Democratic Sentinel, Volume 11, Number 51, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 January 1888 — THE WESTERN STATES. [ARTICLE]

THE WESTERN STATES.

Judge Shiras, of the United States District Court, at Dubuque, lowa, has rendered a decision against what are known as the Glidden barb wire patents, under which the Washburn-Moen Company has exacted vast royalties from manufacturers and laid heavy taxes upon farmers using barb-wire fences. The defendants in the suit proved that the original barb-wire fence was invented as long ago as 1859, or fifteen years prior to the issue of the Glidden patents. The case will be appealed to the United States Supreme Court. The billiard tournament at St Louis, says a dispatch from that city, was enlivened by a general fight, the result of which may be the termination of the tournament, owing to the bad feeling aroused Some time ago Dick Roche offered to put up SOO,OOO against SIOO that Donovan would not take first money in the tournament. Donovan did not take the bet, but was offended at its terms, and spoke in & derogatory manner of Eoclie. The latter took him to task, and assaulted Donovan with his fist. Tho latter responded with a fierce blow from a billiard-cue. Joe Ullman, the well-known bookmaker, knocking him down, and assaulting him on the floor. John Davis, a leading lawyer of St. Louie, came to Donaovan’s rescue, and attacked Roche. The fight then became general, and a number of persons were more or less injured

Amzi Baldwin, late cashier of the Fidelity National Bank of Cincinnati, who was indicted aloDg with K L. Harper aud other officers of the bank, but who bad not yet been tried, died of a stroke of paralysis on Thursday. He was 58 years old. A San Francisco telegram says that Nathan B. Button was hanged at Oakland, CaL, for the murder of Alexander Martin, a ranchman, in September, 1886. Strenuous efforts were made in Sutton’s defense and for commutation of sentence, but Gov. Waterman refused to interfere. Since Waterman acquired office by the death of Gov. Bartlett four months ago, Bix executions have taken place in the State, and, though efforts iu behalf of the condemned men wero made in every case, Gov. Waterman refused pardons or commutations. Whon Sutton was placed on the scaffold he made a speech. Among other things he said: I admire the firm stand Gov. Waterman has taken in tfie matter of granting commutation and pardons. If he holds his grip tho community will havo but little to complain of as regards the showing of executive clemency.