Indiana State Sentinel, Volume 26, Number 37, Indianapolis, Marion County, 2 May 1877 — Page 6

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THE INDIANA STATE SENTINEL, WEDNESDAY MORNING, MAY 2, 1877.

IIAXS AXD FRITZ.

Hans and Fritz were two iHfutschers who lived side by side, Bemote from the world, Its deceit and its pride; With the ir pretzels and beer the snAre moments were spent, AtdthefruiUof thtir labor were peace and content. Hans purchased a horse of a neighbor one day. And lacking a part of the fVWd a they say Msdeacall upon Fritz to solicit a loan. To help him to pay for his beautiful roan. Fritz kiuilly consented the money to lend. And gave the required amount to Iiis friend ; Remarking his own simple language to quote "Berhaps It vas bedder ve make us a not. The note was drawn npga their primitive way "I, IIns, gets from Fritz feefty tollars today" . , When the question arose, the note lielng made, , "Vlch von holds dot Mper until it vas bald?' "You Keeps dot," says Fritz, "uud den you vill know Ton owes me dot money," Says Hans, "Pot l.h so; It makes me reinem pers I haf dot to bay. Und I primes you dere noto und der money some day." A month had expired when Hans, as agreed, Fnhl liaok the amount, and from debt he was Says Frltz,"4'Now dot settles us." Hans replies, "Yaw: Now who dakes dot baper according by law? "I geej dot, now.alnd't It?" says Fritz; "den you nee I alvavs remempers you. baid dot to me. Bays Hans, "Dot lsh Bo.lt vos now shust so blain , Dot I knows vot to do ven I porrows again. C. F. Adams in Appleton 's Journal for May. TWICE MARRIED. BY A. M. ESRK.HT. No one envied brown-haired, brown-eyed little Jennie Wilber, as she stood in the church and plighted her vows for life to Joe Delaity. Though many a fair one wished herself in her place; still, no one envied her the happiness that came to her in the love of such a good young man as Joe. She was so good aad kind, her winning unassuming ways disarmed envy and the congratulations she received were sincere. The bustle incidental to a wedding day died out, and after a rather extended wedding tour, they returned to this city and took np their residence in a cosy suburban retreat, almost buried in honeysuckles and rose-vines. The swallows built their nests and twittered noisily 'neath overhanging eaves, apparently as delighted at the beauty of their surroundings as was the little, brown-eyed woman who fed them crumbs everyday and seemed so intent on making friends with them. Three happy years sped rapidly here to Jennie; life seemed to her a world of bliss; no shallow darkened the Minshine of her days; the same loving kiss was her's every morning, as her husband left for his place of business in the city; the same fond greeting on his return. To" see these married people strolling along by the little lake on their property, or rowing over its glassy surface on a summer evening, would suggest the thought: How unrullltd the ocean of life was for them and how supremely happy they must be. No more. Never a thouglit that the ocean of life would ever be rough to them, would enter your mind. But the rongh waters came. On returning from the city one evening in early summer, Joe was surprised that Jennie did not as usual come running down the walk to meet him. Toddling towards him, crowing with glee, came his little baby girl, whospied him from the opn doorway. He caught her in his arms, tossed her high to her great delight, and with a vague feeling of unrest, entered the house. Jennie was seated in the pleasant supper room, her eyes red with weeping. Setting down the baby, he placed his arms round the tearful little woman and asked the cause of her trouble. "Oh! Joe," she sobbed, 4,I feel so miserable. I had a letter from poor Cousin Lou. See, read it for yourself. You know," she went on. while he read, "I was brought up with Lou; her mother, my dear old aunt, was a mother to me since I was left without one, anil now both she and uncle are dead. Their property is heavil encumbered, and Lou is without a home." Kverything is going. Oh! Joe, what can I do for her?" and the brown eyes looked at him pleadingly. "Why not offer her a home with you, 'Jennie, until she can rind a better one. or at least until she can lay Lcr plans for the future?" said he. So it was settled. Jennie Delany sent a warm invitation to hercouin, Louisa Montcarder, and bustled about in preparation for her expected guest. "You will like her well, Joe," she said on the evening preceding her arrival; "she is so tall and stately, with magnificent dark eyes and a wreath of dark hair. And her voice will charm you. It always entranced me to hear her sing. Jo Delaney smiled and wondered whether he could eve- like a tall, stately woman, his wee wife looted so lovely, or "hear a voice that was such music to his ear as her low, weet, soft one so full of melody. Louisa was stately without a doubt. She looked and walked a queen. Jennie had coaxed her soon after her arrival to the resolution to maintain herself by employing her talents in this line, and so the summer evenings were still more enlivened. Jennie, mach of whose evenings were taken up with her baby, was delighted that Joe could en1'oy himself in Louisa's socie.'v, and while ulling the child tp sleep would often open the nursery door to listen to her cousin's rich voice tilling the little home with melody. "Joe is such a good singer, too," she would say, as her husband's cultivated voice accompanied that of the fascinating IiOU, "it is so pleasant for him that she is here;" and then her eyes would sparkle tearfully with an exquisite sense of gladness to tniuk she was instrumental in lightening the great trouble that had fallen on her cousin. The summer days passed rapidly, and Jennie never noticed that she was warming a serpent, whose sting would be death to her. Lou wove all her spells to captivate the heart of the wealthy Joe Delany she did cot give-a thought to Jennie. The dreaming passionate eyes, the rich s )U '.hern beauty, told on the 'heart of the man who was subjected to her spells, when his gentle little wife was engaged with her child. . If we would walk aright we must fly temptation on its first approach, never stay to argue, iieyer pause to admire the beauty that will ba our destruction if we delay. Joe Delany vas a good man in the usual acceptation cf the word, but the constant companionship of this beautiful and unprincipled siren was too much for him. His moral stamina was not strong enough; his religious principles wer not deeply based; and he was drawn imperceptibly into the dangerous current from which there was poor chance of escape. The fervid days of autumn came, and one glorious September evening Joe and Lou went out on the lake to enjoy the rich sunset. Twilight shadows were gathering when Vright-eyed Jennie tripped down to the brock to" gather some flowers that grew by the summer house, wherewith to decorate the supper table. Naturally light footed, her step was noiseless on the green sward, and as she stooped to cull the flowers, she was startled by her cousin's voice. "And what will you do with Jennie?" she was asking. "Lou, beloved Loa! why distract me with

such a question, now? Can't we go away from here, my darling, and in some other clime we can live and love? Ob, my darling! live and love!" It was her husband's voice, but the little wife broke not the silence that followed as she crept away and groped through the gathering dark to her home, from which, now indeed, all the sunshine had departed. She ascended to her little girl's room with a weary step, as if her senses were dulled forever by the mercile s blow she had received, and the light was dead in the soft brown eyes as she gathered her child in her arms and kissed it passionately several times ere she laid it in the crib again. "Oh, God! make Lou pood to her," she Implored, as she dropped on her knees and raised her hands to Heaven. "Oh, save my child froi.i shame, and my husband from sin! I care not what becomes of me!" Without another look she passed hastily into her own room, wrote a few words on a slip of paper and placed it between the leaves of the Bible from which she and her husband always read before retiring. Without trusting herself to enter his room.she left the house, not wearily as she had entered in, tut like a frightened fawn, fearing she would be discovered by the servants or met by the faithless husband, and sped along the graveled pathway down to the lake. The search that was made for her when the lovers returned and missed her was unavailing. They found her body next morning floating among the creamy lilies on the glassy bosom of the water, and the miserable pair restrained themselves within the polite code so far as to wait the prescribed year's close to wed. Any more hasty arrangement would pet the world a talking. "Jennie's death was such an accidental deliverance," Lou said on thir wedding day. The blissful tranquility of his life with Jennie was not to be his with southern-eyed Lou. The prize w&s won, her base, avaricious nature was satisfied, the willowy mask was laid a-ide and the wearer stood revealed. Her flirtations were the talk of the city, and he often remonstrated with her on the disgrace she was bringing on hi s name and her own. But he might as well talk to the winds. One night, after a stormy scene, during which he forbade her receiving any more attentions from a wealthy, unprincipled man who Mashed on the city's society horizon some months previously, he left the house and went into the city. He mingled with the busy throng of life pouring along the streets, and when all sought their rest he wandered np and down the deserted avenues, his fo -tf ill on the echoing pavement sounding like his death knell; up and down until the early dawn greeted his pallid face and then he turned homeward. All was still there as he entered. He went straight to his wife's room, meaning to ask her forgiveness for his harsh words and to woo her by gentle means to be to him the lovable long, long ago. But she was not there- her bed had not been slept in. With a wild throbbing at his heart he took up a note addressed to him lying on the table beside the yet burning lamp, and the blood surged at maddening pace through his veins as a sense of the great shame that had come upon his house smote him. He read: "You held your marriage honor so light that you can not blame me for holding mine light also. The subject of your angry talk last night is the object of my love and the partner of my flight. Do not seek to pursue us. it is useless, but console yourelf with the memory of my cousin, Jennie Wilbur." For the first time since the morning when her body was found among the golden heated, creamy lilies, a fitting couch for one so pure and fair, Joe Delaney unlocked the door of Fannie's room and entered. It was just as she had left it, but the dust of three years lay thick on everything around.' In all his blind, passionate love for Lou he regarded this chamber as a sanctuary of innocence and purity, and as she made no objection, it was shut away from use. Almost mechanically he took her Bible from the table and opened it. A slip of paper fluttered out and fell to 'he floor. He picked it up and read read until the words were burnt in his brain, were written in waves of flame on the scorched, sere, bleeding heart read this message from the- dead wife with the letter from the living one still in his hand. The words were iust like sweet Jennie: "I love you so dearly, my husband, that I die to save you. Die, that you may be saved from sin and shame. I accidentally heard you and Lou speaking in the summer house just now a few words only, but enough to decide me. Ask her for meto be kind to Baby Bessie, and remember, Joe oh! my husband! remember, whatever may betide, that I loved you to the last moment, and will carry my "love for you with me even beyond my last sleep. Jennie." "Itetribution!" groaned the stricken man, as he sank on the chair, while his head fell heavily on the Bible, between whose leaves Jennie had placed her last message, never dreaming that three years instead of three hours would elapse ere it was read. The summer sun eeped in at the half ojen blinds, slanted across the floor, lingered on the eastern walls, and passed away. The evening shadows gathered, night fell gently over the summer world, but he did not move. He remained undisturbed, for no one suspected that room was occupied, Perhaps he slept a little as be sat there on her chair.his head resting onier Bible; perhaps be thought through the long igbt of mental pain. The morning sun shone on hair heavily streaked with silver, the burning heart had frozen in its agony, and its frosts threaded the brow and ploughed furrows of weary care on the handsome face. Thirty summers seemed changed to threescore. He made no efforts to trace the false, fascinating Lou, and spends many of his leisure hours in trying to teach "Baby Bessie" to walk in the footsteps of her saintly mother, Jennie Wilbur, inwardly praying her last sad step may never be her's, that the moral stamina of the man she weds may be strong enough to float him over the dark waters of sin, and that he may always have sufficient courage to immediately fly temptation.

The Speakership and Finances. Washington Special to Globe-Democrat of Yesterday .1 General Banks is quite surprised to learn that he is a candidate for the next speaker. He is in Washington attending to private matters, and adds that he sees no contingency in which he could be elected speaker. He says he supports the Hayes policy, but he believes the democrats will organize the next house. The secretary of the treasury to-day said that the gratifying financial outlook and the encouraging signs of reviving industry justified an emphasis of. the previous statement of his ability to early suspend the further funding of United States 6s into 4 per cents., and to substitute therefor 4 per cents. This, the secretary said, he was fully convinced he would be.able to do within three months. A Montreal paper prints an advertisement which reads: "An elderly gentleman of fortune, amiable disposition, would be happy to correspond with a truly Christian .Protestant gentlewoman of atHuence, matrimonially disposed, from 40 to 50 years of age. Address only in sincerity. Approved letters will be promptly and faithfully answered, with references, in due course. 'A Christian.'" ' '

THEY DIED TOGETHER.

Shocking Suicide of a Fond Mother and Wayward Daughter at Cincinnati. Tbe Irl Raid To lie the Illegitimate Daughter of (lie Son of a Wealthy I'reaeher of Indianapolis. Cincinnati Commercial .f Yesterday. A very singular tragedy, full of interest because of its mysterious features, and pathetic to a great degree, was enacted in a room at the Farmers' hotel, on the northeast corner of Ilace and Court streets, at an early hour yesterday morning. The details, so far as ascertained, may be briefly told. Early on Tuesday evening two women who were supposed to be sisters applied at the Farmers" hotel for accommodation. The elder registered her name as Sallie Dill, and that of her companion as Ida May Dill. A room was assigned to them, and they returned about 0':30 o'clock, and retired. At 9 o'clock the two went out again and returned an hour later. The elder notified the clerk that they were weary, having traveled considerably, and wished to be called at 11 o'clock the next day. At the apjiointed time a servant rapped at the door and received no answer. He rapped repeatedly, ami while he was listening for a response thought he heard a woman groaning. The proprietor was notified; lie tried the door, and not being able to arouse the inmates of the room called the attention of Officer Higgins. Higgins returned with George Meyneke, .the coroner's clerk, and they not being able to break in the door, effected an entrance by the trantom. The two women who had engaged the room were found lying on the bed together. The elder was in front, breathing heavily, and unconscious. The younger one by her side lay with her face to the wall. She was dead. On the floor was found a bottle labeled 'Towers & Wightman's Morphia," which was empty. Froth was oozing from the nose and mouth of the dead girl a mere child in appearance, and her limbs and body were drawn up as if she had died in pain. The elder lay on her back. Both were dressed, they having only removed their hats and combs before lying down. The breathing woman, in a comatose condition, was removed to the Cincinnati hospital, where she died at a quarter to 2 o'clock, three-quarters of an hour after her arrival there. The dead body was removed from the hotel to Habigs undertaking establishment on Sixth street Towards evening the corpse was carried thither from the hospital. On the persons of the dead bod'es were found several letters and cards, but nothing to definitely give their history or suggest a motive for the suicide. ONE OF THE LETTKE3 is as follows: Sabbath Morsi.no, April 11. Dear Sallie I received yours of the 12th. I Iwgao to despair of everbearing from you wben a whole week and two days bad elapsed, and every evening would Inquire if there was not a letter for me. But "No" was all I got In response. Forgive me If too severe. I know your time must be too well filled up with more Important matters. I am very glad to hear you meet with such good success and are netting on ho well; but you did not say one won! about your health; I was very anxious; you seemed so unwell when you left here, and your letter, which lies before me, shows a gi eat deal of nervousness. My dear sister, you mnst gnard against it all you can. There is nothing, In my estimation, as deplorable as to have one's nerves shattered. I am thankful, lndeed.lf I have been the least comfort to you In any way. For the short acquaintance we had, I must say that I enjoyed it very much. Our good ministry wrote that they would be here last Tuesday, but failed coming on account of their horse taking sick. Yesterday Elder Henry received a postal card saying they would be here this coming Tuesday. Ettik Farkapy. The address on the envelope of one of the letters led a reporter of the Commercial to No. 97 East Third street, to make inquiries at the residence of Mrs. Agnes Newlin Mrs. Xewlin stated that having made application at the oflice of the Women's Christian association for help, on la.t SaturJay a week, two women called on her for a situation. They claimed to be mother and daughter, and gave their names as Sallie and Ida May Dill. The elder was dressed in full Shaker garb, and as neat as a pin. Her freshness and beauty were marked, and her statement that she was the mother of her companion was questioned. Hut she declared that sl was thirty-six years of age, the widow of a soldier who died early in the war of the rebellion. Sixteen years ago, when her child was six months old, she entered the Shaker community at Whitewater, near Harrison, Ohio. , The child, she said, on growing into womanhood, manifested a disposition to be schooled in the manners of the world, and for this reason they bad left the society. They had left in a friendly understanding, and on a promise that they could return at any time they chose. The mother and child remained at Mrs. Newlin's for about 10 days, the former acting in the caprcity of a housekeeper and the latter as a nurse. Last Monday morning the woman rose aböut 5 o'clock and left the house, returning about noon. Her absence without leave or excuse was die med sufficient fora discharge. They departed accordingly, and took with them two trunks filled with a complete assortment of clothing. The woman had expressed to another one of the servants a dissatisfaction on account of the work being harder than she had expected. Directions were left to send what mail matter might come for them to No. 235 Court street. There is a theory that the disposition of the girl might be in some measure su exSlanation of the motive of suicide. She is escribed as being a very stubborn child, and wild in her notions. It is the opinion of some that Sallie Dill, the elder person, becoming despondent, resolved on the death of herself and daughter: that she administered the poison to the girl and then took a dose herself." The appearance of the bodies on the bed, in full dress, would indicate that suicide was contemplated by both. Of the scene in that room, however, with its preparations for the tragedy, there is no living tongue to telL ANTECEDENTS Or THE PARTIES AND HI8T0RT OF THEIR TROUBLE. Fourteen years ago there came to the Shaker settlement of Whitewater, six miles from Harrison and one mile from New Haven, this county, a young woman, who, with her infant daughter (born out of wedlock) in her arras, sought refuge from a world In which she had met only treachery and disappointment. The father of her child, who had refused to marry her, was the son Of a wealthy and well known preacher of Indianapolis. This was Sallie Dill. She called the little one, then only a year or two of age, Ida May Dill. Sallie Dill was a woman of rather attractive presence, and one of her qualifications was a fine contralto voice that soon brought her out as a leader in the choir of the "church or center society of the Shakers. In this society this young woman passed these 14 years an 'uneventful life, while her child grew up to young womanhood, and to the

experience of the feelings of .a iresh, warm nature, that could not well be curbed by the restraints professed by the people by whom she foiteid herself surrounded. A few months ago her love for the society of the younger men of the settlement, and inclination to associate as freely as possible with them in public, and honestly, brought upon her the tongue of calumny at the "confessional" of the society. Reports about her grew and increased in number, until at last her mother was told that she must leave them, as she was becoming entirely too "worldly." There may have been no sin in this child's heart, but she was accused of it and she must go. She must go out into a strange world, of which she knew nothing, and where her young and sensitive nature m'ght be blasted by the first frost of unkindness; out into a coid world where she had no friends and no ties of sympathy. The mother loved her daughter, and after all the appeals that she could make for her proved to be in vain, she announce! her determination to go with her. The elders told her that she could soon find a good situation in the "world" for the child, and that she could then return to them. About three weeks ago she came to this city. One posted in the ways of the Shakers tells us that it is likely that all the mother and daughter received to start them in life after 14 years of servitude with these people was not to exceed $15. Their life in this city appears to have only two features their inability to find a place where they could live together permanently and the withering answers that the mother must have received from the Shakers in authority in answer to her many appeals to let her take her child back with them. In this woman's inner life here there was the desperate thought that it would be an abandonment of the only thing she had on earth to love, to leave the daughter here to temptation and to the necessities that would force themselves upon her. The letters that she wrote appealing for mercy for her child, and the answers that came to them, ought to be brotht out to the light of a world that does not know enough, perhaps, of the practices of a Community that would send a helpless young girl out into a strange world merely because she had been suspected. An idea of what was going on in the minds of tr.ese helpless ones may be gleaned from a letter that we have been permitted to copy, that was written the night before the suicide. In the atmosphere of the full determination to which they came to lay down the burden of life. It was addressed to a young man who knew these people and had seen them here. He had known them at the Shaker settlement, and he had been kind to them as they had to him. He had done them some favors here and they were grateful to him. On Tuesday afternoon the mother called on him. He'knet. that they left the residence of Mr. Brickley, No. 235 "West Court street, where they had been stopping a short time, and that thev wtre verv despondent. The mother did not tell him the nature of the letter she had received from

the elders, but he surmised that she had j made every effort to go back and take her child with her and that they had failed. He made every effort to get her to tell him where they had taken lodgings after leaving the JJnckleys,bi:t she would nottell him. THEIR LAST MESSAGE. Yesterdav afternoon he received the following sad letter: April 21. Dear : I suppose you will be surprised at receiving a letter from ine, and tili more at what itcoutalns. When I saw you this afternoon I was too full to give you satisfaction. I must thank you for yourmany kindnesses to me aud mine, ll seems like it has been my fate, and Is still to be, an outcast. I have always felt that you were my friend, but the time has come when frlendshipceases between us you and me for death will cause a separation. If 1 could recall the many harsh words I have spoken, and obliterate them from your memory, It would le a happy moment to me. Hut please forgive all. I wish I could look buck and think that in neither thought, word nor deed had I marred your comfort. Hut when my spirit is wufted on the other side, think of me as one that has always wished you well. Had It been lu my power to do anything for you on this eRrth, how willingly would I have done It. But I have been placed In a situation where I could not act my own will. Let bygones be bygones, and take the will for the deed. You remarked that you were sorry to see me so reckless; but It Is not recklessness! hat canses me to do this. The song says "all dark clouds have a silver lining.' Mine is so closely enveloped that it can not be penetrated. The refusal of one thing and the failure of many things have brought all this on. Persons whom I relied upon would not extend the band of authority a they promised they would. There Is not any one who Is really trustworthy. Mortals, oh, mortals, how weak they are, making such loud professions and fulfilling none. If you only knew one-hall I have gone through you would shed tears of sympathy. But I do not expect any one to enter into luy troubles and feel the weight of them. I suppose it will surprise the folks Home little when they hear of it. I have nothing to censure you for on this earth. Ionlyhoj you will take care of yourself and meet me in heaven. My last thought will be of you, for Ida Is going with me. Don't think me rauh, for how could I see her go to ruin, as she certainly would If she staid here. And now a Inst farewell. For the first time, in reality, I say farewell RALLIE. P. S. I trust we will meet on the other side, where the reunion will not be broken. t To this was added a scrap in the girl's writing, as follows: I can't leave you without saying good-by. I thank you for befriending me so often, and trust we will meet some time, to part no more. Farewell! Ida May. This letter establishes the fact that the mother and daughter fully understood each other. They had come to the conclusion to die together and so end their troubles on this earth and go together to that future life in which they evidently trusted. Tbe Nontberu Voten Tor 8 penker. I Washington Special to Cincinnati Gazette of Yesterday. The members of the Louisiana commission express the opinion that there will be no southern democratic votes cast for a republican Bpeaker. They expect general support for the president from many democrats for all measures related to his southern policy, but the organization of the house is such a machine of party power as they do not feel at all disposed to deprive themselves of. The opinion of the members of the commission upon this question is regarded here as of great significance, as they have been so intimately associated for several weeks with the very men whom it was thought would be the foremost to give the president the support of their votes if necessary. The residence and grounds of Ross WI nans, the Baltimore millionaire who recently died, occupied an entire square, and would have been very ornamental to the neighborhood bad they not been enclosed by a high brick wall. Years ago some of the staid residents complained of the nude statuary exposed in Mr. Winan's palace, and he howed his anger by building the wall. Tbe Prince of Wales's boys on the Britannia are to be intrusted to the care of Lord Ramsay, as thorough a sailor as there is in the service, says an English paper, and as good a man as there is in the world. Lord Ramsay served for many years in the Galatea, and is supposed to be the only man whom the Duke of Edinburgh likes, and the only man who likes the duke of Edinburgh,

THE COMMl.SSIOXEKS.

They Make m Formal Report to If ayes. Washington, April 25. The following is the report of the Louisiana commissioners given out by the president this evening: New Orleans, April 21, 1877. To the President of the United Utes: Sir In accordance with vonr request the undersigned have vi.slted ihis city, and have passed the last sixteen days in ascertaining the political situation in Louisiana and endeavoring to bring about a peaeeiul solution of its ditlieultW. In view of the declaration in a letter of the secretary of state, that we should direct our efforts to the end of securing the recognition of a single legislature tut a depoKitory of the represennl i ve will of the people of Louisiana, leaving If necessary to judicial or other constitutional arbitrament within the state the question of ultimate right, and in view of your determination to withdraw the troops of the United States to their barracks as soon as It could be done without endangering pence, we addressed oarselve to the task of securing a common legislature oi undisputed authority, competent to compose tlio existing political contentions and to preserve peace without any aid from the national government. To this end we endeavored to assuage the bitterness and animosity we found existing on both sides, so as to secure public op'nlou less favorable to fcucn coriceswioiis a.s were indispensable to our success In obtaining such legislature and such general acquiescence lu Its authority as would Insure social order. We have had full conferences with the two gentlemen who claim the gubernatorial office, and with many other members of their respective governments In their executive, judicial and legislative departments. We have also conversed very freely with large delegations of men of business, with many of the district Judges and with hundreds of prominent citizen of all parties and races, representing not only this city, but almost every parish in the state. We nave also received many printed aad written statement of facts and legal arguments, and every person with whom we have tome In contact has shown an earnest desire to give us all possible information beating upon the unfortunate political divisions in this state. The actual condition of affairs on our arrival In this city may be briefly stated as follows: Governor I ackard we shall speak of both gentlemen by the title they claim was at tbe state house with his legislature and friehUs.and an armed police force. As there was no quorum in the senate, even upon his own theory of law, his legislature was necessarilv inactive. The supreme court which recognized his authority hud not attempted to transact any business since it was dis possessed of its court room and the custody of It records on the ltb day of January, 177. lie had no organized militia, alleging that his deficiency in that respect was owing to his obedience to the ordern of President Grant, to take no steps to change the relative position of himself and Governor Nicholls. Ills main reliance was upon his alleged legal title, claiming that it was the constitutional Duty of the president to recognize It, and to afford him such military assistance as might be necessary to aid him to assert his authority. Governor Nloholls was occupying Odd Fellows hall a a state bouse, ills legislature met there, and was actively engaged in the business of legislation. All departments of the government of the city of New Orlen! recognized his auihoritv. The supreme court nominated by him and confirmed by his senate was holding daily sessions and had hen rd about 200 cases. The time for the collection of taxes bad not arrived, but a considerable sum of money In the form of taxes had been voluntarily paid Into his treasury, out of which he was defraying the ordinary expenses of the state government. The Nlcholls legislature had a quorum in the senate ujon either NicholU's or Packard's theory of laws, and a quorum in the liouse on Nicholas's, but not on Packard's theory. The Packard legislature had a quorum In the house on its own theory of law, but, as already stated, not in the senate, and was thus disabled from any legislation, that would be valid even in the judgment of its own party. The commissioners found it to be very difficult to ascertain the precise result to which the respective governments were acknowledged in various parishes outlde of New Orleans, but It Is safe to say that the changes whicli had taken place in the organization of the two governments on the 9th of January, 177. were in favor of the Nlcholls government. The claim to the legality of the supreme court, composed of Chief Justice Manning and associates, who were nominated by Governor Nlcholls and confirmed by his senate, rests upon the same basis as the title of Governor Nlcholls and his senate. The claim to the legality of the supreme court, composed of Chief Justice Ludeling and his associates, rests either upon their right to hold over In case Nlcholls s court Is Uegal or upon the legality of Kellogg and the Packard senate, whicli confirmed the judges upon the nomination of Governor Kellogg, and while It had a returning board quorum. We have briefly sketched the actual jtosltlon as we found It. We will now state the legal question upon which the right of these resr-c-Vive governments depends. The constitution of the state of Louisiana requires that the returns of all elections for members of the general assembly shall lie made to the secretary of state. It also provides that the qualified electors shall be for governor and lor lieutenant governor at the time and place of voting for representatives. The returns of every election shall be sealed up and transmitted by the proper returning oflicers to the secretary of state who shall deliver them to the speaker of the house of repiesentatlves on the second day of ihe general assembly then to be holden. The members of the general assembly shall meet In the house of representatives and examine and count the votes, it will be observed that this provision of the constitution requires the return of votes for governor and lieutenant governor to be sealed up and transmitted by the proper returning officers to the secretary of state, and the same provision Is made In substance as to the members of the general assembly, but In ls7K the legislature passed an act amended in 1S72 which created a hotly called a returning board, consisting of five members to be appointed by the state, and to be the returning officers for all elections in the state. The act provides that the commissioners of election at each poll or voting place shall count the votes, making a list of the names of all persons voted for and the offices lor which the votes were given, the number of votes received by each, tbe uumoer of ballots contained In the box, and the number rejected and the reasons therefor, and to make duplicates of such lists, and send one to the supervisor of registration of the parish of Orleans and one to the secretary oi state. The law further requires supervisors of registration to consolidate the returns received from the different polling places and forward them with the original to this returning board. The act further provides that If there shall be any riot, tumult, acts of violence, intimidation or disturbance, bribery or corrupt Influence at auv p'ace within said parish, at or near any poll Oi voting place or place of registration, If such riot, tumult, acts of violence, intimidation or disturbance, bribery ud corrupt Influence shall prevent or tend to prevent a fair, free, peaceble and full vote of all qualified electors, it hall be the duty of the commissioners to make a state re ent of such facts and lorward the same to the supervisor of registration, with his returns of the election, and the supervisor of registration shall forward the same to the returning board. The returning board is required to investigate the statements of intimidation, and to exclude from the returns which It makes to the secretary of state he returns received by It from those polls or voting place where a fair election has been ftrevented by causes above named. The same aw further declares: It shall be the duty of the secretary of state to transmit to the clerk of the bouse of representatives and to the secretary of the last general assembly, the list of names of such persons ss, according to the retarns, shall have been elected to either branch of the general assembly; and It shall be the duty of the clerk and secretary to place the names of the representatives and senators elect, so furnished, upon the roll of the house and of the senate, respectively, and those representatives and senators whote names are so filaced by the clerk and secretary, respectively, n accordance with the foregoing provisions, and none other, shall be competent to organize the house of repreaent-F-Vlves or -the senate." Ilia claimed by the counsel for the Nlcholls government that this act, so far as it lnterposes,th6 returning board exercising these powers of exclusion between the parish supervisor of registration with his consolidated returns and the secretary of state. Is, when applied to the election of members of the general assembly, of the governor and of the lieutenant governor, a plain violation of thee provisions of the constitution of Louisiana, which say the returns for Jill elections for the general assembly shall be made to the secretary of state, and In reference to governor and lieutenant governor, the returns of

every election shall be sealed np and transmitted by the proper returning officers to the secretary of state, who shall deliver them to the speaker cf the house of representatives. On the other band. It Is insisted by the counsel for tbe Tackard government that the legislature has power to create this returning board and g've It autnority with wh ch theact clothesit. It is alsoclaimed bythem that the constitutionality of the act has been settled by the supreme court of the state, but the Nlcholls part v denied that the question was decided by nie sopreme court. In answer that could be considered authoritative. It should be further stated that it is not claimed by the counsel for the Nlcholls government that the legislature f?u ..J1.0.1 create returning board and cloiue It with these powers In regard to the appointment of presidential electors, since the provlslonsof the state constitution In which Ok-v rely relate only to the election of members of the legislature, of governor and lieutenant governor. We quote the following sentences from one of their printed arguments.: "Indeed, as to the presidential electors, the mode or their appointment is by the coustitut.on of the United States, left to the discretion of the legislature or a state. Therefore the general assembly of Ixmlslana might create uny trilrunal whatever, and confide to It the appointment of the electors for president and vice president. Consequently It may properly authorize such tribunal in the case of the election of presidential electors by the people to count the votes and decide, and declare who were entitled to seats in the electoral college." As matters stood on our arrival here the legal title of the rcstective claimants to the office of governor depended upon the question-we have stated. There was no Judicial tribunal acknowledged to be authoritative by both parties, by which It could be solved for reasons already given. The only hope of a practical solution was by the union of so many members or the rival legislatures as would make a legislature with a constitutional quorum in both the Renate and house of mem hers whose title to their seats was valid underelthervlewof the law. With a legislature of undisputed authority, a settlement of the other questions could, as stated la the letter of instruction to our commission from the secretary of state, be gradually worked out by ' the prevalent authority which the legislative lower, when undisputed, is quite competent to exert la composing conflicts In the co-ordinate branches of government. Within the last three days this first great step In restoring peace to the state has been accomplished. In consequence of the withdrawal of members from the Packard to the Nlcholls legislature, the latter body nas now 87 returning board members in the house and S2 returning board membent lu the senate. Klxtyone members constitute a constitutional quorum in the house and 19 in the senate. It is proper that we should say In conclusion that It was In Tiew of the foregoing facts, especially the consolidations of the legislatures and our knowledge of the condition of Ixmlsiana, derived from personal contact with people that we were Induced to suggest in our telegram of the 2Uth Inst., that the Immediate announcement of the time when troops would be ithdrawnjto their barracks would be better for the peace of Louisiana than to potone such announcement to any distant dsy. The commissioners holding various shades of political opinions can not well concur in any sketch of the past or the probable future of Louisiana. e have forborne in this report to express any opinion on the legal questions arising upon the foregoing statement of facts because our letter of Instructions seemed to call for the statement of facts rather than expression of opinion by the commissioners. We all however Indulge in the confident hopes of better days for all races In Iouisiana. Among the reasons for these hopes are the resolutions of the Nlcholls legislature and the letter of Governor Nlcholls herewith submitted, which have already been given the public. With an eamest hope that the adjustment which has been made of the political controversies of Louisiana will be of lasting benefit to that state and will be approved bv the patriotic people of all sections, we have have tbe honor so be Your obedient servants, Charlk B. Lawrence, Jos. It. Havley, John M. Haklax, John C. Brown, Wayne MacVeigh.

Verdict of the Coroner's Jury In the Noti litem Hotel Fire. St. Louis, April 27. The'coroner's jury holdingthe inquest on the victims of the Southern hotel tire closed their labors this afternoon and rendered a verdict. The jury examined U2 witnesses, and had before them three affidavits of persons not personally examined. From the testimony the jury reached the conclusion that the fire originated in the basement of the hotel, and in their opinion in the store room, but possibly in the wine cellar, but in either case near the bottom of the bnage elevator, which carried the smoke and flames almost instantly to the uper floors and roof of the building. The jury then recount when the fire was first discovered, the delay in giving an alarm to the fire department, the arrival of the fire department, use of ladders and the Skinner tire escape, the rescuing of people from the windows by the riremen, the jumping or falling from the windows of those who were killed, and.the services of the police and citizens, all of which is familiar to the public As to the cause of the fire the jury say they have no testimony sufficient to base an opinion upon. As to the appliances of the hotel for extinguishing fires they say they were complete with the exception oC pipes and nozzles being wanted on the floors above the parlor floor, but from a lack of system and want of men to use the appliances, and of rules for their guidance, they were not pat in service on tlje night of the fire except for a few minutes in the basement, ana the fire had then gained such proportions that, the slight efforts made there by the engineer and firemen of the hotel were f uti le. The fire department and salvage corps did their duty with efficiency and promtness, as also did the police department. The lesses of the hotel, in our opinion, are censurable in several particular: 1. While providing the necessary materials for extinguishing fires they had provided no means for their use. 2. In keeping in the store room and wine cellar a large quantity of inflammable material without adequate watching. 3. In removing from their office tbe gong necessary to alarm the inmates of the hotel in rase of fire. 4. Employing only one watchman, and he a very inefficient xuan, and supplementing his cfuties as such with other matters. 5. In a lack of rules and instructions to their employes as to their conduct and duties in case of fire .J In conclusion the jary make some suggestions looking to the avoidance of such calamities in the future, which may be summed up as follows: That no hotel or public building should be unprovided with the means of extinguishing fires. That a sufficieut number of watchmen should be employed to detect and to be drilled in the use of the appliances for its extinguishment That in all large hotels gongs or bells large enough to be beard throughout the house should be rung continuously until the safety of every guest and employe is assured. That the stairways and elevators should be placed as far apart as possible, and that the elevators should be closed automatically or otherwise aa the platform goes up or down. That the store rooms, wine cellars, carpenter shops, etc., should be made fireproof and carefully watched dav and night That no eas meter should be allowed inside of.Buch buildings, and that none of the size of the largest one in the Southern should be permitted at all: that in all large buildings the duties of building inspectors should include the inspection of all appliances for extinguishing fires, and see that the men employed In their management are efficiently drilled. The 'cafe at Venice Florian's on the piazza of St Mark has not been closed, day or Sight, for 150 years,