31)f wmitfjfirli JfeMb.
fuo> dm dou.ah p?n t??k. 'Tit E TO OHBSRW K8? Ol'K Cdl'XTRT AND OPS GOD." uhol? a<piiu> riv? . ? i
VOL. 27. SMITHFIELD. N. C.. FRIDAY. DECEMBER 25. li)<)8. NO. 48
KNOX WILL HEAD
TAFT'S CABINET
He Has Accepted the Place as'
Secretary ot State.
PRESIDENT-ELECT PLEASED
Peels That He Should Be Congratulat
ed In Securing Senator Knox's Ser
vices and Says He Is Recognized as
One of the Greatest Lawyers In the |
Senate.
William H. Taft, president elect of
the United States, announced the ap
pointment of United States Senator
Philander C. Knox, of Pennsylvania,
M secretary of state in his cabinet.
The announcement followed the re
ceipt by Mr. Taft of a telegram con
veying the information from Mr. Knox
that he would accept the premiership
St the Taft cabinet.
Mr. Taft without delay made the an
nouncement that the matter was set
tled.
"I feel that I am to be congratulated
In securing the services of Senator
Knox in my cabinet," said Judge Taft
in making the announcement. "In br
lading a secretary of state, I wanted, !
first, a great lawyer, and, second, a
man who would fill the public eye, not
only here, but abroad, as a man who
atands out pre-eminently as a great
Ani^ican. Mr. Knox was a great at
torney general; he was a prominent
candidate for the presidency, and he
U recognized in the senate and else
where as one of the great lawyers of
that body."
Judge Taft also feels that from a
political viewpoint the selection of Mr.
Knox is most happy. He explained that
there was often a feeling that the
itate of Pennsylvania, with its assured
Republican majorities, often was
alighted in the matter of recognition
In the high councils of the party. That |
this will not be the case In the next
administration was indicated by the i
announcement by Mr. Taft that he ?
would invite Senator Knox to come to i
Augusta that he might consult him i
freely with reference to filling other i
places in his cabinet. i
i
For Attorney General. I
From a reliable sourse in Washing
ton is was learned that George W. |
Wickersham, of New York, is to be at
torney general in Mr. Taft's cabinet. (
Couple Slain In Bed.
Wyconty Florezik, aged thirty-eight t
years, and Rozlye Florezig, twenty-four [
years old, his wife, were found mur- j
dered in their home, at 132 Bird street, ?
Wilmington, Del. The gruesome crime t
had been committed with a hatchet <
Between the beds in which the bod
ies were found wr.s the cradle con- t
talning the two-months-old child of the |
couple. Splashes of blood were found j
on the Infant, but it was not hurt. i
Tn tha aHlnlninar ? *W?
au vuv "wui n txa mo iwir j
year-old daughter of the dead man ]
isd woman. She wai badly frightened <
tnd had evidently been in her parents'
room, because marks of blood were
found on the floor of the room which
?he occupied. The bodies ?ert found (
by Alexander Florezik, aged eighteen l
years, a boarder and half-brother of <j
the murdered man, who did not spend <;
the night at the house, but went there (
In the morning to learn why he could e
not get in when he went home. The t
police have taken the young man into j
custody. I
Penna. Capitol "Trimmers" Sentenced.
John H. Sanderson, cantractor for j
the furnishing of the new state capi
tol; ex-Auditor General William P. f
Snyder, ex-State Treasurer W. L.
? .thues and ex-Superintendent of
I-ublic Grounds and Buildings James ^
M. Shumaker, convicted of conspiracy ^
to defraud the state of Pennsylvania E
In the first of the cases growing f
out of the capltol scandal to be tried, 1
were sentenced to two years in the *
penitentiary. $500 fine and costs, the *
maximum punishment allowed by law, *
and after being in the custody of the 8
Sheriff for seven hours were released
on $100,000 ball. Their attorneys ap
pealed from the refusal of the Judge
to grant a new trial anjl his sentence 1
to the superior court, and that trt.- f
bunal. sitting in Philadelphia, allowed 1
? supersedeas. When the terms of this c
order staying the execution of the i
sentence were received at Harrisburg ?
bail was entered In the sum of $25,000
each for the defendants, this bail to
bold good until the superior court de
cides their fate. 1]
t
Tobacco Trust Gets Hard Blow.
The American Tobacco company *
suffered a heavy blow when the final *
decree In the suit of the government *
against tne "trust" was filed In the
United States circuit court in New
York. The decree declares that the
American Tobacco company. the
American' Cigar company, the Atneri
can Snuff company and the McAn
drews & Forbes company form a mo
nopoly and illegal combination In re
straint of trade, and they arc enJo'n"d
from engaging in interstate commerce
in leaf tobacco or any of its products
or any articles used In connect'on with
the tobacco trade until competition bp
tween them is restored.
John D., Jr., Suet Newspaper For Libel
Upon a charge of criminal libel,
which was made by .John D. Rocke
feller, Jr.. S. S. Carvalho. president of
the Star company, publish)' s of Wil
liam R Hearst's New York American,
was arrested and arraigned in police
court before Magistrate Finn. At the
solicitation of Clarence J. Shearn. at
torney for the Hearst publications, and
ivithout any objection being raised ou
Ihe part of Assistani LKsrr ? Attorney
3arvan, who had clicrgo Ci the prose
cution. Mr. Carvalho was paroled in
the custody of his lawyer until Dec. 26
tor examination.
Mr. Rockefeller, accompanied by his
counsel. Lawyer Murphy, appeared in
District Attorney Jerome's j"ice and
made complaint that the article pub
lished in the New York American of
Dec. 17, under a Chicago date of Dec.
16. with the head line "J. D. Rocke
feller, Jr., Originated Peonage In
Stockade, It Is Said," tended to injure
his good name, reputation and credit
md to make him appear ridiculous.
FATAL FIGHT WITH
BIG RATTLESNAKE
Hunter Dies After Cutting Away
Poisoned Flesh With Knite.
Kissimee, Fla., Dec. 21.?While hunt
ing thirty" miles down the Kissimee
river, H. C. Fountain, a prominent con
tractor, aroused a big rattlesnake, and
in a fight killed the reptile only after
It had sunk its fangs into his flesh.
With his hunting knife ^ie cut away
the poisoned flesh, digging out the
wound, and when he was found by two
men who were hunting with him was
able to hobble with their aid. He reach
ed this place Sunday, but died despite
ill efforts to save him. He could make
no effort for relief for more than
twelve hours.
IVE ARE A SWEET NATION
Uncle Sam's Sugar Bill Averages a
Million Dollars a Day.
Washington, Dec. 21.?Cold figures
sathered by the bureau of statistics j
show that the average American citi- ?
sen consumes half his own weight in j
sugar every year and Uncle Sam's
sugar bill averages a million dollars a
lay.
The total consumption of sugar in
:he United States In 1907, which is the '
ateat year for which statistics are
ivailable, reached the almost unthink
ible figure of 7,089.667.975 pounds. The
3er capita consumption was 82.6
jounds for each man, woman and
ihild in the United States. '
Train Kills Mine Victim's Widow.
Monongahela, Pa., Dec. 21. ? Mrs.
Jeorge Eckens, a negress, whose hus- '
land was killed In tha Marianna mine
llsaster three weeks ago. was run '
lown and killed by a Baltimore & 1
>hio train at Findlevvllle. Mrs. Eck- '
?ns created a scene at the mouth of
he Marianna mine by attempting to
ump down the shaft to search for the
>ody upon learning that her husband
vas among the victims. ^
DIES IN SQCCER GAME
athlete Has Cerebral Hemorrhage, <
Caused By Excitement. <
Baltimore. Dec. 21. ? William A. I
Trotter, twenty-three years old, a mem- 1
ler of the Mount Washington club's <
soccer team, died on the field In an <
ixciting game with the Country school i
earn. He -"as playing rapidly when
le fell. He was dying when picked up
le had a cerebral hemorrhage caused
ly excitement. He was well known as (
in athlete. I
Take* Headache Powders and Die*. I
New York. Dec. 21.?Shortly af er 1
aking two "instantaneous" headacha i
(owders. Mrs. Josephine Staten, aged 1
hlrty years, of Flatbush. became im- I
onsclous and. though two doctors
fork id over her for hours, she dlej in
M >ings county hospital.
1
Blight Killing Chestnut Treea. '
].anca?ter. Pa.. Dec. 21.?Farmer* 1
n southern Lancaster county report I
hat the blight Is steadily killing off I
he chestnut trees and that If its rar- 1
>ges ate not checked It will not ba I
nng before the chestnut will be wipad I
lut entirely.
HANGED TO TREE
BT ROBBERS
(tallan Who hissed Train Meets
Tragic Death.
DISPLAYED * HIS MONEY
He Stopped tp Get Food For Hit Wife
and Twelve Children, When Train J
Pulled Out Without Him ? Family
Was Carried to Another Town and
Waited All Night For Newt From
Him.
Roanoke, Va., Dec. 21.?While en
route with hl8 wife and twelve chil
dren, from Esterhazy, Can., to Peters
burg, Va.. where they expected to
make their home, Charles Kreicar. an
Italian, met a tragic death near Gra
ham. Va. His body was found hanging
to a tree, suspended by heavy twine
around his neck.
The police believe that Kreicar, who
displayed a large roll of money on the
train between Cincinnati and Bluefleld,
W. Va.. according to the conductor,
was robbed and murdered.
When the train reached Bluofl?ld
Kreicar left it to get lunch for hie
on.I sihil.lffin Tl.n iroin
out before Kreicar returned and he
was left behind. Kreicar had the rail
road tickets from Roanoke to Peters
burg in his pockets, and when the
train reached Roanoke after midnight
Mrs. Kreicar and the twelve little ones
entered a waltingroom and remained
there all night. A message told of the
finding of the bo(Jy. A small cord was
about the neck.
The railroad tickets. $5 In American
money and two Canadian coins were in
Kreicar's pockets.
MURDERED AND ROBBED
Posse Tracking Highwayman Through
the Deep Snow.
St. John, N. B., Dec. 21.?Patrick
Green, of Montreal, a peddler, was
killed near Plaster Rock. N. B? by
highwaymen, who made their escape
with a valise said to contain $3000.
The rifled valise has been found by
the posse which started in pursuit of
the murderers. Owing to the deep
snow It is believed the men will be
captured, as they cannot conceal th'.ir
tracks.
Pound Will Nailed to Washtub.
Knclosed in a red envelope, which
wa uailed securely to the bottom of
a. vashtub, the will of the late Pat
rick Monahan, of Charlestown, Ma=s.,
iisposing of property valued at $250,
>00, was found and offered for pro
bate. Monahan was a grocer and was
riot married. When he died last Sep
tember no will could be found, and
John Monahan. of Chicago, a brother,
was made administrator. The will was
Found as described in a sub-cellar.
Monument to Governor Stuart.
Llnerlestown a small town about
leven miles east of Harrisburg, Pa.,
will erect a handsome monument In
honor of Governor Edwin Stuart. The
Inhabitants of the town fought the
food roads movement for ' a long
:lme. but recently gave the chief
?xecutive's policy a trial and were so
pleased with its success that the resi
ients have decided to. honor "the Good
Roads Governor" by placing a lasting
Irlbute to his efforts.
Dying Man Electrocuted.
While he was assisting in the rank
ng of tests at the power plant of tiie
Mlentown (Pa.) Electric ljght anl
Power company. William Werley, an
?xpert electrician, was suddenly strick- I
?n with heart failure and. grasping for
support, received a shock that killed
ilm. Werley. when he ftilt the attack I
coming on, called to the Superintend- i
snt to throw the power off, and then 1
sank, dying, to the floor.
Teddy, Jr., a Major. I
Governor Elect George L. Lllley, of i
Connecticut, has announced the ap
pointment of Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., '
is an aidc-de-camp on his staff, glv- I
ng him the rank of major. Mr. '
Roosevelt is now living at Thompson- I
rille. where he Is engaged In learning
he carpet making business at a large I
nan 11 factory in tfiat village. I
I
Pennay Place* Big Rail Order.
The Pennsylvania railroad has Just <
placed orders for 135,000 tons of steel
?ails for delivery as early in 1909 aK
possible. The order Is reported to be
ibout equally divided between open
learth and Bessemer rail*. The price
'or Bessemer Is {28 per ton and for 1
he open hearth rails about (1 or $3
per ton higher.
FOUND PREHISTORIC HOUSE
Building 200 Feet Long, With Eleven
Rooms. Dug Up In Arizona.
Washington. Deo. 21.?An American
Pompeii is gradually being brought to
light, according to the annual report
of Charles R Walcott. secretary of the
Smithsonian Institution.
I'nder a special congressional ap
propriation the work of excavating a
prehistoric buried city at Casa Grande
near Florence, Ariz., has been ci nduct
ed by Pr. J. Walter Fewkes. Already
a number of structures have been dis
covered. The largest Is a building 100
feet long with eleven rooms, the mas
sive wails inclosing a plaza. In the
central room there Is a seat called
by the Pima Indians "The Scat of
Montezuma." I
TWO KILLED IN DUEL
Police Chief Shoots Man Who Had Fa
tally Wounded Him.
Roanoke, Va.. Dec. 21.?In a gensa
tlonal pistol duel on the main street
of Wythevllle, Va.. Chief of Police
Walter McClintock and E. A. Cregger I
were killed McClintock shot Crcggar i
to death after he himself had been t
mortally wounded. ]
Chief McClintock and Denutv White :
had a warrant for the arrest of E. A. i
Gregger ami his brother. David Creg t
ger, charging them with robbery.
When the officers met the Creggers |
and tola them they had a warrant E.
A. Cregger drew his revolver and be
gan firing on MeClintoek.
BABY'S BURNED BONES
FOUND IN WOODS
Jersey Hunters Come Upon a
Shacking Crime.
May's Landing. N. J., Dec. 21. ? A
discovery, investigation of which prob
ably will reveal a shocking crime, was
made by Stille Watson and a party of j
sportsmen while hunting near Estell
ville. The hunters were far from any
much-travelled road when the party
came upon the iron framework of a
baby carriage In the center of a clump
of burned laurel bushes. It was once a
handsome rubber tired coach. |
Underneath the coach was a pile of
burned leaves and underbrush. In the
ashes were found a number of small j
bones, resembling those of a child.
They were burned black.
How and when the coach got there
is a mystery. It was Impossible tQ
push the b?by wagon Into the bushes,
and it is the belief that it was car
ried there. i
RAN WITHOUT WHEEL
Express Running Sixty Miles an Hour
Narrowly Missed Being Wrecked.
Mlddletown, N. Y.. Dec. 21.?One of [
the most remarkable happenings
known to railroading occurred to a
combination passenger and milk train,
running on express schedule, on the
Ontario & Western road.
When the train reached Summit- t
ville. near here, it was discovered that
...i 1 * v. _ # * i ?# *
wuc t/i iur wuceia uu mo iiuiii cau ui j *?
the oar was missing. r
Trainmen were sent bark over the [ d
road anrl found the missing; wheel at t
Redhilis switch, two miles and a half I
distant.
The train had run that distance at
a speed of sixty miles an hour, and
railroad men consider it miraculous j ^
that there was not a fearful wreck
The wheel had been thrown for twenty
feet and was deeply Imbedded In a ^
bank of dirt. | d
a
BURGLARS GET $3000
a
Bafe It Dynamited In Country Store p
and Blast Awakens Town. I
Allentown, Pa., Dec. 21.?One of the c
biggest safe cracking Jobs ever pulled
off in Lehigh county occurred when
burglars entered Schuler's store, at
East Texas, blew open the safe with
dynamite and got away with over
13000 worth of stamps, cash and se
curities. *
The explosion that wrecked the safe
was so loud that every one of the
Bfty Inhabitants In the little village
was aroused, but all thought that the C
report was caused by blasting at the
Fogelsvllle cement quarries. Judging II
from the muffled sound, for the burg >
lars had blanketed the safe before h
Iglhtlng the fuse. o
Entrance was gained through the I ?
cellar, a railroad pickaxe having been i
used to force the door. d
s
Invents Watch to Sell For 20 Cents. ^
A friend of Daniel Drawbaugh. the y
veteran ln?entor, of Eberly's Mills, >j
near Harrlsburg, Pa., stated that he t.
Is about to perfect a watch which f,
can he made and told at a profit for ^
20 cents. ?
JOURNALIST OF
FAME DEAD
Major Orlando! Smith, Founder
of American Press Association.
KNOWN THROUGHOUT UNO
President of Country's Largest News
paper Syndicate?He Kept In Touch
With Publishers All Over America.
Thinker, Philosopher and Writer, as
Well as Executive Head of Exten
sive Enterprise.
Dobb's Kerry, N. Y., Dec. 21.?Major
Qrlando Jay Smith, president and gen
tral manager of the American Press
Association, died at his home on the
Hudson.
He had been ill since September, at
which time he was operated on for
lancer of the stomach.
Through his long illness he retained
lis interest in daily events.
Mnjor Smith wns lirrn lime 14. 1842,
?n a icrm ir ar Tcitp Unite, Ind., of
/errannt rn s r> iiis lather, Hiram
Smith wps < n >f it! :in in * pioneers.
-It; si nt 1.1s - ;r. fo t ? : uiillc schools
ind Ister ti \ '.utrj < !e.<e, now De
jatiw nnlv In la *r years the
iniv. i Klty ct.n . r >1 on its distinguish.
;d alumnus thi* dfsxo LL. D.
At the outbfc-.ik of the Civil War
Lie!,.,. Umlll . . II. ..I LI a HH.A.I
he end of the war in the A'mies of the
Jotomac. Ohio and Cumberland, rls
ng to the r-inh of rarjor In the Sixth
ndlana cavalry. lie was woiinded near
Vtlanta, Ga . and was tal;en prisoner.
Vfter a confinement in a Confederate
jrison at Atlanta Ga.. Major Smith
vas exchanged si 1 rejoined his regi
nent.
M-'or Smith was a member of the
yil egion. After the war V r
3Itii engaged for three years In cot
on planting at Enterprise. Miss,
dajor Smith began his journalism
?uieer at Terre Haute. Ind., as editor
>f the Terre Haute Mail,. Later he at
luired the Terre Haute Express. In
873 he removed the latter newspaper
o Chicago, continuing Its publication
is the Chicago Express.
In 1882 Major Smith founded In Chi
ago the American Press Association,
he monument to his fame. Later the
nain offices of the American Press as
ioclation were removed to New York, j
rhere they remain.
In person Major Smith was distin
[uished among men. tall and well j
lullt. He bore himself with dignity |
ind ease, and his clean shaven face
lore the Impress of his splendid mind,
n his later years hia abundant hair
>ecame silvery white, adding an inde
cribable charm to his appearance. His
nanner was kindly and genial, without
iffusion. He had a keen sense of jus
Ice, to which testimony Is borne by
t host of employes. In whose welfare
le took an active interest.
Major Smith Is survived by a widow,
wo daughters and a son. The last
lameu. ^ourimna araun. is vice presi
ent and assistant general manager of
he American Press Association.
LIVED OVER A CENTURY
Vomin 104 Years Old and a Man 105
Pass Away.
Harrlsburg, Pa., Dec. 21.?Mrs. Re
iecca Cohen, Steelton's oldest real- ,
ei>t, died at her home In that place.
,ged 104 years. Mrs. Cohen was a
latlve of Russia and came to this |
ountry over sixty years ago. She has
. number of descendants in various
iarts of Dauphin and Lancaster coun
ies. Her great age was well authenti
ated by family records.
Was 105 Years Old.
Dunkirk, N. Y? Dec. 21. ? William
ves. 105 years old, died at his home
a Fr^lonta, after a brief illness. He
/as a vegetarian and never required
he services of a doctor until within
he last few months.
riven From Town; Attacked McKlnley
Declaring at a meeting at Macomb.
11.. that the late President William
IcKlnley was an anarchist, that he
ad turned more people loose to prey
n society than any other man In the
rorld. and that the assassina*'on of
lcKiniey was all right, except <'? It
id not happen soon enough, t ??- f
tyled "Divine Healer" Schlatt ttly
scaped personal violence frotr - mob
tirough the Intervention of the < Ire.
'he officers escorted Schlatter -o *. fco
el and to the first train out < f J* n,
allowed by citizens threatenlr, > do
im violence If he did not I .< ? at
nee. Schlatter went to Quint y ? i.
BOY DIES FOR HIS DOG
Struck By Train While Trying to Save
Pet, Which Escapes.
Hartford. Conn.. Dec. 21. ? Daniel
Marshall, ten years old. gave his life
to save that of his dog. The animal
had run on the tracks of the New
York. New Haven & Hartford railroad,
and a train was bearing down on it
when the boy noticed his pet's danger.
He ran across the rails to save it and
was struck by the train. The dog es
caped injury.
Cardinal Lecot Dead.
Chambery, France, Dec. 21. ? Car
dinal Victor I.uclan Sulplce Lecot, the
archbishop of Bordeaux, died here of a
hemorrhage of the brain while return
ing from a visit to Rome. Cardinal
Lecot was the exponent of liberalism
In the college of cardinals and went to
Home to submit to the pope a plan
for the amelioration of the material
condition of the French clergy.
Fireworks For Christmas Burned.
Mobile. Ala., Dec. 21.?Fire broke
out in the wholesale establishment of
William C. Baughauser. All kinds of
Christmas Are works were Included in
the company's stock, and these explo
nvt's quii'Kiy wrappea tne DUiiaing la
flam's. ami the Are was one of the
most spectacular ever seen In thi*
rlty. The loss Is >100,000.
AZTECS' HORRIBLE HOLIDAY.
They Celebrated the New Vjar With
Human Sacrifices.
The bloody aiul complicated ritual of
the Aztecs commemorated the return of
their masterful war god, the sun, from
the south, and the ceremonies carried
on In his honor occupied a period of
several days. The initiatory rites be
gan before daylight of the tirst morn
ing. when the chief priest and his sub
dignltarlea wended their way In sol
emn procession to the top of their
greatest pyramidal sanctuary. Here
the high priest retired alone to a small
temple, whose doorway opened toward
the east, and as the rising sun crimson
ed and purpled the serrated mountain*
he knelt and sprinkled thickly upon
the marble floor the sacred meal.
As the tlrst rays of the newborn sun
strike slantingly across llie floor of the
tiny temple the lieuded priest beholds
a miracle. Faintly at lirst. then strong
er and stronger, grows an imprint In
the meal of the naked foot of their war
god. t'pon this miraculous manifesta
tion the high priest announces to the
assembled couriers that their god has
returned to them and that the grand
festal occasion Is inaugurated.
Unhappily the tirst feast rites wero
of a grewsome and horrible nature.
consisting mainly in sacrificing youths
to the gods It Is said that they were
feasted for days previous to the cere
mony that they might l>e In a wbole
Botne and pleasing condition upon their
last and the war god's first great day.
In other ceremonies human being#
were killed and flayed, and the partici
pants in the sacrifice enveloped them
selves in the bloody skins of the vic
tims, while they took part in a wild
and uncanny dance.
While the observance of the new
yeai' among the Aztecs seemingly pre
dominated in bloody rites, they were
most likely confined to the religious or
der of the priests, and the great mas#
of the people, with no taint of blood on
their hands, might be happy and revel
In the feast of the new year.?New
York Herald.
Their New Year's Wishes.
Weary Wraggles?If I wuz only back
at me old home, what a spread I'd
have dis New Year's day! Oh, fur de
wings uv a dove!
Hungry Hank?Oh, fur de wings uv
a turkey, wid some plum puddiu' to
come afterward!
ELBERT HUBBARD INJURED
Roycrofter and Author Crushed By
Falling Tree.
Buffalo, N. Y., Dec. 21?Elbert Hub
bard, the Roycrofter and author, was
nearly killed by a tree in the wood*
near his East Aurora colony. He was
assisting workmen, when he miscalcu
lated the direction In which one of the
trees which he was felling was going
to fall, and he was crushed badly. Mr.
Hubbord will be laid up for some time.
Arrested For Selling Colored Milk.
W. A. Taylor, a dairyman at I.e*
moyne, near Harrisburg, Pa., was
placed under arrest by the order of
Dairy and Food Commissioner Foust
on the charge of selling milk artifi
cially colored by the use of yellow
anatto. This offense is the first of it*
kind to be noted in the state.
President's Turkey Stolen.
The twenty-five-pound turkey gob
bler which Amos N. Mumma, of East
Donegal township, near Mount Joy,
Pa., intended to send to President
Roosevelt for a Christmas present,
was stolen from him Thursday night