lead for the first six months of 1895. It shows that the total production was 103,000 tons, of which 83,000 tons were of de silverized lead and 18,000 tons of soft lead. Seventeen thousand five hun dred tons of this were refined in bond, The remainder being obtained from American base bullion. The tcrtal pro duct is an increase of 4,500 top over the first six months of 1894, - n In crease of 6,000 tons from ' six months of 1893. NEBRASKA IRRIGATION LAW. It is to be Tested in View of a Recent Judicial Decision. Omaha, Sept. 1. Consternation has spread among irrigation promoters of the west owing to a late decision of Judge Ross of the United States court for California, in which he takes the startling position that irrigation bonds ! are worthless because issued under an unconstitutional law. The decision has caused a stir not only in the state of California, where millions of property are affected, but in many of the western states which have copied after the Wright law of California. Nebraska is in this list along with Oregon, Washington, Utah, Kansas and North and South Dakota. Efforts to test the constitutionality of Nebraska's irrigation law are now being actively pushed. At Ogalalla the case of the Alfalfa irrigation dis trict is soon to be argued. This case involves the issuance of bonds upon abont 7,000 acres of land. The princi ple established in the decision of this case will be eagerly watched for by the promoters of enterprises of even greater magnitude, particularly by the promo ters of the Golden district, extending through Brown, Rock and Holt coun ties and covering 500,000 acres of Nebraska's choicest lands. The uniform decision of the state courts has been favorable to the laws relating to the construction of ditches by public corporations organized with powers similar to those of a municipal corporation, within the particular sphere in which the irrigation work is undertaken. When, therefore, about two weeks ago Judge Ross in the United States court handed down an opposite opinion an outcry was raised .such as is seldom heard. The columns of the western press teemed with adverse comments. Judge Ross undertook to hold that such an irrigation enterprise was not a public improvement, of pub lic moment, public concern and for pub lic purposes. He decided that the law conflicted with the first section of the fourteenth amendment to the federal constitution, which provides that "no state shall deprive any person of life, liberty or property without due process of law. " Without considering the stu pendous benefits to the land and the almost fabulous increase of property valuations and of population, he simply stated that the law was for the benefit of those whose land needed to be over flowed, and so was of private concern. The effect of such a decision if left to stand would be to completely overturn irrigation schemes. Even now the Al falfa district, which has prepared its bonds for issuance, withholds them, awaiting the determination of the Ne braska courts, and possibly of the United States court. George W. Shields of this city will go to Ogalalla to argue in favor of the irrigation law passed at the last session of the legislature. He appears for the Alfalfa irrigation cor poration and believes that the courts will not follow the late decision of Judjre Ross. "The difference between the opera tions of a public and a private corpora tion in irrigation matters," says Mr. Shields, "is remarkable. The private corporations are usually composed of foreigners and their enterprise costs from ?G to S30 per acre. Our enterprise will cost but S3 per acre. Idaho irri gates .100,000 acres in one district. It costs S3 and twenty miles of the canal went through solid rock. We will probably argue this question historic ally and show that in all ages irriga tion has been considered of immense public utility." A NATIONAL WATERWAY. Report of the Board of Engineers on the Chicago Drainage Canal. Washington, Aug. 30. The report of the board of engineers, consisting of Colonel Toe and Majors Ruffner and Marshall, appointed by the secretary of war to examine and report the probable effect of the Chicago drainage canal upon lake harbor levels, was made public by Secretary Lamont yes terday. The board suggests that the canal is not solely a state affair, but says that as soon as it shall be used for navigation it will become a na tional waterway, and that federal su pervision must be extended to it in due time. The board discusses at some length the water levels of the Great lakes, pointing out that these levels are a delicate matter and sub ject to many changes. The report makes no definite sug gestions except to point out the neces sity for actual measurement to deter mine the effect of the canal upon the lake and harbor levels. EXPORTATION OF BEEF. Secretary Morton Issues an Important Order on the Subject. Washington, Aug. 30. An import ant order giving full protection to foreign consumers of American meat products was issued by Secretary Mor ton yesterday. It will prevent the ex portation of any beef that is not in spected, and will cause the exporters of horse meat to mark the packages that the nature of the contents shall be apparent. Federal Officers Complain. Washington, Aug. 30. A decision made by the comptroller of the treas ury that the statute allowing double fees to United States marshals, dis trict attorneys and clerks ' in the far Western states and territories of Washington, Oregon, California, Wyo ming, Montana, Idaho, North and South Dakota, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah and Nevada did not apply to mileage, has caused much dissatisfac ion among those officials. CONDENSED DISPATCHES" The beer war in Chicaco has been settled and prices have been advanced. Charles Ray shot Mr. Williams dead on the street in Middlesboro, Ky. The mutilated body of a; murdered man was found near South McAlester, Ind. Ter. Mississippi's first bale of cotton was sold at Greenville bringing ten cents a pound. John Wren wick of Shelby ville, Ind., who had been drinking, shot and' killed his mother. MAXWELL IS CHOSEN. THE POPULIST STATECONVEN TION AT LINCOLN. Maxwell Nominated for Supreme Judge and Ella W. Peattie and James II. Boydston for Regents A Brief and Pointed Platform Some Afterthought Resolutions Names of the State Cen tral Committee. Nebraska Populist State Convention. For Surtme Judge SAMUEL MAXWELL For Regents of the State University EL I A W. PEATTIE JAMES II. BOYDSTON Lincoln, Neb., August 29. The pop ulist state convention met here yester day and placed the above ticket in nomination. The convention was called to order by J. II. Edmisten, chairman of the state central commit tee. The chairman said that the first busi ness before the convention would be the election of a temporary chairman. A. E. Sheldon of the Chadron Advocate nominated Ed L. Heath of Rushville. The nomination was seconded by Dr. Steele of Hastings. Delegate Cohen of Douglas moved to make the nomina tion unanimous and he was elected by acclamation. The chair announced the following as the committee on credentials: W. L. Kirke, Antelope; W. E. Brown, But ler; O. Nelson, Colfax; E. J. Hall, Hall; F. Lu Laj'ton, Lancaster. Mr. McKeighan gave some advice about a platform, which he believed should be short aud his, if he were to make it, would simply declare for free and unlimited coinage of silver at the ratio of 10 to 1, without waiting for England or any other nation to con sent; for a supplemental issue of paper money and against the enforcement of any gold contract, and the regulation of corporations. Senator Allen was called'to the stage and was warmly greeted as he came to the front. He said in part that the populist party would, he firmly be lieved, come into power in the national government as well as in the state. It was growing and cementing itself as it grew. He had seen the former haughty and proud democratic party torn and rent in twain by an issue that was first raised by the populists. Chairman Heath stated that when he was elected as temporary chairman it was with the understanding that Sen ator Allen would be named as perma nent presiding officer, and if he was elected he would positively decline to serve. Senator Allen was nominated and took the chair. A gavel made by populists of Califor nia was presented to the chairman. The tollowing were named as the committee on resolutions: W. A. Mc Keighan, J. N. Gafiin, W. A. Jones, J. II. l'owers, II. G. Stewart and Wilbur F. Bryant. E. C Bewick's motion, that all reso lutions be referred to this committee without reading, was adopted, and at 6 o'clock the convention took a recess for an hour and a half. A motion was made that the conven tion proceed to nominate a candidate for judge of the supreme court. The ballot resulted: Maxwell GG5, I). I Care' 3, Magney 39. A motion to make the ballot formal and Samuel Maxwell declared the unanimous choice was made. Nominations of candidates for re gents of the state university being in order, I. A. Sheridan nominated James H. Boydston of Red Willow; E. C. Bewick nominated Dr. II. M. Case beer of Lancaster and James Kinney nominated Mrs. Elia W. Peattie of Omaha. On the call of counties the vote stood. Casebeer 21SJ, Mrs. Beat tie '!$, Boydston 575. Mrs. Peattie and Boydston were declared the nom inees for regents. W. A. McKeighan was made national committeeman in place of Chamberlain. The state central committee was au thorized to fill vacancies. PLATFORM IN BRIEF. The committee on platform reported the following, which was adopted: "We the people's party of the state of Nebraska, in convention assembled, do put forth the following platform of principles. We hereby reaffirm the principles of the Omaha platform We declare ourselves in favor of strict economy in conducting the affairs of the state government in all its branch es. We believe the judicial affairs of the state should be conducted on the principles of justice and honesty, with out partisan basis and in the interests of the people." In addition to the above platform several resolutions were presented. The first of these was one pledging the the convention to the initiative and referendum. Wilber Bryant, T. II. Tibbies and Jules Schonheit opposed this and J. II Powers and several others supported it. The resolution was adopted. The following was read: We de nounce as unpatriotic and un-American any secret oath-bound organization having for its chief object the creation of a religious test for public office and declare ourselves to be unreservedly in favor of the maintenance of a non-partisan, non-sectarian public school sys tem." George A. Abbott offered as a substi tute for the resolution: "The populist party is opposed to any religious test as a qualification for office or for member ship in the party." The substitute was adopted without a dissenting vote. One resolution recommending a re duction of all salaries of officers, state and national, was adopted. One in dorsing Governor Holcomb's position in relation to the penitentiary contract and his economical administration of state affairs was adopted. FLOTSAM AND JETSAM. A grocer in Sandusky, Ohio, sells eggs by the peck. Horse-meat was used in Oregon, as a regular diet, by the old missionaries, from 1S33 to 1844. In Lapland the men and women dress exactly alike, with tunics, belted at the waist, and tight breeches. Maxim's cavalry gun weighs thirty pounds. It can be strapped on a sol dier's back, and will fire 700 shots a minute. The web of the common garden-sptder Is so fine that 30,000 of them, laid side by side, would not cover an Inch in width. STORY OF DARK CRIMES. Convict Allen Tells of His Connection ! With Holmes. Little Rock, Ark., Aug. 29. J. C. Allen, alias Caldwell, the convict serv ing a ten years' sentence here fcr horse stealing, has made a statement to Warden Moore in regard to H. IL Holmes and his operations. The war den believes the man knows a great deal more than he has told, but he had the statement put in writing, read to Allen and verified in every particular. He first met Holmes under the name of Pratt in Tennessee in the fall of 1892. About three weeks afterward Holmes, Pietzel, Minnie Williams and Allen met in St. Joseph and Minnie's Fort Worth property was deeded to Allen in the name of A. E. Bond. The deal was made with the understand ing all around that it was to be swind ling operation After making trips to Leadville and Denver they went to Fort Worth. "Pietzel's conduct at Fort Worth caused Holmes to send him to Kansas City. While in Kansas City Pietzel wrote several threatening letters to Holme, in which he said that he would turn up all the rascality unless Holmes sent him money. Pietzel was furnished money three times sent by me at Holmes' request. Holmes vis ited Pietzel at Kansas City to get him to sign the necessary papers to secure a loan of glG,000 on the Fort Worth property. While Pietzel was in Kan sas City, Holmes and Pat Quinlan, who had joined us at Fort Worth a short time before we left that place, had several talks about putting Pietzel out of the way, because Holmes had be come afraid of him on account of his drinking too much and knowing too much. (It was known to us all that Pietzel carried a S10,000 life in surance policy). At our last talk upon this subject, three days before leaving Fort Worth, it was understood that Pietzel was to be killed. I was selected to assist Holmes in doing the job, but in what manner it was to be done was not definitely settled, only that Holmes remarked that he had something thai would make the job easy, and a large trunk was purchased in Fort Worth in which to place Piet zel's body after being killed. At this point nolmes patted me on the back and said: 'Mascot, it is $10,000 and a trip to Long Branch, and from there to California and more buildings. That night I advised Holmes to quit the business, as he had enough money not to resort to murder. lie replied that he had been at the business so long that it had become perfectly natural to him, and he would not quit it. "The plan agreed upon to dispose of Pietzel was that we wjre to meet him in St. Louis and together go from there to Chicago, where he was to be fixed.' It was between Fort Worth and Denison that Holmes told me that I must have my life insured for 810,000 in favor of ray little niece. Remembering the large trunk bought for Pietzel's body, 1 determined to part company with Holmes, which I did at Denison, and I have never seen him since, but received as many as three letters from him. "The last time I saw Minnie Will iams was at our meeting in St. Joseph. Holmes told her that she must leave the United States for a period of three or four years. .India was agreed upon as the country to which she should go. I went to the depot with her, while Holinos bcught her ticket and checked her baggage, but where to I did n"t know. While at Fort Worth I r ; three letters from Minnie Williams . Holmes. They purported to be from India, the place I have forgotten. If Minnie Williams is dead she has been put out of the way since this excite ment was gotten up in regard to Holmes. "The building in Chicago known as the 'Castle' was erected especially for a 'death trap.' and during my associa tion with Holmes 1 was in it often, and in fact occupied a room there. A stranger to the city during the world's fair was decoyed into the castle and murdered for his money. He did not have as much money as Holmes thought only S3, 700. A bright little boy was enticed into the casrie during the fair and held in a room for five days for a reward for his recovery. No reward being offered they were afraid to turn him out and the gas was turned into his room at night and he was suffocated. I could mention other such cases of crime com mitted in the 'castle' and discussed in my presence, but these are sufficient ex'cept one, and that was of Nannie Williams. The cause of her killing, as explained by Holmes, was that one of the girls must be put out of the way and that he could manage Minnie easier than he could Nannie. Minnie Williams was crazy in love with Holmes and she was jealous of her sis ter, as nolmes was paying her some attention too. He took particular pains to increase her jealousy to work her up to the point of putting Nannie out of the way." Allen concluded by saying that every word in his statement was true and that he did not make it to secure a pardon; that he knew Governor Clarke too well to believe that he would issue a pardon unless the evi dence would break Holmes' neck. Welcome fo Bishop Qogan. Kansas City, Mo., Aug. 29. Bishop James J. Hogan of the diocese of Kan sas City, returned last night from a year's absence in Europe, and was ac corded a reception such as no other man in a like position ever received in Kansas City. A multitude of the par ishoners of the diocese met him at tne Union depot; 3,000 of them escorted him through the city streets, while numberless persons bade him welcome as the procession moved to the cathe dral. The entry was a triumphal one, and every Catholic in the city, large and small, old and young, added his or her quota to the general greeting. The Officer in Charge of the Kiowa In dians Reported Murdered. El Reno, Ok., Aug. 0. It was re ported here to-day that Captain Bald win, U. S. A., acting agent at the Kiowa, Comanche and Apache agency at Anadarko, had been murdered last night by the Indiana. The report lacks verification as yet, but federal officers credit it, except that they be lieve the murder was committed by gamblers and whisky peddlers-against whom Captain Baldwin had been wag ing war for some time. A large, party of deputy marshals is on the way to that country.