Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 21, Number 91, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 August 1900 — TAKES HIS OWN LIFE. [ARTICLE]

TAKES HIS OWN LIFE.

NOTED LAWYER AND CRIMINOLOGIST COMMITS SUICIDE. Herbert Stimpson Was a Hero in Other Affairs but Could Not Endure Prospect of Disgrace—American Missionaries Killed by Chinese Troops. Herbert Stimpson, a leading criminal lawyer of Wichita, Kan., blew out his brains in the court house there. The suicide followed soon after his arrest on the charge of embezzling S6OO from W. H. Ransom, a client aud farmer, who had employed Stimpson to collect the money on some property and tax deeds. Stimpson, who was 30 years old, had served in the French foreign legation during France’s war with Dahomey, and for his services was rewarded with the distinguished service medal. For saving seven women at the charity bazaar fire in Paris in 1897 he was given the cross of the legion of honor. Later King Humbert of Italy decorated him with the Order of the Crown for distinguished scientific work. He was a noted criminologist. PAROLED CONVICT KILLED. Officer Attempts to Arrest Crowd and Fight’ Follows. John Butler, a paroled convict, was shot and instantly killed at Joliet, 111., by Officer John Kelly. With five others Butler was engaged in “rushing the can” along the railroad tracks. Officer Kelly went after the gang, who fled at his approach. Four drew revolvers and fired. Officer Kelly then pulled his revolver aud a running fight followed. Butler was seen to fall and by the time the officer reached him he was dead. Butler was recently released from the penitentiary on parole. He had a bad record. In his clothes was found a thirty-eight caliber bulldog revolver. The weapon was cocked and Butler was apparently in the act of getting ready to fire at the officer, who got the drop first. THOUSANDS SUFFER AT NOME. Reports of Destitution from Rapid Increase in Population. Surgeon General Sternberg at Washington received a report from Surgeon R. G. Ebert of the army, at Nome Harbor, Alaska, which gives the details of the conditions existing at that place. He says that within two or three weeks the population has increased from 2,700 to 20,000, with tents and buildings irregularly located along the beach. He describes a horrible condition existing, as there is no method of cleaning up the town and no provisions for the destruction of accumulations of garbage and filth.

TROOPS SLAY AMERICANS. Nine Members of the Presbyterian Mission in Hai-Nan Are Murdered. News from Hong Kong says that Consul General Wildman has been informed by the Chinese governor at Hai-Nan that the latter is unable to give any further protection to foreigners. Three men, three women and three children of the American Presbyterian mission have been murdered in Hai-Nan province, and it is added that Hong Kong is full of refugees. The Presbyterians were assassinated by Chinese imperial troops. Publishers Form a Society. The American Publishers’ Association was formed at a meeting of nearly fifty publishers in New York. It is denied the object is to form a trust to reduce the royalties paid to authors. Officers were elected as follows: President, Charles Scribner; vice-presidents, Gen. A. C. McClurg and George Mifflin; secretary, Geo. P. Brett, and treasurer, G. B. M. Harvey. Three Children Are Killed. Through the explosion of a steam tube connecting with the boiler in the steam yacht Trilby, owned and commanded by Fred L. Spink of Seriba, N. Y.. three young children lost their lives, one more was frightfully scalded and three other people were more or less burned. Missouri Murder Mystery. The bodies of two unknown young men were found beside the Chicago Great Western tracks at Savannah, Mo. Each had been shot in the back of the head. The theory is that they were murdered on a train and thrown off. Rescuer Remembered in Will. Louis B. Scott, a law student at Hamilton, Ont., two years ago at Atlantic City saved from drowning Miss Nerschoyle of Los Angeles. Cal. The woman died recently and left Scott $7,000. Accepts Dr. Pearsons’ Offer. The offer of Dr. D. K. Pearsons of Chicago to present $25,000 to Bethany College at Lindsborg. Kan., on condition that $75,000 be raised there by the institution, has beeu accepted. Tragedy iu Alaska. Late advices from Dawson tell of another tragedy, four out of a party of five losing their lives as a result of a terrible trip taken to the head waters of the Stewart river. _ Fusion in Kansas. Kansas Democrats, Populists and Silver Republicans fused on the nomination of a complete State ticket, headed by John W. Breidenthal, Populist, for Governor. Discover* New Comet. Dr. William R. Brooks, director of Smith Observatory at Geneva, N. Y., discovered a new comet in the eastern heavens. It is in the constellation of Aries. • } Drowned at the Age of 122. Old John Gomez, the most famous hunter in that section, claiming to be 122 years old, was drowned near Panther island in the Everglades of Florida. McKinley Will Offer Mediation. President McKinley promised Emperor Kuang Hsu to offer mediation to preserve the Chinese Empire on condition all foreigners in Pekin are first rescued. Drops Dead in a Courtroom. Ira Gregson, 24 years old, fell dead at Owensboro, Ky., just as he started to leave the court room. Heart disease was the cause. Fatal Barn Fire. At Barnesville. Ohio, the 7-year-old son of William Smith, a farmer, was burned to death, and Mrs. Smith and a 5-year-old son fatally burned in a barn fire.

KING OF COUNTERFEITERS HELD Italian Who Has Coined SIOO,OOO la Caught Alter Many Years. Bartholomew Rnello, an Italian, the king of silver dollar counterfeiters, has been caught in Philadelphia by secret service men after a surveillance extending over many years. He was lured from the Italian quarter and arrested. The counterfeiting outfit was seized in Ruello’s room in Christy street. Secret service men regard Ruello as the most dangerous counterfeiter in the country. He has been in the business for sixteen years and his output is SIOO,OOO. He made coins in Italy before he came here. Ruello made spurious silver coins of various denominations, but recently has confined himself to $1 pieces. The workmanship on these is excellent and the deceptive substitute for silver which he used almost baffled detection.

TO MOVE FIVE GLASS PLANTS. Indiana Factories Will Be Transferred to the Pittsburg District. Henry C. Fry, president of the National Glass Company, announces that one of the results following the annual conference of the officials and salesmen of that company at Chautauqua will be the removal of the five company’s plants from Indiana to the Pittsburg district. The removal will be effected as soon as proper sites can be secured. The plants to be removed are now at Summitville, Greentown, Dunkirk, Marion and Albany, Ind. They will take to that section over 3,000 workmen.

LAUNCH IS BLOWN UP. Woman and Son Killed and Her Husband Fatally Hurt. An appalling tragedy occurred as a finale to the regatta of the Larchmont Yacht Club. The naphtha launch Casco, owned and operated by A. E. Crow, a millionaire resident of New Rochelle, blew up in the middle of Long Island sound, killing Mrs. Crow and her son Harold outright and mortally wounding the husband. Hundreds of people saw the tragedy, for it occurred in the midst of the fleet hurrying homeward from the races. Sheepmen “Shoot Up’’ J'own. A band of sheep men visited Copperton, a new mining town twenty miles west of Grand Encampment, Wyo., and “shot up the town,” riddling the saloons and other buildings with bullets. It was done as a warning to prospectors to leave the locality, which is used as range by the sheepmen. Mob Lynches a NegroMob at Huntsville, Ala.; lynched Elijah Clark. The sheriff made a brave defense, shooting into the crowd. Entrance to the jail was effected by using dynamite and then smoking out the sheriff, who was found unconscious by the mob after entrance was effectced. Engineer Saves a Train. Presence of mind of an engineer saved passengers on the St. Louis limited of the Wabash road from probable death in the Kankakee river. The engine left the track and the train was stopped at the entrance to a high bridge near Custer Park, 111. Shoots Woman, Then Himself. Mrs. Augusta Bergenthal of Chicago was shot and instantly killed by Ludwig Sarpt Rasmussen. The murderer then turned the weapon on himself, inflicting fatal injuries. No motive for the crime is known to the police. Ambassador Draper "to Quit. Gen. William F. Draper, ambassador to Italy, has forwarded his resignation to President McKinley. He gave as his reason that business interests required his entire attention. Miner Kills in Gaming Row. At Corbin, Brent Wyatt, miner, of North Jellico, shot and killed William Hilton. The parties were gambling and a dispute arose over the game. ■ Wyatt then made his escape to the mountains. Find Rathbone Guilty. Mr. Bristow’s report on Cuban frauds declares Rathbone is only less guilty than Neely. Maybury Is the Choice. The Democrats of Michigan have nominated William C. Maybury of Detroit for Governor. Ferry Heath Resigns Office. The resignation of Perry S. Heath as first assistant Postmaster General has reached the Postmaster General. Strike at Scranton Mines. The runners and drivers at the Delaware and Hudson mines at Scranton, Pa., struck for increased wages.