Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 37, Number 58, 12 January 1912 — Page 1

BICHMOWH) PAIXABIITM AND SUN-TELEGRAM L RICHMOND, IXD., FRIDA Y EVENING, JlAXUARY 12, 1912. Csii" SINGLE

Vol. xxxvii. no. as. SINGLE COPY 2 CENTS.

A GREAT BLIZZARD STRIKES RICHMOND

Tl Street Commissioner Offers Work to All of the Unemployed to Clear the Streets From Snow. Trains were late, also interurbans Snow Plows Were Used This Morning to Clear the Streets Mercury Dropped to 2 Below Zero. Richmond was not overlooked by Xing Winter last evening when a blizard swept this section of the state. The sharp wind hurled particles of now flukes Into the faces of pedestrians and carrying snow into drifts cross the sidewalks and street crossings made walking almost impossible. Very few people were seen on the Streets last evening and only thoee vho were obliged to leave their homes Ventured out. It was impossible for persons to keep their walks unobtructed and on some streets the drifts were two or three feet deep. , Persons living in the suburbs recalled to mind John Oreenleaf Whlttier's Snowbound," as they forced their ay to their homes last evening. The theaters were poorly attended. Traffic was demoralized. City street cars, Interurbans and trains were unable to operate on their schedule. Trains on the Pennsylvania and Chesapeake and Ohio railroads were from one to four hours lute in arriving in this city. This morning more trains ymrti running on time, but several pull ed in the local stations from one-half hour to two hours behind schedule. Hotels Wers Crowded. The Interurbans arrived and left this city without regard to schedule. The hotels were crowded last night because of the inability of travelers to leave the city, knowing that all trains end can would be late tn leaving here. This morning, however, the Interur- . bant both east and west bound were practically running on schedule time. The city car service was not at its best yesterday afternoon and late at night the cars arrived at and left Eighth and Main streets irregularly. Complaints are again being raised by , afreet car motormen and conductors that the vestibules are not closed and consequently they arc forced to suffer from the cold. This morning Street Commissioner . Cenn placed his entire force of men at work in shoveling snow and hauling St from the streets. Snow plows were also ordered out and were sent first to the business districts. II. M. Hammond, president of the board of public works, stated this jrtornlng that every man who was out of work could secure at least temporary n ployment from the city in assisting the commissioner's force in cleaning snow from the principal treets. Hammond ordered Gcnn to Invite all employes to a light lunch this morning after they had been working for several hours in the cold. According to the record kept at the pumping station, snow fell from 9 o'clock yesterday morning until 9 o'clock last evening. The measurement as taken by the pumping station was 2 and 6-10 Inches. The lowest temperature was S below tho sero mark this morning. There were fifteen appeals for coal today, made to the township trustee, James Howarth. All orders Issued were for 500 pounds each. There were also several appeals for food. Persons who wish to aid the poorer classes are requested to communicate wifh charitable organisations. SAVE U,, FROM RUIN Do Smartly Dressed Women, Says Madame Ripley. (National. News Association) CHICAGO Jan. 12. Smartly dressed women save the United States from financial panic, according to Madame A. E. Ripley, president of the Chicago Dressmakers Club. Madame Ripley made her assertions before a meeting of the National Ladles' Tailors and Dressmakers Association. I "If the women off the United States Trould stop buy' ng tew gowns for six months there 4 ) be the greatest panlc the county as ever known," he said. James B. Blaim . i i lng president Of the Association, h o ad something to say about AraerU hi i "About the only th r ii 1 it, s. don't know how to do is tc .1. . erectly," bo aald. "We don't kt. i v dress and there) la no getting , rtm the fact Tailors must sta id i he ethic of the profession. T? . 0 not they will be lost. We Vi. uw to build tunnels, subway ai & great things, but we don't ktew r to ' dress, and it Is up to the ery eltl:ptJarlKw.-

1RSDAY

EVEI1IIIG

To Be Rebuked

Men who are expected to be rebuffed In the' German elections to the Reichstag today by large gains of the Socialistic and Liberal parties. On , the left is the Kaiser, who has recognized the importance of the election by taking part in the campaign himself the first time in the history of , modern Germany that the Emperor has not preserved a neutral attitude. He caused the distribution of instructions to village prefects to ascertain the public opinion and meet it "with practical replies." On the right are Chancellor Von Bethmann-Hollweg (above) and Secretary of Foreign Affairs Von Kiderlen-Waechter, who have put into execution the policy of the Kaiser for high tariffs and taxes, that has called forth fhe nation-wide protests of the masses of Germany's population. Their handling of the Moroccan, Turkish and Congo situations during the last year also has caused abuse to be heaped upon their heads. An overwhelming victory for the socialistic parties today as seems certain to be the case may mean that the Kaiser will move for the dismissal of his two chief counsellors and executives.

PROTEST AGAINST RICHESOfT LIVING Nation Wide Appeal to Gov. Foss Not to Extend Executive Clemency. (National News Association) BOSTON, Jan. 12. Protests against any action that would save Rev. C. T. T. Richeson, confessed murderer of Avis Linnell from the death chair to which he has been sentenced has been pouring in on Gov. Foss from all sections of the U. S. So great is the pressure of public opinion that Richeson counsel are said to have almost abandoned hope of executive clemency. District Attorney Pellltier also has received many letters bearing on the Richeson case. These letters commend his stand in favor of a first 'degree plea, and urge the ministers execution. The receipt of letters, urging the execution of Richeson is one of the remarkable features of the case. It is contrary to the feeling expressed toward murderers in nearly ever other case that has attracted nation-wide attention. Heretofore no slayer has been so depraved that be has not found some people ready to urge mercy for himself. Persons who had been relied upon to come to Richeson's support have either failed him absolutely or like the Rev. George Horr of the Newton theological seminary, where Richeson studied, have denounced him. YOUNGEST MARRIED COUPLE IN COUNTY Clayton Harris and his bride bear the distinction of being the youngest married couple in this county. He Is sixteen and she fifteen. In order that they might be married, and despite the fact his father, Oliver Harris and her father, John Curry, gave their consent to the marriage, Judge Fox of the circuit court had to be appealed to and his consent secured. The law prevents the marriage of men under eighteen and girls under sixteen, even though the parents consent, unless the court is fully apprised of the circumstances and his consent secured. The young bridegroom is a butcher. BOYS ARE WARNED Upon information given him that boys in this city have not followed Instructions given them at the time of their parole, T. J. Colfer, a parole agent of the Indiana Boys' School at Plainfield came to this city today and inquired into their cases. It is underttood that Colfer warned three or four boys who bad been released upon parole from the Plainfield school that if they refuse to comply with instructions that they will be returned to the Institution. TOWN'S DESTRUCTION BY FIRE THREATENED (National News Association) GRAFTON, W. Va., Jan. 12. Fire originating in the plant of the Grafton woodworking company threatened the destruction of the city early today. It was finally controlled after a hard fight with a loss of $160,000.

By Germans

BOOKS OF PACKERS BROUGHTJO COURT Government Alleges Book-keeping Method Condeals Huge Profits. (National News Association) CHICAGO, Jan. 12 Books of the alleged beef trust were produced in the U. S. court today at the trial of the ten millionaire packers, indicted for criminally -operating a trust in restraint of trade. Huge ledgers from Morris and company were filed on the table in front of the jury, and Harry A. Tiramons, chief accountant of that j firm, was called upon to explain en tries which District Attorney Wilkerson gave proof if the charge that the big packing firms were in a combine to limit shipments and control prices. Objection was made by the defense to the examination of Timmons. "If these books are to go in as evidence, we want the right to show how the byproducts are developed and their relation of the cost of beef," said Attorney Borders, counsel for Morris and company. Mr. Wilkerson then asked the wjtness to show the entries and method of recording the account for hides, fats, oleo and other byproducts of cattle. The books covered the years 1908, 1909 and 1910. The object of the government in introducing the books is to show that the allowance for byproducts, In figuring the test cost of beef was inadequate, the theory of the prosecution being that the method of bookkeeping allows the packers to conceal enormous profits in byproducts. The government contends that many times the packers sell fats at much less than cost to the concern holding the oleomargerine and other fat rendering plants, which,, it is contended, officials make profits of 500 per cent. U, S. TROOPS DEPART Sail From Manila for China Duty Today. (National News Association) MANILA, Jan. 12. The transport Logan with 500 American troops departed this afternoon for Shin Wan Tao. A driving rain was falling, but bands played and flags were waved in farewell from the crowds on the shore. The American troops being sent to China comprise one battalion of the Fifteenth Infantry- They are to police a section of the railroad from the coast to Pekin. RUSSELL LECTURE An unusually interesting address is anticipated by local Sunday school people following the announcement that Prof. Elbert Russell, of Earlham College, will lecture en the birth of John, the Baptist, this evening at tho Y. M. C. A. Prof. Russell has made a particular study of this part of Biblical history, and is expected to bring out several novel points in his discussion.

WEBSTER ENTERS A GUILTY PLEA WHEN BROUGHT TO COURT

Despite His Reluctance to Do So, Young Physician Confesses to the Brutal Murder of Wife. HIS MOTHER URGED HIM TO CONFESSION Sits With Him in the Court, Arm Around Him, to Give Him Courage to Face Terrible Ordeal. (National News Association) OREGON, 111., Jan. 12 Dr. Harry Elgin Webster today pleaded guilty to the brutal murder of his young wife, Bessie Kent Webster. Xhis was the i anniversary of his wedding. Webster's gray-haired mother sat beside the prisoner, her trembling arm around him as the counsel notified the court of the change of plea to guilty. Webster did not respond with even a flicker of an eyelash, maintaining his characteristic sulky expression, while his heartbroken mother, sobbing, tried to comfort him. Despite the pleas of his mother, Mrs. George W. Webster, who had been in his cell since early this morning, and the combined efforts of counsel in the case, Webster remained an uncertain quantity up to the very moment of his appearance in the court. He vigorously opposed making a plea of guilty up to the last moment, declaring that he was being "railroaded" to the penitentiary, because he was without funds. The mother and father of the prisoner, and his sister, Rilla, spent several hours with the prisoner, before going into court, Mrs. Webster praying for her son's repentance, and urging him to face his fate like a man. Mother Comforts Him. Mrs. Kent, mother of the dead woman was in court, and she kept her gaze rivited on the shrinking form of the man who -slew her daughter.- Web-j ster kept bis gaze averted throughout the entire session, and only looked up when addressed by the court. Immediately after Attorney Irwin had changed Webster's former plea of not guilty to guilty, the judge addressed the prisoner and told him of his constitutional rights, and that he ha a right to demand a trial by jury, and that a jury's verdict would be any-1 thing from acquittal to hanging. He then asked the prisoner if he still wished to plead guilty, Webster bowed his. head and uttered an audible "yes." Webster's gray-haired mother slipped her trembling arm through his arm and gripped him tightly as though to give him courage. There was a moan from Mrs. Webster as her son muttered the words that sealed his fate, but Webster himself maintained his characteristic indifference. Webster will be sentenced on January 22. PRESENT COLD WAVE TEST FOR JANITORS The antiquated theory that anybody can be a janitor is decried today by county health commissioner, J. E. King, and School Superintendent, T. A. Mott. The present cold spell, according to the health and school authorities, has proved that the janitors are more to blame than ' heating plants when schools get cold, and also has demonstrated that only good men can fulfill the duties 'of engineer for a large public building. Little trouble has been experienced during the exceptionally long cold siege in the schools here, for but one room out of 150 has been closed for a half day, and only two pipes have frozen. Supt; 'Mott awards most of the credit for this condition to the janitors arid engineers, for the local school board has been preparing for an event of this sort, and has employed men thoroughly capable of handling the monster heating systems properly. The country districts are suffering more keenly from the cold, and are having their full share of heating troubles. Accordingly, Dr. King has advised township trustees to secure more competent janitors, rather than spending money on heating plants. THE WEATHER STATE AND LOCAL Fair and colder tonight; Saturday fair, slowly rising temperature. HIGH SCHOOL OBSERVATORY. Forecast for Richmond and vicinity, colder tonight, slowly rising temperature Saturday and Sunday. Highest temperature in last 24 hours, 12 at noon, Thursday. Lowest temperature in last "24 hours, 0 at 8 a." m., Friday, Temperature at 12:30 p. m. today, 4 above. Barometer, high and rising. Direction- and velocity of wind, northeast, 4 miles per hour.

SEVEN TURK SHIPS DESTROYED IN RED SEA BATTLE TODAY

Ottoman Gunboat Fleet Sunk and Yacht Captured in Fight with Italian Cruiser and Destroyers. WATER WAS STREWN WITH DEAD BODIES Turkish Ships Were Outclassed but Made Game Resistance, Going Down with Their Flags Flying. (National News Association) ROME. Jan. 12. Seven Turkish gunboats were sunk in a terrific naval engagement with an Italian fleet in the Red Sea today. The Italians captured an armed yacht. The loss of life is reported heavy, according to a dispatch from the Italian squadron commander. The Italians had the advantage of better ships and equipment, but the bombardment on both sides was fierce. When the Turkish gunboats disappeared beneath the surface of the water was strewn with dead bodies and wreckage. The Italian cruiser Piedmont and the destroyers Garibaldino and Articlera, encountered the Turkish fleet near Kousuda, in the Red Sea. The Turkish ships accompanied by the armed yacht Sauvett, drew off in battle formation, while the Italian warships hove to and began to prepare for the engagement. The battle opened almost immediately and a fierce bombardment from both fleets followed. Having the advantage of better gunnery and ordance, the Italian fleet soon had the Turkish ships in sinking condition. The Turkish fire, however, did not slacken until their ships began to sink. With colors flying the Turkish ships soon began to disappear beneath the surface. MADE GREAT RECORD FormejuLocji WjQniirpJ thonty on Semitics. Born in Richmond, graduated from the local high school, then a college student on two continents, and finally a world authority on Semitic languages that is the dramatic career of Miss Mary Hussey. After going to the grammar school here, she attended the high school, and was graduated from that institution in 1895. She then left Richmond, and after studying in some American universities, crossed the Atlantic and resumed her studies in Germany. She was a pupil in various German schools for some time, and when she had completed thirteen years of college work, received afdegree of Ph. D in Semitic languages. After acquiring this degree in Germany, Miss Hussey returned to the United States, where she was given a professorship at Harvard University. In the past year she has given up her time to the translation of several hitherto baffling tablets from Turkey and Turkestan, many of them dating back as far as the year 5000 B. C. Her remarkable success at this work has given her a leading position among the linguists of the world, and she is recognized in both America and Europe for her mastery of Semitic tongues. RURAL ROUTE MEN HAVE TOUGH TIME Rural mail carriers are among those suffering most severely from the cold 8nd heavy snows today. As the eight men covering the territory near the city straggled back into the post office several hours behind schedule today, a variety of stories of adventure were poured out. The big snow which troubled the city this morning, was more troublesome in the country, and in many places drifts had formed on the roads so high that the carriers had to make wide detours to get around them. Uncle Sam's men were especially ordered not to leave out any part of their routes because of drifts if they could help it, for the mail man was today the only connecting link between the fanners and the city. But in a few cases the carriers had to skip sections of their districts in spite of all their effort. COUNCIL MEETS The county council will be in session on Saturday to consider on second reading appropriations which were approved on first reading last Monday. WILL WIRE JAIL The county jail will be wired with electricity in event the bids to be submitted to the county commissioners are within reason The contract will be let by the board tomorrow. The jail has. been lighted with artificial gas heretofore. , - .

BLANKET OF

SNOW COVERS

STATE TODAY (National News Association.) IXIDANAPOLIS, Jan. 12.-Ten degrees below zero is predicted for tonight. There were from four to fourteen inches of snow throughout Indiana today. Evansville reports the heaviest snow fall in its history. Steam cars and trolley cars were from one hour to five hours late. FROZEN TO DEATH NORTH VERNON, Jan. 12. ExCounty Sheriff James Orrell, was found frozen to death this morning. He evidently lost his way in a snowstorm a half mile from home. HEAVY SNOW FALL. PRINCETON, Ind., Jan. 12. There is sixteen inches snow here. Drifts are seven feet deey. Many cattle were frozen in blizzard. A COAL SHORTAGE. CHICAGO, Jan. 12. With a temperature of sixty below in Northwest Canada, the entire west and northwest is experiencing the worst blizzard in years. Heavy snows are tieing up all transportation. At some places forty dollars per ton was offered for coal, a great shortage existing. Cattle in Kansas, Oklahoma and Colorado continue to die from cold and starvation. While Chicago is facing a coal famine but two days away, the fuel shortage furter west has become a most serious problem. Gov. Stubbs and the Kansas Public Utilities commission struggled today to get supplies and fuel into Meade, Englewood and Scott City, which are out of coal and running short of provisions. The sufferings in these towns cut off from communication woth the outside world, is severe. The county offices at Beaver, Okla., were closed today in order that the coal which thecounty had on hand might be used to heat homes of citizens. Forty dollars per ton is offered here now for coal. Trains are stalled in the far West and those in-bound to Chicago are many hours behind schedule. The Union Pacific was forced to abandon a large part of its Western service. Othjuvline did-likewise. - . Kansas City reported a temperature of 19 degrees below zero there at 8 o'clock this morning.. At St. Louis it was 8 below zero and the city is still hampered by water shortage, caused by ice jams in the Mississippi river. MUTINEERS MURDER CIVIL JJTHORITIES Imperialist Army Revolters Command Important Trading Posts. (National News Association) ST. PETERSBURG, Jan. 12. Mutineers from the Imperialist army who yesterday put 400 Manchus to the j sword are today in control of Kuldja 1 nnrt To t-lroTi t In rhfnocA Tiirlmatnn and have massacred all civil authori ties according to telegrams received here. The mutineers in command of General Li and Brig. Gen. Yant Sian Sui, have burned the school at Kuldja, killing 57 Manchu boys who were pupils. Gen. Li has seized the arsenal and all the public buildings. Kuldja, which is the capital of the PUrovince of Kuldja is one of the most important trading posts in Chinese Turkestan. It has a population of 10 000. From 1871 to 1881 it was under Russian rule. KILLS "AFFINITY"; THEN SHOOTS SELF (National News Association) CHICAGO, Jan. 12. Belief in the "affinity of souls" led Sylvester Adams, a married man 35 years old. to slay Miss Edith Smith, a Wast Chicago school teacher and himself in a lonely schoolhouse on the prairie near Wheaton, Inn. Notes found showed that Adams believed himself the soul mate of Miss Smith and that she scorned his theory. Adams went to the schoolhouse in the afternoon and waited until school was dismissed. Then he cornered Miss Smith in her class-room and shot her to death. Finally he shot himself through the heart and fell dead beside the body of his victim. COAL OPERATORS APPEAL TO GOVERNMENT (National News Association) LONDON, Jan. 12. Representatives of the federal coal mine owners are appealing to the government- to take steps to prevent Inroads of foreign competition In Great Britain in conse quence of the. proposed strike. They fear that a trade once established will i remain' to the disadvantage Of the home operators. Already large orders) for coal are being sent to Westphalia and Penna.

FOUND NOT GUILTY OF MURDER CHARGE WAS M. LA PEIitIA

Italian Spent Restless Nighf and Apparently Was Stunned When Informed of the Verdict. SELF DEFENSE WAS PLEA OF PRISONER State Charged Murder in the First Degree La Penna Shot His Cousin, Tony, Last November. The jury in the case of the stateagainst Mike La Penna found him in nocent of killing with premeditated malice his cousin, Tony La Penna, at the Elliott. Reid Fence factory, West Richmond, November 7. The verdict was returned today. The verdict of acquittal was reach ed about 10 o'clock Friday on the fifteenth ballot and after the jury had been in its rooms since 5 o'clock yesterday afternoon. The jury on previous ballots was divided, the sentiment of some being that he was guilt? of manslaughter. It was perceived early by the jury that the verdict would be either manslaughter or not guilty. Until last night La Penna had great confidence in acquittal, but misinterpreting the warning of his attorney Henry U. Johnson, who had said, ''you can never tell what a jury will do," he worried himself almost sick last night and when he appeared in the courtroom Friday morning to hear the verdict, he appeared to be pale and weak and somewhat unnerved. Appeared 8tunned. When he was found not guilty he was for a few moments, apparently stunned. As soon as he comprehended the full Import of the verdict he rose to his feet and with his cratches hobbled to where his friends were sta ' tioned in the court room. He did not personally thank the jury in the court -room. As soon as quiet had subsided the court., formally dismissed the charge against La Penna. La Penna's plea substantiated by many witnesses, was self defense and personal contradiction of evidence which the state introduced, showing how the killing took place. The state charged that the accused man had gone to Tony La Penna, when the latter was changing his clothes at the fence factory, preparing to go to work and shot him down In cold blood. The motive of the crime alleged by the. state was that the two had quarreled over a woman. The defendant told the jury he had been threatened by the dead man and also told his friends he would kill the accused. Other witnesses for La Penna verified his statements. La Penna said that' when he met his cousin in the entrance of the machine and fence storage room on the night of the murder, he went to his cousin, who was standing up changing his clothes and demanded an explanation for his threats. He said Tony turned, put his' hand to his hip pocket and led him to believe he was about, to carry out the threats he had previously made. In order to save himself, he said, he fired. La Penna said he knew his cousin was . in the habit of carrying a gun, but he did not know that on the night of. the killing Tony's weapon was In his coat pocket several feet away. In addition to having a strong defense, La Penna's case was- aided greatly by the argument of his attorney. He so carefully analysed every bit of evidence, whether introduced by the defense or state, to be favorable to the contention of his client that it made a great impression. As a matter of fact he argued that by the evidence of the state Itself, one witness contradicting another, tbe Italian waa, not guilty as charged. WAS M'MAIilGAL DAY At the Federal Grand Investigation. Jury (National News Association) INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 12. This was McManigal day at Federal Grand Jury dynamite investigation. Ortle, his father, James L., and Mrs. Ortie McManigal, were all before the jury, a was Photographer Willis of Indianapolis, who developed the negatives for McNamara, one picture being of the Los Angeles Times building. The be-, lief grows that the investigation Is drawing to a close and less confidence of indictments owing to a lack of "legal" evidence prevails. r MEETING CALLED There will be an important meeting of the Hoosler, State aaressv Jv League at the Maseeh .Temple next Monday , evening at 7301,.. Alfred Bavla, Secretary.

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