Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 37, Number 127, 2 April 1912 — Page 1

s" 1 1 1 in THE RIGHMONB PiULLADIlJM: AND SUN-TELEGRAM VOL. XXXVII. NO. 127. RICII3IOXD, IXD., TUESDAY EVENING, APRIL. 2, 1912. SINGLE COPY 2 CENTS.

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OF NICHOLS IS lavy Deserter Arrested at " Portsmouth, N. H., Still Insists, However, He Killed Dr. Helene Knabe. (relatives think youth is insane iNichols' Aunt Says She Be lieves the Boy Seeks Noto 4 riety. Indianapolis Police Are Keeping Quiet. (National News Association) ' PORTSMOUTH, N. II., April 2 Aljthough openly accused by the police pof faking his confession to the murder of Dr. Helene Knabe of Indianapolis tor the purpose of escaping the conse quences of navy desertion Seth Nich!la, former sailor on the U. S. S. Dixie, Irepeated deliberately and under oath with additional details his story of the circumstances surrounding the alleged killing. Most of his statement, however, could have been learned from the newspaper stories. Nichols declared today that Dr. Knabe awakened as he and the mysterious Mr. Knight ap proached the bed, and that the victim gave one low scream before he plung ed the knife. The look in Dr. Knabe's teyes has haunted him ever since, de clared Nichols. He expressed a willingMness to return ta Indianapolis without 'requisition papers. The story told by Nichols today was ,one of the most remarkable the police Jhere have ever heard. Nichols, who is about 21 years old, insists that he was on a spree early last October , while ithe Dixie was at the Brooklyn navy yard. He wandered into the,Y. M. C. A. at Brooklyn, he said, where he met a jttan named Knight and they became !Vrv friendlv. Thev drank together for . . , . . o (some time, and finally Knight told him he would give 'him $1,500 if he would desert and do a job for him. This be agreed to and they went to Indianapo- ' '. Nichols say Knight gave him a 'sharp knife, like a razor, and aided him in getting into the house to mur kier Dr. Knabe while she slept. While in Indianapolis, Nichols says, he lived 'with his sister, Mrs. Grace Lakeman, on Eastern ave. Nichols continued, "we forced an entrance .into the apartments of Dr. jKnabe through the living room. We tip jtoed into the bed room, Knight pushling me ahead of him. Just as we reached the bedside, she turned, moaned (slightly and opened her eyes. My Ood I will never forget those eyes." Nichols declares that he threw the knife into the river over which they . Mpassed in a cab after leaving the scene of the crime. . BELIEVE STORY A FAKE. . INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., April 2 The police and detective departments are Jextremely skeptical regarding the story of Sailor Nichols, but hesitate to pronounce it a fake until further information has been obtained and further (investigation made. - Nichols was born at Rensselaer, And. His father died when he was six years old and he was left in the care pof an aunt, Mrs. Nettie Gilbert, a KBrookston, Ind., and they later moved Wo Lafayette, Nichols enlisted from the latter place. A sister, Mrs. Grace Lake3UH11, iTTStucrB fu luuiauapuua auu is he wife of a Pennsylvania railroad jenginenjan employed in the yards jhere. Mrs. Lakeman believes Nichols learned of the murder through the Newspapers and made the confession (to the Portsmouth police through a wild desire for notoriety. Another aunt of Nichols is Mrs. Knight who lives Jon Belden ave., here. She raised him Jfrom the time he was 9 until he was 12. She declares that the youth was t. subject to periodical crazy spells and "believes he was out of his mind when h made his confession. The navy requiting officials here doubt his ability to arrange his absence from the Dixie as related by him. Nichols was dishonorably discharged last December but 4he officials refused to tell what the charges against him were here. ROB CHURCH SAJFE (National News Association) CLEVELAND, O.. April 2. The safe Jn the parish house of St Paul's Romsn Catholic house was robbed early to,,lay of $1,000 of the church money. THE WEATHER TATE Fair tonight and colder In extreme south portion. Wednesday fair. t-OCAL Fair tonight. Wednesday warmer. HIGH SCHOOL OBSERVATORY

DOUBTED

Forecast for Richmond and vicinity: JTalr tonight and Wednesday, warmer Wednesday. Maximum temperature, M at 7 p. m., Monday. Minimum tem- ' jperature, 31 at noon Tuesday. Tem- . perature at 11:30. 31. Barometer 29.65. 1 Direction and velocity of wind. North,

0 miles an hour. Rainfall since yesperday. 56 inch.

Scene of the Mexican Trouble

r " n S tit -COXXA2,jT03 . WWMQAThe map gives a very good idea of the section of Mexico, near the Texas boundry line, where most of the fighting has been going on in the trouble between Federal and lnsurrecto armies, the most recent Engagement resulting in the complete routing of the Federal forces, under, the command 'of General Salas, shown on the left, and General Teblez, on the right. General Salas committed suicide rather than face the disgrace of admitting defeat at the hands of the rebels. WATERWORKS CASE STILL UNSETTLED it Has Been Ten Months Since Bids, for Contract Were Submitted. It is ten months since bids were submitted to the city for a waterworks contract. It is six months until the present contract of the Richmond City Waterworks with the city expires. ". In', the meantime the city attorney and - his - legal corps has had a very hard time to do anything, but he hopes to meet with Henry U. Johnson soon and decide on some plan of action. Mr. Gardner said this morning that if possible he and Mr. Johnson would get together tomorrow afternoon. "Mr. Johnson only .wants one day's notice' he said. "Do you consider that the present bids, as advertised for, have been rejected?" "No," said the city attorney, "they are still in force and have not been rejected." "The city .will jiot be in a dangerous position if the water works franchise matter is not settled by next October?' ' The City Attorney thought not. "The company claims a perpetual franchise with the citizens," said Mr. Gardner. "It is only the fire hydrants that they say the city government has anything to do with in this contract." "That is a debatable question, isn't it?" "'Yea, that's a question that Mr. Johnson and I want to go over with each other. There are a lot of legal points of that sort that must be considered before we can advise the city what to do." The waterworks question has been up for settlement since the summer following the spring nominations which placed Dr. Zimmerman on the ticket and has been the piece de resistance ever since in city administration circles. There is a growing sentiment being noised about among the shopmen and other small consumers that it is about the time something was brought to a head. "It seems to me," said a prominent shop leader who has interested himself in the waterworks question." that the citizens should know from their legal advisors whether at the last minute the company can come in and frighten a lot of people into accepting any proposal they have to offer. A SOLDIER KILLED BY GUN EXPLOSION (Xatlonal News Association) NEWPORT, ,R. I.. April 2. An explosion in a three-inch rifle from which the sunrise salute was being fired this morning instantly killed Corporal William W. Lee of the coast artillery. The two-pound charge of black powder blew the breach block off of the gun. the flying part carrying away part of Lee's head.

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STAND ATBAY IIDW Two Desperadoes Have Been Located at Volunteer Gap in the Mountains. (National News Association) HILLS VILLE, Va., April 2. Sidna Allen and Wesley Edwards, the Allen gang outlaw chiefs were located at Volunteer Gap this morning and three reinforcements were asked for to as sist in bringing about their capture. They are reported to be surrounded by the sheriff's posse and escape is practically impossible. ARE HEAVILY ARMED. MT. AIRY; C, April 2. Penetrating a wild country which is grown to jungle density, a fresh posse accompanied by. five trained man-hunting bloodhcninds;ralawit""'iodayyi began searching the district between Ward's Gap and Willis Gap for Sidna Allen and Wesley Edwards, the two remaining outlaws of the Allen gang. The authorities, from information received from mountaineers, judged that the two outlaws would make their last stand in that rugged mountain district. ' The men are heavily armed and are making a cautious circuit of the point where Allen and Edwards were believed to be hiding, about midway between their two bases of food supply. Although there have been heavy rains in the mountains within the past 48 hours, the constant movements of the two hunted mountaineers would leave a trail despite the muddy condition of the ground, it was said. DIXON CONFIDENT T. B, THE Roosevelt Campaign Manager Says Ex-president Is Running Good. (Xatlonal News Association) BOSTON, Mass., April 2 Senator Joseph M. Dixon of Montana, manager of the campaign of Colonel Theodore Roosevelt, was in Boston today on his way to Vermont. He analyzed the fight between the Colonel and President Taft up to date and declared that Roosevelt would be nominated beyond a shadow of a doubt. "I was at Oyster Bay last night," said Senator Dixon, "and had a talk with the Colonel. I arranged for his Kentucky and Virginia trip. He will speak at lxuisville and Parkersburg. Ten days from now he will come through New Hampshire and will probably follow the same route as Mr. Taft. Later he will come to Massachusetts. We are feeling pretty optimistic right now. The country does not realize our strength because the statements about delegates published in the New York papers and elsewhere are absolutely wrong. . You can state this as coming from me." WOMAN FLEW OVER ENGLISH CHANNEL (National News Association) PARIS, April 2. For the first time in the history of aviation a woman crossed the English channel in an aeroplane today when Miss Elizabeth Davies, flying as a passenger with Hamel, a French aviator flew from Hendon, a London suburb, and landed at a Frendb, fishing village, six miles north of Boulonge. Hamel and his passenger traversed the sixty-six miles between London and Dover in a -little more than one hour. " '" '

WINNER

TAFT WANTS

OF FLOOD AIDED President Sends an Emergency Message to Congress Asking for Appropriation of $500,000. WATER AT HICKMAN EIGHT FEET DEEP Sandbags on Levee Swept Away, the Flood Pouring Into the City Rendering Thousands Homeless. (National News Association) BULLETIN. WASHINGTON, April 2 By unanimous vote the house today passed a bill appropriating $350,000 to be immediately available to strengthen the levees of the Mississippi river. BULLETIN. MEMPHIS, Tenn., April 2. The town of New Mardid has been swept away by the Mississippi floods according to a message received here today. Verification of the report has been impossible up to a late hour because of the interruption of all communication. The levee guarding the town went out at daylight and a whirlwind wall of water, twenty feet deep, swept through the place. The report stated that there has been a heavy loss of life. , WASHINGTON, April 2. Alarmed by the flood report from the states along the southern section of the Mississippi river. President Taft today sent an emergency message to Congress calling for an immediate appropriation of $500,000 for the strengthening and re-enforcing of the river levee. The President states that be ia advised by the secretary of war that the emergency message required immediate action to prevent further destruction of millions of dollars worth jot property and possibly theiaptf J BREAKS DOWN LEVEE. HICKMAN, Ky., April 2. The flooded Mississippi river has swept away the barrier of sandbags from the top of the levee here and overflooded into the city. The water stands eight feet deep in the streets today. The railroads between Hickman and Columbus are submerged. The levee here on which thousands of men labored all night broke early today. Thousands of people are homeless and the arrival of tents from Frankfort was anxiously awaited. The damage already exceeds half a million dollars. ANXIETY IS INTENSE. NEW ORLEANS, April 2. Increasing terror to the inhabitants and increasing danger in flood conditions were reported today from all towns on the Mississippi river from here to St. Louis. All possible precautions are being taken to prevent further breaks in levees, but with the river constantly rising anxiety is intense. The governor of Mississippi has been asked by the levee board to place 1,800 convicts under such guard as will permit their use in repairing le vees in case of an emergency call. De-1 spite the sandbagging of the river walls and other frantic precautions, there is immediate (Janger of new breaks threatening hundreds of lives. Officials at New Orleans recorded a rise of 3 inches yesterday and the continued rise today has brought the water within a few inches of the mark that spells disaster. With rain falling today in some parts of the valley the worst is feared. Although the constant rise of the past few days gave the people warning of the danger, many hundreds of families have been driven from their homes without being able to save their effects. Early estimates on the probable loss occasioned by the flood runs well into the millions of dollars. COMMITTEES BUSY ON THE CAMPAIGN Committees appointed some time ago by the Men and Religious movement are now busy outlining the work to be done by them during the ensuing year. Persons identified with church work in the various local churches were appointed on the following committee Evangelism, Boys work. Bible study, Social service. Prayer circle. Missions and church finance. The social service committee of which L. C. Lawell is chairman, has been holding regular meetings and will, within a short time. It is believed, have a report to make upon the social conditions- in this city. FIX MINIMUM RATE (National News Association) WASHINGTON, April S. The House committee on inter-state commerce today reported favorably the Adamson bil! ixing the minimum rate forchargcs of express companies, -.

CT1S

MEREDITH DENIES

ANY PARTISANSHIP District Chairman Angrily Refutes Story He Worked for Delegates. In a statement made today, Linus ; Meredith, Sixth District Republican chairman emphatically denied allega-' tions to the effect that he had made ; any effort to secure delegates to any Republican convention which has been held this year. j "I'm going to smash the face of the ; next person who accuses me of work- j ing for delegates to any convention," j said the Sixth District chairman today, j "I don't give a rap who is nominated ! president, governor, or congressman j or who is nominated to any other office." However, Meredith admitted that he had "worked" in the First ward in order to defeat the Roosevelt candidate for delegate to the District convention. He explained that his action in the First ward was brought about by 1 personal feeling. Chairman Meredith has not received information as to when the state committee will be called together to set a date for the state convention at which time a state platform is to be adopted and nominations are to be made for state offices. He says as soon as this meeting is over he will call a meeting of the county chairmen of the Sixth district in order to settle the date and name the place for the holding of the congressional convention. Meredith believes that the state convention probably will be held July 4 or 5. Local influential politicians who are well versed with Indiana politics are talking of prospective candidates for the Republican nomination for governor. A large number believe that Hugh Th. Miller, former lieutenant governor, and who was a candidate for the gubernatorial nomination four years ?o, will again be a candidate. Other names mentioned are those of John L. Griffith, consul-general to London, and Will Tayler, a prominent Indianapolis attorney. YANKEES PREPARE TO MAKE DEFENSE Americans in the City of Mexico Ready if the Capital Is Besieged. (Xational News Association) MEXICO, CITV, April 2 In daily expectation of a rebel attack upon this city the members of the American colony here have stored away 135,000 worth of food and other necessary supplies. The rifles and ammunition, being furnished by the United States government, will be dealt out just as soon as they get here. Construction of a wireless station was begun today for the use of the Americans in case the rebels close in on the capital and cut the wires. Americans continued to leave in large numbers, four Pullmans departing at midnight filled with refugees. The local office of the Rock Island railroad was closed today agent ordered home. and the MILITIA IS READY. HARRISBURG, Pa., April 2. It was learned at the state arsenal today that orders have been issued to place the national guard on a war footing. This action followed the reports that the guardsmen may be called soon for service either on the Mexican border or in Mexico. Adjutant General Stewart said today that preparations had been made for the militia to concentrate in 24 hours if called. TRACK ORDINANCE IS GIVEN READING The ordinance approving the passage of interurban freight cars on Twentieth and other streets of the city and removing the tracks from the Glen was read for the second time last night at council meeting. H. Kehlenbrink, a resident of Twentieth street, who signed the remonstrance against the use of North Twentieth street for freight cars, protested against Councilman Weishaupt's statement made at the last meeting of council in regard to the lack of public spirit manifested by the residents of Twentieth street. Weishaupt retracted nothing, and reiterated his etatement. The matter will come to a head at the next meeting of the council when the ordinances come up for final reading. LOCAL TEACHERS - WELL REPRESENTED The Northern Indiana Teachers Association will hold its annual meeting at Chicago April 4, 5, 6. Many of the Richmond teachers are w;Il represented among the officers, Miss Martha Whitacre Is secretary of th general association, N. C. Heironimns is a member of the executive committee. Miss Anna Schultz is secretary of the

Ward Principles section and Miss Elec-jnoon over 32.000 votes had been cast ta Henley is Secretary of the Art and! which was 11,000 more than any pre--M&cual Training section. viou record, " v ' -

News Nuggets

(National News Association) DENVER. Colo.. April 2 Charging breach of promise to many after she had proposed and been accepted, Mrs. Pearl Phillips, a young widow, has sued Abr.er Teavis. a wealthy farmer, for $10,000. NEW YORK. April 2. "Were she among the suffragettes today." said Father Bernard Vaughn, lecturing on "Joan of Arc" at the WaldarfAstoria. "she might have broken our hearts, but she would not have broken our windows." SUFFOLK. Va.. April 2. Rev. James Larry Smith, for whose murder Rev. Ernest Lyons has served three years of an lS-year-term, has caused a sensation by returning here. JANES VILLE. Wis.. April 2. A local restaurant keeper has the first commercial airship route in America. Conrad McDonald makes the 20 mile trip to Lake Koshkonong every Friday in his home-made machine, and brings home his fish surply. YONKERS. April 2. The theft of a barn is the charge against a New York lawyer named Holmes Jones, arrested here on Mrs. C. Bows complaint that he removed the building from her premises to his own without her consent. WOMAN FRIGHTENS A HOUSE Mrs. Edna Haskins Calls for Help and Sneak Thief Beat a Retreat. By presence of mind Mrs. Edna Haskins. who resides In the front flat, second floor above 923 Main street., almost succeeded in bringing about the arrest of , a would-be burglar laBt evening. Mrs. Haskins who lives with her two small children, was awakened about 10 o'clock last evening by some one trying to open the door leading Into her flat. At first she could not imagine what the noise was. but after listening for a few minutes 6he heard some one on the outside walk stealthily down the hall. The person collided with a screen door, which was standing against the wall. He then tried to open two doors leading intothe rear of the Hunk in anjtrtmenta. Mrs. Haskins dressed Trurrieu1Jr" and going quietly to the front window, raised it and in guarded tones called to a man who was walking east on the opposite side of the street. At first the pedestrian did not heed the call for help, but when the woman persisted in calling to him he stopped and asked the trouble. He was told that a man was trying to break into her flat and that she was alone. The man then went in search of a patrolman. In the meantime, the would-be burglar had become aware of the dangerous situation in which he had placed himself and made .a hurried exit down the front stairway and ran east on Main street. Another attempted robbery has just come to light within the past few days. It is said that robbers attempted to break into the offices of the People's Building and Loan association and the West End Building and Loan association, both offices being located in the I. O. O. F. building. It is said that the attempt was made several days ago, although it was unsuccessful. LA FOLLETTE LEADS In the Wisconsin Presidential Primary Election. (National News Association) MADISON, Wis., April 2. A moderately heavy vote was polled throughout the state In the presidential preference primary today according to returns received up to noon. Good weather prevailed. Interest in the Clark-Wilson fight overshadow the Republican contest in most cases as it was generally conceded by the leaders that Senator LaFoIlette would carry the state by a large majority. NO CLUES YET IN YINGLING ASSAULT No clues have developed in the case of the attempted murder of Patrolman William Ylngllr:, who was assaulted by two burglars he surprised at their work in the rear of Frank Hartzler's grocery on North Twentieth street FrN day night. The police still incline to the theory of home talent being responsible for the crime. Yingling is still confined to his bed at his home. Saturday night be became much worse, the pain in his head, where he was struck by one of the men, becoming so great that a physician gave him a hyperdermic ' injection. He is much better today. HEAVY VOTE CAST (National News Association . MILWAUKEE, April 2. The heaviest vote ever known at a municipal election here marked the fight of the fusion! sts against the socialists today. 1 Both sides are claiming a victory. At

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TAYLOR THE PAN Jesse Evans Charges the Market and Weights Master of the City With Neglecting His Duties. MAYOR IN DEFENSE OF THE OFFICIAL Evans Wants Taylor to Inspect Scales and Not Sit. in a Livery Stable Talking on Politics. Charges of a serious nature were preferred against Marketroaster John 1 Taylor at council last night by Coun cilman Jesse Evans. In a written recommendation addressed to the council and the board of works Mr. Evans di rectly accused Taylor of not attending to the duties of his office, playing poli tics when he should have been nased in his duties as market and weightmaster and coalition with the dairymen when they recently" raised tha price of milk. His resignation, if he does not promptly begin to attend to hia duties, is demanded in the recommendation. Mayor Zimmerman is directly appealed to by Evans and asked to exercira his power as chief official of Richmond to see that Taylor does bis work properly and if he does not to demand Taylor's resignation. Sarcasm and irony are freely mingled in the attack on Taylor, and charges of a very serious nature are made. It Is said in the report "I consider it rather imposing on the city for an employe paid this sum of money ($720 per year) to sit around a stove at a livery stable talking politics instead of looking after the duties of the office to which he was appointed." When the paper was read by city, clerk Bescher, council sat stunned for a few moments. Then applause from the back of the room showed the sentiments of some of the people. Evans Gives Reasons. Evans arose and explained his reason for.atUcklug-thejpJBciAL He stated that there - had been much complaint over short weights, and that although he did not claim the coal and other dealers in necessities of life were crooked, the people wanted to , know what was going on. Mayor Zimmerman stated that this matter had been up before the board of works, and that the scales, which it was charge Taylor did not often test, had been tested, and seals placed on them. Mayor Zimmerman also claimed that Taylor weighed coal frequently, and stated that as soon as the city scales are placed at the market house, Taylor will be enabled to do better work. He also said that no marketmaster ever working for this city had stayed at the market house all the time, and that such was not th custom. "I can show you scales which have not had a stamp on them for three years," said Evans. "Well, they ought to be tested every six months," said His Honor. Mayor Zimmerman then said that Taylor was not a detective., and that his duties were not to follow ice, coal and other dealers' wagons to see if short weight was given, but that he was market and weights and measures master. New seals of lead which will not come off as paper ones are said to do, were proposed and probably will be ordered following the statement that some of Taylor's seals came off after he had inspected the scales. At this juncture Councilman Dart el arose and proposed'. that Taylor be instructed to appear before council and give an account of his work as was demanded by Evans. The mayor acceded to this, although be stated -it was not necessary, as Taylor is only required to give an accounting to the board of works. Evans' Etatement follows: Evans' Large Roast. t To the Honorable Mayor and the Common Council of the city of Richmond. Ind. "When a public official is elected to office it is natural to suppose he is to stay on the job all day and all night if necessary to serve the publi. When a public official appoints a subordinate, such as the market master, superintendent of the light plant, park, crematory or dairy inspector, it is just, as natural a supposition that be will stay on the job. "To come to the point: Mr. John Taylor is supposed to be market master of Richmond. At least he was appointed for this purpose. Several times at different hours of the day 1 have wanted to speak to Mr. Taylor on various city matters, and for this purpose have gone to the market house for him. But Mr. Taylor was not there. " Think youH find th gentleman at Shofers livery barn.'" Is what was said to me. ... "Now Mr. Taylor draws exactly $721 per year for the eervices he is supposed to render as market master and superintendent of weights and measures. I consider It rather Imposing on the city for an employe paid this sum of money to sit aroOnd a stove at a livery stable office talking politics instead of looking after the duties of (Continued on Page Ten.) .

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