Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 37, Number 108, 11 March 1912 — Page 1

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FA A1DIUJM -3 AND SUN-TELEGRAM VOI- XXXVII. NO. 1 06. RICHMOND, UTOM MONPAT EVENING, MARCH 11, 1912. SINGLE COPY 2 CENTS.

MICHMQHB

JOHN GRUVER SHOT WOMAN AND HIMSELF

Former Eaton Man, After a Visit in Richmond, Goes to Dayton and Attempts a Double Tragedy. VIOLA WILKINSON INTENDED VICTIM She May Survive Wound, but Gruver Is in a Serious Condition He Waylaid the Woman.

Enraged because, as it is alleged, hit affections for the woman were not reciprocated, John A. Gruver, for merly of Eaton, Ohio, but who recently had been staying in Richmond with relatives, attempted to murder Mrs. Viola Wilkinson at Dayton on Saturday afternoon and followed his shooting of her with an attempt' at suicide. Mrs. Wilkinson was dangerously wounded but may recover, while Graver's self-inflicted wound is expected to prove fatal. Mrs. Wilkinson la 37 years old. The would-be murderer and suicide Is past 60. According to a newspaper dispatch from Dayton, Gruver left Richmond Saturday noon and reached Dayton shortly before 2 o'clock. A half hour later he met Mrs. Wilkinson and her daughter on a street car and spoke to the woman, who spurned his attentions. When she left the car directly in front of the Miami county court house, Gruver approached her and .drawing a revolver fired point blank, the bullet from a 38 calibre weapon entering the left side of the woman's Beck and being deflected upward came out the light side of her mouth. In Its course it narrowly missed the jugular vein. Mrs. Wilkinson turned and ran, but Instead of pursuing the woman, Gru-.-ver calmly placed the muzzle of the weapon to bis right temple and fired, the bulltt, however, ranging outward, and emerging at the outside corner of , the eye. ' , Taken to Hospital. Both Mrs. Wilkinson and Gruver were hurried to the Dayton hospital , . where It was announced that the woman might recover, but that Gruver's chances were slim. Gruver Is known to many Richmond peopre and has relatives here whom he had been visiting for two weeks past. He was at one time in business at Eaton and later went to Dayton to reside. For some time he was e m ployed as an assistant storekeeper at the , Dayton Soldiers' Home. Since resigning that position he had spent his time at Dayton and Richmond. Mrs. Wilkinson also lived formerly at Eaton and is a daughter of the late William Lamb, a prominent Preble county farmer. Mrs. Wilkinson's statement of the shooting as it appeared in Dayton newspaper is as follows: Going to Theater. "My daughter and myself had prepared to attend the matinee in the Victoria' theater and left our home about J o'clock, boarding a Third street car almost directly in front of the house. When we got on the car Mr. Gruver was standing on the back platform, but I failed to note that fact at once. "As I turned to enter the car proper he remarked: "Well, why don't you atop on a fellow?' I replied that I had aot noticed him. but he responded with a sneer and Insisted: 'Well, you did, and furthermore you are not treating me right.' "I replied that I had done nothing to him, and did not care to have him call me down on a crowded car. He mumbled something I could not understand, and then my daughter and mypelf sat down within the car. Gruver continuing In his position on the rear platform. Get Off Car. "When we arrived at Third and Main streets I suggested that we get off the car and walk to the theater instead of transferring, because I was afraid Mr. Gruver might follow us. He had previously alighted, but was lost la the crowd. As we walked north on the west aide of Main street I asked Maybcllo to look and see if the man was following ut, not knowing what had become of htm. She glanced about and replied that he was nowhere to be seen, but as she again faced north her e yea met his, and he was approaching ua with an upraised

The pistol gleamed directly at us. My daughter involuntarily clutched my arm and then came a flash of flame and smoke. I did not know I had been hit by the bullet., for there was absolutely no sensation of pain." EDITORS MET TODAY v Natlonal News Association) HARRISBURG. Pa.. March 11 A targe and representative attendance marked the opening In this city today Of the fortieth annual convention of the Pennsylvania State Editorial "Association. The meeting will continue ver tomorrow.

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WASHINGTON, March 11. Information which is causing the administration the gravest concern has brought out the fact that recent negotiotions between the Kaiser's government and the government of Colombia . have resulted in an agreement which contemplates the transfer to Germany of certain harbors on the Atlantic coast of Colombia, within striking distance of the northern entrance to the canal. Mr. Taft and his advisers have already taken steps to meet what they realize will, as soon as the facts are known, be regarded by the whole American people as an insolent defiance of the Monroe doctrine by both Colombia and Germany. The startling information has leaked out since Secretary of State Knox sailed two weeks ago on. his tour of Central and South America and has been fully confirmed in well-informed naval circles. It throw's tight upon the recent emphatic renewal of pressure brought to bear upon the United States by Colombia for a prompt settlement of its claim for indemnitynow understood to amount to practically $100,000,000 for the alleged "rape of Panama." According to this information, Colombia, with the mailed fist of Germay behind it, is now backing up its demands with the threat that if the United States government does not meet its views, or at least agree to arbitrate, Colombia will dispose of these harbors, either by lease or by outright sale, to Germany, thus assuring the latter power not only a base of supplies for a fleet, but a foothold on American soil such as has long been coveted by the Kaiser. It is this understanding with Germany, it is declared, that accounts for the "personal" letter jot the late Colombian minister at Washington, Senor Gen. Pedro Nel Osplna, to the State Department, asserting that Secretary Knox would not be a welcome visitor to his country during the secretary's present tour.

HE SUESJOR S11.75 James A. Clay Fights Adams Express Company. That costs of litigation in the case of James A. Clay versus the Adams Express company will amount to several times more than the amount Clay is asking in his suit on account, is the opinion of persons who are acquainted with the case. Clay is asking for $11.75 which he alleges the Adams Express company owes him for manual labor. The case was brought in the court of Justice Morgan and a jury trial was demanded by the plaintiff, the jury returning a verdict in favor of the defendant. This morning an appeal to the circuit court was taken. Already the court costs have amounted to more than the amount asked. The - minor costs attached to the healing of the case in the justice's court, consisting of docket fees, jury fees, etc., will be paid by the plaintiff according to the verdict of the jury. Clay alleges in his complaint that he entered into an agreement with the local agent of the company to do janitor work at the office and that he was not paid the full amount. TAFT IS COUNTING ON OLD DOMINION (.National Kwa Association) WASHINGTON, D. C..' March 11. The Taft managers confidently. expect to add four delegates to their list tomorrow, when the Republican State convention of Virginia will meet in Roanoke to name ' the delegates-at-large to the Chicago convention. Some slight indications of a Roosevelt sentiment have appeared among the Republicans in the Old Dominion, but so far as the situation can be judged from this point the same efforts to crystallize it have not been made in Virginia as in the States farther South. The Roanoke convention is expected to be dominated by Representative Bascomb Slemp and other leaders who have already Indorsed the administration of President Taft and,' pledged themselves' to work for his renominatfon - and reelection.

Columb an Plot?

1 A -v'r ARE VERY INDIGNANT v South Eighth Street People Object to Its Paving. Indignant residents of South Eighth street, who were present at the meeting of the board of works this morning in expectation of having action taken in the matter of paving South Eighth street, which is opposed by an overwhelming majority of the residents of the street, were told that owing to the absence of Engineer Fred Charles, the hearing would have to be postponed. It will be taken up later. Many of the remonstrators, who are women, had neglected their washing this morning, and were wroth exceedingly when notified they would .have to appear again at a later date. The contract between the city and the Fetta Water Softener company for the purchase of a water softener for the light plant, was signed this morning. The bids for cement sidewalks between Fourth and Eleventh streets were opened thiB morning, and the contract awarded H. C. Foster, the price being 10 cents per square foot. The board delayed action in the matter of letting the contract for oiling the streets of the city to William Lancaster, until the city attorney investigates bonding and some other minor matters. The contract will probably be let at the next meeting of. the board, Thursday morning. THE WEATHER LOCAL Rain or snow tonight and Tuesday; not much change in temperature. STATE Snow or rain in the north portion; rain in the south portion; Tuesday snow. HIGH SCHOOL OBSERVATORY. Forecast for Richmond and vicinity: Snow or rain today and Tuesday, slightly wanner. Maximum temperature In last 24 hours, 52 at 4 p. nu Sunday. Minimum temperature in last 24 hours, 25 at 2 a. m., Monday. Temperature at 12:30 p. m. today. 28. Barometer, 30.1. Direction and Telocity of wind, S. E, 4 mflea per hour.

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WILL REMOVE BUSH

TO II1SAIIE ASYLUM WITHIHJEW DAYS Unfortunate Man Taken Yesterday to Salem to Await Admission to Hos pital at Madison, Ind. MOTHER IDENTIFIES HER SON YESTERDAY Affecting Scene Was Enact ed When Aged Woman Embraces the Unfortunate Man She Thought Dead. After being identified by his relatives who came to this city yesterday, Joseph S. Bush, the Washington county man, who has been confined at the county jail since last Tuesday evening, suffering from hallucinations, left this city at noon today in company with Sheriff Steen for Salem, Indiana. At that place Sheriff Steen will place Bush in. the hands of the sheriff of Washington county, who will make arrangements to have Bush placed in the Southern Indiana Hospital for the Insane, which is located at Madison. Edward Bush, of Indianapolis, a brother of the unfortunate man, Mrs. L. J. Bush, his mother, of Salem, and Mrs. Edward Bush, of Indianapolis, came to this city yesterday afternoon and identified the man as their relative. A Pitiful Scene. A pitiful scene was enacted when the mother first caught sight of her son in his cell at the insane ward at the jail. Bush .and his mother, who had not seen each other for more than four years, were almost overcome with emotion. Bush fell to the floor of his cell when he saw his aged mother enter the ward. It was necessary for sheriff to assist Bush to the bench in the cell, he waB so overcome. Tears coursed down the cheeks of both as they were locked in each other's embrace. Mrs. Bush until recently had thought her son dead. Bush seemed perfectly normal while hUumoJher antV. K$J!SLJI& jail. He told them that he had been lit a "trance" for the paJt two years and that at times he did not know what he was doing. He said that since that time he did not known whether his name was "Bush" or "Callihan." He gave the latter name when first placed in jail, after being brought to this city from Eaton, where he jumped from a moving train. He conversed with his relatives telling them of what he had been doing for the past two years. When asked why he had attempted to end his life on four different occasions since being confined at the institution he said that he did not know what he was doing. Saturday night Bush tore strips from the mattress upon which he slept, presumably with the idea of attempting to hang himself, but he did not succeed in making a noose. When asked by Sheriff Steen how he tore the strips, Bush said that be did so with his teeth, saying he was too weak to tear the mattress with his hands. While Bush's relatives wore at the jail yesterday the sheriff found a piece of crumpled paper in a corner of the celLIt read "They have cut my throat and ..thrown me into a sewer. They stole my clothes," It was signed "Callihan and Joe Bush." BuBh's case la one of the most peculiar with which local authorities have had to deal. Since his daring jump from the fast moving Pennsylvania train at Eaton last Tuesday evening, when he was literally scalped. Bush has made four or five attempts to end his life. At times he seemed perfectly sane while at other times he has been an almost unmanageable lunatic. BROKER SHOT DOWN WHILE IN OFFICE Spencer Hill of Boston, Was Wounded by Man Who Had Grievance. (National News Association) BOSTON, March 11. Spencer R. Hill, of the banking and brokerage firm of Richardson, Hill and company, Congress street, was shot and severely wounded In his office about 10 o'clock today. The would-be assassin, William Lewinskl, walked Into the office and without saying a word fired one shot at Hill. He was arrested. The news of the shooting created consternation in the financial district. The firm of Richardson. Hill and company is one of the oldest in the district. The prisoner, William LewinsU. 68, Uvea at 29 Rnthland Square, South End. He told the police that he shot Hill because he had been, fleeced out of all his money on bad investments. He says he did not Intend to kill Hill and used only one of the seven cartridges in hia revolver. Spencer R. Hill Is 40 years old. and Is the oldest son of William H. Hill, the senior of the firm.

SEIDEL L

OOKS

FOR

HIS RE-ELECTION Milwaukee Will Hold Muni cipal Election on April Second. CXatlonal News Association) MILWAUKEE. Wis., March 11 The lines are forming for the hottest political fight in Milkaukee's municipal history. Tomorrow will be the first day of registration for the coming municipal election. The primaries will be held on March 19. on March 2C the voters will have their last opportunity to register and on April 2, the election is to be held. The result of the election will be watched with great interest throughout the country,' for it will definitely settle the question whether the citizens of Milwaukee were satisfied with their present administration, the first Socialist government of the city in its history. The Socialist administration, headed by Mayor Emil Seidel, is in the field for re-election and bases its claim to the support of the citizens upon the record of the administration during the past two years. The re-election of Mayor Seidel will mean the practical endorsement of the record of the Socialist administration and will, it is believed, greatly strengthen the Socialist party In other parts of the State. Mayor Seidel is of the opinion that the record of his administration speaks for itself and that the citizens have every reason to be well satisfied with-it. In an interview he referred to the prophecies of the calamity howlers who had predicted the most dire calamities as the result of the election of a Socialist administration; yet, he said, none of these predictions came true. The administration found the city government with a $216,000 deficit and finished its term with a surplus. He pointed to the fact that, in spite of the opposition of old party politicians in the council, in the State legislature and even in the courts, his administration has built the first public lavatory in the city, is constructing an electric lighting plant; is acquiring a municipal stone quarry; building a municipal hospital; has established a consolidated fire and police alarm system; is establishing a city , telephone service and is steadily demanding and working for the public ownership of all local public utilities. The mayor bases his strongest hopes upon the municipal ownership plank ih his platform. The Socialists claim on behalf of the present administration that it was thoroughly honest and mad? every effort to eliminate graft and corruption frowverjrfc montctpat ' department. Early in office, it is claimed, the Socialists uncovered and stopped a long standing paving graft. The cost of paving was thereby reduced from $2.25 and $2.40 to $1.26 and $1.40 per square yard, which alone saved the voters more than $400,000 in 1911. It is also claimed that under the present administration the wage of the common laborer in city employ has been increased from $1.75 to $2 for an eight-hour day, while the regular union scale is paid all skilled workmen and, if obtainable, only materials made by union labor were purchased by the city. The Socialists also point with pride to the city's system of factory Inspection and to the inauguration of various reforms intended to protect the morals of young men and women; to combat the spread of tuberculosis; to relieve the unemployed; to bring about an improvement of the city's harbor and the establishment of public garden patches, model tenements and municipal market places. ICE FLOE CRUSHES BIG LAKE STEAMER Passengers and Crew Forced to Abandon Ship and Walk Across Ice. (National News Association) CHICAGO, March 11. A woman and two men passengers on the steamer Flora M. Hill, and a crew of thirty men left the vessel today when crushed by ice, it began to sink. The refugees endeavored to make their way over five miles of ice to the mainland. The Flora M. Hill has been ice bound for a week. Lifesavers and the steamer Indiana put out in an effort to render assistance to the refugees. The Flora M. Hill was caught in an icefloe when it attempted to cross the lake. Great masses of ice have prevented lake traffic for weeks. Recently the floes have broken up as the Ice, driven before the wind, has been piled 15 to 20 feet above the surface of the water. The Flora M. Hill was wedged firmly in the ice, but apparently sustained no damage until today when the shifting wind carried" the ice against the side of the vessel and ground a hole in her hull. The water rushed in so rapidly that the pumps were unable to keep her afloat. ASKS FOR DIVORCE Hardly a day passes but that a suit for divorce is filed In the- Wayne cir cuit court. The latest complaint to be-l filed is that of Marguerite Norris, charging abandonment and failure to provide. According to the complainant the defendant abandoned her and their two small children in Jane 1907 and has failed to contribute to tber support since that time. They were married March 15. 1902. They have two children, Leona aged eight years and ftTS

ROBERT L. OTCABE

TO SPEAK TONIGHT Robert L. McCahe, of Columbus. O., a representative of the National Citi zens' league, will speak at the Com niercial club this evening on "Bank ing Reforms." COLONEL TO MAKE A STUMPING TRIP Will Start Last of Next Week President Taft Seems Highly Pleased. (National News Association) NEW YORK, March 11. Having been excused from jury duty in the supreme court of, Nassau county at Mineola, Col. Roosevelt came to New York today and plunged into the task of preparing for his national spellbinding trip. "I'm in the fight to go to it as hard as I know how," exclaimed the Colonel wjth'a snap of his jaw. Although the Colonel was unable to say definitely when he will be able to leave New York he will speak through the middle western states and will probably deliver several addresses in Ohio. The Colonel will elaborate on his platform, expressed in his Columbus declaration of principles, and in addition to answering the criticism of his opponents he will make a now plea for ,the recall of judicial decisions, child labor laws, presidential preferential primaries and a workingman's compensation act. The Colonel let this be known that all his fighting ire has been aroused and that he is engaged in the battle of his life. There will be neither quarter nor compromises so far as Col. Roosevelt is concerned. TAFT ENROUTE EAST. PITTSBURG, March 11. While speeding back to Washington President Taft today expressed great satisfaction over the result of his invasion of Ohio and Illinois, two states ' in which the Progressive sentiment is very strong. He also was pleased by dispatches which came from Washington concerning the national outlook, and stating that Taft sentiment was gaining generally. The president regards as especially encouraging a message stating that the Union League club of Philadelphia has refused to support a protest against indorsing his renomlnation. . He expressed his gratification at the action of the club, all but fourteen of whose members, signed the resolution supporting his candidacy. Of the trip West, Mr. Taft said: "The reception accorded me by the people of Toledo and Chicago puts me under a deep sense of obligation to them. The discussion of questions of government brough forth many sympathetic assurances and the American citizens of foreign birth or descent, of which some of the great audiences were made up, were especially interested and concerned in the outline of constitutional problems. "The spirit of optimism In faith in our institutions is as strongly in evidence oday as in any time In the history of our country." THE MUZZLE ORDER IS COMPLIED WITH Owners of dogs In' the northwest part of the county . are obeying the edict of county health officer, J. E. King, in keeping their canines muzzled. Sheriff Steen, Deputy Sheriff Mote and Turnkey Miller, made a trip yesterday to Centervllle, Greensfork, and the surrounding country to ascertain if the order. was being obeyed and they failed to find any dogs which were not muzzled. This is the second trip which the sheriff has made into the country for this purpose. It is bis intention of enforcing the order to the letter.

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Our Street Cars

There are less than one third of the local street ears equipped with good brakes. The misnamed Junk placed on the local cars and .called brakes, jm taken from 1 ntentrbaa cars of the T.,H L sV K.. system at, the Greenfield barns, when they are no longer of use on the lnterarbans Worn. out. at all sorts of angles, they are boxed up there, shipped to this city; and placed 'on, the local .cars, v v ? , ; v; t : '''T' The flat surfaces of the brake shoes are worn down from frlct!e -with the wlieeis of tbe big interartMos. The narrow flange is all that grips the wheels. The motormea are forced to wind themselves ap Into W knots and pull their internal organisms out of shape to stop . the' cara 'f when they are oingat an average rate of speed. The hrakea 'vaw&W:ljf

cai street cars are- one of many defects or tne system. -

JUMPS RAILS Rear Coach on P. R. R. Train Na 25 After Being Derailed Crosses River Bridge on the Ties. PASSENGERS GIVEN k A TERRIBLE SCARE Rails Broken in Places and Nearly One Hundred Ties Were Cut Through A Narrow Escape. Miraculous escapes were experienced by passengers on the rear sleeper . of westbound P. R. R. train No. 25, Columbus to Indianapolis, this morn ing, when the rear trucks of the sleeper jumped through a switch 200 feet east of the Sixth street crossing careened wildly, threw off brakeman. Bogert of Columbus, Ohio, slighUy injuring him, tore up switches, targets, interlocking devices, then finally crossed the bridge over the Whitewater at a high speed, running on the ties between the rails and the board walk between the north and ' south tracks. Then the Pullman crashed Into a switch, west of the bridge about one hundred feet, - jumping . back onto the track again. The train was then stopped. A freight train on the south track supported ' the . derailed coach, which threw a shower of, spUaters from the freight cars. After the passenger train had atop ped the passengers, men and women,' clad in thin "nighties,n swarmed oft the car and down the tracks, but finding the danger was over clambered back on the cars again. , The derailed Pullman was aide-tracked, another substituted and the passengers transferred. - Then the train proceeded, flagman Bogert, when " thrown . off, . Buffered a alight wrenching of one leg, but continued the trip. s . The train, which was pulled hy two engines, due here at 5:10, did not leave this city until about 7: SO. The rear sleeper waa taken from a O. R. 4k I. train and attached to No. 25 In the local yards. Starting out at -a high speed to make up lost time the rear trucks of the last car, the sieepesv cut through the switch.' breaking one rail in five places. Then cutting ties, interlocking and other apparatus the car careened on, terrorising its ecu-: pants. The two engtneers, A. Gardner and H. Clark, seemingly, unaware of the wild plunging of the rear car, speeded on. Coming to , the bridge over the Whitewater river, which la, over 100 feet high, the rear trucks smashed into the ' steel approaches, where parts of castings were broken off, and a portion of the rear part of the car wrecked. The freight train, which by orders may not move while another train is in motion across the bridge, was struck by a aide of the plunging sleeper, and portions of the steel casing of the Pullman were torn off, and castings demolished. - Ninetyksix heavy bridge ties were crushed by the wheels of the sleeper, " MAY TRX TRIANGLE MEN SECOND TIME National News Association) NEW YORK, March 11. The Criminal Branch of the Supreme Court was the scene of something new in the line of court procedure today,; when the question of whether persons who had been once tried and acquitted should be tried a second time was left for a jury to decide. The case was that of Isaac Harris and Max Bla nek, owners of the Triangle " Waist company. In whose establishment 147 working girls lost their lives In a fire a year ago. Recently, Harris and Blanch; were tried and acquitted of a charge of manslaughter in the first and second degrees. The. District Attorney was dissatisfied with the v verdict and asked the Court to set a date for a second trial. Counsel for the. defense opposed the motion on ' the ground that, the question of second jeopardy was raised. To this the District Attorney replied - that there were several indictments remaining against the two men, and that different persons were named. In each indictment. A special jury today listened to the arguments of counsel on both sides and will later render its decision in the question of a second trial.

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