Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 35, Number 72, 19 January 1910 — Page 1

HICHMOMD PALLAB NI SUN-TELEGRAM. VOL. XXXV. NO. 72. RICHMOND, IND., WEDNESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 19, 1910. SINGLE COPY, 9 CENTS.

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HARRY RIFE ATONES FOR THE OF MRS. GRISWOLD BY

Former Boston, Indiana, Young Man, This Morning, Shortly After the Bells Tolled Midnight, Entered the Execution Room at the Ohio Penitentiary, Columbus, and Calmly Sat in the Electric Chair, Said a Few Words of Farewell In an Unemotional Manner, Then Pays Penalty.

HE SAYS VICTIM : WAS RESPONSIBLE FOB THE MURDER Executed Man Says' Before His Electrocution That He Was Aggravated to the Crime He Committed. ACCEPTS THE CHURCH PRIOR TO EXECUTION Rife Was First Man to Be Electrocuted on Date Set By the Trial Judge Rev. Ryan Breaks Down.

Columbus, O., Jan. 19. Harry Rife, the Eaton murderer, who killed his sweetheart, Mrs. Lida Gilmore- Grin wold, in the Eaton public library on the night of July 8, 1900, died in the electric hair in the OMi penitentiary at 12:08 this morning. After Blnglng a few of his favorite songs in tin Annex with Chaplain Richards and the other condemned men, Rife was led Into the death ..: , chamber at five minutes after midnight by Deputy Wardei Zuber and two guards. He was at once placed In the chair and strapped. Place the Black Mask. When the black mask was placed over bis face by Warden Jones and Prison Physician J. W. Clark, the condemned murderer was asked if the straps were too tight: He replied that they were, and the straps were slightly loosened. ' "Harry Rife, have' you any last statement to make before you iay the penalty, for the crime . which you committed,' asked Warden Jones. "I only want to thank you, Warden Jones, for your kind and thoughtful treatment of me while I have been confined here, and I also want to thank the guards for" replied Rife, as his voice sank to a whisper and his words

became indistinct Who Threw the Switch? Who threw the switch may never be known, as the controlling lever was screened from the gaze of the onlook- . ers. That the electrocution was successful was evidenced by Rife's hands, which never moved when the current passed through his body. The shock was of one minute duration. The current was turned on at 1730 volts for ten seconds and then was reduced to 500 volts for forty seconds, after which it was again turned on at 1750 volts. At twelve minutes past midnight Chief Physician Clark addressed Warden Jones. "Harry Rife is dead," he said. Judge Davis of Eaton, the Rev. Daniel Ryan, of Hymer, Ind., and Representative D. P. Haggerty, were the official witnesses selected by the condemned man yesterday afternoon. He Averted H is Eyes. The Rev. Mr. Ryan although in the death chamber, averted his eyes during the electrocution. "Death penalty is excessive," said Rife to Chaplain Richards just before he was led into the death chamber. ' "I was aggravated to the crime by the woman whom I killed.The only relative to see the condemned man before the hour of execution. was the Rev. Mr. Ryan. He spent several hours in the Annex and when he left he was crying bitterly. Rife had placed his life in the hands of hia uncle, whom he believed could secure a pardon for him, or a stay of execution at least. The Rev. Mr. Ryan is the national chaplain of the G. A. R. Received Into Church. Rife was-received into the fellowship of the Methodist church by his uncle. "I will at least leave this world a Christian," Rife exclaimed to the Annex guard during the afternoon. Rife did not break down before he entered the death . chamber and did not make any last statement to Chap- ' lain Richards. ' During the evening the chaplain was In the prison Annex with Rife and the Rev. Ryan, Songs were sung. In which the other condemned men took part, and Chaplain Richards led In the final prayer. The electrocution of Rife is . the first in years, taking place on the date originally set by the trial judge. Governor . Harmon Monday refused to

HIS LIFE THE PENALTY FOR SLAYING A WOMAN

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HARRY RIFE. MRS. RIFE BEARS IIP VERY BRAVELY With the Greatest Fortitude She Prepares to Receive Her Son's Body. SUFFERS GREATEST AGONY BODY OF EXECUTED MAN ARRIVED HERE THIS AFTERNOON FROM COLUMBUS FUNERAL TO BE HELD, FRIDAY. Haggard and worn from the effects of her intense mental anguish, but bearing up gallantly under the terrible torment she was called upon to bear, Mrs. Mary Rife of Boston. Ind., mother of Harry Rife, electrocuted at midnight at the Ohio penitentiary, today prepared to receive the body of her son, which was shipped from Columbus this forenoon. "Mrs. Rife spent a sleepless night," said one of her intimate friends to a Palladium reporter this morning, "but she has borne up bravely. She has been in ill health for some time and It was thought the execution of her son might bring about a nervous collapse, consequently ' her remarkable fortitude has surprised all - of her friends. I expect there are but very few people . who are called upon to suffer such 7 agony as Mrs. Rife experienced last night a mother's knowledge that her son was to be put to death and that she could not be at his side for a last farewell and to give him words of cheer. Oh, it is awful. ' Receives a Last Letter. "Mrs. Rife received a last letter from Harry, bu I do not know its contents. In previous letters she jad received from him he wrote to her once a week while confined in the penitentiary he had told her, and he also told friends who had visited him at the prison, that, personally, he preferred death to life- Imprisonment, but that if It would be any consolation to his mother for him to live the remainder of his life as a convict, he would do so, providing his sentence was commuted. The calm manner in which he received the news that Governor Harmon had refused the petitions of his relatives shows to my mind that the information was not unwelcome to him. "Mrs. Rife has told me that she thought the death penalty was excessive In the case of her son. She did not uphold him In his crime and recognised the fact that he should be punished for It but she did not think the punishment Inflicted fitted the crime.' - . v . . The body of Harry Rife will be laid to rest in the cemetery at Boston Friday afternoon at 2 o'clock and the

MURDER GIVING UP LIFE

RIFE'S MURDER A MOST BRUTAL DUE One of Most Dastardly and Cowardly in History of Preble County. KILLS WHILE . LOVE-MAD 8LAIN WOMAN REFUSED MURDERER'S ATTENTIONS AFTER SHE HAD LEARNED HIS CHAR ACTER WAS NOT GOOD. (Palladium Special) Eaton, O., Jan. 19 The crime for which Harry Rife gave his life as toll last night in the electric' chair at Columbus, was one of the most dastardly and cowardly that the criminal records of the county show. The woman whom he shot was entirely defenseless and powerless to escape the heinous wrath of Rife. Mrs. Lida Gilmore Griswold, his victim, was shot July Sth, In the Eaton public library, where she had served for several years as librarian. The killing of the woman followed a short controversy between Rife and his sweetheart, and was witnessed only by the woman's son, Cloyd Griswold, aged 12 years, and Miss Grace Gilmore, Mrs. Griswold's sister. Was Killed Instantly. The awful climax to the controversy came immediately after Rife made a statement to the effect that he "would settle the little matter now, with the two witnesses." The shot took effect in the woman's right breast, and death was almost instantaneous. , Shocked to his normal senses, and realizing the enormity of his crime and the penalty it meant, Rife" turned the smoking weapon upon himself and fired. The bullet grazed the flesh in his left side, and he fell to the floor, where he lay, feigning death, until persons had responded to the screams for help within the building. For the crime Rife could give no reason, nor could there be any assigned, other than that he must have been momentarily .crazed because the affections he pressed upon the woman had been spurned. So great was his love for her, that a letter found in his effects stated he could not live without her; and if he could not live, neither could she. She Learned His Record. I Mrs. Griswold had learned after an extended acquaintance with Rife that his previous moral record was not the best, and from that she 'attempted to avoid his love. Beginning at this point his life began to be mis-spent. Mrs. Griswold was very prominent in this city, both financially and socially. She was the oldest daughter of Judge James A. and Mrs. Gilmore She had been married once to Don Griswold, an Englishman, who shamefully deserted her a short time be fore the birth of her son. The news of her death spread like wildfire in the city and an intense feeling against her slayer was aroused, but no efforts at violence were made. He was Indicted by the grand Jury on the charge of premeditated and first degree murder, and he waa placede on trial for his life August SO, 1909. Hard to Secure Jury. Two days were expended and two special venires were exhausted before twelve men could be secured to serve as jurors in the case. The principal number of those disqualified were men who were opposed to capital punish raent. Others were turned down be cause they had formed an opinion in the matter which they believed could not be swayed by any evidence that" might be brought out in the trial Judge Elam Fisher, a neighbor of Mrs. Griswold, and the Gilmore fam ily, heard the case. Prosecuting At torney H. R. Gilmore being a brother of the murdered woman was unable to act in the case, and Attorney P. A. Saylor was appointed special prosecutor, and was assisted by John Risinger, of this city. Rife was defend ed by Wilfred Jessup, of Richmond, Ind., and William B. Marsh, of Eaton. F. O. Dunlap, of Dixon township, was foreman of the jury which was com posed of men of fair and just minds, and who were willing to be directed by their convictions in so serious a matter, where the life of a fellow man was at stake. Trial Lasts Two Days. After securing the jury, at the end of the second day's hearing, the case went to the jury. During the course of the trial letters passing between Rife and Mrs. Griswold were brought forth and read. In all these were evi dences of love, which seemed mutual between the two; but In no instance was there uncovered anything bnt a moral friendship. Following a statement of the case to the Jury by Attor-

IT IS COMPLICATED

Father Offers to Have His Son Marry Girl, But the Law Objects. GIRL ALLEGED TOO YOUNG An offer has been made by Thomas Winters of Cambridge City to have his nineteen year old son marry Miss Jeannette Dinger, age 16, also of Cam bridge City but unless the parents of the Dinger girl give their consent and also swear that the girl is over 16 years old, the license will not be Issued by the county clerk. Prosecuting Attorney Charles Ladd states that the girl's mother told him she would not be IS until May This alone would prevent the marriage because the law does not permit the is suance of a marriage license to a girl under 16 years of age. Mr. Ladd stated today that the affidavit against the Dinger girl, charging her with delinquency would be nollied if the mar riage was solemnized. SCORES OF WOMEIIS ARE BELIEVED TO BE VICTIMS OF A FIRE At Noon Today Terrible Trag edy Was Enacted in Heart Of Manufacturing District, Philadelphia. CROWD PREVENTS THE DESPERATE FIREMEN When Warning Was Given c That Building Was Ablaze, Inmates Rename Pren7ieri Fighting for Life. (Bulletin.) Philadelphia, Jan. 19. At 2 o'clock tne coroners official estimate places the loss of life in the holocaus at eisrh teen, but many other persons believe the total will reach fifty. (American News Service) Philadelphia, Jan. 19. More than score of -girls, trapped in a blazing building are believed to have been kill ed in a fire in the Bills block. Third and Walnut streets in the heart of the manufacturing district at noon today Two hundred girls and women were employed in the building by several firms. The fire started in the shirt waist factory of Shedaker & Company Within half an hour the building was a seething mass of flames. At twelvethirty the police reported that five bod ies had been recovered. Trapped on the upper floors, many employes jumped in spite of the commands of the firemen not to. Vast crowds sur rounded the building during the noon hour and greatly hampered the relief and rescue work. Instantly after the warning was sounded through the building, orderly employes became a frenzied mass of human beings fighting for their lives. Into hallways they packed in solid groups, jamming and clogging the "stairs; biting, scratching and kicking was indulged in whila others shrieked for help and mercy. Many rusnea to tne windows and leaped, sustaining serious. If not fatal injuries. SHE CHARGES FRAUD Fraudulent marriage proceedings have been instituted in the circuit court against Oliver Culbertson by Mollie Culbertson,' on relation of the state of Indiana, to annul the marriage. .The defendant is at present a non-resident of the state, according to information of the officials. Early in October, 1908 Culbertson was arrested here by police on a warrant filed in the justice of peace court. He was taken to Muncio and there, to avoid criminal action, married the girl on October 19,1908. He had met her in Gaston, Indiana. She was but 17 years old at the time of the marriage. The two moved to this city and lived with her parents four or five weeks, then he left. OP Philadelphia, Jan. 19. Hosiery Is going up in price. ( Followfjg the announcement from 'Boston, that the price of shoes is to be advanced, it was announced' here today that the manufacturers of cotton hosiery and underwear have decided to add 25 per cent to prices. The price without this is 50 per cent higher than it was a year ago. THE WEATHER. INDIANA Fair tonight and Thurs

HOSIERY

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Y. M. B.C. PLAHS

BIG CAMPAIGN TO STIMULATE TRADE At a Directors' Meeting First Steps for Running Exclu sions Into City in the Spring Were Taken. LAN TO PLACE CHARITY ON A BUSINESS BASIS uuD wouia uo-operate in 4SB III a This Matter With Local Or ganizations Permanent Quarters Needed. For the purpose of bringing more people to Richmond during the spring shopping season, it was decided at the first meeting of the new directors of the Young Men's Business club, last evening, to appoint a committee to investigate the feasibility of run ning merchants excursions into this city at that time. The merchants will be interviewed in regard to the matter and it is thought the idea will meet with the favor of all. In event that it does a small celebration may be arranged for, in connection with the excursions, as an added impetus for the country people to trade in the Panic Proof City." Charity la Discussed. A discussion was held relative to the establishment of a more effective and systematic charitable work in Richmond. It is probable that the club will create a department for this purpose and, although It is not the In tention to dispense charity directly. the directors are of the opinion that more business like methods could be pursued, which would tend to make the charitable work in this city more efficient and of more lasting benefit Unstinted praise waa given the differ ent organizations engaging In charit able work, but it n believed that if the societies .had the support of the club In this regard and the co-operation of "The Boosters'" more effec tive 'work could be accomplished. It is the desire of the club that ev ery business firm In the city use the slogan of the organization. "Panic Proof City" along with an appropriate design on all correspondence. The suggestion was looked upon with de cided favor by the directors, but no action will be taken In regard to the matter until the next meeting of the club. To Secure Quarters. In view of the rapid growth of the club and the fact that it apparently has come to be a permanent organization it was the opinion of the directors last evening that steps should be taken toward the establishment of permanent headquarters. It is said that the Jefferson club, whose rooms at present are located in the Colonial buildfne is contemplating a change. The quar ters consist of three rooms and in event they are vacated, will very probably be rented to the Y. M. B. C. Once each month the directors of the club will banquet themselves, at their own expense. The directors feel that these dinners will tend to strengthen the social relations between the members of the board and win not only be valuable in this respect, but will also afford them an opportunity to discuss matters of Interest to the club and the city. At these meetings speakers will be called in to deliver addresses on various toplce. The first dinner will probably be held at the Westcott hotel on January 31. Two Members Resign. There were two resignations at the meeting last evening. . Perry J. Freeman resigned both as member of the club and director. In doing so Mr. Freeman expressed appreciation and thanks for the club for the confidence reposed and the courtesies shown him. NImrod Johnson resigned as director, but will continue to take an active In terest in the club as a member. Mr. Johnson stated that he feared his new duties as superintendent of the Municipal Light plant were such that he could not give sufficient time to the work of director. Both resignations were accepted and their places will be filled at the next meeting. A committee composed of Fred J. Lahrmac, Howard Thomas and Wilfred Jessup, was appointed to secure new members. A thorough canvass will be made and it is thought many new members can be added to the or ganization. The board authorized Treasurer Per kins to employ an assistant to help him in the collection of dues from old and new members. A Fourth of July celebration was dis cussed, but nothing definite was decid ed upon, and the club feels that it has ample time to attend to this matter. T0WI1 IS DESTROYED Wilmington, DeL, Jan. 19. The town, of HockesatB, eleven miles north of here, was nearly wiped out by fire today, with a loss of 50,000. A caQ for aid was sent here and the Wilming ton fire department seat apparatus and a big force of men. ' They arrived at 2 a. m., and the flames were checked barely in time to save the town from!

TWO BIG FAILURES

In Wall Street Today Resulted From Break in Railroad Stock. LOSS IS FOUR MILLIONS (American News Service) New York, Jan. 19. Failures of two big stock exchange firms Involving the loss, estimated at four millions of dol lars, resulted today from a violent break in Columbus and Hocking railroad stock. Lathrop Hasklns & Co., suspended following the break of fif ty-three dollars a share, which occur red within one hour. The suspension of J. M. Fiske & Co.. quickly followed. The stock had been manipulated from fifteen dollars a share up to ninety-two dollars during the past few months. Disappointing news regarding the results of boring for oil caused today's slump. - - SEEDING MACHINE CO. WILL ENLARGE THE LOCAL PLANT Plans Have Been Completed For Erection of an Additional Foundry and for a Modern Warehouse. COMPANY TO EMPLOY MANY MORE WORKMEN When Improvements Have Been Completed, It Is Expected There Will Be 1,200 On Roll of the Concern. Business, so extensive that a few members of the sales department of the local branch of the American Seeding Machine company have been temporarily laid off until the compa ny can catch up with standing orders, was a statement made this morning, followed by the announcement that the company would construct an additional foundry building sufficiently large for the employment of 140 moulders and their' assistants, just as soon as the weather modified enough to break the ground. With the completion of the building and the employment of the addlitional moulders, the local branchl of this great corporation will be one of the largest factories in the. state and the largest factory in the city. It will be much larger than the Springfield, O., branch. A New Warehouse. The company has purchased the block just west of Its office quarters on Thirteenth street, on which is locat ed the Starr Hame and Chain Works. Just as soon as possession Is given by the owners of the chain and hame fac tory, the building will be raced and in its place .and on the vacant lot to the south, will be built one one of the larg est warehouses in the state. It is planned for the new warehouse to be sufficiently large, so that all -storage may be made in it, thus giving opportunity for installing machinery in the buildings now used for storage purposThe Improvement will also the employment of a much larger force of men. The company now employs between 700 and 80O men. The completion of the foundry will mean that about 200 more men, including the moulders and their helpers will be employed. After the change in the factory arrangement is effected by the completion of the new warehouse, two to three hundred more men will be added to the force, making a total of about 1,200 men on the pay roll. Indication of Size. Another indication of the size of the factory, or rather what It will be when the additions now planned for are completed, is the fact that it will be two and a half blocks in length. The buildings extend from E street to the Pennsylvania railroad, which Is about a square distant. The company also owns a large lumber yard of almost similar size to its factory building sits, north of the- railroad and op posite the buildings. It also owns sev eral lots on North Fifteenth street. but there is no indication that im provements will be made on these in the near future. . According to the statement made this morning, the new foundry buildins win be located just east of the present foundry, on space which is now vacant. The building vrfll extent from the foundry to the alley to the west of a factory building, formerly occupied by the Westcott Carriage company. Cost of ii It win be a feet east and west, by two hundred feet north and south. Its will be similar to the departments, which, are

LEAGUE KEEPING A WATCHFUL EYE 0(1 SUTIDAY LID Anti-saloonist Watches Work Of New Mayors at Indianapolis, Ft. Wayne, Evansville and South Bend.

PRESENT CONDITIOriS VERY SATISFACTORY But the Rev. Mr. Shumaker Is Still Suspicious and Says It's Too Early to Make Any. Statements. 7 (Palladium SpwUU Indianapolis. Ind, Jan. 1$. Ac cording to a statement which has . just been given out by E. 8. Shumaker. state superintendent of the AntiSaloon League, no open effort will be made to pledge candidates for the - Legislature to support temperance laws in the next Legislature, or to pledge them to support a bill for state wide prohibition. asleep at the switch, for things can bo done below the surface." . This is in line with the decision that was reached by the board of trustees of the Anti-Saloon League, at ' their annual meeting a few weeks so, warn a course 01 acuon in ue - m . , a. coming campaign was left to the de termination of the headquarters committee. It was stated then that no open effort would be made to tie up candidates for the legislature with pledges. Is Watching IVcgross. The Anti-Saloon League Is. closely watching the progress of events m this state, especially with reference to the manner In -which the liquor laws are enforced and obeyed. Spec ial attention is being paid to Indianapolis,, Fort Wayne. South Bend and Evansville, where new city . admin istratlons recently took charge of N affairs. Mr. Shumaker is pleased with the attitude shown by Mayor Shank, of Indianapolis and Mayor Grice. of Fort Wayne. Mayor Goetz, of South Bend, he declares, la Inclined to tilt the lid little. Goetz. according to Mr. Shu maker. is on the bond of saloon keep ers in his city. The other cities are yet to be heard from. Mr. Shumaker said, yesterday: "It is too early yet to learn what the policy of the new administrations will be relative to the enforcement of law. On Sunday, January 9. and Sunday. January 16. the lid was fitted on pretty tightly both In Fort Wayne and Indianapolis. The mayors of both of these cities declare that the law reg ulating the saloons shall be enforced during the next four years to the letter. In Indianapolis. Police Judge Collins has said that- every saloon keeper that is convicted the third time shall have hia license revoked. Mayor Shank says that no saloon keeper will have the opportunity to go before Judge Collins the third time, because he, himself. wtU revoke the license as soon as It Is evUest that the saloon keeper is dlsrccsrS Imm llu taw W What thank Has Dene. Mayor Shank has already cited ten saloon keepers to appear before kiss this week to answer why their li censee should not be revoked encases they violated the laws last Can2y or the previous Sunday. "On Sunday evening, the sixth. said Mr. Shumaker. Interurban ears from South Bend to Elkhart fcasded many drunken people to the latter place, indicating that the lid at Cas Bend was not properly fitted by the new mayor, two arenas arrsn from the car at Elkhart who CH net know which way to turn. Peese were Insulted by their offensive words and actions. Many mternrnan cars is various sections . of the stats are refusing to haul drunken persons, csJ I think it would be a good plan far all steam and lnterurban companies in Indiana to pass strict regulations excluding persons in a state of In toxication , from . passage on trains. Wayne County Cited. "State wide prohibition wUl tually settle this question, bet is the meantime we must make the best possible of existing conditions. During UN there were m arrests for drunkenness in Wayne county, which was an increase of CS over any year in the history of the The number of arrests for ness was twice as assay as those for say other cause. . There were eChty five divorces granted during the ; and of that number one-fa granted where intoxication as the cause. Prof. Chert Fnmr'I. cf Karlhsss college says this Is now morally dead, voted wet nearly n yea TlantSnston hue the El Q ssesns to be wsa cfrstged. ALz:'j l and the court was deposed ta to lr lent with kirn, although he warn o c!3

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