North Carolina Newspapers

rCBLISHID At WILMINGTON, N. C, a. .... a uf . n iii nil unr I.UU A It An III AUIAiWU 88SSC8SB888SS8g85 S3223S22SS828S 8S83S8888838SSSSS 88SS88888SSSSSSSS 828882SS2S288S88S '. 8'8lIS8i8888888888 J -0,S52S5SSSSSaS 1 8SS8S833S8S888888 -"SS25SSSSaSSS5 : I S8S833S3SSSS8S33S - - - . . - a S . - " 3: J 1 lis 1 S ' S 1 Z in Enterf 1 at the Post Office at vilmtgtoa, N. C, at Second Clan Matt ex.1 . SUBSCRIPTION PRICE. The subscription price of the Weekly Star Is a follow, : Single Copy 1 year, postage paid .t ...91 00 r" ,r S months " " .. 60 I months OUR SUPREMACY 15 COTTON. - The Star a few days ago men tioned that the great conflicts be tween nations in modern times are brought about by the competition for trade supremacy. The commercial spirit of civilized nations is brought about by the necessity of giving re munerative employment to the peo ple and alio to provide compensatory investment for capital. As long as there is labor and as long as there Is capital this competition between nations will go on. : For humanity's sake wars would probably disappear from the earth in this enlightened age, bnt when na tions believe that their life and preservation depends on trade there will be fighting pretty much on the same principle that dogs fight oyer a toothsome bone This new cause for war also assumes a serious aspect for all the leading nations of the world, and the little lones as well, for they are the bones of con tention. Formerly when two na tions went to war they were alone concerned, but now three trade wars Involve the interests of all and when two nations go to war, the in ternational trade relations are such that all peoples are affected. War in Europe or the Eaat puts up the nrirua rt maaf. and frrain nmAnat.n In ...w.. - n- America, causing poor people to pay higher prices and enriching another class. War between America and any European nation would af fect the food supply over there, and as Europe is dependent on the United States for cotton, such a war would be disastrous to Europe and particularly to the Sooth. At the present time the faoutn furnishes the principal supply of cotton for the world, bat Great Britain, Germany aud France see thy day that they cannot depend on tbti South for their supply of raw cotton. They are therefore exploit ing Africa and other portions of she world to develop the cotton growing industry, to free themselves from dependency on America for their cotton, and possibly to preserve r their cotton manufacturing indus tries from destruction by those of America, which will sooner or later have supremacy owing to their ad vantage in being in the country that produces the raw supply. Germa ny'a war now going on in Southwest Africa and Great Britain's war on the west coast are the result of trade aggressions and more likely for se curing .cotton-producing territory. However, the New York Jour nal of Commerce and Commer cial Bulletin assures na that "our natural advantages in cotton,' the United States will hold the su premacy both in the growing of cot ' ton anrl U.b mannfar'.tnrp. That aMo papor, in its issue of January 19tb. says: , i'n great cotton manufacturing dis trict or Hogland ts la a peculiar poal "Tiou ( dependence. It was stated at thi rtcent meeting of manufacturer! at Manchester that the mills of Lan cashire represented a capital 100,000, 000 and an annual product ol 90.000.' 000, of which 70,000,000 waa export ed. An important prt of the export is to India, which la a cotton produc lo country and has made a beginning of manufacturing, for wbich it baa demanded ''protection." Andrew Calrd, writing to the Lon don Afatl.aaya: "Lancashire dependa upuu iub buhmuciii ui niucriviu tub ton for the bulk of its great export to India.' When the price of raw cotton goea beyond penoa per pound it is difficult to aell the finished article at a price which the natives of India can affora to pay." This not only illua tratee the hard position that Lanca attire Is in. but suggeita the great natural advantage or the United States for cotton manufaturlcg. We produce In our Southern States, including In mat category uaianoma and the In dian Territory, about 80 per cent, of all the raw cottou used in the world ureal Britain naa to import everv - pound that abe manufactures, taking most of it from this country and trans porting it in bulk three thousand miles and more. Then she must export bv far the larper part of the product, the cheaper fabrics going a. 8t.ll greater distance to India. China and South America, while aome or tne nner ones come back here to be sold in our mar kets. The present high price of cotton is not the only danger to the Lancashire mills. Tne tendency of recent yeara has been toward the building of mills In our Southern States for manufactu ring the coarser and cheaper finished 1- Lll. ii . a ena . : koous, wune mose or new unariana have been working up to thoae of finer quality. It ia a practical certainty that we ahall use an increasing proportion of our supply of raw cotton, supply our ' m . VOL. XXXV. own requirement for finished goods to growing extent, and, a reasonable policy la foreign trade, more and more encroach upon the marketi - which England has so long been accustomed to supply. We have every advantage in tnec repetition, land It will be little to our credit if we do not profit by it. It la no wonder that the Eng lish cotton manufacturers are made anxious by the situation that con fronts them, ( which they are disposed to attribute too much to mere specu lation In the raw material. In the present condition of supply and de mand the legitimate price is decidedly above 81 pence a pound, and is likely to remain so until there is a consider able Increase In the supply.. It will take time to effect that Increase from other sources than the United States, ana the result or experiments in Africa and elsewhere Is in much doubt Meantime our advantage is a continuing one, but its benefit will depend in no small degree upon a lower price, I for we can manufacture only what there is a selling market for. THE APPALACHIAN F0BEST RE SERVE. . Georgia wants to butt in on the proposed Appalachian forest re serve, the bill for which is now pending in Congress. Originally it was intended to reserve an extensive tract in the western and mountain portion of North Carolina, and if the reservation includes portions of North Carolina, South Carolina, Ten nessee and Georgia, all of which States will probably want to figure in it, the region in North Carolina will be necessarily contracted as compared with the' scope of country which the present bill contemplates. Senator Overman, of this State, is in charge of the bill and recently secured a favorable report on it from the committee. Here is what the Atlanta Journal of Tuesday say 8 abont it: The beginning of forest reservation by- the government of the United 8tatesls leas than a dozen years old. Since the beginning In 1892, millions of acres in California, Arizona, Colo rado, Idaho, Montana and Waahlng- too, New Mexico, Oregon, South Da kota and Wyoming have been re served, and i we are face to face with the fact that nothing baa been done in the Eastern or Southern States to pre serve the timber supply to our part of the country. A national forestry ayatem waa agi tated nearly thirty yeara ago, but it waa not until 1891 that the President had authority to set aside such lands aa are here mentioned. . In the yeara to come the deatruction of our timber will be accounted al most akin to a crime. It has been sheer vandalism In many or its dis tinguishing feature, and the sooner our people come to their senses the better it will be for the entire country in protecting the forest growth. If a forest reserve should ever be es tablished in the eastern section of the federal union, it must embrace lands where Tennessee, North Carolina and Georgia meet and join; and Georgia has more to offer than any or all or the three named in thia connection. There is a section which still holda on the soil the original primeval forest growth. There are tracts of five hun dred acres that are known to ex ist in a body where no clearings have ever been i made, in White county, Georgia, and doubtless there are many thousands or such acrea in tnat broken mountainous country. The timber is fine, and the commercial bard woods of the South Atlantic region must aoon be in great demand, aa the aoft woods of the Weat disappear. National ! parka are different from forest reserves. Forest reserves are set aside for the protection of the tim- and to protect the water aheds. Geor gia has an immense opportunity in this forest reserve policy. The land can be purchased by the government at very email figures, and the value of the timber, judiciously cut, would meet all expenses many times over. Savs the Charlotte Chronicle of Jan. 21at: Col. H. O. Eccles. of this city, is one of the most -eTrdent supporters or the Appalachian Park bill in this section. Cot. Eccles is only waiting now for the bill to be introduced in the lower House of Congress when he expects to go to Washington to do what he can in favor of the bill. It ia not generally known, but over 200,000 acrea of the land included in the park aurvey belong to prominent Oharlotteans. This land is a part of the eatate of Dr. R. T. McAden, and Dr. J. H. McAden, of this city, is trustee ot this vast tract, wbich would become a part of the park if the bill passes. Uol. Eccles la or the opinion that the bill will be passed by Uongres?, It nav lag already passed the Senate by a big majority. The secretary or the Appa lachian Park Aasociatlon. Dr. Ambler, or AsheviHe, is sending out literature on the subject, says Col. Eccles, and the association ia doing all in its power to make the movement a success. The amount of money is ten million dol lars and Col. Ecclea believea that thia amount will be forthcoming. Only two Senators have opposed the bill and these have now come around all right. Contrary to what might be expected Col. Ecclea says that many and per haps a majority of the lumber men or the Appalachian section favor the bill as it would prevent the denudation and final destruction of the forests. If Columbia has anything that we want she had better not "rise as one man" and stand there long enough for us to "touch" her. We left her a little something and she ought to be satisfied, or else we are liable to make her hold up both paws in the next inning. The associated press dispatches tell us that on the morning of Jan uary 21st an earthquake shock was felt all over the republic of Panama. Probably it was the same seizemic disturbance that occurred when the ranamanlan revolutionists "rose as one man." So Roosevelt now says. "Senator Hanna has a perfect right to be come a candidate for President if he chooses." There Is reason for Hanna to feel an overpowering sense of thankfulness that Teddy has at least found that out I RECORD OF COURTS. Negro Woman Before the Mayor for Murderous Assault Upon an Old Man. KNOCKED DOWN AND ROBBED. Sooth Carolina Soon" Badly Slashed by Another sod Seat to Hospital Two Others in aa Affray Tramp Sailors In faitody. In the police court yesterday Bessie Murphy, a young colored woman, was charged with making a desperate as sault with a club axe upon an old ne gro shoemaker named Noah Williams, who appeared with his head bandaged up as the reault of a very aevere gash in the scalp from the blade of the weapon, which was produced in court. The facta of the case bare been already published. The old man lived alone and while cobbling before the fire in his house, near Ninth and Grace streets, Tuesday night, the Murphy woman came in and asked for some thing with wbich to drive a tack out of her shoe. The old man gave her something . in response to her re quest and after driving the tack out on the hearth, the woman asked the old man for some money. The old man replied that he had none and went on with his cobbling. The wo man, atepped behind bim and the old man unconscious of any danger, said the next thing he knew women were tieing up bis head. One witneai testi fied that the axe was lying in a pool of blood on the floor and the old man was unconscious In his chair when she came in. The old shoemaker's pockets had been robbed of $1.05. A colored woman with whom the Murphy girl lived was introduced to prove an alibi for the defendant, but the witness proved a fine one for the State. She said Bessie Murphy said she was going off to get some money to buy something to eat, and that she went off and came back with $1.05 the amount stolen from the old man. The as sault occurred while the woman was absent from her home. The defend ant still contended, however, that she was at home when Williams was clubbed, and said the old man was mad with her because she wouldn't marry him. The Mayor held the wo man for the Superior Court in default of 1100 bond. fiet,n Slashed Another. Shed Hinet, a young negro who says he came from Sumter, 8. 0., and has been employed for some time at the Armour Fertilizer Works, waa badly slashed on the left arm late yes terday afternoon by Dave Macon?, colored, who is employed at Cape Fear lumber mill, near which the cutting took place. The cause of the affair could not be ascertained. A warrant waa issued by Justice Fowler for the arrest of Macon and Hines went to the City Hal), where be waa examined by Dr. Harper and sent to the hospital in the patrol wagon. He bad a gash about eight Inches long and an inch and a half deep on the arm near the shoulder. The main artery barely missed having been sev ered. The police laat night arrested John Young and Andrew McLean, both colored, who are charged with the cutting of Hines, though Hinea aaya Macon was the man who did the slashing. Hines was under the in fluence of liquor when the trouble oc curred, and the police say they have the right parties, notwithstanding the statements of the wounded negro, who waa disposed to assume an air of mystery about the affair when he was tsken to the hospital. Smashed la the Head. Kim Hamilton, an old, one-legged colored man employed at the Cham pion Compress, got too much liquor aboard yesterday afternoon and was making a nuisance of himself In the vicinity of Second and Princess streets. He at length got so bold as to strike Joseph Tate, a young negro, with a cane which he carried. Tate carried an umbrella and in retaliation smash ed the old "soak" over the head with It, laying bis scalp open. Deputy Sheriff Howe saw the occurence and carried them both before Justice Fowl er, who required of each a bond of $35 for their appearance in his court to morrow morning at 10 o'clock to answer charges of assault and battery. Suspicious Sailors. Two sailors who applied for lodging at the police station before day yeater day morning are held for further ad vices. The men said they came from Norfolk, but their actions were rather suspicious and .it was decided best to detain them a while. A. C. b. Pension System, Florence Times: "Major J. J. Lucas, of Society Hill, was in the city this morning going home from New York where he attended a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Atlantic Hnatt Line. Maior Lucaa aaid that the pension scheme wbich was considered at a recent meeting was auopiea. xi annllAB to employes of the com pany over 61 yeara of age and of ten years service with the Coast Line or with anv Other avatem which the Coast Line has acquired control of. Beyond tbis matter Major .Lucas said thers was nothing else of interest to the nubile considered at the meet ing." Much Game ia Onslow. Mr. L. M. Sandlin, of this city, re turned veaterday from a visit to a friend in Onalow county. Mr. Sand lin spent much time in hunting, and brought home as a result of his sport In the field, 150 birds, 50 squirrels, 6 duck and 6 coons. The game was dis played, near Front street market yes terday and attracted much attention. Weekly WILMINGTON, N. 0., FRIDAY, JANUARY 29, 1904. 810 FIRE AT LOUISBURO, N. S. Town threatened With Deatrnciloa S. A. L. Collision Near Heederioo, Special Star Telegram. Raleigh, N. C", Jan. 23. The Rs- leigh fire department was telegraphed early this morning to come with ap paratus to Loulsburg, where fire broke out at 3 o'clock. However, before the apparatus was gotten on the train, an- othtr telegram was received that the nre was under control. Reports from Louisburg are that$20,000;damage1'was done.. The Josses, with few excep tions, were covered bv insurance. Two brick and one frame store build ings were destroyed, J. W. Ponton and Mrs. Aycock being the owners. Others were also damaged. .The mer chants who suffered were: Deitz & Co., Swift & Co.. J. W. King, Odam & Co., W. 8. Hale, Huges & Preston and W. H. Harris. Much of their damage was from water and moving goods. Thecourt house caught several timea aa did Klveraide warehouse and other buildings, but the fire was ex tinguished before damage was done. It looked at one time like all the buei ness section of the town would go. ?- Two freight trains north and south bound from Raleigh and Richmond collided early -this morning juat be yond Henderaon. Both engines were badly damaged. Eight cars were wrecked ao the track waa blocked until noon. The Seaboard trains went around by Selma over the A. C. L. and Southern tracks during the blockade. Engineer Will Reid. of the northbound train, waa very badlv scalded and bruiaed, No one else waa injured. TRIPLE CHARQE OP MURDER. Desperate Nef.ro Arrested Near Ralelf b Yesterday Swift & Co Demestlcate. Special Star Telegram. Raleigh, N. 0., Jan. . 23. Will Adama, a negro, was arrested and held by the coroner's jury to-day for the murder of MaryBridgerr, colored, and ber two children at their home twelve miles from Raleigh laat evening as was told ot in yesterday's Associated Press dispatches. Evidence before the jury was that Adams waa seen at the Bridgers house during the Afternoon although he stoutly denied being there. There is also other circumstantial evi dence. When a posse went to his house he refuted to open the door, and several volleys were fired sa at win dows. He fought like a tiger when the door was broken open. 8 wilt & Company, meat packers, of Chicago, capital $100,000, domesticat ed to-day for the purpose of establish ing a branch office in Wilmington in charge of A. O. Landes. L. F. Swift is president and D. E. Hartwell, aec- retary, of the general company. Refister to Meet His Doom. Jabel Register, the notorious crim inal of Columbus eounty. sentenced to hang on Feb. 25th for the murder of Jim 8taley, and (Jesse Soles, was taken to Whiteville on the 6 o'clock train Friday morning by 8heriff Butler. Register will lay in jail there until the date of hia execution when the hanging will be conducted private ly. Petitions asking the Governor to commute hia aentence to life imprison ment are being circulated in Colum bus aa well as counter petitiona asking that the judgment of the court be not changed. One of the petitions in Register's behalf ia being circulated by hia sister. Handsome Law Offices. Messrs. Russell & Gore have fitted up a handsome private office adjoining their general consultaton rooms in the Allen building. The celling is of dec orated canvas ; the walla are handsome ly frescoed with oak trimming, while the floor is of beautiful rift sawed North Carolina pine in natural colors. The famous Wernicker elastic book cases are used in the room and every other convenience known to the man ufacturers of office supplies is em ployed. The offices of Messrs. Russell & Gore in their entirety are among the very best equipped in the 8tate. Negro Killed at Florence. Before day yesterday morning Wil lie Mick, a negro shifting engine helper, was instantly killed on the A. C. L. yards at Florence by being burled under an avalanche of coal from one of the railroad chutes. The coal had been clogged in the chute and the 'negro had gone up on the frame work to looaen it. The heavy bulk gave way all at once and the negro waa burled under It. New Line of Steamers. It is reported on good authority that upon a guarantee or tonnage oy Co lumbia business men, Mr. T. D. Love, of this city, will next month begin the operation of a steamer line between Georgetown, 8. U.. and Columbia, on the Santee ar.d Congaree rivers. Either the "Highlander" or "Tar Heel," it is said will go to the new line and will be operated In connection with the Clyde Steamship Co. Died at Axe of 115? Emanuel Solomon, an old colored man lor many years employed at m J Christ's bakery back of which he lived, died yesterday and hU age is given as 115 years on the death certificate. The remalna were sent yesterday afternoon to Scott'a Hill for interment accom panied by his son, who said his own age was 72 and he waa the youngest of the family of the old man's chil dren. ' Teacher Resigned. Rev. J. D. Bowen, teacher of Acorn Branch school. District No. 5, on yes- terdav tendered his resignation to Sunt. Catlett and will return home. The action of Mr. Bowen was not ex pected and the result of hia resignation will be that the school will be without a teacher until BupL Catlett can em ploy another. There were 26 pupils in attendance in that district. FIRE IN A COLLEGE.! Dormitory aud; Other Buildings Burned at State Normal ia . Greensboro Yesterday. STUDENTS BARELY ESCAPED. Will be No loterrnpOoa of Work for Term President Mclver Issues Statement Kind Offers of As sistance by Many. the rS!pectaZ Star Telegram. Greensboro, N.O., Jan. 21. Fire broke out the in kitchen of the State Normal College here thia morning at a quarter to four o'clock and destroyed tha main dormitory with laundry, boiler room and kitchen. All the girls escaped with their lives, bat most of theos lost their personal effects. The loss is about $75,000, not half of which Is covered by insurance. .The college has closed down until Monday when work will be returned. r The students are being taken care of In the hotela and private homes, more tbau a huodred more homes than were needed being offered. State Treaau rer Lacy and State Su pe'intendent Joyner are here and GoTernor Aycock will come to-morrow when a meeting of the board of directors will be held looking to the erection ot a modern dormitory by next Fall. The studenta' building. practice and observation school will be converted Into dormitories ' for the 8pring term. Only twenty-four of the students went home. Citizens here are raising a fund to aid destitute stu dents, over a thousand dollars having already been subscribed. President Mclver says the disaster is a serious one but not a circumstance to the typhoid fever epidemic of a few years ago. Kejolcing is great that no loss of life resulted. Dr. Mclver this after noon issued the following statement to the public. "The main dormitory of the State Normal and Industrial College was burned this morning about 4 o'clock. No student was injured in any way, though a number of them lost their trunks and all their clothing. The citizens of Greensboro have opened their homes to the students and com fortable temporary arrangements have been made. "There will be no suspension of the college. The students have shown perfect self-possession, and there baa been at no time anything bordering upon a panic. The three other dor mitories, together with the temporary equipment of rooma in the main col lege building, the students' building and the Curry building, will . enable the college to continue its work for the present. In two or three weeka aome permanent and better arrangement can be made." By Associated Press. Charlotte. N. C. Jan. 21. Fire which broke out in the kitchen about five o'clock this morning, destroyed the main dormitory, the kitchen and dining rooms and laundry and boiler buildings of the State Normal College for girls -at Greensboro. There were about three hundred students In the burned dormitory and all escaped without injury. aome of the students, however, bad exceedingly narrow escapes. Two young ladies were awakened only when the names had reached their room anc in their ingbt they were barely prevented from jumping from the x window, ever one hundred of the students lost all their cloth ing. Much praise has been be stowed upon the watchman for the manner he went about the waking of the studenta and thus preventing any thing like a panic. The loss Is esti mated at $70,000, with' $25,000 insu rance. The building ia the property of the State, and had been in use only a few years. The studenta were well cared for by citizens of Greensboro and the banks of the town tendered each a loan of $100 to replenish their wardrobes. while the Southern railway offered free transportation to any who desired to go home. Regular exercises will be resumed not later than Monday next. Mrs. Hosd's Magazine Work. Charlotte Chronicle: "The Mill News, of Charlotte, has recently been very greatly improved and is now one of the neatest publications received at this office. One of Its features is a woman'a department, conducted by Mrs. Lisette Clayton Hood. She Is a gifted; woman, whose literary career began in Wilmington in 1875. on a monthly magazine. Mrs. Hood's style is simple, but very earnest and forceful, and her department, we feel sure, will be an attractive feature of the Mill News.1' I Mrs. Hood Is a daughter of the Rsv. Dr. G. D. Bern- helm, of this city. Rolled Off the Feeder. A negro was scooped up on the fen der of car No, 20, of the street rail- Way line,' nearly opposite The Orton last night. The man waa rolled over and over and finally pitched off to one side of the track unhurt. A number of people sa the accident .and hur ried to the man, thinking he bad been severely injured or killed, but he jumped up and exclaimed that he was not hurt and told the motorman to go ahead. However, It was a narrow es cape and, In the opinion of bystand ers, the fender saved his life. Took His Groceries Away. ' C H. Simpson, a colored fisherman Who lives on Seventh, between Ann and Nun streets, complained last night that he had been robbed of a basket of i groceries at Front and Orange streets. He was taking the groceries home about 9:30 o'clock and put the basket on the sidewalk while he rested a mo ment He said two well-dressed white men came along, took the provisions and threatened to barm bim if be said I anything about It. STILL R,QHT AFTER .EM- fib amber ef Commerce Again lavokes Aid ol Corporatloo Commission In Strng. gle With Seaboard Addreis The following letter to the shippers of the Chamber of Commerce has been drawn by President J. A. Taylor and a copy of the same waa mailed yeater day to each member of the body In terested. The letter is self explana tory: , Wilmington. N. C. Jan. 23. To Members'. B. A. L. Service. The Seaboard Air Line's new man agement have ahown their hand. You will recall that the S. A. L. Issued a circular in November discontinuing flag aiationa between Wilmington and uamiet, and that this Chamber car ried the matter to the corporation com mission and had the stations restored. Investigation disclosed that the 8. A. L. bad without warrant or color of law discontinued these stations, and the prompt action of the corporation commission in the premises was sup posed to. have definitely settled the matter; but in this supposition we have been woefully disappointed, and the purpose of tbis railwav svstem to disregard its public obligations in di rect defiance of law has been made manifeat by the Issuance of a circular without authority of law and to which publicity was never given, under dale of January 8'.b, effective January 18;h aiacontinuing all the stations, wi in. the possible exception of one, restored by the order of. the cornoration commis sion. The matter has again been car ried to the commission. It is the purpose of his letter not only to advise yon of the situation, but to suggest that the Wilmington shippers tender shipments, In the reg ular course of business, for these abol ished stations, and in the event that they are refused, to reauire the agent to endorse serosa the face of the bill of lading, over his signature as scent. formal notice of refusal. The law cannot be violated with lmnunitv. and its infraction subjects the offend ing party to penalty. ihis Chamber will nroaecute all in fractions of the law if shippers, acting on the suggestion herein, will procure the evidence of refusal of shipments. We would indeed prove ourselves simple to expect any relief other than by force. The a. A. L. has given un mistakable evidence of its purpose to ignore the just needs and business res quirements of this city, and the public is not powerless to gain redress 1 its rights are vigorously asserted. You are earnestly requested to sup port, by your individual actions, thia Chamber in Ita efforts to safeguard the public welfare. Yours respectfully, J. A. Taylor, President. VERDICT NOT GUILTY. vrs. Bechtel Admitted of the Charie of Being an Accessory, After the Fact to the Murder of Her Daughter. By Telegraph to the Morning Star. Allkntown, Pa., Jan. 23. Mrs. Catherine Bechtel, the aged mother of Mabel Bechtel, who was found mur dered last October, was to-day acquit ted of the charge of being an accessory to the murder after the fact. Her trial occupied nine days and the jury deliberated one hour before rendering tne verdict ot not guilty, The gray haired defendant received the news of her acquittal with tears and expret sions of joy 8be was immediately releaaed from custody and went to ber home, accompanied by her sons. John and Charles, who are under in dictment on a similar charge, but their trials nave been postponed until the April term of court. Former Mayor Bchaadt, counsel for Mrs. Bechtel. says be has instituted an investigation by which he hopes to clear up the myatery surrounding the murder of the young woman. Alois Eckstein and David Weisen berg, who were rivals for the affection of Mabel Bechtel, were both tried for her murder, and both were acquitted. Attorney Bchaadt made an eloquent plea for the acquittal of the accused woman and during his address di rectly charged Eckstein with having a guilty knowledge of the crime. Dis trlct Attorney Lichtenwalner in hia address explained that the theory of the Commonwealth was that Tom Bechtel had killed his sister during quarrel and asserted that the evidence adduced proved the claim. Judge m i , i . i .1.1 xrexier a cuarge consumed a uau nour. The spectators attempted to applaud the verdict but were checked by Judge xrexier. P0ST0FF1CE ROBBED. Safe Blown Open aod Nearly Four Has dred Dollars Secured. Br Telegraph to the Horning star. Titusville, Fla., Jan. 23. Cracks men blew open the safe here early this morning and took all the cash In It, amounting to nearly $400. They first went to a blacksmith shop and secured a sledgehammer, crowbar and other tools. They then broke open the front door of Kline's dry goods store and forced open the doors of his safe. They secured only about $20 In silver, overlooking bills. checks and postomce orders. They then went to the postoffice, where they blew open the safe, wrecking it completely and damaging the build' lng. They escaped, but to-day two men were arrested at New Smyrna charged with the robbery and brought here ana placed in ,iau. SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHED. Protected Bruiser Charleston by Newporl News Shipbuilding Co. By Telegraph to the Morning Star. Newport Nkws, Va , Jan. 23. The protected cruiser Charleston was successfully launched at the yards of the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company to-day. A heavy fog hung over tbe river and almost as soon as the ship struck tbe water she waa lost to the view or tnn several thousand spectators. Miss Helen W. Rhett, daughter of Mayor R. G. Rhett, of Cbrlfi"". christened the vessel. Advocate General Lvmly represented the Navy Department. After the launching the Newport News Com pany gave a luncheon in honor of the christening party and prominent guests. NO. U TO EXTEND ITS LINES. Long Distance Service in Pros pect Between Wilmington, N.C. , and Florence, S.C. COLUMBUS TELEPHONE CO. Property Conveyed by Receiver C. D. Weeks to Joo. H. Qore, Esq., Tros tee Whiteville, Chadboara aod Others In Territory. It is learned from a reliable aource bat the American Telephone and TeUgraph Co., will ahortly extend its Southern Bell long distance lines from Wilmington to Florence, S. C, and that a party of prospectors are now on the survey cf tbe route. At Florence the line will connect directly with the main line extending South., and will also give long distance- service to the immediate country between Wilming ton and Florence, including White- vilir, Chadbourn, Fair Bluff, Marion, Mullinsand other territory now em braced by the re organized Columbus Telephone Company, which has a traffic agreement with the Bell Com pany. At present tbe long distance service South ia given Wilmington through Selma, N. C, but the con necting link between Wilmington and Florence now in prospect will make communication direct. A deed was executed yesterday, transferring from O. D. Weeks, recei ver, to Jno. H. Gore, trustee for the re-organized Columbus Telephone Company, all the property of that corporation, tbe consideration being $3,755. The llnea of the company now extend from Wilmington as far as Council's Station and from Wilming ton to Southport. Upon completion of the long distance lines between Wilmington and Florence the terri tory covered by the Columbus com pany will be accessible to all the mil lions of points covered by tbe big cor poration. A metallic line is now be ing built from Council's Station to Chadbourn, a distance of about 25 miles, so as that territory may be in cluded in the traffic agreement reach ed about a year ago. THE ALABAMA CYCLONE. Death List Amounts to Twenty-eight Re lief Messures Takeo. By Telegraph to the Morning 8tar Tuscaloosa, Ala., Jan 23. The death of one ot the victims injured In the tornado which passed over Mound vllle, Ala., yesterday has increased the liat of those killed in the storm to thirty-eight, six whites and thirty-two negroes. The dead man was a white farmer who lived four miles from Mound ville. whose name has not yet been learned. The funerals of Robert Powers, of Tuscalooia, and Miss Nettie Farley, ot Havana, were held to-day. At the same time, twenty-five ne groes who died in the tornado were buried. The number of wounded is estimated at sixty-five, of whom about a dozen are expected to die. Ten negroes are are also expected to die from Injuries. Relief measures are also being taken by citizens of Tuscaloosa, under the leadership of General W. W. Brandon, adjutant general of Alabama. Six hundred doi lars was raised for the sufferers yester day afternoon, while tbe pupils from the female seminary at. Tuscaloosa went to Moundville and served hot coffee to the destitute and wounded. Telegrams have been sent from Birmingham offering assistance. s RADIUM-BE A R1NQ EARTH. Richest Deposit ia the World Discovered ia Texas. By Telegraph to the Morning Star. Austin, Tex., Jan. 23. What Is claimed to be the richeat radium' bearing earth in the world has been discovered In the Llano gold and coal fields, lis miles north of this city. Rumors of the discovery of earth bearing a large per cent, of radium in the Llano have been persistent for some time, and to-day these rumors were verified by the return of a party of scientists who had visited the mines to investigate the reports. These gen tlemen state that the Llano earth will produce a larger percentage of radium than that of any other known deposit. HEQRO MURDERER CAPTURED. Charged With Killing a Mother aod Her Two children. By Telegraph to the Morning Star. Raleigh, N. O., Jan. 23. Will Adams, charged with the murder of the negro woman Bridgers and her two young children, was captured early to-day. He was located in his home and made a desperate resistance. A posse fired into the windows and were beginning to break into the house when Adams surrendered. He was brought here this afternoon. It la reported he has made a partial eon fusion, acknowledging the crime. DYNAMITERS ARRESTED. Charged With Holdlog Up i Seaboifd Air Line Passenger Train. By Telegraph to the Morning Star. Jacksonville, Fla., Jan. 23. 8. A. Petty and M. Petty, charged with holding up and dynamiting the Sea board Air Line passenger train at Sanderson on January 17th, have been captured. When arrested the men bad dynamite in their posses sion. They have been identified by the engineer and baggagemaater. The United States authoridea will charge them with firing into a mall coach and jeopardizing the life of the mall agent. A movement for tbe erection of a monument to tbe Iain General John B. Gordon waa begun at Atlanta yes terday, when a committee to be known as the. central executive committee was appointed for the receiving of subscriptions toward a monument. Sub committees are to be appointed in every Southern city. spirits jpm Th Am IOTA, rain rjf im.ll vwiv iTa id als xt 7 zr v ""r" jaonroeanq aiso ojre wadeBboro. ThA ItfaumioaHlla risitt An Mm. in Mecklenburg oounty,has declared a semi-annual dividend of 3 DAT cent. mm TtiA ' TTtirhimtttui' nri ammI.aJ labor paper published at Raleigh by j&aitor rat mcuowan, advocates the nomination or wm. k. uearst for President Lalisbury Sun: Major Sted- man's speech at Charlotte on the I" oint anniversary celebration of the urth of Lee and Jackson was a model of its kind. The novelist. Mm. .rm M. Tiernan (Christian Reid) was elected honorary president for life by the Salisbury Chapter Daughters of the Confederacy, Jan. 19th. Charlotte Chronicle'. Col. Al. Fairbrother thinks the Raleigh dis pensary is too exacting in making a 66$ nnr AAnt. rvmfifc An t.ha Mnnnr sold, and the burden of proof is on jao dispensary. Invitations have been issued for the marriage of Secretary of State J. Brvan Grimes and Miss Elizabeth Forrest Laughinghouse. at home in Greenville, February 3rd. The bride ia a sister of Col. Grimes' first wife. Raleigh Times: A gentleman from the country was Bpeaking to day of growing cotton and the grow ing pricea of ootton, and said that yesterday he sold eight bales for $482, and that just exactly six years ago he sold eight bales of good cot ton for i60.2d. Hon. James A. Bryan, of New born, president of the Atlantic and North Carolina Railroad, waa in Ra- leigh on Friday and. secured a char ter for the Newbern Savings Bank, which is to be organised within the next few days. The capital is to be $100,000 authorised and $15,000 subscribed by J. A. Bryan, J. H. Hickman and George H. Roberts. Smithfield Herald: Mr. W. J. Thome, who lives in the southern part of Oneal'siownahip, killed the largest hog seen in that section in many years. The hog weighed 1, 065 pounds gross, and 803 after being dressed. The hog was 8 feet, 2 in ches long and 2 feet 2 inches across the shoulders. The head alone weigh ed 50 pounds. Unr reporter says the hog looked more like a mule lying down than anything else. The Dispatch says that a party of Lexington citizens killed 400 rob- bins in the cane Drakes along Ab bott's creek, in Davidson county, one night last week. More than forty persons, says the Dispatch, were hunting robbina the same night and it is believed tkat 5,000 of the birds were slaughtered in that locality that night. The Salis bury papers report a similar slaugh ter of robbins near that town. Kinston Free Press: Mules and cotton are always associated, in the minds of people, and the present high price of the staple meets with sympathetic response from the mule and the two are to-day higher in price than they have been since the war, says a local horse dealer. Mr. W. D. LaRoque, who returned this morning from purchasing stock in Norfolk, tell the reporter that a car load of mules sold under the ham mer there yesterday for $190 a head, The Oxford Ledger, referring to the burning of the seminary there on Monday last, says : Mr. Wayne uooch, oi Clarnsvule, va., dreamed that the Seminary was burned Sun day night, which worried him a great deal Monday morning, so much so that he called Mr. K. Broughton up over the 'phone. Ho told him of his dream and wanted to know if it was so, and while talking to Mr. Broughton the alarm was given and the cry rang up and down the streets that the Seminary was on fire, and Mr. Broughton sorrowfully informed Mr. Gooch that it was then burn ing. This is rather a peculiar coin cidence, to say the least of it. Raleigh correspondence of The Charlotte News : A peculiar case of stolid impudence on tho part of a Sriaoner occured last evening when udge Brown in Wake court or dered a sentence of four years for Ohas. Alexander for beating and robbing a negro boy, leaving him un conscious tou almost freeze. When the sentence was pronounced Alex ander asked the judge to please make it five years. The order was changed.. Then a negro woman stated that Alexander had threaten ed to kill her and other prosecuting witnesses when he served his term. So the judge made the sentence seven years. Can't you even it np? asked Alexander. Yes, replied the judge, Mr. Clerk make the sen tence ten years. Thank you, prompt ly answered the sullen negro. Raleigh Post: As far back as 1840 North Carolina had twenty five cotton mills with 47,000 spindles and 700 looms, giving employment to 1,200 people. In 1870, five years after the destructive war, while the number of mills had increased to 33 the number of spindles had decreas ed by 8000, ana the looms by 100, though the operators had Increased to 1,500. It would be interesting to know where the 25 mills were lo cated in 1840, and where and where in the change Indicated in the 1870 report occurred. In 1903 however the number of mills has reached 275, the number of spindles well np in the millions, while the looms and and operatives are up in the thous ands, upwards of 50,000 of the form er and more than that number of the latter. And the growth in mills, machinery and operatives employed goes merrily on. The civil term of the Superior Court which is to convene at DurV ham to-morrow has on the docket numerous damage suits In which the total amount involved is $150,000. Among the cases, Mrs. Mamie A. Nunnally sues the Seaboard Air Line for $30,000 for the death of her husband, who was a conductor on that road. R. H. Clayton sues the North Carolina (Southern) Railroad Company for $30,000 for the loss of the leg of his son, David 31ayton,on account of an accident in the shops at Spencer. W. H. Dixon sues the city for $2,500, and E. W. Canady, the colored lawyer, sues the city for $3,500, both alleging injuries from falling into hole s n the streets. Mrs. Fannie Blalock tugs the Willard Manufacturing Company for $10,000 for ii j ries to her -on, Reuben Bla lock. There are quite a number of oases, from $1,000 to $3,000, mo.t cf them against corporations.