Rensselaer Republican, Volume 17, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 February 1885 — SENSATIONS OF THE DAY. [ARTICLE]

SENSATIONS OF THE DAY.

& Sleighing Party at Toledo Collides with a' Bailway Train with Fatal Results. j Hye Murderers Sentenced to Death la the Federal Court at Fort Smith, Ark. A Helpless Man Sentenced to the Penitentiary—A Lively Georgia - Corpse. U FOUR PERSONS KILLED. Sad Accident to an Ohio Sleighing Party. (Toledo apeciaLl A party of nine persons from Oak Harbor, a small place east of this city, drove in a sleigh to Port Clinton. The road, three miles west of Port Clinton, crosses the tracks of the Lake Shore railway. On the return trip, as the sleigh approached the crossing, the west-bound express came up at the rate of thirty-five miles an hour. The driver, thinking he could clear thb crossing ahead of the locomotive, drove on, bnt before the rear of the sleigh had passed the track the locomotive struck it The sleigh was smashed and the occupants scattered abont. Three fell upon the pilot Of the engine. Miss Jennie Hoople, of Oak Harbor, and S. 8. Hall, of Detroit, were instantly killed. Mrs. A. D. Theirwachter and Mrs. Charles Vogel were fatally injured. Mrs. John P. Vowl had an arm broken and was internally injured. John P. Vogel was seriously injured, and A. D. Theirwachter bruised about the head and limbs. Charles Vogel and Russell Rice alone escaped with slight injuries. Mrs. John Vogel and Mrs. Charles Vogel died this afternoon at 3 o’clock. Others are likely to die. The scene of the disaster is-peculiarly favorable for an accident of this kind, as the road runs parallel to the tracks some distance before crossing. L. W. Adams was the engimeer of the train, and did all he could to avert the collision. The fault was with the driver of the sleigh.

A LIVERY CORPSE. Excitement at a Georgia Negro Funeral. (Valdosta (Ga.) telegram.] The colored people of Lowndes County are somewhat mystified over the irregular proceedings of a corjise, which refused the decent burial with which they were complimenting it. Craw Duncan had been for years a leader ih colored politics, but he never took to religion. A few days ago he became violently ill, and, going to bed, he was duly beset by weeping sisters and zealous preachers, but all to no purpose. When the time came he died, apcl a large concourse of friends and acquaintances gathered to pay the last tribute to his memory. As is the custom among colored people, they sang over his body all night. The weird music that floated over the adjacent forest that night struck a responsive chord in the bosoms of the owls of baser note, anckthey joined in the refrain. Abont midnight a little bird flitted in one door and out the other. This caused the assemb age to go on its knees, when the leader declared that “speerits could not harm ’ligiousfolks,” and the singing was resumed. When daylight came the weary watchers detailed one squad to build a coffin and nnother to dig the grave. The rude casket was first completed and conducted to the proper place. It was put on two chairs, facing each other, beside the corpse. Friends drew around to take a last look; pall-bearers put themselves in position to bear the burden to the grave; the coffin was held over the open grave, and at a word IWh let drop to the bottom. In an instant the lid went flying off the coffin, and the dead man arose and cursed with all the exuberance of a man who had worked on a canal. The mourners scattered in every direction; but tbe funny part of it is they insist he is really dead, and will have nothing to do with him.

THE DEATH PENALTY. Five Murderers Sentenced at Fort Smith, Ark. [Fort Smith dispatch.] In the United States Court, to-day, five murderers received their sentences. Mason Holcomb, William Phillips, Fred M, Ray, William Meadows, and William Dickson were sentenced to hang on the 17th of April next. Ray received sentence first. When asked why the sentence should not be passed, be replied: “I am not tbe guilty person.” Meadows replied to the same question: “I bate to be punished for a crime I am not guilty of.” Phillips replied: “I have never killed a man. I never shot Hill. I never hurt a hair of his head. God knows it, and I know it.” Dickson replied briefly: “I am innocent.” Holcomb was so affected that he made no reply. The impression prevails that Meadows, who is a IC-year-old lad, will sncceed in getting a commutation of hi* sentence. He and Ray were convicted of the murder of an old negro in the Cherokee Nation last August. Phillips was convicted of the murder of his fathcr-in-Jaw, William Hill, last September. Holcomb killed one Fisher, a companion, while returning to camp one evening from a hay-field last summer. He pleaded self-defense at the trial, bnt tbe evidence proved that he was hired to do the deed. Dickson killed one Laster in 1883, in the Chickasaw Nation, at a dance. He was behaving in a boisterpus way, and when Laster attempted to keep him quiet a difficulty ensued, in which Dickson shot Laster. All are white men bnt Dickson, who is a negro. V DESPERATE DUEL. Two Texas Brothers-in-Law Fight to tbe Death. (Alvarado (Tex.) special.] Dr. L. B. Allen and W. J. Wellbome were brothers-in-law and members of two of the oldest and most respectable families in this section. Dr. Allen’s wife died a few days ago at the home of another sister, Mrs. W. A. Athley, and Wellbome had come on a visit of condolence. Yesterday afternoon he and Dr. Allen met in a room to consult on business matters. They soon became involved ina qnarrel and Allen attempted to kill Wellbome, drawing a pistol on him, toe latter retiring from the room with the remark that he “did not. care to settle that way.” About 10 o’clock last night. Dr. Allen was returning from a lot where he had been to feed hi* animals. He met Wellbourae standing beside the fence awaiting him. Both drew their pistols and exchanged four shots almost simultaneously. Wellbrone mounted his horse and-fled. Dr. Allen staggered into the house, fell across a bed, exclaiming, “I am shot.” and expired almost instantly. The only shot that hit him passed through his body in toe region of the heart. It is not known whether Wellbonme was wounded. Officers and a posse are scorning the country to effect his capture, A WRETCHED PROCEEDING. A Convict Without Legs and with bat One Arno.. [Joliet (HI.) special to Chicago Tribune.] Sheriff Newton, of Kendall County, reached the penitentiary this afternoon,having in charge four prisoners sentenced to prison from that county. Among them

ni one William aged fli, eonvfeted of larceny, and sentenced- for a year. The Sheriff had to carry Burnell into to# prison on his back, for the reason thatthe convict had no legs, and bat one 3 arm. Both legs had been amputated close to the trank and the left arm ftf thfl ftlmnlffor-ioint Thii ramfumt of A a* »Uv nuvnwsas wvummwm mwowm «vmhmh* man was deposited upon the stone floor of the prison gnard-room and the Sheriff produced his mittimus, showing that Bnssell was sentenced by Judge Charles KeHum, at Yorkville, to be confined in toe Penitentiary for the term of one year at hard labor. The sight of this poor wretch in his utterly helpless condition as he was lugged into the prison on the back of the brawny Sheriff called forth many expresstons of disgust from the prison-keepers in the hall not at all complimentary to the court that eonsigned him to a convict’s cell. Bussell lost his legs and one arm in a railroad accident. He was convicted of stealing a row-boat from a man in Plano and selling it at Peoria. BnsseTl’s condition is such that he will need the services of an able-bodied convict to take care of him while he is in prison. < CABINET TALK. Gov. Cleveland Has Beached Ho Decision Yet. ' [New York special to Chicago Tribune.) The presence here of Senator Gorman and the conferences of numerous politicians with him yesterday have given impetus to the Democratic gossip about the Cabinet In his talk with Democrats he corroborates the impression that the election of Mr. Evarts as Senator has completely changed the whole Cabinet sitnation. It is graVely doubted among the leaders whether Bayard or Garland can be spared from the Senate. Mr. Evarts is recognized as a foeman who will require toe strongest opposition that is possible to present With Bayard and Garland taken away from the Democratic side of the Senate it would be weak iu debaters, while the BepubUcan side would be exceptionally strong with Evarts, Edmunds, and Sheiman —especially upon constitutional questions. Mr. Gorman is said to express the opinion that the Presidentelect has formed no positive opinions and has reached no decision as to the Cabinet that may not be changed twenty times before March 4. BORN IN A SLEEPER. A Pullman Car “All Torn Up.” [Chicago telegram.] It is the unexpected that happens; at least so thought toe incoming passengers on the sleeper Niobrara, over thephicago, Milwaukee and St. Pan! Poalro&d. yesterday morn- _ ing. There was excitement among the ladies aboard; and dire confusion manifested by the gentlemen. The porter ran through the train in searoh of a doctor, and, fortunately encountering one, hurried him to the sleeper. His serviees were urgently needed by Mrs. T. Hanlon, a lady journeying from Helena, Montana, to New York. At 6:30 a. m. a child was bom to toe honse of Hanlon, and upon the arrival of the train at the Union Depot the mother and babe were transferred to a sleeper on the Pennsylvania route, and continued their journey. A telegram from Fort Wayne yesterday afternoon conveyed the intelligence that mother and child ware as well as could be expected. “I toll you, boss, said the darky on the Niobrara, “if dot ar chile glows up, he’s a gwine to be a fas’one.” WIFE MURDER AND SUICIDE. An Ohio Man Kills HU Wife and Hangs Himself. [La Crosse (Win) special-] Henry Katenhonsen and wife, of Durand, lived together unhappily, fought frequently, and the -woman waff usually the victor. Sunday he murdered her with a hatchet while his children were at Sunday-school and buried her body in a cellar. ’Thursday a neighbor called at the honse to get her to do some washing, and a daughter informed him that her mother had disappeared and she felt sure something wrong had occurred. Search resulted in the discovery of the crime, and Katenhonsen was jailed, He acknowledged the deed, but pleaded self-defense. After breakfast this morning he attempted first to hang himself with his suspenders and then a scarf, both of which broke. He then twisted up a woolen jacket and tying the garment toa grating succeeded in taking his own life. His knees were found almost touching the floor. He was abont 60 and his wife 46. A BURIED WILL. It Is Found in a Collin After Eight Years. [Buffalo (N. Y.) telegram.] Bobert A. Wallace, of the carriage manufacturing firm of Harvey & Wallace, died abont eight years ago, and, although he had repeatedly told his children and friends that he had provided for his children, four in number, by a former wife, at his death no wiil could be found, and the estate was settled according to law, each child receiving a portion, and the widow her third. She was also appointed administratrix. At her death, about a year later, she left a will disposing of the property that remained to her own children and a daughter by her first husband, but leaving out tire earlier branch of the Wallace family. Interested persons, still searching for the original will, conceived toe idea of exhuming the body of Wallace himself, and. thaw, between the vest and shirt in which the body was prepared for the coffin, was found the long nought-for will. AN EAGLE SCREAMS. It Is Found In a Mail-Bag at Vincennes. [Vincennes find.) special.] There was excitement in toe postoffice this morning. The clerks wejee hurriedly opening the mails when they heard a peculiar noise issuing from a mail-bag, and, opening the same, a large gray esgle fluttered out, causing a general stampede from Uncle Skim's sanctuary. The excitement was great for a time, but the bird was finally caught and caged. It came from the West, and is supposed to have been captured, by route agents. It is a fine-looking bird. Postmaster Lewis is proud of his present PATENTS. The Annual Patent Report. [Washington dispatch.! The annual report of the Geauuitsienet of Patents shows receipts of fll ,076,799, expenditures of $970,580, and a balance in toe United States Treasury on account of tbe patent fund, of $2,781,695. Therewere issued 20,297 patents and designs; 116 patents were reissued, and 1,021 trade marks, and 513 labels registered; patents expired, and-patents were withheld in 2,839 cases for non-payment of the final toe. Of the patents issued, 19,013 were to eitisens of the United States and 1,284 to foreigners. JOURNALISTIC STRIKE. V ienna Newspapers Refusing to Print Hie Reich srsth Proceed!mi, (Cable dispatch from VuhaaJ The journalist strike against toe Beichsrath continues. The sessions of toe last two days were absolutely ignored, and no reader of to-day’s papers in this city would know from them that such a body as toa Beichsrath existed. Letters of Complaint from indignant members are early printed, when accompanied by cash, at advertising rates. a.