Newspapers / The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, … / June 27, 1909, edition 1 / Page 1
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t. . To-Day 23 Pc;y la-C:j -.ifi'o SEaiciis SHOWiRS . .7 v. , .-.- - , r .- - , . . . . v V - ; . . : .", ' " . .' . ' . v - . : - ' - J,'- . 1 11 ' L '' " J I " ' '- . .r r.rvlCTrlCS 3 r CHARLOTTE, K. Cn SU : AY MORNING, JUNE 27, 1909. PRICE FIVE CENTS. A M UN DMKXT. . d valorem to JS Pec -,r; o Tariff Mil. But i V important Rate. Are ,,r prols msposoa 1H n..AtTnttiaJ ot Go on une 2 6. Although Jt "fL eight hour, to ren. in ,,.at direction, the Sen, .! to 'conclude lt c6n- ' h.inlM 'Of th mi hen. , was reacnea. mere ,iz,r nf tanDortani 'J n,termined. The day. u , rI BtunBwM UIB- T . when, at 8M2 o'clock. vieions were t r th, n rre important flues-.-f.vd attention were: ',T,:.lemnts. wood pulp. -j i .rp varna. f J . .... Fiends amendment reducln tif,"7r,n, ad valorem to IS advalor.m, the duty oa l-,.tfr Th Indiana Senator T, . .'hf for thU reduction ... io ana was enabled to r, it to-aay anor wm- : ,nn ThA VAtA ,j S5o.. Hun nuo Ltfer th '" announced Ugenaiors had informed him U had vnted ayalnat hi. mo f aAv misrepreaentatlon. Mr. h" woul11 rnew the jilt i U:t liate. '-.wd provision tun again atten: inn. onu been nnaliy acieu tut t !LW 't'h retaliatory prortslon of "gkjflu1' amended, .tatea tnai fntM tr.J"" i 'ff0Tt to nv th8 tntir-iv eliminated before tietlon s'K'-l'i he taken upon the 4V amendments were In Heu ''arT"' -nate change. In the aft T'' were suggested by L rt . ef Nebraeka, and La for tl free importation of jAmlrillv ground wood pulp, ex ijoni rnuntrles which place ob t tn te way of their expor- mi Id to the United , h!i i,r "n proclamation of rrl!nt. a duty of one-twelftlrl fMMnt a twiund be imposed. Re jSM is also provided against Mier print paper Into the lA State? r secret Is made of iftcl that fiesp provisions for re- Iittoe are iniert at Canada. iKk of the nine was civen to the Mod r, A nmtion by Senator ra pU' ir.fc agricultural Imyle ) on th. fru list, but after j.i -usi..-i it was rejected by jiBtitite v.. I- of to 45. In con nh this amendment 8ena- Itgont ni ihvIh made long former attacking the In - btffcnii HarM ster Company as 4ti w4 the laiter speaking in gen- uapprnhation of the proteotlve f Mr. stone declared that the flBtment nf .lustlce was aeleep. jltlw rhrinRfs made during the fut as folinn.e Jsuslnp in : and I cents a pound 'Wren hemp; providing for the jftaaorut;-,! until 1912 of linen JBftcturln? machines; increasing I iten: of about 10 per cent. tlie present law the duties on id enihr' iderles; Imposing a ; j.. r , et. on engraved ,PpM. iiidt.s. slightly decreas pt duty .in jutP yarns; striking n&e fre,. )Lt the product, of Pum and . hminating the House 'man pr.n;si,,n regarding wrap FM filler t .hacco. DAVIS HAYS TARIFF BILL WILLS. BIGGERS ACQUITTED CALLS TP PROMOTER OF TRUST t SKLKs A REUCTIOJf. Senator Plmula tw T. S01 ates on Agricultural "jwnent KnsnKed in Warm W Willi Senator Smith, of tor , i ktote l o. nt.sprver Bureau, 'on c ress Hall Hotel, Washington, June 2. ' rti.,,11 made an effort In to get a reduction ''Smultural implement. fhl. s,er trust Bell cheap armtrs of Europe than It doe. , of thls country. In 1 a speech In advoaacy of JJH 1 these ralpg benflt ar.04" ,H:n,er. Senator Over ln a eol'oluy with Sen .w. of Michigan. The North JCenator forced hi. Michigan J to a(,mit tn t ,j pe, cent mar.u ,ure(J farm impie , lled by th harvertgr ii-.wed that a. the re ' "tective . rates the trust ha. been en m petition and to ab rtceg at which It Mils, b abroad and tn this y- ii. est, 3Cts I . 7 d I1 'h who ha1 atarted out he .rheduies that protect sThr ,rust' ouht-.to- divert w :i -nator Overman put General PmU la Found With Pending Measure By Arkimsw Senator. Who Itoclares That it Discriminate, in flavor of Certain inter eats Con . tends That Republican Party Has lulled to Keep Promim to Tower Tariff and Dwelt at Length TJpou Motives of Jts Members Say. Americaa People Have Aw.keued to a ReaHmUon That PromlM. of BepabUcaa Party Were Nothing More 1MB Broken Reed, .and .Smoking Flax. Washington, June 24. Couched in characteristic language, an addres was delivered to-day ln the Senate by Senator Davis, of Arkansas. In op position to the pending tariff bill. Senator Davis found general fault with the measure as a tax upon the people, as a discrimination ln favor of certain Interests and as a promoter of trusts. Contending that the Republican party had failed to keep its promise to lower the tariff, he aaid that If that party had possessed the manhood to state boldly that it Intended to in crease the tariff, "the places that know them to-day. would have known them -no longer forever, and they would have been a hiss and a by word ln the land, their destruction Inevitable." He dwelt at some length upon the motives or its members to still further "".well heir already colossal fortunes and to take from the poor man the last vestige of hope and from their helpless families their means of sus tenance." Still, he was not without hopes, because the American people were awakened to a realization that the promise of the Republican party were nothing more than broken reeds and smoking flax. He continued: "They are turning their faces ln hopefulness and glad acclaim to the great middle West where a small cloud has arisen, which is gathering ln strength and volume, led on by the Insurgent Republican forces In thi. body, that assures the downfall and destruction of the bourbon ele ment, that old dominant party plant ed by Hamilton, In which there yet repoMS the spirit of kings and the belief that one crowd was created to be ridden, booted and spurred, by their masters, and that when they call for bread they should be given a stont. and when their children cry for a fl"hr they should he given a serpent. These insurgents, sir. catching the spirit of fiedom and indepen dence; catching the spirit of democ racy, and catching the spirit of the eternal brotherhood of man have he fore them great possibilities, and In their ultimate success and helpfulness Pa bu i broad measures of civic we) fare were not alt watisned. "I am confident that W. S. Riggers killed J. Green Hood in an Insane passion over matter, which had preyed upon his mind until he was not himself," ttlA Si Oharlitt mm -nn til streets peewja ttni Arouses Much A Clause: yesterday afternoon. "Ho was not himself at the time msL.was not able PLEA OF IXSAXTTir SUSTAIXKD After Raving ln Counsel Three Hours, Jury Agreed to a Verdict of "Not Guilty" In the Case ef State vs. W. & Riggers. Indicted For the Mur der of J. Green Hood Verdict x hand." ordered Mr. -Russell, the oris to the people, depends mue for th j opr having stoqd up. "Gentlemsp, .at future happiness of this republic "Why do the Republican leaders on this floor no longer conceal their real purpose?" asked the Senator from Arkans. "Why do they exhibit their mailed hand and' cloven hoof In this transaction?" Answering his -own question. Mr. pavis said: "They are drunk upon power upon temporary glory' upon passing suc cess. They feel that these protected Industries, whose 'slush fund' and whose 'blood money' has kept them In power for the last quarter of a century, possess now such omnipotent power that their hold upon the throats Of the people cannot he loosened, and their power to further rob them cannot he destroyed." Declaring then that the tariff bill Is virtually the product of Senator Ald rleh, and asserting that Mr. Aldrlch had been elected to the Senate by a Legislature chosen by 11 per cent, of the votes of the small State of Rhode Island. Mr. Davis, contended that the senatorial supporters of the hill had show n great subserviency to Mr" Aldrlch. Indirectly. Mr. Davis criticised Democrats who had declared their lack of allegiance to the Democratic platform, which, he .aid, he was will ing to "swallow from 'eand to eand and from 'klver to klver.' " Mr. Davi. defended Mr. Bryan as the reputed author of the Democratic platform. Even though Mr. Bryan might not , be President, Mr. Davis expressed the hone that he would "never circumscribe the field of his usefulness, the field of his eternal greatness, by accepting a seat in the Senate of the United States." "The field Is too small," said Sen ator Davi. "His power, of useful ness would be too circumscribed, and a pitiable spectacle he would present, indeed, were ha here to-day, honnd and gagged, as are ' the helplegf mi nority, to the autocratic will of the senior Senator from Rhode Island." From Friends of the AooumkI The Impressive Scene When the An nouncement Was Made Jury First Stood 10 For Acquittal, One For First Decree Murder and One For eecond Degree Murder, Acreentent on Third Ballot Judge CouncUl's Charge and Brier History of caw. The Jury of twelve freemen, the se lect body chosen to pass upon the merits of the case of State against W. S. Blggers. charged with the murder on the morning of Tuesday, February . of J. Green Hood, reached a ver dict yesterday afternoon at 4; IS o'clock, their decision being that- the defendant was "not guilty" of the crime as charged. The scene in the hushed court room yesterday afternoon shortly after 6 o'clock when the jury filed in from the chamber across the corridor, when presiding Judge Council! took his seat, and Clerk of Court J. A. Rus sell ordered the prisoner at the bar to stand with right hand uplifted and then asked the Jury their verdict was one long to be remembered. Troop ing in review before the mind's eye of every spectator -and a great throng wa. present ln spite of efforts of the court officials to keep the fact as quiet as possible that the jury had agred upon a verdict were the scenes of the homicide and the events that followed its tragic enactment. It was raining outside and the room wa. in semi-darkness; standing erect with his one hand raised high was the' tense figure of the prisoner, face emaciated and features drawn, on the bench was the judge who had directed 'the course1 of the trial, and seated at table, before htm were the attorneys who had bat tled manfully for 11 day.. Clerk Russell haj just called the roll of the jury and all had responded. "Have you agreed upon a verdict?" asked he. Several of the Jurymen nodded, re sponding, "We have." "Who shall speak for you?" asked the clerk, following the order as pre scribed by law. "Our foreman," was the Immediate reply. With this Mr. J. P. Flow, -of Clear Creek, stood up, the other Jurymen re maining seated. Then came the climax of the whole trial. No one knew what Mr. Flow was to say save the other 11 men in the box and every eye was centred upon his lips. "Mr. Blggers. hold up your right A .... . . thM li'iirnnitT skvr tiAitmTTtAV then to distinguish between right and wrong. Green Hodd had doubtless imposed on him, and Blggers, handi capped as ne was and with a ramuy dependent on him he loved as he lov ed his own life, he pondered upon the injustice done him until he be came a maniac on the subject. Final ly he took matter, in his own hand and slew his en.my, killing him on a crowded thoroughfare and' ln the heart of the city. - He wa. arrested; he was tried; and now he ha. been acquitted The jury held that he was Insane at the time he killed his ene my, the man that had sought to de fraud him. No one will say that he is still Insane. To-day he walks the street just ss free as any other man in Charlotte. 'Will, he go Insane again?' you ask me. I don't know. I do know, however, that the public welfare should be considered. I do not hold that Blggers should be sent to the penitentiary or anything like that but I do believe that the gen eral safety should be looked after. A commission In lunacy should be ap pointed to pass upon the case if for no other purpose than to assure the cltlsen. of Charlotte that there will be. no repetition of the tragedy of February ." THE OUTSTANDING OBLIGATION. , ttua him and pressed him He drifted to the '"uation m North Carolina, ae made si..i i r isb last falL The Michigan u know the people ,"wie j1(i . rL - .t "Action and that by Pu ' "ef tneT bad elected 'C, wa cnressmen i the taa '" ' Senator Overman N the suoh "'tuauoa existed. aw '7ple of North Caro 'lip.' 'n that campaign Ato ' " , n Prty Intended li... " Pledeea and h. k lTVni bUt tn hey hadfi hsd 1 1 ncw t"eUed that I mro " u p wara instead of VrtdVnTlX I'00'00. W -. F, -Edwards, Vl'iiv l , ver. H JiW ,hKBln the-weapon Phtn ntrtng the he k. lc1,n era unable M i,h u ' Hi" condition is -ttm : .. , . - Petrified Human Form Found in Cave by Kxploring party. Cordele,,Ga June 26. A perfectly preserved petrified human form, be lieved, to be the remains of an In dian, together with numerous skele tons and bones, were to-day discov ered by a local exploring party "that ventured far Into "RDCkhouse" cave, eight miles southeast of this place. Romantic mystery has always at tached to this natural underground cavity. . The party that partially In vaded Hs depths-to-day ventured sev eral hundred feet Into a- mysterious chain of -passageways. In the lime stone walls a gruesome eight wss presented by the protruding remains of scores of human beings. The petri fied form weighed several hundred pound, and it was Impossible for the party to remove it, . . ' , Ex ou crates Man Con victesT of Murder. Palatka, F1& June . 11. When James Kelley and D. M. Davidson were to-day sentejseed to life impris onment for murder. Kelley said: . ' . "I accept the verdict of the Jury, but as for Tk M-"Davidson, he Is as Innocent of tl is crime as any man In the hearing of my roice." y t The men were convicted of the murder of W. C. Sellars, a night watchman of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad three years ago at - Hlg Springs, Fls- The three were In con versation together and there - was doubt as te where the fatal shot came from.' . . - u ".. Railway Employes Strike,.,' " Pittsburg. June - J.Three thous and men representing IS per cent, of the working-force of the Ptttsborg Railway Company decided to-night to go on strike at I 'clock to-morrow (Sunday morning). 1. 1 -. : " This action followed a long confer ence between the company officials and a union committee, . the Jury." continued he, "look upon the prisoner; what say you. is he guil ty of the felony and murder whereof he stands charged, or not guilty?" THE VERDICT. "Not guilty," was Mr. Flow's reply, and Immediately the -crowded court room commenced to applaud. Judge Councill rapped for order and re proved those who were so foregtful of themselves and the court to express their sentiments in such open fashion. There was no necessity on the part of the clerk to interrogate the Jury fur ther for it was evident that the state ment of the foremtn was as agreed upon. A few seconds later court was dismissed, Judge Councill delaying to sign the necessary order and every thisg was over. When the foreman announced the verdict of the Jury, Mrs. Frank Berry hill and several of the sisters and rela tives of the prisoner threw their arms about his neck embracing him. The vigorous applause had hardly been Quelled by the sharp command of the sheriff and his deputies at the instance of the court when, Judge Councill signed the papers for the release of the prisoner and then the relatives or trie defendant hastened over to the Ju ry box to thank the members of the Jury Individually for their verdict. Judge Councill himself was not forgotten nor were the attorneys who had labored so manful ly and so successfully in be half of the accused. Mr. Blggers was surrounded by his relatives and friends and escorted home. Within This expression very accurately voices a deep sentiment that pervade the city. There Is no fault found with the Jury; that body, with the evi dence before it and limited to the case ln question, could hardly have done otherwise. But the obligation still rests upon those who have to do with the safe-guarding of the public While no statement has yet been giv en out officially as to what the attor neys for the State will do. it is likely that some step, will be taken to have a commission ln lunacy appointed to investigate Diggers' present mental condition. If that body finds that he Is perfectly and absolutely sane and that the welfare of the public will not be Jeopardised under any circum stances by reason of hie presence at large ln the community for the kill ing of one man by another IS In no wise excusable except to save one's own lif. then well and good but otherwise, otherwise. Asked last night as to whether he Intended to take steps ln this direc tion, Solicitor Herlot Clarkson stated that he had not reached any conclu sion In the matter but hardly thought he would. Solicitor Clarkson finished hi. speech to the jury at ll:4t o'clock Immediately after which Judge Coun cill read his charge. It being agreed ftfcat tne)resqme of the evidence which is frequently submitted particularly in sharply fought capital uaars, be dispensed with. After Judge Ceun clll's eharge, which lasted about 41 minutes, the case wss given to the Jury. This was at 1J-.20 o'clock. The jury had dinner at the Huiora ana returned to the civil court room wjhere the deliberations were held at T-45. HOW BAJXOTS STOOD. The first ballot was 10 for acquittal and 2or conviction, one for first de gree murder and one for second de gree. When this result was an nounced an argument followed with the result that 11 were for acquittal and one for conviction, the change be ing effected In a very few minutes. All the batteries were then opened upon this one juryman to such good effect that at 4:45 o'clock, or three hour, after the jury had retired for consultation, all had agreed. The word was then given out through the bolted door and the Judge and the prisoner were both notified that the Jury was ready to report. The in cidents connected with the announce ment of the verdict, have already been detailed. 1 Court convened promptly at 10 o'clock. No sooner had Judge Coun cill rapped for order than Solicitor Heriot Clarkson arose to resume hi. address to the Jury. It was the clos ing speech of the trial and a great throng was present, the greater camber being relative, and friend, of the accused. Solicitor Clark son's argument lasted almost three hours and ' was in point, of time irieuu " u '-i-" .uw Uv..v. - ------ i . . , , 15 minutes after the Jury had march- th longest o : the trial. That it was . . . j I. .nlnnHlH flTnrt h nea wltnout BflV- ed into the room, court was oeseneu. the great throng, which haj followed every step In the trial with acute in terest, having left, and the ordinary routine of business was resumed. Mrs. Blggers was not in the court room when the verdict was announced nor were any of th. four children. To an Observer man who . asked him if he had anything to say about the verdict, Blggers shook his head, bis eyes fill ing with tears, and remarked in a low voice: "I am too tired now. I am go ing home to my wife and children. I want to aleep. I am going to bed and re.f' Mrs. Blggers has not been well for the past several days, - The strain has been too great for her and she is not strong. The- several sisters and nu merous relatives and friends were in the room and the man who had Just passed through the sharpest storm and stress period of his life was not without sympathisers. For the first time sinoe the evening prior to the homicide, Blggers spent last night at his home with his family. . OCCASIONED NO SURPRISE. . xThe verdict was hot unexpected. It was the belief, of nine out of every ten men in the court room when the Jury filed ln that the verdict would be ia favor of th. aocused. This was accounted for by reason of the fact that; prttcticatry the entire audience was friendly to the defendant. Big ger himself.' when hs lifted high his. hand his left, not his right as re quired by law showed that he was confident of acquittal. The state ment of the foreman of the Jury did. not seem to surprise mm in ine least. Hi. features, already drawn and hag gard, did not twitch when the vigor ous round, of applause, came. Tears welled up In bls eyes and his lips quivered when his sister, (Mrs, Berry hill, threw her arms about his. neck but- he never gave any further signs of-emotion save, hearty .handshakes for ail of those . who congratulated him..' , i-i .V v .t-rK To the crowded court room the ver dict gave tnraense and unqualified satisfaction but not so ln like degree the public, While perhaps the great majority favored acquittal and 'would have been shocked to learn of convic tion, there was-a deep undercurrent of sentiment that all the ends of jus tice bad, not been met. so far as the a solendid effort goes without say Ing and formed a telling conclusion of the case so far as the argument for the prosecution was concerned. After he finished. Judge Councill announced that he was ready to charge the Jury if there was nothing special desired by counsel for either side, tsaia Judge Councill: JUDGE COUNCILdS CHARGE. Judge Councill. in his charge, after defining the various degrees of mur der, explained the law very fully as regarded Insanity. He said the de fendant would have to be insane at the time of commitlng the act. He need not be insane on every aubjeot. however. If he knew right from wrong he was not excusable. "Now. gentlemen-f the Jury, rwlth these general observations upon the law, as applied to persons 4who com mit an act criminal ln its nature, and upon trial plead insanity as an excuse for its commission, a in the case-at the bar, we come to the consideration of the defendant's plea ln this case. "The defendant admits that he kill ed J. G. Hood with a pistol by shoot ing him to death in the city of' Char, lotto . on the $t day of February. 1I0J, but says that at the time that he committed the act he was insane; did not appreciate that- the' act he committed was wrong, and asks you to so 4nd in this case. The court has before this called to yonr atten tion th general- test of responsibility which one owes to the law, as well as to the degree of mental Incapacity that exempts him from 'criminal re sponsibility under the law. The court, therefore, charges you that If you are satisfied from the evidence ia this mm that at the time the defendant, W. 8. Blggers, shot and killed the da ceased, J. G. Hood, that he was In sane to the extent and degree of not knowing that his act In taking the life of J. G Hood was wrong, then it becomes your' duty to acquit him, even though you should find that upon many or ail other subjects than that of killing J G. Hood the de fendant was rational and sane. WHEN DCTT TO ACQUIT. "And the'eoart further charges yon that" it matters not what may have caused the Insanity of the defendant. la a Letter to Rev. W. B, Oliver, of -Florence, . CX. the Governor De rteres That the Work of ITohl Di ttos in Tide tNate is Beyond Kvea What the Prohibitionists Expected Not the Slightest Probability That the Law Will Be Repealed Two Conditional Pardons Granted Get ting Ready For Farmers' Institutes Veterinarians to Meet at Wll mington. Observer Bureau. The Holleman Building. Raleigh. June :. Governor Kltchin. In a letter to Rev. W. B. Oliver, of Florence, S. C. In response to inquiries upon the effect of prohibition in North Caro lina, .ays: "Business In this 8tate is as sound and progressive as ln any adjoining State. Prohibition has not demoralised labor. It is true that some negroes and some white men, too, as for that, are violating the pro hibition law, and our courts are con stantly sending them to the road, for it. Considering the profits, the viola tion, are not beyond what prohibi tionist, expected. The law I. support ed by public sentiment and is a great benefit to the State, though, of course, there are many good cltlsen. who op posed prohibition and who .till doubt it. efficacy and wisdom. It Is, now ever, doubtless working as well and as satisfactorily In thl. State as ln any other. It has not worked corruption and evil, though some men have en gaged in corruptjon and evil under It. It never made a good man a bad one. It is not true that drunkenness Is more common and prevalent than be fore prohibition- In my Judgment there is not a county in the State that is spending as much money for or consuming as much whiskey per capita as before prohibition. There is not the slightest probability that the next Legislature will repeal the law. I think the prohibition senti ment Is sounder and stronger than heretofore." Governor Kltchin conditionally par dons Carter Whsley, convicted of sdultery In Mitchell and sentenced to two years on the roads. He Is an epileptic and totally unable to "work. He has been ln Jail almost a year. The Governor also grant, a condi tional pardon to J. W. Morris, con victed In . Buncombe of defrauding a boarding-house keeper and sentence! to four months on the roads. Morris having paid the board bill and costs snd served two months. Next (Monday at the trial of Maude Kelley, the tenderlolner. before 'Po lice Justice Stronach. a lot of new evidence will be Introduced, the city attorney states. There will be a large number of new witnesses In this now notorious case. NEW THEATRE. Raleigh Is to have a new theatre to be en Fayetteville street. The front will be stores and offices and the theatre will he entered through an arcade. Work begins on It next month. Arrangements have been completed for the greatest series of farmer.' In stitutes ever held In North Carolina. J Five parties will be in the field, and every county west of Lenoir will be covered. One party will go in a spe cial train over the Southern Railway, another over the Seaboard Air Line. There will be a number of ladles looking sfter the institutes for wom en. A new feature will be illustra tions of the rotations of crops and of the food value of the various food stuffs grown in the State. There will be picture, showing the best method of packing fruits and vegetables. There Is a strong movement for the belt line of railway 'along ttee east ern suburbs of Hie city snd to-day offers were made of free rights-of-way along a god deal of th proposed line. VETERINARIANS' CONVENTION. The eighth annual convention of the North Carolina Veterinary Medi cal Association, will be held at Wil mington beginning July 2. At the morning session candidates for li cense will be examined by the State board. At the afternoon sessions there will be clinics at Dr. Carroll's hospital. Headquarters will be at the Seashore Hotel at WrlghUvllte. To-day your correspondent "vas glv. en a -fig, weighing five and one-half ounces, grown here. There are two crops of figs, one in June and the other from August until frost. Tour correspondent will be very glad to receive Information regard ing Flora McDonald, the famous Scotch woman who came here and liv ed ln Cumberland and Anson coun ties. Two of her children are said to have been buried In Anson. COL. J. C. HASKELL DEAD. SOME UGH! OMYSTERY JCASTMAX WAS WOMAN'S eLAYEK. .. "... . y a . m. Skeins :ot Evidence Collected by the . Authorities Tend to bhow That Mau M ho feurmied in lxwe's Pre emje Was teMurdepr of ttfitli May Woodlll. and Not a Woman, as f Eastman Tried to Make Believe in letter Addressed to HU Wife Letter to Eastman's Wife is Made Public by the Officials Gradually .Light "is Being Thrown Vpou the Mysterious Murder of the Beautiful WoodiU Woman. St. Mlchseuv Md.. June t. Tell tale shafts of light continued to-day to filter In upon the tragedy of the lonely bungalow of Broad creek. As the tangled skein, of the .tory ere picked up one by one they tend more and more to dissipate the claim ad vanced by Robert Eastman thst it was a woman, and not he, who killed Edith May Woodiy. JOE BR0YN IS J0YEIi Oli SMITH : RETIRES FROM OFFICE Amid Ceremonies of Jefferoruan Sim plicity, Georgia's New Cluef Execu tive 'takes Oath eud Enters Vpim His New Da tiesCrowd Gathered to Meet Trolley Cpon Which it Was Expected That Brown Would Ar--rive- In Atlanta But They Were Dis appointed as the New : Governor Came ln on the Train and Strolled Leisurely to the State Capitol Go ernor Smith Shook Hands With News Executive But Did Not Congratulate Him. .- '.. q .;, .-.fV:t,;' Atlanta, Ga,., Sun SI.--Joseph-M. Brown, son of "Joe" Brown, on of Georgia's war-time Governors, took oftlee to-day amid, ceremonies of Jef ferson ian simplicity. Somewhat contrary to hU wishes, a brass band was waiting this, morning with enthusiastic admirers at the troi- io-aay ioe )'.rn " -il Une. where it w.. -n..t-.l .haf or ner owappear-i- ----- (ConUnQsd en Page Nine). passes Away at His Home at Waver- ly, 8. C, as a Return or a Paralytic Stroke a Few Weeks Ago Had Been prominent in the Affairs of His State. Observer Bureau. 1210 Berkeley Building, Columbia. S. C. June It. Col. John Chevee Haskell died at his home in Waverly at o'clock this morning, following a stroke of paraly sis several days ago. The funeral will be held to-morrow afternoon from Trinity church, interment In the church cemetety. Colonel Haskell, a native of Abbe ville county, was at one time promi nent In he social, political and busi ness affairs of his 8tate, as had been many of his kin. He had a splendid Confederate war record. He was the grandson of Langdon Cheves. a mem ber of Congress from this State, who succeeded Henry Clay as Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives. There were preMnt with Colonel Haskell at the time of his deatht be side, his wife, his sister, Mrs. Langdon Cheves, of Charleston; his brother, Capt James Haskell, also of Charles ton; his children, Mr. Preston Haskell, a mining engineer of Mineral, Va.; Mr. Frank HaskelL of Macon, Ga.. and Mrs. Annie Haskell Lindsay, hi. only daughter, of Charleston. Colonel Haskell's brother, Judge A. C HaskelL was at the bead of what was known as the Haskell independ ent movement in ItSO, which bolted the convention nomination of Tillman for Governor, and was beaten by Till man for Governor that year. -4- woman at the time ance vers found in a pawnshop Baltimore, placed there last Tuesday by a man whp answered fully the de scription of Eastman. Th man se cured 1200 on the two diamond rings and an Oriental brooch. Two hun dred dollars, which Mrs. WolSdlll had in her possession when sb left her foster father' home last week is missing Eastman repaid a loan last week of 1200 and when he returned here from Baltimore on Tuesday night he seemed plentifully supplied with money. There promised for a time to-day to be fight for the legal custody of Eastman's body. A. S. Rosenthal, of New York, an attorney who repre sented Eastman when he was charged with grand larceny, and who stated for him the ball which he forfeited by flight, arrived upon the scene and acting for Mrs. Ida 8- Resteln, of New York, one of the sureties who lost hea11y by the forfeiture of the bond, demanded the custody of the body In order that he might make delivery of It to the New York authorities, by whom a reward of $1,500 had been offered. The local authorities de clined to give up the body. The letter of the suicide. In which he gave to his wife his version of the killing of Mrs. Woodlll by a Jealous womanr was made public to day and deeply Impressed many who read Its circumstantial account of the tragedy, for which the writer claimed he was In no way responsible. THE LETTER. The letter follows: "Vinnle: Take this money and go at once to McDanlel, Talbot county, Maryland, and claim my body snd all my property. The property corfslsts of 32 acres of land and a bungalow. There is also a motor boat. Have a sale and convert the whole thing in to cash. I don't owe a cent excepting for the paint and pump, etc., which Bhanakaa AWr,lad.WB&t -Easton. will be glad to get back, as It I. not broken; Just as It was shipped. "Little girl, I had no hand In the tragedy. Wa. there and removed the evidence after the other two couples fled. I did this for self-preservation and am haunted. The victim was my particular friend and we were well mated. Have only known her three weeks. We all, that Is, two men and two other women from Annapolis, went to the bungalow for- a time. Every one got full excepting Edith and myself. Edith tried to win one of the girl s fellow, while lying on the bed with him and wa. hit three times on the side of the head with a full bottle of champagne, and the fellow hit once. She fell over on the floor and died. The man did not come to for art hour. I wa. left with the corpse and cannot take a chance for a trial. Life to me la very bitter ' and I will pull down the shades and say good-bye. You can claim my property and .ay as little a. possible, nut get it. l am awruliy sorry ror you and our boy, and I have been hustling madly to make your path clear, but fate Is against me. (Signed) "BOn." "Take Pennsylvania Railroad to Easton, Md., and then change to R, C. A A. Don't neglect thla- The property 1. valuable." Foreman Radollffe, of the coroner". Jury, declared himself convinced of the truth of the strange missive and urged the authorities fo investigate further Into the matter. Wlfh all hU disclaimer of responsibility, however, Eastman admitted In the letter tharf. he did not dare take the chance of a f: ial and had decided to "draw the (curtain forever." While others were as deeply Im pressed as the ' jury foreman, the searching Investigations of the au thorities fall to substantiate any of Eastman's clatma The witness, William Sutton, who. It was said last r.lght. had heard a party of men and rromen merry-mak ing in the bungaiom.cn Sunday night, declared to-day that It was late Sat urday night and that he heard only the voices of one man and one wom an; that the voice of the woman was that of Mrs. Woodlll. When the cabin was searched fol lowing the discovery of the body places at the table were set for two. Eastman and the girl were heard to quarrel as they drove away from Royal Oak station Saturday after noon, apparently over the girl's re fusal to accompany Eastman to some place he desired to have her go. Attorney Rosenthal, whose client Eastman was, declared to-night that Eastman had tnown the murdered girl prior to her marrUge with Wood ill, and aaid he believed Eastman had visited her ln California after her marriage. D. A.hton Plummer aw a motor boat, with two women and three men, all stylishly dressed, making Its way out of Broad creek, on which the Eastman bungalow Is located, the Sunday morning following the mur der. After making a trip to Oxford, however, the boat and passengers re turned. There is nothing to indicate that the launch came from anywhere In the immediate neighborhood ' of Eastman's farm. Eastman had been living more or less by his wits of late, and there are many now who. believe that he borrowed considerable money from Mrs.' Woodlll. ' Being badly in need of money it is believed that the idea or pawning the Jewelry came to .him when he felt that flight might, be- ne cessary. This is th theory expressed by tae Berumore police, who found the two diamond rings and brooch In the pawn-broker's - place. With the exception.; of her .wedding Ving, which remains unaccounted for, these were the only articles of " Jewelry worn by Mrs, woocui when last seen. lfrtar- Brown would arrive in . Atlanta lrum tub nome in Marietta, z. mnes sway. Mr. Brown, however, came to Atlanta by train- the band played weU comes in vain; the crowds gathered at the state Capitol building where the ceremonies were to be' held and bussed expectantly, but no one seemed to ' , know where "Joe" Brown was. Shortly before time for , i; the' - . Inauguration, a group , of- four si men wa. sighted near the Capitol, strolling leisurely , under a sky blazing with heat well above, a 0. , ' One of these men was the Governor- ' elect, clad In a light colored Suit, Of ; -Prince Albert cut. of Georgia make He carried an umbrotla over hit arm, . and a small paper parcel apparently the manuscript of his Inaugural ad- ' dress. ; As to how there happened to be -four person. In the Governor-elect'sV - ' party when he approached the Capl- , , tol, the following story 1. told: ',- Mr. Brown and hi. brother were neurlng the Capitol alone and unob served when an acquaintance of Mr.'' , Brown spied him and rang out: "Good morning." t ,t V Mr. Brown replied In kind, lntto- ' Juced his brother, and a.ked: , ' ' - "Where are you going over this, way?" , , t "Why, I've got a meeting oil at the ' Farmer.' Union and I'm late," wa the reply, " , 1 ' ( "Well." replied the Governor-elect; "I've got an appointment at the Cap!- '"V tol myself this morning, and we'll alf walk along together." ' ' A newspaper man at that moment . completed th quartette. , Mr. Brown quickly passed Into the Capitol building and there la Gov ernor's reception-room was met by ",.. Hoke smith, th retiring Governor. Ms bitter political enemy. When Gover nor Smith took office two years ago one of his first act was to remove , from office "Joe" Brown, then a State railroad om wt Is si o ne r t ' Bffrw a Mmd ' " paign against Smith a year 'ago and . his victory ws a political sensation, i As the two faced to-day the retiring Governor said: y "Good morning, Mr. ' Brown.". '. ' "Howdy, Governor," was the reply of th Incoming executive. Then they - shook hands. Governor Brown', address - was hrlef. At Its conclusion Governor Smith handed Governor Brown the seal of the Stats of Georgia , and the ceremony wa. complete. Governor Smith bowed as he handed over the seal. He did not shake hands or of- fr any public congratulations to his 1 '' successor. A reception in the Capitol ' followed, and later Governoat Brown ' and his' family took the train back to ' Marietta. Next week they will take up their residence ln the Governor's man.lon ln this olty. , : flnvMrnor flmlth'a mut AeSLnlAt 1 .. . . - - . . . . .... .WW .1. , to-day was fke signing of II nardona - Those set free Included six murderers : anJ three persons convicted, of vlolat- ' ing tne pronioition law.. Negro Anti -Saloon League Active. ' Birmingham,' Ala, Jue 21. Dr. B F.TUley, white, to-dayopened head Quarters In Birmingham as the gen eral superintendent of the Southern The fact that Eastman had gone to Negro Anti-Saloon Federation. Ef- Baltimore Tuesday was known prior forts will be made to stpp liquor I to the discovery of the pawned jewel . v urinjung amacf negroes.-. - - v ry. it was ina aay uat ne mauea SOUTHBOUND WILL BJj5 'BUILT. . Norfolk A Southern and Atlantln C'oHt Ant Are Backing; the Project and Its Building is Assured. Special to Th Observer. " Wadeeboro, June 2. Information - reached her to-day from an official source that agreement, have been signed by the Atlantic Coast Line and ' th Norfolk A Western for the Imme diate bulldlgg of the Southbound Railroad front Wadesboro to Winston- Salem. ' . - This road will become part of the. through line from the coal field of West Virginia to Charleston. ' Local . stockholders have been notified 'of a meeting of the directors of the South-, bound to be held In Wlpston-Salem Monday. ' ''"', 8pec1al to The Observer. , Winston -Salem, June 2. The of ficial announcement to-day by th. At lantic Coast Line and Norfolk Western that the-. Wlnston-Selem Southbound Railroad would be- push- -ed to completion within the next It - month. I. received with great satis faction here. The movement for this through line from Chicago to Charles-' ton, with the Twin City as a prom Inent junction point, was begun about ' three years ago, CoL F. H. Fries and ' Mr. Henry E. Fries, of this city. be- ing among , the leaders in the, enter-- -prise, Henry E. Fries Is now presi dent. There has never . been any- doubt as to the consummation of the-' . project, bot i the news that ' adequate . financial arrangements have - been : completed to . construct , tho road at , once pits the .enterprise on . a most. tangible and certain, baaia .-- . , - C. IL His Appointed General Manager - . . : Hcauoara .iw tne. v . Baltimore, June 2.-C. H. Hfx has been appointed general manager, and C R. Casps,. freight, traffic manager -of the Seaboard -Air Une-with head quarters in Portsmouth,' Va. - These Important changes In the' Morgan lza tlon, as announced to-day vofnciallv, " follow the recent resignations of W. . A- Garrett, Chief executive' officer for the receivers, and L. -"Sevier,-, vice, president," both- of , these - positions having been abolished.-, .;'- . & . the letter written some time previous ly by Mrs. WoodiU to her foster-sister. It. is .thought that the letter which was intended to convey the im-' pression that the writer was' in 1 tlmore, was penned fy Mrs. Woodlll either to mask her visit to the buna low or else she had written the letter with the idea actually of going to Baltimore alter meeting E&stmao, ft t I. 0
The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
June 27, 1909, edition 1
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