Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 34, Number 36, 14 December 1908 — Page 1

ONL Y 9 MORE SHOPPING DA YS UNTIL CHRISTMAS. : DO YOUR TRADING NOW

THE BIG MONB PAIXABIUM AND STTNT-TTCTanAM- ; VOL. XXXIV. VO. .J(i. RICII3IOXD, IND., MONDAY EVENING, Ii:CE3irKK 14, 1!K8. SINGLE COPY, 2 CENTS,

WOMAN LEADS TO DETECTION OF BOLD SCHEME FOR JAIL DELIVERY

urnkey Harris loia mat Something Was Crooked And Scheme of Desperate Men Is Foiled. mm mam m m mmm SAWS SECURED AND BARS OF THE JAIL CUT. Alleged Murderer, Forger and Thief, Principals in AffairMen Make Confession of Their Intentions. tTm poor but I try to be honest. I now you've got kny husband in here nd he may have to go to the penitentiary, but if he does I want as much honor left as possible. There are fellows in here who wanted me to bring a package' over and pass it in with my husband's clothes. I believe there is something crooked." It was in this manner that a woman, who is just as she said, "poor but honest" tipped off to Turnkey Ray Harris at the county jail the most desperate attempt at jail delivery that ever has been foiled in this county. The plotters were Sherman Keller, colored, Sherman Wilson, colored and William Woods, white. So determined was the trio upon its success that preparations bad been made to bring bodily Injury or probable murder, to anyone who might attempt to frustrate their conspiracy. The discovery of the progress made by the plotters was brought about by to. game of "bluff" in which the turnkey played the entire bill. After his suspicions had been aroused, his' intuition and things he had observed about the jail, made Harris believe that the three men named were the ones it was most likely the woman meant when she dropped the suggestion. Cajolery played its part prominently and working upon the susceptibility of the three men- individually, the turnkey managed to secure a confession. It was the natural suspicion tone criminal entertains for another bat led to the final divulgance of the 8aws Smuggled. Three steel saws had been smuggled into the jail in a piece of tobacco. With these saws, Friday night Woods, Wilson and Keller worked on the bars ; to the northwest window while the turnkey , was absent to supper. The tars were sawed two thirds of the way through and only a slight pres sure would have been required to break them. The men intended to tnake their escape Saturday night but were foiled by the "poor but honest" tvoman and the fact Harris was on his guard for something of the kind. Prisoners Desperate. The three prisoners involved appear to be desperate. Keller is under inBlctment for murder and his trial was begun this morning. Wilson is chargfcd. with larceny. He is a fugitive from Dhlo and is suspected of murder at Hamilton. Woods was a brakeman on the C. C. & Li. railroad. He 4s helil tor passing fraudulent checks. He is It-anted at Peru, his home city, on four Charges of forgery. It was he who lupplied the money that acted as bribes to released prisoners, who beame Interested in the attempt to tmuggle the saws into the jail. The sheriff and turnkey had been tware for some time that Woods had een receiving money through the iail from relatives at South Bend. tVhat use he was making of the Honey was not known, however, until Ernest Dell, a prisoner charged with greeny proffered the information to fie sheriff that he had better be on is guard. After his release on his Iwn recognizance, Bell told the sheriff e had been given 60 cents by Woods efore being released and had been sked to buy steel saws with the honey. Hooker Buys Tools. Last Friday William Hooker was re used from jail. He was given $5, roods contributing $3 and Wilson id Keller each adding $1. He was old to buy saws with the money. He jougbt the saws and inserted them in plug of "Square Deal" tobacco. He pturned to the jail intending to give ie tobacco to the conspirators, but he turnkey refused to permit him to ee them. Later Hooker gave the toRcco to Frank Mitchell, an epileptic, Rd asked him to give it to Keller, tchell did so. and Friday night the hen began the work of sawing their fay to liberty. Mitchell Confesses. Saturday, Harris called Mitchell to m and asked him what he had rought into the jail for Woods. Mlthell said tobacco and admitted that e plug had contained saws. . He said ke plug had been cut open, the saws Iserted and the halves pressed back gether again. With this information, I arris went to Woods and told him eller and Wilson had confessed to a lot to break jail. He advised Woods tell his story. He told Woods the ther two men had placed all the t.me on him and it was up to him to ar himself. Thereupon Woods asrted that if the other two had rown him down, he would not stand r it. He, told a complete story of Ie affair. With the knowledge gain- , from Woods, Harris went to Keller

A TTEMPT MADE TO WRECK CHICAGO'S COLISEUM

'A ' ' " ' V ly ' ' ' - t . " ' , ,"-( ....'-g;flH7fai 1 I

Chicago, 111., Dec. 14. An attempt to wreck the Coliseum, the building in which the First Ward Democratic Club is to hold its objectionable annual ball tonight, was made last evening by a dynamiter who exploded a bomb at the southeast end of the annex. Two men who were sleeping in a ramshackle structure adjoining the annex, which was used as a junk FEW NEGROES ARE So Says Roosevelt in Special Message Speaking of the Brownsville Incident. WOULD GIVE MEN CHANCE THOSE CLEARING THEMSELVES. OF RESPONSIBILITY SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO RE-ENLIST, SAYS THE EXECUTIVE. Washington, D. C, Dec. 14. President Roosevelt, in a special message to congress today, accompanying a report of the investigation of Herbert J. Browne, into the Brownsville shooting up affair, reiterates his former declaration that the shooting by colored soldiers had been "established beyond a possibility of doubt." He recommended that congress pass a law offering all discharged soldiers the opportunity of re-enlistment if they can clear themselves of responsibility to the satisfaction of the secretary of war. He says the investigation will be continued to separate the "less guilty from those whose guilt was heinous." He believes there were few, if any, innocent. and Wilson and it was not long until they confessed. Both maintained Woods had the saws in his possession. Harris went back to Woods and told him he would ' have to give up the saws. Woods demurred a-nd Harris told him unjess he produced the saws he would be locked in a cell in solitary confinement. Woods accepted the proposition and told the turnkey where the implements could be found. Harris found the saws stuck in the wall of the padded cell. With them was one of the jail towels. One end had been folded and sewed up. It had been the intention of the prisoners to fill, this sack-like affair with sand, a stone, or some other article and use it as a slung shot. With it a strong defense could have been put up if the men had met with any resisteuce when trying to escape. Huntington Knew of Scheme. Earl Huntington, one of the prisoners at the jail had been taken into the confidence of the plotters, but had refused to countenance the scheme. Huntington told the others he is being held only on a minor charge and he did not care to jeopordize his chances for a short sentence by attempting to break jail. , He told the trio, their plan was no doubt known to the sheriff and turnkey and they could not get away with it. He could not dissuade them from their purpose, however. Sheriff Meredith says credit is due the woman. It was she who gave the first intimation anything was wrong. She had been asked to hand a package, which contained saws, through to the prisoners, when she brought a change of clothing to her husband, who is being held pending trial. The sheriff requested that ner name be withheld from publication, so as to spare her any annoyance she and her husband would be subjected to by acquaintances and prisoners at the jail. THE WEATHER PROPHET. INDIANA Increasing cloudiness and warmer Monday night with probable showers. OHIO Fair . and warmer Monday night; Tuesday increasing cloudiness with probable showers.

CENT

shop, are supposed to have been killed. The police and firemen art searching in the debris for the bodies.

Hundreds of windows in buildings on Michigan and Wabash avenue were shattered by the force of the explos ion. Reformers have been waging a fierce campaign against the ball, stat ing it is always a hotbed of immoral ity. DEMENTIA OF The Rev. Wade Shows That Self-Murder Is on Increase y In the United States. STRIKES AT THE SALOONS IN SECOND OF SERIES OF SER MONS ON COUNTY LOCAL OP TION, MINISTER . SHOWS COST TO COUNTY. That the sinner is the worst suicide, and that the policies of government may be suicidal, were conclusions reached last evening by the Rev. R. J Wade of the First M. E. church, in his discourses on "The Crime of Suicide, the Worst Suicide." This was the second sermon on live topics by Rev. Wade in his fight against the saloon and for county local option. He declared last evening that I II11C ClCLLldLli a U1U lilU (lljl I tUll l every suicide to drink, it had been t found in most every instance that (drink had been used by the self-mur derer. He suggested that the real "Dementia Americana" was self destruction. He spoke in part, as fol lows: "The scriptures contain this one com mandment against the taking of life. It is a law equally against murder and self murder." "The subject is particularly applicable because of the mania of suicide which has been sweeping the country. It may be designated truly in some lo calities as the real 'Dementia Americana.' Its greatest danger lies in the fact of its mental suggestion and its contagious properties. A prominent suicide in a community leads to an other and another." The Rev. Wade did not consider suicides of insane or idiotic persons, but only those of re sponsible persons. "Suicide seems to indicate a decay of the vital forces among the nations af fected. We are, therefore, glad to know that the United States does not maintain a ratio of suicides at all com parable with some other countries However, the rate is increasing and su icide is altogether too prevalent in our own fair land. The number of sui cides per 100.000 population is about as follows: Saxony, 49.9; Denmark, 2o.3; Trance, 22.3; Prussia. 20.; Austria, 16.4; England, 10.5; Scotland 5.6; Ireland, 2.4; Germany, 21.; Switzerland. 22.9; Japan, 1&9: Sweden, 15.5; United States, 7.2; Russia, 2.7. "Self murder is cowardly. Self "murder is immoral. Self murder is criminal," he declared. Of the first he stated that "it is an unmanly shrinkfng of our duty;' of the second he said, "because its influence of the invidual or on society is by suggestion. This iaw is at the base of all vice." In Illustrating the point that self murder was criminal, he quoted Blackstone, the eminent jurisL Also other leading attorneys at the bar. In speaking of the economic suicide he said: "They re cowardly, immoral and criminal. Take the liquor traffic, f.or example. Who will deny its destructive tendencies? I do not mean to argue or aftlrm its tendencies to produce poverty and broken health; to induce grief and criminality; to bring to suicide and a drunkard's grave; to take away all manliness and honor from and to deprive of a hope of heaven. These things can not and must not be forgotten. But when a business is vicious and becomes a heavy burden on society, the policies that perpetuate it are certainly nothing abort oC iraidaT,'

AMERICA

SUICIDE

"00 YOU OPPOSE OEAIH PENALTY," ASKS PROSECUTOR

Seven of Twenty-two Men Called as Jurors in Keller Murder Hearing Answer in Affirmative. JURY TO SIT IN THE CASE IS SELECTED State Will Claim Killing of Thornton Was Premeditated and Will Ask Death Penalty. Upon being asked the direct question seven out of ' twenty-two men who were called as jurors in the case of the State vs. Keller, declared in the Wayne circuit court today they are conscientiously opposed to capital punishment, despite all circumstances. After the defense had accepted the regular jury with one exception, the prosecuting attorney asked each juror to answer the following questions: "Dou you have or entertain such scruples of conscience or opinion upon the subject of infliction of the death penalty, as would preclude you sitting as a juror, from finding and returning a verdict of murder in the first degree, and inflicting the death penalty, in case the law and evidence in jour opinion warranted the finding of such verdict of guilty of murder in the first degree against this defendant? "Could you, in case you are selected as a juror in this case, as readily vote to sentence the defendant to death as you could to sentence him to life imprisonment, if you thought the facts warranted such a finding; and in case the law and the evidence in this case warranted a finding of guilty of murder in the first degree, would you, as readily inflict-the death penalty upon the defendant in this case as sentencing him to life imprisonment?" : "Those Opposed." ' To these questions Ed Deitemeyer, George Parry, Willard Williams, Jeremiah Meyers, Glenn Duke, Charles Wilson, and James C. Taylor responded they are unalterably opposed to the death penalty. All of these men were challenged for cause by the state and excused by the court. The members of the Jury picked upon finally, to decide the issues in the case and who declared they do not oppose capital punishment, which in this state, means hanging, are: John Ernsberger, Harry J. Smith, James Jackson, James Ladd, George H. Miller, Charltes Reiser, Elmer Lumpkins, Van S. Ball, William Borton, Emmett Druley, Irvln Anderson and Fred Statts. Jackson, Ladd, Druley and Reiser are the only members of the original jury that were accepted. The state excused Harmon Wolke and the defense excused Francis Clevenger and Francis McMinn. Plotted to Murder? Sherman Keller, colored, is charged with the murder of Ben William Thornton. He shot Thornton on the night of October 1", and a few days later'Thornton died at the hospital. Keller has maintained he shot in self defense. The state will claim the murder was the result of a premeditated plot, planned in cold blood. A large number of witnesses was summoned. The state had ordered a special venire of thirty-five men from which to select the jury. The courtroom was crowded at today's sessions. The selection of the jury occupied the morning and the case was opened by the state at 1:30 o'clock this afternoon. The statement was made by Wilfred Jessup, prosecuting attorney. Will Ask Death Penalty. The state's attorney will ask the jury not only to convict Keller as charged in the indictment, but to impose the death penalty. it is the first time in many years that a Wayne county jury has been asEed its opinion on capital punishment. The state will introduce as mute evidence, the suit of blood-clotted clothes worn by Keller at the time of the shooting, the revolver with three empty cartridge shells that was taken from Keller and the soft hat lost by Keller in his flight following the shooting. The state will try to prove that .Keller was infatuated with Thornton's wife and being unable t separate the couple, intercepted and shot Thornton in his wife's presence, as they were walking on Fort Wayne avenue. Quoting from Girton, he found that "every dollar received in revenue from th liquor traffic costs the government $21." Saloon Expensive to County. "Some of the very mild statistics used here last Sunday night unquestionably proved that for every dollar received in this county in revenue from the liquor traffic, that it cost the county $2.73. I have found that these figures are too low." he declared. Rev. Wade stated that he had learned that the saloons on an average in the county took in $7,11S.3 per annum. If this Is true, in this eounty

jL; OQstfiiw4 on Page Two.),

EYE FOR AN EYE TOOTH FOR TOOTH POLICUUZZLES Republican Declaration Makes Democrats Think Again in Regard to Simon Contest Suit.

THREE DEMOCRATIC SENATORS IN DANGER Democrats Need Their Services and May Keep Silent as They Do Not Need Services Of Simon. (By Special State Correspondent.) Indianapolis, Dec. 14. The democrats are wondering just where they stand on the question of whether or not it will be wise to contest the seat of Edward S. Wickey, the republican who was elected representative from Lake county This is the case wherein it is charged that Wickey was elected over Edward Simon, democrat, by the fraudulent votes of foreigners who were naturalized in lake county a few days before the election when raja. Ellis Searles. they are alleged to have been ineligible to naturalization. Since the republican senators announced after their conference in this city last Thursday that they will follow the "eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth" policy in dealing with the democrats of the house on the matter of contests, the democrats have hardly been able to figure out just what they had better do about it. They have every reason to believe that the republicans mean what they said in reference to this matter and that they are not bluffing. Some of the influential democrats are pointing out to their fellows that if Wickey is unseated and Simon given the seat in the house as representative from Lake county, the republicans of the senate will have the power to unseat as many democratic senators as they please and fill their places with republicans and this is what they fear will be done if the Simon case is pushed to the end. Look to Big Contest. On the other hand the democrats know that if they do not push the Simon case and fail to show up fraud in the Lake county election there will be no hope of their success in contesting the offices of secretary of state, auditor of state, treasurer of state, attorney general and reporter of the supreme court, for which elaborate preparations are being made. They know that if they are able to show that a thousand or more foreigners were naturalized illegally in Lake county and that they had no right to vote they may be able to take these offices away from the republicans, and this is a bait that appeals to the hungry democrats as a bright luminous minnow appeals to a hungry black bass. Scthey hardly know just what to do. The democrats are somewhat at a disadvantage in this matter. Even if

4P- .J.

Works Buncoe Game on Quakers President Kelly, of Earl ham College, Proves Doubtful, and Quaker Convict Gets Nothing in Richmond.

A smooth-tongued individual, giving his name as Harry Harmon, who has been successfully buncoing members of the Friends' church in this section of the county, yesterday made an unsuccessful effort to "flif-flam" President R. L. Kelly of Earlham college, out of some money. The crook employed the "sympathy" plan in his efforts to relieve the college president of his financial surplus. Harmon arrived here yesterday from Cincinnati. In the morning he went to see President Kelly and asked him for funds so that he could go to Chicago where he had a chance to get a job in the Stewart's department of the Great Northern hotel. He said that his mother was a prominent member of the Friends church and that he had just recently completed serving time in a Southern penitentiary. He said that he had formerly taught school in a small Southern town, but had gotten into some trouble and was sent to prls-j on. ! Harmon tearfully told Mr. Kelly that j he wanted to begin , life, over again, j

and that he had been lortunaie SAOu&tyjaAa Jir. Nicholson this mo;

Armed, Two Economy Men Stand Guarded Against Threatened Whitecapping

WETS AND DRYS BATTLE TODAY Preble County Local Option Election Is Being Held. BOTH SIDES CONFIDENT CLAIMED MONEY AND WHISKY HAVE BOTH BEEN USED IN FIGHT TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT SALOONS SHALL GO. Eaton, O., Dec. 14. The balloting at the county local option election held today was not as rapid as had been expected. Both the "drys" and "wets" feel confident of victory. The "drys" have made the most auspicious showing in the campaign, but the "wets" are depending upon a "silent" vote to help them out. It is claimed both money and whiskey have been used in the work of the campaigners In the last few days. The drys are counting upon success for the reason there will be a large country vote. The wets are expecting Eaton and the other towns to vote to retain the saloons. At the present time saloons are operated only in Eaton and West Manchester. At Eaton there are eight saLloons and at West Manchester only one. The temperance element has been putting in a hard canvass". Speakers have been brought from all sections of the state and their argument has been to offset that of the saloonists about higher taxes and men thrown out of employment. The newspapers of the county have been supporting the drys, almost without exception. THIRTY MILLION BED CROSS STAMPS Society Orders That Number Printed. Washington, Dec. 14. Orders for 30,000.000 Christmas stamps, which are being Fold by the National Red Cross society, of which President-elect Taft is president, have been received by the society and this number has been ordered printed. At the headquarters of the society in the war department building, there is an unwonted amount of activity. The officers of the society do not wish to disappoint anybody who desires to help make Christmas time merry by contributing in this way to the fight which the society is waging against the great whitep lague, for which purpose the proceeds of the sale of stamps will be used. they seat Simon in the house in place of Wickey they will not strengthen their position aa far as party strength is concerned. They already have a big majority in the house and also a big majority on joint ballot. So Simon's vote is not needed for any party purpose. The democrats can elect their United States senator without the aid of Simon's vote and they can do anything in the house without him that they can do with him present and voting. And yet they feel that they must show fraud in Lake county on (Continued on Page Two.) to get a good job in Chicago, but that he could not get to that city because he did not have enough money. After hearing this tale of woe President Kelly gave Harmon his dinner and told him to come back at a later hour. After Harmon had gone Mr. Kelly notified Timothy Nicholson about the stranger. Mr. Nicholson called up a prominent Cincinnati Friend who informed him that Harmon was a fraud and had. a few weeks ago, successfully "worked" him with the same story. . When Harmon returned to the Kelly home. President Kelly told Harmon that he had deliberately tried to deceive him. Without contradicting this charge or offering any explanation, Mr. Harmon proceeded to make himself so scarce that the police, who were not informed of the attemmed fraud until after the stranger had vanished, could not locate him. "The newspapers should publish the fact about this Harmon, so that other Friends may be placed on their guard against him. I hope I am not uncharitable when I state that this man should be apprehended and punished,"

Little Town Aroused anc Many Citizens Will Stanc at Back of Landlord anc His Guest.

THREATENING LETTERS IN HANDS OF OFFICIALS S. Skinner, Stopping at Hotel Ordered to Leave Towr Last Week and Landlorc Gets Threatening Notes. Economy, Ind., Dec. 14. This even , ing Nate Parker and 8. Skinner, o! Economy, will stand guard, heavilj armed, in preparation for a threatened attack from a band of whitecappers. Their, fort will be the little hotel conducted by Mr. Parker. "Skinner and myself will be read) for them If they come. We will eact have a shot gun and will take turni standing guard throughout the night," stated Mr. Parker this morning. Last Wednesday Skiuner received as anonymous letter in which he was ordered to leave Economy by Saturday evening. He armed himself and prepared to resist any effort whitecappers might undertake to force him to leavs town, but the threatened attack did not materialize. Friday eveuing Mr. Parker, who is Skinner's landlord, received the following communication: "If you don't want your house rock ed, get shet of S. Skinner in the next three days or your house ""will-be rocked." No names were signed to this communication, whichis now in the bands of Postmaster Spekenhier of ibis city, and will be turned over to posNlflce Inspector Fletcher - when he arrl here tomorrow. Time Limit Expires Tonight. Th time limit extended to Parker expires this evening and he and Skinner fear that some attack will be mad on them. . - "I have no Idea who the men are that have been threatening Mr. Skinner and myself. Mr. Skinner is section boss on the Panhandle and several days ago he let some of bis men go. It may be that some of those he discharged are responsible for the letters," Mr. Parker states. Citizens Wrought Up. The letter received by Skinner last Wednesday etates that unless he leaves Economy within three days be will be "visited by whitecappers." The sole topic of conversation in Economy is the threatened attack Of whitecaps oa Parker and Skinner. Should such aa attack e made this evening a battle will likely be fought as all the friends of the two well known men have assured them they will make an armed resistance against the whitecaps. "I dont think there will be much trouble in finding out who the author of the anonymous letters is," stated Postmaster Spekenhier this morning. "The letters are printed with a lead pencil and were mailed in Economy. A canceled stamp was used on the letter sent to Parker. This is In itself, an offense against the postal regulations. Sending of threatening letter b considered a grave offense." KEVELTTOSEIID A LOIIG MESSAGE Panama Canal Matter Touched Upon in His Letter to Lawmakers. DIRECTED TO A FEW. THE PRESIDENT WOULD PEACH THOSE MEMBERS WHO THINK INVESTIGATION OF CHARGES OF CRAFT SHOULD BE MADE. Washington. D. C, Dee. 14. The government printing office today funrished the president with proof of a voluminous communication, which It is expected Roosevelt will send to congress tomorrow, containing data connected with the Panama purchase from a French company. It Is understood the executive intends it for the benefit of those members who believe investigation should be had of the insinuations made that some American syndicate got a big rake off for negotiating the transao-