Democratic Sentinel, Volume 11, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 April 1887 — Page 3

MR. REED’S SHORT MEMORY.

Senator Vest Calls Attention to Some Matters the Former Forgot to Mention. Regarding the Treasury Surplus # and the National Defenses. An Answer to the Absurd Charges of Democrats Keeping Three States Oat of the Union. [From the New York World.] Senator George G. Vest of Missouri has been spending several weeks in town. He is undergoing treatment for his eyes, which have become strained from overwork. The Senator said that time hung rather heavy on his hands. His physician had forbidden his reading, “and,” he added, “I cannot drink anything but tea, coffee, and water, and that’s pretty hard on a Western man. ” Speaking of the work of the last Congress, Mr. Vest said: “I 6aw in the Tribune several days since an interview with Thomas B. jieed of Maine, which seemed to assume that the people of the United States were utterly ignorant of what had been done by the Forty-ninth Congress, or unable to understand the meaning of public events. Mr. Beed complains that Congress has not reduced the Treasury surplus, provided for the defense of our seaboard or admitted three great States in the Northwest. All this he charges to the incapacity of the Democratic pa' ty. Mr. Heed forgets to mention that an overwhelming majority of the Democrats in Congress favored the reduction of the surplus, and to that end attempted to secure the consideration of tariff reform in the House, but when, to quote bis words, they ‘marched’ up the hill twice under the leadership of Mr. Morrison they found Mr. Beed with his Bepublican followers, re-enforced by the Bandall contingent, impregnably intrenched at the (op and were unable even •to have the tariff: question considered. Mr. Beed and his party were pledged to a reform of the tariff. Did he think that the vote not to consider any measure looking to such reform was a compliance with that pledge? This is a pertinent question, and until Mr. Beed answers it he has no right to complaim about not reducing the surplus. “As to national defense, the inquiring mind is disposed to ask, whence comes this sudden zeal for a navy and fortifications? Mr. Beed and his party had absolute control of the government from 1861 to 1874. At no time since 1861 have the Democrats had possession of the government, the Bepublicaus having never lost control since 1861 of both branches of Congress and the Presidency. Since 1865, when the war closed, and up to Cleveland’s election, the Bepublican party wasted upon the navy, so-called, and fortifications more than $400,000,000, and to-day, according to Admiral Porter, our seaboard is defenseless and we have but one war vessel fit for service. Out of this enormous amount • squandered by Bepublican maladministration $90,000,000 were for building ships and repairing those already built. Of this Mr. Beed says nothing, but finds all at once that we are without a navy or fortifications. The truth is, and the country understands it, that Mr. Beed and his party have sought, ever since Mr. Cleveland’s election, to swell governmental expenditures in every way possible so as to sustain the charge of -extravagance against the Democrats in the next Congress. All sorts of jobs and schemes have been urged and supported bv the Bepublican leaders in Congress to get money out of the Treasury, but always without reducing taxes, and especially Without disturbing the present war tariff, which they solemnly pledged themselves at Chi--cago to readjust and reform. “Mr. Bead’s charge about keeping out of the Union three great States in the Northwest and refusing the right of self-govern-ment, etc., is absurd. The Bepublicans in the Senate insisted that Dakota should be divided by a line running east and west, the northern portion to be organized as a Territory, and the southern part to be admitted as a State. There are two parties in Dakota—the one for this scheme and the other for admitting the whole Territory as a State, without division—and the Democrats in the Senate proposed either that an enabling act should be passed authorizing the people of the Territory to adopt a State constitution, and apply for admission under it, or to submit the question to the people for and against division. Not a Democrat in the Senate opposed the admission of Dakota as a whole; •but we did not believe the Territory should be divided, nor did we propose to recognize the illegal and revolutionary State government set up in Southern Dakota in defiance of the Federal Government and in direct violation of the Constitution. The Bepublicans voted down every proposition submitting the question of division to the people, and then voted down an amendment admitting Montana also as a State. They believed that by dividing Dakota the Bepublican party would secure four Senators and two members of the House, with six votes in the electoral college, but they had no idea of admitting Montana, because it is a Democratic Territoiy. The whole transaction was essentially partisan, and so great was the party zeal which controlled the action of the Bepublican majority in the Senate that they admitted to seats upon the floor two gentlemen claiming to have been elected Senators by the revolutionary State Legislature of Sou hern Dakota, and not ■one word was uttered in the debate by any Bepublican Senator against that unauthorized movement. We are informed by the papers that it is still progressing openly and defiantly. hat would Mr. Beed and his party say if any Democratic community had inaugurated suoh action? We can imagine the torrents of eloquence which would make the halls of Congress resound in denunciation of tins ‘second rebellion.’ It is a great pity that Mr. Beed forgets the facts as shown by the Congressional Record, and it will be a greater pity if th.-y are forgotten by the people. ” The statements advanced by Mr. Beed have been echoed by Edmunds, Sherman, Hale, and other Bepubl can leaders in subsequent interviews. It is evidently their intention of making these questions the basis of their oampaign thunder in the next -election. Senator Vest’s analysis of the

subject will probably destroy their availability as campaign material.

HURD TALKS FREE TRADE.

Absolutely Certain That It Will Eventually Overcome All Opposition. [Baltimore special.] Frank Hurd, the energetic free-trade Bepresentative from Ohio, lectured tonight, by special invitation, before the Crescent Club, the leading Democratic political organization of Baltimore. A delegation from the Federation of Labor was present. “What do you hope to accomplish, Mr. Hurd,” he was asked after the lecture, “by continuing this agitation of the free-trade question?” , “Hope! I have got beyond hope. lam absolutely certain that we shall succeed. Just wait and see. This country is waking to the iniquity of the tariff oppression, which was designed simply for the purpose of transferring their hard-earned dollars from the pockets of the people to the safes of the millionaire mill-owners of New England and the iron aristocracy bf Pennsylvania. The great trouble is that we have a mighty power of money to fight, and that the agents of the plutocrats are ever and busily engaged in the process of hoodwinking the people. Every feeling of patriotism has been appealed to, and thousands have been actually kept away from even listening to us because they were made to think that we nre the agents of the English Government and tho enemies of American labor. Agents of fiddlesticks! Why, if America were to adopt free trade to-morrow it would be a most staggering blow to England’s supremacy in commerce. But lies are not eternal. They may work for awhile, but presently truth will slay them all. A country only cripples itself by adopting the bonds of protection. Why, if this great, free and growing nation were to cast off these timid restrictions upon the development of our industries we could swiftly drive England and the other European nations from every profitable market in the world and from every profitable line of industry and commerce. Wo could literally make them hew’ers of wood and drawers of water for the United States.” “How comes it, then, Mr. Hurd, that you were defeated in the last election, if, as you say, your cause is making progress?” “Oh, that doesn’t amount to anything. Why, don’t you know that lam used to that sort of thing? For the last five terms it has been up and down in the same way. 1 am elected for one term and defeated for the next, but the following term I go back again. The reason is that when lam on the ground in Ohio lam able to fight my battle before the people. When Igo to Congress 1 try to do my duty there with all my might, and I devote my whole time to working for a reduction of the tariff. Then it is tnat the enemies of the cause have their chance. They work behind my back, and I wake up at the end of the term to find myself defeated. You see this is a close battle all along tho line, and when an opportunity offers the protectionist agents are busily at work in every doubtful constituency represented by "a free trader. They work with any or all parties, trading votes in order to accomplish tho one end they have in view—the maintenance of the high, tariff. They care very 'little whether a man is a Democrat or a Bepublican, though the Bepublican party is responsible for the imposition of a high tariff, while the Democratic party’s declared principles are against it. ” “ But don’t the free traders, although mostly Democrats, and although they declare that free trade is really a Democratic principle, sometimes accept the aid of Bepublican votes?” “Certainly. Any one is welcome to vote as he pleases on men and measures. But we don’t trade. That is what our opponents do, and that has been the means used to defeat me as well as others. But I will be back again, never fear. I am working like a Trojan, and stirring up the people of Ohio right along. Look at the difference. When I began working fourteen years or so ago I could get no one to hear me speak. People out in Ohio seemed to think I was mad, or at least a crank. A handful of the elect would gather to listen to my talk, and the newspapers would report nothing next morning--perhaps have a sneer at me or the cause. But I went right along in my course. More and more began to listen. I ran for Congress and was defeated. I ran again, and—excuse my blushes —was elected. Ever since it has been up and down, as I have described it. But look at the difference now! I can hardly find time to lecture at all the places to which I am asked. I say this because it is not personal; it is the people’s interest in the freetrade cause.”

The Bulldozed. In his admirable speech at Philadelphia Governor Hill touched a very weak 1 oint in the Republican argument. During the progress of the Maine Pilgrim through Pennsylvania his heart has bled continually, bleeding for the supposed wrongs, outrages, and crimes against the suffrages which are perpetrated, according to the Republicans, in the Southern States, and for which no other evidence is sought or admitted than the fact that those States are not Republican. Brother Blaine’s argument is substantially this: 1. There are negroes in the. Southern States. 2. These States ought to be Republican. 3. Consequently the negroes are bulldozed. This is . not logical, but it is funny. Governor Hill pertinently inquires why Mr. Blaine did not stop in Rhode Island on his way to Pennsylvania and ask his friends there “why they do not strike from the laws and constitution of that little, narrow, bigoted Republican State the requirement that before a foreign-born citizen can vota he must have a property qualification.” But these facts do not cause the Republicans the slightest perturbation, nor do they even feel that there is any inconsistency in the Republican position. In a Republican State they think that discrimination against foreigners is all right. As long as bulldozing increases the Republican vote in the North it is a high, laudable, and holy procedure, which allows “the better element” to assert its superiority. And as long as the Republicans remain in a minority is the South, so long will the assumption that there is bulldozing there be an article of faith among Republicans in the North. —New York Sun. |

KELLOGG NICHOLS’ MURDER.

The Trial of Henry Schwartz and Newton Watt, at Morris, 111. An Army of Witnesses—Opening Pleas of the Counsel in the Case. [mobris (iiit,.) correspondence.] The trial of Schwartz and Watt, charged with the murder of Kellogg Nicho’s, the Bock Island express messenger, in March, 1886, has been in progress here for more than a week. Nothing was done the first week of the trial beyond securing a jury. On Monday the opening speeches of counsel were made, and on Tuesday the intfoduction of evidence began. A large number of witnesses are ou hand. Among them are Conductors Danfortli, Wagner and Newcomber, Engineer Woods, Fireman Briggs, Baggageman Bamsey, Depotmaster Wheeler, and Brakemen Johnson, Thomas and Mulligan, all employes of the Bock Island Boad. W. A. Pinkertou is also here to testify. Quite a number of other witnesses nre on hand, among them the express employes. The court-i oom seats about 300. The Hon. Dorrance Debell, the presiding Judge, sits at the north end. He is perhaps 45 years old, has a finely shay ed head, and very intelligent countenance. At his left sit the twelve “good men and true” who constitute the jury. Nearly all of them are middle-aged men, and seven of them are farmers. Between the Judge and jury is a table at which sit State’s Attorney Carter and his associates in the prosecution, Judge Wing and Mr. Stough. In front of the Judge a long table extends nearly across the room. At one end are eight or ten reporters, and at the other sit counsel for tho defense—Col. Bowman of Philadelphia, Judge Baker and Messrs. Case and Hogan of Chicago, and Judge Jordan of Morris. Between counsel on one side of the table are the two young men who are on trial for their lives, Henry Schwartz and Newton Watt. Directly back of them two brothers of Watt and Schwartz’s father occupy chairs. State’s Attorney O. N. Carter, in his opening address in behalf of the prosecution, said that the extreme care taken in selecting the jury indicated the great importance of the case. He spent considerable time in explaining the law in its application to the case, dwelling particularly on the nature and force to be allowed circumstantial evidence, much of which, it is understood, will figure in this case. Next he spoke of reasonable doubt, and cited authorities and decisions to make clear what and only what the jury was warranted in considering such when it should come to make up its verdict. Mr. Carter then briefly summarized the killing of Express Messenger Kellogg Nichols and the circumstances immediately connected with the crime.

The ill-fated train upon which the murder was committed left Chicago at 11 o’clock on the night of March 12, a year ago. Wagner was conductor, Woods,“engineer; Briggs, fireman; Nichols, the murdered man, expressman; Watt, one of the defendants, baggageman; Schwartz, the other defendant, front brakeman; and Johnson, rear brakeman. Watt, whose position was that of front brakeman, had on that night taken the place of the regular • baggageman, Eumsey, who was sick. Schwartz, the rear brakeman, took Watt’s place ns front brakeman, and Johnson, a substitute, took Schwartz’s usual place. After explaining how Nichols was killed between the time the train left Joliet and its arrival at Morris, he said that the next morning the world was asking who committed the horrible crime. “We of the prosecution,” he said, continuing, “have ceased to ask that question. We believe we shall show you beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendants before you were the men whose minds planned and whose hands committed that murder.” Attorney Hogan made the opening statement in behalf of Schwartz, and Judge Baker iD behalf of Watt. Mr. Case said the whole case against the defendants was summed np in this: Messenger Nichols was killed on a train on which they were. Schwartz returned to Chicago on a train on which were found a sachel and a piece of paper supposed to have some connection with the robbed safe, and Schwartz had been spending some money in SSO bills. That was the whole case, Mr. Hogan said. Tho case was called The People against Henry Schwartz and Newton Watt, but that was a misnomer. It shoujd be the Chicago, Bock Island & Pacific liaiiroad Company against Schwartz and Watt. The Bock Island Company was one of the greatest corporations in this country, and in this case had resorted to all manner of deceit and false practice in order to convict the defendants. Becurring to Mr. Carter’s assertion that Watt had admitted receiving the $3,000 package from Schwartz and to other admissions claimed by the prosecution, Mr. Hogan said admissions and confessions wero often made under circumstances of compulsion or browbenting, and that they wero rightly looked upon as very suspicious evidence. Judge Baker, in behalf of Watt, replied to Mr. Carter’s opening speech, saying that he did not think the defense had been treated fairly. Tbe State had furnished a list of witnesses by name simply, but had not furnished addresses or intimated wbat they expected to prove by them. The jury would find that the State would not be able to prov.j that the defendant* or either of them actually killed Kellogg Nichols. The State had not intiipnied that it expected to show that they were accessories before the fact. If it had any such expectations it should have* announced it. Judge Baker then went on to explain what constitutes an accessory before the fact and also after the fact. The defendants could not under the indictment bo convicted and penishod as accessories after the fact, and the State, he presumed, would make no such claim. Judge Baker gave a long explanation of the past life of Watt, and to some extent of his parents and brothers, in order to show that ha had been well brought up and had led nn exemplary life. He made a plain and telling plea to the jury to give the evidence impartial consideration and to allow to the defehdants the benefit of all doubts.

MOB LAW IN IOWA.

Marked Men Fores Their Way Inlo the Jail at Corning and Hang John H. McKenzie. The Entire Proceedings Conducted in a Quiet Manner—McKenzie’s Crime. [Coming (Iowa) telegram.] John McKenzie, tie murderer of John H. Biggs, was taken from tho jail Sunday morning by a party of masked men and hanged to a tree in front of the jaiL About 2:20 a. m. about twenty-five armed and masked horsemen and a wagon loaded with men and a battering-ram appeared in front of the jail, moving with strict military discipline under orders from a bold and skillful leader. When awakened by them Jailor Pumroy found he had been locked in his room by the hasp and staple on the iron door. He fired three guns of alarm from the windows, and McKenzie’s voice was heard in an unnatural, terrifying cry. Shots through his window quieted him. Mounted pickets were placed about the block, designated by numbers and with soldierlike demeanor. Approaching citizens were quietly arrested, but permitted to observe the proceedings under guard. The thunder of the battering ram and the splintering of the doors gave way to the rattling of the ram on the iron doors. Then the jailer was overpowered. The keys svere found, and the work of unlocking proceeded as if by men familiar with the details. McKenzie was heard to exclaim: “If there are any old soldiers among you let them step forward first.” He was tied, and n rope thrown about his neck. His intense nerve and grit did not forsake him. He talked with the mob as they took him down-stairs and across the street to a maple tree, asked them to give his watch to his wife, protested he had killed no other man than Big«s,nnd did not intend to kill him. To one wakened from peaceful slumbers to look out upou stern men dragging forth a fellow-man, even though a murderer, to see him lifted into the air, held while struggling, and guarded until the strangulation was comElete, was indeed horrifying. Before disanding the leader addressed the mob in a low voice, saying: “Gentlemen: The work of this night must remain forever a secret. Let every participant and every observer take warning from the man hanging to this tree. Tho fate of any man who divulges the name of any participant will be as his fate.” All departed except half a dozen horsemen, who kept guard for half an hour, fired two shots, and rode rap dly away to the northward. The identity of no participant was discovered, as they were completely masked and disguised their voices. The Coroner’s verdict was: “John H. McKenzie came to his death by strangulation at the hands of infuriated {jersons to us unknown, caused as we veriy believe by the tardiness of our courts of justice.” The Murder for Which McKenzie Was Lynched. Biggs and McKenzie were neighboring farmers, and lived near Eureka, about eight miles from Corning. McKenzie had leased about twelve acres of com land last year from Biggs from a field of, perhaps, thirty acres, Biggs farming the remainder. McKenzie did not utilize the stalks for fodder until after March 1 of this year, when crop leases expire uuder the lowa law, and on his then attempting to turu cattle in the fodder Biggs objected because there was no division fence, ami the cattle would overrun his fields. Biggs had sought legal counsel, • and in accordance with it he locked the gate to the field with a padlock the morning of March 5. Soon after McKenzie arrived with bis cattle. Having been informed by his hired man the gate was locked, he was on horseback, armed with a revolver. To Biggs he said: “I’ll give you just three minutes to open that gate.” There were no witnesses, but from McKenzie’s own version Biggs started toward the gate when McKenzie fired, not to hit, but to scare him, as he says. Biggg Btopped and faced McKenzie, who immediately shot at him, the ball penetrating below the eye and killing him. McKenzie came to Coming and gave himself up as coolly as though he had killed a neighbor’s dog.

B. J. HALL.

A Portrait and Sketch of the New Commissioner of Patents. Hon. Benton J. Hall, of Bnrlington, lowa, who has been appointed Commissioner of Patents, in place of Col. M. Y.

Montgomery, resigned, will assume the duties of the office May 1. Mr. Hall was bom at Mount Vernon, Knox County, Ohio, Jan. 13, 1835. He was educated at Knox College, Illinois, and at Miami University, Ohio. In June, 1855, he was graduated from the last-named institution. Betuming to Burlington, he read law in his father’s office, and was admitted to the bar after two years. Since 1857 he has been izx practice at Burlington, of which place he is a distinguished citizen.

INDIANA STATE NEWS.

—Charles D. Hilderbrandt, one of tho most noted criminals of modem times, who claimed to have been reformed, died at Evansville recently. He was taken with pneumonia, and although he received tho best medical attention and nursing, his shattered constitution could not withstand the disease, and nfter much suffering ho passed quietly away. Hilderbrandt began his career of crime when a mere child, receiving a thorough schooling at the hands of a gang *of thieves. He was a member of the famous Quantrell guerrilla band. He was also a member of the outlaw baud of James boys. Out of forty-nine years of his life, twenty or more were spent in various prisons in this country. —A shocking accident occurred six miles south of Warsaw, by which Will Walton, a young farmer living just outside the city limits, lost his life. Walton and Fred Moon, n young grocer, were duck-shooting at Muskalonge Lake. While walking through the marsh surrounding the lake, a duck flew over them, and both raised their guns to shoot. Walton slipped and fell backward, bringing his head directly in the range of Moon's gun at the moment the latter fired. The load took effect in the back of the head and neck, and death was instantaneous. The men were the best of friends, and have hunted together for years. —Circulars nre to be sent to the county health officers by Secretary Metcalf, of the State Board of Health, calling attention to the requirements of Section 2151 of the Be vised Statutes, relativo to the enforcement of the fire-escape law. It is also the purpose of the Board to see that the hotels and places of amusements hero nre provided with suitable moans of saving life in case of fire. No epidemic diseases have been reported to tho Board from any point in the State.

—At Milroy, Rush County, Wesley Martin, Methodist class-leader, ejected A. L. Jenner, a young man, from church for disorderly conduct, and he sought to get even with him by securing his conviction for assault and battery. The trial took place in the Town Hall, boforo a jury of twelve men. The defense claimed that Marlin did right in preserving order at the church, and asked his aoquittal on that ground, and the jury returned a vedict of not guilty. —On April 21 a Sunday-school convention will be hold at Liberty Church, near New Richmond, Montgomery County. Addresses will be made bv Rev. Thos. Birch, of Crawfordsville; Rev. 8. Gnrrigus, of Lindon; Rev. J. F. Foster, of Crawfordsville; Rev. Aaron Wood, D. D., of Yountsville, and W. H. Orr, W. M. White, Eva M. Miller, Jessie B. Freeman, Rev. Maxwell, Fred Shanklin, Betty Thompson, D. S. Morris, Maggie Jones and others. —A distressing accident occui red at Seymour, which resulted in the death of Mrs. Sarah Cooley, an estimable lady, the wife of Matt Cooley, an old resident. Mrs. Cooley was a devoted member of the M. E. Church. She attended services at church, and upon her return home she took a portion of what she supposed was quinine, but which proved to be strychnine. The poison caused her death within an hour. —Wheat in Northern Indiana is still in an unusually advanced state, and as the season is so far along it is probnble that growing crops will not suffer from any sudden change of the weather. The outlook for both grain and fruits is still excellent. There is a prospect for a larger crop of peaches this year than for several years, as the trees are known not to have been damaged by the last winter. —The second spring meeting of the Indiana Academy of Sciences will be held on May 19 and 20 at the “Shades of Death,’* near Waveland, Mongomery County. The commitleo on arrangements—C. R. Barnes and B. W. Brennan, of Brookville—request that members who expect to be present notify them by postal card at the earliest possible moment. —The Lafayette City Council has ordered the claim of Dr. Isaac C. Walker, of Indianapolis, against Lafayette for infringement of certain patents used by the Fire Department, paid. Dr. Walker asked SI,BOO damages, but accepted $1,500 in payment. Other cities in the State are involved in similar claims.

—Patents have been issued to the following inventors in Indiana: Jas. K. Triname. Indianapolis, chimney; Jacob L. assignor of one-half to J. P. Kyle, Salem, pulverizing cultivator; John P-sßrown, assignor to M. E. Brown, Rising Sun, fence machine; Henry J. Banta, Logan sport, brake for vehicles. —The ticketoffice at the Wabash depot, at LaPorte was burglarized, and several dollars were taken from the money-drawer. Some four or five boles were drilled in the safe, but an entrance was not effected. The thieves were probably frightened away, as their tools were left in the office. —Levi Kemper, a prominent farmer of Tipton County, was run over by a Wabash engine, attached to the pay-car at Atlanta City, a small station south of Kokomo, and was instantly killed. Kemper was attempting to cross the track with a team. Both horses were also killed. —Col. R. P. De Hart, Prosecnting Attorney, is making a vigorous crusade against Lafayette liquor dealers for selling to minors. About thirty convictions have resulted, with heavy fines in each case. His energetic work is commended by the lawabiding citizens. —The result of the competitive examination held at Marion by Congressman Steele, to elect a naval cadet to Annapolis, was announced. The lucky boy is Clement C. Gober, of Grant County. There were seventeen competitors for the honor. —Oil of the same quality as that at Findlay, Ohio, has been found at Peru.