Terre Haute Weekly Gazette, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 30 January 1879 — Page 1

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VOIi.1I.~XO.il.

HURLED TO SHADES

Particulars of the Double Hanging at Indiana- ., poli«To-dav.

John Achey and William Merrick Expiate Their Crimes oq the Scaffold.

Scenes and Incidents of the Execution as Witnessed by a Member

the Gazette staff.

Biographical Sketches of

the

Two Men and the History of Their Crimes.

OAzBtn Special Telegram^ Indianapolis, Ind., i\ M., Jgn. 29. Merrick and Achey were hanged at

12:20. The prisoners were Diought on at 12:04. Neither evinced much emotion. In response to the sheriff's inquiry: "Have you anything to say?,"

Achey said that Brown swore to a lie that he acknowledged#it in St. Louis, and protested that he suffered unjustly.

Merrick said a great wrong was being committed. When the rope was being

adjusted Achey said: This is not only cruel, it is wicked. Merrick died without a movement. Achey struggled con

siderably. ^"*1 f-

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The bodies were cut down at 12:42. The hanging was remarkably well con

ducted ?i (By Associated Pros?.) Indianapolis Jan. 29.—The execution, by hanging, of William E. Merrick and John Achey took place at twenty minutes past 12 o'clock to-day. At 12:32 the physicians pronounced both men dead.

Achey claimed that his crime was not premeditated and closed by saying: "7'he peopte want a hanging and I am re'jiy for it u*v•1 -iV'-'iafi fS-r'ivt MERRICK ASSERTED HIS INNOCENCE to the la6t. Both men displayed wonderful coolness un^ stepped to their places on the trap without assistance and with no hesitation or tremor visible. The arrangements of the sheriff were perfect and carried out without the slightest deviation or accident. The necks of both men were broken. A -,

John Achey shot George Leggett in a drinking saloon in the afternoon of July 16th last. Both were gamblers. Leg* gett had arranged a game in which:Achey lost all his money. He had recently received quite a sum from his mothers estate. Believing that he had been swindled, he sought Leggett and 3hot him twice, causing death in 20 minutes. Much sympathy has existed for Achey and executive clemency has been invoked but without avail.

William E. Merrick had lived with his wife before marriage. She brought abastardy suit against him. lie compromised by marrying her. On the night of September 14th, last he invited her to take a buggy ride. Stopping at a saloon he procured a glass of wine in which he placed poUon, taking it out to her to drink. He then drove about the city with her until she was- dead. During her death struggles she gave birth to a child. He buried his wife and child a short distance from the city in some rubbish, where they were found a few days afterwards. His conviction was had on circumstantial evidence almost entirely.

THEIR LAST NIGHT 02* EARTH From the Indianapolis Senslael. Merrick ate supper at the usual hour last evening, partaking of about the usual quantity of food. After the meal he called for writing materials, which were furnished him, and the first hours of the •evening were spent by him in writing business letters to his attorneys ana others. There was no apparent change in his actions or condition of mind. His spiritual counselors left him at 3:30 P. M. Before leaving him, he requested- them to come in the morning and remain with him until the end came. This they will do. Since the announcement of the decision of the supreme court a guard has been kept constantly with him to prevent any attempt at suicide, if he is so inclined. Last evening he and Achey w,ere plkced Ih one of the inner cells together, with either Deputies Harmoning or Buchanan lacked in with them. For sometime past Achey has had for a room-mate a fellow prisoner named Baker, who, it is said, has assisted him materially in his endeavors to prepare him self for eternity. Last evening whon the two mui derers were placed together,Baker declined to enter, believing, he told the sheriff, that Merrick would commit suicide before morning. Achey is fully resigned to his fate, be that hang to-day. or go to the penitentiary for life. Yesterday morning Father Bessonies baptized him accordingijro the ite of Catho

lic Church, and this morning the holy sacrament and ceremont of extreme unction will be administered. At I o'c!o?k this morning both men were sleeping. Achey is fasting, by instruction of Father Bessonies. PREPARATIONS FOR THE EXECUTION.

Everything is ready for the execution at noon tc-day. The scaffold arrangements are completed, the canvass screen erected on the walls of the jail, the fatal nooses tied. All day yesterday a guard was on duty outside the jail, and an additional force was put on last night. There are extra guards on duty inside the inclosure also. The officials are very tired, but will perform their duty to-day without flinching, unpleasant as it may be.

JOHN ACHEY.

'From the Intllanapolls Journal.* John Achey, the murderer of George Leggett, is forty-eight years of age. ^He has been a resident of Indianapolis since 1853, twenty six years. In the year named, his father Henry Achey, removed with his family from Cincinnati and settled in Indianapolis, purchasing the Wright Hotel, now the Glenn block from Gen. Elliott. At no time during his residence in Cincinnati was Henry Achev known as a capitalist, yet he managed in some way to obtain possession of funds with which to pay cash for the hotel properly. A short time before his emigration, Achey had the rare good fortune to be on a jury that acquitted a weathy murderer, and about this same period the poor juror accumulated a $10,000 bank balance. The acquittal of the murderer and the $10,00 cash may have had 110 earthly connection, but then the circumstances set tongues wagging, and the two incidents in the old man's history were unpleasantly associated in the public mind. This episode is mentioned in this conuection to show that unlike most tight rope dancers (prospectively) John Achey might not havfe been the 6on of a '•BAD LOT.

Heniy Achey.'s family consisted of one daughter, Mary, now Mrs. John McDowell, and three sons, John, "Dave" and "Jim"—rrile flowers,' eventually ripeninginto a tidy fragrant boquet. John was the oldest of the boys, and, according to all accounts, the best one of the lot. "Dave" and "Jim" were a quarrelsome couple, who divided their time between drinking, fighting and gambling. They were a bad lot, and a terror to law-abiding citizens. In 1S61 Dave was shot and killed by John McCulleck on Illinois street, almost directly opposite Chapin & Gore's, where his brother killed George Leggett seventeen years'

ret. Jfimft^e^tlie^^'otli^^s^VMl tw# or three terms in the State's prison for stealing, and was in a Missouri madhouse when last heard from, a few months ago.

THE tffcST Ofr THJS CONNECTION. John wa§ regarded as the peaceable member of the family, but was always looked upon as a shiftless ne'er-do-well. G&mbling and drinking were his vices, and for twenty years he has been known, not exactly as a professional gambler, but as a man who was always willing and ready to work in and about gambling rooms, dealing faro and the like on a salary. He was good natured, jovial, full of anecdote and dry humor that made him popular in sporting circles. He was endowed with strong native dramatic talent, and was wont to amuse the boys 'by reciting Shakespeare's plays, several of which he was as familiar with as he was with his alphabet. His friends used to flatter him into thinking that he might be a great actor if he would only apply himself to the alrt. But he could never apply himself, and consequently always renamed about home passing a lazy, loaferish existence, of no account to himself or to the world. From the time of the removal of HenVy Achey into his place on Kentucky avenue, now owned and occupied by Mrs. McDowell and her lambs, John pottered along making a pretense of helping his fnther keep boarding-house. Henry Achey's death, which occurred soon after the close of the war, made no apparent change in the son's manner of living, excepting that he centered his affection on his mother, whom he seemed to love devoted y.

A MESS OF POTTAG*.

The years pas« on, and last spring—in April or May—old Mrs. Achey died. For two or three years John had been serving as family cook, a work he seemed to enjoy, but at her death he retired from the kitchen. He was disconsolate when the old lady was put under the sod, and mournfully remarked to his associates that he had lost the best and only true friend he had on earth. He lost his gay and careless air, and tried to drown his sorrow in the flowing-bowl. Mrs. Achey was hardly cold in ber grave ere Mrs. McDowell set about effecting a division of the estate which was, and is still, worth about $25,000. She tried to buy John's interest, but he thought his thrifty 6ister wanted to beat him, and held aloof for a time. He finally accepted a proposition to take $2,500 'cash for his interest, and the money was paid over to him. His friends told him that he was being "wolfed," but he said he had rather take that amount and go^iis way in peace than to become involved in litigation. The gentle lady then skipped to St. Louis and purchased Jim's interest for $500, thus obtaining a valuable property for a mere song, comparatively speaking.

SWINDLED OUT OF HIS PATRIMONY*. Achy took to drinking like a fish, and while more than ordinarily mellow he celebrated his rare fortune by marrying Mrs. Brown, the lad who "nursed his mother in her last sickness, and she has been the only one of all his relatives who has paid the slightest attention to him since the shooting. She seems 1 eaily devoted to him. He gave his wife $500 to begin housekeeping on, spent $200 or $300 at short-cards, and put the balance

into a faro game with George Leggett, a "boss" gambler, rooms being rented tor the purpose in the Occidental. Leggett laid a plan to rol Achey, and took in as a confederate another gatnbler by the name of Ed. Biown. To carry out the scheme more succesffully Brown telegraphed for Doctor Drake, of Lexington, Missouri. The Doctor came, and the three together won about $900 of Achey's bank roll. He drew out the balance and l06t that too, ,v in a day or two fe^playing faro and poker. Leggett's betrayal of the confidence reposed in him preyed on Achey'a mind, already weakened by continual debauch, and on several occasions he demanded a settlement of Leggett. The unscrupulous fellow treated him with scorn, and on the day of the murder when Achey told him twenty-five dollars would settle the whole matter, Legget replied by putting his hand on his revolver in a significant manner and remarking,

(*Mot

d—n cent." THE KILLING OF LEGGETT. Achey thereupon left him, and buying or borrowing a revolver went out to hunt up Leggett. Hearing that he had entered Chapin & Gore's pool-room he followed him in, and observing his man leaning hp against the bar across the room, he walked straight towards Irim. 7i He had slipped the revolver up his sleeve, the muzzle being held against the palm of his right hand. On arriving within

loud tone of voice: "George!" Leggett turned partly around facing the speaker, when Achey fired, the ball entering the aldomet|, and passing through, lodged in the back. A second shot was fired, the ball passing over Leggett's head and burying itself in an immense ice box. The pool room was crowded at the time of'the killing, and in the excitement of the monient Achev was permitted to escape. He made no" effort to leave the cih, and in ten or fifteen minutes Was arrested in front of W. R. Hogshire's block, on Washington street, about a square from the1 scene of the murder.

.ACHEY TAKEN TO JAIL.

Leggett was taken home to die, and Achey was lodged in the station house. He said he meant to kill Leggett, and had shot him because he was a thief, and the world was. better off without thieves, At the time of the assassination, ind for a while afterwards, the general impression seemed to be that during his career in this city Achey had been a "roper in" or "steerer"-for brace-games of faro and 6hort cards, and that he was entirely devoid of honor. This seems to have been a'mistake, for in spite of his evil associations, the man was considered strictly honest. Faro hankers for whom he y?ork: ed. would leaye him in chaige of their, affairs for days and trust him implicitly to taake.a oorttct tfetteri- 9tewmp«ob«4^ honorable,'as gamblers go, and his as so* dates deny that he ever roped anybody against a '"skin" game of cards. Leggett, hi* victim, was honest in his business dealings, but a "wolf' of the worst description in his knavish speculation with the world in general. But both men were gamblers, and as such must be re* garded as dangerous to society. THE TRIAlj. AND SUBSEQUENT PROCEED-

INGS.

The murder occurred On the afternoon of the 16th of last July, and on the 9th of November Achey was sentenced to be hanged. His trial was not very protracted, and the defense, though.ably conducted, was not as vigorous as the circumstances seemed to require. It was too plain a case, any way, and no defense would have prevented the verdict at the time of the trial, when public opinion was greatly aroused. The case was appealed to the Supreme Court, and the finding of* the lower court sustained. Achey's affectionate relatives in Kentucky positively refused to aid him with a cent, and cruelly deserted him. Achey has failed rapidly during the past few months, and seems to be deeply penitent. From the first he has realized his desperate condition, and has made no attempt to conceal his feelings. He has won universal sympathy.

WILLIAM MERRICK.

The history of this man, whese crime, unparalleled in the annals of our State history, has brought him into such unenviable notoriety in the last few months, is a history of mysterious and. unlawful ways. Twice a bloody murderer, for years A professional resurrectionist, and suspected of being a thief and receiver of stolen goods, his entire career has been that of a desperate and deep-dyed criminal. It is impossible to give his exact age. He was born in Orange, Fayette county, Indiana, about 1S42, and is consequently about thirty-seven years old. His father,1* John Merrick, had several years before this moved to this state from Delaware. He was twice married. By his first wife he had two sons, Matthew and John, who grew up to be men and had the respect ot the entire community. His second wife was 4 woman of rather bad repute. At the time of her marriage with John Merrick she had a little girl. This girl grew up to womanhood and married a man by the name of Black. If William Merrick's alleged niece, "Jessie Batcheldor," were indeed his niece, she must have been the daughter of Mrs. Black. William Merrick was the third son of the second Mrs. Merrick, and had three brothers, Isaac, Francis and James, and one sister, Margaret. who is now the wife of a Methodist minister named White, who is located at Milroy, Rush county.

THE BROTHERS FOUR.

The four brothers did not have a very nigh standing in the community. Particularly was this true of William. While a boy he was passionate, quicktempered and reckless. He was continally quarreling with his playmates, and fighting was one of his principal amusements. He went to school for a short time only, after which he worked around in the vicinity as an ordinary farm-labor-er. When he was about eighteen years old he became addicted to drinking, and was the terror of the entire community.

tut,

TERRE HAUTE, I3fD:..—THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 1879. 91.50 PER YEAR.

Oa account of his well known habits he found it very difficult to obtain work, and consequently loafed around a considerable portion of his time. In 1S63, when he*was tvfrenty-one years old, he committed his first great crime—the murder of Thomas Truesdate.

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THE FIRST MURDER.

The particulars of the affair are as follows 1 Adjoining Merrick's house lived a jjridow nartjed Bovard, and her daughter, Margery. Merrick becamc much attached to this girl, and was very jealous of any attention -paid her by any other young man. Particularly was this true of Thomas Little, now a prominent lawyer of ConeFsvHle, but who was then a soUlier and home on a furlough. One nig^t in the early part of May, 1S63, a p^rty of young nfen went out serenading atkl visited the house of Mrs. Bovard. Little was not present, but Truesdale, a m#n of about his size and build, was. Mobile they wei serenading, a shot was fidjki from an alley in the rear of the p&mises, and Truesdale fell dead, with a latjje slug in his breast, which had enteired through his back. The alarm was giten and Merrick's house surrounded.

A committee was appointed to go, and rrick's sister met them at the door the exclamation, "My God, don't my brother !v Merrick was found in

Vpale and trembling, and apparently much frightened. Public feeling so bitter against him at the time that came near hanging him, but wiser nsel prevailed and he was taken to at Conhersville. In hi6 trial it was en that on the night of the murder rick had borrowed a loaded riHe from ighbor, saying he wanted to kill a

In a tew minutes he returned it ty, but came back soon afterwjhls and asked for it again, saving: "There is another damned das 1 want to kill." He took it

Jog LIUJ it was found empty in his possession afttr the murder. The slugs were extracted from the bodies of the dog he had k$ed, and Truesdale, and were found to be?exactly similar, and yvere evidently cul from the stfrie piece of lead. Ih spite ojPihia direct testimony against him, he Vrit acquitte'd. At the time nobody "knew wfcy Afterwards it became generally kno^m that tie was a member 01 the

K&IGHifs

THE GOLDEN C1RCLV?

ai|d that the jury was packed by membtre of that notorious order. His acquit-

therefore, is not to be wondered at. At$hek:onciusion of-his trial he left that par^ofthe country and has never been seen back there. He probably came direfctjy to Indianapolis and entered into tbt ftnploy of Wm. Hinesley, the livery

He^ras discharged from his potion on a suspicion of having stolen clothes from men.about the stable, tftveral years he worked at different *t'Viftlairi of Wekyer, tne undertaker, for ileariy tVee years, during which time he behaved himself and was regarded as an efficient and trustworthy hand. About six years ago he bought* the livery stable on South street, and kept it until this arrest. While professedly doing a striot livery business he was all tne time in the employ of resurrectionists, and derived considerable revenue from the sale of "stiffs At first, it is believed, his stable was only the headquarters for such men, but it is pretty well known that for the last five years he has been a professional resurrectionist himself.

About two years ago an old man came to his stable with a very valuable horse to sell. He staid all night, and the next morning was found dead in a stall. No person came to claim the horse, and Merrick kept it. It is now ljelieved that he was poisoned by Merrick :for the purpose of obtaining the horse, although no post mortem examination was ever keld.

HIS LATK DREADFUL CRIME About this time he became acquainted with Julia A. Paul, and tor some time they lived together as man and wife. Previous to this Miss Paul had been a schoolteacher, and enjoyed the respect and confidence of all her associates. Last summer she entered suit against Merrick for bastardy, and he consented to a marriage as a compromise. Merrick made frequent threats of killing her, and the day preceeding her disappearance he purchased some strychnine, "to kill rats," as he said. On the night of the 14th.of September he and his wifelef the stable in a buggy, and at a late hour that night he returned alone, and evaded all questions concerning the whereabouts of his wife. A saloon-keeper on Indiana avenue testified that on that night Merrick had entered his place and bought a glass of whisky for himself and a glass of wine for his wife, who was in the buggv. Into the latter glass he poured a white powder, which was undoubtedly the strychnine lie had purchased the day before. John Flack, a farmer living in the vicinity of Eagle crsek, west Of the city, testified that on that night he saw Merrick and a woman, the latter lying on the ground near a buggy and evidently suffering great pain. On the 22d of the same month two men came to the city and reported that they had found the body of a woman and a baby hitlf covered by logs on a bank of Eagle creek, near the Morris-street bridge. The body of the woman, although greatly decomposed was identified as that of Julia A: Merrick by numerous witnesses. A great many other circumstances were known, all pointing to Merrick as the murderer. He was arrested, and his trial commenced December 2, lasting eleven days, and ended with a verdict of guilty, with the penalty of death, after only eleven minutes' deliberation brthe^ jury. Throughout the entire trial Merrick showed great nerve, and even now, with the impending fate hanging over nim, hfe shows no perceptible evidence of weakening. The details of the crime of which he stands convicted all went to make up a complete story of a sickening crime. The murderer went about the work of killing his wife with all the ^deliberation of a thoroughbred fiend. A great many points, unknown till then, were developed during the trial.

INGTON.

I iftBH

A Cabinet Jleelinff Discusses the Indian Question,

And the Exact Meaning of the Arrearages ol Fenaion's Bill.

The Senate Committee in Favor of Reducing the Tax on Tobacco.

Senator Cliristiancy Nominated for Minister to Peru aud Instantly Confirmed.

The Potter Committee—A Witness Testi. ties That a Dictioaar Key Will Unlock Them.

Satisfactory Shswinf Concerning the Condition of the Trans« ury.

THE CABINET MEETING.

Washington, Jan. 28.—The cabinet/today, had under discussion the Indian question,particularly with reference to Sitting Bull. Arrangements will be made to meet aqy trouble that may be the result of his return to the territories, ..of which return there is now no doubt.

THE PENBION BILL.

There was an extended legal discussion at the meeting, with reference to the construction to be placed upon certain portions of the pension arrearages bill. It is a matter of great importance as to when the payment of arrearages begins, whether cn the date of discharge of the pensioner from the government service, or at the period at which the disability commenced. After considerable debate on this topic the matter was left for the opinion of the attorney general.

THE TOBACCO TAX.

The Senate finance committee, five to four, decided to recommend a reduction of the tobacco tax from 24 to 20 cents. It was alto decided to add to. the House bill admitting duty free, licorice paste and

u—Ak JNltl

ture of ptujg tobacco. APPOINTED. Washington, January 29.—The Presi dent nominated-Isaac P. Christiancy of Michigan, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of Peru, and William W. Dudley marshal for the District' of Indiana.

THE POTTER COMMITTEE. Before the Potter committee, to-day, W. T. McLennon, assistant chief of tne warrant division of the treasury department, stated that in consequence of a letter from Secretary Sherman he attended in the Morton committee room, and examined the original cipher dispatches and succeeded in deciphering them by a dictionary key. The committee was" not in session at the time he made the examination, but other experts were at work on the dispatches. Recess.

When the committee' reassembled, General Brady resumed the stand and gave to the chairman, the telegrams referred to in his testimony of yesterday. Translated they read as follows:

Tallehasse, Dec. 1.—To John Wing, Washington: Florida will go for Hayes. (Signed), BRADY.

Washington—To Gen. Brady, Tallahassee—Florida in trouble I speak advisedly have no other fears. [Signed] JAS. W. TvNlfc.

Washington—To Gen. Brady, Tallehassee—Reliable information here says the Democrats claim two of the Florida returning board. Do you believe it?

WlHO.

Tallahaste—To John Wing, Washington We have no intimation of treachery, except on the part of one of our members. If we come to grief it is through him, the New Yorker. We are advised he recommends contrary to our interests. His many and mysterious interviews arouse suspicion. [Signed] BRADY.

By chairman. Who was meant by New Yorker? A. General Barlow. The last telegrams related to the conclusion of the count and stated that the state had gone for Hayes &c. Cross examination showed John Wing was a fictitious name for Judge Tyner.

MORS LIGHT.

Washington, Jan. 29.—An influential delegation from Philadelphia was before the House committee on commerce today, asking $300,000 for the improvement of the Delaware river and $125,000 for additional lights.

THE TREASURY.

Washington, Jan. 29.—The treasury department states that over twenty-five millions of coin obligations, including one million, and four hundred thousand United States notes, presented for redemption, have been paid the current month, yet the coin in the treasury has steadily increased.

Hereafter the assistant treasurer will pay interest on government bonds in gold if demanded. No great demand, however, is expected. The February interest amounts to about six millions.

THE FOUR PER CEXTV

The nomination of Senator Chrisflancy to be Minister to Peru, was unanimously confirmed and without the usual reference.!

OVER THE OCEAN.

A Crisis in the Political AITairs of France lm~ minent.

,i,:

MacMabon Refuses to Sign m. Bill Re-organizing the 1 Army. •,,

Which he Claims Would Destroy its Efficacy.

It ii]not Improbable That he Will: Resign the Presidency.

Rumors as to His Probable Successor—The Plague in Germany.

MACMAHOSi.

Paris, Jan. 28.—The Soir, newspaper,^ publishes the following: At this morn-1 ing's cabinet council, President MacMahon signed a decree making-the changes-, in the magistracy, but when the question was raised of changes in the great military commands he said he could not as-.' sent to such a resolution, and must decline to disorganize the army. He would leave the responsibility of such steps to others. With these words the marshal! quitted the hall of the council. This^ statement has eveywhere produced the. greatest excitement. The group of the left appears determined .to impeach the ministry of the 16th of May. If they do, the Dufaure cabinet will resign.

In the lobbies, this afternoon, rumors: were already current of President MacMahon's intended resignation, but they. were then considered exaggerated.

Paris, Jan. 28.—A conference of ^residents and'inluential members of the bureaux of the majority in the senate and chamber of deputies was held to-night, The minisiters, who were present, confirmed the report that MacMabon had refused to sign t^^^^^^t^C

majority did hot wish to overthrow President MacMahon, hut would accept his resignation if he offered it, and pressed the ministers to .urgently renew their presentations to him in favor af the decree. The conference the opinion that in the event of pffsfct* ing in his refusal, the ministers snOlwf..^ explain the situation to the and tender their resignations*

London, Jan. a8.—A dispattfrV fnm -a Paris says In the event of President-4^ MacMahon's resignation, Gambetta will faVor the canddiacv of Gen. Chanzy or Admiral Pothnau for the presidency.

Paris correspondent telegraphs that the forthcoming motion for the impeachment of the ministry of the 16th of May is the work of Gambetta, who, after the late vote of confidence, said he was preparing plenty of surprises for the cabinet. If the motion is passed, as it is certain to be in the present state' of parties, both the cabinet and President McMahoh will resign. The private residence of the marshal has been in readiness for occupation since Monday. The correspondent believes that the cabinet might obtain, a majority on this question, if it accepted two or three members of the pure left as colleagues, and adds that a reconstruction of the cabinet is the only means of avoiding the disruption of the executive and a general panic. Gambetta counts upon M. Grevy to replace MacMahon, but it is doubtful .whether Grevy wouM be an accomplice to intrigue.

Paris, January 28.—The minister of finance has dismissed two treasurers general, placed four on the unattached list, and superanpuated five. a

Baron de Borgoing, unseated deputy, and formerly equerry to Empress Enrenie, refuses to stand for re-election, an address to his constiuents,' he says: "When the republic has shown itself to be what it has always been, violent, and aboye alt, incapable when it shall have proved its inability to secure to the nation tranquility at home and peace abroad^ you will find me again at my post of combat."

Berlin, Jan. 28.—The commission to deliberate vpon protective measures against the plague has resolved to ask the government to send a ^commissioner to lussia, and recommends the same measures as the Vienna conference recommended against the importation of Russian goods. Herr Finkelnburg told the commission that according to official data the plague has not spread beyond the originally infected districts moreover, the Russian authorities have commenced to enclose those localities by a doubly cordon of military.

The federal council met to-day, Co discuss measures, against the plague. There is no truth in the statement that Russia has issued a diplomatic note deoying the dangerous nature of the epidemic.

London, January 28.—The Standard's correspondent at Khost telegraphs that Whali Mohamed, a half brother of shere Ali, is en route to Hazarpir. where he will surrender to General Roberts decided on this step because, ha been summoned to Cabul, he fe&ed he was about to be put to death for defeat at Peiwar.

DISMISSED.

FRIGHTFUL DISASTER.

Birmingham, Jan, 29.—A large quarry in the suburbs of Oporte caved in and