Bemidji Daily Pioneer Newspaper, January 3, 1917, Page 1

—~ P DYNAMITE TRIAL OPENS TODAY AT 'FRISCO; [0 WERE KILLED BY BOMB ‘Bourke Cochran, Noted New York Politician and Lawyer, Counsel for the Defendants. “TRAGEDY ENACTED DURING : JULY PREPAREDNESS PARADE Union Men Accused of Conspiring to Destroy Non-Unionists; One Woman Implicated. (By United Press) - San Francisco, Jan. 3.—After -the trial of T. J. Mooney, for ‘murder in connection with the -dynsmite bomb slaying during the preparedness parade, opened -this forenoon, District Attorney ‘Pickett asserted that a letter seized showed that Mrs. J. Ser- ‘geant Gram, a wealthy New York woman, is furnishing the money for the defense of Mooney and four others accused. : (By United Press) San Francisio, Jan. 3.—With W. Bourke Cochran occupying the spot- light as chief counsel for the defense, the second trial resulting from the ‘preparedness parade dynamiting here began in superior court today. Thos. J. Mooney, alleged leader of the four men, and one woman, ac- .cused of having plotted to place the bomb which exploded in the midst of paraders on July last, killed ten per- sons and injured 50, was on trial for ‘his life. The presence of Cochran has drawn the attention of the country to the - -trial in much the same way that .Clarence Darrow’s activity in the de- " fense of the McNamara brothers dre. -the country’s attention to that trial five years ago. Following the conviction in Septem- be of Warren K. Billings, first oi the five alleged conspirators tried. Cochraa for Defense. Cochran, noted New York lawver, volonteered his services to the de- " fense. He will serve without com- +wpensation, ‘according .to officers of the International Workers’ Défensive League, which is conducting the de- fense. Indicted with Mooney as a co-de- fendant is his wife, Rena Mooney, a music teacher and strike orgenizer. Thomas Mooney, leader of the de- fendants, was active in spreadirg “~strike propaganda and had planned to cause a general strike of United Railways platform men here a short time before the fatal preparedness - day parade. What is Alleged. It was alleged by the prosecution that the bomb had been set to ex- plode at a time when non-union em- ployes of the street railway lines would pass the point where the bomb had been placed at Steuart and Mar- kets streets, but that a delay in the .start of the parade upset the plans of the dynamiters. The defense declares all the de- fendants are innocent and are viec- tims of circumstantial evidence. Mooney surrendered to the police after reading newspaper statements that he was implicated in the crime. He was stopping at a summer resort at that time. The case has been featured by sev- eral alleged confessions which were later refuted. A number of photo- graphs taken on the day of the pre- paredness parade are held by both sides as evidence. The trial opened in Superior Judge Frank P. Dunne’s chambers. Dis- trict Attorney Charles M. Fickert and -a ‘corps of deputies represent the prosecution while Cochran and Max- swell McNutt represent the defense. "-PHYSICIAN FOUND DEAD. ‘La Crosse, Wis., Jan. 3.—Dr. John “Winter, prominent physician, was found dead in his office Bank this morning. Death «caused by a stroke of apoplexy. was in the State| EMIDJI DAILY PION THEY CONTROL KEEKK KKK KK KK KKK GIRL HAMMERS DOWN NAIL CHAMPIONSHIP (By United Press) St. Paul, Minn., Jan. 3.— Driving ten twelve-penny nails into a plank in one minute, fourteen and one- half seconds, during which time she hit her thumb with the hammer only once, Miss Lillian Reike, Fairfax, Minn., today has nailed down the Minnesota woman'’s nail driv- ing championship, awarded by the Minnesota college of agriculture. Miss Reike, 20, drove a wedge into society at the same swing, and has made herself quite a favorite with the younger set. Her home is on a farm. (2 2222222222222 222222 HHH KK KKK KKK KK KK COUNTY PRINTING AWARD IS MADE BY BOARD TODAY was designated the official paper in which will appear the financial state- ment and the proceedings of county commissioners throughout the year. The Bemidji Weekly Sentinel will publish the official delinquent tax list for 1917. Both papers will furnish supple- ments to all papers in Beltrami county so every taxpayer in Bel- trami county may be fully informed as to the work of the commissioners. The Pioneer will furnish supple- ments to every paper in the county during the year in which official pro- ceedings of the board of commis- sioners appear. STEALING AN AUTO MAY BE FELONY (By United Press) St. Paul, Jan. 3.—A bill was to- day introduced into the House to make the theft of an auto a felony. Another bill is against lobbying and another is for a state trade com- mission. Dry leaders will confer with the legislature. Prohibition bills are planned for both branches. ON BUSINESS TRIP. Judge Hiram A. Simons will go to Duluth tomorrow noon on busi- ness. William Begsley and Jack Stone, both of Kelliher, who were arrested for introducing introducing into Indian territory, appeared before Judge H. A. Simons, United States commissioner, pleaded not guilty waived examination and gave bonds appear in Fergus Falls on May 1. William Condon of Backus, who was arrested by Deputy Marshal AL H. Jester, for introducing liquor in- to Indian territory, also appeared before Judge Simons yesterday, waiv- ed examination and gave a bond for ary 9. Clifford B. Hunter of Cohasset ap- peared before Judge Simons today on -a charge of introducing six quarts of whiskey into Grand Rapids on De- liquor | for $500 and $200, respectively, to| Many Are Held In Bonds For Booze Law Violations ;cemh?r He entered a plea of | not guilty, waived examination and gave a bond of $300 to appear in Du- {luth January 9. Peter Hanson of Walker was ar- rested this morning for introducing a Jquart of whiskey into Indian terri- He appeared with his attor- entered a plea of not guilty, i d examination and gave a bond {of $500 for his appearance in Duluth on January 9. | The coming term will be one of {the heaviest ever known in the Fed- leral court in Minnesota, there being $300 to appear in Duluth on Janu- over 100 cases to be submitted to, |the grand jury. the majority being liquor cascs. The Harrison-Begsley | cases, which were ordered transferred from Fergus Falls in November, will |be the first cases called. ‘- Beltrami KAk hkkhkhkkhkhhkrkkkkkrkkkkkkkk . Mr. Scribner, before Judge Si- |t BEMIDJI. MINNESOTA, WEDNESDAY EVENING., JANUARY 3, 1917. APP o Extensive Land Owner Will Take the Matter Directly to the State Legislature. PROJECTS TO DRAIN SMALL TRACTS; SPECULATORS BUSY Intends to Take Movement Up With Every Interested Taxpayer That Can Be Reached. Duluth, Jan. 3.—Further light on the alleged fallacy of building drain- age ditches under some of the pres- ent legislation and methods in Ait- kin, Beltrami and St. Louis counties was offered when L. M. Depue, an ex- tensive land owner of Northern Min- nesota announced his intention of taking the matter directly to the present legislature for remedial leg- islation. The announcement follows close on the heels of the expose by G. G. Hartley of Duluth of the alleged squandering of public moneys on ditches in Aitkin county, made in a letter to C. C. Andrews, secretary of the state forestry board. “My interests take me constantly through sections of Aitkin, Beltrami and St. Louis counties where swamps At the meeting of the board of|are being drained by the state,” said | out the central powers and these re- county commissioners this morning,|Mr. Depue at the McKay hotel last | ports are responsible for the entente the second day’s session of the year’s|night, “and while I am always a|turning a deaf ear to peace plans of first meeting, the Bemidji Pioneer [supporter of any legitimate improve- | Germany. ment project, the present methods of building ditches represents plain, money. “The best example is shown in the projects to improve some of the many scattered small tracts of state land which are entirely, or almost entirely, surrounded by unimproved specu- lators’ property. The state has many 40-acre traots scattered about the northern part of it. “I own a section of land in Cass county, and almost in the center of it is a 40-acre tract owned by the state. My land entirely surrounds it. Sup- pose the state should drain that tract, who would benefit the most, the state, with its paltry 40 acres, or myself with my hundreds of acres through which the ditch must pass? Of course that particular tract has not been proposed for drainage but sim- lar projects are being carried out in he other counties. “Mr. Hartley’s letter shows up the system in its true light. As he says, building peat roads on the sides of the ditches lessens fire protection without providing justifiable high- ways. 1 shall take this matter up with every interested taxpayer and land owner of the state that I can reach, in the hope that the united action of these may bring about some remedial laws. “Almost all of the good lands have been sold already,” he declared, “‘and it certainly is wasteful for the state to spends thousands of dollars ex- travagantly improving lands that probably will never bring a good price.” \DEFEATED FOR OFFICE, i t 3 Bismarck, N. D., Jan. 3.—H. R. Berndt, state’s attorney for two terms and defeated in the recent elec- tion by F. E. McCurdie, shot and !killed himself in the front of the | court house here yesterday. Friends describe despondency over his defeat as the cause for his act. rndt, struggling under ht of two heavy suitcases ng office records to be delive | to his successor, stopped directly in | front of the court house just before 9 a. m., pulled an army pistol from I coat, and shot himself through | the heart, dying instant He is survived by his widow and several children. B. P. C. ELKS NOTICE! | There will be a regular meeting | of the Elks lodge Jan. 4. | E. H. JERRARD, Sec’y. | MAN SHOOTS SELF| To these men—(left to right) Joseph Thierry, Lord Devonport and Adolph von Batocki—France, Great Britain and Germany respectively have intrusted the management of the food problem. It is their duty as food controllers to see that their respective countries have enough to eat and that the food is equitably distributed. Alleges Ditch Money Is Being Wasted; County Included In Charge o TR KKK KKK KKK KKK * MEET TO TALK OF SPUDS (By United Press) St. Paul, Minn., Jan. 3.— Aristocratic spuds that sell for $2 and $3 a bushel here now, were the subject of much discussion when lhg Minne- sota Potato Growers’ associa- tion went into its secand an- nual session at the Minnesota university farm. Topics of discussion this afternoon were strangely minus the dollar mark. Members of the asso- ciation enriched by their com- bination to hold potatoes for a certain price, created a stir in the capitol city by their prosperous appearance today. IR ARRRARA KA A KK A & & & &k Kk kb hkhhkhkhkrhkhkhkhkhrhhhk ki bk TR KKK KKK KKK KKK CENTRAL POWERS ARE MENACED WITHIN, IS REPORT TO ENTENTE (By United Press) Lendon, Jan. 3.—Keen official in- formation substantiates reports of serious ingernal conditions through- The reply to President Wilson's note has been drafted and its dis- the | every-day squandering of the people’s | patch is imminent. The entente allies are convinced Germany’s peace proposals are due to a spirit of desperation in the cen- tral powers and the populace becom- ing tired of the war’s drain. SENATE EXONERATES SECRETARY LANSING (By United Press) Washington, Jan. 3. — Senator Stone, after a conference, from the floor of the Senate today exonerated Secretary Lansing from all blame for state department leaks, whereby it is said T. W. Lawson and his friends of Boston cleaned up millions by ad- vance knowledge of President Wil- son’s peace note, which affected the stock market. POLICE WEAVE NET AROUND SUSPECT (By United Press) Philadelphia, Jan. 3.—A man sus- pected of having strangled pretty Mazie Colbert, corset and stocking model, is under guard in a fashion- able hotel here. Police say a net of evidence is being weaved around the suspect. The man is asserted to be wealthy with extensive brewery interests, a member of fashionable clubs and to cafe habitues is known as ‘“Cham- pagne Charlie.” It is asserted this man assisted the girl financially several months ago and a blackmail tale is expected in | which many prominent persons may ! be involved. Mill Colbert recently met a man, | who she claimed might harm her. The police are to examine a former Penn- svlvania university athlete, a man whom the girl really loved, it is said. 'Strands of a man’s hair were found in the girl's hand ripped from a head in the girl's battle for life. The po- lice have letters written to the girl n which she was charged with fickleness. COAL TO ADVANCE. | St. Paul, Jan. 3.—Another advance in coal prices is due next summer. A taste of what is coming was in- | dicated yesterday when wholesale | coal men acknowledged they would ! have to pay more for the transporta- |tion of coal from Lake Erie points llo Duluth and Superior. MINNESOTA HISTORICAL 1% | mariest <. CENTS PER MONTH. - e O WARRIEE PEOFLE ISTRIKERS COMING FROM GEMMELL; ABOUT SIXTY “ARE QUARTERED IN CITY Secretary Madison of Bemidji Branch Visits the Scens of Strike: Reports Men Determined To Stand Firmly By Their Demands TROUBLE REPORTED TO BE NATIONAL IN SCOPE Asserted That National Headquarters Are Now In Charge; Stated: That Over 20,000 Men Gould Be Mobolized By I. W. W.: Organizer Thorne Arrested [BULLETINS | (By United Press) St. Paul, Jan. 3.—Governor Burnquist was inaugurated to- day with simple ceremony marked by a heavy guard. The Senate and House had received reports that I. W. W, strikers had left Bemidji enroute to St. Paul. Bemidji is entertaining a delega- tion of about 60 members of the I. W. W. who came in last evening from the lumber camps of the Backus & Brooks company at Gemmell, all six camps of the company in that vicinity being on strike with about 700 men out. The new arrivals are members of the “*One Big Union’” and were quartered for the night at the headquarters of the Bemidji branch of Local No. 400, Minneapolis. It is not expected that many more will come but naturally there will be some who will arrive later. Secretary Nils Madison of the Be- midji branch was at Gemmell yester- day, returning last evening. He was seen by a representative of the Pio- neer this morning and in an inter- view said: Madison Renorts Quiet. “Everything is quiet at Gemmell and there is nothing new in the sit- uation. However, the men who are out are determined to stand firmly by their demands as presented to the Backus & Brooks company. A meet- ing of the men was held yesterday at which Jim Riley, chairman of the organization committee of the Lum- ber Workers' Organization, and my- St. Paul, Jan. 3.—Governor Burnquist has been asked by lumber companies to protect their interests against the I. W. W. strikers but has made no promises. Virginia, Jan. 3.—Fifty-three strikers and 1. W. W. agitators were arrested at Cusson this morning and rushed here in a special train. Sheriff John |self spoke. We told the men that 3 . . : it was not up to us to lead them but Me‘mxpg says the situation 18 |; oo 'tor them to determine what well in hand. they wanted, and to transact their own affairs. Other matters were also discussed. and business transacted in which neither myself nor Riley had any point.” Riot Story Refuted. Regarding a report sent out to the effect that members of the I. W. W. at the point of revolvers and with axes and other weapons drove men from the camps, H. A. Baldwin, who was present at I. W. W. headquar- ters when the Pioneer representative called, asserted that he circulated the demands among the men {n camps Nos. 44 and 45 and he saw no guns nor other weapons and (Continued on Page Four) ALLEGED HOLDUP MAN IS RELEASED There was no evidence to hold Percy Sullivan, an employe of the box factory, of having held up and robbed William Colgrove, another employe, of $20.23 Wednesday eve- ning, Dec. 27, at a point near the brick yards. The hearing was be- fore Judge Fisk yesterday afternoon. Colgrove was unable to identify Sul- livan and the latter was released. Sullivan bears an excellent repu- tation, according to those intimately acquainted with him and they ex- pressed surprise that he should be accused of having held up and robbed a one-armed man after hitting him with an iron bar such as he was charged with having done. St. Paul, Jan. 3.—Governor Burnquist was today informed that 100 deputy sheriffs have been sworn in at International Falls to preserve peace during the strik LOCAL SITUATION In view of the nearness to the scene of the strike in the camps of the Backus & Brooks company at Gemmell, in Koochiching county, Beltrami county authorities and the Crookston Lumber company have made extensive preparations to han- dle any possible trouble that might arise to affect either Beltrami county, Bemidji, the Crookston Lumber com- pany or any other industry within the confines of Beltrami county. Sheriff is Ready. It is not, however, expected that the I. W. W. will “start anything” in this county, but eventualities are being safeguarded against spread over the county line between Bel- trami and Koochiching counties. Sheriff Johnson has sworn in a large number of deputies through- out Beltrami county and says he is fully prepared to safeguard the in- terests of Beltrami county. He was in Nebish yesterday making prepara- tions for any unforseen disturbances. (Continued on Page Four) Rational Treatment Is Due Commercial Club Live Wire Committee Is Appointed To Determine Effective Methods of [lleeting Present Unsettled Conditions At one of the largest meetings of |the personnel of tlie committee as- the Commercial elub, held last eve-|sures that the organization is go- ning, the matter of whether the Com- ing to receive some rational and ef g R fective treatment. mercial club should raise its mem- On that committee, appointed by bership dues or change to cheaper|E. H. Denn, is E. A. Barker, J. L. quarters was the paramount ll)pl(’,i(;wnr::-, B. W. Lakin, A. W. Johnson and there were several talks straight and G. W. Harnwell, and these gen- from the shoulder such as never bv-«irl--m'-n can be depended upon to de- fore heard in gatherings of the club liver the goods in large chunks. membership. There was a spirit of | The civic improvement committee, “do things,” such as seldom evi-| headed by Dr. Palmer, was instructed denced in the club meetings and- theto confer with the city attorney and result of the long evening's discus-| council relative to a site for an ar- sion was the start of a tangible | mory. Lieut. Barker of the Naval movement to ascertain just where the | militia was also included in the rep- organization is “‘at” and what would |resentatives to appear before the be best for its future and assured |council. prosperity. | The meeting was for the discussion To this end, a committee of five principally of the future of the or- was appointed to make detailed in-|ganization and a better understand- vestigation of what in its opinion |ing resulted. The report of the spe- is needed and to report at the nexticial committee will be awaited with regular meeting in two weeks, and interest.