Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 33, Number 69, 24 April 1908 — Page 1

THE RICHMOND) PAIXABIU14

AND SUN-TELEGRAM. VOL. XXXIII. NO. (59. RICII3IOXD, IXD., FRIDAY EVEXIXG, APRIL 24, 1908. SINGLE COPY, 3 CENTS.

MONEY OR HIS LIFE DEMANDED OF WELL

KNOWN

GROCER

Charles Bentlage Received Threatening Letters Signed In Mysterious Way Which Spoke of Vengeance. CLARENCE TATE HAS BEEN PLACED UNDER ARREST. U Is Thought by the Police That He Is the Man Who Committed the Act Captured Through Novel Ruse. Clarence Tate has been arrested on suspicion of being guilty of blackmailing Charles Bentlage, a well known lo- ; cal grocer. The case promises to be a most sensational one, but the authorities refuse, beyond admitting that j Tate has been arrested, to give out any Information. In an effort to obtain money from ?Mr. Bentlage, it is stated that Tate wrote several letters in which he threatened Bentlage with murder and the destruction of his property. For the past two weeks Mr. Bentlage has been under a nervous strain as the recult of receiving these letters. Much difficulty was experienced by the police in snaring the author of these epithets, but he at length walked into a trap that had been prepared for him, and it is thought that the evidence the police hold against Tate will be sufficient to convict him. Tate has been under arrest since last Tuesday, but the fact that he had been 1 taken into custody, was kept a well guarded secret until last night, when the report began to be circulated about town. It is stated that Tate stoutly maintains his innocence. It is also stated that while the police are confident that they have the right man in custody, the evidence that they have against him is very slight. The story of the anonymous and threatening letters was learned this afternoon. On Monday, April !, Mr. Bentlage. who has a grocery store at South Eleventh and I streets, received a letter stating that unless he left $1 under the steps- of his feed barn he vould be killed and barn burned to the ground. The letter was partly printed and partly written and to it the initials "D, M. T. N. T." were signed. These Initials are supposed to stand for the Svell known phrase, "Dead Men Tell No Tales." Thought it a Joke. Mr. Bentlage at first though the letter to be a joke, but after carefully considering the contents he became 1 armed and turned the matter over to the postal officials and the police department. As a trap for the author icf the letter a $10 counterfeit bill was placed-the following day and the place called for in the letter and a police officer was placed on guard. For throe giights this officer fruitlessly kept 'viftl, each morning removing the counterfeit bill. Lat Monday Mr. Bentlage received K lengthy epistle written and printed Jike the first letter and the same initials were attached. This letter was most threatening one. It began vith the statement that there was no tise trying to fool the author with counterfeit money or to have the hiding place watched by a police officer. It also stated that the writer had gone to the Bentlage home the previous evening for the purpose of finding money. Not successful in this, the letter continued, he had placed .Mr. and Mrs. Bentlage under the influence of ether and that he was proparing to kill them when he happened to notice the twin babies. He then lost his nerve. In conclusion the letter stated that the author had decided to give Bentlage one more chance and that before midnight of Tuesday, this week. Bentlage should place in a hole under the first tree in the Fihe field. South E street. $20. If this order was not complied with. Bentlage vas assured, he would be killed either in his store or at his home. Mr. Bentlage and others took the 510 counterfeit bill Tuesday morning Iind placed it in a box which was placed in the hole under the tree in (Continued on Page Three.) CASE STILL PENDING Piano Manufacturer's Contention Not Settled. The controversy between the A. B. Chase piano company of Newark, O., nd the Starr piano company of this rity relative to the use or the name "Chase" by both companies, for their Sianos, is still pending in the courts t Washington. It is not known when 26 matter will be decided.

VALUES HIS WIFE i AT MEASLY $10. Columbus, Tenn., April 24. One of the most novel proceedings in court in this section is that of V. .1. Riggins, who replevined his wife, formerly Ada Templeton, from her parents. Esquire Farriss required a bond of twice the value of the property in question, and Riggins placed a value of $10 on his wife, giving bond in the sum of $20.

APPEALS FOR WOMAN Claimed That Mrs. Jennie Chapman Is Not Insane at The Present Time. THE COURT IS CONVINCED. Alleging that Mrs. Jennie Chapman is not insane, a petition has been filed in the AVayne circuit court by Wilfred Jessup. asking the court, to restore her legal standing to that, of a sane person. In speaking to the court this morning the attorney declared he did not believe Mrs. Chapmau to be insane. He said he had had a conversation with her and is convinced that, an error was made in adjudging her a person of unsound mind. Judg Fox stated that he had talked with the woman also and believes there may be some doubt as to the propriety in his action. The court has been acquainted with Mrs. Chapman for many years. Mrs. Chapman was declared insane without her appearance in court. Application for appointtur.it of a guardian was made by Leota McWhinney, of Tennessee, a niece of Mrs. Chapman. She represented to the court Mrs. Chapman was ill and unable to be in court, at the time the proceedings were taken. Dr. Benham was named as guardian. He has been made a party to the restoration proceedings. WATSON SPEAKS Has Accepted Invitation tended by Citizens of Bethel. ExLITTLE TOWN HONORED. IT HAS ENTERTAINED MORE DISTINGUISHED CITIZENS THAN ANY OTHER SMALL TOWN IN INDIANA. The first public address to be delivered by James E. Watson since his nomination as republican candidate for governor of Indiana, will be given at Bethel, this county. May The oc casion is the annual observance of Memorial Day at the little town. A letter was received by Colonel Wiley, of Bethel, today stating the Congressman will be present. It is an unusual distinction for Bethel and the village will accept its responsibilities in its customary manner. The observance of Memorial Day at Bethel is accompanied by more ceremony than that at. any other city or town in ihe county. Bethel is a village of about inhabitants, counting those residents of nearby towns, but it has acted as host to more notable personages than any town of its size in the state. Its Memorial Day events surpass those of this city and always are r.ttended by larger crowds. This year will prove no exception. Congressman Watson was the first choice cr the committee on the selection of a speaker and a number of local friends was asked to assist the cominitue in securing his services. MAN! PASSENGERS WERE INJURED Chicago Express Train The Rails. Left Rochester, April 2 L Erie train No. 4, the Chicago express, which was going sixty miles per hour, jumped the track at Canisteo today and a score of passengers were injured. FAILED FOR A MILLION DOLLARS New York Exchange Goes Under. New York. April 24. The stock exchange firm of T. A. Mcintyre & Co., failed this morning for a. miiiioa.

MM W

EARLHAM PREPARES

T Program for the Week Has Been Completed by the Authorities. WILLITTS IS THE SPEAKER. HE WILL ADDRESS ONE OF THE LARGEST CLASSES EVER LEAVING EARLHAM, ON COMMENCEMENT DAY, The program for commencement week at Earlbani has been arranged. Dr Herbert I... Willits of Chicago, will be the speaker at the commencement exercises. A class of forty will be graduated from the college this year with three who will receive the master's degree, making forty-three all told which, by the way. is one of the largest classes ever leaving the Quaker school at. one time. The week"s pro-v gram follows: Friday evening. June 5 Annual music recital. Saturday evening, Jnne 0 Annual elocution recital. Sunday. June 7-Baccalaureate sermon, Elbert Russell. Monday evening, June S IonianPhoenix. Tuesday, June !) Class day exercises, lo:x a. m. Board of trustees' meeting, L'.iio p. m. Alumni business meeting, rMn p. m. Alumni tea, 7: p. m. Wednesday, June !- Commencement. Address by Dr. Herbert L. Willitts: "Some Educational Ideals.' Those who will be awarded the bachelor's degree are: Clyde Allee. Laura Fern Allen. Robert Forest Allen. E. Anna Bailey. Helen Baird. Jessie Beeler, Helen Carter, Katie Cochran, Mira T. Cope. Harry Todd Costello. Edwin L. Doan, Edith L. Doney. Scott Eaton, VYm. E. Elliott, John T. Haworth, Gustave HoelschPr, Alvin T3. Heath. Byron Huff, Grace K. Huff. Agnes Hunt. Francine Jenkins, Beulah Kaufman. Mary Lawrence, Anna Jane Moris, Horace W. Marshall. Edna Metcalf, Walter R. Miles. Edith Moore. Alice Norton. Clara Ratliff. Ina Ratliff. Rezin Reagan. Roxie Stalker. Pauline Saint. Glenn Thistlethwaite. Emmett Trueblood. Martha Whitacre, Cloyd C. Chambers, Sydney B. Hutton, Cecil K. Calvert. Those who will get the master's degree are: Cassie F. Jones, A. B. 10O7: Richard Haworth. B. L. '91; Ralph S. Coppock H. B. 'OTi. Miss Lucy Francisco of the department of music, is arranging a musical program to run through the commencement week, but as yet. no definite announcement can be given. RUPE WILL SIT AS SPECIAL JUDGE Will Hear Evidence in Trial. Doney .Inhn I. Rnnp has been rhnsen as I special judge in the case of Doney vs. Laughlin. He is the second special judge to be selected by the attorneys. The attorneys for Laughlin first asked the appointment of a special judge and Judge Iafollette of the Jay circuit was chosen. He ruled against the plaintiff and now the attorneys for the latter have requested another hearing before another special judge. Judge lafollette will have to approve the selection of Mr. Rupe. ROBBERS VISIT HAGERSTOWN DEPOT Stole Several Tickets From Office. Late last night the local police were notified by the Hagerstown authorities that unknown robbers had broken into the telegraph office in the Pan Handle sKition there and had stolen several tickets to Chicago, St. Louis and other points and had also taken tne ticket stamp. The men entered the office by breaking out a windowpane. It is thought that they went from Hagerstown to New Castle. There is no clue as to the identity of the robbers. NINE BUSINESS BLOCKS DESTROYED Iff FIRE Big Damage Done in Vermont Town. Burlin, Vt., April 24. Nine business blocks, including the Parkview- house and postoffice at Richmond, 30 miles north of here were destroyed by fir ihl morning,

FOR CDMMhNCEMEN

WOMAN IS SNEEZING 325 TIMES AN HOUR. Atlantic City, N. J., April 24. Doctors are trying to save the life of Miss Eva May English, of English Creek, who is in danger of death from fits of sneezing that have attacked her at short intervals during the past few days. The girl sneezed 323 times in an hour yesterday and each sneeze leaves her weaker. An illness that weakened her olfactory nerves is believed to be the cause of the attack.

BRYAN WILL HOLD WHIP HAND OVER THE DEMOCRATS Asserted If He Is Not Nominated, He Will Turn His Strength to a Man of His Own Choice. JOHNSON'S CANDIDACY MAY RESULT IN NOTHING. Men Acquainted With the Situation Do Not Think He Will Be the Nominee Situation Complicated. Washington, April 24. The developments from week to week indicates that by June 1;, the date of the meeting of the republican national convention, there may be enough uncertainty about what the democratic party will do at Denver in July to make the republicans exercise great care in nominating a, ticket, and in submitting a platform to the country. Until recently the republicans have assumed that the democrats would nominate William J. Bryan for president. Most of the influential men in the party still cling to this view, but a good many men are half inclined to believe the Nebraskan may be forced to give way for another. Men connected with the anti-Bryan campaign are confident that by the time the republican convention comes off the democratic situation will be so complicated as to make it impossible for the republicans to foretell what the Denver convention will do. Some of the men behind the candiaacy of Governor John A. Johnson do not expect him to be the party"s nominee, even if Bryan sriall fail to carry off the prize. The same thing may be said of some of the men who are behind the campaign that has been started in the interest of Judge George Gray, of Delaware. Both the Johnson and the Gray movements, so far as the East is concerned, are simply designed to afford standards around which the opposition to Bryan can be rallied Undoubtedly either Johnson or Gray would be satisfactory to the democrats of the East who are enlisted in this revolt against Bryan, but the men who are behind the movements realize that it will hardly be possible to defeat Bryan's nomination. If Bryan's nomination is made possible, he will be permitted to name the candidate. Perhaps the word "pertjiitted" should not be used in this connection; it is conceded that Bryan will have the "whiphand" in the convention, even though he can not get. two-thirds of the delegates, and will, undoubtedly be strong enough to dictate the nomination. TOWN DESTROYED Iff FIERCE T Three Killed and Several Were Injured. Memphis, Tenn.. April 24. A tornado swept over Walls, Miss., at two o'clock this morning. The town is reported as destroyed. Three were killed and several were injured. A relief train from Memphis has gone to the scene of the catastrophe. Telegraph wires are down. ATTEMPT NO. 3. Ulysses L. Parschall has been granted a license to marry Mrs. Eva Rady. Both are residents of this city. The attempt is number three for Mrs. Rady, the two previous marriages having been set aside in the divorce courts. THE WEATHER PROPHET. INDIANA Thunder torms Friday night; Saturday generally fair, brisk to high south winds shifting to west. OHIO Showers, probably thunderstorms Friday night and Saturday; cooler Saturday, increasing 0wth winds.

ORNADO

STUBBORNNESS PUT

MAN BEHIND

BARS

Henry Regg Would Not Allow His Relatives to Pay His Fine. ACCUSED OF ASSAULT. YOUNG MAN BEAT UP HIS NEIGHBOR AS THE RESULT OF BACK YARD GOSSIP, IT IS ALLEGE D HEAVILY FINED. Simply because of his own contrariness, Henry Regg. a well known young man, went to jail this morning to lay out a fine of $.15 and costs assessed against him in the circuit court. Regg's brother at Cincinnati offered to pay the fine. The young man would not permit his father to stay it. He claimed the fine was too high for the offense he had committed and preferred to go to jail rather than pay the amount specified. The case was heard in the circuit court on appeal from the city court. Judge Converse fined Regg $50 and costs and sentenced him to 120 days in jail. Regg entered a plea of guilty through his attorneys. Such action on the part of the accused never had been seen in the circuit court before. The father of the young man, who is a veteran of the Eranco-Prussian war. left the court room in despair after bidding his son goodbye. Regg was fined upon conviction of the charge of assault and battery upon Henry Tieman. Behind the story of the assault, revenge for a gossiping tongue is said to have been the motive. The Tieman and Regg families were next door neighbors on South Sixth street last summer. Aecordine; to the story as told by Tlegg's attorney, Henry Tieman and the father of young RopTK were accustomed to work in their respective gardens in the evening hours. They gossiped over the fence and Tieman told the senior RegR tales about the latter's wife. The father was accustomed to return to the house and berate the wife for her alleged misconduct. This angered young rtegg and he gave Tieman to understand it would be more advisable for him to desist. It seems as if Tieman did not abide by the instructions or at any rate young Regs did not think he did. On the evening of June 10. Regg accosted Tieman on the street. Words were exchanged and Regg at picked Tieman. The older man was knocked to the ground and beaten and kicked by Regg. Tieman's nose was Jiroken. one rib was broken and a number of other severe injuries were sustained. The attack was one of the most brutal made in this city in years. The finding of the city court was believed to be in keeping with the evidence. The appeal was taken to the circuit court in the effort to save Regg a jail sentence. Judge Fox was told the fine of $50 was also excessive as it was the first offense of the young man. The court took this fact into consideration and reduced the fine to $35 and struck off the sentence, but Regg went to jail, nevertheless. RESIDENTS RESTRICTED IN USE OF WATER New Castle Residents Have to Be Saving. New Castle, Ind., April 24. Complaint is general here against the proposed amendment of the by-laws of the waterworks company, whereby sprinkling privileges will mean the laying of the dust in the streets only. Water is not to be used on lawns nor for scrubbing purposes. The water supply has been short for some time and this reason is given for the proposed restriction. STOCK OF BIG STORE IS SOLO Purchased by F. C. Friedgen And Company. The stock of the Big Store clothing and men s furnishings, was purchased at receiver's sale yesterday by F. C. Friedgen & Company for $10.50. There was only a small number of bidders. The stock will be disposed of by the purchasers at auction. The store room at the corner of Main and Ninth streets, which has been occupied by the bankrupt firm, has been leased to Romey & Company, furniture dealers and must be vacated by May IS. The furniture company has a ten year lease with the privilege of renewal. The Telephone is a your Classified Ads to the least bother to you. Either 21 Old.

ATE 37 BANANAS: WON THE CONTEST.

Bellefontaine. O . April 1M ' Probet.s.or" Ilitr. a character at the county infirmary, a'e thirty-t-even bananas without slopping in a iontest at the in Minn ion. A fruit firm pre-'iHed the inmates with a wagon load of ripe bananas and this caused the contest. John Bud fell out of the rare after eating thirtyfive. A PRETTY ROMANCE Joe Carter, of This City Marries Chicago Policeman's Daughter. THE PARENTS OBJECTED. Chicago, 111.. April 24. Miss Uc.-sie Skeeles. daughter of Itosk Serr.eant F. H . Skeeles of the Hde Park police station, is now the bride of Joseph L. Carter, a former well known resident of Richmond. Ind, who i the son of Mrs. J. M. Westcott of that city. They were married Tuesday afternoon by the Rev. John Malcolm of the Second Presbyterian church. Announcements of tile wedding were issued yesterday. Mr. Carter was a former student at Morgan Park academy and the I'niversity of Chicago. At both institutions lie was prominent in fraternity affairs. Mrs. Carter was one of the most popular girls at Hyde Park high school. The marriage is the culmination of a romance extending over a year, during which time they were devoted to each other despite the alleged opposition resulting from the difference in the financial state of the two young people. DOES PROSECUTOR GET DOUBLE FEE This Is the Interesting Ques tion Which Has Been Brought Up. JESSUP ASKS QUESTION. WHETHER OR NOT HE SHOULD RECEIVE FEES ON CONVICTION IN CITY AND CIRCUIT COURTS WILL BE DECIDED BY JUDGE. An interesting point of law has boon raised by Prosecutor Jessup and Judge Fox has been called upon for a ruling. It is in regard to whether or not the prosecuting attorney receives a fee from both the citv and circuit courts, when conviction is obtained in the first and again in the second on appeal. The prosecutor maintains he ought to receive both fees. The question has arisen in the Regg case and as this is the first time it has come up since. Judge Fox has been on the bench he has been asked to decide. Regg was fined in the city court. If the fine were paid, the prosecutor would receive a fee of $5. He was convicted again in the circuit court and the prosectuor holds he ought to receive another fee of the same amount in case of payment of the fine. The law as cited by the state'o attorney grants him his fee for each conviction. It stipulates, also, that in case the defendant demands a trial and does not. enter a plea of guilty in the circuit court the fee shall be $7 upon conviction. If the defendant does not stand trial the fee is stipulated at f.". There is a difference of o;iinion among members of the Wayne county bar, some holding the prosecutor is entitled to two fees as he is required to prosecute twice the same as in independent cases and others de claring an appeal does not constitute another case. Authorities will be submitted to the court for reference. BANDITS FORCE MAN TO OPEN Ml VAULTS Then Take $4,000 and Make Their Escape. Louisville. Ky., April 24 Masked robbers raided the telephone exchange at Bandana and then compelled Cashier Ballard to go to the bank and open the vault. The robbers escaped with $4,0. Willing servant to bring Palladium office with the Phone--1 21 Automatic,

NUMEROUS WILL BE SEAT CONTESTS IN BIG CONVENTION Captain Harry New. Nationa Republican Chairman, Says National Committee Should Consider Them Early.

; CANDIDATES WILL BE GIVEN A SQUARE DEAL. Particular Care Will Be Taken In Selection of Officers of The Convention of Which There Is Nothing Known. Indianapolis, ind. April "Ji-Tn of. (it r that ail contests for heats as deleSates to the republican national contention may be titled soon. Captain Harry S. New, Chairman of the National committee, will call its members together at Chicago much earlier thaa usual so that the contests may be considered by the entire organization. He sent the following letter last night to Klmer loer, secretary of the committee, apprising him of his plans; "I be to advi.-e you that, because of the unusually large number of contests with w hich we are at this time threatrued, it is ci tain that the republican rational committee will be called upon to meet this year at a date much in advance of the assembling of the convention. It is likely that this date may be as early as the first of June, and this note is meant to prepare you for this emergency, should it arrive. "1 have fully determined, in view of the peculiar circumstances attendant upon the contest for the presidential nomination this year, that all contests shall be heard by the full membership of the national committee. Thera will be no nib commit tecs under any consideration, and. this being true, the time spent in the settlement of contests will be necessarily long. Merely an Advance Tip. "This is not an official notice, but Is merely intended for your Information in order that you may make preparations to be in Chicago as early as the first, or June if it is found necessary to assemble the committee at so early a date. The official call will be issued later when our information is sufficiently definite to friable us to tell th more accurately how much work the committee will probably have to attend to." Captain New made the statement that every candidate for the nomination for president would have a square deal in the selection of officers for the convention. It was declared by Captain New that the committee had not discussed any one for temporary or permanent, chairman. That matter will be taken up. however, when the committee meets next month in Chicago. "I see by dipa'ches that certain men have been mentioned as probable presiding officers of the convention," said Captain New. "Senator Beveridge, for instance, has been mentioned for temporary chairman, and Senator I-odge for permanent Chairman, but I can state positively that there is nothing more than guss work in the matter, ax no action has been discussed or taken by the Na'ional Committee." Captain New will go to Chicago next month to open headquarter. He is deluged with requests for liekets, but he is not making any promises at this time. h said that the preliminary arraneenif-ns for the convention were proceeding as rapidly as could le expected. STUDY APPEARS IN APPELLATE COURT Looking After Interests of Woman Who Was Injured. Thomas J. Study is at Indianapolis appearing in the appellate court in the interests of Mrs. Beverly, of Henry county, who is s-eking damages a2ainst the Richmond Street A: Interurban Street Railway company. Mrs. Beverly was thrown from a car of the defendant company near the Panhandle depot in ibis city, more than a year ago. . She filed suit in the Henry circuit court and the case was sent to Hancock county for trial. Judgment was given in. favor of the plaintiff and the defendant took an appeal to the higher court. Mr. Study expected to complete the case today. GOES TO PHILIPPINES. Laurence Smeiser, a well knowa young man of this city, who has been principal of the Centerville schools has resigned to go to the Philippine Islands as a school teacher. DEMANDF0R STALLS. It is expected there will be a lively demand for stalls at the South Sid? Market house when the sale ia hell Saturday afternoon. May 9.