.
DAILY BEE.
SEVENTEENTH YEAR. OMAHA , FKIDAY. MORNING. JANUAKY 20 , 1888. NUMBER 210
II1E BOGUS AGENT OF PATH.
Prison Llfo of Benson at Portsmouth
and Elsowhoro.
THE OFFICIALS AFRAID OF Hlfy/l. /
How ( lie Shrewd Swindler Static Mis
erable the lii\cs ill' Hl Keepers
lliH Attempted Cfcuinllon iV
Kadlcal ( ( evolution.
Chronicle of a Croolt.
ICoj'w't/'i' ' ' / ' ' IKtiliuJitmu Giiiilun Itmntlt. }
PORTSMOUTH , Jan. 19. [ New York Her-
nld Cubic Spcelul to the HiiThe : | news
of Honson's arrest in the United States was
received by the prison authorities hcic with
this comment : "Thank heaven his offense
was not ono to bring him back here. " This
induced the Herald correspondent to Inter
view a veteran warden , whose name cannot
bo mentioned , whose , instead of writing a
diary like Inspector Hyrnes , memorizes
events In a kind of of peripatetic cyclopaedia
for thu homo office. His recollections I have
reduced to a narrative and these Hcnsonlana
may serve as guides to the keepers who may
hjreaftcr have this rcnmikable convict in
charge.
Upon the 9th of April , 1SS7 , at the central
criminal court , London , ho was sentenced to
11 f teen years penal servitude. After serving
his probutlonory period nt Pontonvillc he
was , being n Hebrew , sent to Portsmouth In
Juno , 1&78 to complete his sentence. In May ,
IfcS'l , however , ho had proved such u troublo-
Home prisoner that ho was sent to Darmoor ,
where ho remained until entitled to bis ticket
of leave. During his imprisonment Henson
was at no time n favorite
mnong the prison authorities. Ho was
nlw.ijs regarded with suspicion and kept
under rigorous surveillance. There was
never any likelihood of his trying to escape ,
but the officers oould never bo sure ho was
not hutching mischief such a ? to cause
anxiety and unnoyanco. Ho first came under
notice during the Franco-German war , when
hi ) obtained JtMOOr ) from the lord mayor of
London ostensibly for the relief of sufferers
from the bombardment of the Chateau d'Un.
He was arrested immediately and sentenced
to fifteen months.
Scon after his arrival at Newgate ho broke
up his cell furniture which he set on lire unu
then sut on the /lames / , apparently with n
view to , suicide. Hy the time the fire was
discovered Henson had sustained such injur
ies us to produce permanent lameness. His
- father , whoso offices were in the Faubourg
St. Honoro , occupied n prominent position in
Puns. Sufficient influence was brought to
bear on the homo office so that before the
fifteea months had expired , Henson was lib-
crated.
Then bo developed those greater schemes
of fraud which ended in his being sentenced
to penal servitude , He took up his residence
in the Isle of Wight und passed himself off as
Count Posino. Ho started tbo Isle of Wight
Journal. The newspaper still exists , but bo
made many enemies by the personal char
acter of his urtiolos. It was at this time be
made the acquaintance of William Kerr , with
whose assistance the great turf frauds were
concocted. Kerr was in the habit
of supplying him with the matter and
Henson edited the sporting paper through
which the frauds were worked. The suspi
cions of the police were aroused and Inspector
Chirk frequently visited Shanklin in tbo in-
toicsts of Scotland Yurd. Henson then re
moved to London , where the turf frauds were
matured. Henson , hearing that , Kerr had di
vulged the secrets of the conspiracy , in-offered 1
himself as queen's evidence , but though .he
was allowed to appear In the witness box the
homo ofllco consistently refused to
I reconsider his case or grant him
l I special privileges. On the other
hand Kerr was treated with marked leniency.
When the case was concluded ho was re
moved to Chatham and allowed to work out
his murks. Further , ho was allowed to make
If n marks a day , whereas ordinarily the best
conducted convict can make no more than
right , and thus every six dujs of his Impris
onment counted as ton. The rough and dan-
porous plan of breaking out of his cell was
tl\o \ only means that Henson did not
employ to secure his liberty. There was ono
long struggle between him and thu authori
ties. First lie was granted a ticket of leave.
There uro some convicts who work ns con-
KClenliotHly us if they were on piece work ,
yonson was never ono of those. His lunie-
nt.4s was always a vulid excuse for avoiding
luborous work , consequently the authorities
mnilo a tailor of him , but he never gut beyond
the patching stuge. At length Ito obtained admission 1-
. mission to the hospital , and in his memorials
IsI
to the homo office adroitly magnified the im I-
portance of this event to show that , his health
was being porinunontly injured by continuous
confinement but the homo ofllco was obdurate.
Ho next tried what could bo done on medical
grounds und curried ills ixjlnt to the furthest (
limit. After staying in bed over two hundred
days he wus naturally weakened and ids com
plexion grew deathly pale. Knowing as II10
did the great powers vested In the hands
of medical officers in locoinmomling for re
mission of sentence or discharge , lie
pressed bis case with gceut assiduity , but
the medical officers were convinced ho was
feigning , and when lie saw no chance of success
uid
cess in this direction ho got out of bed and
idn
noon regained his strength. Henson's own
warden had no more difficulty with him than
inv
any other. While there wus never n show ,
ing of violence , the principal offiocts lib vso
hurnu.scd that , no matter at what prison
heas , the officials were always glad to have
him removed , for If ho was not complaing of
sickness , ho was forever making formal
complaints to the governor or memorializing
f tbe home office. His verbal complaints were
reu
artfully prolix , and so purposel.v ambigu
ous that it war often difficult to discover his
grievance , wbilo bis written memorials reid
quoted as evidence of the best diction and
best penmanship that ever emanated from i a
convict in prison. Hut , with such suspicion
was ho always icgardod , that no or
from tlio governor to the voungcst en
would over spouk to him or bo s | > okon to by L
him except In the presence of witnesses.
Hut , while ho was u thorn in the side of the
how
officials , ho was the admiration of his fellow-
prisoners , by whom ho was looked upon ns who
jwllshed blade , nml ns soon ns ho entered hock
prison ills black , Hushing eyes , long , thick
eye-lushes nml swarthy complexion drew
UIKW him the regard of his brother convicts ,
HO that the freemasonry among prisoners by
means of which ono man can communicate
with another , he brought to | > orfcctoii !
and ho had a code of signs made by eyes ,
curs , mouth and hands which was only understood
mas
derstood by his confederates. Ho thus was
enabled to keep himself informed of all that
was going on in the prison , Ho somehow sere
fascinated the other convicts that all wore
ready to servo film nt the rink of infringing
the prison rules , yet Ik ) would hover lese self-
drnd
respect and even lit. the exercise ground
Instead of walk.hig-with the other'pris-
wers would umbla uround the .county
yards always supported by u walking stick ,
his excuse being that owing to his lameness
he was unuhrii to walk us fast as the others.
About IsSU It became known thatHcn on was
In the habit of receiving supplies of tobacco.
Searching Inquiry was set afoot. It was ob
vious he could only obtain his supplies
through the warden and later It was dlscov-
cicd that ho had succeeded in exchanging
tobacco for the food of his fellow
prisoners. All along ho denied the
charges and ho was strapped nml
searched but as the searching proved
futile these proceedings furnished Henson
with capital chances for memorials and it is
needless to say that he made the most of the
hardship. Ultimately the prison authorities
weio put upon their mettle. They were con
vinced that their suspicions were right
though their conduct appeared to place them
In the wiong They determined to bring the
matter to an Issue. Without a moment's
warning Benson was ordeicd to his cell for
solitary confinement. As soon as he got
there It was noticed that in stripping he stood
awhile on one of his Icggins. Having
completely disrobed he was ordered
to the faithcst corner of the cell where his
clothing , article by article , was handed to
him after being closely examined. The leg-
gin upon which he stood persistently , was
subjected to special Inspection , and in It was
found a small flannel bag containing two
ounces of tobacco. The authorities were
thus able to Justify their suspicions and Henson -
son was sentenced to a dietary punishment
for the offense.
Henson , though a man of great Intellectual
capacity was not remarkable us a student. Ho
drew n book once a week from the library ,
but indulged in only casual reading. Often
when supposed to be at work of reading ho
was discovered standing on a stool looking into
the corridor to sec what was going on.
For this offense bo was frequently punished.
While in prison ho often expressed his Inten
tion of writing a book that should contain
his prison experiences , and ho frequently ap
plied for materials to enable him to keep
memoranda , but the application was steadily
refused. Uenson is a linguist and a musi
cian , and at Portsmouth prison the harmon
ium In the synagogue has not been opened
since ho last touched the keys. Not
only did bo play accompaniments
at the services , but he trained the twenty-
live or thirty Hebrews who were fellow-
prisoners , and formed the best choir in the
establishment. Having a tolerable acquaint
ance with every European language it is
singular that when ho went to Portsmouth
ho knew nothing of Hebrew. He , however ,
placed himself under the tuition of an honorary
rary Jewish visitor and grasped the language
in a short time. Ho also composed a number
of Jewish melodies. All are .still in the
prison and are remarkable evidences of bis
taste and skill. Benson's ' father died in lbS4
and , though ho often boasted that bis frauds
had been sufficiently successful to ensure
him n settled income of 1,200 , a year , bo
went to Paris immediately after his libera
tion only to find bis brother bud been left the
whole of his father's wealth In the early part
of bis prison career. Henson was visited by
Mr. Franklin , of the firm of Montague & Co. ,
bankers , Uroad street , London , as it was be
lieved the convict could furnish valuable in
formation of some frauds that had Just
previously been perpetrated on the bank , but
though the interview was protracted beyond
tlio period allowed by the regulations , Henson
refused to glvo any information. Henson's
next Imprisonment was in Brussels , where ho
had established a brunch office of u fraudu
lent , news agency.
Your correspondent found among the
prison authorities several who predicted that
considering the general laxity of American
criminal Jurisprudence Henson would bo
\ cleared enough by delays , writs of error and
the like to get the best of its process in the
end.
| FOR A liKOAIj ItHPOKM.
A Radical Revolution Ur ed in Eng
lish Imw.
Ifiijij ; ) f7ifSSS | I'll Juinc * ( iimlnn HenntH,1
LONDON' , Jan. 1 ! ) . [ New York Herald
Cable Special to the HII : : . ] A radical revolution
lution now moves hero not only in politics
but law. No less a person than the solicitor
general , Sir Kdward Clarke , Q. G' . , M. 1' . ,
has thrown bis conservative influence in
favor of a union of solicitor and barrister in
one person the same as in the United States. !
Presiding at the annual dinner of the Hir-
minglmui law students' society , which was
attended by a large number of solicitors and
barristers , ho took the boldest ground yet
taken in England for this reform. Ho
has a great majority not only of
solicitors , but of influential barristers
against him. The Junior barristers
are with him because they can , while await-
it'g to become gray , do much solicitors'work.
The evil to bo redressed is an expensive and
tedious one. Knglish solicitors get no re
tainers or counsel fees , and must do some
thing at court In order to earn costs , Itenco
these favor litigation. There is no | tcc nliiry
inducement for English solicitors to compro
mise , or negative , or settle , and the tempta
tion is to bring or defend suits nilly-willy in
order to get business and make costs. Hut
let the solicitor general state and discuss the
evils , and what belaid will cci tainly interest
the thousands of lawyers and litigants among
your readers. IIo began :
"Let us see how a private petitioner , hav
ing ground of complaint to enforce his rights
by law , is affected by the system. Ho goes
to the solicitor and explains the case and
usks if bo ought to bring an lU'tlon. Hois
advised to do so. A writ is issued and an
action launched. The pleadings , presenting
no difficulty , are prepared in the solicitors
office , summonses are heard at chambers , or
ders are made , and the solicitor or clerk , who
isnlwuis in communication with him , does
the work. Then comes thu trial. It may bo
that the ruse is sent down to
county court for trial. If so , the solicitor
may appear. He has his bundle of papers
containing nil the notes taken and all the
suggestions made. Ho knows the whole
ilOt
cast ) mid he conducts it in this inferior court.
Hut if the trial Is in the superior court coun
sel has to bo instructed , all the facts set
down in writing , all proofs of witnesses
written out with such fullness that n person
who baa never seen them and who comes
fresh to the case shall know exactly
what they can say In the matter. ;
Then general observations are added by the
Industrious clerk and It goes to the law stationer
tioner , who puts It u | > on paper most incon
venient in size and shape. The statement inof
ofa
facts , pleading , correspondence and observa
tions are fully written out in a round hand.
The observations are not. very often read id.uy
any ono after the first draft is made , but they
go at a' ' d the folio for the draft , and 4d the
folio for each of the brief copies , and en
counsel Is instructed , the brief fees arc Id ,
and at an enormous cost the knowledge
which the solicitor had has been conveyed to
another | > erson In order that ho may put be !
fore the court the matters which probably the
solicitors know much better and could explain -
plain as well. In moit cases thu counsel XIs
not tlio- choice of the litigant , but simply
counsel usually employed by the solicitor.
Whether \ \ perfonns.his duty or ncglcctf. or.It ,
whether he docs well or III , he Is under no
legal liability to the man by whom he Is paid.
The brief may not have told him nil the facts ;
he may not have read It ; ho may be In
another court when the case Is being
tried ; but tha client Is absolutely
In his bands and cannot sustain any legal
claims , even for return fees which have not
been earned. Yet there arc now solicitors
who would make great advocates , there are
barristers who would do thoroughly well
sollcitots' work , and by letting each do work
for which ho is best fitted wo should give the
litigant a larger area of choice and save him
from the useless burden of being bound to
employ two persons instead of one.
The English barrister who goes to
practice In the colonies "or India has to act
both us solicitor and counsel , and finds no
difficulty In doing so. Again , in the United
States the system has been long established ,
and while the Incomes of the leaders of the
legal profession there are not , I believe , In-
ferlor to those earned in this country and
partaken of by lawyers In public life very
considerably , all who have read reports of
legal proceedings In the States recognize the
ability of their advocates and the sound
learning which Is found on their Judicial
bench , The young man now coming to the
bar , If ho find no clients to intrust
him with briefs , can earn no money nt all in
bis profession. If ho were allowed to do so
licitors' work and receive solicitors' rcmuner-
utlon , ho would almost certainly bo able , If
he had made himself known for his capacity
and Industry , to earn at least that small in
come which would enable him to wait pa
tiently and safely for an opportunity for
higher distinction. I think the work of ad
vocacy would bo very often more thoroughly
and Intelligently performed if the actvocate
had a closer practical knowledge of tue con
duct of his cause in Its earlier stages and a
clearer appreciation of the importance and
meaning of the different steps that have been
taken. The struggle of the man who comes
to the bar without very powerful patrons to
force him into a practice liasalways been n
hard one , but I believe it becomes harder of
late years. Many barristers go to the ranks .
of literature , others seek secretaryships ,
agencies or some small appointments in tlio
colonial service. Others , having sacrificed
years of their lives in compulsory idleness .
because no man gave them anything to do ,
turn away to the other branch of the pro
fession , and in so doing abandon with a sigh
all the generous ambitions with which they
started. There are other subjects to bo con
sidered and the matter of legal education is
one of the most important at present. So far
as the bar is concerned it is left entirely to
the Inns of the court. Now the inns are
venerable , interesting institutions , but their
stuunehost admirers hardly contend that
they do any substantial work in the way
of legal education. It is hardly
likely that the anomaly will long
bo allowed to continue that
admission to practice in the courts of Justice
should bo practically in the discretion of the
benches of the different inns , who are only
anxious to attract members to the inn to
which they respectively belong and are alike
unable to enforce " any real course of legal
study or attract" suflicient number of real
students , even by offering substantial
scholarships and prizes. I think that In
thcso inns wo have material for a much bet
ter system. Let the wbolo profession
bo ono body alike in the requirements
of education alike in its privileges ,
alike in its opportunities for
the achievement of public distinction
and obtaining professional rewards ; and the
inns of the court , with their stately halls ,
their excellent libraries , and tlio largo re
sources they possess , might fitly bo colleges
in which the work of real legal education
could bo carried on. "
The American lawyers who read this will
naturally ask : "Can the reform be carried ! "
Hu may read the barometer in this fact :
That to-day's tory Globe , which believes in
the rigid tory maxim , "Let ill as also well
alone , " relentlessly proceeded to attack the
the reform. Progress to a strict tory is us a
red rag to a bull , and the an
swer is fouud. In the fact that Lord
Charles Heresford , like Lord Randolph
Churchill , has resigned because his tory col
leagues and associates refuse to sanction his
aims and progress nml reform in the navy
and an old fogy admiral of the time of tlio
Crimean war has been selected in his place to
bar the attempt to maku English war ships
equal to Hritain's nicrcantilo marine. Per
haps Sir Edward Clarke will now bo hunted
out of his ofllco by the Salisbury minhtry.
I The German Military Hill.
' Hnnu.V , Jan. 19. The military bill as
amended and passed at the first rending was
before the reiehstag committee to-day. The
committee approved tbe right to formulate
several proposals on the second reading. M.
Stowdazi , member of the Roumanian cabinet ,
came to Herlin to obtain an insight into His
imirck's views on i > olitical and military con
tingencies involving the interests of Kou-
mania. Advices from the frontier report the
further arrival of Hussiun troops. Ono in
fantry division urnved at Uoubno , another at
Kovno. The work of fortifying Doubno goes
on without cessation. The condition of
Knssian troops on the Giihclun frontier is
growing worse. Typhus fever is raging ,
especially at Camp G/eutosclian. The
Warsaw commisaurmt is hastily forwarding
provisions.
Hniu.iv , Jan. 10. Karl Strelsguth , n man
ufacturer , was arrested at Strasburg to day.
The nrrcst was due to a confession made by
Dieta spy recently arrested , to the effect
that Streisguth had received money from
the French government for revealing the in
structions given to the Alsatian authorities
with reference to the operation of lines in
the event of the mobili/atlon of the German
forces. The police are searching houses in
Strnsburg and seizing all compromising pa-
I ' pers.
The Cork Scandal.
Di'm.ix , Jon. ID. United Ireland alleges
that the government had arranged for the
arrest of Canon O'Mahonoy , who charged
Major Hoberts , Governor of Cork county
Jnil. with corrupting young girls , und Canon
Keller , but hud been deterred from enforcing
the measure by the intimation that every
Catholio constable in Cork ordci ud to take
part in tlio arrests would throw down his
arms.
_
Isabella Leaven Spain.
Miuum , Jan. 10. In eonsequonco of an
Intimation from the government that she
must not allow her name to be connected
with the intrigues of the opposition , ox-
Queen Isabella has left the country.
Wholesale Drmvnliiu orchlnninen.
SIUNIIIUI , Jan. 19. While 4XX ( ) workmen
under the command of several mandarins
were making a breakwater to stem the
Huang Ho floods they were engulfed by the
sudden niih of the waters. Only a few es
caped.
Heavy Iil ( ; > el LOSSOH.
SUAKIM , Jan. 19. The rebels lost ISO men
in the recent battle. Cololcl Kitchener , Who
was wounded in the tight , has been obliged
to go to Cairo for rest and treatment.
Victoria AVill Not.Open Parliament.
Lo.vno.v , Jan. 10. The queen will not open
parliament ill i > ersoh. Sho'Wlll start for the
CDr.tlncnt after the ojicnhig of the su&sltm ,
RIFLES FOR TRAIN ROBBERS ,
Disastrous Failure ) of an Attempt
Upon a Wabash Express.
THE LEADER FILLED WITH LEAD.
One of the tamiK Gives Away the Job
nml n Red-Hot Reception la
1'repareil For Them
Full Details.
The Missouri Method.
CITY , Jan. 19. [ Special Telegram
to the Hun. ] News reached here this morn
ing of the attempted robbery of the cast-
bound Wabash express train which left this
city for St. Louis at 8U : ! ) lust evening , at a
point | near Cooley's Lake , a llshlng resort ,
and ono of the loneliest places in winter.
When the train stopped at Missouri City on
the platform was n band of men armed with
shotguns. The conductor was informed that
they were under command of an official of
the county , who had received word that an
attempt would bo mndo to ro * the St. Louis
express at u lonely spot a little
less than two miles east of Missouri City.
One of the officers got in the cab of the en
gine with tiio engineer and the others ills-
trlbutcd themselves throughout the train.
None of the passengers of the train were no
tified of the danger.
At IKiO , as the point of attack was ncnrcd.
a red light was seen gleaming ahead. As the
train slowed up the engineer saw thiec
masked men , armed with rifles , standing on
the track.
"Get out of there , " said the leader of the
three men to the engineer.
Morscy climbed down out of the cub.
Just us ho reached the ground the officer in
the cab pointed his shot gun out of the win
dow and fired. As soon as the shot was
fired ho and Mersey dropped down out of
sight. The shot from thu cab was answered
with shots from the guns of the three rob
bers , which rattled about tbo engine , but did
no harm. The tbreo men retired in a dcmor-
ali/.ed stnto. As they moved back a part of
the posse came up from the woods , where
they had been in concealment for some time ,
and opened fire on them. These men had
been sent out from Missouri City in advance
of the train nnd had concealed themselves
to be in readiness whenever they should bo
needed. About twenty shots in all were
fired , and in u very few moments the four
robbers were captured. Harney Swinny ,
tbe leader of the robbers , was wounded at
the first lire. Ho was taken tea
a bouse near by and n guard placed over him.
Swinny several years ago served a two years
term in the Missouri penitentiary for having
sent threatening letters to the lute A. A ,
Tulmage , nt that time general manager of
the Gould system of raihoads.
The plot was given away by ono of the
gang named King , who told Grant Arnold ,
station agent ut Missouri City , what was
goingon. Arnold In turn informed the sheriff
of Clay county , and the latter immediately
gathered a posse. Arnold was ono of the
posse , und it wus he''Who shot the leader from
the cab. King remained with the gang and
signaled the train to stop , but took no other
part in the affair , ,
[ Press. ] Train'rubbers were foiled hist
night in an at tempt fo rob the express train on
the Wabash road at ' lake
.Cooley's , twenty-four
miles east of Kansas City. Tbe regular Kansas
City & St. Louis express train left Kansas
City utS:20p. : m. At Missouri City u band
of armed men boarded the train and informed
tlio conductor they were under command of
an official of the county , who had received
word that an attempt would bo made
to rob the express. One of the officers got
into the cab of the engine with the engineer
and fireman and the others distributed them
selves through the train. Cooley's lake , a
fishing resort , was tbe place where the at
tack was to be made , At'J0 : ; ! as the point of
attack was ncarcd a red light was seen
gleaming ahead. As tbo train slowed m > the
engineer was ordered to leave the engine by
three masked men , who were armed
with rifles. Just as he reached the ground
the officer in the cab fired his shot-gun
out of the window. Whether ho hit the leader
of the band ho does not know , but thinks ho
did. The shot from the cab was answered
with shots from the robbers , which rattled
around the engine , but did no harm. The
three men then retreated. As they moved
back part of the posse came up from the
woods , where they had been in concealment
for some time , and opened llro on
them. These men hud been sent out from
Missouri City in advaneo of the train und bad
concealed themselves to bo in readiness when
they should bo needed. About twenty shots
were exchanged. The men on the train Joined
in pursuit of the robbers. The po-tso
continued in pursuit of the rob
bers , ard when the train reached
Moberly there was a report that two of them
had been captured , und In the struggle ono
of them hud been killed. The robbers uro
known to bo farmers living in the neighbor
hood of Misso"ri City. One of them is said
to huvo been a member of the James gang.
Telegrams to General Manager Hays say
that all of the would-be robbers were cap
tured. Three men were overtaken by the
posse and the fourth , the leader , a man
named Harney Swinny , who received a load
of shot in the breast , was found in the woods ,
where ho hud crawled after being shot.
The names of the would-bo robbers are :
John H. Swinny , leader , John Ilargrave ,
Noah Dresi and W. H. Hart-Is. From the
best information nt bund , John King , who
has figured all day ns an informer , is Noah
Dresi. The men have been taken to the Clay
county Jail ut Liberty , tlio county scut. Har-
grave has made a full confession and will tell
his story on the witness stand next Wednes
day when the men will have an examination.
It is not known hero how badly Swinny Is '
wounded , but from brief telegrams from ,
Mi'-souri City it is said that there is an in i-
tense fooling against him at that place , und
that ho will probably bo lynched.
MASONS ASSASSINATED.
Mexican Members of tin ; Order Made
Victims ol' Fanaticism.
CITV or MKMCO , Jan. 10. Public indigna
tion has been aroused in the state of Pueblo
over the ussusslnation , within a few months
in that stnto , of several Free Masons whoso
political and religious ideas were repugnant
to the fanatical clericals. The Free Masons
throughout the republic support the reelection
tion of President iiaand this fact partly
explains such acts. ' The clericals in thu dis
trict mentioned hayo declared that they would
kill every Free Mason.
Mrs. Hcniino Acquitted.
WVTKIII.OO , In. , Jan. 11' ' . Mrs. Ilcmmo
was acquitted of the murder of her husband
and discharged. The result is n disappoint
ment to most people here , who considered :
that Mrs , Hcmmc's complicity in the murder
was clearly established at her preliminary
examination , not alone by the testimony of
Mundfrom , but by a strong chain of circum
stantial evidence. When placed on the stand
Mundfrom continued the tactics begun yes
terday afternoon until it became apparent
that ho would tell nothing ot what ho knew.
He even denied his own guilt. Recognizing the
fact that ho could not convict the defend
ant without the testimony of Mundfrom ,
County Attorney Multon withdrew the suit
und Judge Couch instructed tlio Jury to ren
der n verdict of not guilty. Said Judge
Couch : "Tins Is n good illustration of the
wisdom of the statute requiring that the tes
timony of an accomplice shall be corrob
orated. " Whoever committed the crime , the
punishment has fallen on nil alike. Mund -
from , yet a young man , will spend the remainder
maindor of his lifo behind the bars , The
little property possessed by the Hcinmor has
been nearly ail consumed by the cxpenr" of
litigation , r.nd'nothiiiffiemr.ius for the mis-
erable old woman but to end her existence n
pttuicr. | What disposition will be made of
the three little daughters bus not been de
cided upon. _
*
IIHil ForMilrtler. ; ,
nrm CITV , Dak. , Jan. 10. ( Special Tele
gram to the Hnr. . ] Some weeks ago , near
Fall-burn , two fanners , Onlbb and Randan
by name , quarrelled over the iiosscsslou of n
house owned by the first nud rented 4by the
Intter named. Hoth drew pistols and several
shots wore tired. Gnlbb fell dead with a
bullet through his heart , und Raridan hud a
severe flesh wound In the leg. The coroner's
Jury at the time exonerated Raridan , on the
grounds of self-defense , Tlio dead man's
friends , however , caused his arrest , mid
to-day no had n lengthy hearing before n
Justice of the pence at Hermosa. Ho was
bound over to answer In the Custcr county
court to the charge of murder.
8AM3 OK CO Ah LANDS.
A Kansas City Syndicate Dlnposrs of
Its Holdings at Iicavcmvoi-th.
IC\N ; < tsCiTY , Mo. , Jan. 19. [ Special Tele
gram to the Hun. ] The sale of S13 acres
of coal lands adjoining the city limits of Lcav-
enworth on the south was consummated
to-day , the purchasing parties being u syndi
cate composed of Vlnton Shillings and others ,
of Lc.ivcnworth. These gentlemen have or
ganized a company nml will proceed to sink
shafts and develop the coal fields. The price
paid for the land was $ UilitXX ) .
The land was owned by n Kansas
City syndicate , beaded by J. A. Frost.
These gentlemen purchased 1,000 acres Just
south of the Leavenworth city limits about a
year ago and have made a neat sum on their
investment alieady. It is said that the Hock
Island road ( Chicago , Kansas & Nebraska In
Kansas ) , recently made an offer of WOO.IKK )
for the Riverside coal mine at Leavenworth ,
owned by J. A. Hovard it Co. , of this city ,
which was refused. The Hock Island has no
coal mines. Those who pretend to know say
the Hock Island will lease the Leavenworth ,
Topeku it Southern fiom Leavenworth to
TopeUa after February next , giving it a line
through Leavenwoith. The old Hook Island
bridge at Leavenwoi th , which burned about
a year ago , is being repaired and strengthened
and will bo finished about February 'JS. In
connection witn Leavenworth's coal interests
a movement is on foot there to form a barge
line to bring coal into Kansas City as soon as
the river opens.
The Itlaincs In Milan.
HOSTON , Jan. 10. [ Special Telegram to the
HnK.J The correspondent of tlio Hoston
Transcript writes from Hold Cavour , Milan ,
under date of Christmas : ' 'The first night I ar
rived hero I was much pleased with thu looks
of two ladies who sat near mo at the table
d'hote mother and daughter , both line look
ing , with charming manners. Wo soon found
that wo had mutual friends , und the mother
told mo ii great deal about Uar Harbor , The
daughter , a line , stylish , lovely girl , made
herself agreeable to me. The fathei-it seems ,
is very much troubled with rheumatism , nml I
keeps In his room. Imagine my surprise when |
the proprietor of the hotel told me this morn
ing that the ladies I sat near ut dinner were
the wife and daughter of J. G. Hlaine. and
the proprietor added : 'I can't quite make out
who ho is , as he never shows himself. ' I told
him that Mr. lilainc might be our future
president , but that failed to convoy any ideate
to his Italian brain , and ho only shook his
head and said : 'I cannot make him out.1"
Monopoly Methods In Canada.
OTTAWA , Jan. 10. [ Special Telegram to the
Telegrams received from all parts of
the Canadian northwest report that wheut
is down 10 cents a bushel below the prices in
the ruling markets on the American side of
the line. The loss is having u serious effect
on the Canadian northwest , and is duo almost
entirely to the refusal of the Dominion au
thorities to allow ro-ontry certificates for
wheat sent over American roads to Canadian
and eastern points. The restriction of ship
ments nad the effect of confining the farmer
practically to a homo market. The ruling of
the department rigorously shuts out troin
Canadian territory all cars sent over rails
laid down to connect with the Northern Pa
cific. This fresh attempt to create artificial
traffic for the Canada Pacific at the expense
of the producer is denounced everywhere
throughout the Canadian northwest , and is
causing considerable criticism iu other parts
of the dominion.
The NeodH ot'lhe Holdcirw Home.
, Dis : MoiXK" , la. , .Tun. 19. [ Special Tele-
gram to the the HII : : . ] Tlio board of trus
tees of tbo soldiers' homo at Marshalltown ,
have been in session hero for the past two
days preparing 'heir report to the governor.
They ask the legislature for an appropriation
of WO,000 for additional buildings and for fin
ishing up the work talready begun. They
propose to expend I.OOO for cottages for offi
cers , about the same amount for a building
to bo used as headquarters of the commissary
department , and the other $10,000 they want
to apply to finishing the grounds und build
ings yet uncompleted. The homo is rapidly
filling up , nnd the sixty or seventy old vet
erans theho now express themselves as moro
than satisfied witli thu careful and generous
treatment which the state has given them ,
| I'nssenKC-rH at a Poor HOIINO ,
Dunt'cjUE , In. , Jan. 1'J. ' [ Special Tele
gram to the HUB. ] The wreck of the west
bound passenger train on the Illinois Central
at Rockdulo last night was not cleared tillIt
o'clock this morning und trains duo from tbo
west last night and this morning were de !
tained. The hungry passengers , sixty-two in
all , having no other alternative , marched 11II
a body to the Dubuque county poor house ! ,
where they were served with an excellent |
breakfast by the Stewart. They hud an
enjoyable time and drank to his health for his
hospitality.
Meeting oPNulirnHkn Millers.
iLINCOLN , Nub , , Jan , 19. [ Special Tele
gram to the HIM : . ] The State Millers asso
ciation held its second annual meeting at the
Capital hotel to-night. There wore present
some sixty delegates and millers and they
represented mills in the state having n total
capacity of 11,000 barrels of flour daily. C. C.
White , of Valparaiso , was re-elected presi
dent und I ) , H. Harris , of Hunnett , secretary
and treasurer ,
'
Took Ammonia Hy Mistake.
Hl.ui : Sl'lil.vns , Neb. , Jan , 19 [ Special
Telegram to the Hii.J : : J. S. Histe , u farmer
residing four miles soutli of here , took u
largo swallow of spirits of ammonia through
mistake this morning and now lies in a very
critical condition His son had purchased thu
iimonia us u wash for an eruption on his arm
and had placed it on the shelf with medicine
his father was taking for the sumo ailment.
The old gentlemun's throat und stomach were
severely burned ,
A Clean Swop.
OOALMM , Neb. , Jan. 10. [ Special Telegram -
gram to the Hm.J The official vote of Per
kins county shows a clean sweep for the re
publican ticket by majorities ranging from IB
to ttVi. There was no selection for county
scats.
Work of the Protective
Niw : VOIIK , Jan. 19. The annual meeting
of the American Protective Tariff league was
held to-day. President Edward H. Ainmi-
down occupied the chair. Secretary Garland
I Pi'tciitcd the annual report , which stated i
that the league correspondence had extended
to thirty-seven states and MY territories.
Illinois led the list with ! > S corrcsjtomlcnU ;
Now York second , with 'JIU. The objective
point of the league's work is tl > o west ,
| TlrroHliml'H Snocosoor.
LONDON , Jan. 19. AAnlnn George Tyrou
will succeed Horosford is j-'ijlor Irtxl ol the
ndiulratt/ ,
IIMZZARI ) VICTIMS.
Further Reports ol' l-'atnllllc In Da-
kotu and the Northwest.
Hio STONE Cm , Dak. , Jan. 10. in Huberts
county Ernest Xerlblo and August X.lelko ,
farmers , perished In the late blizzard. Miss
Little , of Geneva , was nt her school and
George Howcll went to bring her fcome , The
former has been found dead but the latter
has not been found , though ho Is supposed to
bo certainly lost. Adolph Koccklvltz and
bis hired man went forty rods from thu
house to bring in u load of hay and perished.
Mrs. Kmniulfon , going homo from Otervillc ,
froze to death.
A Storm Having in Dakota.
WAITKTON , Dak. , Jan. 19. A storm which
began at 10 o'clock lust night is raging furi
ously to-night. Trains on the Milwaukee
road have been ubondoned. The Northern
Pacific branch Is closed. Manitoba trains
are two and n half hours lute. The tempera
ture is ; ci = below.
A Mile Ititiet'ootcil In the Snow.
Dt't.i'Tii , Jan. 10. The house of August
Wlntross burned yesterday morniiH , ' . His
family were obliged to trudge nearly a mlle
barefooted in their night clothes to a neigh
bor's liouse. All were badly 'fro/en. Far-4
mcr Wlntross will probably lose his feet and
legs. A school teacher living in the house
\\as also badly frozen.
'Another Hll/.zard Predicted.
Piuiiui : , Dak. , Jan. 10. Trains have been
ordered to await the abatement of the storm.
The signal officer at Fort Sully predicts an
other terrible blizzard from the north. The
mercury is lf > = below and still fulling.
The Mercury FallliiK i" lown.
Dr.s MOINIIS , la. , Jan. 10. The mercury
has been steadily fulling nil day , and to-night
promises to be ono of the coldest of the sea
son. In northern Iowa n bllrrurd has been
raging. All trains have been abandoned nt
Mason City. The thermometer is 'J5 ° below
there to-night.
SunVriiiK 1-Yoiii the Iltlzzard.
VAI.PAIUISO , Neb. , Jan. 10. [ Special to the
Hii : : . ] There was no loss of lifo and no very
great suffering reported in this county as u
result of the recent storm. There were sov-
crul narrow escapes but everyone got safely
housed before the blbrnrd began. School
children , a great many of thoni , remained in
the school houses during the night.
AtStonv Cilj.
Slot's CITV , la. , Jan. 10. Tlio thcr-
mometcr is 15s bulow at midnight and all |
railroads are tied up except tbo Sioux City &
Pacific , because of drifting snow.
ImHt NlKht'H Cold.
ST. P.u-t , , Jan. 10. Dispatches Indicate
that to-day's storm in southern Dakota und
Minnesota , while severe and accompanied by
extreme cold , is not to bo classed as u genu
ine i blU/ard , and Is not likely to bo followed
by I the disastrous consequences of its imme
diate predecessor. It has , however , had the
effect of again filling up the cuts and tem
porarily j suspending railway traffic , just beginning -
ginning jI to bo resumed.
To-night's weethur report shows the fol
lowing 1 conditions at thu points named : St.
1i Paul , 18 below , cloud ; St. Vincent , ! IB below ,
clear ; Huron , Dak. , . ' 0 below , fair ; Yank-
ton. Dak. , 10 below ; Hisnmrck. ' ( i below ,
clear ; Helena , VJ below , snow ; Qu Appelle ,
N. J W. T. , U4 below ; Ft. Garry , M below ,
clear.
lOvtrcino Cold In thn. South.
SAB , La. , Jan. 10. The coldest
weather experienced hero for years has pre
vailed for the past few days. Sleet and ruin
fell alternately on Monday und Tuesday ,
covering trees with ice an inch thick. The
ground has been frozen ever since. Husiness
lias been practically suspended and travel
has been almost -stopped on account of the
impassible condition of the roads.
JACKSONVII.M : , Flu. , .fan. 10. Thin ice
formed hero this morning1.
Hiiow.Nsvii.i.i : . Tex. , Jan. 19. The weather
hero during thy lust week has been very
severe. Telegraphic commniiicntIon lias boon
interrupted since Friday. Monday was the
coldest day experienced on this frontier since
liHI si. On both sides of the river stock has
suffered much und there has been
considerable loss in cattle , horses and
shoe ) ) especially. Poor and illy prepared
people have suffered terribly. On Tuesday
beeves were killed and distributed in thu
market by Senor Vilhucal , president of the
Red club , and to-day thu Hluo club dis
tributed nearly eight hundred largo rations of
beef and corn , and supplied wood to thu poor.
Three persons , Francis Hezoigcd ninety-
two ; Marcus Rajas , teamster of artillery ,
and an unknown man have been found frozen
to death.
The Cold Spell in Texan.
P.uus , Tex. , Jan , 10. The long cold spell
began to moderate to-day , und the snow is
melting. Muuy stories of suffering uro coin
ing in.
In Halifax.
IlAi.ir.vx , Jan. 10. Tlio first snow storm of
the season , now prevailing , is ono of the
heaviest for years. In the midst of the
storm , a mull contractor at Arlchtat , sent n
fourteen-year-old boy named Gifrnong with
mall to Robbin's ' establishment. The boy has
not boon seen since and is supposed to have
fallen through the ice , a largo sheet of open
water being apparent in his truck.
IXJOKS IJAD FOR T1IK CATTIjK.
IndluailonH That Dakota Stock AVIII
H u fie From Thin Cold Wave.
RAVID CITV , Dak. , .Tun. 19. [ Special Tele
gram to the HII : . ] The third section of the
cold wave reached hero this morning , the
temperature falling from 10 above to b below
iii twenty-four hours , The cold wave flag Is
flying from the signal station. Tills storm
will bo very hard on stock. The snow is
deep on the ranges and the warm days of the
early part of the week melted this enough to
allow a heavy crust to form. Tlio cold now
will freeze this too hard to break and unless
warm weather comes soon thousands of cattle
and horses will sturvo. Grass is long on the
range and there is plenty of water , but every
thing is fro/.en tight.
"Wont her 1ml leaf IOIIH.
For Nebraska : Colder , followed by
wanner , fair wont her , followed by snow ,
fresh to brisk northerly winds , becoming
variable.
For Iowa : Colder , followed by wanner ,
fair weather , fresh to brisk northerly winds ,
becoming variable.
For Dakota : Coldor. fair weather , fol
lowed by slightly higher temperature in
western fKirtion , fresh northerly winds , be
coming variable.
Cold wave signals nro continued ut the slg-
nul service stations in Dakota , Minnesota ,
Iowa and Wisconsin until Saturday morniag.
O'Neill iind7lls Wives.
ST. LoriH , Jan. 19. [ Special Telegram to
thoHKK. ] Mrs. Moore , who claims to bo
the wife of Congressman O'Neill , began
Tuesday a suit for divorce from O'Neill , but
dropped It on being told by friends that she
must have a residence in the state to oblain
u standing in the court. Learning that
O'Neill's residence hero was sufficient she
bus instructed her attorney to proceed with
the case.
Arroslod For Murder ,
ViNrn.N.VKs , Ind. , Jan. 19. Charles Park-
hurst was arrested ot Sullivan this morning
ostensibly on tbo charge of drunkenness , but
in fact on the churgo of having killed the
depot agent at Mai shall , 111 , nearly two years
ago. Parkhurst bctiaycd himself to a com
panion while drunk.
An Appeal to
Piiii.ADi'.i.i'iiu , Jan. 10. John L. Lrc ,
chaliman ot the Philadelphia Si Heading
ICmploycH' KxecutiVH boaiil , has issued an
upiHMi 10 oi'tfaivl/ed lab&r wherever found. "
CONFESSION OF A MURDERER ,
Charles E. Meyers Acknowlodgoa
the Killing of Jniuos Wolr.
THE INDEPENDENCE TRAGEDY.
Allot- Vainly Kodoavorlug to Procure
Work ll ConnnliN tinCrlino
at the Instigation ol'IIU
' Companion.
A Clean llroast ol'thr Crime.
KAN AB CITV , Jan. IU. [ [ Special Telegram -
gram to the Hii- : : ] Charles F . Meyers , the
man arrested yesterday for the murder of
James Wenat tlio Liberty street doKit | In
Independence two weeks ago last Monday
night , confessed thu crlino this morning In
the corridor of tbo Second street Jail In the
presence of County Marshall iMcGowan. Tlio
story Moyors told Is as follows : ' I am
twenty-three yours of ago mid was born ut
Chumbersburg. Franklin county , P. , on
December C > , 1S(11. ( My parents are now liv
ing in Altoona. My father is employed In
tlio car works nt that place. 1 have a mar
ried sister living In Milwaukee. All of my
connections are respectable people. On Octo
ber -T , ls&7 , i arrived In Leavenworth ,
and , being n musician , I associated
myself with the baud nt the soldiers'homo.
I came to Kansas City and went about the
city looking for work , but could got nono.
cln the evening of December ! 11 went to the
Dclmonlco hotel und slept in tlio basement.
i there.became uoquulnted with John Ho-
gurd. Uogurd the next day suggested to mo
K1tl
that wo go to Independence to look for work ,
as bo was well acquainted there. Wo walked
IVti
to Indepondenoo and arrived lute In the after
titl tin . Wo hogged a supper and then went to
the depot. Afterwards wo crossed tlio track
to t a flour mill , whore there was an electric
light 1 ! , and remained there until it bccamo
cold , the furnace fires getting low. Then
wo returned to the depot waiting room. A
Vin
Via was sitting in a chair tilted back
against the wall. asleep. Hogard
said to me : 'That man has got
a pile with him. Let us hold him up and tuko
away tlieswug.1 At first 1 objected to tills ,
but Hogard persisted In asking mo to do it.
Ho suggested that 1 get a coupling pin for a
weapon. I tried to got a pin out of a freight
car , but it was fastened tight. Hogard went
cti the other end uf the car and said : 'I've
got a pin'and handed it to mo. Wo went
into the depot again. The man was still
asleep. 1 refused to attack the man and Ho
gard said : 'You're a coward ; you dare not ,
do it. ' There wus u dim light In the depot
from a kerosene lump. I told Hogard
I was no coward and struck the
man on the right side of the head. Ho moved
II little and 1 struck him twice afterwards.
After the first lick Hogard came up and put
his hands in the man's left pocket and pulled
out a wallet. Wo wont over to the olcotrio
light and divided up the money. I gave Ho
gard $ 'JJ.)0 in silver and I took the green
backs. Wo wont on thu outskirts of the
town und separated , promising to meet each
other in u street , the name of which
I do not remember. Wo mot there
and Hogard promised > -to wi Ito to
mu to Kansas City under life name of George ' . ' -M
Washington. I came to Kansas City , walked fiji
to Argentine , took a Santa Fo freight train /j
for Topeka and the next duv went to Leaven-
worth. 1 there ro-enguged with tbo band of
the soldiers' homo. I was hard up and cold
and did not mean to kill the man when I
struck him. I waft surprised when I learned
that the man was dead and I don't euro
what becomes of mo. I shall plead guilty to
the charge of killing him. " ,
Meyers is u very mild-looking man , Ha
wept bitterly us ho related his story.
Oregon Navigation Iioawo Hutilloil.
Niw : YORK , Jan. 1 ! ) . The Northern Pacific
directors ut the regular meeting to-day for
mally ratified the lease of the Oregon Navi- jjB j'
gallon company. The only change made Sjjjj f
from the terms already announced was the
elimination of the provision by which the
Northern Pacific's liability was restricted to
one-half the annual rental. Hy the terms of
the lease as finally agreed to , the Oregon
Railway and Navigation company will bo
operated by the Union Puoillc and Northern
Pacillo companies for ninety nine years. The n
Union Paoilio und Northern Pacific Jointly V'
and severally guarantee the payment of ail k
charges , including the ( i per cent dividends f
on Iho stock per annum , and In ease either * >
company fails to pay Its provision of charges
the other company will bo liable for the lull $
amount. < ?
of Shlpwronkeil Sailors.
Nnw Hvi.v : , Jan. 111. [ Special Telegram
to the Hun.Tlio ] three musted schooner ,
Ida 15. Latham , Captain Thatcher , from Bos
ton for New York , went nshoi-o Tuesday
night at Merwin's Point. Tlio crew took tea
a yawl , reaching shore after n hard struggle.
They made th < 3ir way to a farmhouse , where
shelter was refused thorn , but wore con
signed to a barn , where they remained until
yesterday morning , suffering terribly from
cold. Speaking of the treatment by the
inhospitable fanner , one man said : "Tho
barn wus full of cracks and it was intensely
cold. Wo wore tired enough to sloop , but
were obliged to keep walking all night. It
is a wonder wo were not frozen to death.
One man had his stockings froyon to his feet.
If wo had only been allowed to sloop on the
floor of the kitchen wo would have been
grateful. "
Thu Hell Telephone A'lclorloiiH.
CITV 01Mnxii'o , .Inn , 10 , An impoikmtj
decision was rendered yestordav by tbo first
district court of the republic affirming the
validity of the Hell telephone and Hluka
transmitter patents under the laws of Mex
ico. The defendants in the case , a Goi man
ineroantilo house , are ordciod to deliver
their stock of instruments lo the Mexican
Telephone company and inulio a statement of
their profits anil hand them over mid to pay
all the costs. Tlio defendants will appeal to
thu supreme court , but it is believed Iho de
cision will bo sustained.
tlcd to tin * Othi-r Shore.
T.UOMA , W. T. , Jan. 19. Fourteen China-
men left Victoria yesterday morning In a
small boat from San Juan Island , hence to
xmugglo themselves on to the main land of
Washington Territory. The bout upset
when near the islands All hands were
drowned , und their bodies were washed
upon the shore.
A Swindled KpinUtcr.
NoiinisTowN , i'a. , Jan. 10. Miss Mary A.
Brown , u maiden lady residing hero , pos
sessed of considerable propeity , has been
swindled out of iOXK ( ) by n Philadelphia
woman who made investments for women.
She conducted "ladies'bank "
n , and prom
ised largo returns for every dollar invested.
Miss Hi own was forced to make an assign
ment to-day. She wus worth about J 150,000
but is now ruined. Judgments iigg.-tgating
$19,000 have been filed against her.
Snll I''or nainnuoH.
ST. Lot is , Jan. -George W. Voisca
and Patrick O'Neill have begun suit at Itollc-
vllle , III. , for r'lO.iKM ) damages each against
Detectvo ! Thomas Furlong and Frank H.
Bowman for i.ilso Imprisonment , In con
nection with the murder ot ox-Major How-
man , of I lust St. Loum
Tn r.oycotl MilwanUoo LUKIT.
Ai.HAJa , N. Y. , Jan. 19. At the slate
workingmcjrH assembly , which commenced
this morning , u rouoiniion wus adopted re
questing all mombei-H of orgnnUcd labor and
their friends to bo.-.cott Milwaukee lugci
until the trouble between tlio br'-wcih > mj
.their cmpioji-b. should bo bottled ,
J
* f A