Jasper County Democrat, Volume 4, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 March 1902 — Page 2

THE CURIOUS CASE OF WILLIAM GULLY

HT may safely be laid down that when a millionaire dies there Is usually more Interest taken in the subsequent fate of his property than sorrow' felt for the loss of its late own* er. Millionaires die so seldom, for obvious reasons, that this statement maj perhaps be taken as it stands without further argument. Mr. William Gully was no exception to the rule. Having spent the greater part of his life in amassing money, and having never spared any time for the cultivation of the domestic affections, It is not surprising that his family hardly mourned him beyond dropping the conventional tear on ids oaken coffin. His vast fortune had been rapidly built up by the Immense popularity of the penny weekly newspaper of which Mr. Gully had for years been the publisher and owner. The millionaire never made any friends, and when he retired, at the age of sixty, from taking an active part In the business, he settled down almost Into the life of a recluse. His one diversion was the study of Eastern philosophy and occult science, in which subjects he took a very deep Interest. In tbe pursuit of this hobby be was assisted and encouraged by bis private secretary, a half-caste native of India. This man went by the name of Stavely Hunt, and was a peculiar personage. His general appearance suggested that of a typical temperance lecturer, run to fat in some hot climate. Add to tliis an habitual air of deference, coupled with a shifty look about the eyes, and you will have some Idea of the man. To ihose who were curious to know his history, he would explain that lie had been in tbe service of tbe King of Oudh before its absorption In the British dominions, and had risen to high distinction iii that stnte. On the dentil of ills royal employer, Mr. Hunt, owing to difficulties with his •uccessor (as he explained), was obliged to leave the country, and started to make his fortune over again in London. It was here that he met the millionaire, whom he won over by promises of instruction in the occult sciences. Hunt in time became a permanency in Mr. Gully’s household, much to the disgust of the other members of the family, who neither believed In bis professional powers, nor liked the color of his skin. In fact, none of the family sympathized with their parent’s researches Into the unknown, regarding them as Indication of childishness in hJs old age. There was one exception to this attitude, and that was In the case of his youngest daughter, Florence, who, at the time of her father’s death, had Just turned twenty-one. She had been educated at Newnham, where she had attained the highest honor granted to women by a not too generous alma mater. Florence had been a favorite of her father's from her childhood, and although she could not participate In hls trusting belief In all Stavely Hunt taught, ahe still showed a considerable Interest In physological resenrch—lndeed, It had been her pet subject at college.

A word or two Lore as to the composition of the (Sully household may not be amiss. Besides Florence, there were four other daughters, two of whom were married. The two sons practically carried on the business; the elder, John, editing the newspaper, and the younger, Peter, attending to the publishing department. John Gully inherited his father's capacity for business, and surpassed him in ability to make a good bargain nnd showed an even stronger spirit of miserliness, and a morose nature prevented him from enjoying the money he so easily gained. Anna, Mr. William Gully's second wife, had originally been Florence’s governess. She hud been Mrs. Gully Home three years before becoming a widow. There was no love In the contract, and among her friends and acquaintances It was hinted, If not openly stated, that she would before very long marry a former suitor of hers who was considerately waiting till the old man's death should set her free. Mr. Gully died quite naturally, suddenly indeed, but with no such attendant circumstances ns to justify an Inquest. After the funeral it was found that his testamentary dispositions were arranged with due respect to the various needs of the ffiembera of his family. aud every one was satisfied, or fairly so, with the exception of Mr Stavely Hunt, who seemed to consider that Lis past services Justified a more substantial legacy than five hundred pounds. The will had then to l>c proved, a process which, owing to the eagerness of the Inheritors to obtain possession of their legacies, wus finished in less than a fortnight During the Interval between the reading of the will and the proving, John Gully occupied himself with arranging his late father's papers, assisted by Stavely Hunt. On opeuing his father’s private desk he found, lying on the top of the other papers, this peculiar document, addressed to himself: “My Dear Son—Of past years, os you are swore, I have devoted myself almost exclusively to the study of Eastern science, assisted by my secretary, Stavely Hunt I believe that I have made a most wonderful discovery, namely, the art of suspending consciousness at will for a prolonged period. This art is practiced by tlia Hindoo

yogis, and perhaps others, but the secret of It has never yet been known to Europeans. As It would not be wise to make the secret known until Its truth la assured, I shall carry on my experiments privately, In hopes of being able alone to perfect this grand discovery. There is a fear, however, that while doing so I may throw myself into the cataleptic state without having previously given warning of It to any one. This state closely resembles death, so much so that no doctor, on a cursory examination, would imagine It to be anything else, and my living body might thus be unwittingly consigned to the tomb. In the event of my death, or supposed death, I enjoin you. therefore, to keep my body for a period above ground In a secure place, and If no decomposition sets In to apply to It the method of restoring life known to Stavely Hunt, which must be done within three months after my apparent death ” The letter stopped here, ns If the writer, being suddenly called away, had hurriedly placed what he had been writing In the desk for safety. The reader will not, perhaps, be surprised to learn that John Gully dismissed this communication with a sneer of unbelief, and threw it to Hunt with the following scornful words: “Some more of my father’s tomfoolery. How mad he must have been before he died! As you encouraged him in this folly, this may be of more inter est to you than to me.” Hunt took the letter, carefully folded it without a word, and, putting it into his pocket, proceeded with the work of sorting the deceased’s papers. The letter, though, was destined to be an agent of destruction to John Gully's peace of mind in the future. The will was proved and all the legacies distributed. Stavely Hunt, as soon as he had obtained his, disappeared. He was seen one day, about a week afterwards, magnificently attired and three parts drunk, lounging out of a low public house near the Strand, and so appeared to be making haste to enjoy his five hundred pounds after hls own approved fashion. Nor was It long before he came on the scene again.

About five weeks after his father’s death John Gully was sitting in his office when in walked Stavely Hunt, unannounced. “Well, what dt> you want? I hoped to have seen you for the last time, Hunt,” said the man he thus intruded upon. “I want some assistance, Mr. Gully. The legacy I had from your father has all gone.” “Oh, It has, has It? Well, you’ll not get a penny from me, so you’d best clear out sharp, my good fellow, and not waste your time." “Yes—but I think you will help me." “Then you think very wrongly,” replied John Gully, angrily, as he reached for the bell. “Good-day. Or must I send for some one to show you out?” "Stay!” said Hunt, producing a paper; “do you recognize this letter?” Gully recognized it as the document he had found among his father’s papers.

“Well,” Hunt continued, “everything your father said in it is true, and you have buried a live man.” “What nonsense is this?” broke In Gully. “None whatever,” replied Hunt; “and If I do not obtain pecuniary help from you, I shall find means to procure the exhumation of your father’s body, and then prove the truth of my statement. When he comes to life again I think your position will be materially altered, Mr. John Gully.” Gully desisted from his plan of call/ lug a messenger, reflected for a while, and then said:

"Well, Hunt, I’ve been thinking over your position. Of course I don’t believe a word of your ridiculous assertion, but considering the comfort you were to my father’s declining years, perhaps the money you received by his will was hardly an adequate compensation for your devotion. I will write you a cheque now for two bun* deed pounds, nnd If you do not trouble me In any wuy, or attempt to force yourself on any other members of the family, 1 will give you another for eight hundred pounds at the end of three mouths. Of course. 1 must have that paper, though. 1 do not wish my father’s weakness made public.” A glance of Intelligence passed between the two men, and Hunt Intimated by a gesture that he agreed to the terms. He took the cheque and bowed himself out, leaving the letter In John Gully’s possession. That night, Instead of returning direct to his home, John Gully hailed a cab and drove to Emperor's Gate, where his stepmother resided. A long conference took place between them. They both professed entire disbelief In Hunt’s assertions, and pronounced the late William Gully’s letter a piece of nonsense. But, like most people outwardly skeptical, they were not thoroughly convinced In their own minds as to the Impossibility of the thing described. Besides, their fears as to the consequences, If it were true, made them all the more anxious to guard against the possibility of Its being verified. Both agreed In the end that nothing more could be done to make the matter safe than what John Gully had already dene.

It would be impoatflbl* to obtain pepmission from tbe authorities to bavs tbe body exhumed without good reasons for doing so, and then, supposing Stavely Hunt’s story were true, such a course would be worse tban leaving things as they were. If Hunt could be kept quiet until tbe three months expired, it would not matter what he did after that, as by then the late Mr. Gully would be dead Indeed, no matter bow successful bis experiments had been. So they resolved to say nothing to any one about the business. But now comes tbe most wonderful part of the story. Florence, the youngest daughter, who since her father’s death had been residing with her stepmother, one day disappeared without leaving any message behind her. Some efTorts were made to trace her, but when It was found that she bad realized all tbe property accruing to her under the will, and had drawn out all the money standing to her credit in the bank, her nearest relations concluded that she had vanished of her own free will. As she was of age and fully competent to manage her own affairs, they were content with putting an advertisement in the agony columns of the daily papers, and troubled themselves no further. • • • -• • • *

The time came round for Stavely Hunt to receive his secoud check. On the appointed day he presented himself at Mr. Gully’s office, and on being ushered in, said: “Well, Mr. Gully, tbe three months Is up. I believe.” “I don't know what you mean, Hunt.” “Why, you surely have not forgotten your promise to give me eight hundred pounds on this day If I kept quiet as to the circumstances of your father’s death.” “Look here, Hunt. You may not know the law about obtaining money under false pretenses, but if you don’t leave this room pretty sharp, I’ll soon show you.” Hunt saw the game was up, and departed, vowing vengeance. Not long after this meeting a letter came from Florence, bearing the postmark of a village in the south of France, saying that her father was alive, and in her care. This put John Gully and his stepmother into a mild fever, for they saw they were In danger of being called to account for their suppression of the old man’s letter. Still their anxiety grew less as time wore on and they heard nothing more. The reason of this silence was given by Florence when she finally rejoined her family. The following is a condensed form of her strange story: As soon as Stavely Hunt had obtained the cheek for two hundred pounds from Gully he repaired to Florence and told her the whole story, at the same time proposing, with her assistance, to rescue her father from his living grave. She readily consented, for her-previous studies Induced her to credit his story. She made her preparations for a journey. The next thing was to obtain the services of some trustworthy person to assist in recovering the body. Acting on the advice of Hunt, she told the secret to a young army doctor named Jansen, who bad for some time been paying her attentions. After a little not unnatural hesitation, he agreed to assist them-to steal the body. This was done safely, and through Hunt’s knowledge of the necessary process they managed tq restore Mr. William Gully to life again, and at once made the best of their way to tbe south of France.

There were good reasons for this last step in their knowledge of John Gully's character. Sat Mr. William Gully might have been better left where he was. The “experience” had been too much for him. The three attended upon him with untiring care, but his state gradually grew worse and worse until, before many days had elapsed, Mr. William Gully was evidently on the point of death In earnest. He begged Florence to reward the young doctor for his kindness by bestowing on him her hand, and then passed away. They buried the old man In the village graveyard, and Florence lost no time In obeying her father’s last wishes by mnj-rylng Dr. Jansen. Stavely Hunt, whom she handsomely rewarded, apparently returned to India, for he was never seen again. Such was the story that Florence told to her brother and stepmother. It Is only fair to supplement the above by the account of the matter given by Johu Gully. According to his version, he never believed his sister's story, any more than he did Hunt's. To confirm his disbelief, after much trouble, he obtained an order for the exhumation of his father’s body in the grave to which It had been originally consigned. He declares that he has ample evidence to prove that the body was there as he expected, and in just vuch a condition as a corpse, interred for that length of time, would be likely (to be. His opinion, he added, of Florence's story was that she Invented It tp explain the Indecent haste with which she left a house of mourning to marry Dr. Jansen.—Waverley.

Phlloprogenitiveness.

Dog Seller (with huge mastiff)—Better buy him, boss; he's very fond of children. Mr. Schermerhorn—No; he shan't h>ve any of my children.—Brooklyn li agle.

Dignity

Edith—Our butler Is dignified enough to be Lord Mayor of London! Ethel—ls that all? Why, our butler Is dignified enough to be the Lord Mayor of London’s butler!—Puck.

Every boss thluks the boss system Is the best,

Neglect chances to get even.

POLITICS OF THE DAY

Not a National Embassy. Here is a so-called ‘special embassy” appointed by the President to the ceremonies of the coronation of Edward VII. of England. Naturally, an overture of such splendor and significance should be a national affair. Tliis Is a government of the people. It follows, therefore, that nothing, no matter how important or unimportant, done without the formal sanction of Congress can possibly be regarded as significant or even valid In so far as it relates to a foreign power. It seems clear to us that the embassy, going to England without the recognition of Congress, can represent nothing. It Is in no sense national, and can, in the nature ot things, amount to little more than an expression of personal good will on the part of the President who appointed tlie members and the executive department out of whose secret fund tiie expenses may be paid—Washington Post.

Knee Breeches and Pumps. It appears to have been settled that our official representatives to tlie coronation must wear knee breeches, after all. Their toggery will be an ordinary black evening dress coat and waistcoat, with tight-fitting black cloth knee breeches, black silk stockings and pumps. Tlie special and regular representatives of the United States will be the only people at the coronation thus attired, since everybody else Is required to be either in full uniform or in what is known as court dress. They say that Ambassador Choate has been appearing at all court bails, state concerts and dinners given by the sovereign in these clothes, in which he looks well, being endowed with a particularly plump pair of calves.—Boston Herald.

Our Progress in Toadyism. With colonies amid the seas, with flunkies commissioned to join in the barbaric ceremonies of an imperial coronation; with sedition laws against those who dare to talk for freedom; with a constitution which has been riddled by Presidential usurpation, and with our privileged classes clamoring over questions of precedence, it is quite the tiling that Bishop Grafton’s clergy should kowtow before bim and pay him honor* befitting his station. But just the same, if Bishop Grafton was a real American he would feel like slapping the face of the first surpliced toady who so far forgot the decencies of American citizenship as to address him as “my lord.”—Johnston Democrat.

Not 8o Much Fun in That. So fascinating is the humor of our tariff that our German brethren are seriously contemplating the adoption of some of our best jokes. The cardinal principle of protection is to restrict, if not to prohibit, purchases from foreign nations. That strikes the Teuton as such excellent fun that his parliament is about to apply to the United States the same prlciple which our Congress has applied to Germany. “We will take our schedules,” says the Reichstag, “and enforce them ngalnst all American goods imported into Germany.” That may not provoke laughter on this side of the Atlantic, but why shouldn’t It? The German is quite as much entitled to his little joke as we are,—Baltimore Sun.

The Republican Dilemma. A large number of Republicans are convinced that they must face one of two things—either a substantial reduction of the protective tariff, beginning with the Cuban schedule, or invite such an assault on protection as would endanger the whole institution. Either prospect is good for the country. The best thing that could happen would be a deliberate wiping out of practically the whole protective system, but the thing that will make that ultimately possible Is such a beginning as seems Inevitable as a result of the Cuban question and the specific demand for a removal of a part of the outrageously discriminating duties on steel and Iron.—Kansas City Star.

Object to Our Own Medicine. The effect of the proposed German duties would be to exclude from Germany American products, which are very largely used there nnd which It Is very profitable to us to sell there. But how can we complain while we have so many tariff duties that are prohibitive and hamper the commerce of other nations, however friendly they may be to us. We cannot Justly object to taking our own medicine, but we are greatly Irritated whenever any nation adopts or even threatens to pursue a tariff policy that will Interfere with the sale of our products among its people.— Atlanta Journal.

A Hint to the Trnata. Wisdom and prudence dictate that obvious and notable abuses springing from combinations should be corrected now while the combinations are In good odor rather than be left to pile up for a dire day of reckoning which, If It conies, will amount to an Industrial revolution. The combinations should submit to discipline at the hands of their friends rather than wait for punishment from their euemles.— Brooklyn Eagle.

Extrsvasince of Colonialism. Extravagance seems to be Inseparable from colonial administration. In our own unhappy experience with alien colonlea this teaching has beguu early and will be continued late. The carpet-bag

element of office-seekers were swift to organize a raid on colonial offices. Their idea of colonial administration. Is that it should be profitable to the administrator on the spot. They expect to live in luxury and to spend money like princes. Rathbun in Havana was a good type of the carpet-bagger developed by our new colonial policy. He bad a royal time during bis brief swing in office.—St. Louis Republic.

Private Capital Is Willing. One of the most humiliating things about tlie present session of Congress is tlie apparent determination to compel the government to lay a Pacific cable at public expense. The only excuse for this most transparent diversion of taxes from their proper to improper ends would be the unwillingness or inability of private capital to undertake the work. That was the ground of aid to the first Pacific roads. That is the basis of government irrigation work. No such state of affairs exists concerning the Pacific cable. Private capital is not only willing, but anxious, to undertake the work. It has, in fact, already begun it.—Portland Oregonian.

What Colonists Cost Germany. The efforts which tbe German Government bas during the last few years been making toward the promotion of colonization have not thus far been a conspicuous success. The total number of Germans resident in the German colonies is said to be 3,702, among whom children, women, missionaries and <&- cials of every kind are included. The expenditures of the government for colonial administration are very nearly $5,000,000 a year, so that each German resident of a German colony costs the country about $1,400 per annum.—Philadelphia Inquirer.

An Irrepressible Issue. Tariff reform is coming rapidly to the front as an irrepressible issue in the national campaign of this year and two years hence. The opportunity of 1892 is again knocking at the door of the Democracy. Those of our leaders who are wise .and in position to seize this issue at the psychological moment will be expected to do so. By skillful handling they can make it the tmramount issue of the next campaign and force the Republican party to stand on the defensive.—Atlanta Constitution.

Yates on the Wrong Path. Well had it been for Richard Y'ates when entering upon his great office if some wise Woolsey couM have stood at his el.bow and charged him “to fling away ambition, for by that sin fell the angels.” But, with his vision obscured by self and bis mind perverted by evil and foolish advice, he forgot party and public, and therein lost all. He took the wrong path at the cross-roads and every step since has taken him farther away from the people and farther away from the right.—Galesburg, Mall, Rep.

Not the Party of Lincoln. Nothing is plainer than that the Republican party has gradually forsaken all the ancient landmarks held sacred by its founders. No one can conceive of a doubt being entertained by Abraham Lincoln as to the fundamental truth that all men were created with equal lights, nor as to the possibility of one man's governing another without his consent. But those Mho now proclaim these truths are sneered at by representative Republicans as “small Americans.”— Johnstown, Pa., Democrat.

May Be Barking Dp the Wrong Tree. The stated cause for the severing of Governor Dole’s head is that his rulings in land matters have l>een repeatedly overruled by the Interior Department. It might have lieen a commendable course for President Roosevelt to Investigate the Interior Department and learn what Influence prompted the officials thereof to overrule Governor Dole. He might have been able to remove the heads of the department.— Buffalo Times.

The Pension System. There Is no more reason why those who serve the city or the State or the general government should be pensioned than there Is that those who are employed by firms or corporations should be. They get good salaries, and If they do not choose to put by a part of their earnings for old age they ought to take the consequences. The pension system Is pregnant with evils and promises to become extremely troublesome.—Savannah News.

Blind to the Htorm Signals. Speaker Henderson, blind and deaf as the rest, tells protesting lowa merchants that the tariff must not be touched; that “It Is more Important now to reduce taxation upon ourselvea” by cutting down Internal revenue, apparently still adhering to the exploded notion that "the foreigner pays the tax.” He and his kind unhappily dominating Congress pay no heed to the storm signals flying everywhere.—St Paul Dispatch.

What la the Object? J. J. Hill with a sober face told the Commission last week that competition between railroads raised the rates and that monopoly was what reduced them. If this simple proposition Is correct why In the world arc the railroad managers trying to get the law so amended that they can pool Instead of competing? Is It because they want to reduce their Incomes?—Hartford. Conn., Courant.

GREAT MURDER MYSTERY

The Awful Fate of Nora Fuller Still Puzzles San Francisco. After weeks of patient labor by the police of San Francisco, the mystery surrounding the awful fate of 16-year-old

Nora Fuller, who was found dead in a deserted house in the middle of January, is no nearer solution than ever. In many particulars the case resembles that of Blanche Lamont, for the murder of whom Theodore Durrant suffered the extreme penalty of the law a few

NORA FULLER.

years ago. It will be recalled how the Lamont girl was lured to a church and there murdered, her body being hidden In the belfry of the edifice. Nora Fuller left her parents’ home on the afternoon of Jan. 11 and nothing more was seen of her until her body was found in the deserted house. The day before an advertisement was printed in a morning paper asking for a young girl to take care of a baby. The advertisement was answered by Nora’s mother and on the afternoon of the next day a note was received, signed John Bennett, asking the girl to meet the writer at 5:30 o’clock at a restaurant on Geary street. Nora kept the appointment and was seen no more alive by any of her friends.

A few days prior to the appearance of the advertisement-n man giving his name as Hawkins and whom the police believe to be identical with Bennett rented a house located at 2213 Sutter street. He paid a month’s rent in advance and apparently was in a hurry to move into it. A couple of weeks later investigations conducted by the owners developed tlie fact that Hawkins had not moved into the house. On entering the apartments the investigators came upon the dead body of Nora Fuller. She was lyiDg undressed on a bed, which, with a chair, was the only article of furniture in the rooms. There were no marks of violence on the body, no traces of poison in the stomach and the coroner’s autopsy failed to establish the immediate cause of death. No trace has been found of Hawkins, the man who rented the house, and who is supposed to be identical with Bennett.

KILLING OF RICE DESCRIBED.

Valet Jonea Explain* How Millionaire Was Murdered for Money. “I killed Rice. Patrick planned it.

Patrick tokl me to do it. Patrick was to benefit by it. I was his tool.” These

words of Valet Jones summed up his thrilling recital in the New York court of how he murdered old man Rice under Patrick’s directions, with the carefully and in accordance worked out conspiracy to seize the old miser’s millions. Amid breathless silence he told how he had, at Patr i c k’s direction, first fed the old

LAWYER PATRICK.

man on poisonous drugs—mercury, chloral, oxalic acid—and how finally Patrick induced him to strangle the aged millionaire with chloroform. Patrick sat motionless, pale and seemingly nerveless through the whole awful recital. Valet Jones himself was visibly affected as he told how he killed bis employer. Jones led up to this denouement of the great crime in which he declared Patrick had entangled him. He had told of the forgery of letters, checks, property transfers, and, finally, how the bogus will, duly witnessed, bad been made all ready for the forged signature. Then, according to the valet, Patrick had said that old Rice was living too long to suit their interests and suggested murder. The valet told how Patrick had cast about for a means by which to end the old miser’s life, of procuring and administration of the poisonous drugs, and finally of the obtaining of the chloroform with which the murder was committed.

TO STAMP OUT SMALLPOX.

Chicago Will Proceed w'th a Sjrtema* tized War on the Epidemic. An effort in preventive medicine on a scale of considerable magnitude has been inaugurated by the Chicago health department. Its field is an area of some 000,000 square miles of territory in the ten States of which Illinois is the southern center and the remotest boundaries of which are within a few hours’ railway travel from Chicago. Among the 25,000,000 people living in this area the number of cases of smallpox has increased more than 900 per cent since the first of the year over the number reported during the corresponding period of 1901. Authentic information, gathered by wire and mail from State and loeal health authorities and from personal Investigations by the contagious disease experts of the department—sent to a number of infected localities most directly menacing Chicago—convinced the health commissioner, Dr. Reynolds, that the disease is still spreading unchecked; that it la not being fought intelligently or adequately, and that its continuance seriously threatens not only the public health but the material interests of this vast area by the certainty of “shotgun quarantines” sooner or later, and consequent costly and vexatious interference with travel and traffic. Three views were presented at a conference with the representatives of the leading railways centering in Chicago and their co-operation with the department was urged in a concerted effort to “stamp out” the pestilence. Ready assent was given and the necessary men and means were assured. The plan contemplates wholesale vaccination and revacoination in every Infected locality; the provision and maintenance of suitable Isolation , hospital* where necessary; thorough disinfection of smallpox premises and belongings; strict inspection of all peraona offering to travel from infected localities and refusal te carry tboee who do not comply with the requi rement*. This is the measure relied on to control the objectors, “conscientious” or otherwise, and i« one fully within the power of the vail ways to enforce. Patronise those who advertise.