North Carolina Newspapers

i 1 Ltaged Wire Gervlce of L-idj all North Carolinx.'A " 1' ' i m VOLUME 27, MR. LAUGHINGHOUSE INTIMATES V THAT SOME RAILROADS OWN THE CORPORATION COMMISSION V "Col. Andrews and Henry Hill er Have More Influence? Than People" 5E IL TALK IN THE LOWER HOUSE IHscusHing tlio Resolution $o Invest! Kate Basis of Settlement of Solma Connection Case Member From ' Pitt Attacks McNeill, IieddingfU'13 and Jiojrers 'tit They Are to Re Rcprcsenttitives of the Hall.roads, ' He Cries, "Then in God in Heav en's Kaine Let Tbeni Be Shifted to Dm? Pay Holt of the Railroads." House Today Takes I'p Many Inv rtant Matters. There being no minister present whoa the house was called to order this morning nt 10:30, the usual opening invocation was omitted. The first matter laid before the house was the resolution of Mr. Laughinghouse calling on the corpo ration commission to inform the leg islature the terms on which the mat ter of ttie violation by the Souther Railway of the Solma connectiowSr- der of the commission was settled, and whether the state was reimbursed for counsel fees expended in compel ling the Southern' to obey the order, the commission having decided not to press the $15,000 in penalties In curred. . Mr. Laughinghouse said the corpo ration commission had taken-upon itself to let these penalties go, and It was a question whether the people; of North Carolina or the Southern Rail way ahould lose -this money. "The thing shows," declared Mr. Laughing house, Vthat , Colonel Andrews and Henry Millej. v; have' more Influence with the" commissioners than the peo ple of North ("ftrolina; that they do exactly as xney wisn. it iney are to be the representatives of the railroads und not the people; then, God In Heaven's nam, let them be shifted to the pay-rollof the railroads." The resolution passed without fur ther discussion, by a standing vote of 47 to 12. Joint resolution to pay expenses of conmlttee visiting hospitals for in sane. ' . . Minors Oat of Pool Rooms. Mr. Douglass' bill to prohibit minors from entering bar-rooms, pool rooms and other places was passed on its readings, although there was a disposition on the part of some mem bers to let the bill go over on account of the absence of Mr. Harris. Mr. Douglass said if Mr. Harris opposed the bill he did not know it. t Mr. Douglass opposed the commit- tod amendment that the bill -apply : only to minora under 18 years of age, " but had no objection to the commit i tee amendment limiting the bill to ,t Wake county.. . : , Ti, ..i',:!r'', Mr. Ehringhaus thought Mr. Har--. rla opposed the limitation to Wako county. There was objection to the bill going on third reading, but Mr . Mlal seconded a motion by Mr. Doug- :.. lass to suspend the rules, i The house sustained Him ajid passed the bill , with the committee amendments, i Senator Drewry's bill to prohibit v- misrepresentations by insurance' com' ponies caused some discussion, ' - ' Miv ltoyster thought it would do no harm to pass the bill, as It only - tended to prevent lying, or rather to promote the .telling of the truth, ! !-- Mr. Murphy feared the house was about to do something that might Te 4t little dangerous In passing this bllL .It might work a great hardship on v exuberant agents. . , . Mr., Harshaw thought there ought '.to be amendments reaulring lnsnr f anco agents . to go to church regu larly, say their prayers, and prohiblt- jng them, from ;vislUng all kinds iof it bad ' places, even , the dispensary In .:.Halelgb.- Most Insurance agents said - bo much about 4-heir policies that the .'. average man,, without the aid of an :v expert stenographer, could not recall ' - anything -said.' - . ' .. ' "-"s'v-v 1"--.' ; : It Was pointed out that' the com mittee had amended the bill, so that i it applied only o misrepresentations with intent to decetve or defraud. . Finally, Mr, Yount moved, to table th'e bill, and the motion prevailed.1 Ituilroad Bill Tuesday Night. ;v. " The railroad bill came op on third th" ssociatod Prwa. f ternoon Papers in Circulation. ' THE: .E"ALEIGH:;EVEINJ TWELVE PAGES TODAY, reading, and Mr. Dowd asked, that it be made a special order ' for next Tuesday night,' as several members, including Mr. Blckett and himself, had drawn a substitute bill, and Mr. Blckett was not present. Mr. Manning opposed any further delay or argument on the matter. He thought every possible amend ment had been considered. Mr. Mdrton offered an amendment striking out "1906" from the bill, This would do away with basing the earnings on the report of tms com mission for that year. Mr. Clifford sent up an amendment that all railroads constructed before or after the ratification of the bill, within five years,' be authbrtzed to charge the highest rate allowed by the bill. ' Mr. Turlington, In behalf' of the minority and, he submitted, a very respectable minority asked that the bill be allowed to go over In order that the substitute might pe duly con sidered. "This is perh.lps the most important matter before- the general assembly," said Mr. Turlington, "and I ask thjB house If It thinks the peo ple Of Nohth Carolina want this bill passed by the vacant chairs here to day." ; - Mr. Manning said that since the gentlemen were so foarful that he would be. unfair to them,-he would yield to the request to let the matter g6 over until Tuesday. Mr. Turlington personally thanked Mr. Manning on btluflf of the minor ity. (Applause.) The bill on Its .third reading was made the special order for next Tues day night at 8 o'clock. The bill to codify, the laws as to recovery of damages, from telegraph companies in mental anguish case3 was made, a special order for next Wednesday, after the morning hour. Fish Fight On Again. . The supposed agreed . fish bill came up, and things , looked rather smooth; but only for a few moments. -H7-wa-etatetl that --everybody w'as satisfied with the substitute as print ed in The Evening Times a few days ago,' finally , amended to make the Ocracoke limit three miles as a preaent instead of five miles, accoif $ lng to the first agreement, excel tt Mr. Davis of Carteret, and Indefinite leave had just been granted him on account of illness. Dut a brand neS element of dis cord was inject ad when Dr. McNeill of Fayetteville offered an amend ment to include the Cape Fear river in the bill. Soon afterwards Mr. Morton of Wilmington sent up an amendment to except the waters of New Han over, from the bill. Mr. Laughinghouse promptly ac cepted this amendment, of Mr. Mor ton, and there was a protest by sev eral of the fish county memVers, and Mr. Laughinghouse pretty soon was heard to state that he had under stood the amendment he withdrew his acceptance. Then the fight waged back and forth for awhile, and there was a lot of confusion over which amendment' was before the house. Mr. Morton's had been adopted before Mr.. Laugh inghouse got , into it, and the vote was reconsidered. Finally it waa voted down and Dr. McNeill's adopted' and the bill passed by a vote of 61 to 4, after the ser- geant-at-arms had had to arrest and bring In several members to get a quorum. Mr. Morton lodged a motion to re consider, but Mr. Whitley moved to table the motion, and it was finally tabled after several points of order had Been argued. . 1 . Bills Introduced. Provide fire escapes and protect human life, tlanklns. AmeUd Revisal relative to throw ing sawdust in streams of Cherokee. Davidson. , :. . - Prohibit liquor ' within four miles of Keys Fork school in Gates..; Simp son. . v ' ' 1 1 Allow Martin county to elect two additional county commissioners. Whitley. Amend act 1905, regarding fishing in South creek In .Beaufort. - Hooker. . Regulate catching- of fish in cer tain creeks in Beaufort - Hooker. r - - Establish standard-keeper and pub lic weigher forXBeaufort -faeobson. ' Begulat6 killing deer and summer duck in Beaufort Jacobson, Re-cnarter town of Beinaven anajtiliser . warehouse pcaright fire, and repeal former charter; ; jJacobson-v. J there Is every Indication at this hour ' Regulate cultivation Of oystera and , It will be entirely destroyed. The clams. Ehringhaua. ; . 7 ' pultaing, valued at from three to live Amend act .oft 1905, for better ' thound dollars was used M a etor working of roads In Pasquoterik. 1 f8 v "VTrgln a-Carellna , ' . t chemical ; Company, but there wu bhrlnghaus.. . , . ,". ifi -.! t I vrv llttto ataek on hanrf. twrant ahln. - Establish graded school In son district, . Rockingham county. I . . . ! ,;, RALEIGH, Sharpe, with petitions. On bankrupts. Harshaw, by re quest. For judgment final with verified complaint and no answer. Harshaw, by request. Relative to marking boundary of lands. Harshaw, by request. Requiring register of deeds to keep records of sales of real estate. Har shaw, by request. Providing fpr. Indexing of acts of legislature.,.. Harshaw, by request. Increase pensions of Confederate soldiers and widows in Cumberland, and authorize commissioners to levy special tax for this purpose. McNeill. Prevent throwing of sawdust in South river In Sampson. Owen. Rogulate fishing in waters of Sampson. Owen. Fix salaries for county officers of Wake and increase road fund. Mlal. I Appoint justices of peace in Bertie. Gillnm. Rer;ulato "fishing for shad, herring and otjer fish. Whitley, by request. Prevent tenants 'from leaving land lords before pay In.": di-bts in Pamlico. Brhir.nii. Wcrkiji:; ,r(T.ii.$ in Ti-ansj lvanla. Galloway. Incorporate Piedmont &. Atlantic Railway Company. Parsons. Authorize commissioners of New Hanover to pay fees to justices, of peace when prisoner Is sent to roads to work ouj costs. Morton. ; Establish Institute for industrial and manual training for boys and girls in the mountains of western North Carolina. Avery. Amend Revisal, putting Mt. Olive (Continued on Second Page.) Foreign Labor in South Csr- oiina tip Again A DEFENCE BY FINLEY South Carolina Needed Immigrants and Bought to Obtain Them in an Hojiest Manner, Bennett of New . York Thought Watsori Within His Rights Criticism of Roose velt, (Bv the Associated Press.) Washington, Feb. 16. On motion of Mr. Gardner of Massachusetts, tho house today passed a .resolution re questing the secretary of commerce and labor to send the house any information relative to the introduction of foreign laborers Into South Carolina by Labor Commissioner Watson and the opinion of the solicitor ot the department whether said laborers were lawfully admitted. Mr. Gardner stated that 414 people had been admitted for labor In the factories in South Carolina . largely from Belgium, and it was deslrfd to know in-hether the alien contract law bad been violated. :, v. . Mr. Flnley of South Carolina, in de fending the course of the labor com missioner said that Mr. Watson had acted In entire good faith, that the state needed desirable immigrants and had sought to obtain them in an hon est manner. '1 -. - Mr. Underwood of AlabamaApritlclsed the action of the president in inter ferlng In the matter of the Immigra tion bill. ' . f A ,1 Mr. Bennett of New York 'while be lieving that -Commissioner Watson waa wholly In his rights asked, Mr. Under wood If there was any instances where the president had exceeded.. his con stitutional authority. , ,r "In. the first place," replied Mr. Un redwood, "1 don't think the president is in the habit of keeping within his constitutional limits." " .1 ' FIRE IN DURHAM . . " ; . THIS AFTERNOON. j 1 (By Southern .Bell Telephone.) f . Durham, N. C, Feb: IS. At S o'clock this afternoon the Old Durham Fcr- WAS LAW BROKEN Madi-.menta of fertilisers from " this point point having been unusually heavy. . . . ... ..,.(i:5!')i"1 N. LV, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1907. irefHE SENATE Can't String Lines Without Consent of People DENTIST BiLL PASSES Men WhJ IPract i rh.it Profession Majr Be- lg"ll.v IVrmi-d Doctors. Much -lHKCiuMi:i i !i Mf-asure to Eject ei-goiis I nI. i tulluciice of Liquor From 1 vnini Other Mat ter. - i The . subloct I'lhine wire if a lengthy strinping was th discussion in the . : ;.. s mi. tot. ay - blOUSht OUt bV t'e p-.;ni.yi.l pnssag ) , of Mr. Buxton'1? 1.: piesent law On tlie telephone, contpani. v 'icnt of the. own -before they .prbeeru houses, trees. fen According to th' several senatora, th. at present is not lack of restrictions companies, but m : hardship ori the in that It is made them to remove any has been . placed " ic-nd tho ul require ihi- con- t;u li vires to i!ht p'aces. Ms made by .-is it standi lux In It 4 mi iclephon'i up. l.v impo.ses tt .-rty owners li inisd-iiH-anor ft)r -ii'-li wire after It tlioii- ii!-erni3es whether surreptltl"r,sl that one eabnot even e tree of ost which in. or otherwise; down an ol-3 lesires to re- move if It has had a telephone wire attached tq 'It. It was also shown that In case a property owner was unrea sonable In f refusing e'.nseiit the law would protetit the t.-N-iihoue com.panies as other public utilities. After anagreement had been reach ed that "the law should apply to ths future stringing of wires or re-stringing of old linos, and not warrant evil disposed persons to proceed to cut wires already struns through their lands or residential premises, and that certain counties should be excepted by request of sensjtqrs from their d's frrlpts, the btif, n re-commuted to b. pdrfectea alonf? tftrit Ifner lt Wllrconu up asain next week. The bill of Senator Thorne "to re store the profession and practice of dentistry In ils former position as a branch of 111. 1 1 i. ine and surgery" was discussed duriie; its 'passage in th -senate today in an interesting man ner. The bill .amends chapter 95 of vol ume 2 of the revisal, adding a sub section 4470. in sub-head "VI," entitle 1 "Dentistry. " a provision which en ables denlisis to prescribe as a sur geon dru,;s and medicines for the treatment of t lie 'special classes of diseases nn aliened, as Is now enjoyed by registered physicians," as well as )n their dental offices. The bill also defines a 'duly licensed dentist under chapter !". volume 2 of the revisal, to be a "stirjieen." According to the provisions of th bill of Mr. liieese, discussed In th senate todn. people 'intoxicated" un der the imliienee of liquor 'shall" be ejected from railway trains and steam boats "win i In r they enter in an in toxicated eeailiiion or become so af ter entering:" Senator MeLean chaarcterized th: bill as a dangerous one and Senator Buxton opi is. d its passage vigorous ly. They shewed that there is al ready a state law that authorizes con ductors, et a I. the power to eject ob jectionable eharacters, whether drunken or cut. The pending bill Is too mandatory in requiring that it "shall" be done if th person i thought to bs intoxicated The bill will come up again next week on its liaal reading. For tho li st time this session th? n day began its work pi eitmlnary Invocation f the city bdng present, eleiical.'member of th? intr in his seat. i.i it i governor called tho i t- (or rather the less State sena'e without th. no "minister and the on I senate not n The lietit : senate to m than a seen ef senators in their seats! at the time) at 10 o'clock. Journal of K; iday stood approved o.i the 'certiflcaii'ia of the committee on the Journal. Leave of absence -was granted to Senator EthevidKe. v . New Hills Introduced. By Mr. Webb; To amend certain sections, of tin- revisal relating to hos pitals .for tin insane,,, .Committee on Asylums for Insane. : ,( . By Mr. Vl mmg: - To .amend ths charter of the town . of ' FArmvllle. Counties, cities and Towns. By Mr. Ktiieridge: . to regulate the time of holding terms 1ft superior court In Davie county. Judicial Districts. By Mr. Etheridge: :: To amend chap ter S45. acts 1905. andvregulate the teen of the sheriff of Dare county.. Salaries , ana jees. "By Mr, Ttcinhardt: To ,. authorize board of education, of Lincoln county to create a new school district.. : Ed ucation. . ' , , By Mr. Thorne: v?o authorise town of Rocky lloufit to- issue - bonds . for street paving purposes. , Counties, Cit? lea and Towns, y .a, .. i -. .(Continued', on, Page Five.) . . '':X'yC; $: N....-i :-r-., DANGER 1THE COTTON FARMER And the Allied Interests in the South WHAT H. 0. HESTER SEES l.iivvs Now Pending in Alabama, Ar kansas and Other .States, He Says, May Piute at a Serious Disudvant- aft-e lloth the Planter and the Spot Cotton Mercliuiil. (Ey the Associated Prens.l New York. Feb. It!. Henry (i. Hester secretary of the New Orleans Cotton Exchange aiul cnnsulllnir rtatiat ieian of j. he ec;isus bureau at Wa :hington, said today that tin re is far more danger to tin legitimate (otton Interests of the south in the current tendency of legislation in the southern states than there is In hutnpu- ciop:-: and market Manipulation, because laws such as thone iae.v tiemlinji in Alabama. Arkan- .sis. Texas unil T. ninssee, which do not discriminate between necessary trade facilities. and unnecessary bucket shops, cannot fail, if enact. ',1. ndver si. l.v to itfect both the farmer and spot lotton merchant by permanently plac (ng both at-a disadvantage in mark eting the crop. "Safeguards can be oiinele'd," said Mr. Hester, "effectually to prevent In discriminate gambling by irresponsible parties who Idle their time daily watch ing for telegraphic 'dope- in a bucket ihop and which will ,ucvent others who have no cotton, and never expect to have any, from using an immensely valuable trade adjunct us a medium for simon pure gambling." SIMMONS WILL if- ME FOR BILL South Won't Sutter Under its Provision SUCH IS HIS. OPINION The Immigration Measure in the Sen ate Appropriations for Inland Waterway from Pamlico Sound to Ileuufort Inlet in Itiver and Harbor Hill Reported to Senate. (By the Associated Press.) Washington, Feb. 1C. A half hour was consumed in the senate today lu routine business, after which the im migration conference report was again taken up under the agreement of yesterday, which contemplates a vote before adjournment today. The discussion was opened by Sen ator Simmons of North Carolina. "I shall vote for the repqrt," he said, "because I believe the south will not suffer under its provisions." He be lieved the demand for labor in the south had been overstated by Sen ators Bacon and Tillman, although he said his state could use sixty thou sand more agricultural and twenty thousand more cotton factory labor ers. Position of Simmons. Mr. Simmons placed a higher im portance on maintaining the amity and good feeling which he said had always existed between the south and the Pacific coast on labor and other questions than on any disad vantage to his own section which might result from the changes made in the immigration law. Neverthe less he regarded the change In the contract labor provision as not prop erly in the report and expressed the opinion that the conferees had ex ceeded their authority. Senator Dubois opposed the pass port provision in the bill. "I do not think," he said, "the president of the United States ought to be allowed to leglslata directly aa he hag done in the case of thie provlsiqn." A denial was made by Mr. Bacon of printed reports that the opposl- tions of himself and Senator Tillman to" the conference report had bean withdrawn under pressure, from' Senator Aldricji Jo , save tor secure appropriations in the river and har bor bill. . 'i j i , .. . Bacon Points to Jealousy. Rcfetrisg briefly to the labor situ , (Continued on .second page.) TIMES. TWELVE PAGES TODAY. 10 RESUME THE TRIAL MONDAY Bolton Will Take His Place as Juror IP NEW WITNESSES An Important Letter Which tlie De fence Will Endeavor to (Jet in as Kvidence of the Condition of Thaw's Mind Immediately After the Shooting of White. (By the Associated Press.) New York, Feb. 16. Harry K. Thaw had a long conference yesterday with A. Russell Peabody, one of his coun sel, regarding the reports that Dis trict Attorney Jerome was paving the way to apply for a commission In lun acy. Mr. Peabody said Thaw express ed a wish that his counsel should make every possible effort to prevent the appointment of a commission. This, Mr. Peabody said, would be done. "Counsel for the defense," said Mr. Peabody, "will fight every possible attempt that the district attorney may make for the appointment of such i commission." The names of two witnesses who are likely to be called to testify should the trial of Thaw be carried to a conclus ion have been made public. One is Dr. Francis L. Patton, former presi dent of the Princeton University and now- president of Princeton Theolog ical Seminary; the other Is Dr. Frank P. McGuire, the Tombs physician. The former will appear for the de fense, while McGuire, it is said, will appear for the prosecution. Both are expected to give Important testimony regarding the prisoner's sanity about the time of the tragedy. An Important Letter. Through Dr. Patton the defense hopes to get In evidence a letter writ ten by Thaw soon after his arrest. It is the contention that if this letter is admitted In evidence it will have a great bearing on the condition of Thaw's mind right after his arrest in regard to the killing of Stanford White. Mr. Delmas feels that the let ter will be competent testimony to corroborate Dr. Evans' testimony that Thaw was not of sound mind in Au gust, about two months after the shooting. It is recalled that Dr. Pat ton called on Thaw in the Tombs in the summer. Through Dr. McGuire it is stated the district attorney expects to lay the foundation for the opinion of alienists that Thaw was sane on the night of June 25. when he killed Stanford White. The Tombs physician Is said to be of the opinion that Thaw when he killed White, knew the quality of the act and knew the distinction be tween right and wrong, and Dr. Mc- Guire's value to the state as a witness lies on tho long observation that he has had of Thaw and the data he has given the distric tattorney, which will be recorded at the trial in his evi dence. Details of Life in Tombs. It is said the physician has kept a careful record of Thaw's appearance, words, actions and moods and is pre pared to give every day's details of the prisoner's life in the Tombs since Jur.e 2i. An Interview is published today with Mrs. J. J. Caine. the Intimate friend of Evelyn Nesbit Thaw, who is to be a witness for the defense to combat the testimony favorable to Stanford While, which it is anticipated How ard Nesbit will give if sworn as a wit ness for the state. Mrs. Caine is quoted as saying that she had heard Harry Thaw ask E"elyn Nesbit 's mother for her hand at the time the girl was at school at Pomp- ton, N. J., aecompanlng the proposal of marriage with a promise that if Evelyn became his wife he would, on tho wedding day, settle on Mrs. Hol mar,, then Mrs. Nesbit. flOO.OOO or more. The mother's answer to this. she said, was that she would try h?r br-st to persuade Evelyn to accept Thaw. V Ktmeral services of Mrs. Joseph B. Bolton, wife of one of the jurymen, were held today. Mr. Bolton is bear ing up under his bereavement and Dr. H H. Tinker, his family physician, telephoned the district attorney last evening that Bolton would be pale to take his place with the other eleven jurors on Monday. FHUi CAVSKI) DEATH OF AN AGED WOMAN. (By the Associated Press.) Alexandria, Va., Feb. 16. One death from excitement and exposure, six firemen overcome by smoke, one badly burned about the face and an other injured by a falling beam and damage amounting to $10,000 were the, result . of flre,: which when finally, subdued 'early -today had de stroyed Wedderburn Row, a block of houses, on Albert street, between Oronoco and Pendleton- streets. - The fire was causett by th6' overturning, of a lighted lamp. LAST EDITION. ALL .THE MAIiKETij. , i ' (i f f. : i PBIC3 KB. MONDAYMOR First Case That ofNcrrisvs. Insurance Compsoy v TERM F0RJ1V0 WEEKS The N orris Suit is for the Collection of Insurance Policy, and Sensa tional Charges Have Been Made in Connection With. It Both Sides Are Ready for TrtoL .;X COURT CONVE Superior court will convene Mori day for the trial of civil CG83S and will be in session for two -? week, ; . Judge E. B. Jones, of Wlnston-Ra-, lem, presiding. There Tare several cases of more or less interest on the . docket, one being by the city of Ral- n eigh against the Trading Stamp Com- pany, and there are several auitll brought against the railroads by th ' corporation commission for not oboy. ing the order to post the tlino of ar , rival of the passenger grains at the stations. ' j" The first case on the docket is that . of C. A. Norris and M. T. NnlTf against the North Carolina Homo ln surance Company for the collection of an insurance policy, the mount involved being five uuudred dollars. Some very sensational charges wer ' made In regard to this case, as li shown by the answer and the rea sons set forth for not paying the policy. There is no doubt about the case being tried. ' The suit is entitled C. A. Norril and M. T. Norris, her husband, v. The North Carolina Home Insurance Company. It is alleged in the com- ; plaint that the defendant company, for valuable - consideration, ' issued ;' and delivered a Are insurance policy to w. H. Norris, the same being on buildings and additions thereto; for a period of three yean from Decern-' ber 3, 1903, said policy being for $500. That on or about June, 190, ; . W. H. Norris, for a valuable conoid- ; eration, transferred the property on which the policy was held to. C. A. i ' Norris, also his interest In Insurance C policy, which remained in full fores and effect. The buildinga Insured ' were totally destroyed bv Are on the night of November 17, 1905. It is alleged that the .value of buildings ' and additions destroyed by lire wa . at least i,uou. That several daya after the fire M. T. Norril, acting as agent for his wife, duly notified the ' corporation of the total destruction -of the buildings insured by said cor- poration. That plaintiff demanded payment of the policy before the ac tion was instituted, but said corpo- , ration refused to pay amount cov- ' 1 ered by policy. Judgment is prayed ' agalnts the defendant corporation -' ; for the sum of J500, with Interest from November 17, 1905, and for ' the costs of the action. Attorneys for the plaintiff are, J. ' N. Holding, J. C. L. Harris and 8, G. Ryau. v In the answer the defendant cor. ' poration alleges that the allegation ' in the complaint to the effect that '.: the house mentioned therein, wlthn additions thereto, was of the value of $1,000, is untrue, and on the con- r trary that, according to the beat in- . formation the defendant was able to obtain, the buildings were not worth more than 150. The defendant corporation furthermore allege that, -in its opinion, the fire was of In cendiary origin and was the work of i an agent in the Interest of the al liged owner and was foriie purpose of collecting the insurance. . v Argo & Shaffer and R. H. Battle i & Son are 'attorneys for the defend ant company. - " There are several other pulta grow ing out of this affair, one being ' brought by the plaintiffs In the above action against the insurance com pany for damage to character on mo count of charges made by said de- fendant. All suits but the one to ' - collect the insurance rm- the build ings burned 'have been continued. CRASnr THAN -BJE8 , I ! TO KILL MINISTER. : (By the 'Associated Press.) ( The Hague, Feb.! 1 An Insane man . today attempted ' to assassinate the minister of justice. Dr. E. . K. Van Raalte.. While the ruhilstor waa stand ing front tf his residence the lunatic but missed him. .The would-be aasaasia was arrested. -- ,i ,)