tMERE is no PLACE LIKEHOME"
, thJ advertiser to reach with his
innounoements. The News goes to
SfSomes perhaps n a larger pro
rt n of its circulation than any
r daily paper in the country.
K I INK I IN:
THE SWOLLEN VOLUME OP NEWS
advertising for 1903 shows how our
advertisers appreciate a paper that is
Teadable reaching all Charlotte peo
ple that are reachable.
VOL. XXIX-NO. 4596
V
CHARLOTTE, N- C., FRIDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 25, 1903.
PRICE : 3 CENTS
PUPF A ITT) TT TK
NEWS.
DUEL IMMINENT,
AMERICAN WITH
I ffii
Dr. Dechateau a Witness in
the Fair Case and Edmund
Kelly of the American Em
bassy Have a War of Words
In Court.
Kelly Intimated That Decha
teau was a BanKrupt The
Frenchman was Insulted
and Challenged Kelly--! he
Challenge Withdrawn.
(By Associated Press.)
Paris, Dec. 25. During the hearing
4 rnir case, a duel became im-
VI ,
. ... i,.-r.0n nr Dechateau. a wit-
mineuL uck'vvu -
ness. and Edmund Kelly, of the Ame
rican Embassy, representing Mrs.
liam Vanderbilt and Mrs. Herman Oel
riVh The hearing Thursday was
Lid 'in the house of Dr. Dechateau,
the Place where the accident occur
red Dr Dechateau and Pemquel
testified that Mrs. Fair lived the long
est when Kelly intimated that Dr.
Dechateau was a bankrupt. Dechat
eau was upon his feet in an instant.
'Sir you insulted me grossly, and in
a manner impossible for me to over
look You must give satisfaction and
ffiv seconds will call upon you," he
said It was impossiDie to yruceeu
with the hearing until friends inter
vened and the challenge was with
drawn under protest Hardly had this
disagreement between Dechateau and
Kelly been adjusted, before another
arose between Mr. Kelly and M. T.
Beekman, who represents the heirs of
Mrs. Fair. "We have given Mrs.
Fair's mother two hundred thousand
dollars already in full settlement of
her claims," said Mr. Kelly. "We
regard that act of our client as hav
ing settled any claim Mrs. Nelson
might have upon the estate."
"The Vanderbilts have given my
client two hundred "thousand -dollars
of her own money and kept eight
million of it," retorted Mr. Beekman
hotly. Again it looked as though
there might be a challenge to a duel.
Dechateau and Perriquet testified that
Mr. Fair died first.
GENEROUS ELKS.
They
Bring Cheer to Many
Little
Hearts Today.
More than five hundred little chil
dren, boys and girls, will look back
ward in later years to the Christmas
of 1903 and thank the Charlotte Elks
for bringing Santa Claus to them
when the old fellow would otherwise
have passed them by.
The scene in the Elk's Temple to
day from noon until 3 o'clock was
one that will not soon be forgotten.
Between five and six hundred children.
were given a sumptuous dinner and
were then loaded down with presents
an, sent away with smiling faces and
happy hearts. The children were
gathered in from all over the city and
were those to whom Santa .Claus
visits pre few and far between and
who would, in many cases, have ex
perienced none of the joy of the
Curistmas season had it not been for
the charity of the Elks. The chil
(Iron, besides receiving a big dinner,
consisting of turkey, meats, pickles,
ice cream, cake and various other deli
cacies, were given three presents
each, a pound of candy, a doll or horn
ana some useful article, such as
Handkerchief or necktie. .Aftej re
ceiving their presents the children
were turned loose in the spacious par-
iors or the Elk's Temple where mem
ment ran rife for over three hours
and the building resounded with the
blowing of horns and childish mirth
and chatter.
The children of the Thompson Or
phanage, sixty-five in all, were
brought to the temple by carriages
lurnisned gratuitously bv Wads
worth's Sons, and were also served
with dinner and made happy with
numerous presents. This work . was
done by the Charlotte Elks by private
'-u..iriDuuons and represents an out
ay of from four to five hundred dol
ars. It is undoubtedly one of the
wggest charitable undertakings that
lias been gotten up here in many
years.
Th0 chairman of the committee who
ad tho work in charge was Mr. Arm
istead Burwell, Jr., who was assisted
n the committee by Messrs. Hamil
ton Wilson, Will Harty, O. L. Barring-J-
W. Mullen and E. S. Williams.
ENTERS THE ASSOCIATION.
The George A. Fuller Construction
i u any Adr"'tted to Membership
the ( Building Trades Association.
Vo ,By Associated Fress.)
Flint Jrk ' Dec- 25. The George A.
, ucr Construction fin h
eat idcConnell, has applied for mem
ciatin Am the Budding Trades Asso
anri p APPlication has been accepted
inSnh ldent McConnell becomes a
ulalw S?n- the Plan scPe and reg-
been it tae assciation having
- "unuugmy explained to him
ENCHMAH
WOOD DEFENDS HIMSELF.
General Wood Tells of His Acquaint
ance with Bellairs.
(By Associated Press.)
New York, Dec. 25. The Commer
cial Advertiser prints a letter signed
by General Leonard Wood, and ad
dressed to Dr. Horace Fletcher, of
Yale University, in which the writer
tells cf his acquaintance with Edgar
G. Bellairs. In the letter which was
written at Cairo, on Mry 12 last,
Beneral Wood, referring to Bellairs,
said: "In the spring of 1899 he was
promoted to Havana (from Santiago),
not at my request or suggestion,
direct as I remember 'it. He asked
absolutely no favors of me or so far
as I know, of any one."
"After m v trnnsfpr trt Havntin na
Governor of the whole island in Don..
1899, Bellairs continued .on duty, 1 1
should say about five months and was
Xlo f , r
quest, either directly or indirectly, i
was sorry to have him go as we all gressman Spencer Blackburn's de
liked him and found him reliable. In sire to secure the judgeship himself.
uie .-x-uuu.p m utriuum- was a ue-
hever in military government instead
of civil and apparently wrote accord-
ing, and of course trouble with the
civil government in the way of loss
of friendly relations followed. After
Bellairs left Havana ugly rumors
about him began to be circulated.
They came almost entirely from a i
number of men who did not like him.
On investigation nothink definite was
found. I heard from him very seldom.
Finally some one published what pur
ports to be a story of Bellairs' past
and points out that he was my parti
cular friend, and that I sent him to
China, and that his attitude toward
the civil government was at my sug
gestion, and that I was working to
relieve Taft, etc., etc., conclusions as
false as they are childish and silly.
Who started the thing no one knows,
but doubtless some of the people I
had to handle without gloves during
my stay in China. It was fetched and
my stay
dishonest and intended to create
trouble. This is the whole story.
"I saw him daily as I did the Sun
man and gave them such news as I
could. They were treated exactly
alike."
Death of Moody Merrill.
(By Associated Press.)
Santa Fe., N. M., Dec. 25. Moody
Merrill, of Boston, alias C. F. Gray
son, of Silver City, died suddenly yes
terday at Silver City from pneumonia.
Merrill it is said has held very high
postions in Boston whence he sud
denly disappeared and was supposed
to be dead until a short time ago poli
tical enemies revealed his where-
. i -i i J. i 1 XT -
Pn.fIT13Jm?n?aiaar?:
In New Mexico he had made a new
New York in the southwest and had
been president of the Silver City Na
tional Bank.
Mr. Dcane Hulick. who has been
quite ill with the grip at his home oa
East Avenue for the past two weeks,
is improving slowly.
I AT LAST
He is Arrested on a Charge
n O C O'n
OT MrSOn 'Oet r lie TO Olng
Sing Prison and Escaped
Flooded Wall Street With
Bank of England Notes-
(By Associated Press.)
New York, Dec. 25. One of the men
involved in the famous Bank of Eng
land forgery case, and who in 1877 I
set fire to Sing-Sing prison and escap-
ed, has just been arrested in thi3 city
Saturday at the age of 60, on the
charge of arson in the first degree,
He is known as Charles Williamson
alias Perrin, but passed lately as
Charles Hall, which is said to be his
real name, Ppsing as a retired bank-
er now. he was posing as an active
banker, when in 1893, he flooded Wall
street with alleged forged bonds. He
bought the Van Alen home at New
Hamburg, Duchess co., agreeing to pay
ten thousand dollars and paid live
hundred down, and insured the house
for, nineteen thousand. Four days
later, February 14 last, the house was
burned.
Circumstances prevented the with-
holding of payment upon the policies
and Hall disappeared. He has been
living, the police learned, in New Jer
sey and when he came to this city
he was arrested. Hall is said to have
passed 28 years in prison.
To Elect Directors.
The board of directors of the
Young Men's Christian Association,
is called to meet this evening at 8
o'clock to elect five new' directors to
take the Dlace of those whose terms
of office expire December 31. The old
directors, however, have been re - nom -
inated for the positions they now noia
on theboa rd.
Great Britain Recognizes.
(Bv Associated Press.)
Panama. Dec. 25 C. Mallet, the
RHHsh Consul, has officially informed
thp Junta that he has received a
nhlem-am from the British foreign
office to the effect that Great Britain
formally recognizes the Republic of
Sma
FAMOUS
FORGER
BLACKBURN WANTS
JUDGE BOYD'S PUCE
A ProminentCharlotte Citizen
Says This is the. Secret of
the Hatched-Up Antagon
ism Against the Greens
boro Man.
A prominent Charlotte banker who
weighs his words carefully, today in
formed a representative of The News
tuat the secret of the antagonism to
Judge Boya is entirely due to ex-Con
From another 0urce The News is
. . . , . .
infcrmed that an influence m North
Carolina politics to which the Presi-
dent has bowed to on several ocea-
sions of late, is secretly at work to
dethrone Judge Boyd.
From this same source it is learned
that back of all this opposition is the
fact that Judge Boyd is a strong
Hanna man and would like to see the
Ohio Senator named for the Presiden
cy. Ex-Congressman Blackburn is for
Roosevelt and, it is said, he has
pledged the President the vote of
North Carolina in the next National
Convention.
In order to make sure his pledge he
has made war on Judge Boyd, think
ing, of course, that Roosevelt would
&ive him his ear and if necessary,
secure the vote of North Carolina
Judge Boyd would be sacrificed and
Spencer Blackburn be named for the
position.
To his friends in Charlotte Judge
Boyd has never expressed any prefer
ence, as to the next Republican nom
inee. In fact, a representative of this
paper tried strenuously to get an ex
pression from him as to this
matter and he persistently declined
to be interviewed.
Chairman Rollins, it has been said,
denies the statement credited to him
at Statesville. Tho News was inform
ed of the matter throught its States
ville " correspondent, and the state-
ment made , that correspondence
nas never been denied by Col. H. C.
Cowles.to whom Mr.. Rollins talked.
-Rollins, da say-at Statesville that he
knQWMtWn(rnf ?av.,
ceedings against Judge Boyd and that
as far as he knew, there was nothing
in the telegram sent out from Wash
ington.
This statement is again made in or
der that Chairman Rollins may re
fresh his mind and recall the state
ments he made to Col. H. C. Cowles
at btatesvilie Wednesday morning
last.
SPLENDID OUTLOOK.
The Coming Year Promises Much for
Cotton Mill Men
The indications now are that the
coming year will be one of the most
prosperous that the Southern yarn
and cloth mills have ever experi
enced,' said a local cotton man today
The indications that point in this
uirecuon are many, in me nrsi piace
the decree of fashion has gone forth
direction are many. In the first place
prince3 gto the
that white goods shall be worn in
various colored
goods and cloths other than cotton
which have been in vogue for some
time. The mills are now able to turn
out white goods of a most attractive
style and these have already found
favor with the feminine mind and it is
not an uncommon sight to see dresses
worn by the ladies, the cloth for
which was woven and the yarn spun
in some nearby cotton mill
Perhaps the strongest reason for ex
pecting a big year for yarns is found
in the rapidly growing demand for
such products which is now almos
outstripping the capacity of the mills
to keep up vith. Conditions are a
most the opposite from what the
j were four years ago when there there
I was such a glut of yarns on the mar-
ket that buyers were hardily to be
found at any price. Now there is ev
ery indication of a ready market and
prices are rapidly climbing the scale
and advances of several cents are a
J ready noted.
it is probable that the South's out
J put of yarn during the year 1904 wi
be about 15 per cent, greater than
during 1903 but the rapid increase in
population and the growing demand is
expected to more than counterbalance
any thing in this direction
At this early date buyers are .look
ing out for cotton goods and cloth
and yarn3 for the fall trade of the
coming year, the summer trade hav
ing already been provided for and the
white fabrics of the Southern mills
are in great demand in the North and
at other centers of the jobbing and
wholesale trade
The outlook is most
encouraging and the mills of this sec-
tion are probably now entering upon
1 one of their most prosperous years
Xmas Entertainment at Trinity.
'There will be an interesting enter
tainment at Trinity Methodist church
this evening for the little folks. A big
Christmas tree has been loaded down
with good things and these will be
distributed to the children of the Sun-
day school by "Santa Claus," who
I will be on hand in full uniform to
meet tne children and distribute pres-
lents- !
SHERMAN, NEWPORT.
' HEIDI 10 SAIL
he Two Transports at San
francisco Ordered to Hold
Themselves in Readiness
for any Movement Toward
Panama. r ; ":"
5(By Associated Press.)
San Francisco, Dec. .25. Orders have
been received at Washington ;,by the
local transport officials to , get trans
port ships Sherman and Newport in
readiness for service - immediately.
Transport officials maintain .secrecy
as to orders received and "refuse to
divulge the intended destination of
ne vessels. It is generally believed,
however, it is the intention to have
the troop ships in readiness for any
movement toward Panama. The' gun
boat; Bennington,, has arrived from
Bremerton navy yard. It i3 understood
she will leave in company with the
Now York, acting as convoy to the
torpedo boats Paul Jones and Petrel.
RUSSIA AND COREA.
London Standard Reports an Alliance
Between Them That Will Increase
the Tension in the Far East.
(By Associated Press.)
New York, Dec. 25. A dispatch to
the American from London says that
the Tiens-Tien correspondent of the
Standard today, revives the report
which was denied a few days ago, to
the effect that a secret treaty had
been signed between Russia and
Corca, whereby Russia obtains con
trol of the orean army through Rus
sian instructors. The correspondent
declares this will increase' the ten
sion in tho Far East.
NEW OIL FIELD.
The Greatest Gusher in Texas Be
gins Spouting Oil at Batson Prairie.
(By the Associated Press.)
Beaumont, Texas, Dec. 25. Para-
fine well number 3 at Batson Prairie,
the now oil field which -was being
baled, broke loose yesterday and with
a roar that shook the ' earth began
spouting oil 200 feet in the air and
hurling rocks 600 feet through twenty
feet of pipe.
This is claimed, to be the greatest
Ti7 Z
are booming in this vicinity -since
the latest wells have been brought in.
Convocation cf Charlotte.
On January 14 the Convocation of
Charlotte of the Episcopal church,
Wi Assemble in this city
The Convocation will continue
three days closing January 17th. A
number, of delegates are expected to
attend thi3 meeting.
ri
l!
ILi
FULL INSURANCE
B- Lowenstein and Company,
Oldest Mercantile House
in West Tennessee. Suffer
the Loss of Their Depart
ment Store in Memphis-
(By Associated Press.)
-Memphis, Dec. 25. Fire this morn
ing in the large department store cf
B. Lowenstein & Bro., on Main street,
caused a damage approximating $150,-
000, fully insured. The fire started in
the basement of the retail branch of
the company near the engine room
shortly before 1 o'clock, and spread
quickly to the store room. By the time
the first stream of water came, uie
blaze had spread over the basement,
and was sweeping the first floor,
dense volumes of smoke making it
difficult for the firement to get at the
flames and entirely precluding the
possibility of entering the building.
The fire was goten under control be
fore 3' o'clock. Lowenstein Brothers
conducted a wholesale and retail bus
iness, being the oldest dry goods
dealers in Memphis or West Tennes
see. ,
THE WEATHER.
There was no regular weather re
was kind enough to telephone The
News this afternoon the predictions
for this section .It is said that the rain
will cease by tonight and that clearing
weather will prevail tomorrow. Tho
indications are that the tempature will
fall several degrees by tomorrow.
BRIEFS.
Rev. W. W. Orr will address the
men's meeting at the Y. M, C. A. next
Sunday afternoon.
A Christmas entertainment will be
given this evening at East Avenue
i Tabernacle for the benefit of the chil-
dren of the Sabbath school
Mr. B. R. Spillman, secretary of
1 the International Fire Insurance Co.,
is in the city. This company was-repre
- snnted in the Carolinas by the late C.
IFurber Jones .
no m
iPHIS FIRE
D b V
AFTERMATH OF
THE GREAT WRECK
The Dead Robbed of Money
and Jewelry Distressing
Scenes at the Morgue--Another
Story of Heroism
Sixty Four Dead.
(By Associated Press.)
Connellsville, Pa., Dec. 25. The
Bumming up of the results of last
night's wreck of the Duquasne limited
on, the Baltimore and Ohio eight
miles west of here, shows a total dead
listpf 64 and nine injured. Today
Connellsville has been packed with
curious people attracted by the
wreck. The three morgues have found
it necessary to put guards on all doors
to keep morbid spectators from jump
ing into the small rooms and walking
over the forms of the dead. The
streets are packed and in front of
each of the undertaking establish
ments hundreds of people are grouped
eagerly waiting for a glimpse at the
dead bodies. Friends and relatives
of the victims are coming in on every
train and scenes at the morgues are
most distressing. All but a few of the
sixty eight bodies have been identified
and those who are still unknown will
be laid away in Hill Grove Cemetery
at the dawn of Christmas morning.
Connellsville, Pa., Dec. 25. Anoth
er name is added to the long death
list resulting from the Duquesne
Limited wreck on the B. & O. at Daw
son Wednesday. Harry Devlin at th
Cottaee State HosDital. died at 10
o'clock today. The total dead number i
65, and this probably completes tne
list. Devlin's home was Lonaconine. .
Md. There was one Christmas fune
ral, that of Edison Goldsmith, and an
immense concourse attended the ser
vices. Bodies cf other Connellsville
victims will be held until Saturday
or Sunday before burial. This is a
necessity as the undertakers are too
overworked to attempt
funerals today. The bodies of about
30 victims were gathered up and
taken away on early trains today. The
remaining - bodies indentified will be
shipped within the next 24 hours and
the unknown will be cared. for by the
borough council
Official " irivestiga-
tion into the cause of the disaster is
being prosecuted vigorously by offi
cers of the railroad company, but it is
doubtful if any individual will be
blamed for the accident. It is appar
ent that a number of switch-ties,
which had fallen off a west-bound
freight train and were strewn on the
passenger tract caused the flying ex
press to be derailed.
Those who are still to be identified
are mostly foreigners and it is doubt
ful if their identity will ever be
known. . Considerable money was
found on the persons of the unidenti
fied and tight sewed in a belt on one
of the foreigners was $1400 which
was placed in the First National
Bank. Sums ranging from $100 to
$300 were found and this, like the
balance has been put in the bank until
perhaps some time a relative (may be
located.
Many of the victims of the wreck
have been robbed. There are several
who are known to have had a large
amount of money and jewelry on their
persons. Not a single cent was found
in the pockets of several of. these, and
it was plainly visible that rings had
been taken from the fingers. Robbers
were on the scene early and many of
the rescuers, they had secured consid
erable booty, much of, which consis-
ted of baggage and nana uag3 tnat
had been lost about the cars In the
been recovered and it is the opinion
cf local officers that the bags were
quickly picked'up by the gang of
thhfves that operated there before
assistance arrived.
The wreck is pretty well cleared
away, coroner Artnur JNagen, or
. , A 2 1 f 11-
rayette county, arnveu in onneus-
ville and immediately swore in the said to be without precedent, in Amer
coroners jury. The jury is now view- ica or Europe. For the last five weeks,
ing the remains and taking evidence according to the health department,
as to the cause of the disaster. U ' there have been 820 cases reported,
has been learned that the car which an increase of 43 per cent, over the
dropped the timbers which wrecked cases of last year,
the train was gondola No. 3037 of the ,
Nickel Plate road. . j
A story of courage and heroism sel- j
dom Equalled is told of Benjamin '
Nichols, steward on the dining car.
His name is being sung with praises
by railroaders and the surviving pas
sengers. When the terrible slide of
the engine dragged the train whirl
ing sideways along the road, Nichols
wa3 in the dining car. Before the car
had made its last lurch Nichols x had
leaped and was running toward tne
s-mnfr whifh was redurerl to a mat-
tor ot twisted iron and splinters. The
crash had torn the escape-valve from
the top of the engine and the steam
was shooting in the car upon the
strueeline mass om smoking human-
ity.
Supt. J. F. Irwin of the B. & O. de
clares the blame must be fastened on
the parties who loaded the lumber on
th oar. His theory is that the stakes
at the side of the gondola were weak ents, Mr. and Mrs. E. S. Steele. ! Mr. E. Grimsley, who for the past
and gave way under the tension of the I Mr. S. L. Burts, - manager of the two years has been traveling eastern
car when it rounded the curve. Supt. Charlotte office of the Western Un- North Carolina, and South Carolina
Irwin has addressed inquiries to the ion, left last night for Columbia, fr the Dixie Oil Co., with headquar
starting point and the destination of where he will spend Christmas with tors in Charlotte, resigned his position
! the car and will make a thorough in-
' vestigation.
THREE DEATHS IN TENNESSEE.
One From a Feud, One From Whiskey
and One From Blowing Down a
Gun-Barrel. .
(By Associated Press.)
Knoxville, Tenn., Dec. 25. Deputy
Sheriff L. R. May shot and killed Lee
Lewis at Powell's station in tnis
county at 3 o'clock last night. The
shooting was the result of an old
grudge of several years standing, duo
to trouble at an election polling place.
May is now on his way to Knoxville
to surrender to sheriff Fox, his chief.
Cart Woolsey, son of Rev. John
Woolsey, who happened to be behind
Lewis was shot in the hip and seri
ously wounded by a stray bullet.
Wesley Bright, a young man living
near London, Tenn., was cleaning his
gun yesterday preparatory to goinc
hunting today. In trying to ascertain
whether it was loaded he put the muz
zle in hi3 mouth to blow through the
barrel and with the toe of his shoe he
pushed back the hammer." The ham
mer slipped from hi3 toe and the load
of the gun went through his head,
tearing it almost oft.
Near Madisonville, Tenn., Lon Cagle
shot and instantly Lee Rasar this
afternoon while they were involved
in a quarrel due to too much whiskey.
Cagle and two other men1 in the
party were arrested.
MR. COLLINS PURCHASE.
He Clocec a Trade for the Carson
Building in Spartanburg.
The Spartanburg Journal of yester
day has the following item that will
interest many Charlotte people:
John D. Collins, proprietor of the
Eee Hive, this morning closed a trade
for the purchase of the Carson build
ing. The price paid was $21,000.
This is, with possibly one exception,
the largest building in Spartanburg.
It is four stories high with capacious
basement and is about fifty feet in
width. It is well located on E. Main St.
The basement and first floors are
occupied by Mr. Collins' Bee Hive. The
fourth, floor of the building i3 used for
A aui iB i largtsi in me
si-ate. portions ot tne second and
third floors are used for office purpos
es. The building was built by J. L. Car
son about six years ago and . was
known as Spartanburg's sky-scraper
and is still the tallest building in the
city. It is well finished and is built in
is regarded as a valuable piece of prop
erty. .
Gifts for Mill Children. .
Last night the members of theSun
day ' school at the ' Chadwick Mills
rwwer - giverf ?" Chrhstms. cent6rtain
ment, wnicn was largely attended.
The children were presented with
neat packages of fruits, oranges and
other good things contributed by Mr.
E. ,A. Smith, of the mill.
" 'At the Court House.
The county officers, one and all.took
a day off today and every office in the
county court house was vacated. The
building remained closed all day.
PI1EM1PUT
IN AHEW CLASS
Health Department of New
York City, Alarmed at its
Prevalence, Puts Pneumo
nia in Cass With Contag
ious Diseases,
(By Associated Press.)
fjew York. Dec. 25. Pneumonia
h gbecom ale nt nictni scit
caving become prevalent in tnis city,
the health department decided to
amend the sanitary code by classify
ing this ailment with measles, scarlet
fever and smallnox. and makins com
: pulsory a physician's report of every
cape fenmuepnoi invoshrdlucrhdlulu
. .
case of pneumonia. Dromotlv. This is
Mrs. Sexton's Guests.
The Confederate Veterans and the
Children of the Confederacy arehaving
a splendid time out at Mrs. Sexton's
this afternoon.
Every Christmas afternoon the Vet-
erans and the Children of the Confed
eracy are guests of Mrs. Sexton. She
has always a splendid spread and
something to cheer. This afternoon
was no exception. The beautiful home
of Mr and Mrs gexton was tastily
j tth ! T
and Key f ormeTthe decerns,
The veterans and the children tarried
ong as the of their honored
friends and left wishing them all the
,.nnfnPS that snnh trenernsitv and
! kindness always begets. '
-
PERSONALS.
TT i ond Mro ArmanH i vara ' nt
Portsmouth, are eruests of their nar-.
his wife -who has been in Columbia
for several weeks.
WALTER .V, SOFLtY
MEETS HORRIBLE
DEATH Oil TRACK
The Mangled Remains ofa
Charlotte Young Man
Found on Southern'sTrack
Near High Trestle, Oppo
site the Elizabeth Mills.
Body was Allowed to Remain
Until Coroner Cathey Came
This Morning Sofley was
Seen by Several Parties
Near the Place of Death.
Last night between dark and the
time No. 40 came in on the Southern
track, Walter M. Sofley met death in
a horrible way. The deceased was
the oldest son of Mr. and Mrs. J. A.
Sofley. . He was a general - favorite
and as his brother said, was the pet
of the family. Mr. Sofley, his father,
is a well known citizen of Charlotte
and many people who are glad to call
themselves his friends, sympathize'
with him and his family in this, their
great grief.
Mr. J. A. Sofley moved to Charlotte
from Long Creek- township about
eight years ago and went into the
grocery business. During the greater
part cf that time his son has been
with him in the store, which is on
the corner of Cedar and Fifth streets.
At the Coroner's inquest this morn
ing the following testimony was ob
tained: Sofley left home yesterday at
about 2 o'clock and went up town.
Mr. W. D. Perry, his second cousin.
was with him a short while before his
death. Testifying before Coroner
Cathey this morning he said that he
had been with the dead man yester
day afternoon and that he was posi
tive that Sofley was partially unde
the, influence of liquor. . He said that
he went down West Hill street with,
him and then up across the railroad
farther he turned around and went
back"- f or a carriage. rr When he got
hark he nrsiihl nnt finrl Snflev TTa aaiA
that he had thought that he would not
move away so he left him not , very
far from the. railroad track, about
seventy yards or more. ;
y Of all the men in the room where
the inquest was held Mr. Perry seem
ed the least affected by the fearful
accident. He gave his evidence in a
quiet, though . slightly nervous, man
ner, which he endeavored to hide by
smiling. ... . "
Another person who saw Sofley
shortly before his death was Jennie.
Rawlins, who told a News represen
tative the following story: "I saw Vva
Perry and Walter at the corner of
Graham and Hill streets. Walter spoke
to me and jerked away from Will,
and said that he was coming down
to my house, but Will grabbed him
and took him cn down Hill street. I
told him that he had better take Walt
or to my house and that I would take
care of him while he got a carriage
to take him home, but he said that tho
police were after him so he went on.
I followed them after .a little and met
Will coining back. I asked him whero
Walter was and he took me and show
ed him to me lying right down be
side the track just a3 97 went by. I ,
then told him that he ought -tp stay
with Walter while I went and got a
carriage, as he cculd not carry ; him
up to my house. He said that he vould
ccrae with me, but I told him I was net
afraid. ' We went on up to Graham
street and I sent a negro boy for a
cab and he could not get one, so I sent
another boy and he did not get any,
so we went back, and tried to find
Walter, but could not do it."
The body was found later on by the
railroad employees cf a switch engine,
having been sent out to invest.gato
the rumor that there was a man on
the track. The body was terribly
mangled, especially about the head..'
The coroner's jury . composed of
Messrs. A. C. Query, J. A. Cathey, W;
J. Fife, J. M. Harkey,, J. W. Austin
and E. P. Hoover, examined the bodv
at the undertakine rooms of Mr. Ho-
, vis. hut. mnlri not rfi.-vrh n. vrdiM ns
ty,fi rnif witnesses ha.-l not hssn sum.
moned. It was thought for a while
that a fimall hole iti thfi reht Top- wnft-
caused by a bullet but when cxamin.
ed by a physician it was declared that
it was caused by a rock or similar
substance being ground, in by - the
wheels..
! ,rhT nVnnmA; t th n7nw -.7.
s nJght pumpman at the pumping sta-
fj,?',13" 7
Qd e?, th end of thr es"
"eshoitly before the supposed time,
of bis death,. with a man whom he de-
scriDea a Demg a tall man with a
light moustache who wore a blue
i smn, uui as tne pumpman nas not
jbeen found, this cannot be substan-
tiated.
L1?
Pja plantation three miles from