Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 34, Number 297, 2 September 1909 — Page 2

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PAGE TWO THE RICHMOND PALLADIUM AND SUX-TELLGKAU, THURSDAY. SEPTE3rBEtt 2, 1909.,

BECAME DRUNKARD AND A WANDERER FOR HIS VICTIM

Letter by Rife to Son of His Sweetheart Shown by Defense to Substantiate the Insanity Plea. MANY LOVE LETTERS INTRODUCED TODAY In One Murdered Woman Asks Slayer Not to "Dress Up" Fearing He Would Attract Other Women.

Eaton, Ohio, Sept. 2. Following the Introduction of Rife's testimony to Coroner P. K. O'Hara of Lewisburg, a letter from Mrs. Llda Griswold to Harry Rife, while he was at Lebanon, Ohio, In April, 1908, and testimony by Dr. G. W, Flory and Dr. S. M. Michael, both of this place, the state rested its case this morning in the murder trial of Harry Rife, the Boston, Indiana, i young man who killed Mrs. Lida Griswold in the public library, July 8. The defense Immediately proceeded with its case, by the introduction of letters from Mrs. Griswold to Rife, showing her love for the murderer and also examined a few witnesses. The morning session was productive for the defense and it is believed they have begun to score in the case. Court adjourned at '12 o'clock, until 1:30 this afternoon. Attorney Wilfred Jessup of Richmond, had charge of most of the direct and cross examination. He is thoroughly Investigating every detail of the testimony by witnesses and put them through a severe ordeal. , - Miss Hart on Stand. The first witness for the state this morning was Miss Edith Hart, a stenographer, who took Rife's testimony when given to Coroner O'Hara, following the shooting. - .Rife said la his evidence to the coroner that he had no intention of killing the woman when he visited the library on the, afternoon of July 8. He could not remember of even pulling a gun from his pocket and could not remember the circumstances surrounding the shooting. - Followlhg Miss Hart's dismissal from the witness chair, attorneys for the defense severely arraigned Coroner O'Hara for being over zealous in his examination of Rife. Rife had not been given opportunity to consult counsel when ex- ' amined by O'Hara. " Marshall Harris of Eaton was recalled to the stand and told of going through Rife's effects at the hotel, following his arrest. Harris was also censured by the defendant's attorneys for being over zealous in regard to the matter. Harris told the proprietor of the hotel that he had been given an order by Judge Fisher of the common pleas court, before whom the case is being tried, to search Rife's effects at the hotel. ; However,, it was afterwards shown that Harris had received no such order from the court. A Scorching Letter. I A letter from Mrs. Griswold to Rife dated April 24, 1908, which was delivered to Rife while residing at Lebanon was next introduced by the state. Probably the most Important testimony brought out from the reading of the letter were the following sentences: "I would never marry you at the point of a revolver. There has never been any reason for the horrible scenes through which you and I have passed. Your conduct and your thoughts are unbecoming to your manhood." The gist of the remainder of the letter is that Rife should recover from his nervous condition and con- ' duct himself in . normal manner. Dr. O. W. Flory and Dr. S. M. Michael were the last witnesses called by the state. They. were simply called upon the stand for the purpose of stating that Rife was not Intoxicated nt the time the murder was committed. The states attorneys did not announce to the court that they had rested their case but it is the belief among the court attaches that such is a fact. , Show Eleven Letters.

.The defense immediately assumed the offensive. It introduced eleven letters from Mrs. Griswold to Rife, written during the summer and fall ot 1908. All of the letters were In the nature of the correspondence between two lovers. The defense has fifty-four letters which it will introduce as testimony for Rife, tending to show the intimate relations between him and Mrs. Griswold. Nearly all of these letters are addressed to Rife while he was racing horses at differ- , eat county fairs. Some are addressed to Hagerstown, Ind., Sidney, O., and Lebanon. Ohio. Every letter which has been introduced by the defense up to date begins with "My Dear Harry" or similar salutations. Each of the letters ends with love expressions and all of the letters are merely signed "L." . Jealously Is Shown. - One of the letters, which was written to Rife while he was at Lebanon, Ohio, during the summer of 1908. urged Rife not to rent a certain house . which he referred to in a previous letter to her. ; In another letter. Mrs. Griswold , requested that Rife would j not wear his good clothes because he might excite the admiration of other women. ' .";..: Town marshal Harris was called to the stand by the defense and forced to give the effects of Rife which, he found in a room at the hotel, following the murder, to Mr. Jessup. One of the notes in the note book was reference to a present which he had given

Lieutenant Peary and His Greenland Camp

to Cloyd Griswold, the only child of the murdered woman. A letter was then introduced as testimony by the defense which was written by Rife to Cloyd Griswold. In part it said: I will never be to you what I thought I would be. I love you and your mother. Accept this watch charm and scarf pin which was a Cbristma present to me from your mother. Your mother has made me what I am, a wantderer and a drunkard." L. E. Murray, an electrician of Eaton, was then called to the stands He described the manner in which, Rife was burned and shocked by high voltage last April. The purpose of his testimony was to serve as an opening for the defense's plan of proving tire cause of the defendant's alleged insanity. Court adjourned at this point until this afternoon. A TRASH BOX BLAZE A trash box in the alley back of Schwegman's meat market on South Fifth street, caught fire yesterday afternoon and in the excitement some one telephoned for the fire department. The blaze was easily extinguished, however, before their arrival and they made a quick run for nothing. There was practically no damage. The TeVm "O. K. The term "O. K." does not spring from an easy spelling of "all correct." It is Choctaw. There is in that language a word, "okeh," which means "it is correct," or "I agree or approve." It is often used alone to give assent or approval to a suggestion or proposal. "Okeh" was in common use among whites who had dealings with the Choctaws more than thirty years before the Van Buren campaign. It was a convenient expression where parties understood each other's language Imperfectly and was used to mean, "I understand you and approve of what you say," or "I understand your statement and vouch for Its correctness." Boston Herald. The Gerilla. It was not till 1847 that Dr. Savage, a missionary stationed at the Gabuq, sent the skull of a true gorilla to Sir Richard Owen, together with a detailed description of the animal, which Owen named appropriately gorilla savagel. In 1S51 the first complete skeleton of a gorilla that reached England was presented to the Royal College of Surgeons by Captain Harris, and in 1S38 an entire gorilla, preserved i ui skulls, vtb itvcncu UJ IUC XllllU museum rrom tne uabun. The first living gorilla exhibited In Regent';, park was one supplied by Mr. Cross Liverpool, in 1887. London Answers. III Great Mistake. "It is strange that a man like Mr. Braynes, with so many good ideas as to government, should" command so little attention in public life." "Yes," answered Senator Sorghum. "He is one of the people who figure out how things ought to be instead of finding out how they are going to be and laying his plans accordingly. Washington Star. Writing aad Flirting-. "Writing is like flirting if you can't do it, nobody can leach you, and if you can do it, nobody can stop you." So says the heroine of a contemporary novel, and I aru bound to say that I agree with her. Author of "Isabel Carnaby" in London Mall. Prophetic. First Author Have you sold many copies of your book? Second Author (absently) Wonderful. Over a hundred thousand. First Author When was it Issued? Second Author Next Tuesday. Life. Title and ancestry render a goofi man more illustrious, but an ill on more contemptible. Addison. PALLADIUM WANT ADS. PAY.

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HOLD A TOURNAMENT Richmond Tennis Players Are To Play for City Championship. TO BE A HANDICAP EVENT Members of the Richmond Lawn Tennis association have been notified of a singles handicap tournament which is to be played on the courts at South Twenty-third and A streets commencing September 4. The letter which each member of the association has received is as follows: A singles handicap tournament will be held on the courts of the association Saturday afternoon, September 4, Sunday, September 5 and Monday, September 6, and entries for same should be in the hands of the court committee by not later than 6 o'clock p.. m. Friday, September 3. Suitable handicaps will be given by the court committee according to their best Judgment. It is desired that as many of the members as can do so, enter this tour nament in order to make it a success. An entrance fee of twenty-five cents will be charged to defray expenses. Tennis balls for the tournament will be furnished by the court committee. R. F. FOSTER, C. L. GREEN, T. C. HARRINGTON, Court Committee. ACCEPTS POSITION Prof. Ralph W. Morris, who is visiting his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Elwood Morris of this city, will leave in a few days for "Walla Walla, Wash., where he takes the assistant professorship of English in the Whitman college. Prof. Morris is a graduate of Harvard university and has taught in Tokio, Japan and the Kentucky State university. An Englishman in Philadelphia. "I was in Philadelphia the other day," said au Eugiisbman resident in New York, "and, baiuga little leisure to dispose of and also some curiosity to be satisQed. I took passage on one of those rubberneck vehicles and listened to the pi-efessor in charge. He told us a great lot of things about the town that were quite interesting and unknown La New York, but the most remarkable Information be gave us was about the large statue of the late William Penn at the top of the city hall tower. He said the nose of the - figure was thirteen inches long and If it were an inch shorter the nose would be a footj Most of the sightseers laughed, but why? It seems to me that If Mr. Penn had a foot growing out of bis face it would not only be quite unbecoming, but would really be a misfortune. New York Herald. Housewife Why ddn't yon work? Tramp I'm an honest, man. mum. an I can't find any business that Isn't full of graft. Puck.

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LIKED SOUL MATE: HE WANTS DIVORCE Walter S. Miller Says His Wife Just Married Him for Caprice. HAD A MUNCIE AFFINITY JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP MAN AVERS THAT WHEN SOUL MATE DIED, WIFE KEPT DEATH NOTICE ON THE MANTEL. One of the most peculiar divorce suits which was ever instituted in the Wayne county circuit court was that of Walter S. Miller, a resident of Jefferson township, against Bertha L. Miller. He also asks the custody of their only child, Robert Miller. Abandonment and cruel and inhuman treat ment are the grounds alleged. He also avers his wife went to unusual lengths to impress on him the fact she did not love him. One of the charges made by the plaintiff is that his wife, and her father and mother whose names are not given in the complaint, but who are residents of Henry county, near New Lisbon, entered into a conspiracy to get rid of the plaintiff. On one occa sion, he avers, when he visited his wife's parents home, to see his sick son, his father-in-law picked up a chair and drove him from the place. Liked her Affinity, Miller avers that his wife did not marry him for love. Instead it was some sort of caprice on her part, he says. Her love, according to the complaint was given to Frank H. Stradllng of Muncie. She corresponded with him freely until his death in November, 1907. The notice which she received of his death she placed on the mantle, it is avered, in plain view'of every one. Miller avers that his wife, in order to show the affection which she bore her deceased affinity would often go to the mantel, read the notice and burst into spells of weeping. The marriage of the two occurred at the home of the plaintiff's parents August 22, 1906. They first lived on his father's farm in Jefferson township. His wife soon become dissatisfied, according to the complaint, and in order to appease her, he says he moved to her father's farm near New Lisbon. After the crops were about ready to harvest, in the summer of 1908, he avers that her father told him he would have to leave the farm. In November 1908, while he was working in the field, his wife, took their child and went to New Castle and refused to live and cohabit with him again, it is averred in the complaint. ARE TO CHALLENGE (American News Service) Marblehead, Mass., Sept 2 Vice-admiral Barandon of the Gernavick, who is in this country as the representative of Emperor "William at the International sonder class races, intimated today in an interview that a German challenge for the American cup is a possibility of the not distant future. City Statistics Deaths and Funerals. CLAWSON The funeral of Mrs. Cleo Clawson will take place Friday morning at 9:30 o'clock from the home 507 North 16th street The services will be conducted by the Rev. S. W. Traum. The body will be taken to Windfall for further services and Interment. "Doctor. said the stingy man. who was trying to save a fee. meeting Dr. Sharpe on the street "what do yon think of this? Very frequently I get severe pains la my feet. What's that a sign of? . . I should say that was a sign of laln, replied the doctor. ' -

WEST END FRIEKDS WANT fjtW CHURCH Think Old East Main Street Structure Has Outgrown Usefulness.

VANT. EARLHAM AS A SITE NEW WEST RICHMOND CONGRE GATION WILL ASK THE YEARLY MEETING AT ITS SESSION TO TAKE ACTION. In view of the fact that facilities at East Main Street Friends church are neither ample or perfect to accommodate a Yearly Meeting, nor even small gatherings, the important quest-ion of tearing down the church and building another on Earlham campus will be considered at the Whitewater Quarterly Meeting of Friends, next Saturday. The decision of this body will then be handed down to the Yearly Meeting for its approval or disapproval, when it convenes September 12. At a called meeting of the West Richmond Friends, held this week, the matter was considered and the body determined to ask the Yearly Meeting to co-operate with them and build a church, sufficiently large and with ample accommodations, suitable for the holding of the Yearly Meeting, in Earlham campus. Means Smaller Church. Providing the Yearly Meeting approves of the course, the East Main Street Friends church will be torn down and another structure, but much smaller, erected for the members of this church. It will also mean the platting of the square for residence purposes. One of the members of the West Richmond Friends church said today, that the organization had decided to build a church on Earlham campus in the near future. He said that while no estimate had been made by any architect on the proposed church, the body was willing to invest $25,000 in a meeting house. He said that the body was desirous to have the Yearly Meeting co-operate with the West Richmond Friends and build a new Yearly Meeting house on the campus. A new Yearly Meet ing house will be a necessity in a few years as the present church, at Fifteenth and Main streets, is out of repairs and a large sum will have to be spent in a few yeara In order to restore it to good condition. The pre sent Yearly Meeting house is also undesirably arranged. At the time of its construction, the matter of ar ranging a large auditorium so that a speaker could be heard even in the remotest corner, was not thoroughly understood. HELD AN INSTITUTE To an untrained ear, the talk emanating from the office of C. W. Jordan county superintendent of instruction, this morning, was mere gossip. The cause was the assemblage of school teachers of Boston and Wayne townships, as today Is the date for the first township Institute. Of course, the teachers had not seen one another for several weeks, and then again, there were new faces In the assemblage, and every one spent an hour or more in renewing acquaintances or making new ones. The program which was prepared for today's Institute, was carried out as published re-' cently. Be aur to us Gold Medal Flour. Isabella.

Braech Offices for PalladSiuiinni Waet Ad

TAKE YOUNG CROOKS

Two Boys Arrested Admit They Robbed the Underhiil Store. SPORTED STOLEN GOODS Harvey, known as "Don" Davis, and Charles Settles, both aged 17 years, were arrested this noon and charged with burglarizing the clothing store of Alfred Underhiil on East Main street Saturday night. They have acknowledged their guilt and will be tried In the city court tomorrow afternoon. Their arrest grew out of the fact that Settles was seen on the street all "lit up" in a brand new suit of clothes and a pair of sporty new shoes. An investigation revealed the fact that both of the boys had lots of other clothing hliien away. When arrested Davis confessed at once to the theft, stating that he committed the burglary and ransacked the store while Settles kept watch on the outside to warn him in case a policeman passed. He alleges that he stole about $40 worth of merchandise from the store including two pairs of shoes, threa pairs of leather gloves, a supply of heavy un?rclothlng. an overcoat, a ladies skirt, and several suits of clothing. Practically all of the pilfered articles have been returned to Mr. Underhiil. Settles denied his guilt at first but after a severe "sweating" finally broke down and confessed that he was lmp!icated in the affair. Young Davis was sent to the reform school at Plalnfield about two years ago, but was released last year and is now on parole. Both of the box's denied all knowledge of the robbery at Leo Fihe's. CATCH COLORED BOYS Raymond Bass, the small colored boy, who stole a horse and buggy from his employer, C. J. Ayres, five miles east of Milton, last week, and left it the next day out by the show ground on North Nineteenth street, was found at the Connersville fair yesterday by Mr. Ayres, who Immediately brought the youth to this city and gave him over to the custody of the polic Barn admitted that he had stolen the outfit but stated that he "just wanted to take a ride." He doesn't appear to realise the seriousness of his offense or the fact that he has done anything wrong. It is thought by the police that he was encouraged to steel the horse and rig by some other person and that he did not do it on his own responsibility. What to do with the boy Is a puzzle to Chief Staubach. but he will very probably be bound over to the " Juvenile court, it is said. ' A WALKING ARSENAL George Hanna was arrested yesterday afternoon for Intoxication at the corner of Sixth and Main streets by patrolman Vogelaong. When searched at police headquarters it was found that Hanna was "armed to the teeth" so the charge against him was chanced to carrying concealed weapons. He was convicted in th'clty court this morning li? Acting Judge Freeman and fined $1 and costs. PRAYER MEETING. The midweek prayer meetings will be resumed at the Grace M. E. church this evening at 7:30 o'clock. The public is cordially Invited. PALIADIUM WANT ADS. PAY.

are located in every part of the city. No matter where you live, it is just a few minutes' walk to the nearest AGENCY in your neighborhood . . These little WANT ADS are great business producers. If you have something to sell, it will bring a buyer ; or it may be that you want to buy something you will be sure to find the owner. It is the same if you are in need of help, as a cook or housekeeper, they will always find you what you want. Look over the bargains for each day, perhaps you will find the article you would like to have ....... Look on the WANT AD page for agencies. Then is one IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD V. . ...

WAYIIE COUNTY MAY LOSE SOME INCOME

Appropriation of Farm Lands By Railroad May Decrease the Tax. HARD TO DETERMINE NOW DEFENDANTS IN CONDEMNATION SUITS ALLEGE APPROPRIATION OF PROPERTY WILL REDUCE FARM VALUES. Temporarily, at least, the county will be a loser in respect to tax valuation of land adjacent to the P. C C & St. L. R. R. Company's right of way. which the company desires In order to carry out Its double tracking policy. However, the loss in taxes U not expected to exist more than a year and. eventually, when the company has completed its improvements, the amount of tax paid on the land wiH be the same or more than it was when used for agricultural pursuits. As an example, an acre ot ground appropriated by the company will not bring in the same amount ot tax as it did when under cultivation. Tne reason for this Is that the land Is not as valuable, as It remains Idle. However, one of the county officials in discussing the matter said that as soon as the company had finished Its Improvements, such as placing an additional track, the valuation of the land would be approximately the same. May Decrease Value. . It may result however, because ot the different method of assessing railroad property and farm property, that the valuation will not be as great. Farm property is assessed for tax according to the ability ot an acre of land to produce crops. Railroad property is assessed by the mile. The county assessors have nothing to do with this .the rate being fixed by the state tax board. . v In preparing the valuation of railroad property, the tax board does not value the property, used for second tracks as greatly as first tracks. The two ratings is not known, but will have to be determined when tbe Improvements are completed. Tbe valuation of the present holdings of the railroad company for the 1000 tax collections, as prepared by the tax board at Its meeting last April was 47.000 per mile. ' Whether the farms lying adjacent to the railroad company's right of .way will be decreased In value as a result ot tbe "Chinese Wall to be erected by the company In order to reduce the grade to a minimum, is another way to look at the matter. Beveral attorneys, whose clients have property adjacent to the Pennsylvania's rlgbt of way and have been made defendants In condemnation proceedings. Instituted by tbe company, say that th farms will not he as valuable after the improvement Is made as at present They base their assertions on the fart that their clients farms will be shut off from property across the track and therefore harder of access. ' Notblca te3 tfcs finest materiel is cssd Id the exsnefsctere ol Victor Breed rr in J

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