(
; ;PBESIDENT.TO THE BESC0
' s STEPS ,TOJ AVERT, AL STRIKE
l Xn Line With" His Former Successful
li . Intervention ..tha , Presklent . Ad-
1 dresses m Letter to the Head of the
! ' Mincw' Organization and. as a Re-
; . , writ National Convention." of the
V v ' Mine Workers Will be Held. March
, J ' , J5 Announcement Made . After
v(, f Conference Between r Mr, . Mitchell
. and RcpresenUUve of Operator
t . Fresh. Hope Inspired. . , V- , -
g New fork, - Feb. . 88. President
.Roosevelt has i intervened again 1 a
-.' f (peacemaker between the ! ooal miners
sfjsfi nd operators and as the result of a let-
president of the United Mine Workers
of ' America, national convention of
the organisation -will be. held March 15
to- try to reaclf an agreement with the'
oft coat operators In ,the , hope , of
, averting the threatened strike of April
,. 1 In (he bituminous field. The Preal-
J; dent's letter and the announcement
, that the national convention would be
, called were made. pubVo to-night by
',, Mr. Mitchell after a long ' conference
4 " "with Francis I Robins, president of
t" the Pittsburg; 'Coal- Company, and
' chairman of the bituminous operators,
- . who came to New York this morning,
! , Also present at this conference were
' W. C. Perry, .of the - Southwestern
,"' Coal Association, and B. F. Bush, rep-
resenting the soft coal interests allied
, with the Gould railroads.
, , The President's letter to Mr. Mitchell
' follows:
'White House, Washington, Feb. .24,
" ,. I note with, very great concern the
- failure of your late convention on the
' V Joint inter-State agreement to come to
-. a. basis of settlement of the bituminous
Vv mining scale of wages. Ton in this
- business have enjoyed a great Industrie
al peace for many years, thanks to the
joint trade agreement that has reeult-
r e in the action or your successive con
r , Teutons. '-. ' -
"A strike such as Is threatened on
x April 1 is a menace to the peace and
a -; general welfare of the country. I urge
. yon to make a further effort to avoid
j . such a, calamity. i .
"Sou and Mr. Robblns are Joint
chairmen of the trade agreement com
mittee of the National Civic Federa
. tlom and it seems to me that this im
; poses additional duty upon you both
and gives an additional reason why
each of you should Join in making a
i further effort
f "Very respectfully,
; , 'THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
Mr. Mitchell has not announced any
details of to-day's conference, nor did
: he say Just when the call meeting, for
the convention which will nx tne place
of meeting will be sent out. March 16,
he beiievees, is the earliest date the
v' convention can be summoned and he
'7 believes that if there is to be peace the
two weeks between the date fixed for
miners' assembly and April I' when the
present agreement with the operators
. expires, if sufficient time to bring
, about th desired result. Mr. Mitchell
- would not indicate What new proposi
" tlona will be placed before the miners.
4 hut significance is attached to his
statement that the operators at to
day's conference agreed that the eon
v ventlon should be called. Concessions,
maybe, on both sides, will be offered,
and President Roosevelt's interest In
the situation will be held as an addi
tional reason for bringing about a new
agreement. .
DR. MATTHEWS ARRAIGNED.
Greensboro Wife-Slayer to be Placed
on Trial for His Life To-Morrow
The Jury Selected,
ttoecial to The Observer.
Greensboro. Feb. JS. The Guilford
Superior Court convened this morning
with Judge c 8. .Ferguson presiding.
The term Is for the trial of only crimi
nal cases and wlltlast one week. The
rnost Important case on the docket Is
the one charging Dr. J. B. Matthews
with poisoning hjs wife. The prisoner
was arraigned in court tnis morning,
1 Judre Ferguson ordering a special
venire of 252 men from whom to select
a Jury. They were drawn this after
noon, Mr. C. W. Wilson Is foreman-ot
-the grand" jury ana Judge Ferguson's
charge this morning was a clear, force
ful discourse on the criminal law, the
court room being Ailed With an inter
esting audience. v, .;!, i$
There have been good - many sub
missions and continuance In cases of
minor importance to-day. A case of
much interest is that of the young
' man, John B. -McMillan,, cnargea witn
"forgery and . obtaining , money under
t false Dretenses. He has written a lot-
Jt ter to Solicitor Brooks pleading guilty
and asking that a right sentence be 1m--j
posed upon him. His case will come
up to-morrow morning.
INDIVIDUALS RESPONSIBLE,
' llowan Commissioners Take Speedy
?, i Action looking xowara cw county
JaUalisbury News Note
k, Brell to The Observer, -
Salisbury. Feb. 28.-Te recent visit of
Judge Counclll to Rowfn and his Charge
to the sTand Jury undoubtedly led to
'that body's condemnation of; Rowan's
county Jail. That report has caused the
i commissioners to take another peep Into
'V conditions with the result that on next
Mondav tne county-rat n
the county -fathers will dlecuss
1inff of a. new structure. If it is
, decided that the old prison is to be torn
. i sown, (nuna will n wuim ur; naw
- ttnilrtlnr nA It will boain anon. :- ' .
' ' County Attorney T. C. Linn has sdvts-
: ed the board that they are individually
reeponsible for any accident that may
befall ny prisoner and this has served
. . to eauss more speedy action than other
" Wl jwould have- been taken. " "
1 The i- TrUState-.. Medical a Convention
, tneets to-morrow In Wftite Stone Uthla.
ipinge, South Carolina, and Salisbury
i:f a -good';4elegatioBstiDr. J;-;-- 8.
iSroWn. J. Ht, Fllppln, W. W. McKensle,
R. v. Brawley and C Poole wlU at
,. tende r They leave to-morrow morning.
Superintendent I. C. Griffin left this
morning for Loulnvllle, Ky. where there
J to - be a convention of the National
Mucatton&r Association. The-city srad
, cd school teachers will do the work for
the biff 'Organisation -whose: president.
r. Mclver, come so near "landing last
summer,- Mr, Griffin will be gone for a
. ,; week,- during which time the big schools
, here will be practically under lady man
- agement, - ; ; ; 4 " '-.,
r. - . . .j! r .... -.t . . : .- : ft
VVOULD-BB FLIRT KILLED
JL l'-s 'rtl to"- ' - ,
(Wllkcsboro Man Shot to 'Death til
-West Virginia , by Husband Of
, Woman Becansa He Threw Kiss at
Her.' , jv JA , m t , 1 t V.
fpecial to The Observer, "- . j;
Koanoke. Va.k Feb. Z6. W. B. Eversge,
of Wilkesboro, N. C Is dead as the
result - of gunshot : wounds received at
the hands- of A. -C. Connelly, who be-
, earn enraged at the North Carolinian
when he saw Everage throw a klos at
lr. Connelly as the latter passed th
i Connelly home..-. He fired on the wotilil-
flirt with a "Winchester rifle. The
r footing took plai;e at ltowsvelle, W.'Va,
J'riday nlrht. Kveraire vm carried to
. the wlnersV hospital at Welch, W.- Vu..
nd died last night. His remain werv
: hiined to-day to WIlkboro Connelly
... surn-ndered. .v,..- ,
CZAB; CAUS PABUi MENT
UAlfD JOLT TO HEVOLCTIONISTS
Convlnctag 'Answer to Argument That
tne Government is 1 Not Acting in
Good Faith Is- Furnished by Ukase
Xssned as Soon as Reports Indl
catctl Possibility of Holding Elec-
Uons hi -Over 1 Half . DistrictsWill
' ' Do , Mora Toward Quieting " the
Country Than Any Amount of Re-
pression To - convene in Old St
i lBtersbnrg' Palace May 10; .
; St. , Petersburg, f, Feb. 28. Reports
from' the 'Interior shewing it to be pos
sible ' to hold the 'elections in more
than half the districts and open the
National Assembly May 10. with a work'
ing majority, the cabinet has recom
mended that the ' first meeting of the
Russtfan Parllment be held, . and the
long expected Imperial ukase to that
effect was promulgated , to-day. This1
definite-, announcement furnished a
convincing answer to the revolutionary
argument that the' government had no
Intention of convoking the National
Assembly. It is expected to do far
mora toward completing the tranqulll-
sation of the country than all the
repressive measures of Interior Mlnli
ter Dumovo, of whose waning power
the ukase Is. but one of several indica
tions.
The Place for the convocation of the
National Assembly is the historic Ku
lide Palace heret built by Catherine II
for her favorite, Prince Potemkin, and
the extensive alternations necessary
for adapting It to the use of a Parll
ment are neanlng completion. It will
make a splendid, building for the
National Assembly, as it has excellent
accoustio proprieties and ample seating
capacity for the "members. For ' the
first time In the history of Russian
public architecture; accommodations
have been provided for press corres
pondents. The principal Russian pa
pers and foreign news agencies will foe
seated in the press gallery of the Na
tional Assembly overlooking tne floor.
JAIL INFESTED WITH LJCE.
Federal Prisoners at Ashevllle Com
plain to Judge WadtliU of Bad
Condition of Buncombe Jail and
Investigation Is Ordered.
Special to The Observer.
Ashevllle, Feb. 28. An unusual incident
occurred in the United States District
Court this afternoon shortly before ad
journment. Tinman Curley. of Georgia,
who has been confined in the Buncombe
county Jail for seven days, approached
the judge's stand and handed Judge
Waddill a letter. The letter was signed
iv 13 occuoants of the mil and com
plained bitterly of the jail's condition.
It was alleged in the letter that tne
jail was filled with lice and that only
one Dianaei was proviaea- lor every vsa
prisoners.
Curley was In tears ss he entered the"
court room and, while standing in front
of Judge Waddill, drew from his pocket
a small bottle containing a handful of
lice. "I brought these as evidence," said
Curley. "What are theyr- aaxea judge
Waddill. "They are body lice," replied
Curley.. "We caught them and bottled
em." "Take them away," texclalmed
Judge Waddill, waiving his hand vigor,
oualy. The letter from the prisoners was
turned over to District Attorney Holton
with instructions to have the matter in
vestigated and a report submitted to the
court. - a
It Is declared that the inadequate faci
lities and the overcrowded condition of
the jail tare responsible for the complaint
and that, with the number of prisoners
confined there during- the. past week.
coming from many sections, it is lm-
poesioie to Keep ine jaii iree irom nee.
.ve.rv arand lurv for several years has
recommended that a new and modern
Jail be' built. -
Hnerin neea saia- lo-iugni mat. too
all was In better condition than it bad
. M ...... tkni . V. a wmhhI 4..hh n
Superior Court made a most favorable
report last week and that if there were
lice there the Federal prisoners brought
them.
BHjL POSTERS MEET.
Executive ' Committee Holds Session
at Greensboro and Selects White
Sulphur Springs, W. Va as Meeting
Special to The Observer.
nuaj meeting of the executive commit'
tee of the Middle Atlantic States Bill
Posters' Association was held at the
Benbow Hotel here to-day, the session
lasting- until nearly suDDertlme.
Twenty-flve members were received
and the commitee selected white Sul
phnr Spring, W Va,, as the place for
holding the. next annuel meebing, Sep
tember 19th of this year. 'Mr. J. J.
Hughes, a bill poster of Lynchburg,
Va.. was present at to-day's meeting
to answer charges mane against nina
of violating some of the association's
rules. Mr. W. S. Burton, of Richmond.
Va. Is president of the association;
mt. .s. A. Schioss. of Wilmington, sec-
retary; and Mr.-J. E. Shoemaker, of
awhlneton. treasurer. These ana Mr.
L. H. Ramsey, of Lexington, Ky.. and
J. K. Baylies, of Wilmington. Del., from
the executive committee, an oi wnora
were present." The 'association em
braces the Dlstrlot of Columbia, Dele
ware, Maryland, Virginia and North
Carolina.-'. ' .
REX LANDS IN NEW ORLEANS.
Immense v- Multitudes on ; tlie Levee
Witness Parade of warsnipe ana
Landing of His Majesty Carnival
Now In Fun Blast.--. , ',
New Orleans. Feb. 28-Wlth the' for
mal entry of Rex, the carnival Is In
full blast ' here f to-day. AU previous
records in the matter Of attendance
nkY raise to - lie broken. The streets
traversed toy the pageant of reception
to the King were congested and there
waa - an immense-- multitude on tne
levee to-day to witness? the naval par
ade and- the landing. The King landed
at the foot, of Conn) street from the
royal yacht in the midst or antear
snllttlnr demonstration He was es
corted br a parade, including the peers
of the, realm cadets of the educational
Institutions and detachments from the
American -warsropw -at jwn Auininu
rnotwia. Cantaln Buckneli and . other
tmval 6t ficera were in carrlagea The
Cleveland, Ohio, Grays were honored
as the special body guard to his maj
esty. -ifM! ' j -v
5 .i t hi. i ii . - r
Mr; ; Wynne Teetlflca In Green Con-
Washington Feb. 2. In the' trial
of Oeorge E. Green, former State
Senator of 'New York,"' under Indict
menta ' charging" .conspiracy hi con
nection with tba purchase of time
recording clocks for the Postofflce De
partment. Robert J. Wynne, formef
First Assistant Postmaster . General,.
as called to the stand to-day by the
government Mr. i Wynne testified
that he had advised Beavers to plead
gttUty:-'A.,i'-'Vgst - amount of docu
mentary evidence was Introduced by
the government to-day, the identifi
es 'Jon of which consumed the entire
afternoon session. - ; 1
GEORGE HAJBTY'AJBBAlGKBb
-v - --,--
TITS ' TRIAL BEGINS THURSDAY
Slayer of Milan Bennett "and Abbott
- Davison, of "Nothing But Money
Company," pleads Not Guilty When
Arraigned on Charge of Murder In
;' Cherokee . Court Stir tor Crowded
Court Room When .Hasty . Was
Brought .In and ' Unhandcuffed
Principal Witnesses PresentHasty
is Nervy No Change of Sentiment
n uajrney. - , f r
Special to The Observer. -
Gaffney, S. Cv Feb. 2& The grand
Jury; returned a true 111 for" murder
against George Hasty today, and this
afternoon he waa arraigned for trial
over the objection of his counsel.
The, court room was packed with
spectators, the floor, being occupied by
White people and the gallery by ne
groes. A citizen told, me that this
Jim Crow Arrangement Is voluntary
on the part of the negroes.1 Deputies
stood In the aisles and entrances,
leaning on the ancient halibuts, tra
ditionally supposed to be instrumental
In keeping order.
- All counsel In the case were present
In court, except the star of the de
fense, George Johnstone, of Newberry.
Defendant found a little defect In the
tortuous bill of indictment, but the
court, R. W. Memmfnger a clean cat
man, with large gray eyes made an
order of amendment.
There was a stir and a great deal
of rubbering when the sheriff oonduc
ted George Hasty to the dock and
took the hand-cuffs off him.
Hasty was well dressed and well
groomed, Indeed, fastidiously. The ob
ject of all eyes, he was not In the
least flustered, when his counsel ob
jected to the. arraignment, precipitat
ing a little argument, nis eyes went
from lawyer to lawyer without wink
ing and with grave. Interest in the dis
cussion. The judge overruled the ob
Jection to arraignment, and the clerk
commanded Hasty to stand up.
During the reading of both bills of
Indictment, tedious and involved as
the form Is, the prisoner stood erect,
his fingers Interlocked before him like
a preacher, and never removed his
level gase from the cleric, v Now and
then he thrust his tongue between his
Hps to moisten them. Mr. H. K. Os
borne, of his counsel, stood by mm
and promoted his responses, "not
guilty," etc., which he repeated in low
tones. He is quite a handsome young
man. chesty and nervy; and. If he
continues to carry himself with the
same gravity, will impress the Jury
favorably. --
The defendant took advantage of
the three days which the statute al
lows him between arraignment and
trial, and the case Is therefore set for
Thursday morning.
This postponement Is a great hard
ship on the manager of the "Nothing
But Jdoney' company, wno is nere
from New York and who Is paying his
own expenses. The other witnesses
tram a distance are also on the ground.
and are probably restive under the de-H
lay. I am informed tnat tneir expens-
aiso, come out oi air. ausud
Walsh, the manager, of whom the
neoDle of this city think highly.
Editor DeCamp, of The Gaffney
Ledger, who is in position . to know,
says that public sentiment has not un
dergone any change; which means
that the running start will be on the
side of the State. ' J. C. M.
CLAICHE GIRlS STORY FAKED.
Claim That She Killed Emil Gerdron
Because He Made Her a Woman
of the Streets Attacked by Prosecu
tion Evidence That Deed Was Re
sult of Plot With Policeman.
New York, Feb. 26. The real work In
the trial of Bertha Clalohe, the young
French woman, charged with the murder
of Emil Gerdron en July S last, was be
gun before Justice Davis and a jury In
the criminal branch of the Supreme
Court to-day. The jury was completed
last week. Abraham Levy, who defend
ed Nan Patterson In her two trials on
the charge of killing Caesar Young, is
the. principal attorney tor the defense.
The prosecution will be conducted by
Assistant District Attorneys Ely and
Vandlver.
Mr. Ely, In his opening address, said
the prosecution, would prove that Berths
Clalohe was intimate with Harry Mor
ton, a policeman, and tnat oeroron was
lured to his death as a result of a con
spiracy between Morton . and the de
fendant. Patrolman Clarence Martlneau, one of
the two policemen who were in the act of
arresting Gerdron when Berths Glalche
hot him. took the witness ' stand. He
said that Just before the girl fired Gerd
ron placed his nana oenma - nis oaoK,
much as If he were about to draw a
revolver out of a hip pocket. While
Gerdron's hand was still In this position
the flirt fired. After he fell she tried to
kick him, the wltnesss said. '
Martlneau said that shortly after the
shooting he saw Patrolman Morton, who
had htelped htm arrest Gerdron, give
Miss Clalohe a glass of water and heard
him say to her, "He certainly got . the
letter, didn't nei ' 10 tnis sne replied,
"Sure." - ' A
Mr. Ely did not Mk the witness to
what letter ' Morton's remark- referred. v
Martlneau testlfled"that Berths ClalchS
while In the eatrol wason said tor Mor
ton, "Harry, what shall I do?" and that
Morton toia ner nor io worry, .mat ana
would be out in a few days, i
Martlneau saia ns neara tnat some ens
got 3oa wntcn ueroron , was alleged to
have In his possession .when shot,- but
oe aid RQiiiflvw . win. uiu, ' v- u . ;.r
Th trial was : adjourned until to-tnor.
row . ' ii , vic . . T ' ,
' WAIJti CAVES nr,r'iV
Portion of Brick Wall of Swannanoa
Hotel, Ashevtlle, Collapses No- One
Injured. .
Special to Ths Observer t , " '
Aahevllle, Feb. XS-ThS crumbling awn v
of the bricks la a portion of the Wil
low street front wall of the Swannanoa
Hotel yesterday morning shortly, before
11 o'clock - created some excitement and
a number of people were drawn to ths
scene. , ne earaagea 'wan is in - that
wing of the hotel cornering on South
Main and - Willow Street. - Ths ,eave-tn
in ths wall made an opening several feet
square ana on a line wnn tne sidewalk.
The portion - .that fell .t la- was several
feet from the northwest corner of -the
wing and the fact that the break did not
axtond to and Include th corner aw
count for 'the slight damage that was
done, There is now ntiie aanger or the
further crumbling of the wall. Save for
the slight settling of the wing and the
breaking of ths plastering In one or two
of the rooms, the hole made by the
crumbling brick -was the only evidence
that anything was wrong, ' .-
Damaged Engines Taken to Spencer.
Special to.'-The Observer. '
Mpencer, r eu. sxne two locomotives
hlfh collided head-on - nmr Hiltmor.
last Sunday have been brought to th
Southern's shops ' her. '. Both are badly
torn up, almost oeyona rf pair, and were
brousht to Spencer oa fia t ear. : It I
said that th engines are among tlis
moat rtmtfd aver brought to th
Spencer yards. -
HAS JZMIES ON THE BUN
i r ' V i. i iii i i -
BLACKBVRN'S WINNING STROKE
, o- f r v ' 1 . ,
Congressman From the Eighth Ap-
pears . Before '.District Court at
Ashevllle and Demands Immediate
Trial Government Not Ready and
, Cose Is Set for Trial at Greensboro
. .in April Friends Consider Delay a
, victory ior ueienciant -ifoeecu
tion Said to Have1 Offered to Com-
. promise, but i the Proposition is
' Turned Down Blackburn's Friends
Jubilant. - 'i ;
Special to The Observer.
Aehevllle, ; f Feb, 26. Congressman
Blackburn's 'friends are jubilant to
night They declare that the eighth
district representative has his enemies
and persecutors son ' the run; that
be has taken the first trick; tjjat he
came all the waj from Washington
to demand an immediate trial, and
that he was dished up delay, and
further that he will be acquitted and
will be the next chairman of the State
Republican, executive committee. It
Is also learned that Mr. Blackburn
will not undertake a fight of retalia
tion until his skirts are cleared. His
friends are already claiming' his ac
quittal. They say that, when he is
acquitted- he will begin to fight and
that the fight will only end in the
complete route of the Congressman's
enemies. .
PROMPT ACTION WINS HIM
FRIENDS.
These are the boasts that are being
inuuigea ut oy uiacKDurn's supporters.
It la an admitted fact, however, that
Blackburn has made friends and won
sympathy by coming here, submitting
to tne jurisdiction of the court and
demanding a speedy trial, since the
announcement that Mr. Blackburn
was coming, a doubt has existed in
the minds of many people whether or
not the Congressman would Dursue
such a bold step and offer himself
tor trial at once. His presence here
to-day eliminated all such doubts. He
asked for a trial. immediately, to-dav.
to-morrow, any time, juat ho It was
quick. It was 'up to Mr. Holton to
grant or refuse the request.
The middle of April wan the earliest
that the government could convenient
ly comply With Mr. Blackburn's re
quest, was Mr,. Holton's reply, and
this time was accepted.
Although Mr. Blackburn was not In
Ashevllle long, there was much ac
complished during that time.
. Mr, Blackburn. It is said, will hot
continue to fight his enemies while
his cases are pending. It Is declared
that his friends will. It Is learned that
there tsto be renewed warfare and
that the fight Is to be fiercer than
ever. ,
a piece Conference that
FAILED.
It was also stated this afternoon
that a peace conference was held this
morning when Mr. Holton, Mr. Har
ris, juage tsynum r ana otners were
present and that an offer of some
kind of compromise was made. It Is
also alleged that Judge Bynum stated
that the only compromise Mr. Black
burn would accept would be before a
Jury of twelve men; that Mr. Black
burn's name had - to be cleared and
that complete vindication must come.
Peace was the absent factor at the
conference.
IS IT JOHNSTON'S BODY?
Decomposed Body of White Man
Found In Savannah River May be
That of Charlotte Man Who Mys
teriously Disappeared In Water
Two or Three Weeks.
Special to The Observsr.
Savannah, Ga., Feb. 8. A body "was
found this, afternoon floating in the
Savannah river a few mljes below the
cltyv. It had apparentlybeen in the
water for two or three weeks, and was
in a badly composed condition. It was
that of a white man and a distinguish
ed mark was the absence of the Index
and middle fingers of the left hand.
About two weeks ago a report was re
ceived from Charlotte by the local cor
respondent of The Observer, stating
stating that a message had been re
ceived there of the drowning at Venus
Point, ten miles below the city, of
T. H. Johnston, a skilled mechanic of
Charlotte. The correspondent was dl
rected to Investigate and did so but
could find no trace of the man who
had sent the message, and who had
Signed ths name Bikes. The affair
was regarded as a hoax, as no report
of a drowning had been received by the
authorities. Now. however, ILJs sup
posed that the body discovered may be
that of Johnston.
ADVOCATE OVERMAN BILL.
ReDresentatlves of Southern Cotton
Industry Call on Secretary Metcalf
to Exchange Views Regarding Plan
to Promote uottoa ; icxport Basl-
Washington, Feb. ie-Representa-tlves
of various branches of the eottoa
Industry to-day called - on secretary
Metcalf, of the Department of Com
merce .and Labor, ana. discussed the
Overman bill providing for a commis
sion for the development of the cotton
export business. They' Included , Wm.
WMttara. Jr., of Charlotte; N. C Bris
ter Aahcraft and former Senator Mo
Latirin, of. South Carolina; and John
W, Allison, of Concord. N. C, and 3.
C Hamilton, of Texas. The delega
tion conceded that the commission
should be under tha Department of
Commerce and Labor.
' Later the delegation called on Secre
tary Shaw, urging him to recommend
legislation reducing the duty on press
cloth from S3 cents to SO cents -per
pound, ' - , . ' , .
! ' SLASHED BY PHYSICIAN.
Dr. J S. Campbell, of Whitney, Cats
J.. D. Lee-In Altercation Over Land
.Deed. - v's n
Special to The Observer. v ; , I
:.: Albemarle. Feb. 58. It Is reported
her that Mr, J. V. Lee,, of Norwood,
waa ' seriouslv cut yesterday by Dr.
X. I. Campbell, of Whitney. It seems
that Dr Campoeti accused Mr. Le
of - doing something wrong as to a
deed to a piece of 'land which Lee
had. sold to Campbell, and thereupon
Lea knocked . Campbell down and
was croceedlng td beat - him. when
Campbell got out his knife and out
Lea a very, severe, If not fatal, gash
In the throat - Campbell gave bond
for his appearance, awaiting de
velopment. The trouble occurred In
Norwood, where Dr. Campbell - was
pending the day. , ,
SENATE HE1ES KATE BILL
FIRST STAGE OF FIGHT TAME
Large- Crowds Had Assembled .to
Galleries Expectlne Field Day of
Debate, but Llttip Transpirea tte
jona Brief statement oy sir. un
man and Exnlanatton by Mr,
Aldrlch for Committee's Dissidents
South Carolina Senator Wants to
Displace Statehood Bill Within
Two Weeks Resolution for Coal
Road Investigation ' Passes Final
stage.
..Washington, Feb. ?6. The Hepburn
railroad rate bill was reported to the
-Senate to-day by Senator Tillman In
accordance with the action of the Sen
ate committee on Inter-State com
merce last Friday. Large crowds as
sembled in the galleries, anticipating
a field day of debate, but were disap
pointed. There was little or interest
in the proceedings regarding the bill.
A brief statement from Mr. Tillman,
with the necessary arrangement for
printing the report of the hearings De-
rore the committee ana a promise
that formal report would be made later
was followed by a few remarks from
Mir. Aldrlch showing the position of the
five Republicans who opposed the bill
as reported. Mr. Aldrlch indicated that
there would be no unnecessary de
lay, but that the bill would be dis
cussed in accordance with its import
ance.
TILLMAN AGAINST DELAY.
Mr. Tillman announced that as soon
as possible he proposes to digest the
testimony and to submit a formal re
port on the bill. He said that within
two weeks he should move to make the
rate bill the unfinished business and
to displace the statehood bill if that
measure was not disposed of before
that time. The transcendent impor
tance of the rate measure and the wide
Interest in the subject throughout the
country, he said, made it desirable
that the bill should be considered with
out delay.
As soon as he had concluded Mr. Aid-
rich was recognised and said:
ALDRICH EXPLAINS DISSENT.
"A majority of the Republican mem
bers of the committee did not Join In
the favorable report which has just
been made by the Senator from' South
Carolina, for the reason that In their
judgment an tfttemnt should nave
been made by the committee to remedy
by proper amendments, some of tne
obvious and admitted defects and omis
sions Of the House bill, and that clear
and adequate provision should have
been made for subjecting the orders
of the commission affecting rates to
Judicial .review. With these amend
ments, the minority members, with the
possible exception of the Senator from
Ohio, who is opposed, as I under
stand, to all government rate-making.
were ready to give their support to the
House bill."
Mr. Culbertson said that, from the
report made by the Senator from South
Carolina, he noticed that certain mem
ber of the committee reserved the
right to offer amendments.
"The Senator .is not entirely correct
In his statement," interrupted Mr. Till
man. "The resolution was adopted by
the committee and all members have
reserved "rights concerning the offer
ing of amendments."
TEXAN OFFERS SUBSTITUTE.
"Well, then," said Mr. Culbertson, "I
take ft that In a large degree the
committee's action to be no more or
less than a transfer of a controversy
from the committee to the Senate
chamber. Therefore, I offer a substi
tute Tor the bill Just reported. This
substitute Is In effect the bill on the
name which I previously Introduced."
The bill was ordered printed.
Mr. Clapp called up the bill to dis
pose of the affairs of the Five Clvl-
lxed Tribes In Indian Territory and the
preliminary discussion showed that
there was to be criticism of the dis
position of the coal lands owned by
the Indians.
Mr. Dick occupied the floor during
the afternoon, continuing his speech in
support of the Joint statehood bill.
PASS COAL ROAD RESOUTION.
The Vice President laid before the
Senate the message from the House
announcing Its passage of the Gll-lesple-Tlllman
resolution, requesting
the inter-Htate commerce commission
to investigate the relations, of railroads
vitb the product ion of bituminous
and anthracite coal and oil. Mr. Till
man' moved to concur on the House
amendments, which passed the resolu
tion. It now goes to the President.
Mr. Daniel secured consent to the
publication In The Congressional Rec
ord of a letter from Robert S. Waddell,
of Peoria, III., regarding the manufac
ture of powder. He said that the let
ter shows that the manufacure of pow
der 4s in the hands of a "trust" and
he considered this condition a menace
to the public welfare. The Senate ad
Journed until to-morrow.
DEAD EX-SPEAKER HONORED.
House Passes Resolutions of Esteem
for David B. Henderson and Ad
journs Early Sons of the Revolu
tion Incorporated.
Washington, Feb, 26. The death , of
former BpeaKer jmvio js. Henderson
was the subject of appropriate action
In tha House of RepresentaUves to-day
when, after the transaction of less
than, a days" business, resolutions of
regret and esteem were, adopted and
adjournment taken as a further mark
of respect for his memory. , , .t .
Several bills relating to tha District
of Columbia were passed, one Incorpo
rating tne National society of tha Sons
of tha American Revolution. ; v !
The balance of the session was de
voted to a consideration of thtDalgelt
bill Incorporating the. Lake Erie
Ohio River Ship Canal Company. The
debate of this bill was finished and a
roll call ordering the previous Question
was about to be taken when the House
adjourned until to-morrow.
BILL TOjCyti REPRESENTATION.
Aged ' Ohio- Congressman Put Ills
, Anti-Sou thorn Agitation In Concrete
Forte -' -, V v:
Washington, Feb. 21 Representative
Kelfer. of Ohio, introduced a bill' to
day to reduce the number of Represen
tative, in the House of Southern
Statea, because - of - the- disfranchise
ment of negro voters. Th bill makes
the reduction as follows: .
- Alabama, from to 6; - Arkansas,
from 7 'to 8; Florida, from 8 to I;
Georgia from 11 to 6; Louisiana,' from
7 to 8: Mississippi, from 8 to 8: North
Carolina, from 10 to 8; South Carolina,
from 7 to 8; ' Tennessee, from W to 8:
Texas, from U 'to 12; Virginia, from 10
Cotton Leak Bill, Favorably Reported.
Washington. .Feb, 28. The judiciary
commit t of the Senate to-day au
thorised a - favorable report on the
so-called "cotton leak" - bllL The bill
provide-for the punlahment : by fine
or I m prison men t of ail officials and
employes of the government who lake
advantage oi any informal-ton obtained
BIG LOOTERS . UNTOUCHED
1 1. -1
LAWSON ON JXStmANCE REPORT
In Characteristically : Sensational Se
. rlcs of Communications, Boston
Stock Manipulator- Declares That
He WU1 Urge Enactment of Laws
Recommended by Armstrong Com
mittee, Though His Proxies Will be
Invalidated Says That if Big Com
panies Are Turned Over to Ills
Governors' Committee Some of
. Country's Richest Men Will Go to
'.Prison.. " v.S.'v '-.
Boston, Feb. 86. In a series of com
munications issued to-night, Thomas
W. Lawson, of this city, who for sev
eral months has been active in secur
ing proxies from poHcy-holders in lead
ing life insurance companies, states
that he Is ready and willing to do all
In his power to aid in the passage of
the laws recommended by the Arm-;
strong Investigating committee. Mr.
Lawson issued three letters, one ad
dressed to the Armstrong committee,
another to the so-called committee of
governors, to whom he has turned
over all-Insurance proxies that he has
thus far secured and a third to tne
policy holders themselves.
Mr. Lawson's statement regarding the
proxies he has obtained has been wait
ed with interest, In view of the fact
that one of the laws recommended by
the Armstrong committee would Invali
date each and every one of the proxies
already secured.
In a communication to the Arm
strong commltte Mr. Lawson says In
par:
LOOT OVER 8178,000,000.
"On behalf of scores of thousands
of the policy-holders of the New York
and Mutual Life Insurance Companies,
I would respectively submit: At an
expense of thousands of dollars I have
collected sufficient proxies from Policy
holders to give me (up to the present
tame) control at the coming election
or ootn the New York and Mutual
Companies. I have turned these over
to a convention composed of Gover
nors of States and eaualy representa
tive public men. My reason' for col
lectlng such1 proxies: 1 had reason to
believe the policy holders of these two
companies have been plundered of from
8175,000,000 to 8250,000,000 which can be
Irecovered provftded (these companlas
are placed In the hands of honest, fear
less men. I believe that if these com
panies are placed in the hands of such
men, some of the richest and best
known men in the country who have
systematically plundered the people for
a quarter ot a century past, will be
sent to state's prison for long terms.
Air. Liawson Informs the investlsat-
Ing committee that he has closely fol
lowed Its entire work. "While I know
It has accomplished much," continues
Mr. Lawson, "I also know from per
sonal knowledge It has not exposed or
toucnea upon a single foundation evil
or exposed or even placed upon the
witness stand a single one of ths head
criminals responsible for the evil.
From personal knowledge I know the
policy-holders cannot come into their
own or be insured against the total
destruction of their companies, and
tne loss, in whole or in part, of the
funds which have in the past years
been grafted from them, unless their
companies are taken out of the hands
of ths mben who have neither looted
them or stood by while they were be
ing looted."
Mr. Lawson adds that if the com.
panles are turned over to "such hon
est, fearless men as the Governors'
committee will nominate for directors
and trustees," all necessary reforms
will follow.
Mr. Lawcson concludes to tha Arm
strong committee:
WILLING TO VOID PROXIES.
"If your committee will ask ths Leg
lslature to enact the law which you
have said should be enacted, to wit:
that all proxies now in existence, by
whosoever collected or held, shall be
made void, I will not only advise the
Governors' committee to consent to
voiding all proxies colleoted by me.
but I will do all In my power to assist
In the passage of the laws you have
recommended and advise the Govern
ors' commute to do the earns."
In a letter to the Governors' commit
tee, Mr. Lawson advises It to assure
the New York Legislature that the
committee approves of the new elec
tion law proposed by the Armstrong
committee. He urges the Governors
committee to do all in its power to as
sist in the passage of the law.
In a third communication addressed
to the policy-holders of the New York
and Mutual Life companies who have
sent him their proxies, Mr. Lawson
urges them to do all in their power
to aid the passage of the law in re
gard to the conduct of the annual
election.
Mr. Lawson also speaks of an al
leged "secret contract" In use by the
companlas which the Armstrong com
mittee in their Investigations did not
even learn the existence of.
STRUCK WITH BUTT OP GUN.
Aslieboro Citizen Assaulted by Ne
gro, Wlio in Turn, W'aaevercly
Sneclal to The Observer.
Asheboro, Feb. 28. Saturday night
Messrs. Duncan Stead and Rufua
Betts, both cltlsens of Asheboro, while
in conversation on Fayettevlue street.
noticed a negro, Jim Franks, who ap
peared to be listening closely to their
voitversatlon. They ordered the ne
gro to move on. He restated their com
mantis and commenced cur sins-, stat
ing that he had as much right there
as they did. John Cox, a negro mer
chant whose store was near by, rushed
eat with gun in hand. With the but
end ne struck Mr. stead a fearful
blow across the head and face, felling
htm to the ground. A. moment there
after some one slashed Cox In the face
with a knife a number of times, mak
ing severe flesh wounds. Cox was
carried Into tha Asheboro Drug Store
and his wouhds dressed by Dr. J. W,
Moore. Mr. Stead was removed to
his home and it is stated that there
is hope of his early recovery. t ' .
Cox is now In Jail to await trial be
fore Judge Ward, who will preside at
the March terra of Superior Court.
Cox' conduct seems absolutely unex
cusable. 1 .
directly or Indirectly by reason of
their position, affecting cotton or otb-
er grown products. u
Names Postmasters for Atlanta, Ga
ns , - . f'i and Morgan ton. ,
' Washington, ' Feb. 28. The President
(o-day sent to the Senate the following
nominations for postmasters: . J v
Georgia a F Blodgett, Atlanta; W.
j, Lewis, Dawson. ' , . '
North Carolina D, C. Pearson, Mor
ganton. , " m - -$ -
k Confirmed by Senate." j
Washington. Feb. "28. The Senate
trf-day confirmed the following nomi
nations: -
John M. Scott, South Carolina, exam
Iner-m-chlef In the Patent Office. . '
Postmasters: ..''-...,
Tennessee -B,' W Hurford, Lebanon:
X I Sinclair, Dyersburg.
DOES KOT DENY, CHANGES
, - 4., v
MR. PRITCIIARD ACCEPTED Fl!r.3
Judge Pritchard Does Not Deny That;
While Senator, Ha Practiced Be
fore the Departments and Accepted
Jees Therefor Ignorance of the
Law His , Excuse Representative
Patterson Says Case Should Stand
' rkn Tiff nlr n i -j 'in .: ....... .. . . :.-t
ik, n nuuia nrpij w a t 1
Defense by Mr. Gndgcr No End '
.Yet to Contention Over Greensboro
nd Goldsboro Offices. ,
7- - cvv v.it.
BY W,: A. HHiDEBRAND. '"v
Observer Bureau, . , 1 -17
G street N. W.; f ' -Waahlrvann
WiK
The Statement haa iuan mu.hul .
I ..w ww. . ff H V X. .....
here and in several of the State paper '.
tnat First Assistant Attorney General ,
Robb had been ' telegraphed or and''"'
would go to Ashevllle to take per-,'.
eonal charge of the Blackburn' '
case. The writer. ttDon inaulrv at "
the Department of Justice, ' waa -
ltlfrVhaYAff 1n V k. - U " la.i. A-.'
General would not take a hand In thet
cases now or later on unless there .r
was a material change In conditions. ' i
This Is tsken to mean that. In the ab'-' ,
sence of unlooked for developments.' -:.
M, tny. n,ll it. II., f .
... 1.V1.VU lyiuimgm, IJ1S yulltu; ..'IP
enemy single handed and alone. ,f,f
DENY CHARGES. 'f
A development or particular Interest ' l
to North Carolinians here is the acfo
of several Ashevllle Democrats In av ,
Ing Congressman Gudger to come to
... uv.vnav vffcr.tfuujgQ J 1 1 11 HUI U, WIVUIU '
he be criticised on the floor of IbeV,
House by Blackburn or others." It Id
pointed out that neither Mr. Blackburn
that the Congressman had been dls- "
rrlmlnntft aaln,t 1r ih. 41,4. .,u..fT
. .. .. .. 1 . -3 . . 1 . ... .
ikiiicj. cuuiu uu mors man coniena -.
that Judge Pritchard had also accept- "Z.
ed fees for practice before the Depart--' -ments.
Judge Pritchard does not den
this, but says he was ignorant of the.
cm, aim iv -uiiutrviuoa juv; wilHt -
Mr. Gudger would be xepected to do t"
about It, and how, he could, with pro- "
prlety, rush to the rescue. Anyway.",
the fact that he has been requested te ' l
do so does not set well on some mem- A
bers of the delegation who have felt l-'
all along that Democrats would do well f
in Keep out. oi tnis i-tepuDiicart row.
Any such activity as that planned for ,'
Mr. Gudger would certainly meet with -a
counter move and it would come .
rrom rrortn Carolina memDers. m t
shot, this Ashevllle movement did not
At urall nti mdmHAo rf th. A al .
gatlon. 'v
CASE SHOULD STAND ON MERITS. '
Representative Patterson made thla '
formal statement: "In event that -speech
Is made on the floor of the
House at the request of cltlsens of -
North Carolina. In defense of Judge ;
Pnltchard, I shall have something to
say with reference to tha speech that
he delivered on the floor ot the Sen- -"'
ate after the Wilmington riots, in '
which he denounced the people of my -'
aeotlon. I recall that, at that ' itmT" "
North Carolina was represented in,
Senate by Senators Pritchard and But-,
ler, and that a Senator from another -
State felt called upon to speak In be- -
half of the people of North Carolina,
who were abused by the- State's repre- j".
sentatlves. If Judge Pritchard prao- -ttced
before the Departments, and ac--"V,
know led ged the fact, as I understand
he does, he should stand before tha -
laws ot the country as other cltlsens -
are required to do. The cases In which
these charges are preferred against -
Mm should stand on their merits, and.",',
appeals to Congress one way or anoth
er should have nothing to do with their
final determination, whether in Federal ,
Court or elsewhere."
MR. GUDGER READY.
However., Mr. Gudger Is ready to -
bear his breast to any attack that
may be made on the Judge. He says r
he has received several telegrams and :
letters from prominent men, chiefly - -Democrats,
from different sections of '
the State, approving the course of tha -v
Ashevllle Democrats. v . .
MUD-SLINGING CONTINUES. s
After all there is to be no cessation -
In mud -slinging over the Greensboro -and
Goldsboro appointments, although
the President, after thorough Invest!-,
gatlon. satisfied himself that he had , '
done right In nominating Messrs, Fra- '
I A . . A ... L. ...
test has been received from Judge n
Douglas, while Butler telephoned Sen- '
ator Simmons that a delegation ' of 1
Goldsboro people want to be heard in -protest
against the appointment of
Grant.
It was stated to-day that District
Attorney Holton had replied to tha , ' '
charges made against him by . Con
cressman Blackburn and others. -
IMORGANTON POSTMASTERSHIP.' . ,
Tha nomlnaUon of D. C. Pearson as
postmaster of Morganton waa trans
mltted to the Senate to-day. ,
TILTS WITII SENATOR MORGAN, '
William NeLson Cromwell. Formerly'
Attorney for Panama Canal Com
pany, and Alabama Senator Ex
: change Hot Word During Com
- mittee. Vrnftntoypti z t
Waahinaton. Feb.- It The examination
Of "William Nelsoa Cromwell,- who has
figured, largely In eonnectioa with - the
ale of the Panama Canal property to
the United Stat was . begun by the
Senate committee pn Inter-oceanle eanwiw
to-day. Many o fthe 0 queetiona anked
Mr- Cromwell related to the interview of
ihn Manhattan. Hotel In New Tnrk
sardine the resignatloR of Mr. Wallaro
wnn Heereiary iajt jnr.s nnnav ami
air. Cromwell were present.'. .There were
frequent tilts between the wttneas and
Senator Morgan because the former wns
not more specific In his answers to qu-,
tlnna hv tlia Senator. It culminated dru.
matlcally ' at the close of the day wh- t
Mr. Mr, Cromwell returned to n
varloua euestiona asked bv the fn
and the latter declared he would ,
with' the witness In the Senate when i i
facts regarding : th reels;ntion of . t.
Wallace come out. Mr. Cromwell rept.l
with some warmth that that , was x.
-only bbi ptaoa n on '
The two- men. scarcely Ave feet a r
looked at "each other in amrer. tir
trained situation was removed ov
man: Millard.? who ,. Interjected tuu
witneas had possibi yanswered the
pounded. - v
An lajournimni wh-, ivro uiu i
morrow.-,. - ..
.-A ..V..;.ii..'.'Tl, II 'W frmu'in inlllliill tltiii llj,i ii ill Uii iWiiiiiiiii i .
MaJ. U W. HaHfeell Assistant A '
, . tjcnerai.
r' . 1 Observer Hurt
" ' ' ' 1) Main f'
Columbia. S. C, 1
Mai. Lewis W. Hak! 1 u i i
appointed assistant aJjutvt '
to take the place or coi. j. ii. i
who hiS gone West In h' cf
Ing MS health, mar i
praduate of the Clt;iil I ; I
thusiastic military man. I
representative from I
fur a number of ye ir. 1
nci t ciui ana eoi. ' I