Bemidji Daily Pioneer Newspaper, October 7, 1911, Page 1

THE BEMIDJ1 D VOLUME 9. NUMBER 13 7. BAUDETTE - SPOONER FIREYEARAGOTODAY Late in Afternoon of This Date the Tlames Destroyed Both Villages and Claimed Several Lives. BEMIDJI RUNS TO THE RESCUE Sends Special Train of Provisions, Furnishings First Relief From Outside Point. SURVIVORS TO MEET TONIGHT Gather for Free Show and to Form Fire Sufferers Association—Berg to Talk. It was one year ago today that fire | rushing from the forest annihilated | the Beltrami towns of Baudette and ! Spooner. The season had been a dry one and fires had been in the northern end! of the county but these two Beltra- | mi county towns had not felt that| there was any immediate danger. On this day a year ago, however, | settlers coming in from the country | warned the villages that there was a | bad fire bearing down in that direc- | tion. . ¢ Little attention was paid to these warnings and late in the afternoon, | a fiery breeze from the woods told | the inhabitants that danger at last| really was near. ! Then came the billows of flames which ate both towns completely off the earth, leaving 35 charred bodies in its wake and a property loss run-: ning into the millions. All the telegraph wires burned out and it was the next day | before the world learned of. the dis- aster and it was on the evening of that day that the Pioneer printed the first story of the fire, getting the news over the long distance tele-| phone via St. Paul. Bemidji Much Wrough Up. Many Bemidji persons had rela- tives, friends and property in the two towns and were credulous that such a thing could have happened. The report soon was confirmed and on Sunday a special train was hustled out of Bemidji to the stricken towns, carrying provisions and other neces- sities, and this was the first relief from outside points to reach the suf-| ferers. Since that time the two towns have | been rebuilt, better and along more metropolitan lines than before. A fire break has been built and the two towns are safe from any further danger from flames from the forest. In the newly erected auditorium at Spooner tonight a mass meeting of the citizens of that place and Bau- dette and the entire fire district is to be held to organize a Fire Suf- ferers association. In announcing this meeting the Spooner Northern News says: Celebration Explained. “The object of the meeting is to organize into a society for the pur- pose of hol¢ing annual reunions, in the future, of all fire sufferers and survivors, thus not only observing the anniversary of the fire, but bringing our citizens into a closer relation with each other. The pro- gram arranged for is first a free mov- ing picture show, given by Kirvan & Sanders, during which will be exhib- ited such scenes of the fire and de- struction wrought, of which nega- tives can be obtained. “Following such exhibition the were | meeting will be addressed by Albert | Berg and Attorney Geo. E. Ericson, after which the question of organi- zation will be taken up and such program decided on for the next re- union as may be deemed the most appropriate for the occasion. “There will be no expenses at- tached in any way to any person in- dividually for either the evening’s meeting or organization as it is in- tended to have the reunion only for the reasons stated, thus it is sincerely hoped that all will be present to join in the contemplated observance.” The people of great rejoicings ioday in celebration of the seventieth birtnday anniver- sary of their nelived king. Born Oct. 7, 1841, iu ths little village of Niegush, which icc 100 years had been the abode of his family, Nich- olas Petroviteh accended the throne of the Vladikas in ,860, as Prince Nicholas I. A 32ar ago last August, on the fiftieth anniversary of his ac- cession, Montenegio was proclaimed a kingdom and the ruler took the title of king. - straining Hobble Skirt, Choosing | Montenegro held Postmaster General of the United States Carries A Sack of Mail Through the Air In an Aer¢plan‘e.’ Photo by American Press Association. BEMIDJI, MINNESOTA, SATURDA\{ EVENING, OCTOBER 7, DUMAS TO The international aviation meet at Nassau boulevard, Long Island, was discinguishes vy the actual carrying of a sack of mail by Postmaster General Frank H. Hitchcock through the air In sn aeroplane. in the history of this country that mail has actually been carried by the postriaster genera!. This was the first time Mr. Hitchcock, carry- ing a snck of wail weighing ten pounds, went up with Captain Beck, U. S. A.. and delivered the packet at a post- office statton several miles distant SHE BALKS AT APPLES| Also Prefers Trousers to the Re- Trip to “Bug” House First. WORKED LONG AS “REAL" MAN Nellie Pickerell, alias Harvey Al- len, arrested at Tekoa, Wash., by deputy United States Marshal Daily on the charge of selling liquor to an Indian and held in the county jail at Spokane, in default of bonds of | $200, has balked on wearing wom- an's garments, also telling William Reynolds, head jailer, to eliminate the baked apple served occasionally | to prisoners. “The apple is a belligerent fruit,” Miss Pickerell said. paradise and was afflicted with the hobble skirt through the apple. apple also led to the carnage of the Trojan war and started a number of other things. No apples for me, thanks.” : Reynolds tried to argue the matter with the woman after she had de- livered herself of the fcregoing. He had secured a skirt and waist and other articles of apparel and ordered Miss Pickerell to don them without delay. “Me for the free d easy trous- ers,” she persisted. “I’'ve worn 'em the last 11 years, ever since I was 18, and that puts the jinx on the hobble goods for all time with me. “On the level, kid, when you get me to pull any of that society stuff you can call the county physician and buy a ticket for me to Medical Lake, as I certainly will be entitled to have my face or a picture of it in the ‘bug’ family album.” Miss Pickerell is a daughter of a prominent family in western Wash- ington. She was worked around mining and lumber camps the last four or five years also at one time tending bar in a local saloon and re- mained until her identity was estab- lished. Later she worked in the har- vest fields, doing a man’'s work and passing as a man among her asso- ciates. She wears h-r hair closely ceopped and has the stsength and rugged features of a workingman. The third Real! Tstate and Ideal Homes Show, which cpened in Madi- son Square Garden ihis afternoon, is| the largest anl most comprehensive | exposition of its kiua ever held in| America. The display embraces ev-| ery type of building irom the bunea- | low to the skys raping apartment! house, illustrated in models, photo-! graphs and draw:ngs, as well as sam-~| ples of every buildirg material which enters into theis construction. Equip- ment, decorations and furnishings are shown also, “Humanity lost |. The ! * * . - : Crackerjack Girls Who Bought | : $300 Window at it Again, Encouraged by having netted : : ted $300 as the result of 13 : weeks sales of crackerjack last : winter, girls of the Methodist : { church today opened another : crackerjack campaign, which is : : to extend over several weeks. As a result of the sales last : : winter, the girls have purchased : : a new art window for the Meth- : : odist edifice now under construc- : : tion here. This window is known : : as the “crackerjack’” window : : and that word is stained in the : : glass. The money obtained from the : : sales now will go to the general : : building fund of the church. Last winter the confection was : : sold at 5 cents a sack, but this : : year, “owing to the high cost of : : sugar and corn,” the price has : : been boosted to ten cents. The girls who act as salesmen : : every Saturday afternoon are : : members of the Sunday School : : class of Mrs. J. W. Naugle, and it : : is under her direction that the : crackerjack is prepared. * R R R R R OB R A A R R ] © QUTSIDE NEWS CONDENSED. © R R R R R R R G R AR O R William Elroy Curtis, the well- known traveler, journalist and writ- er of political topics, of Washington, died suddenly in his room in a hotel at Philadelphia of apoplexy. Senator Knute Nelson will be a candidate for re-election, according to W. W. Rich. “You may be assured that Senator Ivelson will run again,” said Mr. Rich. “I heve not seen the senator since he was here about three weeks ago, but I have reason to be- lieve that he will not refuse to be a icandidate to succeed himself.” Four governocs aud a number of most military organizations in thé United States, wil le in Atlanta the first three days of tu: coming week for the celebration in connection with the unveiling of the Old Guard monu- ment at Piedmont Park. The monu- ment is to commemorate the “mis- sion of peace” on which the Gate of the North soun a.ter the close of {the civil war. With “The Canreg and the Age”| as the general theme of discussion, | the seventy-thjrd annual meeting of | Blla W. Bestor of Minneapolis, and the Wisconsin Co.:gregational asso- ciation began at Fond du Lac today, clude Dr. C. W President Silas Fvens of Ripon Col- lege, .Rev. Milwaukee, Rev. H. F. Burns of Su- perior, and Rev JT. S. Reeve of Ap- mayors, in addiiion to many of the| | stanley Praybliski, Charles P. Connolly of; Wilhelm Gedaechtuiss Kirche. CLUB - OPENING 0CT. 12 Open House to Be Held on That Day in Commercial Organization’s New Home. EVENING PROGRAM FOR WOMEN There will be a formal opening of the Commercial club at its new quar- ters in the recently erected Nangle building, Third street and Minnesota avenue, Thursday, October 1z. This was decided at a meeting of the entertainment committee of the Commercial club last evening. Emil Schneider is chairman of this com- mittee. October 12 is the date for Market Day in Bemidji and all the out of town visitors will be invited to in- spect’ the club’s new home. In the evening therc will be a pub- lic reception given the women. Wives of club members and their friends will be invited. There will be music in both the afternoon and evening. Chairman Schneider of the enter- tainment committee has selected the following committees: Invitations and musie, J. O. Harris and Mayne Stanton. Refreshments, C. C. Crippen. Decorations, Frank Lambert and Lee Allen LaBaw. Entertainment of the farmers, Dr. L. A. Ward and A. A. Andrews. Entire committee together with the reception committee will welcome the guests during both the afternoon and evening. CARLTON TRIAL ON TUESDAY Judge McClenahan this afternoen ordered a special venire of 24 men to report for jury duty at 9 a. m. Mon- day. The regular venire had been Dumas trial. The first case up will be the case against John Carlton, who faces charges made by a small girl. who faces two indictments charging murder in the first degree as a result of the death of two men in a revolver fight near Kelliher last Saturday night, today City Guards of tlis city made a tour | entered a plea of mot guilty through | his attorney, Jokn L. Brown. The marriage in Berlin today of Miss May Bestor, daughter of Mrs. Ferr Gustav J. Waztucld, who is in the German dipouiatic service, was and will continue until Monday. - The | witnessed by numerous members of prominent speakers to be heard i“'i the American colony in Berlin and Richards of New | by many persons prominent in Ger- York, Rev. J. H. “haudler of Chicago, | man official lifc. 'I'se ceremony took place this -afternoon in the Kaiser The couple will reside in Rome, where | Herr- Wattzold is sccretary of the pleton. & German embassy. |Then there was a delay until Sept. dismissed owing to the length of the/ At_4 p. m. today all the evidence in the Dumas case had been com- Dpleted. _ This means that on Monday the case will go into the hands of the dury there to be decided whether the Cass Lake physician and mayor jgnust 80 to the penitentiary as a re- nfilt of the charge of attempted arson Qrought against him by the state. A 9 o’clock Monday morning clos- ing arguments will be made by at- torneys on both sides, the judge will deliver his charge, and the jury will retire to agree upon a verdict. The trial has been on in district court here before Judge McClenahan since September 20, It required nine days in which to obtain a jury, three special venires being necessary. On September 20 three jurors were {obtained: Peter Maul, Otto Smith, and E. J. Gould. On the next day B. J. Jenkins James Perkins, and M. 0. Halvorson were added to the jury. 27 when John Wagner and August | Weber were chosen, and the day fol- {lowing the jury was completed with | George Dufty, John Thoren and R. E. English. From the beginning the jury has been under close guard and has stept in the grand jury room at the court house, being brought down town for meals. Several witnesses were put on to- day by the defense, but Doctor Du- mas did not go on the stand. Funkley First Witness Today. At the opening of court the defense called Henry Funkley as the first witness of the day. Mr. Funkley’s eyes are in such condition that he | was given a special witness chair with his back against the light. Mr. Funkley said he had been sick in bed and told of a meeting at his house with Mr. Lane and Sheriff Ha- zen. ““How was that meeting brought about?”” asked Mr. Lane. “Well, I had had a talk with Mr. Hazen regarding the Puposky affair, how Behan was found and how he was captured. Mr. Hazen said he flashed a light and saw for the first time that it was Behan. Then Ha- zen said Behan told him he had been dragged into the job—that he only was to be a watchman.. Then I asked the sheriff if he didn’t think Behan had been dragged in and Ha- zen thought Behan told him at the time of the conference af the Lar- son saloon he was sleepy and didn’t know what was going on. Told it to Andrews. “This I told to Mr. Andrews. I later met Mr. Lane on the street. Mr. Lane wanted to know if I couldn’t get Mr. Hazen to go on the stand and swear to the above and I said I didn’t know but that I could arrange a conference. Therefore, I called Mr: Hazen on the telephone and he came to my office at my resi- dence. “Mr. Hazen came and I opened the conversation, saying to Mr. Ha- zen—"" F Mr. Janes objected and was sus- tained. Mr. Lane asked: “During that conversation did I or did T not ask Mr. Hazen if Behan had not said he was drunk in Lar- son’s saloon?” This was objected to as not in line with impeachment guestions and the objection was sustained. “This testimony,” said Mr. Lane, “is for flatly an effort to contradict Mr. Hazen’s testimony.” Funkley Tells of Resignation. Cross examined by Mr. Janes, Mr. Funkley said that he had resigned as county attorney on June 21. He said he knew Fullerton three weeks prior to his resignation and that Ful- lerton was at his house once but had talked but little about the Dumas case. Mr. Funkley said he had taken an interest in the defense as a citi- zen. Mr. Funkley again said he was present at a meeting between Hazen, Lane and himself. “Who arranged the meeting?” “Hazen and myself.” “How did Dr. Dumas happen to be | there?” _This was objected to by Mr. Lane as immaterial and the objection was sustained. “I understand you state that the defendant was present?” “Yes, sir.” -Hulburt ‘on the Stand. William Hulburt, the next witness said he lived about 4 miles north of Deer River. He said he was assessor of the township in which Ole Fer- guson lives. He said he was on an official visit 1ast June when he visited the Ferguson property. and that he went to the well in the front yard and that he saw Fergusan chopping roots from a stump which had been blown out by dynamite. On cross examination Mr. Hulburt said he has known Ferguson for five years. He was closely questioned re- garding his duties at that time and admitted ‘that he had read in the newspapers of Ferguson’s connection with the case and that he knew of Ferguson’s connection at the time he was at the Ferguson place. He said he has frequently been at Ferguson’s and that his own home is separated from the Ferguson place by one 40- acre farm. George: Stein, city clerk, who had been on the stand for the state, was called by the defense. Mr. Stein said on the afternoon of June 14 he met Dr. Dumas at 5:45 on the Northern National Bank corner. He said he went to the Battles store with Dr. Dumas. Herbert Fails as ‘Witness. C. E. Herbert, a restaurant keep- er at Brainerd, the next witness, said he was in Bemidji on June 14 and that he was here to arrange for start- ing an eating house. He said he was at the Rex hotel in the after- noon. He saw a man resembling Dr. Dumas with another man, whom he said was dark and that he thought he had a black moustache. Asked to describe the man, Mr. le{erbert thought the man was tall, slim and black. "The defense wished to estab- lish that this man was Robert Smyth who is small, and has no moustache, but is dark. The witness said he overheard a conversation between these two men, but couldn’t tell what they were talking about, except at times. Mr. Lane asked Smyth to be brought in for identification by the witness. Mr. Janes requested that he be permitted &ofiask a’ question of tlie ‘witness and the’ court said to state the quiz: R “About how much did this man, in your estimatoin, weigh?”” asked Mr. Janes. Mr. Lane objected to the question and was sustained and Smyth was brought into the courtroom and Mr. Herbert said he couldn’t say for sure but he thought it looked “something like him.” Attorneys in Jangle. “That’s ‘all,” said Mr. Lane, “you are ex¥tused, Mr. Smyth.” “Just a minute,” said Mr. McDon- old. “Why, sir, Mr. Smyth is excused.” “Wait a minute,” said Mr. McDon- ald. ~ “Mr. Smyth, you are excused. You may go,” insisted Mr. Lane, who said he called Smyth and didn’t want him longer in the courtroom, and the court ruled this was correct. “Just want the defense to know they are not controlling our witness- es,”” said Mr. McDonald. “If we had you would have had a better case,” said Mr. Lane. Efforts “to have Herbert identify Smyth as the person with Dr. Dumas at the Rex hotel failed and the wit- ness was excused without cross ex- amination. August Hirsch of Minneapolis, sub- poenaed originally as a witness for the state, was called for the defense and testified that he had adjusted the loss on the doctor’s house which was burned in Cass Lake last spring and that the fire was undoubtedly of in- cendiary origin, as there was a hole in one place where some kind of lig- uid had been poured. He gave the amount at which the house was in- sured and also the household goods, indicating that the amount of insur- ance carried did not cover what was claimed as the schedule of loss. Rev. H. F. Parshall, archdeacon of the diocese of Duluth and pastor of the Episcopal churches at Cass Lake and Bemidji, testified that the repu- tation of the doctor at Cass Lake as. being a peaceable and law-abiding citizen was so far.as he knew, gen- erally good. On cross examination the witness said he was home but from two to four days a week and was not liable to hear anything relative to the doctor’s reputation except from the persons in his immediate circle of acquaintances. The Defense Rests. At 11:35, Mr. Lane announced “the defendant rests.” Bert Smyth was called by the state in rebuttal, and was asked: 3 “Mr. Smith, had you a mustache, on the 14th of June?” “No, I had not,” he replied. The state caled in rebuttal Leslie McClay, a former marshal of the vil- lage of Foley, Minn., and attempted to ask him what was the reputation of Dr. Dumas, among Foley people, TEN CENTS PER WEEK, KNOW FATE ON MONDAY; EVIDENCE ALL IN Cass Lake, and the question was met .with a vigorous protest from Mr. Lane, in which he was sustained by the court, who said he would cheer- fully listen to arguments on this point, Mr. Janes claiming that the authorities differed on this matter. Court adjourned until 1:30 p. m. Disappointed at Not Hearing Dumas. At the opening of court this af- ternaon, the courtroom was crowded, ‘women as usual predominating. The impression prevailed that Dr. Dumas was to go on the stand but as the defense had closed its introduction of witnesses at the morning session those who had hoped to hear the de- fendant’s story from his own smiling lips were disappointed. Every seat in the courtroom was filled and many persons stood, rather than miss the proceedings. There was a delay of several min- ‘utes past 1:30 the time set for re- convening after the noon recess and during this time Dr. Dumas chatted with friends and visited with attor- neys and others in Judge Stanton’s chambers, across the hall from the courtroom. Earl Geil First P. M. Witness. Earl Geil, clerk of the grand jury which brought in the indictment against Dr. Dumas, was the first wit- ness in rebuttal at the afternoon ses- sion. Mr. Janes asked the witness if Ole Ferguson had testified before the grand jury and Mr. Geil said “Yes.” Mr. Janes then wanted to know if Ferguson had said that the dynamite purchased by Dumas for him was 90 per cent dynamite. Attorney Lane objected to the propriety of the ques- tion and as to the right of a member of the grand jury from testifying, but the court ruled that the testimony could be given, if asked in proper shape. Mr. Janes then asked if Ferguson hadn’t said that he said he took the dynamite home the samé day, and the witness said yes. Geil's Memory Given Test. Turned over to Mr. Lane, Mr. Lane wanted to know if he hadn’t fixed it up with the attorneys for the state and some members of the grand jury in the courtroom this morning as to just what it was that Ferguson said before the grand jury and the wit- ness said that there had been a con- ference to refresh their memories, but only in any effort to get the ruth. Mr. Geil said there were four members of the grand jury and each suggested as to the words used by Ferguson before the grand jury. C. C. Crippen, the Bemidji photo- grapher, was next called. He told of taking photographs of the Ole Fer- guson place near Deer River, being accompanied by Deputy Sheriff Hel- mer and Detective Fielding. Mr. Crippen said these pictures, which were taken on Sept. 16, at the re- quest of Mr. Helmer and Mr. Field- ing, were of places at and near the Ferguson home. Attorney McDon- ald introduced four photograhs tak- its. One Shows Stump Spot. One of these photographs was of the spot which Ferguson said had contained the stump blown with dy- namite furnished by Dr. Dumas. This picture showed a growth of grass. Mr. Lane objected to the introduc- tion of the pictures on the ground that proper foundation had not been laid for their introduction. Mr. Lane contended the condition of the ground now was entirely - different than in June when, it is asserted the stump was blown. Mr. McDonald ar- gued that the pictures would show that it couldn’t have been possible that a stump was blown the first of July. The court wanted to know if there was other evidence along this line to be offered, and when told that there would be, the judge said, “Let’s hear it and I will pass on the pictures la- ter.” Says He Saw Grass. Continuing his questions to Mr. Crippen, Mr. McDonald asked if he had seen grass or sod and the witness said he had. “The sod at the place where he said the stump was blown was the same as surrounding places,” said Mr. Crippen, who added that the grass at this point was the same as all over the yard. “It was timothy several inches high,” added the witness. The witness said Fielding took some sod from the center of where the sup- posed stump stood. Helmer Follows Crippen. - - Deputy Sheriff Helmer followed since the doctor became a resident of (Continued on last page en by Mr. Crippen as state’s exhib- °