Daily Tribune, Volume 17, Number 19, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 19 December 1902 — Page 1

AVERAGE DTILG C'trev- -4 WQ LALICN FOR /MOVEMBER Y) This is three times the circulation of If any other Terre Haute newspaper.

VOLUME XVII.

ENGLAND AND ITALY WILL ARBITRATE

VENEZUELAN CRISIS NOW RESTS WITH GERMAN O E N E N

3BSERVE UNCLE SAM'S WISH

GOOD OFFICES OF THIS NATION

AR:E HAVING THEIR EFFECT IN MATTER.

TROUBLE MAY BE ALL OVER

Washington Pleased With the Early Influence of the Stand Taken by This Nation in the South

American Crisis.

ROME, Dec. 19.—It is announced tolay that the Italian government, following the receipt of the official proposition !rom Washington that United States fillister Bowen be invested with full powers to settle the Venezuelan dispute opened up negotiations with both England and Germany looking to a joint igreemcnt to the proposal.

Uncle Sam's Plan Effective. WAiSHliS'tJToX. Dec. 19.—At the state k'partnu-nt no admission will be made )i any improvement in the imbroglio, liuj.j.pvoposition made by Castro to auiwiiiia! .iMr. Bowen to settle with the ..ivvei-s' in regarded as a favorable deefoj hicWt but only to a limited degree into according to dispatches from Carcas th'ft'Vencjiuelan officials insist that uch'settlenvpnt can only be upon an arbirat.ion basis. Great Britain has already ignified.jhev willingness to accept aritration for herself btit in this she is t\s.raiTt^d),^y .Germany, who demands an poleg^f^puVjpastro in advance of arbi: rntioft. indemnity' for occurrences since er, flpet began operations and a guaran?o that the award will be promptly lid.

Although public sentiment- in England 'ems vory strong against continuing itS' Genuany, it is believed here that foreign officers of the two countries tve'.so mutually bound themselves that break in the present concerted action ill be impossible.

Meanwhile France ,as predicted, has itered the field with a very positive wlaration that she has a priority of sn upon the revenues of Venezuela and at she proposes enforcing such right in se blockade is enforced by the joint •et. Or the-part of the latter, notice has en served on all neutral nations that blockade will take effect at 3 o'clock morrow afternoon and that it will be cS^racter one of war. No objection will be made to this by

United States, provided the blockis equally enforced. The administra•Vtn will however denounce any blockade lich shuts out from Venezuelan ports .s vessels of the United States, yet perts those Of Great Britain and Gerny, or Italy to trade there. Moreover itest will be niade against the seizure detention of any ship of American fister which left port fov Venezuela or to the publication of a blockade lification. It is the belief of the state •artinent that should the powers agree tlie arbitration of their claims at this ^nt, Venezuela would pay them in full.

THE UNWRITTEN LAW

jisvifle Man Who Killed the Despoiler of His Home Is Acquitted in Court Today. OUISV.ILLE, Ky., Dec. 18.—The untten law was upheld in the city court morning, when Policeman Mike red w.as dismissed on his examining 1 for the murder of Policeman John 'le, whom he accused of despoiling his le. Self-dtefense, however, was the •ct ground given by Judge McGann. .'ed claimed that Doyle drew his pistt •..• There was no witness. The boar.l safety-ordered Hayed to resume his cs as, a policeman at once.

3 POOR JIM FOUNTAIN

an Elevator Man and the QucsIons of Women Shoppers Drove Him insane. IICAGO, Dec. 19.—"What floors are furs on?" 'an you tell me where the toys are?" lestions such as these and many othrepeated times without number have

James E. Fountain his reason. He elevator man in a downtown departstore till his mind succumbed to the of answering nine women at once, -sday hp was taken into the court the Insane by his brother and sister.

DIED IN AGONY

•v-.'-v, Men Required to Hold Boy Dying Hydrophobia in the Pasteur

Institute.

LTI^ORfi, Md., Dec. 19.—After Ing, biting and suffering one conyulafter iinother in rapid succession for five hours, during which it required nen to hold him, Harry Ayersman,

Rowlesburg, W. Va., a victim of

pho£)iaf:

died fit sheer exhaustion yes-

"ra£-the Pasteur department of the per o$ .^iyifj^ans and Surgeons In slty. Nig

'.41

ALEXANDER GUILTY

-%L^W5ISL

STERCHI ASSAULTS WIFE'S COMPANION

MAIN STREET MERCHANT FOUND HER WITH CORNETIST SHIPMAN

HUSBAND HAILED CARRIAGE

FLASHED REVOLVER IN THEIR FACES AND THEN PUMMELED THE GAY MUSICIAN.

WIFE FLED DURING EXCITEMENT

Woman and Her Companion Were Secreted Today Both Fearing a More Serious Visitation of the Husband's Wrath.

The dove of peace has not been hovering about the home of Mr. and Mrs. Sam Sterchi, of West Main street, during the past forty-eight hours, and at this time Mrs. Sterchi is in hiding some place about the city using the telephone in begging her husband to send her a few clothes, so she can come back home without exposing herself to the pneumonia. In this, as well as the escapade ot a few short months ago. Frank Shipman, the short-legged eornettist is a prominent actor and is also in hiding some place about the city, nursing some very painful and irregular protuberances inflicted on his dome of thought by Sam Sterchi, pawn-broker and husband of the woman in the case.

It was thought at the time of Mrs. Sterchi's mysterious absence from the city and the sensational reports concerning her and Shipman, that she had discarded the musician and that the Sterchi domestic troubles were ended.' It was demonstrated that.,such was not the case and the result was lively fight on Thirteenth street, near Poplar, yesterday evening. Mrs. Sterchi left, home, and the husband had cause to suspect that all was not right and that she had gone to meet the musician. He went, on a search and found them in a hack at the locality above indicated. The hack was signaled to a halt and Sterchi, with revolver in hand opened the door. Seeing that the little musician was unarmed, he handed the pistol to the cabman, and dragging Shipman over the lap of his wife, to the ground', proceeded to operate on him with his fists. For a while there was a vicious demonstration of upper cuts, straightarm jabs, and all the while Shipman was begging for mercy. The woman during the excitement climbed out of the hack and ran. When the wronged husband thought he had given the musician enough, he let him go and went back to his store.

Shipman was badly bruised, and was not able, to leave the house last night. After leaving the hack, Mrs. Sterchi went to her home, where she and her husband had a lively quarrel. She attempted to take her clothing from the house, saying that she would leave the city, but the husband refused to let her do this and to prevent it, says that he was forced to strike her. The woman then left her home and her husband has been unable to locate her since that time. The last he heard of her was that she had announced her intention to stick .by Shipman and leave the city with him. Shipman called up Sterchi by telephone, and asked him if he would permit him to come out on the street and make arrangements to leave tne city. Sterchi informed him that if he would tell where Mrs. Sterchi was in hiding and promise to leave her alone and leave the city, he would not harm him but that if lie would not comply with these conditions he would not be permitted to leave town alive. Scerchi offered to furnish the musician money with which to leave the city, and this agreement was made. Shipman told where he could be found last night and it was almost certain that they were in hiding together.

This morning Sterchi was talking to his wife over the telephone, but she would not tell where she was. She wanted him to give her permission to send home for some clothing, saying that she did not have sufficient clothing to be seen on the street. The husband said thac she could have her clothing, but that she must come for it herself, as he wanted to talk with her. He promised that if she would come home and let Shipman alone the matter would be dropped and this was the state of the trouble at last reports.

WHERE KINDNESS PAID

Millionaire Uncle of Chicago Woman Heard of Her Love for Cats— .i«yOsj: Leaves Her His Estate.

CHICAGO, Dec. 13.—Half a million, dollars is the reward that Mrs. C. A. White, president of the Home for Friendless Dogs and Cats, is to receive for her kindness to the four-footed waifs. The news of her benevolence reached the ears of her bachelor uncle, Captain H. Launder of Washington, and he has named her as sole beneficiary in his will.

Father of Baby Foods Dead. LONDON, Dec. 19.—Gusrtav Mellin of infants' food fame is dead.-

HEAVILY INSURED MAN FOUNB DEAD

WHAYNE OF LOUISVILLE, CARRIED $340,000! ON HIS LIFE

TOOK FATAL HUNTING TRIP

HEIRS CONTEND ACCIDENT BUT COMPANIES WILL SET UP SUICIDE THEORY.

LEADING ORGANIZATIONS HIT

Man Had Taken Out Nearly All of His Enormous Policies Within the Past Sixteen Months—Circumstances of His Death.

LOUISVILLE, Ky., Dec. 19.—Coroner Kelley declares that an exhaustive in vestigation will be required to solve the mystery surrounding the death of Robert C. Whayne, a business man, who was found dead near his home, with a bul let wound in his breast. Whayne car ried insurance policies to the value of $350,000 and in addition had made ap plication for $50,000 more. The new policies

Mere

to have been delivered to

him on Dec. 22. He was the most heavily insured man who ever lived in Louisville, and a strict investigation will be made to determine whether his death was accidental, or due to his own hand His family clings to the former theory while opinion is divided on the latter. Whayne took out his first insurance policy fifteen years ago. One of the facts cited in support of the suicide theory is that he had obtained nearly all his policies in the last sixteen months. He did four policies in the Equitable Life Assurance Society of New York'for $50,000 each, which were taken''out between Sept. 1, 1.901 and May 10, 1A02.

Two polices in the Provident Savings Life Assourance society 6f New York for $60,000 each were taken cuit in Jahu ary and February, 1902. A $10,000 policy in the Union Central Life Insuratitre company was Secured Feb. 15, 1898. Policies for $5,000, $2,000 afid $3,000 wore secured in 1.S5S0, 18S7 and 1891.

Whayne applied less than a month ago for a policy of $25,000 in the Manhattan Insurance company and was accepted. The policy was to arrive Dec. 22. He had also applied to the Mutual Life Insurance company of Vermont for $25,000 and had been accented. The investigation shows that Whayne had always been a believer in insurance. He told agents of the companies that his sewing machine and bicycle business paid him $15,000 a year and as the business would probably die with him, he wanted his

Avife

and three children well pro

vided for. On the four equitable policies of $50,000 each there are accrued dividends of $60,000 so that if the company pays the amount will be $260,000. The policies contained the one year suicide clause, but it had expired in two of them. It is claimed that the companies will have difficulty in proving that Whayne committed suicide. Near his body when it was found but on the opposite side of a wire fence, was a shot gun with one barrel empty and the other loaded and cocked. His friends and family declare that the gun was discharged while he was climbing through the fence. The coroner will commence the inquest this afternoon or Saturday

MASCAGNI'S TROUBLES

Refused to Pay in Advance for Baggage Expenses and Staff Was Held at Indianapolis.

INDIANAPOLIS, Dec. 10.—Mascagn| was to have gone to Cincinnati at 10:1S this morning. He did not go and this afternoon the Union station is besieged by his Italian musicians. If a truce is declared with local baggage Master Mascagnl hopes to get off in time to fill his Cincinnati engagement tonight. Mascagni has a special contract covering his baggage. Last night after the finances of the local concert were cleared, a demand was matfle for the local baggage transportation. Mascagni's representative said the money was not due until the baggage was delivered at the train. In consequence the baggage was locked up this forenoon and Mascagni was frantic.

THE SCOTTISH RITE

Will Build a Cathedral in Chicago to Be Used by the Entire Con-

CHIC

~~~LL

space of time as possible a great charta ble cathedral which will cost at the lowest figure $300,000 will be erected in Chicago by Oriental Consistory, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Valley of Chicago. The cathedral will provide a home for the organization and the entire building will be devoted to the consistory and allied bodies, and there will be no offices f6r rental.

It is the plah that each Sunday the Auditorium shall be given over to a congregation of worshipers.

payne Better Today.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19.—The condition of Postmaster General Payne, who was taken ill on his way to the White house" yestefcday. Is much improved this morning. iie took breakfast with his family.

TERKE HAUTE, IID., FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1902.

OPERATORS PACKING THE GOORT ROOM

DELUGE STRIKE ARBITRATORS WITH TESTIMONY OF NONUNION MEN—

•Siv

-JC

MANY GRIEVANCES CLAIMED

MINERS' LAWYERS HOWEVER TURNING THEM TO THEIR OWN USES.

ADMIT THEY ARE UNDERPAID

Commission Will Adjourn at Noon Tomorrow and Hearing Will Not Resume Until January 5th, and

Then in Philadelphia.

SRANTON, Pa., Dec. 19—The Court room where the anthracite coal strike commission is hearing evidence in the controversy between the operators and miners was crowded with non-union men this morning eager to tell of abuses and sufferings endured by them at the hands of the strikers.

Judge Gray will adjourn the commis sion shortly after noon tomorrow' to meet in Philadelphia on January 5.

The counsel for the Pennsylvania Coal company submitted its statements to the commission this morning. Judge Gray said that the commission felt that the statement submitted by the Pennsylvania coal company regarding the wages of the fathers of the silk mill girls had deceived both the companies counsel and the commission because of a mistake on the part of a company clerk and the commission did not wish the impression to get abroad that the company had intended to 'deceive.-'^,

The statement of the annual earnings per contract was $1,226.49, but. "on account of the uncertainty of the best information which-' it has been possible to obtain as to the number of miners or laborers in each contract the average earnings of e^^h miner or laborer has not been stated

James Fahc} special agent of the Delaware, Lackawanna and" Western railroad was called, lie presented and read sevei-al lists from a local paper, the official organ of the Central Labor Union.

Eugene Ditty of Priceburg, a florist, toid of being mistaken one night for a non-union man and being set upon by some men and being .severely beaten so that he was confined in the hospital for two months^

Thomas Kennedy, a young lad 14 ve^rs old, said that his father worked during the strike as an enginer in the Delaware and Hudson company. He was employed in a drug store, he said, and a union committee came and told the proprietor he must be discharged as his father was scab." The union committee told the proprietor that his place would be boycotted unless he complied with their demands. Young Kennedy's .father was called and after corroborating his son's testimony said that he had to take three of his chikltenjrom school because of the abuse heaped upon them. "A

case of the sins of the-father being isited on the children" commented Judge Grayv

Several other witnesses were called and ga-ve testimony as to dfsorders, effigies hung and the turning back, of the non-union, men from woirk.

12 PAGES.

FIRST DEGREE" HANOS®APRIL 16th

IT WENT THROUGH ALL RIGHT

SEEKING COAL HERE

CHICAGO OPERATORS' AGENTS HERE MAKING CONTRACTS.

FAMINE IS SOON EXPECTED

This City However Will Not "Suffer Much Owin^ t^ Its Proximity to the Mines.

No apprehension is felt that the coal famine which is now becoming a more and more serious matter in various points over the country, will strike Terre Haute. Leal will oe available throughout the entire winter and at a comparatively low figure.

The great lack of coal arises chiefly from the fact that there has been a sudden, and overwhelming receipt of orders from the northwest. The people in that Region have held off from buying coal in the hope that tne price would be reduced, and have boldly asserted that if it were not they would not buy coal this winter. A recent slight taste of North Dakota blizzards has, however, literally given them cold feet on the holding off proposition and they all at once have decided that they are not so warm.

The consequence lias been that they have ordered in large quantities and the coal companies are attempting to supply them. The shortage of cars makes it impossible that that region may be supplied, and also the nfiddle western country

and

so the middle western country

is up against it. The operators say they can hardly be blamed for supplying the market which brings the best prices. There are dealers from Chicago in this city who are buying from the operators all the coal they can get at three dollars a ton. It is needless to say that the operators are selling all they can at this price. There is bound to be a scarcity some where and this scarcity is going to occur whereever the people are not enterprising enough to go after the coal with liigh prices and do it soon. There are not many operators who, when a man comes to them and says I will give you three dollars a ton for the coal you have in your yards," would answer that they would not accept that figure because it was exhorbitant.

Terre Haute will not suffer because it is too near the source of the supply. The city can be supplied by the mines at West Terre Haute, if in no other way.

The secret of the whole matter is that some one has to suffer this winter for lack of coal. There are not enough cars to haul the product, aiid if there were the mines could not mine it fast enough to supply the demand. More than this many, must suffer because thev haven't money enough to buy the coai.fj^r.f f&i

FE WOMEN DROP FIGHT

W. C. T. U. Will"" No Further Oppose a picture in the Nude in the I White House

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19.—The Women's Christian Temperance Union of the District of Columbia, after wrestling with the/"Love and life" problem, has decided to drop the matter. No assistance will be rendered "Mrs. E. E." Martin, the union's superintendent of purity, who has announced her \intention of appealing to President Rodsfevelt to remove the alleged indecent picture from the White house, amdi it is quite probable that the agitation wHl be abondftngd by the society as a whoto

J-'?T

RAILROAD OFFICIAL STARRED TO DEATH

TRAGIC ENCOUNTER IN' A ST. LOUIS OFFICE TO-

i-f" »•*.«.

SLAYER A FORMER EMPLOYE

ATTEMPTED TO COMMIT SUICIDE AFTER TAKEN INTO

CUSTODY. .*

MEN WERE ALONE IN OFFICE

Theory Is That the Murder Was the Result of an Old Grudge Which Existed Between the Two

I Combatants.

ST. LOUIS, Mo., Dec. 19.—J. W. Berragcr, office engineer of the St. Louis Memphis and Southeastern railway, was stabbed to death at 10:30 this morning in his office, by Thompson Morton, form erly.employed by the. company.

The tragedy occurred in Berrager's private office at the headquarters of the railroad, room 5, Granite building, Fourth and Market streets. Following his arrest Mr. Morton drank poison with the intent of ending his own life. The affair is shrouded in mystery. There were no witnesses and though Morton recovered consciousness after treatment he refused to make a statement. Morton is a civil engineer.

Employes of the outer office were startled by cries- for help and rushing into the private office saw Morton holding a knife above Berrager's head. The latter broke away and ran into the outer hallway, Morton following and plunging the knife into his back. The two men fell to the

floor

with Morton on top, still

striking with the knife. An employe of the office

managed

to disarm Morton and

Berrager straggled to his feet and staggered into an offie chair. Physicians were sumomned but Berranger died 25 minutes after the attack.

HAS RARE DISEASE

New Ycrk Theatrical Man Who Killed ,,.His Wife a Short Time Ago.

NEW YORK, Dec. 19.—Acromegaly, an abnormal enlargement and absorption of the bones and tissues, so that the sufferer is barely recognizable, is the ailment of Harry Rose, stage manager of the Garrlck theate*, who shot and killed his wife, according to testimony given yesterday before the special commission appointed to inquire into the prisoner's mental condition.

EVANSVILLE VERY WET

Floods Surround the Water Works and Workmen Go and Come in Skiffs.

EVANSVILLE, Ind., Dec, 19.—The tiemen along- Green river have suffered a loss of *50,000 by high water. Lurpbermen have sustained a loss equally heavy. The river is over 37 feet and still rising. The high water surrounds the water works above the city. Thfe plant is in no dangert but workmen go to and from it in skiffs.

Mrs. Edwards Must Die.

band.

S^fP

•wawp^ip.- pp^w#i

THE WEATHEft

Forecast for Indiana—Rain tonight and Saturday warmer tonight, increasing southerly winds.

LAST EDITION"—NUMBER 19

ALEXANDER 5SMIIS1IIANG

FOUND WM OF MURDER THE FIRST DEGREE—DEATH 1

SENTENCE.

GREAT CROWD FILLS COURT

ROOM* WAS CLEARED AND JURY 3* REMAINED THEREIN TO ,, •*$,? DELIBERATE.

Vva'

CLOSING HOURS OF THE TRIAL

Arguments Were Closed Shortly After Noon and the Court Soon Com- 'S pleted Its Instructions to the Jury.

The jury In the Alexander case re-' tired at 2:37 o'clock. 'The closing hour was occupied by Deputy Prosecutor Wallace in making the closing argument. Judge Piety soon completed his instructions and the court room was cleared and the jury was left therein to arrive at a verdict. A great crowd filled the court room.

The instructions to the jury were favorable to the state. The judge explained to the jurors that if a decree of murder in the first degree was returned, the punishment would be either life imprisonment or death. He told them that they should find for murder in the first degree if in their opinion Burke was murdered during a scuffle in which the negro struck him with murderous intentions.

At 4:10 p. m. it was announced that the jury had reached a verdict and the word was on the streets in a moment, a re at crowd surging into the court hdtise. The jurymen were in the box when the doors were opened and the excitement, while subdued, was intense. Judge Piety and the attorneys were in their places and the prisoner looking stolid as usual. After the usual preliminaries the verdict was handed up arid read It was: "We, the jury, find the defendant, Matthew Alexander guilty of murder as charged by the indictment herein, and find that as punishment h# shall suffer death." 4 DAVID N. WALLACE,

,«£•

Foreman.

The verdict rendered the attorneys made the usual motion for a new trial, which Judge Piety promptly overruled. He stated that he would pronounco sentence at once and told Alexander to stand up.

Asked if he had anything to say Alexander merely replied that he was not guilty. Judge Piety then sentenced him to be hanged, April 16, 1903.

The court ordered the crowd to keep their seats and the prisoner was rushed to the upper floor under heavy guard. There was no demonstration.

Sheriff Fasig will take Alexander to Michigan City as soon as possible The fact that Matthew Alexander would not testify in his own behalf had a tendency to cool the ardor of the eager and averted another stampede when the doors of the court house were" thrown open this morning. Most of those who have Watched the case from its beginning werfe on hand to see the finish and when Bailiff Himmelbauer sounded the gavel the seating capacity outside the railing was all taken and the standing room: was occupied.

It was 8:20 o'clock when Prosecutor Beal addressed the court and steppedl in front of the twelve men, who were to say whether Matthew Alexander should live or die. He began by recalling the statements which he made in the outset of the case and insisted that the promises of the state had been redeemed to theminutest detail and that here could her no doubt tfcat Matthew Alexander was the slayer of Thomas A. Burke, and that it was premeditated and one of the' most fiendish crimes that has blackened the history of Vigo county.

The speech of the prosecutor

was brief, but it was a merciless arraign-

ment of the accused and at times dramatic. The picture of how the murderer had robbed a home of its protector and.. how Thomas A. Burke was nftirdeifed in the presence of his wife and "child, was eloquent and pathetic and moved many to tears. Mrs. Burke, sat near the speaker holding the babe which was robbed of a father before it was bora, was f, a scene which added to the pathos, and was one which was not over looked by the jury. The picture as it was painted: by the speaker was moro than Mrs. Burke and her daughter eonTd stand, and bcth wept bitterly. In conclucion the prosecutor said:

Gentlemen of the Jury: It is now all up to you. I hare done my duty and now shift the great responsibility to your shoulders. It is for you to say by your verdict that the laws are to be £xe-

'HARRISBURG, Pa., Dec. 19.—The board of pardons has refused to commute the death sentence of Mrs. Kate Edwards of Berks county, who murdered her hus- routed and thjrt. home and society are to

oe protected murderous

tli

-ism