Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 33, Number 94, 19 May 1908 — Page 1

ABIUM AND SUN-TELEGRAM. VOL. XXXIII. NO. 94. RICHMOND, IND., TUESDAY EVENING, 3IAV 10. 1!M)S. SINGLE COPY, 2 CENTS.

THE RICHMOKJD

ATTEMPT MADE TO BRIBE MEMBER OE CITY COUNCIL filCHARD S. STORRS, PRESIDENT OF THE LIGHT, HEAT AND POWER COMPANY, APPROACHES MATT VON PEIN BY LETTER AND THROUGH HIS REPRESENTATIVE, MANAGER LANE, WITH OFFER.

VON PEIN REFUSES TO CONSIDER AN! PROPOSITION MADE When Confronted With the Evidence in Council, Light, Heat and Power Representatives Tell of the Case. PUBLIC SYMPATHY IS WITH MUNICIPAL PLANT. This Was Shown by the Cheers From Interested Spectators During the Warm Discussion of Situation. THE LIE IS PASSED. AT SEVERAL DIFFERENT TIMES THE MEN IN THE HEAT OF ARGUMENT TELL OTHERS THEY ARE SPEAKING IN UNTRUTHS. PARRY'S EXPLANATION. Says That the Reason Municipal Books Have Not Been Opened Is That Figures Shown Thereon Would Be Distorted by Opposition. At the conclusion of the council meeting last evening after K. E. Witherby, general manager of the corporation controlling the Richmond Light, Heat & Power company, had attempted to offer arguments why the city plant should be sold to its competitor land his statements had been heard restlessly, and with frequent interruptions by an extremely hostile audience, B. B. Johnson of the board of public works exploded a bomb by heatedly charging that Richard S. Storrs of New York, president of the Richmond Light, Heat Ac Power Co., had, In, conducting the campaign to secure control of the local municipal plant, attempted to bribe Matt Von ;Peln, councilraau-at-large, by offering Ihim stock in the Light, Heat & Power ; company, a place on its directory board and other inducements. This statement caused the most profound astonishment and excitement, especially when Mr. Von Pein substantiated the statement made by Mr. jjohnson and produced a letter written to him by Mr. Storr9 January 9, 1907, )ln which tempting inducements were (made to htm. An explanation for this action was demanded of Mr. Witherby. He stated hat stock had been offered to Mr. Von Iein and that it had been desired to make him one of the local representatives of the company. These offers, lie said, had been made by Frank Lane, local manager of the company, vhen he first came to Richmond. He raid that at the time Mr. Lane had submitted his proposition to Mr. Von Pein he did not know that Mr. Von Pein was a city official. Mr. Witherby, with, a laugh, called upon Mr. Lane to make, an explanation of the affair. Lane Explains. Mr. Lane in an atmosphere which lairly crackled with hostility, made his statement. He said that when he came here the company informed him that it would be a wise plan to secure pome local representatives of the company. Mr. Von Pein was recommended to him and ho asked Mr. Storrs to write to him. Mr. Lane said that he called upon Mr. Von rein and submitted the proposition to him. He said that Mr. Von Pein declined to consider it and the matter was then dropped. Mr. Lane indignantly denied that he knew Mr. Von Pein was a member of the city council and on the franchise committee. At the conclusion of this statement a number of questions were asked Mr. Lane and he was forced to retire under a heavy fire. Don't Want Councilmen. Mr. Witherby laughingly jumped into the breach at this juncture and Fcouted the charges that his company fcad attempted to bribe Mr. Von Pein. He said that Mr. Von Pein was the last person his company would ever endeavor to bribe. He said that when It was learned that Mr. Von Pein was oouncilman no further propositions

were made to him. "We would not want a councilman on our board of directors." said Mr. Witherby. When he made this remark, Mr. Von Pein excitedly jumped to his feet and said, "That statement just made by Mr. Witherby refreshens my memory and I recall the fact that when Mr. l ne. called upon mc and made me the offer of stock and a place on the board of directors of his company. I told him that I was a councilman. Ho then renewed his offers and said that no one need know that I was connected with the Light. Heat & Power Co." Are "Not For Sale." Continuing Mr. Von Pein stated that he did not believe there was one member of the city council who "was for sale." He said that the Light, Heat & Power company h;id besides attempting to induce him to accept stock and take a place on the board of directors, offered to give him a trip to Xew York and "to make things nice and pleasant" for him. Mr. Von Pein explained

his long silence in regards to the alleged bribe offered him, by stating that ho (lid not want to make it public because of the notoriety it. would bring him. He thought it would be beat to rfwait developments. Mr. Von Prtn then gave the letter he had received from Mr. Storrs to Clerk Merrill who read it. The letter is as follows: New York, Janpary 9, 1907. Mr. M. Von Pein. Richmond. Ind. Dear Sir: The Richmond Light, Heat & Power company is desirous of having some good local man on its board of directors. Your name has been given me, and you have been nominated to a place on the board of directors. We shall deem it a privilege to elect you to that office at the annual meeting next Wednesday, and I have asked Mr. Lane to-call on you with this in view. We should be very glad to have you associated with us and believe that the association will be mutually agreeable. Every effort is being made to develop there a company that shall be a pride to the city and that in point of satisfaction, and service rendered will be a credit to all those connected with it. Were it possible I should be glad to call upon you and convey this invitation in person but unfortunately I am unable to visit Richmond at the present time. Anticipating the pleasure of meeting you on my next visit I beg to remain. Yours very truly, RICHARD S. STORRS. President of the Light, Heat & Power company. At the conclusion of the reading of this letter, 13. 13. Johnson took the floor and stated that he thought if Mr. Storrs was a resident of this state it would be the duty of the prosecuting attorney to bring an indictment against him, charging him with bribery. This remark was greeted with loud cheers. Large Crowd in Chamber. The report that Mr. Witherby would address council last evening served to attract the largest crowd that has assembled in the council chamber for months. From the attitude of those present it appears that the proposition to sell the municipal plant, now being agitated by the Light. Heat & Power company, does not meet with the approval of the citizens, the city council or the members of the city administration. Lie Is Passed. As Mr. Witherby advanced his arguments for the sale of the municipal plant he was constantly .interrupted by bombardments of questions, hoots and growls of disapproval. City Conroller Parry passed the lie to him and Mr. Witherby parsed the lie to Mr. Johnson. Mr. Witherby began his address by stating that his remarks were a continuation of the ones he had made the last time he appeared before council. He repeated his assertion that last year the city plant had lost f271.S7 instead of making money as the controller's report showed. He then stated that the Light, Heat & Power company was not making a last, despairing effort to acquire the municipal plant or go out of business.-" He said that his company was here to stay. An Open Proposition. i Councilman Englebert then asked ; Mr. Witherby if he thought he could ; operate his plant after its franchise ; had expired. Mr. Witherby stated i that as this franchise did not expire for eleven years and eight months, he was not giving that matter any consideration. Mr. Witherby stated that at ihe time the municipal plant was established he thought the city was justified in taking this action as the old j Light, Heat & Power company had been treating the consumers in a j shameful manner. He said that the j Light, Heat & Power company was i now being conducted on an honest, upj right basis and that its proposition to ' purchase the municipal plant was open ' and above board. He stated that in ! la short, time Indiana would have a .(.Continued on Page Four.)

PROHIBITIONISTS ARE IN CONVENTION TODAY

Sumner Haynes May Be Named for Governor. Indianapolis. Ind., May 10. The state prohibition convention opened today with a large attendance. Sumner Haynes of Jay county is regarded as the probable nominee for governor. The nominations occur Wednesday. BRAINSTORM IS ZASTERA'S PLEA Quadruple Murderer Taken to Scene of Crime. Freehold. N. J., May 10. - Frank Zastera. the quadruple murderer pleads that he suffered from a brainstorm when he killed Sheppard family. He was taken to the Sheppard farm, but failed to locate any buried money. CHICAGO CORN PIT Patton Forces the Price to Seventy-nine. Chicago, III., May tf. Pandemonium reigned in the corn pit. James Patton with a corner on May corn, forced the price to sevent y-nine cents, and Armour and other shorts are losers of tremendous sums. WOMAN CAUSES Father Objected to Son's Choice and Is Murdered. New York, May ID. George Sterry, a wholesale drug importer was shot and killed today by his son James, in his office. The son then committed suicide by shooting. The tragedy was the result of a long standing dispute over a woman the son wanted to marry. COFFEE KING IS ED IN EAST Died at Victoria Hotel, - York Today. New New York. May 19. Senor Eduard Dekeraso, the coffee king of South America, a millionaire, died of poison, at the Victoria hotel. His wife is in a critical condition from the same cause. It is believed a druggist sold poison in mistake for a tonic. The druggist is missing. The coffee king and his party were enroute to Europe for their health. NO TARIFF REVISION BT PRESENT CONGRESS Ways and Means Committee Files Notice. Washington, D. C. May If. The republican leaders in the house, through a majority of the committee on Ways and Means has served final notice of "no tariff revision at this session." Representative Champ Clark of Missouri, moved a favorable report on eighty-odd tariff reductions and tariff removal bills, mostly introduced during the session by democratic members. The motion was defeated by a solid vote of all the republican members of the committee. TO BRING HUSBAND HOME. Mrs. William Hollopoter went to Indianapolis this morning to accompany her husband home. Mr. Hollopeter has been confined for about five weeks in the Deaconess Hospital of that place. He is recovering nicely. GIVEN MORE TIME. Council granted the committee on claims additional time to submit its report on the claim of W. F. Charters for fees on the collection of omitted taxes. THE WEATHER PROPHET. INDIANA warmer Tuesday night; Wednesday fair; fresh north-west winds. OHIO Scattered showers Tuesday night; Wednesday fair", fresh west to southwest winds; possibly thunder squalls Tuesday night.

W

YORK

TRAGEDY

CLEVELAND IS WORSE

Consultation of Physicians Leads to This Opinion. NO OFFICIAL STATEMENT. tation was held by Drs. Bryant and Liockwood this morning which led to the belief that ex-President Grover Cleveland's illness has taken a turn for the worse. No official statement is obtainable. BE SECOND J TICKET Thought That the Indiana Man Will Be Honored Again This Year. ROOSEVELT IS DISPLEASED. DOES NOT LIKE THE SELECTION OF BURROWS AS TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN AS HE WANTED SENATOR BEVERIDGE OF INDIANA. Washington, May lO. A movement of large proportions, having for its object the nomination of Mr. Fairbanks for second place on the national ticket, is on foot. It must not be inferred that the presidential candidacy of Indiana's favorite son is "off." lie has the liveliest presidential boom of all the allies, and the opening of Fairbanks headquarters at Chicago, with Joseph B. Kealing" in charge, has added confirmation to an already general impression that there is more substance to the Fairbanks presidential boom than to that of any other man mentioned, aside from Roosevelt and Taft. At this time It appears to he a safe prediction that the Chicago convention next month will nominate Fairbanks either for president or vice-president. If by any chance the convention should stampede to Roosevelt, the cry of 'The old ticket." will be overpowering, and Mr. Fairbanks will be nominated for second place without a shadow of opposition. Within the delegates chosen there is a growing impression, however, that "the horse's eyes are set" in favor of Secretary Taft for the presidential nomination. If it should turn out that Taft has the nomination for president clinched, Indiana is likely to be called upon to yield her most prominent republican to complete the ticket. Therefore, the politicians in the bis national puddle are beginning to take it for granted that Indiana will in any event have representation on the national ticket. Roosevelt Is Displeased. President Roosevelt is decidedly displeased over the selections for the temporary convention officers Senator Burrows for temporary chairman and John R. Malloy of Ohio for temporary secretary. On all sides these appointments are construed as a slap at the president. There was talk today that. the president may decide to test his strength in the naiional convention by having a motion made to reject these temporary officers and elect Senator Beveridge temporary chairman instead, but this report lacked official confirmation. Neither Secretary Taft nor his campaign managers have any criticism to offer of the selection of Burrows. It is known to be in no wise prejudicial to Secretary Taft's candidacy. At the same, time it shows, a decided turning away from President Roosevelt and has already resulted in a sharp revival of the Roosevelt third-term talk. TRIAL IS POSTPONED Dr. J. M. Bulla Will Not Have To Answer Charges Until June 15th. UHLY CASEJS NOT SET. In order to accommodate witnesses who could not be present on June lo, the date set for the trial of Dr. Joseph M. Bulla, charged with attempting to procure a miscarriage, Judge Fox of the Wayne Circuit court has continued the case until June 15. Prosecutor Jessup asked an earlier date, but the crowded condition of the court docket prevented the court complying with the request. Judge Fox announced that unless the attorneys appeared and showed cause there will be no further continuance of the case. The counsel for the defense expressed a willingness to try the case at the date set. The case of the state vs. Adolph Uhly. chargel with being an accessory has not been set for trial. The bond given by Uhly is holden to the October term of the circuit court and it is proba"ble his case will not be tried until alter Lb April term, begins.

FAIRBANKS

MAY

CELEBRATED MAS By KILLIi FOUR Carnival of Death at the Gunness Home Near La-porte.

THE GRAND JURY TRIAL. MUCH TESTIMONY OF VALUE TO THE STATE'S CASE AGAINST LAMPHERE IS BEING SUBMITTED DURING THE SESSIONS. Laporte. Ind.. May 19 Developments in the Gunness case last night indicate that Mrs. Belle Gur.ness celebrated Christmas, 190fi. by killing four people erhaps on the same night and burying them in the same grave. This startling theory was advanced last night following an autopsy made of two unidentified skeletons by Drs. George R. Osborn and F. T. Wilcox, who showed positively that one of the skeletons hitherto thought to be that of a man is that of a woman. It came from the grave in which four bodies, including that of Jennie Olsen, were found. All of the four dismembered bodies were in the same stage, of nonpreservation, and, coupling the story of Emil Greening, a former hired man, now living in Oklahoma City, Okla., and the known facts about the disappearance of .lohn O. Moe. it appears that .lennie Olsen. ZVtoo and a. musical professor and his wife wore all murdered at Christmas time, lOOt?. The last seen of Moe was Christmas 19flf', which he spent at the dimness farm, where it is practically certain that he was murdered. Jennie Olson's disappearance "with a professor and his wife, who were going to take her to California," according to Mrs. Gunness, has been placed at the same time, the exact date being uncertain. Man in Woman's Clothes. Greening. ' in statements made in Oklahoma City, has stated that a man and a woman, whose voice sounded like a man's, and who he suspected was a man dressed in woman's clothing, were at the Ounness house the last night he saw Jennie Olsen alive. Greening was told to sleep in the barn that night and the next day he was told that Jennie had gone with the strangers. It is known that Mrs. Ounness prepared for this slaughter weeks ahead. The grave in which the four bodies were found was dug two months ahead by P.rjiski, a Polish laborer who did odd jobs for Mrs. Gunness. The preceding October Mrs. Ounness was making a girl's dresses, and when asked by one of the neighbors what she was doing, said that the dresses were for Jennie Olsen, who was going away to school. It may be presumed from the shreds of evidence now in the possession of County Prosecutor Smith that Mrs. Gunness had plotted to kill three persons on this occasion the so-called professor, his wife, and Jennie Olsen but Moe, with his $14,500. arrived in af;wer to Mrs. Gunness' matrimonial advertisement just in time to join the party and to be killed and buried with the others. Men who uncovered this large grave with the four corpses say that each body had been butchered and disarticulated in the same manner. Before the Grand Jury. The following witnesses appeared to testify before the grand jury in Lamphere's case yesterday: Mrs. Elizabeth Smith. David Havens, Eli Hoover, Peter Garrison, John Wheatbrook. John Ross, W. P. Humphrey tha Schultz. Frank Warwick. BerMrs. Nina Shoemaker and Mrs. William Flynn. "Negro" Lizzie Smith was brought in by the sheriff's officers. She was in a rage, and quarreled with the deputy at the door of the grand jury room. Finally, when after an hour she had rot been called, she left the place, declaring she would not come back. She is counted upon to testify as to the precise time that Iamphere left her house the morning of the Gunness fire. Her statement that Lamphere did not get up that morning until 4: M0 has been contradicted by Lamphere himsf and several other witnesses. David Havens, who was supposed by the counsel for Lamphere to have been ordered out of town by Sheriff Smutzer. was on hand to testify, having been brought from Galion, Mich. Havens and Peter Garrison were the men who uncovered the first bodies in the cemetery of Mrs. Gunness. They described to the jury the positions in which the corpses lay. Eli Hoover, John Westbrook, John Ross and Jacob Warwick described the movements of Lamphere just after the Gunness fire. Hoover saw a man coming from the direction of the Gunness place, skulking along near the woods, then running as if frightened. Hoover did not recognize the man, but the other witness took up his story and showed that the person who was hurrying away across lots was Lamphere. Another of the witnesses, W. P. Humphrey, was there early at the Gunness fire. He climbed a ladder and looked (Continued on Page Two.) The Telephone is a

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HE FEARED EXPOSURE

McGaughey, Marion County Commissioner, Suicides This Morning. TWO ASSOCIATES INDICTED. Indianapolis. Ind.. May 10 John McGaughey. aged to. a former member of the board of county commissioners shot and killed himself at six o'clock this morning. Two of bis associates on the board have been indicted for accepting bribes in the county boiler ileal. McGaughey was not indicted, but he worried considerably over pending investigations. He was a republican. K0K0M0 ENTERTAINS CIVIL WAR VETERANS City Is Decorated in Gala Attire and Warm Welcome Is Accorded. CAMPFIRE WEDNESDAY. SONS OF VETERANS WILL PARTICIPATE IN THIS EVENT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY OF ANNUAL. ENCAMPMENT. Kokomo, Ind., May lf. With fair weather Kokomo will entertain the largest state encampment of the tl. A. It. within the history of that organization. The occasion is the twentyninth annual oiK-anipment of Indiana veterans of the civil war and tho twenty-fifth annual convention of the department Women's Relief Corps. It is the common remark of the soldier visitors that they never saw more beautiful decorations upon such an occasion than are seen in Kokomo. Last night the court house tower, interwoven and entwined with varicolored electric lights was the brightest point in the decorative scheme and formed the crownln? fpatnm of tho numerous arches which bend over the leading thoroughfares. Decorations Withstand Elements. The heavy rain and high winds of this morning put to the test the elaborate decorations which festoon every public building, business house and scores of private residences. Hut they stood the test and the damage done, was insignificant. Bands parade the crowded streets and tlie spirit of the :rala occasion was fully evident. With the early hours today came the attendants upon the encampment from over the state. They were met at trains and interurban cars by the reception committee, while eighteen brass bands assisted in the glad welcome. The department train, starting from Indianapolis, arrived in Kokomo at noon, and its arrival was tlie scene of the greatest enthusiasm. Gen. Wilson and his entire staff arrived from Indianapolis today. The Sons of Veterans will participate in the camp fire of the G. A. R. Wednesday night, an unprecedented honor. A. C. Rvefingham of Terre Haute, chairman of the greetings committee, will be a principal speaker. The subject of the perpetuation of the fi. A. R. through the Sons of Veterans and of the latter order carrying forward Decoration day. as at Wabash, will be leading topics for speech and discussion. The great crowd is expected Wednesday, the day of the parade. Hundreds from cities within easy distance of Kokomo will enter and leave each day of the encampment. It is expected that the number of guests from more remote parts of the state will be not less than 4.0". Determined war is beinsr mafi k,. ! the police upon grafters and confi. dence men. There are thirty special police besid detectives. REAR ADMIRAL IS NEAR DEATH'S 000R Crowninshieid in Philadelphia Hospital. .Philadelphia. Penn., May 19 Rear Admiral Schuyler Crowninshieid. who was operated upon for polypus of the nose in the Episcopal Hospital, is dying. It -was stated this afternoon that while the operation was apparently successful, a complication of diseases from which he has suffered for many years, hindered his chances for recovery and that his condition took a serious turn for the worse today. His wife has been with him since he went to the Institution. Willing servant to bring

GOVERKMENT SEEKS 10 DISSOLVE THE TOBACCO TRUST

Proceedings Begun Today Which May Work Disaster With the Great $500,000,000 Combine. TRUST IS CONTROLLED BY EIGHT MEN OR ESTATES. Combination Has Secured a Monopoly on the Tobacco Business of Two Continents And Great Britain. New York. May 13. ProceelHg which may result in t:ie entire dissolution of the $500,000,000 combine which practically controls the tobacco business of the country wore commenced today in the United States circuit court. The case of the Government against the American Tnbacco company is set for hearing today, and while the brilliant legal talent employed by the "trust" may be able to ward off the blow for a time, it is alleged that sufficient evidence has been procured to bring about the forcible dissolution of the combine bv the federal povornnifnl, acting under the Sherman anti-trust law. In addition to tho American Tobacco company, the government suit names as defendants more than sixty allied and subsidiary companies', and about twenty individuals connected therewith. Among the concerns affected are the American Ciar company, tho United. Cigar Stores company, the American Licorice company. The American Tobacco company was incorporated Oct. 19, 1004, in New Jersey, as a consolidation of the American Tobacco company, the Consolidated Tobacco company and the Continental Tobacco company. It has J40,0un.ofto common siock and S7S.70O,000 preferred stock. The preferred stock has no Toting power, that being solely vested in the common stock, which is limited to 6 per cent earning power. According to a statement by Special Prosecutor McReynolds, the evidence gathered by the government shows that the American Tobacco company, with its $274,000,000 of assets, and the subsidiary companies with their $100.O00.000 of assets, together with the British-American Tobacco company, with its $100,000,000 of assets making nearly $500,000,000 in all are controlled by eight men or estates. These eight men. or estates, by a characteristic exercise of "high, finance" control the whole $.VK.ot.OOO combine through their ownership of a majority of the f 4O.0od.0ijo of common stock of the American Tobacco company, the parent concern. To do this they need hold but $21,ooo.om of the stock. These eight men or estates are Jatne- n. Duke. Thomas F. Ryan, Anthonj nJL -". Brady, Benjamin N. Duke, l." er H. Payne; the estate of the Col. late W illiam L. Elkins. of Philadelphia; Feter A. B. Widner. of Philadeldelphia. and the estate of William C. Whitney. Ryan owns V).otrf f hares of the common stock and draws an income of nearly ?'-'"' a day, or jsim, a year, from his trust holdings. Col. Payne owns r.J.noo hhareB. the Elkins estate owns lo.ooo shares. President j Duke holds l.'.ono shares and George Arents of this city, one of the original organizers, holds l;j.om shares. The trust has been doing, until the recent slump, a tremendously profitable business, paying as high as 22 per cent dividends. The dividends on the preferred arenot limited in amount. The trust Is controlled by the Ryan Syndicate, which first organized the Union Tobacco company. and then clubbed the American Tobacco company into absorbing them at a fancy price, after which the Ryan crowd proceeded to snatch the reins from those whom they found in power. The executive brains of the trust Is President Duke, who began life in th South without means. The financial brain of th combine, since W. C. Whitney's death, ha been Thomas F. Ryan. The tobacco trust has a practical monopoly of the cigar, cigarette, licorice, cheroot and chewing and smoking trade in North and South America and Great Britain. WIFE OF THE REV. RUSSELL EXPIRED Died at Her Home on North G Street. ilrs. Irene Russell, wife of the Rer. Russell, pastor of the North G street Baptist church died last evening at her home 1425 North G street. She was 36 years old. She is survived by her hubband and one son. During her residence in this city Mrs, Russell has gained a number of friends. She was an able assistant to her husband in his church labors. The funeral aaEouncfement ha not been.-ma do,"