Evening Star Newspaper, December 26, 1882, Page 2

aad HE SEE cITY AND DISTRICT. CONCERN Souths foriet £4 tguare Ide Tealy eb Krebounw & Larra, Gm OLMSTEAD. EIGHT CENTS A GOOD OFFER. — 15 Steerer, street, A.Card from Mr. Hillyer. ve Wasnirsoro8, SON Bay 29, 1971. im. Reading. Bengt Dir sire Epcaesd pleas deca Referring to Te Star of Saturday I see that | gare execute and bring in as soon as possi We have a: offer of tc. per square foot for Lot 4, square 17. on H street, between doth and 26th, atreets. We consider both these offers good ones, and atvise you Mr.J. F. Olmstea: Inissi the recently nowlnated Com- ner for this District, has seen fit to go into toaccept. Very respectiully, print In defense of his character for integrity in Krnpours & Larra, private business transactions. In so doing he Asa thought proper to introduce my name and | ™™ READING OUGHT To TAKE EIGHT CENTS. ener. Rone be y Orricr or Kiunours & LATTA, te comm upon acertain sult now pending Raat Esrare xp NOTE BRonEis, e Su; Sonrt of the District CoRNER OF 7TH AND F STREETS, in the Supr mrt of the Distr (Hallet Thoura.) himself and ¢ . In which I am one of| Gas. M. Latta. '§ s thus opened the door n of the evide Wasnrxotox, D. C. Mr. Wm. Readino, Georgetown, D. Dr Si rureh: 26th May, 1871. Youre of the 24th inst, is at band. ‘The ot was to ‘assume the paving tax when pave- was laid, aud, if itis Iaid’now it will be for’ him we were offered eight cents before, and the backed out, you expre<sed your anxiety to have ske it, and we axsured the present purchaser you it, end he bas had the title examined at $15 thins, under the c.reumstances, you ot and wealso think, looking should sel! at this price. "We have made by declining a tair ou't care anything nbout, as would probably take it. the deed seut you, and send will see the paving tax paid by him, utin proper lupe. ILBOUEN & LATTA. Win. Reading: Dr. cour 1 te discuss it better ous vase the def of trust. If th TOTALLY UNFIT | other pub- s 14, square 154, ac. sspeamaye ot 14, nq. 154.. Cr. $845 $45 68 Ernouns & Larra, 4 Olmstead. Washington, D. C., June 10, 1871. THE CONDENSED FAC For convenience let me condense the above | into its ultimate facts. Mr. Reading employed the firm of Kilbourn & Latta as his brokers on to be great propriety in an agrerd ¢ issivn of five per cent, to sell for BHO B IOr: POLE OF him to the advantage. a lot in Washington Kwand a which he thought worth fifteen cents per foot. to read in THe STAR sot They shortly after wrote to him that an offer of their Co! “oners, fastened | eight cents per foot had been made and advised 1 to accept it. To this letter he answered ing that he thought the price too low, and they in reply stated that it was a good Pp and also that they had already assured the proposed purchaser that he could have the lot at that price, on which assur- ance le had incurred an expense of $15 In ex- -y therefore felt under it. On these repre- ding consented to the sale at this and exeented a deed to Hodge, the sunt of consideration being, at their sugges- | tion, left blank, that It might be filled in in the same handwriting as the balance of the deed— iat of Olmstead. The firm sent to him an ac- count ofsale, showing the property had been sold for $845.68, and after deducting commissions, &c., showing @ net balance of $621.40, which was all that Reading received. The price act- uaily paid by Hodge (iteading’s grantee) to Kil- bourn & Latta was $1,204.47. Several months iF nd was not they ‘ither what Mr. Olmstead savs here is | both he and Mr. Latta have | vath to what Is not wae AS | afterward, Mr. Reading ha iz had his suspi- by the papers set forth below, this | investigated and discovered the i in the latter deception which had been practised, and also f part of 1 the 10th day of the means ‘oving it beyond contestation. June of of Kilbourn & | His attorne; Davidge, then sent for Latta, ‘Ctassies arged the fraud, and ‘showed the proofs. - * ch in the Supreme | { : P attempted to explain by saying that. al- mbes though the deed had been made directly from Reading to Hodge, yet the person who had really purchased from Reading for #815 WAS J. F. OLMSTEAD, clerk, as he said, of the firm, and that Olmstead id immediately to Hodge for #1,204. On being told that this would not answer for an explanation, and under threat of prosecution, the firm, to prevent a public exposure,paid back , hot merely the actual profit, #360 had made, but also a considerable bill of expense, and in addition gave up their commissions. Mr. Olmstead was not only tareughout all this a member of the firm, but personally, as the papers show, took a leading part in the transaction. Ihave selected this transaction from much material of the same sort; first, because the facts being established, its character is unmistakable. |Itwas a flazrant fraud and could only have | been perpetrated by men as mean as they were jentiy and f protits that belonged to the Xatmined witr lied as foliows (0! did you become a member of —"Teame into the firm the Ist of January, | In the same yurn and Olmstead ys. bt that the time when Mr. Latta) leay Obustead became a member of this firm was, | dishonest. Second, because Mr. Olinstead's oon, ‘fas he testifies hir 1871. The | nection with it appears by contemporaneous ais Gl the cis 1 until its | Papers in his own haudwriting. Third, because dissolution (January 1. 1877), but from the date | the proof is simple and easily obtainable. In- mentioned Mr. Olmstead was a silent or secret | Vite Mr. Reading and Mr. Olmstead to confront partner. He was not, therefore. as he says. in | €ach other before any tribunal of investigation, his Interview. a mere clerk at the time of the ading transaction, but a full partner, with a one-fourth interest." I do not think any one follows will w and the truth will in half an hour become ap- parent. Fourth, because the disgorging by the firm of their ill-gotten gains under threat of prosecution is @ confession of their guilt. TWo QUESTIONS. I close the subject by asking two questions: First—How many transactions of this character does it take to show that Mr. Olmstead is not a fit man to be a Commissioner of the District of Columbia? Second—Is there any Senator of the United States whose conscience will permit him, after reading the above statement, to vote for the confirmation of Mr. Olmstead without an inves- tigation of this transaction? MORE ABOUT THE PECULIAR BUSINESS TRANSAC- TIONS OF OLMSTEAD & Co. I shall make no other reply to the balance of Mr. Otmstead’s interview than to print some ex- tracts from the deposition of his late partner, Mr. Latta, in the cause of Kilbourn & Olmstead vs. Latta above mentioned, taken before the date of the controversy between the firm and to state for publi- lected as a Com- umbia, THE REAPING CA Now to the transaction itself: Mr. Wm. Read- armer residing about eicht miles from n John bridge, Md. He and his character for in- is known and will be as furnished me a «writing. written Thornton Smith at the latter's re- ubstance of which was in New York Sun, that y Mr. Olmstead in ‘w above quoted; tof some facts not | Sunderland and Hillyer, and therefore not re- rixinal letters | lating to their suit. 1 think, in the light they mi by the Arm of Kit | tirew onthe business methods of tne firm of a5 tollowaz Kilbourn & Latta, they will be found pertinent orate: and interesting. It is true that Mr. Olmstead does not think that Latta is to be believed when he makes statements under oath, and he has testified that 1, D. such is his opinion. Mr. Latta, as will be seen qiuaht | from the first extract below, fully reciprocates ‘as | the compliment. While it is quite possible that in respect to credibility each has a correct opinion of the other, I still think that Latta’s admissions ayainst himself as well as his part- ners as to th manner of conducting business should be accepted as true. The testimony will be found in the clerk’s | | office, vol. 1, defendant's testimony, equity cause No. 5919. The following 1s from Mr. Latta’s testimony on direct examination: “112 Q. ihe Seth question vat to pation-in-chief is as follows ; ‘Piease state what you cS eiative to lots 34, 35 und 36, in square 445 in this city, being the Thyson matter referred to in the bill of complaint." Have you read his answer to that ques- tio A. Ihave. Q. What have you to state in relation to that an- nid give the facts in rezard to sect.on? dubratit SUs*er ls elmply fiction, pure and ‘uns- luterated. 8 8 * : “118 Q. ‘There has been a good deal suid in the course i¢ by | of this case about certain real estate that was gold to sud | Sanderiana and Billyer. Will you explain about that? axtecd, | “*A. Lean only understand this from your question: that itrefers to seven or eight pieces of realestate bout really for Sunderiand and Hillyer in May and June, 1872, but which, enfered into the acevunt of Kilbourn and Olustead, aggregating something like $18,000 Mr. {ileon, That Je wieh Uefa to e Witness. — fru al Latta and Olmstead, vekased for Sure Cran, Grove, Surith, Eag.:—D: duform you tha: Bourn & Latta, + Nov. 10, " No. 14, for I was informed by them by let- eat Geonvetown, 8 centa per for t hird cast. und t . Olmstead in his rk, (who wae then abment), he cleed, to which uture tin 2might sce what would Sere vost hased Fe i, but was really purchased For Sun- deriand and Hillyer, and turned over to theit account and deeded to them ‘within 4 few days afierward, say probably ten or fifteen or twenty days afterward. *120Q._ State the facts in relation to the purchase ang sale Of the property in square 242. “A. That vroperty was birgained for by the orders oo the Reai Eatate Association. ‘there was deiny in te execution of the deed on account of it having to vo back and forth to Europe twice, and in the meantime we found that we coud sell the Vermout avenue front at about twenty-five percent profit, and did bargain it away. We then took t portion of it ourselces, and ued OVEr Lie Pest of it to the Neal Estate Association. tals item of $40,000 of Furchares arn & 4 comprised in that; $83,000. of 1: we sid before ed returned, and wé never had invested a dollar . . * * * . On cross-examination Mr. Latta testified as follows: vice of who stated fully, yours, Wits Reapive. FONTHEE PARTICCLANS OF THK OLMSTEAD—uead- | jg AU NuatMa ou mean by “when the frm was When they berate poner. Dan G jouxht the purchase a very desir- writ mae me Po eg a ry ‘when You did 10% thereto 1 will « Revetion of purchase » hourn & Latta, sent ime by My attomey in of Washington. ‘stisfactory to him that “A. Phen see took the money of the party whom tee ected to place it with, when tt was in our posses a 7 Nae cavers oe ‘and made the purchase Ar Davide | snd tarned it over to them within & elo es ef lee . fie | 115th question, as to whten the Suuderlaud and Hillyer a "was ‘acquired, and when cout es six and twelve | area! | both by hard work. wafanjiller improper andersaaessing a Sere relieve it from any impropriety.” If it be true, as Mr. Olmstead charges in his communication, that Sunderland and Hillyer have become poor, it is certainly, in. the light of the above extracts, a matter of no astonishment. Even the rich Distriet of Columbia might become poor in the hands of such agents. C. J. HIntyer. ‘The Chri: Police Court. AN EARLY MORNING SESSION—SCENES ABOUT THE BUILDING. That branch of the judiciary presided over by Judge Snell held an early session yesterday morning and transacted an unusual amount of business. For the convenience of the officers of the court and the witnesses, the session began at 7:30 o'clock. At this early hour the gloomy old church building at the corner of Sixth and D streets presented a lively scene. The police had made a remarkable number of arrests since Saturday, and, beside the large number of prisoners who were fortunate enough to get out of the tolls on collateral, forty were confined in the cells when the court opened. The usual cheerless scenes presented in the dimly lighted court room was somewhat brightened by the presence of several females in the audience and the fact that all were in their holiday attire. When the prosecuting attorney had his cases ready to present to the court, Judge Snell and his clerk were notified that their presence was needed. At the appearance of the judge, hale old Bailiff Barton, of more than three-score-and- ten, called out in a commanding voice: ‘Order! Hats off,” and, after pounding ona desk with his brawny fist, he stationed himself alongside the witness stand, and, in the most dismal tone he could command, said in one breath: ‘Hear ye. hear ye, all persons having business before the honorable judge of the police court of the District of Columbia will draw near and give their attention, for the court is now open.” This quaint oration had a singular effect on the large audience, for the majority didn't seem to under- stand the meaning of it, but appeared as If they had a sense of being in some august and awful | presence. The prisoners, both male and female, were called up to the bar one at a time and dls- posed of with considerable dispatch. The ma- Jority of them were those who had taken too much egg-nog and were arrested for being dis- | orderly on the street. In less than three hours | about seventy-flye cases were disposed of, and Judge Snell wished his officers a merry Christ- mas and went home. The last scene was wit- nessed by an eager erowd of spectators who formed in front of the court house to see the shackled prisoners walk acrossthe pavement and dive into the “Maria,” in which they were soon hurried away toward the Eastern Branch. a THE PARKINSON OpsEquies.—The funeral of Mr. Royal Parkinson, who died last Thursday, took place Sunday afternoon from his late resi- dence, No. 1422N street, and was largely at- tended. At the house services were conducted by Rey. Dr. J. E. Butler, and at the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church services were con- ducted by the pastor, Rev. Dr. Bartlett and Rev. Dr. J. W. Chickering, who was long ago asso- | ciated with the deceased In the Congregational | ministry in Maine. Dr. Chickering delivered a | brief and feeling eulogy of the deceased. The casket, after service, was taken to the Baltimore & Potomac depot, where it was placed on a car, which bore it to’ Brunswick, Me., the home of the deceased, for interment there. ——_.__ On the Raok. JUDGE DIFFENDERFER ENTERTAINING DR. BOTTS. From the San Francisco Wasp. if there is a particular member of the alleged human race who particularly needs being ham- mered with a big club with spikes on the end of it, it isthe abstracted card player who relates some really interesting story in spasmodic in- Stallinents between deals, and amid the re- proaches of his partner for want of attention to the game. Judge Diffenderfer was playing whist oppo- site Dr. Botts at the club the other evening, when, just at acritical moment in the game, the Judge led tramps, and sald in an absent minded, meditative manner: “Did you hear about the trouble up at Plif’s yesterday, Doctor?” “Why, no—nothing serious I hope,” replied the other, nodding to the walter for four more of the same, “Well, I'll tell you how it was,” continued the good old jurist dreamily. “You see Mra. Plift’s daughter—young Emeline PIliff, disap- peared before school time the other mornin, and didn’t come home all day—my deal, isn’t it?” ~ Yes, yes,” said the Degtor,, who was a par- ticular friend of the Plift family. ‘* They found her, though, didn’t they?” *"At rst they thought she had been kidnap- ped,” slowly continued the Judge; “parents almost went wild—who led that ace?—they searched the entire neighborhood and fi notified the poliee—two by honors, ain't w * The police found the child. of course?” put in the Doctor. “No, it seems they didn’t.” muttered the Judge, leislureiy arranging his cards; ‘so, fiuaily, as Mr. Plif! was very much attached to the child—bright little thing, you know, with long curls—your cut, Mr. Skidmore.” **You don’t mean to say began the Doctor. “Eh? Oh, about the child,” said Diffenderfer, shuflling the cards. “As I was saying, Plift was almost crazy with anxiety and—tmisdeal, Doctor—and Mrs. Plitf had the hysterics. So they gave the child’s descriptilon to the detec- tives and tad mounted men scouring the whole country, clear down to Menlo; thought it was going to be another Charlie Ross case, you kKnow—why don't you return my lead?” ‘or heaven’s sake, Judge, go on about the child. Didn't they find her?” * Well, the fact is,” said the Judge, looking very solemn, “the little one had on when she disappeared some red stockings with black dots —our tricks, I believe—and finally one of the detectives sent word that he had discovered such a pair of stockings sticking out of the water about fifty yards from the shore over at North branch—this is the worst hand I’ve held et.” “Great heavens! Drowned?” gasped the good old Doctor, while the other two players got ex- cited and made three misplays handrunning. “ Of course the whole Plilf family rushed over tothe beach, and there, sure enough, was a tremendous crowd watching the body, which seemed to be head downward in the mud, with only the ankles showing. As the water was— makes us two by honors, don't it?” “Well, well!” “As the water was too shallow for boats and the mud was too deep to wade, theentire crowd, parents, coroner and all, had to wait for the tide to go down; terrible, wasn’t it? Another ace, eh?” © ** Sad, sad; poor little Emmy,” said the Doc- tor, wiping his eyes. “So when they finally weat to take up the body they found that—king of spades—that er— that the stockings had only been hung up to dry over a couple of sticks stuck in the saud at low tide by some washerwoman and—” “Look here, Judge Diffenderfer,” said his old crony, turning very pale and standing up to be emphatic, “I demand to know right here and at once, what became of that child.” “Oh, the child! Well, she was found fast asleep behind a box in the garret that evening, I believe. That was the end of it all. Suppose we change off and play poker awhile. What dyer say?” ‘The indications are that the Judge will be ex- pelled at the next meeting of tne directors. sah ca ANTHONY TRoLLope’s Earnivos.—Mr. La- bouchere says in Truth that ‘Anthony Trollo} never made anything approaching to 100,000." and that the “most highly remunerated and successful” author of the nineteenth cen- tury, taking into account the amount of work accomplished, ‘‘was certainly George Eliot.” pete lands Hl elke, Morner oF Six CLERGYMEN.—Sally Stone Colwell, mother of Rev. Dr. T. M. Colwell, pas- tor of the First Baptist Church of Lowell, Mass., died yesterday, aged 74. She was the daughter of Rev. Wm. Stone, of Morgantown, Va., who was fitty-five yeara inthe ministry. Six of her sons are settled as Baptist pastors parts of the country. pee he eee 3a | InveRNat IuproveMent 1m FLORIDA.—A dis- patch from Jacksonville, Fla., says the Of the Okeechobee Drainage Company, workiag up the Caloosahatchie river, entered Lake Okee- Chobee on the 20th. when her death was An Unprecedented Delivery by the Ex- +” press Companies, t 2 EVIDENCES OF GOOD TIMES—CHRISTMAS AT THE OITY POST OFFICE—THE CHRISTMAS CARD MA- NIA—HOW THIS YEAR'S BUSINESS COMPARES WITH FORMER) YEARS, &C. : Of all the sights and sounds which marks this season of Christmas good cheer, the rumble of the express wagon and the ring of the letter car- rier perhaps assume the first place in import- ance. There are no lack of other sounds and sights,as a yalkalong the gaily thronged streets, with the brilliant shop windows glowing and glit- tering with their tempting array, would indicate, oreven a hasty perusal of the columns ofthe daily papers, where articles entitled ‘‘The Horn-blow- ing Nuisance,”are evidence that there are sounds of this joyful season of some magnitude. The enjoyment of the latter does not partake of that general character which enlists the sympathies and interests of an entire community. THE SMALL BOY at the other end of a particularly discordant horn undoubtedly enjoys his performance, and so does, probably, the other small boy across the street, who listens with a quivering giow of coming triumph to the sound, as he is proudly conscious of owning a horn that can make twice aslouda noise. The allies of these con tending knights in the tournament of Christ- mas sounds likewise are glad with a great glad- ness, when the ear-splitting rampus is at its height, and this feeling is shared, slightly modified, perhaps, in the intensity, the girls who are playing with their dolls or walking sedately up and down the sidewalks. The horn is to this por- tion of the community as much a part of Christ- mas as Santa Claus and lots of candies; but there are other elements who have come to regard the horn as a great nuisance. So that in regard to this Christmas sound, at least, there is a diver- sity of opinion. But whoever heard a com- plaint during Christmas time of the persistent twanging at the front door bell which the ex- pressinan keeps up? That useful bit of me- chanism never seems to rest. It begins early in the morning and continues late into the night with a. persistency and vigor which seems to demand repressive measures, but up to the hour of going to press no express man has been ar- rested for disturbing the quiet of a neighbor- hood or the peace of families. Then, too, there are the big heavy wagons which rumble along the street, and stop with a clatter and a dash in front ot the house at all hours of the night and day, and yet no one complains. The fact is that THE EXPRESSMAN'S rumbling wagon and accompanying uproar is received with open arms, so to speak, by our citizens irrespective of sex. At thistime a vis- itor pulling afront door bell 1s as likely as not to have a whole family rush into his arms under the impression that he is anexpressman. The appearance of an express wagon on a square brings the entire population to the windows, with numerous scouts onthe door steps, and probably a delegation sent on ahead to act as anescort and to see that it does not pass by. An express wagon may make more nojse than a horn, but then there are noises and noises, and the fact that this may be a distinction with- out a difference does not Impair the force of the argument. Yesterday and the day before the ubiquity of the express wagon in the streets was something remarkable. They were rushing hither and thither and the men were constantly jumping down, planging up steps with their arms full ot parcels and then hurrying off with the speed and excitement of a young husband after a doctor. What Joy their coming brought and what pleasure they left behind, the babel of voices and the flushed, happy faces of the house- hold gave eloquent testimony. Families widely separated at the season when the thoughts turn most fondly to home inthe presence of these packages, containing the affectionate remem- brances of absent ones, felt the pangs of separa- tion less keenly. The chilling influence of dis- tance and time was dissolved and the chords of affection chiined in unison together In hearts widely _ separated. These Christmas parcels have come to be such a feature of life that people rely on getting them, and their enjoyment of the day. would be destroyed if an expected parcel did not arrive. While the public are intensely interested in their particular parcel, they give very little thought to the parcels that other people are getting. It is difficult to form a conception of this business in its bulk. For the past ten days at least fifty or sixty express wagons, their capacious sides Jammed with packages, have been hurrying through the streets and orging thelr con- tents at the doors. Day and night since last Thursday these couriers of joy have been at work, and a part of the sum total of the happi- ness of yesterday Is the result of this persistent toil. Of course this is not the first Christmas that has occurred in the annals of the human race, nor are Christmas packages one of the in- ventions of the present. year; but in spite ot this, the past few days has shown a larger vol- nme of business than has ever been known be- fore. THE B. AND 0. EXPRESS. At the Baltimore and Ohio express offtce a Srar reporter was told that the number of pack- ages received and sent was greater than at any previous Christmas during the past five yeara. The large force employed of men and horses had to be augmented to handle and distribute the immense volume of business that flowed in. Ever since Wednesday the entire force has been hard at work, night and day, and the large depot at the corner of New Jersey avenue and D street was so packed with goods that, as one of the employes remarked, “You couid hardly see any difference after a railroad car had been loaded.” Yesterday, however, about noon, the main depot and branch offices showed to the re- porter no traces of the immense amount of matter that had passed through. The last Christmas package had been received and de- livered and the rush was over until the New Year business begins. ADAMS’ EXPRESS. At the main office of Adams’ express, on the avenue, a reporter asked Mr. G. W. Moss, the | general agent, last evening, what he thought of the Christmas business. He replied: “The business this year has been unprece- dented in its extent. The rush began with us last Thursday, and we have been delivering continuously early and late ever since. We are through this evening, and have delivered the last package. In a word, our business has been greater than ever before, and that is saying a great deal.” “Was the increase in the outgoing or in- coming of packages?” asked the reporter. “Both,” replied Mr. Moss. “The outgoing shipments were very much larger and were attended to with: little dimiculty, owing to the fair weather which we have had. The rush of incoming freight yesterday was very great. Our cars and force of men were taxed to their utmost. With the view of avoiding disappoint- ments to our patrons we made deliveries yester- day as well as,to-day. On the whole, the packages forwarded and received were more valuable than eyer before, and this is the more surprising, asouf peoplefhave been quite heavil: taxed this year by matters of local interest an the elections. Seven or eight years after the war, when money was plenty, this Christmas business was very large, and the packages rep- resented @ great deal of money, but this year exceeds even those good times.” “A great many have said that this was @ very dull Christmas,” suggested the reporter. “Well, ten daysago the outlook fora large business was not favorable,” replied Mr. Moss, “but about the: 18th it ton and increased gradually day after day. We supposed that so many calls had been made upon the spending money of the public that they would not be very generous in Christmas presents, but we were ‘agreeably disappointed.” “Why dc 5.0 say that the business has ex- ceeded that of last ey ae the reporter. “Because,” responded Mr. Moss, ‘‘we have employed more men, wagons, and horses to meet the demands made upon us than hereto- forces, and our main office have been kept open day and it. “ “T should would lose some packages in suc a mult igs the re- “We would, I " said Mr. Moss, “if we had no system. @ car-load of small pack: pare, wnemere paced 8 packing eases, arrives, a large force is to work to receive en eee ae kenenitonts, Thay are ‘on the driver's delivery-book, tion. We thi driver must ‘When a pac! to whom it f om acoount of the g sro mane on account e great pressure AT THE CITY POST OFFICE. Early yesterday morning a peep into the dis- tributing room of the city post office afforded a spectacle that.was well worth seeing. The rows of log tables that fill the large room were lit- erally piled ceiling high with mail matter walt- ing to be delivered. Like banks of snow, the ‘mail matter lay in great white heaps and piles, and, like snow under the rays of the sun, they melted away under the vigorous and energetic efforts of our agile mail-carriers. It was a sight to strike terror to the heart of most any mail-carrier, but when the time came the men shouldered their mail- . crammed their pockets full, and in all probability stowed away & part in their hats, and in moments of emer- gency used their mouths; but finally, in good time, the entire mass was spread broadcast over the city. Besides the full force, all the substi- tutes and auxiliaries were pressed into service, being equivalent to 16extra men. Every man carried a heavy load, and one carrier said that his bag weighed 100 pounds. A Star reporter Tan across the superintendent, Mr. J. E.. Bell, and asked him the amount of Christmas mall matter, compared with that of last year. “The increase is wonderful,” was the “and the remarkable feature of it is no delay in the rush. Our heavy business did not begin until Friday, but since then and up to to-day it has been ‘y heavy. The business routes, or those taking the stores and offices, have usually on Monday a very heavy mail delivery, but to-day these routes were light, while the residence routes were heavy.” “What makes you think that the mail matter was larger than last year?” asked the reporter. “Of course I have had no time to make ay ac- curate estimate, but the carriers tell me that is the case, and they are apt to be good judges. “Was there any delay in the delivery to-day?” continued the reporter. “We had only one delivery,” replied Mr. Bell, “and that was in the morning, and the matter was taken out very promptly. Of course, there were a number of packages too large to be de- livered, but with this exception there was no delay. The carriers made unusual efforts in order to please the public, and the result was very cretitable.” “What was the character of yesterday’s mail?” asked the reporter. “I should judge,” was the reply, “that It was penelpally Christmas cards and packages. I thought iast year would be the end of the Christ- mas card mania, but I don’t think so now. Wh, four years ago a Christmas card was a rare thing. The public then got the mania, and the business seems to be getting larger every year. 1 don’t know what we will do if it keeps on.” “You don’t see any indications of hard times, then, {n your department?” asked the report “Hardly,” replied Mr. Bell. “Last Monday one of our merchants told me that business was dull, but that he was not inclined to complain, asalltherest seemed to bein the same boat. Everybody postponed buying, but as soon as the pocketbook strings were pulled the money poured out.” ——— ‘The Final Scene in a Famous Trial. MISS STURLA’S IRONICAL SPEECH ON BEING SEN- TENCED TO IMPRISONMENT. The final proceedings in the famous Stiles- Sturla murder case, which has so long attracted public attention in Chicago, occurred last Fri- day in the criminal court, betore Judge Gardner. Miss Sturla entered the room smiling, and gave every evidence of being in excellent health as well as in fine spirits, until she caught sight of Richard Stiles, who was sitting near Mr. Mills’ table, and who, she seemed to think, had come there to gloat over her. Her countenance changed at once; her Itafian blood mounted to her cheeks, and she gave him a look that neither he nor those who witnessed it will soon forget. When the court had been convened, Mr. Trude. counsel for the defense,said that no effort would be made to set aside the verdict, and the Judge thereupon sentenced Miss Sturla to one years imprisonment. When asked if she had anything to say Miss Sturla looked out for a moment at the daylight which streamed in at the window in front of which she stood, and then, fixing her eyes on the judge, addressed him as follows: “I am per- fectly satisfied, your ouor, and I go with the peat recollection that nine jurymen stood yy me, and of the two that were against me, Mr. Forbes and Mr. Tobias, Mr. Forbes was a man that kept a house of fll-fame at one time in Sioux city, bis son being killed by a woman whom he had seduced, and Mr. Tobias was put on to convict me and he failed. That was the reason of nine of the jurors standing by me. My lawyer tried to have him put otf the jury but it was not allowed. That is all I have to say, thank you.” As the woman delivered this brief oration she was a picture, those who saw her during the trial would not have dreamed her capable of the ironical accent and contemptuous curl of the lips with which she spoke, and they would have been equally surprised to have witnessed the imperious sweep of the hand which attended the return of thanks to the court. She withdrew from the court in company with the balliffin whose charge she has been since the beginning of the trial, and returned to the jailto await her removal to Joliet, which will occur in a few days. She has gained nearly ten pounds since her incarceration and ts looking remarkably well. Before she was brought into the court- room she was in high spirits and talked gayly of going on the stage after two years of study, which she would begin as soon as she gain her liberty. ig ee ee The Langtry-Labouchere Quarrel at Home. A New York Tribune cable special from Lon- don, December 23, says: The Langtry-La- bouchere quarrel attracts much attention, the society payers copying the details from the New York journals, even the Times publishing tele- grams to the effect that Mrs. Langtry’s social position in America has been affected. People here censure the publicity given, holding that Mrs. Langtry’s private life has nothing to do with her theatrical career. —__+o-______ His Uncle is Sick. From the Detroit Free Press. Agirl might as well be up and down about such things as to suffer herself to be imposed on and have the feeling gnawing at her heart from one year's end to another. The other eye- ning when a certain young man in this city dropped himself down in the parlor alongside of the girl he hopes to marry some day or other, she began: “ Harry, Christmas is almost here.” “Yes.” “Three years ago you presented me witha pair of earrings. They were from the dollar store.” “ Y-e-8." “Two years ago you presented me with a pair of #50 bracelets. They were roiled plate, and only cost $6.” “Um.” “ Last year you placed in my hand a diamond ring. The ring is washed and the stone is from Lake George, and they retail at about $ per bushel. Harry!” “Yes, dear.” “Are you thinking of making me a present this year?” “Of course,” “Then ao not seek to cheat and deceive me. Do not throw away your money in trifles and baubles, but buy something that I can show to the world without fear of criticism. Here is an advertisement in the paper of a lady’s saddle pony and saddle for only $300!” Yesterday morning Harry left for Denver to nurse asick uncle through a case of bilious fever, and he won't be back until after the holi- days. Still, it was a wise policy onthe part of the gizl. That very day he had figured with a jeweler on buying an$8 silver watch and having it gold-plated and marked: *18 K—@150—Harry to Susie—1882.” MorHer axp Son Drap From Porsoy.—Mrs. Myra J. Osborne and her son Ollie, aged seyen- teen years, were found dead in their sleeping apartment in Greencastle, Ind., yesterday morn- ing. It is supposed that the mother poisoned her son and then committed suicide. She had been despondent for some time. serie ee ecetievs\ beosic ES The Golden Gate. Gate of r ‘And vo and fro from the siining land ‘Went angels sti and fair. 7 naeen ee bea acts, ae ate wings A And the sliver sound of Volces sweet ‘Came thrilling from the sky. ‘(a subllan victor trata, THE PENNSYLVANIA TRAGEDY. The Killing of State Cashier Nutt by Dukes. 4 FATHER OBJECTS TO HIS DAUGHTER'S scTTor, AND IS KILLED AFTER BITTER CORRESPOND- ENCE—MYSTERY SURROUNDING THE CRIME— THE SLAYER IX CUSTODY. Amost shocking tragedy wasenacted in Union- town, Pa., at about 10 o'clock Sunday morning. Just as the Christmas church beils were calling the people to worship, the news was flashed abont the streets that Capt. C. Nutt, cashier of the Pennsylvania state treasury, had been shot and killed {na room at the Jenning’s hotel by L. N. Dukes, a well-known member of the Fay- ette county bar, and member-elect of the Penn- sylvania legislature. The high social and politi- cal standing of both men gave such startling significance to the news that the hotel was at once surrounded with excited citizens from all parts of the town. A physician was called in immediately after the shooting, but he pro- nounced the wound fatal, and in ten minutes Capt. Nutt was dead. The coroner was notified, and ajury impaneled, the story of the tragedy being told to it by several witnesses. EVENTS BEFORE THE KILLING. A special to the Philadelphia Press, from Uniontown Sunday, gives the following details: Captain Nutt, who is a resident of Uniontown, came home Saturday evening from Harrisburg to paya short visit to his family, the state trea- sury being closed for Christmas. He transacted some business Saturday evening, and this morn- ing he went to the McClelland hotel to see his nephew, F.C. Breckinridge, who is cashier of the People’s Bank of Fayette county. The two went Into the bank together, and after talking over a little matter business, Capt. Nutt said to his nephew: “I have some trouble on hand, and as I wish to talk to some one about it, I may as well make a confidant of you. I have lately recelved two infamous letters trom N. L. Dukes, which I will show you. I want tosee Dukes this morning and have an in- terview with him, as I return to Harrisburg to- morrow.” The two men then decided to go to Dukes’ roum, which was just across the street from where they were in the bank. Brecken- ridge sald he would go up and see if Dukes was In. The proprietor of the hotel instructed the colored porter to conduct Mr. Breckenridge up to the room, which ts on the second floor. The porter and Breckenridge raares through the sitting-room and up the stairs, Captain Nutt at the same time entering the hall by the front door and passing up the steps after them. Dukes answered Breckenridge’s rap at the door with an Inquiry as to who was there, where- upon Breckenridge opened it and said he had brought Captain Nutt up, who wished to speak with him. Nutt entered and Breckenridge re- turned outside, and stopped to talk with James 1 Feather, son-in-law of the proprietor. A SCUFFLE AND A FATAL. SHOT. As they conversed in the hall near the door they heard heavy scufiling inside, and the voice of Nutt crying tor Breckenridge. On rushing into the roan they found the two men clinched ina terrible struggle. They took hold of them and suceeeded in getting them separated, no weapons being visible except that Nutt had in his hand @ cane with which he usually walked. Feather pushed Dukes back into one corner of the room and Breckenridge got Nutt off into another corner. From this point on the testi- mony is somewhat mixed, owing to the excited condition of the parties present. Feather tes- tified that while he stood holding Dukes. who was then ten feet distant from Nutt, Dukes suddenly drew a revolver from his ’ pocket and exclaimed: “You came in here to whip me, and so I'll shoot you,” at the same time raising his revolver and firing at his antagonist. The ball took effect Just below the left eye and penetrated the brain. Capt. Nutt fell to the floor and never spoke afterward. Breckenridge grasped the dying man in his arms and Feather engaged in a des- perate struggle to wrest the revolver from Dukes, in which he finally succeeded. Breck- enridge and Feather both testified that Nutt had no revolver in his hand and was making no effort to get one, but that after Dukes had fired Nutt reached into his pocket, and when they pulled his hand out it was found to be holding a revolver ina death grip. The colored porter testified that Nutt was standing with his right elbow resting on the mantelpiece, with a cane in his right hand, as if resting, when the shot was fired. Mr. Jennings, proprietor of the hotel, was sitting in a room just below and heard a voice, which he supposed to be that of Dukes, say: “Stand back; I am in self-defense;” but neither of the three who witnessed the shooting remember hearing this. DUKES CLAIMS SELF-DEFENSE, Finding his shot was fatal, Dukes walked down the steps remarking to Mrs. Jennings, “Tam sorry, but I had to do it in self-defense.” He then continued out and down the back way to.the sheriff's house and gave himself up. He subsequently made a statement to his attorney to the effect that Nutt came into his room and made an assault on him with a cane; that he wrested the cane from Nutt, and the latter was reaching for his revolver, whereupon he pulled out his own and fired in his own de- fense. Atter hearing the evidence the coroner's jury returned a verdict that Capt. Nutt came to his death by a pistol in the hands of N.S. Dukes. Captain Nutt’s body was taken to his home, where the scene in the family was most heart- rending. Mrs. Nutt was prostrated and is suf- fering from violent paroxysms, while the child- ren are frantic with grief. Captain Nutt was devotedly attached to his family and the shock is terrible. THE CAUSE OF THE TRAGEDY. The cause of this tragedy 1s wrapped in quiet mystery. Nutt and Dukes were never known to have had any quarrel, and all the testimony taken before the coroner's jury threw not the slightest light on the subject. Some bitter cor- respondence must have passed between the two men and a meeting was probably expected by them. Only two or three days ago Dukes pur- chased a Smith & Wesson revolver in Union- town, thirty-two caliber, with which he did the shooting. — Dukes has been infatuated with Captain Nutt’s daughter, who 1s eighteen years old, for some time and has been pressing his at- tentions on her in disregard of the wishes of her parents and, It is believed, of the young lady herself, It is rumored that he was plainly in- formed that he must cease making advances and that this caused him to write the two letters which Captajn Nutt mentioned to his ney A It ts also supposed that these letters contained allusions derogatory to the young lady's charac- ter, and that Captain Nutt's visit was forthe purpose of obtaining a re' ‘jon. No other cause for the shooting is assigned, as Captain Nutt and Dukes had been friends from boy- hood, ° THE ACTORS IN Ir. Captain Nutt wasa member of the Fayette county bar and of the Pennsylvania Historical society. He was widely known as aman of fine education and high literary attainment. He became cashier of the National Bank of Fayette county in 1878, and was made cashier of the state treasury under Gen. 8. M. Bailey, upon the latter's election as state treasurer in No- vember, 18831. Since Captain Nutt went to Harrisburg he had purchased an interest in the Harrisburg 7 , to which he e: to devote his energies after the expiration of Gen. Bailey's term. Capt. Nutt had served with dis- tinction in the army, enlisting August 23, 1863, as captain in the 8d United States Colored Troops, and to his death carried the acars of woundsrecelved before Fort Wayne and Fiorida. He was abqut forty-one years old, and leaves a widow and eight children. N. 8. Dukes Co ee ee this connty, where ‘mother lives, in ear! life. He is a graduate of Princeton college and a lawyer of good standing in the county aS At the late election he was — one of the democratic representatives from this county to the legislature and was to go to Harrisburg in a few days. is thirty-three years old. with this invitation. of meeting was to breakfast he ordered his room to be for use at once, evidently expecting @ caller. Nutt's friends urge, t fore, that he went ao- cording to tbe invitation, for the purpose having a peaceable adjustment of the troubles, and not of makiug an assault, and that the as- sault was made by Dukes.. This accounts, they say, for the cry of “murder” sald to have been uttered by Nutt, and the marks of violence on his person. A MISSING ARUSIVE LETTER. There was also aletterot twelve pages written by Dukes to Nutt, which has not been found since the murder, but the contents of Which can be proved. It 1s sald to be of the most abusive and scandalous character, and Is supposed to be one of the two infamous letters referred to by Nutt when he spoke on Sunday morning to hia nephew, Breckenridge. a Joe Coburn to Meet Sullivan, From the New York Sun, 234. The announcement that Joe Coburn will ap- pear in a friendly passage-at-arms with Jonn L. Sullivan creates excitement in sporting circles. Madison Squat rden has been engaged, and the renowned pngilists will appear there on the evening of December 28. Bennett's saloon, 6th avenne and S24 street, is nightly crowded with — desirous of securing boxes. Mr. Co- burn is In excellent condition, but his friends say “without a dollar.” alien oS Another Chapter in a Great Scandal. Aspecial dispatch to the Philadelphia Preas from St. Lous, December 22, says: The Tevis scandal was reopened by @ discovery made by the husband. It seems that a constable made his appearance at the house of Mr. Tevis with a chattel mortgage upon allof his furniture with the intention of collecting the money loaned 01 exorbitant interest or of foreclosing, Mr. Tevis’ sister asked the constable to walt a moment while she telegraphed to her brother. The latter soon came and secured a stay of pro- ceedings. Mr. Tevis did not know of the ex- istence of the mortgage until to-day, and sald that this revelation was a hard blow and another proof of the faithlessness of his wife. Tt appears that Mrs. Tevis had gone to a money-lender and mortgaged all ber husband's chattels and house- hold goods, valued at about $5,000, for the small sum of $300. es The Wanderer’s Return, HOW THE MARCH OF CIVILIZATION THWARTED THB: PLANS OF WICKED JIM. From the Burlington Hawkeye. The mining town of Bunko had shanties, 100 tents, 600 population, and 99 men who drank whisky, played old sledge, and carried knives and revolvers and stabbed and peppered each other on the slightest provocation. The one man who didn’t drink was a slim, hungry-look- ing man, whom the boys had elected for justice of the peace, police Justice, chief of police, chief fagleman at funerals, superintendent of hospl- tals, and principal of public schools. He had all he could do to carry around hig load of dignity. Had he added one drink of whisky to his burden he would have been crushed to earth. One afternoon it became the painful duty of the man of sey 4 honors to proceed to the shanty occupied by Wicked Jim of Arkansas, and to remark to that individual: “James, it is the sentiment of this ‘ere enter- prising town that you git up and it.” “Kin you back them remarks?” calmly in- quired the Wicked, as he turned over in bed. “I reckon,” whispered the Judge, as he brought two “Colt's” to bear on the lemon- shaped head not ten feet aw: Wicked Jim surw v. ed the situation without @ of seventy seconds he and after the “That'll dew, James,” observed the judge, and he eased down the hammers of his revol- vers and went away to select a site for a col- lege. Wicked Jim betraye. no particular emotion as he went about his work packing up, and at the end ofan hour, when he rode his mule out upon the Campus Martius, with all his traps made fast to the saddie, no one could have suspected the Vesuvius raging in his heart. A crowd had gathered to see him off, “Gentlemen,” said the Wicked, as he bowed to the right and left, pit upon your town of Bunko. I can bulld a better one of sand and grease! It aln't a fit town fur an aristocrat like me, and I've allus knowed it!” At this point three or four individuals on the outskirts of the crowd began shooting, but the Wicked took no notice of the tact as he contin- ued: “The lion can’t partner with the jackal! The eagle can’t mate with the buzzard! Slinks, slug- gers, curs and reptiles, I go!” Here the shooting increased one-half,and one of the bullets passed through the Wicked’s hat as he raised it and continued: “But I will return, and when I do look out for oceans of gore! In less than a year I'll dump your town inte the river and hold the site fur a private graveyard! Whoop! Yip—vi!— whoop !* The Wicked held two shooters on the crowd as he gailoped off, and the result was two men killed and three wounded. A hundred bullets whizzed around the fugitive, but he turned the bend without having received a scratch. Twelve months had passed away. It was eve- ning when five horsemen rode slowly into Bunko. Wicked James rode at the head of the proces- sion. He had come to fulfil bis promise, and there was blood in his eye. “How's this “ere?” queried the Wicked, as the band reached the brow of the hill and looked down upon the town. Gas lamps were now burning in every direo- tion! The procession moved down to the where the Red Eye saloon had stood @ year tore. and again the Wicked uttered a grow! of The soloon had disappeared, and In its place stood a solid brick building bearing the sign: “Manufacturers’ Band.” The procession moved down to the next corver over freshly laid pavement. In place of “The Can Can Dive” was a fine opera house, and across the street was a great hotel. Like men who walk on the steep roof of house the moved down to the This was the ‘spot from whi juare. the Wicked had taken his departure a ago. No. It can’t be! Here are blocks of stores, street car Hne, a market-house, another hotel, railroad ticket office, a police station, and a public museum! The Wicked rubbed his eyes like @ man who has slept toe tome, and = spefe Togs that in di amazement. y is oe, het d-fashioned yell, and and his ions were pulled from their sad- dies and across the square into cells, and while they seemed to be in — a ed