Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 34, Number 7, 15 November 1908 — Page 1

e EiCHMoro patxabiijm

A1ST STrNr-TFTRORATVf. VOIi. XXXIV. NO. 7. RICHMOND, IND., SUNDAY MORNING, NO VE3IBEK 15, 1908. SINGLE COPY, 3 CENTS.

WOULD-BE ASSASSIN OF HENEY SUICIDES IN CELL

MORRIS HAAS, SALOONIST AND EX-CONVICT WHO MADE MURDEROUS ASSAULT ON SAN FRANCISCO PROSECUTOR IN COURT ROOM FRIDAY, ENDS LIFE WITH DERRINGER WHICH HE CARRIED IN HIS SHOES IN JAIL

FOUR MEN STOOD NEAR WHEN HE KILLED HIMSELF Man Slipped Beneath Bed Covers and Placed Gun to His Temple, the Report Arousing Officers. REPORTED WIFE SLIPPED GUN TO HER HUSBAND. Later Investigation Disproved This Rumor Great Excitement in Frisco Town Over Sensational Climax. San Francisco, Nov. 14. Morris Haas, the would-be assassin of Francis J.' Heney, killed himself In the county jail at 9:30 , o'clock tonight. He was lying in his cot pretending to be asleep and had pulled the bed clothes over his head. He placed a four barrelled Derringer to his head and fired, killing himself instantly. The police claim they searched Haas several times today and found no weapons. The only person known to have seen him today, other than the police officials and detectives, is his wife. This started the rumor that she had brought the Derringer to him. Subsequent investigation disproved this theory. Haas ended his life while four guards detailed to prevent just such a move, stood within three feet of him. The weapon with which the "would-ha assassin shot himself, he tiad secreted in the top of one of his palter shoes. Since taken into, custody Friday afternoon immediately after his sensational attempt to murder Heney in the courtroom he had been watched by" four detectives. When taken to the county jail Friday afterTinnn ho whs -searcher! hv tho Tinlicft - - - - - - - - . . ... . . Vmf - , - - - authorities and all belongings were 'taken from him. They noticed when Haas retired Friday night he did not take off his shoes. When asked why he kept the : footgear on he replied that he was only going to lie down a few moments as he was too nervous to sleep and would pace up and down his cell. At 8:30 o'clock tonight the prisoner signified to guards that he wished to retire. He had been Interviewed by Chief of Police Biggey and Captain of Detectives James Kelly. Two detectives remained with Haas in his cell and , two stood outside .the grating. me prisoner aivestea nnjseir oi his tipper garments and lay down and covered himself up completely with blankets Tn mlnntps lntor th p-nardq were startled by a muffled report which came from the bed. They threw back the blankets and found the prisoner lying on his back, the smoking Derringer grasped in his right hand and a tiny hole showed he had shot himself In the right temple. The news of the suicide of Haas created great excitement throughout the city tonight. The people were worked up to the highest pitch by the Vinnnnins" nf vcstorilav nnH thoir re reived with the greatest evcitement the sensational climax tonight. HENEY WILL RECOVER. Prosecutions Against Grafters Continue. Will San Francisco, Nov. 14. Francis J. Heney who was shot down in court by Morris Haas, a former convict, has most promising prospects of recovering and continuing the graft prosecutions. Mr. Heney was strong enough today to submit to exray exposures to enable the suroons attending him at I,ane hospital to locate the bullet. Bulletins issued from the bed side Baa fc uuiu lumgui, luijsicmas were agreed he had more than a fighting chance to recover. Heney was conscious ; throughout the day but temporary paralysis of the vocal cords prevented him from talking. Mrs. Heney remains at her husband's bedside and is largely instrumental in A. 1 i 1- . . A . 1- . " f maintaining his cheerfulness. President Roosevelt, in a telegram to Mrs. Heney today said he was express! bly shocked at the news of the assassination but was greatly relieved that Mr. Heney would recover. He asked Mrs. Heney to accept his sympathy adding the infamous character of - the man who fired the shot should increase the determination of ail de-

cent citizens to stamp out the power men of his kind. Rudolph Spreckles received a similar message from President Roosevelt. Chief of Police Biggey and Captain of Detectives Kelly said today that they could find no evidence that the shooting of Heney was the result of a conspiracy. Haas was given a "sweating" today by Chief of Police Biggey, Capt. Duke and Detective Burns. At times Haas was slightly incoherent, but stoutly maintained that he sought only revenge for the injury done his family when he shot Mr. Heney in the court room yesterday. "Why did you shoot Mr. Heney?" Burns asked the prisoner. "For humanity's sake," replied Haas. "I did not do it for my sake. I did it to clear the name of my family. Why did Mr. Heney bring up my prison record after I had been accepted as a juror. Couldn't he have quietly told me that I was not acceptable to the prosecution? Why, Mr. Burns I have a large family. My oldest child is nearly seventeen. How much they have suffered, no one can tell. I cannot bear to go home and see the reproachful looks in the faces oNviy children. I was driven insane. Kvt'.i if I did serve a term in San Quentin, Gov. Watterman pardoned me and restored me to citizenship. I have suffered more than anyone can tell. I don't care what happens to me now. I have taken revenge for a cruel wrong and am satisfied." Prosecutions to Continue. District Attorney Langdon, had a conference with Attorneys Joseph J. Dwyer, Hiram W. Johnson and Matt I. Sullivan and plans were discussed for the resumption of the trial of Abe Ruef for bribery, Monday. Following the conference Mr. Langdon issued a statement in which he said the shooting of Heney would not impede the graft prosecutions. The prosecution intends to push the case vigorously and will resist the effort being made by the defense to have the case dismissed on the ground the shooting has prejudiced it. Believing the tension caused by the shooting of Heney may result in an outbreak at the trial of Ruef, Judge Lawler has taken unusual precautions to preserve order. A platoon of police will-be on hand when the trial is resumed and plain clothes men will be detailed to safeguard the different attorneys present. ' The intention is to have attorneys railed off from the spectators In order to reduce the chances of an outbreak of any kind, to a minimum. Hass' wife was permitted to have an interview with him this afternoon. Heartbrokenly she stated she had no warning of his intention. So far as (Continued on Page Ten.)

Empress of China May Not Recover from Her Illness

It iItJwl

THE EMPRESS. ' Following close upon the announcement of the death of the Emperor of China, another announcement was made that the empress is critically ill and she has but few chances of recovery. The empress for the past ten years has been the real ruler of the Chinese empire, her husband beine a mental and moral imbecile.

CATROW INDICTED FOB MANSLAUGHTER Third Ohio Congressional Candidate's Auto Killed Man.

Dayton, O., Nov. 14. Col. H. G. Catrow, former republican candidate for representative in congress from the Third Ohio district, was today indicted for manslaughter. Col. Catrow ran down and killed a laborer named Eugene Sullivan with bis automobile last July. He withdrew from the race for congress and resigned the cashiership of the First National bank, of Miamisburg in this county. He is a wealthy man and is colonel in the Third Regiment Ohio National Guard. EMPEROR OF CHINA Owing to Difficulty in Securing News First Reports Were Incorrect. DOWAGER EMPRESS IS ILL REAL RULER OF THE CHINESE EMPIRE FOR THE PAST TEN YEARS MAY NOT RECOVER PALACE GUARD TREBLE. Pekin, Nov. 14. Kuang Hsu, emperor of China, age thirty-seven years, died shortly after 5 o'clock this evening. It was reported yesterday and credited by the populace that the emperor had died after he had been removed to the death chamber at 2 o'clock. Palace officials denied the report, but this was attributed to fear that the death of the ruler would cause a disturbance in government affairs. The emperor had been seriously ill for many weeks and had been an invalid for many years. The dowager empress Tsi-An is also said to be fatally ill. She has been the real ruler for ten years the emperor having little or nothing to say in government matters. Kuang Hsu's mind became ffected several months ago as the result of disease which racked his body and his death was expected for several weeks. Palace Guards Trebled. There was a continual procession of officials in and out of the palace today. The palace guards had been trebled. The difficulty of confirming the reports emanating from the palace lies largely in the fact that it is the custom Jf the court to make a secret of imperial death. Ever since yester day the foreign board had been engaged in issuingardent denials of the reported death of the emperor and at 9 o'clock last night it had issued a (Continued on Page Two.)

ID

SATURDAY

SUFFOCATION MOT

CAUSE OF DEATH State's Star Witness in Gunness Case Aids the Defense. DEATH NOT ESTABLISHED. STATE HAS NOT PROVEN THAT -MRS. GUNNESS DOES NOT LIVE WHICH IS ESSENTIAL TO SUCCESSFUL PROECUTION. Laporte, Ind., Nov. 14. Tho most striking testimony in the trial of Ray Lamphere for murdering Mrs. Gunness and her three children by burning tho Gunness house was given here when Dr. H. H long, a state's witness, resumed the stand for cross-examination as to his. findings in the examination of the bodies in which he participated with Drs. Wilcox and Gray. Dr. Long swore that the lungs and other internal organs of the adult woman found in the ruins, as well as those of the children were free from indications that they had died of suffocation. He declared that in cases of suffocation the lungs especially would be filled with spots caused by the inhalation of smoke and that there would be other unmistakable signs of death from such a cause. "In the cases of the four persons whose bodies were found in the ruins of the Gunness house," said Dr. Long. "I was unable to discover, after a careful examination, any evidence that they had died of suffocation, which, had such been the fact, I should have been prepared to find smoke spots plainly evident in the lungs." Defense Scores Again. Immediately upon this statement being made by the witness Attorney Worden for the defensaexcused the witness with a reservation for recrossexamination. Dr. Long's statement, taken in connection with that of Dr. Walter S. Haines of Chicago, who made the analysis of the stomach contests, is re-garded-as a triumph for the defense, since Dr. Haines' poison testimony, showing large quantities of strychnine in the stomachs of the dead, is further corroborated by Dr. Long's testimony that the hands in each case were clenched, as is invariably the case in death from strychnine poisoning. "It is a fact," said Dr. Long "that clenching of the bands is not a characteristic of death by fire, there being quite as much likelihood that in such cases the hands will be relaxed. In cases of death by strychnine, on the contrary, clenching of the fingers is avariable." The most apparent feature of the proceedings so far is the failure of the state to establish its primary fact, the death of Mrs. Belle Gunness, which is essential to the successful prosecution of the charge against Lamphere. Courtroom Packed. The resumption of Dr. Long's crossexamination occurred before a courtroom crowded to the doors, the front rows for several rows back being fill ed with women, scores of farmers' wives and daughters having come in to town to remain during the continuance of the famous case. Among the witnesses to be called today will be Bessie Wallace, the ! young woman to whom Lamphere made his famous boast: ! t "I know enough about Mrs. Gunness i to send her to the penitentiary for life jor hang her, and if she doesn't come I over with the coin I'll burn the house over her head." The strongest point of all for Lamphere's side is that Joseph Maxson. while he was outside very soon after the fire started, was unable to" elicit a sign of life from those in the other part of the house, whereas it is considered unlikely that all the four inmates could by that time have been so overcome as to be unable to make the slightest outcry. The time elapsed before Humphrey, Maxson and the others in the early morning rescue party managed to get a ladder up to the windows is evi- ! dence in the mind's of the defense that the house could not at that time have been very badly burned, and it will be pointed out that though they peered into the windows some considerable time before the floors fell they were unable to distinguish a sign of life. Arguing on these known facts it will be the effort of the defense to prove that the bodies were lying in the cellar on the old mattress, the adult already decapitated and the others dead from poison, before the fire was started, and that the person who fired the (Continued on Page Ten.) THE WEATHER PROPHET. INDIANA Partly cloudy Sunday with probably light snow in north and east portions; not much change . In temperature. OHIO Partly cloudy Sunday with light snow in north and central portions; not much change in iMiipsraturs.

Had Narrow Escape from Death at Hands of Blackmailer

ii yx4! j-'' ' V-,V m - . m fvMV ill & Ami k tyfer i..A.v , u-tg$b if y-t b-9 Ul A-J

MAY PLEAD FOR DEATH PENALTY Prosecutor Will Take This Action If Keller Does Not Plead Guilty. ASSAULT PREMEDITATED. SO THINKS PROSECUTOR AND HE WILL ACT ACCORDINGLY WHITEMAN CASE ALSO DOCKETED FOR MONDAY. Two important criminal cases are scheduled for trial in the Wayne circuit court tomorrow. Sherman Keller, colored, is slated for prosecution on the charge of murder and Valentine Whiteman will face the charge of assault and battery with intent to kill. Keller shot William Thornton, colored, and he died from he wounds a few days later. Whiteman is accused of the crime against his wife. The Whiteman case will not be placed on trial if Keller continues in his determination to have a hearing of his case by the jury. Keller has admitted the shooting of Thornton and it was expected he would enter a plea of not guilty and consent to a finding of guilty by the court. However, he had demanded trial and the jury tomorrow, if be persists iu his intention, will be selected from a special venire. If Keller changes his mind a the last minute, the verdict will be pronounced by the court upon a statement of the facts in the case by the prosecuting attorney. If the case does not come to trial, it is expected the prosecuting attorney will insist upon a sentence of death. There is doubt if a jury of Wayne county men will impose the death penalty. Upon conviction of the crime of murder In the first degree it will be discretionary with the jury to place the punishment at life imprisonment or death. The state's attorney is of the opinion he can convince the jury the murderous assault on Thornton was planned with premeditated malice (Continued on Page Ten.)

"Man from the North" Brings Snow and Chill to Richmond.

Not all the snow that came to Rich mond yesterday was packed on the rear ends of railway and traction cars. Between 6 and 7 o'clock last evening the "Man From the North," pulled off his mitten in this vicinity and scattered enough flakes of the beautiful to cover the ground. Out in the country the bleak hillsides assumed a beautiful appearance out where there was no smoke to spoil the whiteness, but in the downtown district it was different. The soft, black particles that arose from the hundreds of stacks and chimneys that gave vent to the bituminous furnaces, had an easy victory over the unsullied white from the upper regions. At the end of the hour's contest victory was sent to jest with the soot and the spotless white was a murky chocolate In appearance. " The snow that arrived in Richmond last evening was general throughout Illinois, Indiana and Ohio. It. had been, jaxanared somewhere oat west in ,

MRS. L. C. PHIPPS AND CHILD. Last Monday,' while seated in their auto, Mrs. Phlpps, of Denver, Col., was approached by a woman heavily veiled, who demanded $20,000 of her at the cost of her life, she - threatening to blow Mrs. Phlpps and her child Into eternity with, dynamite unless the money was forthcoming. By a clever ruse, Mrs. Phipps led the woman, who was afterwards identified as Mrs. Allen F. Read, into a clever trap, and the woman was arrested and now awaits the charges the state will in the next few days formally file against her. Mrs. . Read is herself wealthy. MORGAN BETTER. New York Postmaster, Shot by Lunatic Will Recover. New York, Xov. 14. Dr. Titus Bull, the physician attending Postmaster Morgan, who was shot on Monday by a lunatic, reports that the postmaster is constantly improving and predicts his ultimate recovery. WARNINGS UNHEEDED. Howard Miller Fined for Hopping on Trains. Howard Miller was fined $1 and costs for attaching himself to a moving train In the city court yesterday afternoon. Complaint had been made to the police that Miller persisted in hopping trains despite the warnings given him by the railroad employes. the region of the Rocky Mountains and two days before was started on its eastern invasion. Unlike the pioneers of the half century ago, it was the pale-face going eastward. And the red man of the west exemplified by the coal heaver of the east this time proved the superior foe. Away down in the sunny southland, where fireplaces are built more for ornament than service fires were lighted yesterday. They were needed, also. Reports from Palestine, Tex., Vicksburg, Miss., and other southern points show low temperatures were recorded. All along the Gulf coast the shivers were common. Mantillas were wrapped tighter about the heads of the Creole beauties and there was a shrug of the dainty shoulders as a breeze bore along from the cruel north. The snow did not fall in sufficient quantities to lay the heavy dust, but if it remains on the ground, the early hours of morning will se an exodus of hundreds of men ormed with gunsj In search of quail and rabbits. '

AGITATION FOR LOCAL OPTION . IS NOT DESIRED Democratic State Chairman Stokes Jackson Denies He Stated He Favored Immediate Repeal of the Law.

'STICK TO PLATFORM" HE TELLS THE EDITORS. Possibility of Law Being Repealed as Some Republican Senators Say the People Desire This Action.

By Ellis Searles. ' Indianapolis, Ind., Nov. 14.AceordIng to Stokes Jackson of Greenfield, democratic state chairman, the democrats are hoping that the local option question will not be agitated until after the legislature meets. Jackson says he expects, of course, that some member of the legislature will ofter a bill to either repeal the county local option law or to amend it. but be thinks there should be no agitation iu advance of the session. Jackson stated his position at a meeting of the executive committee of the Indiana democratic editorial association. He says be was misQuoted at first by a paper that said be told the editors that he was in favor of immediate. repeal of the county local option law. He says he never said anything of the kind. "The editors asked me what I thought they ought to do with the local option question," said Jackson tonight. I told them that I thought there should not be any agitation of the matter, but that if agitation does start and gets to the point where something has to be done the party should stick to the state platform. I told them the party ought to stand squarely on the platform declaration on every point and issue." , There Is every reason to believe that the democrdats will not wait long before starting a movement to repeal or amend the county local option law after the legislature opens its next session. The democrats will have a majority of eighteen in the house and it is said that the house democrats will stand by the party platform declaration In favor of a township aid ward unit for local option. In the senate the republicans will have twenty-seven members and the democrats twenty-three. On a strict party vote, of course, the democrats could not get a bill through the senate to repeal or amend the county option law, but it is known that there are some republican senators who will probably vote with the democrats on the local option matter. In fact there are several republican senators and representatives who do not hesitate to say that the people have shown by their votes that they do 1 not want county option. These members are ready to help the democrats change the law. Just how many there are of such republicans is not now known, but It is believed that democrats can count on a sufficient number to belp them get their bill through. It is well remembered that the principal fight of the campaign was made on the local option issue. The republicans under the lash of Governor Hanly were compelled to stand for a declaration in favor of the "county unit. It is also a matter of history that the republican leaders did not want to put such a plank in their platfrom because they did not believe it would be popular. But Governor Hanly applied the lash. He would either compel the party to accept his view or he would split it wide open. The leaders understood what it would mean to have an open break with the governor, so they chose the county unit in the local option plank as the lesser of the two evils, trusting to the party organization to be able to bring the voters around into line at the election. Disaster followed. Hanly's policy was repudiated, not only by the people at large, but by the republicans themselves. Men like James E. Watson and others who fought again ht putting the county option plank in the platfrom went down to defeat under the weight of the disapproval of the Hanly policy. Hanly was discredited at the election, but he merely smiled. The candidates who were defated bf their own party In order to take a slap at Hanly had to suffer the consequences of his bull headed folly. It is not much wonder, then, that there is a wide-spread feeling among Republicans that the county option law should be changed or repealed. The people showed by a decisive majority of 14.000 for Marshall and by electing a Democratic legislature that they didn't approve of jthe Hanly system. If the people do not want this kind of a law, these Republicans say, they should not be burdened with It. So itwill not be surprising at all if the Democrats get the support of a sufficient number of Republicans in the Senate to wipe out the county option law. If they do they must then pass a bill granting local option to (Continued on Page Ten.) ;

at