Newspapers / The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, … / Jan. 14, 1908, edition 1 / Page 1
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T7 JjggJg!jLargest Circulation of Any Afternoon Pa. per Published in the Two Carolines. iw tits vwi si . - : rSlS B 0 Ti "1 FT A TT d-cW HtMT 1 r m i JR. THE ONLY EVENING ASSOCIATED PRESS NEWSPAPER IN CHARLOTTE. ESTABLISHED S88. CHARLOTTE, N, C. TUESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 14, 1908. PRICE 5 CENTS. E3 jrs tdLa ' ii m ks iot ra so v is as Loss ST M 71 - s L,aus?a uvitLxm Rhcas Op 9 Death List is Plac. Qt ISO Seventy-five i sons Were Injured- -Many More May Have Perished. Fo 11 o zv ing Explosion Pandemonium Reigned Women and Children Crushed by Mad Rush of Men For Exits. IH Associated Tress. IVh mown. Pa., Jan. 11. When t:::y:iu'ac dawned the full extent cf is-T night's horror, when the Rhoads Opera House v.-as burned, was appar- VV. i. Tl:e list of the dead is placed at a.U the injured at 75. How many were killed may never !) known for among the victims of this awful disaster were a number oi visitors and some strangers. j i: i. estimated that 400 people i:e in the hall when the explosion ei the gas tank occurred. Tii-.' tank was being used in eon-lu-itioa witli moving pictures during amateur performance for the ioa. rit of St. John's Lutheran Sunn-ay sehool. iiisuaiiiy the explosion occurred P.i:!c one yelled "fire" and in an in suir.t the center of the opera house v.-.. a seething furnace. T'av rapidity with which the flames ra:a a a was caused by the upsetting ei co.-.l e-ii lamps. Ev. n The men seemed to lose all 01 themselves and fought a-:n and children who coin greater part of the - audi ta in the street. ! era la;. manner many women ana 'a ;.. v ho might otherwise have :-i. v.-e-re forced back and trarup- 'au-k'.iicniuni reigned and the mad ie-i T t i ?cr; .cri for exits is simply mae- S or.-? of persons on the second .-a- :i h-ad their lives by jumping -:a v-.-'ir-'iows. la ;h; way several were so badly ; a- they died. ';;,va!(vn is a village of about ae,; aiotiou and there is scarce- ' . ..... l 4.V. n 4- ly a i I:as ant ase m the nine town mat been afflicted by last night's v i-i: i "ii nf fire. Pen Picture of Disaster, vuheii W. Stover, speaking of fir... said: "When the explosion :rr.d there were at least 30 boys girh; on the stage while many e behind the scenes. Without rniiitr tn? a terrific explo- fi.-.n wh.ivh seemed to snake tne en tire tj'iihiiiig. Immediately there was ;! wi!:! na-h for the exits. 'Peraale "n the stage jumped over the footlights into the audience. Tiie fiataes first consumed the flimsy -.!!' ry then came towards the crowd lik-; a great wave, and suffocating s-iit.sk" lronpcd men. women and iiii'ii-en in its path. The flames did r aa." ' It was a pitiful sight and I will cany the recollection as long as I live. Once the crowd began to fUdu its wav toward the doors, no rover cf eanh coiud have saved all tho lives, but I believe if tne men lae; not lost control of themselves thf less; c;f life would have been very Removing Bodies. The fire was not brought under 'et -ro; until early this morning, after iassirtar.cc had arrived from Reading n;!! Fottstown. The work of remov the bodies from the debris will he- unusually tedious and hazardous. When The crush was at its height the flo.r gave way precipitating many Iieraons to the basement and the bodies of these will be buried be ii'uih Ihe charred timbers and tons of bricks from the ruined walls. In -''eitiou to the opera house, the Funacrs' National Bank, Rahn's Hard ware Morss an.i three (iveilincs were i -iiaaal." Many Heroes. There were many heroes in the aw i d caiastrophe. Some are not alive '" tell of their deeds. They gave up their lives tor others. Fathers and taoi her.-i who might have saved them : ivea, lingered to get their children riri i;eiiabcd in the flames. Brothers who might have got out in safety, hes iit'Jed to make sure that their sisters v. en. f Pfr anc; they, too, are numbered i'::'.ong the dead. Hveethearts, with, little thought for ibejHKoh'Os, bent all their energy in tbf eifort to rescue their comjanion3 '' their lives were also added to the (h d!i list. Many that had reached ''I'ai.-lo in safety dashed back into the burning building in a mad desire to : ;-V'-. They never returned. Tillman's Bill. I'-y Associated Press. Washington. Ti. C. Jan. 14. Senator 'nihnar. introduced a resolution call-'press received the following cable ing on the secretary of the treasury gram from Sir Thomas Linton: "Slave tor detailed information concerning island Ceylon." Associated Press, the national banks which have gone "ntpw York. "Untrue, have not chal- mto ; oro'vorc' lionria Tirn Tnnnaw into ioppivors' hands since January 1' Of ije m osion in era STEAL FROM FELLOW CONVICT. Negro Steals Suit As He Leaves Jail and is Retaken. Special to The News. Statcsville, N. C, Jan. 14. Sam Jones, a negro well known in the local courts as a crap shooter and wife beat er, and who recently completed a term on the chain gang, is in trouble again. About two weeks ago, and only a few days after Jones was released from the gang, a new $10 suit of cloths, the property of Ned Graham, then a convict, was missed from the convict camp. Jones was suspected of the theft, and on investigating the case Cniet Connor found that Jones was ' wearing a new suit. A warrant was issued and Saturday afternoon Jones was arrested by Deputy Sheriff Ward. The suit of clothes in his possession was identified by Graham as his. To Appoint Third Receiver. By Associated Press. Richmond, Va., Jan. 14. Judge Pritehard, in the United States circuit court announced that he would take under consideration the question of apointing a third receiver for the road late this afternoon. Sentenced to Hang. Savannajj, uu., Jan. 14. v.illie Rog ers, a white man, was sentenced lor the third time to be hanged for the killing of his wife. The date was fixed February 11. A. C. L. Joins Other Roads Special to The News. Columbia, S. C, Jan. 14 Mr. Alex ander Hamilton, of Petersburg, Va., first vice-president and general coun sel of the Atlantic Coast Line, ac companied by Mr. P. A. Wilcox, of Florence, state counsel for the same company, held a conference yesterday afternoon in the office of Governor An sel and the members of the railroad commission. Attorney General Lyon was also present at the request of the governor. Mr. Hamilton, who did the talking for the railroad company, did not offer any definite promise as to reduction in rates; but contented himseir wun saying mat whatever rates are put into effect by the road in North Carolina, either by voluntary agreement or by compulsion, would be given South Carolina. He ex pressed the opinion that the conserva- j tive attitude of this state in such mat ters had done great good for the state and that this action on the part of the Atlantic Coast Line was in recog nition of South Carolina's position. In what he said Mr. Hamilton wished it to be understood that he spoke prin cipally for Mr. Henry Walters, who is the actual controlling interest in the company. Mr. Hamilton in beginning reviewed the progress of the railroad rate legis lation and litigation in the southern states and explained in great detail the agreements settled on in the state of Alabama, Georgia and North Caro lna and the situation in Virginia, where conditions at this time are dif ferent from the conditions in the other states. He said that the only reason the Coast Line had not agreed fully to the proposition made bv Gov ernor Glenn is that the proposition in cludes an agreement as to interstate rates and the Coast Line does not think it proper to enter into any agree ment as to'interstate rates unless it has the sanction of the interstate com merce commission. He did not see any reason, however, why the same in terstate rate proposed by the Southern shmild not bp nut into affect by the At lantic Coast Line, and if the schedule j of rates proposed is put into effect in North Carolina for 12 montns on uicu the Coast Line would do the same m South Carolina. Governor Ansel asked Mr. Hamilton what date he proposed to put those rates into effect, and Mr. Hamilton replied that he thought it could be done by April 1st. REV. BARBER IN RALEIGH. Learned Divine is Now Fully Accredi ted Rector. Special to The News. Raleish, N. C, Jan. 14. Rev. M. A. Barber, who has become the fully ac-r-rrtViU ( rector of the cnurch, if; a min ister of decided ability and has been: an ordained priest for about 10 years, holding important charges in Wilming ton Burlington and for several years in the state of Texas. His abilitv is especially marked m his ministration in the chancel and n enlistnghs parishoners n active church endeavor and personal Christian liv ing. Caotured Blockader. Special to 'The News. Wnston-Salem, N. C, Jan. 14. Revenue Officer Aiken, of Ellon, witu the assistance of a man he employed to go with him captured a blockader a few miles from Elkin Saturday. The party was found at his plant which was in operation. He was carried to jail at Wilkesboro. Linton Denies Statement. By Associated Press. tqt, v-ir Ton 1 . The Associated i a rrw. Div siyp nf hnnt no lenged. Too early. nhiont "T,int.nn." House :,Lipton." SINGING THAT TOUCHING ILLUSTRATED SONG, "IN DEAR OLD GEORGIA !" J wo Of 1 he Sentence of The Goolds Not to Be Changed By Associated Press. Monte Carlo, Jan. 14. The appeal made by Vere St. Lcgcr Goold and wife for a revision of their sentence has been rejected. Early in Decem ber Goold was sentenced to life im prisonment and Mrs. Goold was sen tenced to death for the murder of Emma Levin. ASSISTANT POSTMASTER. Assistant Postmaster Lurrtr.kin Will Succeed Mr. T. W. Stepp in Office. Special to The News. Salisbury, N. C, Jan. 13. Postmaster James D. Dorsett, of Spencer, has ap- pointed Mr. F. M. Lumpkin, assistant, postmaster to succeed Mr. T. W. Stepp, j who resigned to engage in business at, Hendersonville. Mr. Lumpkin is a man nf (in, hiislnfisd rptisp. was fnrmprlv a. of fine business sense, was formerly a successful merchant at Spencer, and the patrons of the office wdll be the gainer by his appointment. State of Ala. Vs. Railroads Arguments In Famousr Case Of Otate Jna Rail- roads Over Nezv Rate Laws, Begun Is Law Confiscatory? By Associated Press. Montgomery, Ala., Jan 14. Argu-! ments in the contest between the state! and railroads over the new rate law in the federal court, will begin today. The settlement of the issue raised by the attorneys for the state on the validity of the supplemental rate bills, will advance the case to the main is- sue of whether or not the new rates are confiscatory, as alleged by the rail-, roaas. BECKHAN SHORT THREE VOTES Ballot For Senatorship Leaves Former Governor Short Only Few Votes. By Associated Press.. Louisville, Ky., Jan. 14. A message from Frankfort says the result of the ballot for United states senatorship in the house and senate, leaves former Governor Beckham three votes short of election. A joint session will be held tomorrow. Big Steamer Ashore. By Associated Press. St. John's, N. P., Jan. 14. The Bri tish steamer Tolesby, bound from Gal veston for Havre went ashore during a heavy snow storm last night near Cape Race. It is thought the vessel will be a tctal loss. The crew is safe. Invites Mr. Durham. Special to The News. Winston-Salem, N. 0., Jan. 14. i -Rev. Plato Durham, of Charlotte, has been invited to respond to an address ot. -welcome at tho m-cting of the State Council Junior Order of United American Mechanics here next month. Senator Bacon Chosen. By Associated Press. Washington, D. C, Jan. 14 Sena- tor Bacon was designated by the vice- president as regent of Smithsonian Institution. Mr. Lindsay Operated On. Mr. H. WT. Lindsay of Winston-Salem, th Presbyterian Hosnital this mornin i and his condition is satisfactory. Ci ty sdt anus Have Of Quarters of a Million Dollars i Charlotte National Bank And Charlotte Trust Company Effect a Con solidation Giving N&iv Concern $2,000,000. Tho Tntni Sl.mf-i vjVc Will Be Ab o ut $900,000 Board Of Directors Increased From 9 to 22 Members. The merger of the Charlotto Trust Company into the Charlotte National Bank was affected today at a meeting iT x , , , , , . xi ot stockholders of botn institu tions. The consolidation will give Charlotte a bank with total resources of between $1,500,000 and $2,000,000. The stockholders of the Charlotte National met at 3 o'clock this after neon at the bank for the purpose of increasing the capital stock of the bank from $125,000 to $250,000; in other words doubling it. The new stock will be bought by the stockhold- t o V o nf r P'torlnttrt Trner PfimiiQnv The stock of the consolidated institu tion will be worth a premium. The amount of this premium is not yet given but assets of both banks have j been carefully scrutinized and noth ing remains but to figure the exact value cf the premium. The new stock has all been taken. The consolidated bank will have de- posits of between $SOO,000 and'$900,- 000 and as already stated its resources will be between $1,500,000 and $2,000,- 000. It goes without saymg that the new institution will be one of the strongest in this section of the south, The stockholders of the Charlotte National decided to increase the board ot directors .from 9 to a numoer nou exceeding 22 and the election of these new directors is in progress as The News goes to press this afternoon. This new board will not proceed to j elect the officers of the consolidated i bank until they have qualified, which j will bo within a week or so. The I officers, it may be stated, how-ever, will bo chosen from the officers of both the Charlotte National and the Charlotte Trust Company. The bank under the merger will con tinue at the place of business bf the Charlotte National until the sky i scraper is finished which will be by : the end of this year or the first of ' next, when the bank will then have its - offices in on the first floor of this splen : did building. i The meeting of the stockholders of TWIN SISTERS ARE 77 YEARS OLD. Binghamton, N. Y., Jan. 14. Antoinette Gillette, said to be the .11 . L L I L'. II V- i- i 1 1 t "-' n ' i. - oldest twin sisters in this part of the country, celebrated the sev- oldest twin sisters in this part cf enty seventh anniversary of their Phillips, in this city, Mrs. Gillette came from her home in Boston to attend the re- union and a third sister was pres ent from Illinois. The twin sisters were born in- . Boston, daughters of Gerry Ter- rell, who died at the age of SO, leaving 13 children, 10 of whom are living. His father lived to be 13 children, died at 8G. ersei a i Capital , Stock the Charlotte Trust Company is like wise in session as The News goes to press and is taking action to effect the consolidation in ' accordance with the above plan. The present offlcers of the Charlotte National bank are B. D. Heath, presi dent; John H. Scott, vice president, and W.-JI. Twitty, cashier, and of the Charlotte Trust Company, J. H. Little, I president and C. M. Patterson, vice president. Merchants and Farmers Bank. The stockholders of the Merchants and Farmers National Bank heard the best report cf the institution, for the year 1907, in its history. The presi dent's report was especially gratifying. It showed tbat the year was the most successful in the bank's history, not withstanding the recent money worry, and, further, that the affairs were in better shape than ever before. The stockholders re-elected the old board of directors, as follows: W. L. Brims, C. B. Bryant, W. F. Dowd, J. M. Harry, O. P. Heath, Vinton Liddell, W. G. Mc Continued on page 5 Golf Tourney At Pinehurst By Associated Press. Pinehurst, N. C, Jan. 14 The monster field of 132 players started in the fifth annual mid-winter golf tournament yesterday. P. W. Whittemore, of Brooklyn, Mass., country Club, led the field yesterday with a card of 79; C. L. Becker, of Woodlawn; Edwin A. Free man, of Dyker Meadow, and W. B. Schackelford of Atlantic City, made 82 each. Ask for Receiver. By Associated Press. Lynchburg, Va., Suit was instituted here in the federal district court by Philadelphia parties asking that the merger of the Pocahontas Collieries company and Pocahontas Consolidated Collieries company of Tazevell county, Virginia, be declared vaid, and that a receiver be appointed. In the in juenction it is asked to restrain fur ther expenditure of money or the ne gotiation of $20,000,000 bond issue to be taken by the New York Trust com pany. Judge McDowell is out of the city but will hear the application im mediately upon his return. Mecklenburg Civil Court Convenes The civil term of Mecklenburg su perior court convened this morning with Judge Fred Mocre, of Asheville, presiding. On account of the absence of wit nesses and clients, the lawyers did not I get fctarted in the trial of any cases I during the morning, and at 11 o'clock court adjourned until 2:30 in the af ternoon. The only case disposed of this nftprnonn war. that of Cody against . - . ; Cody, which was a sun ior a aivuice The divorce, was granted The case of F. H. Andrews against Lena Tompkins is being heard this afternoon. Union Election Illegal. , Special to The News. Union, S. C., Jan. 14 The contest in thp election as to whether or not liquor should be sold legally in Union ; , , i - -1 ham 1 !o- county, wnicu biecuuu io u. cember 27th, was today dropped by rnntuni rnnsent between attorneys rep resenting advocates of prohibition and tho county disnensary and the election -has been declared illegal, null and void by the county commissioners. A nnual Message of Gov. Ansel lo The South Carolina Legislature Ministers Resign. By Associated Press. Tokio, Japan, Jan. 14. Yeshiro Sa katani, minister of finance, and Isa buro Yamagata, mniter of communica tions, have resigned from the cabinet. The resignations were accepted. The resignation of Marquis Saionja, prime minister, has been refused. It is under stood differences exist over the budg et, which are irreeoncileable. Death of J. M. Arthur. Special to The News. Union, S. C, Jan. 14. Mr. J. M. Ar thur, who has been employed as over seer of the cloth room in the Union Cotton Mills, died Saturday night at his home on West End after a short Illness. lie is survived by a wife and five children, the youngest being only four weeks old. Death of Miss Tracy. Special to The News. Union, S. C, Jan. 14". Miss Belle Tracy, daughter of Mr. J. B. Tracy, of Lockhart, died at her home near Adamsburg yesterday, after having been ill for several months with tuber culosis. Defense Opens In Thaw Trial Number of Witnesses In troduced To-day To . Prove That Insanity Runs in Ihazv Family Day's Proceedings. By Associated Press. New York, Jan. 14. The direct case of the people against Harry K. Thaw, accused of the murder of Stanford White is finished, and today the de fense began its effort to show that Thaw was not mentally responsible for his act when he shot White. That insanity pure and simple is the defense on which Thaw's attor neys will rest their case was made plain in the opening address cf Thaw's counsel yesterday. There was a delay of half an hour in the beginning of the trial. Dr. John T. Deemar, one cf the Thaw family physicians wras the first witness. He testified at the first trial that he treat ed Harry Thaw as a boy for St. Vitus dance and measles. He repeated his testimony today and told also of at tending members of the Copley family, the mother's branch of the defendant's antecedents. Dr. Deemar said Henry W. Copely, brother of the older Mrs. Thaw, died an imbecile. On cross examination District Attor ney Jerome drew out the fact that Henry Copely, while incapacitated for mental work, was never confined. Dr. William W. S. Butler, of Roa noke, Va., former assistant physician at Western Lunatic Asylum, Staunton, Va., where Horace S. Thaw, paternal cousin of Harry Thaw, was confined, was the next witness. He was asked as to Horace Thaw's condition up to the time of his death. Mr. Jerome ob jected on the ground of the confiden tial relation between the physician and patient and was sustained. The district attorney also successfully ob jected to the introduction in evidence of commitment papers prepared when Horace Thaw vas admitted to the asy lum on the ground that they were here say. Littleton took exception to both rulings. Dr. L. S. Foster, of Norfolk, Va., formerly of the Eastern state hospital for the insane at Williamsburg, Va., where William S. Thaw, another cous in of the defendant was confined, was the next on the stand. Dr. Foster was asked to identify the records of the asylum as to tho admittance of Wil liam Thaw and did so. When the rc- ft-.fi woo rftV'rr.a in o vi ft on en To-.nm" objected on the ground that it was not me l uol togeuner v.iui uie va .cm competent testimony and was sustain- uch, Progress will be made in 2 solving the labor question. Mr. Littleton here recalled Dr. Agricultural Lien Law. Deemar and succeeded in circumvent- In regard to the agricultural hen law, ing the former objections of the dis- permitting a farmer to give a mer trict attorney as to the case of John : chant a lien on an unplanted crop for j,0 ! supplies advanced, Governor Ansel Dr. Deemar said he ceased to heisay?:.,. Ross' phvsician after the latter was : ' "nfe it has long since accom cemmitted to the Hope institution for Phed the purpose of its enactment, feeble minded, where he is still a pa- and I recommend its repeal. Too often tient. He was allowed to tell of Ross' the lien is taken up before the crop mental condition and declared it un- !3 planted and often but little won. sound, the symptoms bein-x maniacal. ; i.d1onf a!te th? lie 13 taken up, I Former Teacher on Stand. : think it better for the landlord id Charles Kohler. of Minnesota, who ; tenant thatht be repealed, was teacher 'at Wooster University,: The Liquor Question. Ohio, when Thaw was a student there i . n, tne. h)J question, Governor at the age of 16 or 17, testified that Ansel reviews the working cl tho local Thaw always had a nervous gait and Ptien county dispensary plan maugu- ,KJIU. . walked jerkily, adding that his eyes mo of viltntr nnrt hia rnmnlp-yinTi ana-' emic. He said his eyes usually had a; fixed, staring gaze. "There never vas any warmth in his eyes, no illumination," he said. Koehlor said he set down many of Thaw's eccentricities in a diary, which was destroyed 10 years ago. Thaw's mind always worked slowly and he had great difficulty in following any demonstration. His manner was irra tional. Cross-examined by Jerome, the wit ness said he had often used Thaw's ... i . j . i l . . case as an illustration, ai me couciu-. me olollc cuuuauunai ii., sion of his testimony a luncheon recess of which are reported in excellent con was ordered. Continued on page 6 Matters Treated in An nual Message of South Carolina's Gove rnor Given Briefly Discus ses State's Finances. Assessment Of Property; Labor Contract Law; Liquor Question; Rail road Rates And Other Matters Touched On. Special to The News. Columbia, Jan. 14. The annual mes sage of Governor Martin F. Ansel was read in both houses soon after the Gen eral Assembly convened at noon today. The message is short and business-like. Without preliminaries, the governor gees into the subject of the state's finances, stating that the state is one year behind in the collection of taxes, "or rather we collect the taxes at the end of the year for the expense of tho state government for the year past, whn we should have the taxes in hand at the beginning of the year to pay the obligations of the state as they mature." He says that on account of this system, the state annually has to borrow moDey to run the government until the taxes are paid and this year it was necessary for the state ofh-aals to borrow $350,000. "These conditions are likely to con tinue year after year unless provision is made to catch up," says the gover nor. "I therefore recommend that at least an extra two-mill tax for state purpos es be provided for at this session of the legislature, the same to be done for the next two years, when we will have in the state treasury money suf ficient to place us where we will not be required to borrow, but "can pay as we go." This is the most important recom mendation in the message. Governor Ansel calls attention to the fact that the appropriations for 1907 exceed the estimated revenue, and that this is contrary to the constitution of the state, to which he directs the at- tenion of he general assembly. Assessment of Property. In regard to the assessment of the property for taxation, Governor Ansel quotes the provision of the constitution stipulating that taxes shall be assess ed at a uniform and equal rate and he points out that there is at present great inequality in assessment. He suggests the inquisitorial plan for ascertaining the amount of personal property own ed. Labor Contract Law. The governor directs attention to the fact that what is called the labor contract law has been declared un constitutional by the federal court and that it is the legislature's duty to enact such a law as is constitutional and at the same time just to both landlord and laborer. "I recommend," he says, "that you pass a stringent act which will punish both landlord and laborer for a viola tion of a labor contract and make it a misdemeanor for one person to employ a laborer who is under contract with another. Require that these labor con tracts shall be in writing and record ed in the office of the register of mesne conveyance for the county where the parties reside, and make this record a constructive notice to all persons of the contract. With an act of this kind, and with the act now in force prevent ing the enticing of laborers from the employer, and with, a strict enforce- . Ul.i.l i. 11 HI. il . raieu jusi uue jetti owa mat mere are certain aiueuumuiii.. which should be made to perfect the lav in details, especially in regard to the closing of dispensaries without de lay when a majority of the voters in any county signify their desire for pro hibition in an election called for that purpose. In regard to this j law, how ever, the governor says he will send in a special message later, giving sug gestions as to amendments needed to perfect it. Educational Work. The message reviews the work of S-l nt-4--v n,,of innQl in ofrl ll irfcTl a Q 1 1 1 1 I'll If' i i f I'1 i? 5-l V'- I- r !l!Si 1
The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, N.C.)
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Jan. 14, 1908, edition 1
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