- V
Kftllfltjt
FJ AT. J CL I UJ (
; " rz. s
J - DiGFATCirS. " 5
VOLU.Mii XVI1L
Mr.l.MlD.irS.SFBIT .
r EiiTi.iE ::;.:;::;3 o:: ti;e vjtkess STf.::D
Telling of Hjs Relations, Fin.
; incial And Otherwise, with
Mrs. King, oi Whose Mur
der He is' Charged. '
; . "
EXPLAINS MEANING
OF MANY LETTERS
Written By His to His Wife
" And to His Brother, And
Also the Chesapeake Bay
Letters to Mii King. ',
The afternoon session of court ea
Thursday conrened at 2:30 o'ekxt,
with Gsston B. Meana continuing his
narattve relatlre to his relations with
Mra. Maude A. King as her business
agent- He began where he left off at I
the morning session, after he had been solution after it had been read to her
o the stand for two and one-quarter j by the notary public. . At the time ahe
.ST1, i. .... . . J h"d been out rtlng. and apparently In
The witness stated that teglnnln. fair health. After the papers were ex
With August, . 1015. be had made re- ecuted. Means took them back to the
ports monthly to Mrs. King, attaching Merchants A Trust Co., In Chicago, and
to such reports all Touchers for that on the order signed br Mrs. Robinson
month. He had left In his apart, and -Mra. Kins., the anmrltio. w.r.
menu, property filed, all statements
from August, 1915, to July 1917. There
were, In all, seven or eight of those
flies. An of them had, been taken to
Mew York by the witness the latter
part of July.
After the settlement waa made by
Mr. Melville with Mr .Woodruff, rela
tive .to the Studebaker stock, the wit
ness again took up the matter with
Mr. Woodruff, recovering about the
entire amount, almost $21,000, as per
the statement made by the witness. In
this amount was Included the amount
of $11,000 paid previously to Mr. Mel
ville for Mra. King.
After the trust at the. Woodruff
Trust Company hadbeen ' dissolved,
tbe securities' were sent to Mrs. King
(then Mrs. Chancel at Chicago. They
were later sent to New York city. They
were later sent to Chicago. . Among the
securities were some land' mortgages
which were transferred there from
Mr. Melville to Mr. Woodruff In ..ex
change for check. These checks were
made to Mrs. King, and were deposit
ed in the. Irvlnir National Batik in
New York. . Some other bonds were
Hold, by Mr. Carl, Schursr lawyer, 45
Broadway, attorney for Mrs. King.
When these were sold the checks were
deposited in the Corn Exchange Bank
to the-credit of -Mrs. King. None of
tbe checks were in tbe name of Meana,
or BO he eoulil convert them tr hi. nml
. i ra iub mtouu wan was made. ?
in nnaM vLA ..J t The third lean qn such securities
n'"!"0? "d marriedr.'as negotiated at the Merchants Loan
-SSSZLZJSSTEU ABeriew, Trust Company on January M, 1917.
who-wasa dentist in Paris.1 They-Mm Ktag signed ;rnnrja Titte The
were married at the American embas- total value of collateral on th's loan
ay at London. An ante-nuptial con- amounted to about $."10,000. The amount
unvi war nnur. n uvtiwy T. nuance
was to receive $5,000 annually. To
make this binding, aisum of -$40,000
was but up In escrow. When It came
time for Mrs. King to pay over this
$40,000 Means took the position that
Mt King did not have to turn over
thli amount to the dentist A com
promise waa effected through Means,
. whereby Mrs." King was saved " from
$12,000 to $14,000. The check for
this settlement was made to Mrs. King
nnd deposited' in the Irving National
Bank. New York. -r
-.Before the Woodruff trust was die
. solved, Mrs. King had borrowed $7,000
from the witness, besides loans she
-: bad gotten from the bank at Jollet
, and pawning her' Jewelry to tbe
, amount of $12000.- lor the money
borrowed from Means, Mrs. King gave
him two notes,, one lor $4,000 and one
v for $3,000.. These were paid. 7 r v
In the fall of JOlfl Means gave Mrs.
King a note, for &0OO signed by him-
- self and wife. This money waa to buy
- robber "."for shipment , to Germany
. through Russia. , . About that-time the
English,' government made an agree-
, ment that prohibited, the shipment of
raw rubber that 'might fall into the
. bands of the Germans, The venture
fell through-and the witness paid back
the $25,000, part at a time, until It
was settled. Mrs. Meana had -
payments made on that note, and' the
last payment was made in the spring
or summer of 1016. The note bad eith
er been destroyed or filed In-Mrs.
King's private flies. " ';
Regarding the trust fund' of $128,-
000 for the benefit of Mrs. Anna L.
: Robinson, mother of Mrs. King, the
. witness said the matter of Its isao-
lution came up in August, 1016. ' The
. trustee of this fund was the Merchants
' Loan k Trust Co. Means mentioned
to Mr. Lone at that Bank that Mrs.
.King waa going to 'have some Utlga
tlon and would tike, to get K loah
.. against- her eqiflty In this fund.- The
- result of the Interview waa told , to
v Mrs. King; and Means later wrote' the
bank regarding the loan. The matter
- . was also taken up with Mr. Robln
' ' son, and the letter written by Means
.was submitted to Mrs. Robinson and
.' Mrs. King. In reply to this letter.
U the bank replied that it was hardly
v feasible to make the loan. The mat
' ter was dropped until Mrs. King went
; to Chicago In 1016. In the meantime
'. Mrs. - Robinson and Mra, King were
. consulted about using the securities
'. as collateral. Mrs. Robinson's income
". of $000 per month waa not suffle'ent to
.. meet her needs, and she was obliged
to borrow money for expenses on her
rallforHt property, given her by Mra.
King.. Airs. King's Income, from the
' trust fiiod of $4000 was not sufficient
to meelf her expenses, as waa evidenc
ed by the fact that site had to borrow
$:t4,000;. When the bank wrote that
the loan on the equity in the Robin.
. - son trtut fund was not feasible, the
matter waa dixcussed by Mrs. King
and Mrs. Robinson, and thev agreed
' to dlHeolve the tiunt fund. While Mrs.
'., Robiimnii and Mrs. King were in Uat-
. tie 'roek an preement was duly signed
before' a notary public whereby Mrs.
Robinson was to receive $1,000 per
month for a certain length of time,
after which the amount waa to be ln-
creaitetl. This paper -was presented to
the witness, v.lio Identified It. It waa
to the Merchnnt I.imii ft Trust Co.,' or-
derit'i tlii-i to it to I.ir. Anna L.
Kobl.. . K-i-'nnl, g 3 ...'. v 1. I"t7,
I he auJl at f i, . a -r n j 3.,'y
J n r -n, j r-"ihrs
i, vnj, after which date, and until
to tun of Hra. Hobtnaua'a a,
she is to rwrt monthly the na of
W-i.&M. Th agreement wit duly airm
en uecemoer it, 1DI0, ay Mrs.
King and Urn. Robinson, tod attested
by Nelson Hubbard, notary public at
mini vrrra, jam.
On November 20, 1014 ,tb wttrn
said b aaw Mrs. Boblntba and lira,
King; at Battle Cmk, when ho took
op with them tbe natter of dlaaolntlon
of this fund. Mean aald Im would
call personally t tbe bank, and waa
told there that the beat eolation of
tbe Butter waa to dlaaolre the trust
fond. Meana called Mra. King erer
the telephone and told the result of
the conference. - She aald the would
coma to Chicago, which ahe later did.
Bhe went with Meana to the hank, and
after ahe found ahe could not get the
iun ane returned to Battle Creek.
After consulting her mother there,
Mra. Kins telephoned the witness to
arrange to have the tract fund dlssolv
ed. He got tbe necessary forma and
took them to Battle Creek; There he
aaw Mr. Rnhinm k. i.
turned over to him by Mr. Johnson
at the" bank. " The order -win dated
December 2, 1016. The par value of
these securities was about $133,000,
Mrs. King signed some papers, where
by the securities were transferred to
the witness, so that he could nee the
securities in securing a loan. If nec
essary. This paper was. not needed.
Home of the bonds were used to borrow
$30,000 or $40,000, at tbe instruction
of Mrs.' King, leaving to Means the
securities to be used as collateral.
This was to be deposited in the name
of Gaston Means, because of the fact
that a suit had been entered against
her, with strong chances of a second
suit Several other suits were also
pending. .- The loan was negotiated
on December 13, 1916, and Mra. King
and Mrs. Robinson reached Chicago
the same afternoon. To them be show
ed the transaction. The amount of
$30,000, less Interest, was gotten from
the Central Trust Company. ,
Another loan on securities from the
Robinson trus tfund was negotiated
by Means on December 26, 1016, with
the Illinois Trust and Savings Bank.
The amount of this lean was $10,000
and was mule in the name of Gaston
Means., The proceeds were deposited
also In the Illinois Trust and Bavings
Bank, with the nroreeda of tha flrat
loan. Mrs. King
,. " " .f
waa I. K .. . . ..-
of the loan was $30,000, , Mrs. King
signcu tnis note because the collateral
was shtocks in the name of Mrs. King.
one signea tne note at the Palmer
House. The checks for the proceeds'
of this loan was made payable to Mrs.
King; was endorsed by her and Means
and deposited on her personal account
at the Illinois Trust and Bavings Bank.
Speculating In cotton futures' was
drat discussed by Mrs. King and Mr.
W. R. Patterson in the spring or sum
mer of 1016. tto proposition waa then
made. The witness, prior .to Decem
ber, 1016, discouraged such specula
tion.' In that month Mrs. King, W. R.
Patterson and witness were to sustain
each one-third of loss or divide one
third of the profits. A partlon of the
funds in the Illinois Trust and .Sav
ings nank was to be' used for. mar
new will. The-progress of specula
tive Mr. Patterson the necessary
checks. Mrs. King was kept advised
of what was being done. The purchas
es were made In the name of W. B,
raneraon oecause ueana ana . Mrs,
King were interested In probating the
new will.. The progress of pecula
Hons was communicated during the
day ever tbe telephone to Mrs. King,
ana in the evening tie talked with her,
The check from Klng-Pamum Com
pany was made to Mr. Patterson, who
showed It to Mrs. King, endorsed It,
and placed It to his credit at the hank.
When the crash came on the cotton
market Means advised Mrs. King. Mr,
Patterson left Immediately for Clarks
dale, Miss. The night - before the
crash Means, knew the crash would
come, so the' following morning he
went to the bank and drew out tbe
cash there, amounting' to something
over $34,000. Tbe statements to Mrs.
King in December and January show
ed very carefully the amounts given
to Mr. Patterson for margins and the
receipts of Klng-Farnum A Co.' were
also died with the statements. Mrs.
Ring approved the monthly accounts
and gave her receipts for same,
Mr. Patterson returned from Missis
sippi In three or four daya, brtnging
Warranty deeds to Means or Mrs. King.
Mrs, King said It was unnecessary for
Dim to aiake deed to ner, "and she did
hot want her name to appear In any
record." Witness made calculation that
the amount of the loss was $31,000,
and W. R. Patterson returned to Mis
sissippi, sending back a deed of trust,'
fnd.uote payable to 0. B. Means for
$31,000. This note was endorsed 1 by
him to Mrs. King in Februray, 1017.
Mrs. King had this note with her, and
after her death it waa turned oven to
Mra. Melvln, executrix of Mrs. King's
estate. Since turning the note over to
Mrs. Melvln the witness said he had
had no control oyer the note.
While In Chicago, a representative
of the Northern Trust Company and
the witness were arranging to reinvest
some of the securities In the $400,000
trust fund at that bank In favor of
Mrs. King... The trust agreement with
the Northern Trust Company was read
In full at this point of the trial
was A ' lengthy document, consisting
of about eighty typewritten pages.
The witness said by the agreement
It was necessary for the representative
of that bank and Mrs. King to agree.
Borne of Ihe sectirltlea were sold, snd
others which cost ls and yielded as
much Income, were substituted. In-tnl
way the fund waa fncreased to $i0,
O'HX. Tr)P.re.tl! bWU t tbr wad
l y the bank on aecoukst- of. aUomty
CONCORD, N. C,
fro en this fund. A data was made
ky BMtt airalaat Um bask, ta
ooruas wtLh
whereby there was rawed ft Mrs.
King the sum of $Mfts.OO, - that had
beast charged by La bank. A elalm
had beesi aude also by Car? Hcfcurs.
New York attorney of Mra King
the Northern Trust Company f or a re
fund of taxes, amounting to $30,000 or
$02,000, This claim waa pending at
toe tub or ID oeatn of Mra. King.
The witness aald he had completed
his in respiration Into tbe validity of
the will of the late Jaa. C. King, mad
In 1900, alter a great amount of work.
While in Chicago the witness said he
had absolutely not endeavored to sep
arate Mra. King and her mother, a ad
be had never given Henry Deitch any
instructions to watch Mra, Kmc or
anyone else of the party. He did not
know of Deitch ever having watched
any of them, and Deitch almost al
ways at with Meana. Mr King had
automobile In Chisago and
went every day where she pleased.
Mrs. Robinson also had a car, a Loco
mobile. hd rode whenever and whert
erer she desired.
Witness said he had given no in
structions to Mr. Patterson at any time
or-anywhere to watch over Mra. King
any or ine party. . . , .
The letters tbe witness had written
to his brother, Aft on Means, were hand
to bis brother, Afton Means, were
nanaea to htm. He said the instructions
be gave with- reference to forwarding
U mall for any of tbe party to him at
Asbevilie waebecMser-First it waa
easier to put all In one envelope an J
send to him ; another reason wsa that
In tbe mail there would be business
letters which needed his attention, and
which, IX given to Mrs. King or Mrs,
Melvln would most likely be mislaid.
He never withheld any letter from
any of them and they Invariably con
sulted him about the. matters therein
contained. Only a business letter was
ever opened by htm, said the witness,
without authority from the one. to
whom addressed. Mrs. King snd Mrs.
Melvln were In favor of this plan be
es use Mrs. Robinson then could not
get their letters and open them.
Bhe request thkt Afton should not
let anyone know where the party war
at present was because they did not
want the "other aide" (meaning the
ones opposed to the will) to bother the
party until the arrangements for the
new will were completed. The reason
no forwarding address was given was
in order to keep newspaper representa
tives from following them, and writing
np what purported to 4te Interviews
with reference to the will.
Court took a recess at this point un
til 0 :30 Friday. . .
TODAY'S PROCEEDINGS
AThe eleventh day of the trial of Gas
ton B. Means began when court con
vened this morning at 9:30 o'clock.
with the defendant on the stand in bis
own behalf. At yesterday morning's
session he first took the stand and
testified for almost six hours of Thurs
day's session. 4 .' ...
An agreement which was not sign
ed, drawn up In January, 1017, by Mr.
Miller, of the Northern Trust Com
pany, between . that - Institution and
Mrs. King was presented, after being
ri.,..Viehrii:a-.i.i.i'fiiev itwkvtM wnit";'''- - iwnm so sure, oi
the State was sustained, because vf
the fact that the instrument had not'
been executed. v; 'v . .. .
Another claim against the Northern
Trust Company in behalf of Mrs. King
was made by. the witness on account
of taxes they had charged against
Mrs. King's income from about 1006. to
1916. . The amount of the claim was
about $30,000, ' A settlement was to
be made for this amount, provided Mrs.
King would sign papers wnicn wouiu
prohibit her from making further
claims. : This .agreement - was . not
signed 'by Mrs. King, and was still
pending at the time of her death. Mrs.
King had never received tbe $800 from
the1 bank .on account of the first claim.
From December, 1916, the witness
told (in the absence of the Jury) how
up until the time of Mrs. King's death,
be had been looking up living wit
nesses in connection with the purport
ed second will of the late James C.
King. Tbe court ruled that it had no
power to bar testimony with reference
to this will, which was not at this time
In the possession of either state or de
fense, and concerning tbe validity of
which there is some dispute. . To go
into this matter of the second will,
said the solicitor, would necessitate
having the .original document in court
in order to establish whether It were
valid or not, , , , . ;
The jury was recalled and the wit
ness continued that he was gathering
data to establish the authenticity of
the Jan. & King will of 1905. This
work took np all of ma time from De
cember, 1016 to the time of Mrs. King's
death, and the assistance of attorneys.
Ha had in his possession at the time,
the document In question, and had naa
it submitted to handwriting experts.
The court cautioned the witness not
to state the opinion of such experts.
One of the experts was Dr. -U.. u.
Ewell, of Chicago. It was also given
to Mr. Meacham, of St Louis, Dr.
Walker, of Chicago: Cowalho, of New
York: Mr. Penealll. of Columbus, Of,
snd Mr. Ennls. of Chicago, a Dili
from Dr. Ewell for services of himself
and other evperts- was identified by
the witness. In submitting it to these
exnerts. the witness said he was fol
lowing instruction, and .directions, qf
Mrs. King's attorneys. Jacob Newman
and Henry Pebbles, of Chicago, and
Carl h. Scnurg, New York, who with
two others, were employed on the case.
Jacob Newman was retained in 1915,
and was paid $500. Retainers were
paid to Carl h, Schurs in connection
with this and other matters." r "'
A letter from the defendant to his
wife, dated July 28, 1017, written from
New York! waa banded the witness.
whp was told to read and explain the
contents to the court The request for
the newspaper account about a ship
wreck, asked for In a telegram, sign
ed by Afton, was explained as follows
Clipping was wanted - because there
was information that the uermans naa
a submarine base off North Carolina
and he wanted to turn over Informa
tion lo the United States government
He had Afton to sign It because the
witness was supposed 'to be on the
Chesapeake Bay. That was In con
nection with a loka The enclosed let
ter to Mrs. King, which was to be read
by Mrs, G. B. Means, Mrs, Melvln and
W. K. Patterson, and then sealed and
put under Mrs. King's door. Mrs. King
waa at the lime in a nervous-conaition
(she underwent an operation shortly
afterward.) The oko referred W.ws
- A (Continued on last rags.)
:AILY
FRIDAY, DLCLMBER 7.
BRITISH E7CUATE:r
KFuSED FOiiiTS
German Wedges Driven In
to the Salient Before Cam-
. bria Compels Them to
Take This Action. -
BRITISH LINE ' -.
V ' IS SHORTENED
Indications That the Bolshe
. viki Government Fears
Opposition to the Armistice
With Aastro-Geinans.,
iBr Tke As seat hm)
The German wedges driven Into the
salient before Cambrai, nave compelled
the British to evacuate the ox posed
points, to the east and they .have given
up to 'the Germana several villages
west of Cambrai as well as the Bourlon
wood. 'The retirement wss carried on
so quietly that the Germans continued
to shell tbe empty position for several
hours. '
The British line has been shortened
and made more capable t strong de
fense by retirement v-
Berlin In Its last report claims the
occupation of . Marcolng about four
miles southwest of Cambrai. Final
German attacks South of Burton WooJ
and Vacaurle naa 'been repulsed by
the British. . -i
Violent lighting eon tin (lea on the
North Italian front between' Asia go and
the Brenta river ; where the Austro
Germans made gains Wednesday, but
have not yet been able to break the
Italian line. , ine ltauans mmcnag
heavy Josses on the attackers retired
gradually to prepare positions. . '
On the west end of the line , the
AustnvGerman attempt to circle ' the
Meletta position and -cut It off were
defeated. Along tbe .Brenta east of
Monte Badenecche and Monte ., Ton
darecar lost Wednesday to tbe enemy
the Italians were repulsed with heavy
losses, a determined effort to break"
through. - s- ,:
While Hhe Russian , soldiers on
great sector of an eastern front have
agreed to a ten days armistice with
the Anstro-Germans there are indica
tions .that the Bolshevik! government
In Petrograd Tears an opposition.
People Stunned by Magnitude of
Disaster. i ':
(By Ta ssasslaiaS Ftoast ' -
' Halifax. ; N. Si.Deo. .7, Stunned
br tbe magnitude of - the f disaster
whkh has overwheltaei the garrison
..... 1 . ITT.l! 1
eitv v the sea. the people of llali-
fav tnAnv. ariAnt. all eneriea in re-
STV.
thannv -their dead,
.. A heaw snowstorm set in. today
tind while this in a measure iraped-
AA 1,a rnt-lr t9 veliof nr VflsenA of
w-
the firemen in nshtine the names
which still burn fiercely in many
places of devastated districts.
nopor'S irom ine iiiiproviseu uiur-
cues ana irom nospiuus. cuureuea
schools and private residences . seem
ed to bear out last night's estimate
that at least 2.000 lives were lost
when the Belgium relief ship Iomsi
collided with -the French munition
ship steamer Mont Blane causing the lug here today told details of the ex
detonation of 4,000 tons of trinitro- periences. In the party were fourteen
tnaiioll one of the most powerful ex- young ladies from 8t Vincent's Acad-
plosives' manufactured. Help from tne
outside besran to reach the city to-1
food anrmlieg arrived on special
trains from Truro and Windsor, N,
Other trains were reported on the
way nnd are expected to reach here
during the day. Snecisl trains sent
from Boston by direction or uov.
McCall pf Massachusetts, will ; rT
rive this evenine. -.' '"Yx '' V
Virtually nil business is suspended.
The schools are closed and inhabitants
generally are turning tneir aiieuuun
to relief work. .. . , -
Soldiers and Sailors, including sea
men 1 irom an American wnraiiv
which rushed to the inert when it re
eeived wbrd of the disaster are pa-
trallint? districts ana aiuing m rc
cue work. ." - .'?V! ::l X
American Consulate Destroyed, j
(By International News Service,)
Waahlnaton. Dec 7. The state de
partment was notified today that the
American consulate at Halifax ,was
wmvd In : yesterday's disaster.
Ethelbert Watts, tne American consul
general, has not reported since the ex
plosion. The consulate waa two blocks
from the water rront. u a m utc
area where the greatest destruction Is
reported. i:t;?'-i'c i
At the ThMtm,'i
ri Wilson and Neva Gerbsr in
the "Spindle of Life," at thetfhea
toriu.m today. This is' a Butterfly
feature. Dont miss this oeamuui
photo play,
MarguritFischer in "The But -
terfly Girl." at ths New Pastime to
day, a five act play. Also a Mutual
enmodv. "The'Elopment."
THEAT0?JUT.1
TpDXY
, A Butterfly Feature '
' . .'.WITH
' Neva Gerbcr
... - ' AND -
. Ben Wilson .
In '-. i
The Spindle of Life"
Mother had the society bug and
wanted her daughter to marry
a man who was .poor but an
. aristocrat But "Gladsome" had
entirely different Ideas, . Whst
happened In the fishing Village
' of liarborsport one summer will
entertain you." dee this beautl
fill photoplay today. . ,
1817.
THESEIIATEPASSK
LUTIOll
With Less Than An Hour's
, Debate the Senate Adopt
ed Resolution Declaring
War on Austria-Hungary.
WAS ADOPTED
.UNANIMOUSLY
Even Senators Gronna, Nor-
ris, Vardaman.'.Who Voted
Against 'War With ) Ger
many, Support Resolution.
S7 Tfc Asslas Frss)
Washington, Dec T. With less than
one hour' a debate the Senate todav
passed resolutions reclanng war on
Austria-Hungary.
Tnt resolution wss sdooted br the
Senate unanimously. Senators Gronna.
of North Dokota ; Norru, of Nebraska ;
and. Vardaman, of Mississippi, who
voted against tbe German declaration,
supported the resolution. Senator La
iFollette, of Wisconsin, left during the
speech making and' did not cast his
vote, -.'
General Stone Presented Resolution.
' Washington, Dec. 7. Chairman
8tone, of the Senate Foreign Relation
Committee, today presented to t he
Senate the war resolution against Austria-Hungary
and moved its Immediate
adoption. Beside , the reason that
Austria Is Germany active ally, and as
against, the United States, Senator
Stone declared there was further rea
son that lnasmucfi as Italy, France
and Belgium comprised one battle frout
American troops might at any time
be facing Austria.
Senator Stone made no reference to
Turkish or Bulgarian relations.
The Resolution in the Honse.
, Washington, Dec. 7. The debate
in the House on the resolution to de
clare "war on Austria was opened bv
Chairman Flood of the Foreign Af
fairs Comnittee. He asked the House
to pass the resolution unanimously.
The declaration., he said, was essen
tial to the welfare of the allies, and
further, that Austria in an unrestrict
ed and ruthless submarine warfare
had sunk American ships and mur
dered American citisens.
- ,No time for a vote on the resolu
tion was set bv the House, but it is
believed it might be reached before
6 d. m. today. : , , , , -
Meanwhile here was every indica
-ion lhat the resolution would pass
tL. U,, .:k Anil, JidunK
in the House with onlv one dissent'
liar J;vte,.;' Representative lxmdon.
droves to esesjpe the speech making,
and returned later.' . ;
. After the House act the two reso
lutions will be reconciled er one sub-.
il. -ti
siuumju tor u umns,
r
STORY OF EYE WITNESSES
OF HALIFAX DISASTER
People With Noses Cut Off, Eyes Put
Out And Limits Torn and Distorted.
- (By Th Assarts Press)
St. Johns, N. 8 Dec. 7. Bye wit
nesses nf the Halifax exnlosion reach-
emy. -
Esmond P. Barry, St John postal
clerk, , wss at Kicnmona during tne
worst of the catastrophe.
j- "It was terrible," he said.
' "People were dying in our car like
flies. Home of them came to the place
with their noses cut off, eyes put out,
limbs torn and distorted. On one oc
casion while we were working around
a wrecked building, we could aee a lit
tle baby, fifty feet or more away, un
derneath the mass, crying for aid. We
could not get within thirty feet of the
child, and had to watch it burn to
death. Men, women and children were
lying In the streets, and hundreds must
b eburted.fbeneath the wreckage.
RUMANIANS TO
; vi JOIN THE RUSSIANS.
Hostilities Suspended Today 'on
Whole Front
' (By Th Asaaeutad Prss)
the
' Jassy, .Boumanla, Dec " 7. It ' has
been decided that the Boumanla troops
shall -associate . themselves with the
Russians In the ' proposed armistice,
though the Roumanians have rejected
every attempt k.t fraternisation, says
official announcement made here today
Hostilities were suspended today on
the whole front. U"
Stone ResolnUon in Senate. ,
(By- International Jfews Service.)
IWashinirtona ' Deo." 7. Senator
Rfnna' ohalrmnn tit the Foreign Rela.
Uions committee reported the resolu
tlon - declaring war against Austria
shortly after the Senate convened to
day. He gave notice be would ask Its
consideration immediately after tne
conclusion of the routine business.
i,00 More Italians Captured.
( Th Aaasslafd rr ) ,
Berlin via London, ; Dec 7. Four
thousand more Italians have been cap-
I tured in the new Austro-Oerman offen
Islve on the Northern front .bringing
I the total np to 15,000 according to to
day's official communication.
Rush Knitted Garments. '
The Bed Cross wishes to send off the
knitted garments as soon as possible.
Please bring In your work, so - that
I same can be shipped the first of next
week. ' KNITTING COM., A. B. C.
.: , ' - '. - I :
A woman residing on a : farm 1 in
western Canada, and whose son had
been killed in the war, drove fourteen
miles, to attend a lied Cross meet-
Many a man ha( declined to follow
la brans band down, the, strrct be(usf
hs didn't have a sun,
Price Five Ceata. -. .
FrE THOlfSA'ID PEOPLE ARE BELIEVED TO
1MM STUDENTS 11SDEB
; MILITARY ESSTRl'CTION
Prstably the Greatest MOitarf Ms!
um Wsrlsr Has Ever Been.
BX NEWTON C PARKS
staff Correspondent of International
- isews service.
With the American Army In Prance,
uec. . v. rrobablr the areata mill.
tary school this army or any other baa
ever seen, got under wsy today in a
historic French town on top of a high
bill which pokes Its crest ahmntiv
lrum un surrounding lowlands.
. . L . . . "
wane the neadauartera and staff
olleges are located in the town itself
behind the old Roman walls, narta of
iiie acnooi are scattered to several low
land villages. v.
When in full progress ten thousand
students will be under instruction
learning the science of war. and will
give way to others as their training
1st completed.
Schools are being conducted for antl-
air craft artillery and air craft ma
chine gunnery trench motors and sani
tary work, in which there are complete
units tor attaenment to divisions in
training.
The army candidates icliool where
non-commlsslons learn to be officers
sre also open. In a few days infantry
specialists and automatic weapon spe
cialists will be instructing officers and
the course also will include grnide
throwing, mortar firing, musketry.
bayonetting and shooting. When train
ed these men will return to their divi
sions ss instructors of the men.
The Instructors Include both French
and British officers. As soon as possi
ble a special tank school will be opened
and arrangements sre being made to
secure a number of tanks from the
French for practice.
On a picturesque cliff, from the sum
mit of which the country for miles
s round can be seen ln panoramas, Is
located the staff college where officers
are taking-a course of post graduates,
receiving the final finishing touches
for staff offlcershlp.
AVIATORS ARRIVE ON
THE ITALIAN FRONT.
To Aid m Stemming Ue Advance of the
a ' Anstro-Germsn Armies. ; , ' ;;
? (By International News "Service.)
Washington, Dec 7. More than one
hundred British aviators have arriv
ed, safely on the Italian front to aid
In stemming the advance of the Austro
German armies, according to official
advices reaching here today. Word of
the arrival of the British aviators after
a record breaking flight from the west
ern front across the Alps to Northern
Italy may now be printed for the first
time. Single machines have made long
er flights than that undertaken by the
JBrltiBh alrneet hut never
has so longs
aircraft.- The word that the men and
machines had reached the Italian, front
in safety was taken to mean that there
had been no mishaps of any kind on
the way. , ,. y i-;'.'.'
THE COTTON MARKET. .,
Showed Continued Nervousness Open-
red 8 to 20 Points Higher.
By Th Aasaalated IT a)
New York. Dec. 7.-The cotton mar
ket continued nervous and irregularity
durlne today's early trading. The
otwiiuiir was 8 to 20 points higher with
near months relatively easy unoer li
quidation. The more active montns
sold about 3 to 0 points higher after
the call.
Cotton futures opened firm. Decem
ber. 20.26; January, 28.40: Marcn,
28.15; May, 27.8 ; jury, jh.oo.
E. M. UZZELL DEAD.
For Many Years He Was Engaged in
the lTuuwg Etusiness.
' (By Th Asatate Press)
Rflleleh. Dec. 7. K. ML TJssell, com
missioner of public safety of the city
of Baleigh died here early this moru-
.. v. , , of tt mint
ing. sir. uszeu w v B
nd had been 111 less wan a week.
For many years he was engaged in the
printing business in this city and re
tired .when nis piant was uumcu v
1015. He was elected to tne pmce oi
iwimmiiurinnpr of nublic safety last
may,..' ,-. :. 1 ;
Red Cross Relief Corps Reaches Cana
dian uoraer. .
Rv International News Service.)
Vnneehunr. Me. Dec 7. The Massa
Relief soecial bearing Bed
cm dnotnrs and nurses irom noston
reached the .Canadian, border at 8 2o
this morning. The train was 20 nun
tea ahead of 1U schedule. It will ar
rive at .Halifax late this afternoon.
The train carries eleven Burgeons,-ten
twenty Bed Cross relief work
ers and a car load pf medical and other
supplies. 1 - "W. '", . 'j' .
Big Fire in Philadelphia. :
(By International News Service.)
Phlladelnlna. Dec. 7. Fire is raglilg
In the oil: cloth building of the Tho
imr Potter Sons A Co- Inc. at the cor-
r Second street and Erie avenue
and threatens the destruction of the
entire building. 8nx alarms have al
ready been turned in.. ..
J More than -7.000,000 cans of food
were put np this summer by the wo
men's canning clubs in North Carolina.
Christmas Club
Matures December 13. lo payments received after
Saturday, December 8. f Members can receive their
money by presenting book or card on, or after the
"13th. NEW CLUB OPEN NOW. For white peo-
. pie only..-, . , ' .'
ti;:s 6 c:J Tr::t Cc ; y.
. .. TCDirs
Wwl m
TODAY. 2
NO. 72.
letunditrjiTII'IIFW
' W I M 1
According to Advices Receiv
ed in Washington From
Naval Commander Reach
Ing Naval Department..
RELIEF WORK
IN PROGRESS
All Northern Halifax Was
s Destroyed and Three Ships ;
Sunk. Ruins Are Now -Burning
Fiercely.
r Th aasaelataa Pnw)
Washington, D. CDec 7. Flv
thousand are believed to have been
killed in the explosion In WsiifsT har
bor and the Are which sweat north
Halifax and Dartsmonth. N. C- ac
cording to advices from a' naval com
mander, reaching the Navy ' Depart-f
ment, early today. The dispatch says
the figures are ot verified, however.
A report which came from a naval
commander, who witnessed the ex
plosion from a point 62 miles off Ball-
lax and later proceeded to the harbor
to render aid, said all northern Half
fax was destroyed, three ships sunk
snd many others damaged. "The ruins
of the buildings sre now burning
fiercely in northern Halifax," the dis
patch concludes.
Saw Bodies ef Several U. S. SdQen.
Truro, N. S., Dec. 7. A telegraph
operator sent here from Halifax by
the Western Union Telegraph Com
pany said today that he ssw the bodies
of several sailors of tbe United States -navy,
who had been killed by the ex
plosion yesterday.
The disaster, which has plunged the
Dominion into mouring, probably
will rank as the most tearful that ever
occurred on the American continent.
Residents of Halifax and thousands
of volunteer relief workers who have,
come into the city have been almost '
dated at the extent of the horror.
Temporary monrues have been es
tablished-in many buildings to which
a steady procession of vehicles of all
kinds have been carrying for hours
the bodies of men, women and child
ren. Most of them were so. charred -
that they were T unrecognizable.
Thousands of persons seeking trace
of -relatives and friends have pass
ed ,by the Jong, silent rows, attempt.
insr. by the flickering light ot lamps
and lanterns, to identify the ones
thev sought. ' ' ' ' -
Canndiaa-officer who have -seen
long service in France 1 characterise
which hais befallen , any .fill v lu un
worm..';, . . . , . , . . ;
Chief of Police Hanrahan late last .
night estimated the number of ' killed -aj
gKH) and other city officials ex-'
pressed their belief that it would ex
ceed that number, i' ;' .-.'''.
The eollisionv which resulted in
probably the worst disaster in' the
history, of the dominion occurred near
Pier 8 m the narrows leading Irom
the harbor ,to Bedford basin.' The '
munition ship was bound from New
York for Bedford basin when the ,.
relief shin Ioma, bound for sea, crash- v
ed into her. :' " " ' ." '
The Mont Blane was pierced on
the port 3e almost to the engine
room. The other ship, which was only
sliehtly damaged, backed away wnen
flames burst out on the munitions
shi1", and wss abandoned by the erew.
The captain of the Mont Blanc also
ordered -his crew to the boats, .as be
realized an explosion was- mevuaoiB.
The men reached shore safely before
the tremendous blast 17 minutes later ,
which blew their ship to pieces ana
wrecked a large part of tbe eity. , -
America Consul Safe. '
(By International News' Service.)'.
Philadelphia Dec 7. Bahelbert
Watts, American consul general au
his aides at Halifax are safe;. This
information was contained in a tele
gram from Mr. Watts to bis wife in
this city. . "
Mrs. Wstts, was overjoyea w
that her- husband was unhurt
Why the Stote department In Washington-did
not receive a message from
Mr. Watts is not explained. . - ,
Overman Resolution Adopted. -,
(By International News Service.) .
W.nhlnirtrai-. Dec. 7. The Senate
this afternoon adopted without opposi
tion the Overman resolution suspend
ing untti January 1, 1019. that part of
the Clayton anti-trust law lumuuius
Joint buying agreements oy tne rail
roads. The action 1b the first step to
ward carrying out the railroad unifica
tion scheme proposed oy ine inter
state Commerce Commission.' ' ' ' ,
". Police Estimate StUl 2,900 Dead.
,: By Th ArtatW Traaal
' Halifax, Dec T. Up to noon today
there had been no change In the police
estimate of 2,000 dead in yesterday's
disaster. About the same number, aw
tniured. two thirds of whom are suffer-1
' Ing from cuts of flying glass. '
Bead th Penny ads todayJ f