Indianapolis Journal, Indianapolis, Marion County, 1 February 1888 — Page 4

THE rNDIAXAPOIilS JOURNAL,, WEDNESDAY, FEB a UAHf 1, 1888.

THE DAILY JOURNAL. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1S83. WASHINGTON OFFICE 313 Fourteenth St. P. S, Death. Correspondent. SETT TOKK orFICK 104 Temple Court, I'orner Bekmn and Nassau street. TERMS OF SUBSCR1PTI0H. DAILY. One year, withont Sunday..: l.....$12.00 On yar. with Sunday 14. OO frix months, without .Sunday.................. 6.00

Pix month, with handay V.OO Thr months, without Sunday...... ......... 3.tK Three months, with Sunday. ................. 3.5 Ona month, without .Sunday.................. l.OO One month, with Sunday. ...... .............. 1.20 WZEKLT. 2ne year .............. $1.00 Peduced Rates to Clubs. THE INDIANAPOLIS JOCKNAL C an be found at the follow in? places: LONDON American Exchange in Europe, 449 fctrandPARIS American Exchange in Paris, 35 Boulevard des Capucines. . NEW YORK Gedney House and Windsor Hotel. CHICAGO Palmer House. CINC1NN " -J. P. Hawley & Co., 154 Vine street LOUISVILLE C. T. Deering, northwest corner Third ai Jefferson street. ST. LOUIS Union News Company, Union Depot and Southern Hotel. WASHINGTON. D. C-Rigg House and Ebbitt .House. Telephone) Calls. Business Office 238 Editorial Booms 242 i ( And now the Democratic forgery gang propose to do away with United States courts. It is announced that Governor Hill will not he a candidate for re-election as Governor of New York. This is held to mean that he has bis eye on the White House. Jetp Davis acknowledges that he comes down from a past age, but he fails to realize that the ideas to which he clings are as antiquated as his physical self. Up to the hour of going to press nobody had spat in the face of ex-Senator Thurman, who is engaged in prosecuting the tally-6heet forgers at Columbus; but the case is young The Logansport Pharos and the New Albany Ledger are two Democratic papers that do not believe it good policy for their party to carry Coy on one shoulder and Bernhamer on the other through the approaching campaign. Enterprising citizens of Indianapolis who want their city to 6hare the advantages of natural gas before the cream of the profit is gathered by the smaller towns, are made very tired on reading the daily report of the establishment of manufactories in the surrounding villages. It is high time that Indianapolis should break her record for getting left Hackworth is the other name of the Moses who wants to head the exodus of Southern negroes. There are many Pharaohs in the persons of Southern gentlemen, who do not want to let the colored people go, because without them they would be compelled to work. Your Southern gentleman has not yet learned the dignity of labor, and it may take an exodus to teach him. THE janitors of the State offices, who were indicted by the grand jury that would not even consider the tally-sheet cases, for the larceny of books which the Sentinel claimed were of great value, were tried and acquitted in the Criminal Court yesterday. The evidence showed the utter baselessness of the charges, and knocked the bottom out of another of the Sentinel's jim-jam sensations. The threatened interference by the Chit cago workingmen with the harmony of the Democratic national convention, should it be held in that city, settles it that the gathering will not be held there if President Cleveland has any influence in the matter. lie has no intention of allowing his celebrated personal comfort to be disturbed by workingmen. He will be sustained in this position by Speaker Carlisle, who has no use for workingmen, either. The assertion that the recent defeat of Mr. Randall and the indorsement of President Cleveland were brought about by the active work of federal office-holders cannot well be denied, since nearly all such officials in the State were in attendance at the convention; but it has not even been explained or apologized for, or inquired into. The pretense of an adherence to civil-service reform has been abandoned by the President and his followers as no longer worth while. Last spring everybody thought Indianapolis would soon begin to reap the benefits of natural gas. Not only has it reaped no benefit yet, but nearly $1,000,000 has been invested in the business without returns. The Indianapolis company has invested about $000,000, the Capital City and Broad Ripple companies have absorbed a considerable sum, and the Trust company has collected about $135,000, while not a little money has been invested by our citizens in natural-gas town's in the State. The withdrawal of all this capital from the ordinary channels of trade is felt. The sooner we begin to get returns the better. AN Eastern item says the irregular supply of natural gas at Uniontown, T&., is driving domestic consumers from its use, and manufacturers have suffered severely from the sudden stoppage of supply. The assumption in tpme quarters hereabout is that ten or a dozen wells will supply all the gas the city needs, and continue to do it forever. A wise provision will take into account the possibility of the supply failing, at least to the extent of demonstrating the folly of 'putting all our eggs in our basket. What if Indianapolis were dependent on one railroad for coal, and that a constantly diminishing supThe New York Clitic thinks Sunday newspapers might be improved by the publication of religious matter, either in the shape of original articles and reports, or in extracts from religious weeklies, and says there are few readers who do not take an interest in this most important subject. They do; they take an absorbing interest in literature of this tharacter, as the enormous circulation of those

entertaining periodicals, the "Andover Review," the "Presbyterian Review," the "Church Review" and others will indicate. It may be remarked, however, that the Critio writer is evidently not in search of religious news when he reads his Sunday paper or he would find plenty of it, and thus be saved the exposure of his ignorance by the production of such foolish editorials. Newspapers of the best class, which is, of course, the only kind the Critic man reads, report all the religious news of the day.

WHAT "WE ABE LOSINGJust how much Indianapolis has lost by the non-introduction of natural gas cannot be certainly known. It is one of those conjectural questions, in regard to which opinions may differ, and which is not susceptible of exact demonstration. The measure of damage or loss is the difference between its actual growth and acquisition of new enterprises during the last six or eight months, and what might have been with cheap natural gas. That it is very considerable cannot be doubted. Within that period a number of large manufacturing establishments from other States have located at different towns in the natural-gas region, sev--eral very recently, and more are looking for a location. The advantages of the gas region for manufacturing purposes are becoming more widely known and better recognized every day, and the influx of outside capital and new manufacturing enterprises is likely to continue and increase. The Journal is glad to record the prosperity of other towns in the gas belt, as Muncie, Marion, Kokomo, Anderson, Noblesville, etc. They are part and parcel of the State, and whatever contributes to their prosperity contributes to that of the State at large, and of Indianapolis as its capital. These are all fine towns, and nothing is too good for them in the way of added prosperity. Nature seems to have distributed the gas in such a way that they are all reaping very substantial benefits from it, and we rejoice that such is the fact But we shall rejoice still more when it can be announced to the world that Indianapolis has, not the promise, the prospect, or the assurance of natural gas, but the thing itself, in abundance and at very cheap rates. Manufacturing enterprises are not attracted by the prospect of gas, they want the reality. The announcement that some company is getting ready to advertise for bids preparatory to contracting for pipe, or is positively making arrangements to raise money for the purpose of introducing gas, does not fetch them. They want the thing itself. It has been pretty tiresome, during all these months, to see factory after factory passing by Indianapolis because it had not gas, and locating at other towns. They did not care to wait till the problem was solved here; so they went to places where it was already solyed. The same thing is happening every day, and will continue to happen until we get an abundant supply of gas at ordinance rates or below. Every day that this consummation is delayed adds to the injury the city has already suffered. Every day 'that it can be forwarded will hasten the time when Indianapolis will begin to share in the prosperity now enjoyed by other natural-gas cities. As a business proposition it would seem to be the duty of the Councils to do whatever may properly be done in this direction. The price of gas is already fixed. Now what the city needs is an abundant supply as soon as possible. No one company can pipe or supply the entire city. Probably two cannot. Perhaps three cannot. But two qompanies can furnish more than one and three more than two. We want competition as well as gas, and we want both as soon as possible. The Broad Ripple company has already entered the city and will commence operations under the ordinance as it stands, reserving the right to ssk for any needed changes in the future. The Indianapolis company, with a vastly larger supply than the Broad Ripple, and with gas at the city limits, asks for two changes in the ordinance which it thinks important for the protection of its own interests, and which certainly would not imperil those of the city. The Capital City company asks for three amendments, which are printed in another column, together with the reasons fairly and fully set forth for them. It is nothing to the purpose to say that the Broad Ripple company and the Trust company do not ask for any changes in the ordinance at present. Their business is their own. The point is that other companies, viewing the matter somewhat different, do ask for certain changes not affecting the price nor any material matter. - As a business proposition, it would seem to be the duty of the Council to consider the requests of these companies on their merits, and if the desired changes are fair and reasonable, to make them. Business is business, and should be free from sentiment or prejudice. The plain fact is that the city is losing business, losing money, losisg prestige and losing character every day for the want of gas. This condition of affairs should be ended ba soon as possible. JUfiOR ME3SICK'S TELEGBAMThe Sentinel, in its efforts to break the force of the verdict in the tally-sheet case, has persistently misrepresented the position of juror Messick. It was he who received a telegram, pending the deliberation of the jury, announcing the death of his mother. The Sentinel has stated that Mr. Messick used tais to work on the sympathies of other jurors, thus forcing a verdict, and that he said this induced jurors to vote as they did. The following letter from Mr. Messick flatly denies this statement and defines his position: "To the Editor of the Indianapolis Journal: "In regard to the alleged interview in the Sentinel, the correspondent makes me say that I believed that the receipt of the telepram influenced the two jurors, Carboner and Peters, to change their votes in order to let me come home. It is all false, from beginning to end. I voted for conviction from the second ballot till the verdict, and still abide by my decision. I agreed when taking the oath as juror to find according to the law and evidence, letting it strike whom it would. I am a Democrat, but will not uphold fraud in a Democrat or Republican, and will not tamely submit to misrepresentation Trusting this will explain matters, I am, very respectfully, D. A. Messick. "MMSICK, lad., Jan. 31. 1893. This letter comes to the Journal as a voluntary statement from Mr. Messick, and is a

very effectual reply to the reiterated assertions of the Sentinel. These were calculated to create the impression that Mr. Messick himself was induced by the unfortunate death

of his mother to join in a verdict which his judgment ana conscience did not approve, and that . he played on the feelings of other jurors to induce them to do the same. His manly let ter brands the statement as "false from beginning to end." Whatever doubts the Sentinel may have as to the justice of the verdict, it will be observed that Mr. Messick has none, for he still abides by his decision. Though a Democrat, he says he will not uphold fraud in a Democrat or Republican. Well said. Mr. Messick is evidently an honest man, and we are glad to believe there are thousands of Democrats like him honest men who will not uphold fraud in politics. The masses of the people in both parties are honest. Rascals are the exception, and while they and their sympathizers and defenders are too numerous, they are still greatly outnumbered by the honest men. The Journal does net know Mr. Messick personally, but his letter shows he is an honest man, a Democrat from principle, and not a defender or apologist of fraud. TIME FOB BUSINESS. The man or the interest that continues to bandy epithets and indulge in further recrimination and denunciation respecting the matter of natural gas is a public enemy. No one but a fool in his own conceit doubts that Indianapolis is severely suffering in prestige and in prosperity,not only from the delay in the introduction of gas, but particularly by reason of the malignant spirit that shows its teeth at all times, seeming to be more anxious to make a point of "downing" somebody than in conceding what no sensible man will say cannot safely be conceded for the general good. Indianapolis stands uniquely before the State and the country as the only city in which a spirit of bitterness is manifested toward capital and enterprise, and in which the people are represented to be in two hostile camps. In Chicago, in St.. Paul, in Minneapolis, in Kansas City, in Topeka anywhere else in the world there is a coming together, a concession of disputed points where concession can safely be made, a harmonious working together for the good name and the welfare of the city. It does seem to the Journal high time that a change was coming over the spirit of Indianapolis in this' regard. The city is being injured every day by the present condition of things. Let it be taken for granted that the Indianapolis Natural-gas Company has been the sum of all villainies; that its past conduct has been damnable. The Journal has not defended, and will not defend, what it has done. But all this is threshing old straw now. As Sidney Smith said to the universal swearer; "Let us consider everybody and everything damned, and proceed to business." If sensible people conclude that there have been curses enough heaped upon the heads of the stockholders and directors of the Indianapolis Company, let us proceed to business! That business is a fair, candid, busin ess-like consideration of the amendements asked by two companies who want to supply the city with gas. One company has gas ready, and the other says the terms of the ordinance prevent it from obtaining capital to go ahead with its enterprise: So far as the Broad Ripple company is concerned, there is this to be said: that before Mr. Westcott came into it the proposition was made to the Indianapolis company that if the latter would agree to buy it, it would go before the Council and petition for the changes that are now asked. But the Indianapolis company preferred to be open about the matter, and has asked for the amendments in an outright and upright way. Mr. Westcott says he does not want any changes; very well. But neither he nor the Trust will enter into bond not to ask changes after they begin supplying gas, and one of the principal men in the Trust told the Journal that the change in the pipe extension provision would be absolutely necessary for the Trust. So that, at the best, it is about the difference between tweedle dum and tweedle dee whether the change or changes shall be made now or six months hence. One reason why the Indianapolis company possibly feels that it must have the change in advance, maybe the constant expression of a malignant feeling toward it that would be gratified at its complete and utter destruction. Not more than three or four days ago the News, which has constituted itself the special champion of keeping gas out of the city except as it may come in obediance to its dogmatic consent, said that if the Indianapolis company desired to know what people thought of it let it stand on the corners of the streets and listen to the comments of the passer3-by. If this be true, it represents a state of feeling that would make very hazardous the invest ment of a million of dollars subject to the whims and caprices, if not the malice, of such a spirit. The assertions and the conduct of the News are sufficient warrant for the companies asking the protection they do. But all this aside. As the Journal has so often said, and now so earnestly repeats: Let the changes asked for be considered on their merits, inespective of every other consideration. Is it not time to show that the Coun cils and people of Indianapolis can rise above child's play, the making of mouths at your sister, and determine a business question on business principle's, with a purpose to sub serve the present interests and future pros perity of the city? The enemy of Indianapolis is the man or the interest that keeps frothing at the mouth with malice, insisting upon the erection of a barrier against any body or enterprise that will not bow to his ipse dixit and pay tribute to his inflated self-importance. The Journal, speaking for the real body of the people, the vast number who are not standing on the street corners brawling about "killing" anything, or "driving" anybody out of town, warmly welcomes every dollar of capital and every enterprise ready to come to assist in developing the prosperity of Indianapolis, willing to treat generously and candidly everybody and every dollar, whether from home or from abroad. Sensible people are getting very tired of the op

posite policy, and if it is kept up much longer

there will be thunder heard all around the sky. " The secretary of the committee of one hundred publishes a card to the effect that Mr. David W. Coffin, who was chairman of the grand jury that indicted the tally-sheet forgers and conspirators in May, 1S87, was not at that time a member of the -committee, and did not become so until October last, six months after his service on the jury. When on the witness-stand Mr. Coffin was not able to answer exactly the time at which he be came a member of the one hundred commit tee, and upon the fact that he was now a member the able lawyers, who practiced per. sonal denunciation and Democratic politics in the name of law, proceeded to denounce Mr. Coffin and insinuate all manner of things against his honorable character and conduct. Now come the facts in the matter, and knock the wind out of all these beautiful and effective bits of invective on the art of the forgers' defenders. Pursuant to notice recently issued by the Republican State central committee, district conventions will be held on Thursday, the 2d inst., to-morrow, to elect members of the new committee. We trust our Republican friends throughout the State duly appreciate the importance of this matter. In a large degree the management and success of the campaign next year will depend on the central commit tee, and it is of the first importance that its members be selected with special reference to their fitness, capacity and interest in the work. No personal ambitions or side issues should be taken into account. The selections in every case should be such that it can be said he is the man of all others for the place. With a central committee constituted on that basis the year's work will be auspicuously begun. " And now it is said Simeon Coy is confident the jury in the late trial was "tampered with," "fixed" for conviction. Some men's minds turn instinctively to fraudulent methods as the only means of accomplishing ends. Who sboul d tamper with the jury in the interest of conviction? The government, the judge, the district attorney, or "old Bill Henderson?" Hardly. The only "fixing'' the prosecution was concerned about was to get an honest, impartial jury, and prevent them from being approached and influenced in favor of the defendants, as was done in the first trial. Mr. Coy's mind runs too much on fixing things. He does not seem to have learned yet that there is such a thing as fixed honesty. We publish elsewhere an article from Rev. John B. Fry, of Delaware county. New York, which first appeared in his home newspaper, the Delaware Express. The Express, in printing the paper, thus alluded co it: "It is known to the country that Mr. Fry, whose truth-telling reminiscences we gladly publish to-day, long held intimate and confidential relations with Mr. Clay. Therefore it is 6afe to assume that whatever he has. to say about the political camDaien of 1840. which resulted in the election of Harrison and Tyler to the presidency" and vice-presidency, respectively, and also to the outcome of that great national event, under Tyler's administration, will command more general attention and credence than would be accorded to any other writer upon the same subject. This, at least, is our opinion, and we believe it will be that of onr readers. n a word, we regard Mr. Fry's production as unanswerable, and hence very valuable. "Perhaps we should state that Mr. Fry first sent the article to the Centnry Magazine, which was returned to him with the following note: "Dear Sir We sincerely wish we had space forth! s, and hope we shall see it elsewhere in print. With hanks and regrets, yours truly, Ed. Cextuby." An exchange, in noting the announcement that the plan of co-education had been , abandoned at Adalbert College, draws the conclusion that the system is feasible only to a certain point, and that that point is reached when a young man ceases to take pride in the display of masculine superiority. The logie of this conclusion s not apparent, nor does it explain the failure at Adelbert, since the weight of testimony is to the effect that a young man never reaches the point indicated, and that masculine superiority is fond of exhibiting itself to extreme old age. The announcement that a religious revival in a town of this State has resulted in closing the meat shops on Sunday is an interesting indication of reform; but as nothing-is said about the whisky thops it is to be inferred that the awakening is not yet general. However, the practical prohibition, of fried steak one day in the week marks a decided step in Christian progress. A Chicago editor declines to be considered a candidate for Governor, and says he is a candidate for heaven and nothing else. The sooner, then, that he quits editing a Chicago paper the better will be his chances for getting counted in. There were some duplicates among Pope Leo's jubilee gifts, but his Holiness can easily exchange the superfluous articles for any housebold conveniences of which he may be in need, and which friends have forgotten to send in. THE TALLY-SHEET FORGERS. Eow the Conviction of Coy and Bernhamer Is Received Throughout tha Country. Pittsburg tThronicle: Two of the Indianapolis tally-sheet forgers have been convicted. Tally one! Now let the cases against the Ohio f oreers go merrily on. The sanctity of the ballot must be. preserved. Nebraska State Journal: The jury in the Indianapolis tally-sheet forgery case returned a verdict of guilty against two of those indicted for the crime. Indiana will soon be a sure Republican State. Minneapolis Tribune: The reform wave has reached Indiana and Ohio, and corrupt political "heelers" are trembling in their boots. At Indianapolis yesterday two of the tally-sheet forgers were found guilty and one acquitted. The rascals who are under indictment at Columbns. O., for the same crime will be vigorously prosecuted. The jury was completed last night. If this thing is kept up till next fall the Democratic party will be short of "active workers." WILL BREAK VP THE GANG. Philadelphia Press. The result or the trial concluded Saturday in Indianapolis will probably break up one more of the disreputable Democratic "gangs" which have disgraced politics in every large city in this country. It was through one of these brutal combinations that the Democraratic party ruled New York city for years and made elections a travesty. Another similar "gang" in Cnicago, under the leadership of "Joe" Mackin. came sear giving the Illinois Legislature to the Democrats in 1884. and with it General Logan's seat in the United States Senate. Another set of Democratic rascals in Cincinnati by means of fraud and forgery nearly gained control of the Ohio Legislature in 1885 and another seat in the United States Senate. One fact is plain in all tbse crimes on the suffrage, and that is the sympathy of the vast majority of the Democratic party with the criminals and the eagerness of the Democratic leader to profit by felony and defend the perpetrators. This was evident again in the Indianapolis crime. The forgers have been encouraged by the moral and material support of all leading Democrats, with a few honorable exceptions only. Taev have defended the criminals in court and on the stump and denounced the trial a a political persecution. Senator Voorhees has made himsolf especially conspicuous in this re

spect and only changed his purpose to act as counsel for the forgers on learning that public sentiment was overwhelmingly against them. The Indianapolis crime, however, simply corroborates other proof that the Democratic party is an organized conspiracy against an honest ballot-box in this country. A POLITICAL QUARANTINE NEEDED. Chicago Inter Ocean. The verdict of guilty against Coy and Bernhamer. charged with forgery of election returns in Indianapolis, is another voice proclaiming that, in the northern tier of States, at any rate, votes must be cast as the voters wish, and most be counted as thev were cast. Crimes against the purity of eleations are of the most heinous nature. By the quickened conscience of the American people they are regarded as not subject to pleas in mitigation of punishment; they are held to be not only unjustifiable, but onpardonable. They proceed from the meanest motives, are executed by the vilest of men, and most disastrous in their effect. Miscarriage of justice in a case touching the purity of an election is more to be deplored than miscarriage in a case affecting property or life of an individual, for it touches the purity of those law-making and law-executing powers upon whose excellence protection of life and property depend. The motive of the frauds in Indianapolis was illegally to accomplish the election of a judge to the Criminal Court and of a cleric of the Circuit Court, by whom the friendship of the criminal class of the city and judicial district was to be secured, first, to the parties to the fraud, and secondly, and through them, to the Democratic party, in which they held places as leaders, Coy being chairman of the county committee and Bernhamer being an active ward politician and lately an alderman. Among the conspirators who nave not reached a second trial are Metcalf, a doctor, who was made president of the Board of Health, and Sullivan, who is now county clerk, and who was the contractor who furnished the patients of the Insane Asylum with butter that stunk in its filth and crawled in its maggot-haunted putrescence. On the recount of tbe vote it was found that Sullivan had a majority without the aid of the votes which had been changed beyond dispute on the tally-sheets. Ayers was forced to resign tbe judicial office which he had illegally beld for a few days, and tbe lawfully-elected Republican superseded him on the bench. All through the trials for there have been two, the Democratic members of the first jury refusing to convict it has not been denied that the tally sheets were fraudulently manipulated; that much was indisputable. The questions was as to the agents of the fraud. Cov and bernhamer have been found guilty as principals. It is not likely that much time will be lost In bringing the accessories to trial There is no city of like population in the world that is in greater need of a penal quarantine for rascally politicians than Indianapolis. Considering the smallness of the prizes to be drawn, the audacity of the risks taken in the Indiana lottery pf political scoun-, drelism has been well-nigh incredible. The attention of the country is now briefly directed from Indiana to Ohio; if the tally-sheet forgers in Columbus meet with the jnstice that has been measured to those in Indianapolis, tbe chances of electoral frauds in the Northwest will be reduced to a minimum. . The State Press. Richmond Palladium: The verdict is generally received with satisfaction, and if the punishment is made equal to the enormity of the offense, there will be none to object. Seymour Republican: Jason Brown is reported to have said that it was the hardest job he ever had to save the "boys" before, and that he had feared all along it could not be done again.

New Albany Ledger (Dem.): Whether the two convicted are worse than those jointly indicted with them, is a question yet to be determined. They are undoubtedly guilty, and de serve punishment. Goshen News: If it suoceeds in breaking up the gang it will be a grand result, to say nothing of the satisfaction of seeing men guilty of such heinous crimes punished. No section of country has any use for such men, and neither has any party. Anderson Herald: This is a glorious victory for the voters of Indiana over high-banded corruption and political dishonesty. Let the good work go on until every one of the gang has received his reward and until the sacredness of the ballot-box is assured. Logansport Pharos (Dem.): Coy's conviction should teach the Democrats of Indianapolis a lesson. That lesson is that men of high character should be placed at the head of the party organization. Better be defeated on a square, , fair presentation of issues, than to succeed by questionable schemes and palpable frauds. Shelby ville Republican: If the result of the recent trial at Indianapolis shall be to purify the political atmosphere and deter scoundrels in all parlies from tampering with elections it will be a happy event for Indiana. Let us all highly resolve that, come what may, elections shall be free and fair, and all votes shall be honestly counted as cast. Lafayette Courier: The moral effect of the conviction of two of the conspirators in Judge Woods's court will have a tendency to retard the progress of crime against elections, and to encourage honest men to renew their efforts in behalf of an honest ballot and for the punishment of the dangerous classes who conspire against the suffrages of the people. Columbus Republican: If the friends of the condemned men succeed in forcing their party to espouse the cause of the criminals, they will shoulder a load that will crush the party, tor thousands of them will not submit to it. It is not Republicans but Democrats who have sought to make it a partisan question, but if Democrats want to place it on that ground tbe issue will be readily accepted. Shelbyville Democrat: The conviction of Coy and Bernhamer by Judge Woods is the greatest outrage of modern times, and will go down into history as a foul blot upon the rights of the citizen, and will be recorded as the work of villainous, partisan malice. Two innocent men suffer the humiliation of conviction in order to satisfy tbe howlioes of a mob of infuriated meo, headed by J udge Woods. Muncie Times: These men have had a fair trial. The jury was non-oartisan. Tbe officers who drew tbe jury were Democrats. The district attorney and Judge Claypool, his assistant, were Democrats. All the forms of law were observed, and they have been found guilty and should suffer the penalty. It is time that intimidation, ballot-box stuffing, and kindred methods, no matter by what party or in whose interest committed to change the will of the people, should cease. The crime is a grave one, the penalty is none too severe. - Warsaw Times: Every voter in Indiana, no .matter to what party he may belong, who is in - : l - j i . xavur ml Bicuuuua auu au uouest count, should rejoice over the verdict in the case of the tally-sheet forgers. It is high time that the people of the entire country should not only demand, but see for themselves that all elections should be beld in a fair and honorable manner; and, to further such a course, that all violators of tbe law. ballot-box stuffers, tally-sheet forg ers, raise counting, etc. snail cease irom this time forward, and the guilty ones be punished. THE NIAGARA ICE BRIDGE. Fantastic Winter Scenery Trees, Rocks and Cliffs Coated with Frozen Spray. Niagara Falls, Jan. 31. Thousands of ex cursionists crossed the Niagara ice bridge this afternoon, most of them coming from Buffalo and vicinity, although there was a large number from New York and Jersey City. They found the fantastic winter scenery at its best, Luna island being arrayed in frosty grandeur. The ice bridge is not so large as that of 1859, when some parts of it assumed iceberg proportions, but it is made up of sufficiently large glaciers to be an interesting sight. The water poured over the cataract with tne same dull thundering roar as it cnurnea up nuge cakes or ice which the swift current had brought to the rapids from Lae Erie. The ice floe extends to yery near the foot of the falls, and goes some distance down the river. Near the center some Niagara adventurers have built wooden sheds. fin which they sell bad whisky, hot pancakes and other refreshments, and photographs. The photographers formed a gauntlet, through which It was nard for any except determined folks to escape without being pictured or being victim ized by buying ice scenes at extravagant prices. To those who saw nothing but nature s work, the cataract was an interesting study. The mass of ice dashing over the precipice changes the color of the torrent, giving it a weird look a it falls heavily not far from the foot of tbe ice bridge. Picturesque as is the scenery. it i becoming more so every day, ana tne fir trees, rocks and projections on the cliffs become coated with the frozen spray. Hnee ice mounds have formed near the base of the fall, which are accessible from the foot of the inclined railway, and hundreds of people to-day enjoyed climbing and sliding down them. Going up was difficult, and the descent was far more dangerous. Down at tbe end of the bridge the spectator incurs more peril and experiences sensations of awe. At the northern edge the bridge trembles with the vibrations of the torrent rushing beneath it. At the whirlpool this afternoon an immense mass of ic tnat bad broken, apparently from the ice bridge, was carried unshattered through

tbe rocky gorre, only to be swallowed by the maelstrom when It seemed likely to enter the Devil's Rapids. A Buffalo man named Myers was standing near tbe place from which the little iceberg broke away, and had a narrow escape from going with it Tbe inclined railway at tha State Reservation was not running to-day, making the bridge difficult of access. Tbe stability of the structure is unquestioned, and timid people need have no fear. The ice is thick and strongly wedged, the fissures near the' center having nearly all closed and been pressed firmer into place by tbe downward force of toe water. So long as tbe lower end holds firm there Is no danger of a break-up; and the bridge may last till spring. MELISSA AND MUSTAPBA.

A Rhode Island Girl Who Was Defeated in an Attempt to Secure Two Husbands. Providence, R. I., Jan. 31. Pretty Melissa, the daughter of a hotel keeper named Burchard, in a neighboring suburb, figured in a sensation yesterday ia the Supreme Court. She had made application for the annulment of a divorce ob-. tained by General Mustapba, a Turk, living here. An interesting sto.-y lies back o(, it alL Mustapba, a properly credentialed officer ia the Turkish army, came here four or five years ago in company with other Turkish army officers. They were all emissaries of the Sultan, and their duty was to inspect the shipment of arms for the Sultan's army from the Peabody rifle-works. They were all good-looking fellows, and with their gaudy Oriental costumes caught the eyes of Providence maidens. Several ef them married Providence girls, and are now living here as American citizens. General Mustapba courted Melissa and married her. They lived happily enough for six months or so, and then separated. Melissa went back to her father's home. Here she lived a year or two, and in the meantime made tbe acquaintance, of a good-looking Boston herdic driver, named William Carroll. After a while she went with him to Boston. , Mustapba, it is believed, bad, since their separation, been supnlyng Melissa with money. Getting tired of this a year ago, he applied for a divorce and got it. It is said that Mustapba again and again tried to get Melissa to return -to him. but ia vain. Eight days ago Melissa was married to Carroll, and their honeymoon was passed at the Burchard House. The couple were daily seen about the streets. Since his divorce from Melissa, General Mnstapha has prospered, and today is worth a snug little fortuue. .Melissa having learned of this during her stay here, tried to recover the lost good will of the General, and it is said offered to again live with him. Very shrewdly she kept the knowledee of her marriage to Carroll a secret. Engaging lawyer West, she applied innocently enough for the annulment of tbe divorce from Mustapha. The hearing was on the docket for yesterday. Melissa appeared in court, and lawyer West was about to open proceedings in behalf of his fair client, when a conversation of parties near by, beard by chance, convinced him that Melissa was now Mrs. Carroll. Her husband was m court, and a moment before had been congratulated on his marriage in tbe hearing of West. "You certainly can't have two husbands," said he, addressing Mrs. Carroll, "and you had better go home." Melissa did go home, a wiser and sadder woman. Mnstapha, on the other hand, is paying court to another girl in Providence. THE M. E. CHURCH. Completion of Arrangements for the Approaching Quadrennial Conference. New York, Jan. 31. Arrangements are already being made by the Methodist Episcopal clergy and laity to prepare for the general conference of the ehurch, which is to meet in this city in May. The general conference is called ouly once in four years, and the coming one will probably be the largest that has ever been held in this country. There are to be 450 delegates from all parts of the United States, and among those already elected are several women, who will occupy for the first time seats in a conference of the Methodist Church. The Rev. Dr. A. K. Sanford said to-day that the Metropolitan Opera-house had been secured for the meeting of tbe conference. The delegates willVrcupy seats in tbe body of the house, and only the delegates and officers of the church will be admitted to this portion of the building. Trie bishops and invited euests will be seated on the stage. All the boxes are to be rented out to members of the church who desire to hold them during the conference. About fifty of tbem have already been secured by people li vine in and about New York. A few have been taken in the Western cities. Dr. Sandford has been receiving many letters daily from St. Louis, Chicago and Cincinnati in regard to tbe arrangements. More than 2,000 seats will be open without charge to the members of tbe Methodist Church. All inquiries in regard to the arrangements should be addressed to the Rev. Dr. G. M. Phillips, or the Rev. Dr. A. K Sandford. at the Methodist book room, No. 805 Broadway. Some objection waa made at first to securing the Metropolitan Opera-bouse, but no more central and convenient place could be found. "Besides," added a minister to-day, "I guess that a few old Methodist hymns and one or two genuine old Methodist amens coming up from the corners of the house will make everybody feel at home." CRUSHED BY ICE. Serious Loss Inflicted by a Movement of tha Mississippi Ice Gorge at St. Louis. St. Louis, Jan. 3L The ice gorge which has formed in the Mississippi river in front of this city began to move at midnight last night, and drifted down stream about three hundred yards, lifting two steamers out of the water, slightly injuring tbem, when the immense weight was checked and remained intact until 1 o'clock this morning, when tbe January thaw loosened they great mass, and it slowly crashed down upon nearly $1,500,000 worth of property, which it is now slowly grinding into ruins: The gorge bat been forming for ten days, and every means has been taken to dislodge it, but in vain. The great cakes, fifteen to eighteen inches thick, have piled upon each other, forming a solid mass from bank to bank, several hundreds yards deep and from eighteen to twenty feet thick. The mild weather has rotted only the upper layer, and beneath is a flinty mass of blue ice, ready to grind tbe many steamboats and barges that are tied close in shore. Already several barges have been sunk, and the steamers Tamm, Mattie Bell and Hayes have been sunk. The Hayes is a large excursion steamer, tbe property of the Anchor line. It is a total wreck, is probably broken in two, and stove in. She lies near land, with only her opper deck visible. She is a sidewheeler, valued at $80,000. The Mattie Bell is owned by the Illinois River Company. She waa a fine large freight boat. Tbe Tamm was a ferry boat. The wharf boat of the Alton & Grafton Railroad Company was swept away at 11 o'clock. Tbe steamer City of Monroe snapped her lines at noon, and is a wreck. Captain Mason and Mr. Seeberger are badly injured. The ice has ctopped running, and there is a little chance for the thousand of dollars worth of property still below the gorge. Bitten by a Rabid UsrDetroit, Jan.31. Tbe latest mad log sensation is furnished by the town of OtUville, a small village near Flint On Thursday last a large dog. which was confined in a barn with a calf, made a furious attack upon the latter, literally chewing it to pieces. The rabid dog then escaped from the barn and ran through the streets 'of the village, snapping at or biting every person with whom it come in contact An old man named Fuller was badly bittn in the leg by the enrasred animal, and Nelson Valentine and a little four-year-old girl named Wiener were alo unlucky enough to feel tbe sharpness of the dog's teeth. The dog, which to all appearances was suffering from a fit of rabies, was finally killed, but not before it had bitten cuite a number of other dogs in the village. The victims of the affair are under care of physicians, who are using every effort to save their patients from tha terrible fate which to all appearances threateos them. Charged with Wife- Murder. Alma, Mich., Jan. 31. Mrs. Eliza Palmer, the wife of a drunken horse-trainer, disappeared rather mysteriously last October. It was known, to the neighbor tbat Palmer and his wife had frequent quarrels, but Palmer told such a plausible story of his wife's having gone to visit relatives, that suspicions of foul play were not entertained, and it was believed that she bad left hira to avoid abuse. To-day an inquisitive deputy sheriff visited the premise?, and. after a protr.oted search, found the body of Mrs. Palmer, hurried under a stall in the barn. A warrant was issued for the arrest of Palmer, who is now in a lumber camp ia the north woods.