Evening Star Newspaper, December 25, 1891, Page 6

SANTA CLAUSIN TOWN How He Was Helped in His Work Last Night by “Star” Reporters. SEEKING OUT THE POOR. Packages of Toys That Could Not Be Taken ut by the Keindeer Line Delivered by “Star” Delivery Wagons—The Letters to Ganta Claus and the Old Feilow’s Reply. Senta Claus visited Washington last night in a great hurry, but while he was passing he masnagei to leave several thousand dollars’ worth of p-esents for the children. He had so auch to do that he asked Tux Stan to help him, and so he turned over to the paper a lot of those “blue letters” that he mentioned in Bis own epistle to Tax Sram last Saturday. ‘with the request that the children who wrote them be cared for. He couldn't do much, but he wanted to lift the burden of @ presentless Christmas from them a little. Santa Claus @rew quite liberally on the funds of Tu Star effice, and to the amount thus received added the contributions made by a number of good people who believe Santa Claus ought tobe Belped in good works. So altogether there was enough to proviee about fifty packages. ‘So Tux Stax sent out two of its repo esch in one of thos» bobbing carts that are each evening to distribute the papers to the readers, Senta Claus was represented in this way. He wanted all to understand that he would have come himself. but he found such wretched weather here in Washington, so hard on the reindeer, that he bad a horrible time getting around on his own original route. ‘The carts went into all parts of the town. ‘They rolled over smooth asphalt, and they rattled over Belgia:. blocks, and they rumbled over cobbles,and they floundered through mud. ‘They did more floundering than anything else. ‘The mud that fying. The rein: Binaself would ha not that Le: air. From Buzzard’s Point to the end of North Capitol street and from Georgetown to Lincoln Park were the limits of the space covered by the two emissaries They began their work soon after 7 o'clock and worked until but a lit- tle short of midnight. It is safe to say that they carried some gladness to « few homes. ‘There were some pitiful scenes encountered by the two reporters. Some of the homes were wretched beyond expression and the little gifts were received with all the more joy on account of the contrast. Hovels and buts, narrow houses where the dampness never litts, alleys that can be reached only through narrow passages, and in some cases almost isolated from the streets. In many instances it was only through enormous efforts that these places were reached at all. ‘Then there were houses where there was 9 . litte Christmas gladness, with little trees and some promise of a happy holiday. There were not many like this, however. The pinched faces that appeared at the doors in response to the knocking had little enough hope, gnd the light that came into them when the magic name of the Saint of Giving was mentioned was worth all the trouble that had been encoun- tered. truck was something terri- that Santa Claus used been foundered had they peculiar power that only ‘animals have of traveling through the WASTED TO SEE ERIS KRINOLE. “Tm a special messenger from Santa Claus,” said a reporter for Tur Staras he was ushered im the hall of a house ina poorer quarter of the city and deposited in the han: tute woman a large package of to: ing apparel that Santa Claus, in response to request of her little girl, bad left with the re- porter to be distributed. The poor woman was profuse in her thanks and said that the Lord bad indeed been kin “Is dat oo, Tris Tringle?” came a plaintive voice from the topof the stairs. A moment later s tiny form made its appearance, ail dressed in white, and toddled down the steps. Boldly approaching the scribe she looked up into his face and repeated the question. “No, little one, this is not Kris. But I’m his special messenger and left him only alittle while ago.” ‘Why didn’t he tum?” she inquired, with a touch of disappointment in her voice. “Well, the fact is the weather has been so warm that all the snow melted up in the clouds unable to use his reindeer and £5. FAC SIM To S dwn, anny ene sd for Hs osm Soe beter hands oF wort Kemagh. Ee whale dum anne ad flaptiange for gurls pact at well on for Orzo te YF willl mg enlin lange eTer, J home foun Hat ILE barely Aare prstents enongh % ge hound. Cnt S pints Sea a 7 7. wee niswmonee caek yea Homa anew deamnt me, Sin tapyry E any, Sa cue cy a many Kings ached for orn ment Ham eve 02 Game. earn fuse vn hie aTre, Os cmt be ditmenagect, fom spre wi a Atal, OF Least same of he Domize hil -yon bade on pour mami F matte TE trond) AAA. ff Oot ffor a day Out S wnt Ene pueeh come eee from ro? aS pout dhe alt you Can matte ably happy Go. Soe maak more 6 ay, both neat S welt ati. a ET ita at GOL I natin for tay nent” Chou ce eal, To nnporin of the wn F Uy dean Lith ener at Tht faction Asatow ILE OF ST. NICK’S S desvie you Cline hae GftroP my folace of ener Fal hemoredt. ant hantin te asus. a aeply, |) oe natct ths aniline wit /plabenrs aud Cart, Fon male at the dtnk Foley, yore Mow, ane Li Aarne LETTER. Washington, so he engaged a couple reporters to help him out.” nm he won't tum to see me dis Christ- she said between Ler tears. The reporter, however. assured her that he would call later in the night and for her to be sure and keep one eye open. She promised to do this and toddled off to bed. FOUR LITTLE ONES MADE HAPPY. The next visit was in an alley, and it was well | that Santa Claus had engaged a reporter to help him, for there are serious doubts whether he could have found the place. As it was it | Tequired the assistance of a policeman to locate | the house. It was a rude one-story frame house in a most dilapidated condition. and when the messenger of Santa Claus knocked at the door there came a feeble response to come in. ‘The messenger entered. Ini dences of abject poverty. A middle-aged col- ored woman greeted the reporter, who ex- plained that he had been sent by Santa Claus in answer to a lettor from her house to bring some Presents for her good children. ‘Then there was a scamper. Three little fel- lows, dirty and ragged, with their three-year- old ‘sister bringing up the rear, bounded into the room. They had evidently been eaves- dropping. but the mention of Santa C too much for them. After the bundle. which consisted of shoes and clothing, had been deposited in the apron of the mother, and each littie one had received Py of candy and a little money, the mother said: “There, now, what did I tell you? You said there was no Santa Claus, and even if there was he couldn't find you. is his mes- renger and this is whi THE EVENING STAR: WASHINGTON. D.c. FRIDSY. DECEMBER 25. 1891. Ef + A F banished FFE it i tisfied with the law, which is in ts simila: to the New York law, and politicians of both parties there assert that distressing complications which have made government in that ‘state for the tter of popular suffrance past year almost a ita Claus and tell bim I love him next to Spd bas ccunpetton acting governor to pay many of the expenses of the state out of his LEFT ox Tw DooneTEe. GRR pocket. The feeling is that the y There was a deathlike stillness about the | 18 does not go far enough and that there. ie no remedy at all for its te except in system anit ies known in Australia. sg ———+roo—__—_. A LIFE PRISONER'S ESCAPE. ", sir,” said he. A resident of Auburn, N. Y., who was in incle, I am a messenger from Senta Pitteburg the oth a re iD ig the other day, told a remarkable srllvor do Lanl's take: borer, ae Teese ntd ger, | try of the escape of life prisoner from the Yer can't ae dis child.” state prison at that place. He said he obtained man slam1 the door and beat a hasty re- | his information from a keeper. treat. 5 Thomas O'Brien wus a young and intelligent ponte! peepee ewrife atuck | ind of good family in Albany, N. ¥., when he = oes, obtained the position of messenger boy in the “Have you a daughter named Melindy?” Second National Bank of that city. He rapidly abe iy gran'daughter. Wattcher want wid rose through the various stages of advance- ment in the bank, until ho eventually became shoe, AMtor be tad eer tee Eiained,, is mis: | its cashier, after fourteen years of continuous said: : and faithful service. During the first days of “Jes lebe dem presents on de step, an I'll git | hisemployment he met and became intimate —— while.” with the daughter of one of the officials of the wettre rae nothing else to do, vo the presente bank, and about the tithe he attained the office of ier an engagement of marria; was snide aboat Sey, rapding haarmus | suaged inte by thgcoupl ‘The Young woman's shroud, when the special messengers of Santa | MWe OPP pecs priced ea peep es coe gers sented. ‘THE LETTERS TO SANTA CLAUS. Santa Claus bas sent a little note of thanks to Tus Stan for its aid in conducting his cor-| the ‘estivities one of the quests, ina suddes Tespondence with the children of Washington. | and yet deliberate manner, insulted the gentle- He says that he does not know what he would | man's affianced. Q'Brien struck him and have done without some such medium of com-| Knocked him down. A general fight ensued, The day before the event, however, the young cashier and groom-expectant was in- Vited to a farewell dinner by some young men d considered his friends. During ication; but the aggrieved lover was the only one of Breet acing $6 he) pee eae en mad | Ge purty wee easncrenehiend plaesh ie bel ina modest fellow aud does not hike to run| 00 scharge of disorderly conduct. He used aap rukor bela ea every effort to get word to his friends, and fe adds that the letters that came were | especially to the young indy he was. to wed on ample payment for the work involved. They | the morrow, but at midnight no message had were bright bits of sunshine, as a rule, and | Come to him, and in desperation he deliberately they helped him along in his’ task of present | Set fire to his cell. He was seriously burned moking ond giving wonderfully. Here and | 80d almost suffocated with the smoke from his there, of course, were vome lines of shadow, | burning edclothes, but was dragged from his blue spots, as it were, and they were not | *Partmen ‘ plemsant, but the work of brightesing them | - AB immediate trial on the charge of arson ae thea aatinees af reaftag Soa, followed. He was convicted and sentenced to there were fifteen hundred letters sent to | ® life term in the Auburn state prison. By the Santa Claus through Tux Stan and most of | liberal use of money about eight months after ‘answered. There were somo cases | O'Brien's incarceration his sweetheart — addresses wore either left out or so| bribed one of the keepers at the prison. badly written that,they could not be deciphered, | O'Brien had been working for some time in the and so the writers had to be disappointed. | boot and shoe department, and the friendly There were ome funny letters, with uncon- | Keeper assisted him one nightin fixing a dummy scious jokes, and there were some very business- | in cell any by O'brien, and alsoguided like notes. In very many instances the letters | him to « rope, by means of which the prisoner came from tots so small that their elder broth- | scaled the south wall of the prison to freedom. nay Ok cabace ok thar waar had to | O'Brien and hissweetheart fled to Canada and help them by either holding phen or | thence to Italy, where they were married and Matidba ofended "ty lifer behtewses | epee 5 offen y for he knows how ee bard it i for its ones to waite, and he merely STRANGE DOINGS IN PRISON. 0} it by next year they wil ve im- ee = oe unk thay conwcibsiell alone: Revelations of the Proceedings in the Read- replies sent out by the good-natured fel- ing County Jail. low went to all parte of the country. Some | Reuben Rhoads, the night watchman of the were addressed to South Dakota and some to| Berks county jail at Heading, Pa, who plead Arizona. One went away down to the region | --: ied Where the great Missssippi river spreads out | €Uilty to allowing Beatrice Collins, the New into five little branches and another was sent | York female counterfeiter, and her burglar humming along the rail in the direction of | friend, John Bush, to escape, has been sen- Maine. tenced to imprisonment for one year and to SANTA CLAUS’ REPLY. Pays fine of $500. The court at the same His letters were tender notes, and no doubt | time signed an order removing Warden Mensch they convinced many a doubting little heart of | from office. Next week the prison inspectors the real existence of Santa Claus. Tu Stan is | will elect a new warden. : fortunate enough to get one of them, sentin| Rboads, the disgraced ex-night watchman, this morning by a youthful reader, a tiny girl | was at once placed in stripes and locked up in of seven, who cee whatis known ina newspaper | the cell formerly occupied by Beatrice Collins. way ass “nose for news.” i The little one wanted the other children to| yt ten gener a the aifaire of ho Jail gee what clever letter writer Santa Claus is. | Dae been in pi three days, and what was ‘Tux Stan today reproduces the letter just as | clicited ie Duta repetition, of the entire ex. Need na ee cen tis oficial letter paper, | mate in jeil, testified that she had all the fo that any one can see that it is aut she ha ‘ whisky she wanted amuggled into jail. Self Pens Cisee oun banderitin Ofiee Sesineey seen tank Seoinipcions: DEMOCRATS IN IOWA. | THE FAMINE IN MEXICO. Col. Clarkson Says That They Are for Cleve- | Testimony of # Man Who Traveled Through land and Boies. | the District, Chairman James 8. Clarkson of the republi-| yfr. 1. T. Woods, who has been in business in can national committee has returned from | Mexico for the past three years, describes the visit of two or three weeks to the west. Mr. | distress in that country in a graphic manner. Clarkson went to Iowa and locked over the po-) He comes from Saltillo, in the state of Coahu- litical situativn in bis old state. ila, which is about the center of the drought “The democrats of Iowa are disposed tocouple | and famine district. ‘The business in which he the political fortunes of G. V. Boies with those ef Grover Cleveland.” Gen. Clarkson said, when asked bya New York Times reporter if ‘the democrats were pushing Gov. Boies for the presidency. “They put Cleveland and Boies in ‘the same team. If Cieveland stock is up Boies stock goes with it, and vice versa.” “How, with a free coinage plank in the plat form on which he was elected, can Boies be so closely associated with Mr. Cleveland?” Mr. Clarkson was asked. “The issue on which he was elected was tariff reform rather than free silver.” said Gen. Clarkson. “Tariff reform. with the local pro- hibition issues, was the chief issue on which Boies’ tight was made. Boies is counted as be- ing « follower of Mr. Cleveland on the tariff- reform question. He was originally a republi- ean, who adopted Mr. Cleveland's tariff-reform ideas, aud he is supposed to hold essentially the same views as the ex-President on the tariff issue now. The two men haye been associated together for years. If I remember correctly they were neighbors in Byffalo. “Democrats in the we do not think that Hill bas gained anything lately. Isaw two or three who told me that, with Blai candidates, they would support Blaine. ¥ were strovg in sentiment against Hill.” = << ————— BADLY SCARED POLICEMEY. Frightened Out of Their Wits by a Box of Chocolate. Policeman Richard Meany entered the East 67th street station house last night, says the New York Times, with a tin box, which he carefully placed on the desk before Sergt Waliace. He heaved a sigh of relief as he rid bimself of his burden. ‘The box was about a foot square and neatly sealed. Meany told the sergeant that he had got it at the residence of Mia. Emily Watson,at 17 East 72d street, and handed him a note from ‘thst lady saying that she bad found the box lying on the refrigerator in her house. The servants disclaimed any knowledge of how ft came there. She asked the police to open it and inform her of the contents. The box attracted great attention. A number of policemen gathered around and closely ex- amined it, but no one, Lowever, volunteered to open it All agreed it was a very suspicious and thought it was dynamite. Policeman jeany was finally directed to open it. and he Felactantly proceeded to obey instructions, Avcan opener was procured from a grocery store, and. with bated breath, the frightoned hed Meany as be ripped off the cover of the box. A brow: mass was revealed, sumilar in color to dynamite. “Why, it isdynami claimed Sergt. Wal- lace. He admitted afterward that he could tel dynamite from gold dust, but his opinion met with ready acceptance. Finally one policeman, who thought the stuff looked familiar, tasted it. Hethought it tasted familiar. He broke off asmall pieceand chewed it. He was sure the stuff tasted familiar. “It is chocolate!” he cried, and burst out ing. Presently a woman dressed in black entered the police station. She said she was Mra. Waldo Hutchins and that the box belouged to She returned from Europe afew da and brought the box for ber friend, Mra Wat mo one to receive her when she imaburry, she placed the has been engaged bas taken him all through | the Coahuila district on horseback, and he says that no idea of the suffering of the poor people can be gained unless one were totravel through the country and see for himself. “Little can be learned in the cities along the railroads,” said he, “for there are no newspa- pers of any consequence published there, and the tendency of the few is rather to disguise | than give the whole facts. Besides, they have | no adequate means of gaining accurate knowl- edge of the real condition of affairs. ‘The drought set in two years ago, and there has not | been rain enough since to wet the ground. ! ‘Phere has not s drop of rain fallen there since last May, and then it was hardly enough to |dampen'the ground. In consequence, two ! successive crops have failed. “The cattle have nearly ail died or become | diseased and are unfit for meat. Corn, which | ts the only other thing that the poor people can | get at all, has gone up toa price almost beyond their reach and their condition is as bad as it can possibly be. “This was the condition of things when I left | there a shorttime ago. Today I received a let- ter from J. F. Beard, the young man in charge of my business there. He bad just returned | from a trip to the interior. He said that the drought was terrible. The people were actually | without bread and were suffering for corn. The cattle had died off by thousands on the plains, and the future was fearful to contemplate. ‘There was danger of the poor people taking by force the supplies on which to live. “The state is doing the best it can to relieve | them, but it can scarcely reach them all, as the drought takes in Coahuila, Durango, Chibuabua, Nuevo Leon and Tamaulipas. ‘Ihe chief trou. bie, however, is in gaining full information, as | jn the towns ‘and on the railroads very htto is known on account of ere being no net ES CE ig RO Rewspapers pe ee | BOY TRAIN WRECKER ON TRIAL. Young Canfield Saysa Detective Foreed Bim to Make a Confession. The trial of William Canfield at New Lisbon, Obio, charged with train wrecking and mur- der in the first degree, is exciting widespread attention. On the morning of August 7 last the east- bound Pacific express on the Pittaburg, Fort Wayne and Chicago railroad ran into an open | switch at East Palestine and collided with some | freight cars standing on the siding. One man was killed, two were seriously injured and the | locomotive, baggage and the express cars were | badly damaged. Young Canfield, who is only only a few minutes before the wreck occurred, and suspicion fell upon the lad. ‘The Perkins Detective Agency of Pittsburg took the case in hand and an officer made the acquaintance of Canfield, was with the boy con- stantly for about two months and at length got « confession from him. Cantield deny confessing the crime to the detective, but says jen to acamp of alieged tonghs and The of are tive in their declarations that the boy is inno- cont. They denounce detective, state's case ‘upon of « portable engine set fire to | The arguments were concluded snd burned the bern and tobacco abeds of | moruing und afters brief charge by Judes Bear Intercourse, Lancaster | Nichols the retired and in a few minutes A REVEREND SNEAK THIEF. Pastor Weth Stole Things, He Says, to Start j a Church With. “I stole those things to start a church with. ‘There were two other men with me. They put me up to the idea. They generally broke into the churches. I remained outside to look out for the police.” That's what John Weih, the burglar mission- ary, said the other day in the Hudson county (XN. J.) jail. Weih was convicted of breaking intoachureh in Hoboken and is under five years’ sentence. He is not regarded insane by the prison officials or the police, but there seems evidence that he is unsound on religious questions anyhow. There is certainly some- thing queer in the idea of stealing and the wherewithal to start a church. “For the last year or two I have been de- Yotins myself to shissionary work around New or “I found that when I preached in churches the pastors would never inquire what my car fare was or give me any of the contributions. Tcould not live on mission work, so I had shovel coal or do any jobs I could “I was never mixed up in any ness until six weeks ago. I w With two fellows who were members of the Young Men’s Christian Association. I told thein 1 was collecting things to start a church with. They told me that they knew where we could get lots of things. aling busi- shoveling coal “They weed {0 Ko around with me singing | arm, psalms to the sick and preaching. We woul Pray and sing all day and at night we would go and break into some church and steal whatever we could get. “They seemed very good mon, anxious to help the poor, and they had been engaged in mission work for along time. When we broke intoachurch I wasn't wicked enough to go imside. 1 just waited out on the sidewalk and watched out for the police. Whenever I met them it was by appointment.at the rooms of the Young Men's Christian Association, xsd streot and 4th avenue. We generally got together every Sunday afternoon and read the Bible. “When I was caught in Hoboken the two men had broken into the church while I stayed outside. They gave me a big bug full of things to carry, and when the policeman stopped me on the ferry boat they disappeared. “f think they treated me badly and I hope the detect ives wiil catch them. “‘As a general thing I was not along when the churches were broken into. The men would come to my place and give me my share of the things. I suppose they kept their own shares.” “Did you often officiate as a clergyman?” “Yes, frequently. I baptized, married and buried people.” ‘The Hoboken police are jubilant. They say that the gang robbed fifty churches in New York with impunity, but when they visited Hoboken and tried ‘their tricks they were at once caught. ———_+2-—____ Hanged His Own Daughter. The mystery surrouuding the death of the ten-year old girl, Amelie Kroll, whose body was found by workmen on Thursday mornin sus) to | tired from the seat assi MAJ. THROCKMORTON’S TRIAL, An Objection to Maj. Powell Sustained by the ‘Court. ‘The court-martial of Maj. Charles B. Throck- morton, charged with “conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman” in duplicating pay accounts and drawing checks on banks where he had no deposit was continued yesterday in New York. All the members of the court were able to sit, and in addition there was anew member present regularly appointed by the War Department to sit in the court asa substi- tute for Col. George V. Henry, namely, Maj. James W. Powell of the sixth infantry, com- manding at Fort Porter, Buffalo. ‘The defense had no objection to Maj. Powell ass member of the court. Col. Burn, how- ever, raised an objection, saying that law and precedent showed thatan officer could not be admitted as a member of a court martial when he had neither seen nor heard important wit- nesses. ‘The court considered the question and sus tained the protest Powell thereupon re- id him at the table. ‘The regular proceedings of the trial were then n. After the resumption Mr. Samuel Westervelt, aclerk in a dry goods house, on being called to the stand refused to answer any of the ques- tions put to him, on the ground that he was a civilian. He was told to stand down, and Mr. Henry Tompkins, the attorney for the same , was called. He, likewise, ret testify on the same grounds. The judge advocate then, after severely scoring both of these witnesses, cleared the court room and the court held them both ‘guilty of contempt,” but they could not be Panlebod. “be tral then procseded. Late Notes From Chile. A dispatch to tke London Times from San- tingo, Chile, says that the speech of President Harrison at the reception of the Chilean minis- ter produced anexcellent impression. The last act of the provisional government has been to present to the senate a proposed law granting amnesty to the followers of the late President Balmaceda, an exception, how- ever, being made of members of the Balmaceda congress. The judge of crimes’ report in the matter of the attack on the Baltimore sailors is to the ef- fect that the Chilean police did their duty and that two Chileansgwho were guilty in connec- a ais are to. be punished by im tion with the affair are ——_—_—_~ro____—. prisonment. End of the Michigan Scandal. ‘The end of the scandal in which ex-Secretary of State Soper of Michigan was involved has practically been reached, notwithstanding that the investigating commission has not finished its labors and will not until next Wed- Soper bas announced that he will not contest Secretary ‘8 appointment, and way. return home Sanday, once more a private citizen. has voluntarily filed a statement to the im ‘ting commission containing fall account of all the troubles, and in which his he denies all statements of Saleem Davis of the ers, who were expected to be locked up, were in the private rooms of the prison flirting with passers-by, lounging in the corridors talki to visitors and having a good time generally. Once the malo and female prisoners hada dancing party while the warden looked on. e+ ___ 4 MISUNDERSTANDING, THE DESPAIR OF POVERTY. 4 Colombian Widow Who Could Not Bear Her Children’s Cries for Bread. The following sad story comes from the vil- lage of Estrella, in Antioquia, Colombia: A poor widow with two children, Laura by name, live upon the outskirtsof the place. Her husband had been dead for but two months, when one day she found herself without meane A well-dressed man, with his hat tilted back ‘What ie Thought in Turf Circles of the Board of Control's Action. ‘The action taken by the racing board of con- trol against winter racing is of local interest, in- asmuch as it will prevent the leasing of the race track at Benning during the winter months, as was desired by Mr. Thompson of Gloucester recently. Green Morris voiced the upinion of the vast majority of respectable owners when he said, discussing the resolution: “I never raced a horse at these winter tracks and I never expect to. If I was racing over there I'd get out. I think any man who has good horses and don't leave 1s.a fool. “The effect of this resolution will be to take ‘away all the good horses and leave only the ‘scrubs’ at Guttenburg. I think this will bene- it both the winter tracks and the summer tracks. There are a lot of horses that couldn't earn their oataon the summer tracks. They to poor men and their owners ought to have a chance to earn their living. They would starve to death at Sheepsbead and Monmoutb. Of course, all these will stayat Guttenberg. This resolution will really help them, for it will keep owners of horses from going over to compete with “It is hard to tell what the effect will beon the jockeys. I think most of them will stay at Guttenburg. You see they are making $20 and $30 day there, and they won't like to give that up. Besides even if the big tracks to license them they can go to Saratoga this summer. “One thing the resolution will surely do. It will kill whatever chance Monmouth Park had At Guttenburg the grea! prevailed. The mi more Se ee —_ since the aa was organ: ey realize the imj theaction of the board oe the me stre! need expect no more favors. The owners who will certainly leave Gut- tenburg are D. T. Pulsifer, Orlando Jones, “Fatber Bill” Daly, I. HL Jennings, 5 Dahiman, W. B. About the only two men having horses of even respectablo selling class who will stick to Guttenburg are E Leigh and James McCormick. ‘They both have station and have always been identified with winter KEPT IN AN ASYLUM. had | Miss Mary Lewis, After Twenty Years of Con- finement, Wants Her Freedom. Just why the family of Miss Mary E. Lewis has kept her in an asylum for the insane almost continuously for the last twenty years and still insist upon keeping her there, despite ber ear- st protests and determined efforts to be free, is the subject of » judicial inquiry now going on before Judge Cullen in Brooklyn. The ob- Ject is to secure the release of Mise Lewis from the Long Island Home, a private asylum for the insane. Mary E. Lewisisadanghter of Thomas Lewis, a wealthy retired merchant, living in excelleut style at 582 Lexi father is nearly ty of age and quite feeble. She is forty-eight years of age. For more than two boure the other day Miss Lewis sat in the witness chair and was ex- ory did not act like an insane to her story she was always Eelicate teow child: from child- hood. When she was fifteen years of age she had brain fever and from that time forward she was for years an invalid. ‘The reason sbe was put in an asylum at one time, Miss Lewis said, was because she had mental delusions on the subject of religion. —————— AN ALLEGED DROWNING STORY. Did John H. O’Conor Attempt to Kill His Little Stepeon? ‘The extraordinary story told by little six- year-old Ernest Witts Berry of Paterson, N. J., of the alleged attempt of his stepfather, John H. O'Conor, to drown him by throwing him off bridge into the Passaic river last Saturday night is the theme of much comment in that city. O'Conor worked for twenty-six years in the Grant locomotive works, and has an excel- lent reputation among his fellow-workmen. He is prominent member of the United Presby- | countered in settling the | relative to these names ma: test e of the track were to satisty her little ones’ cries for bread—the last cent in the house had been spent. Drese- ing the children and calling in the servant girl, who had long lived as one of the family, she Prepared to spend the day in the woods, but in- stead of edibles placed in the dinner basket a small flask, a rope and & picture of herlate bus- band. In « beautifal grove, nearly » mile out, they stopped at about 9o'clock. The picture was tacked it a giant oak, the children wore set down in front of it and told to keep their eyes on their father’s picture until their mother returned. The servant was instructed to give them a bit of the liquor which the flask contained to quiet them. Au hour later, alarmed at the long delay of her mistress, the servant went to look for her. Poor ‘Laura was found only a fow yards away, where abe ed herself to a tree, quite dead. Frightened half to death the servant ran away, deserting the children, the smallevt of which, bute year of age, had already drunk from the Which was deadly poison. Three days afterward the girl reached the village in a halt- to} crazy condition and related the terrible tale to her own relatives. A party was made up and went at once to the she indicated. The mother’s body was found still suspended by the rope, but half eaten up by vultures, The youngest child, with its father’s picture in hand, ‘was dead and its body covered over by worms, but the oldest child (four years), though a most diligent search was made, could not be found anywhere. Deceiving the Czar asto the Famine. At appears that the czar has been grossly de- ceived as to the actual facts of the famine. The governors of provinces in which the situation is worst were told by high officials that they must not present the case to the czar in as bad alight as the facts justified. Acting on these directions the rulers of the famine-stricken Provinces stated in answer to inquiries of the czar that the destitution existed only in isolated the condition of affairs was sensibly improving owing to the wheat and other provisions which the famine districts and been ot sae distributed to this rey high an those in need. The object of \ta- Hon is sald to be the desire officials to H E iE i ie? H i i E it Hl if ts pail } F f i F rf i f i on his ruffled bair, and an excited look in his eyes, entered Devoe's art store at 101 Fulton street, New York, on Wednesday afternoon, according to the New York Sun, and stalked up to the counter, behind which several clerks were standing. The man slapped bis hand im- peratively on the counter. “I want a quarter "v's million,” he cried, “‘and I want it quick.” Theclerks turned pale and stared at the stranger. A porter slid quietly to the door to geta policeman. The well-dressed but excited stranger stared at the clerks in astonishment. “What the dickens is the matter with you fellows, anyhow?” he cried. “Can't I get a uarter "y’ a million without all of you having Pe “Pray, sir, don't get excited,” said a clerk, ‘ting the man on the arm. ‘he porter has just gone after it. We can't get so much money in a second, you know.” ‘The stranger looked thoughtful a moment, then laughed, and the laugh gave the clerks another unpleasant shock. “Ha! Ha!” said the stranger. “I see, I see. Don’t get alarmed. Imerely want pain not ‘A quart of vermillion paint. The clerks recovered their self-possession. “I beg your pardon,” said one, “but you talked s0 fast that it sounded as if you had demanded quarter of a million. We thought you meant terian church, of which he1s a trustee. The boy's story is most circumstantia] in all its de- tails, and his manner in telling itis most con- vineing. ‘Nevertheless, O’Conor tells most circumstan- tially where he was on Saturday night, at » dozen different places, and his story is corrobo- rated by unbiased witnesses. One of these wit- ppens to recollect incidents by which he is able to state most positively tha: O'Conor was in his store last Saturday night precisely at the time wnen the boy was ‘out of the river more than two miles away, where he had been bata few minutes when he was rescued, ‘O’Conor's explanation of the story of the boy is that the lad’s mother and aunts wanted to get him (O’Conor) ont of the way in order that they might get hold of his property. ———— BARBARISM AT HARVARD. ‘Mr. Garrison Describes the Initiation Cere- monies of the D. K. E. Society. Mr. Wm. Lloyd Garrison has published an open letter to the president and faculty of Har- vard College, in which he says: “The secret society known as the D. K. E. has long been a source of scandal and of pri- vate indignation. Aside from the witless pen- are. The r got his paint and the clerks wont ont ant teosted thumsssiver: —____+e+ — —_ ONCE HIS, PUPIL, NOW HIS WIFE. Happy Culminstion of » Romance in Bos- ton Art Circles. The announcement of the engagement of Alice Theo Ruggles of Boston to H. H. Kitson has occasioned a great deal of pleasant com- ment in art circles in that city, where both Parties are well known. Says the New York World: In the winter of 1885, when Miss Rug- gles was but fourteen years old, she attracted the admiration of her family by carving in the snow the figure of reclining horse. She was too young to be admitted into any of the art schools of the city, and arrangements were finally made with Mr. Kitson, who is now her affianced husband, to receive her as a pupil in studio. Two years later Miss Ruggles sent to the de- it of fine arts in the Rist head from life—that of little | F i powerless ‘ life iar He i § fl é i i F gt Hl eee Erie H f i concerning several hundred names in Alaska, where the utmost confusion exists concerning geographical names. The difficultics em- juestions submitted nothing short of a complete geographic nomenclature of would be satisfactory. This revision is now being made. The light house bourd, the coust and geodetic | garvey and the census office bave submitted te board for its decision all cases of differ- ae oo spective departmen’ ‘The trandistion of Indlan names has where been « fruitful source @f differences fe —h. stand ¢ or render into the same 4s shown in the di of silent of attivents ok cpstien da: meat in general ference ling, J tin the name which ts int common local present shoald be adopted. sound, broad, general principle, which sum- policy of the board, with the ex- the use of hyphens in connecting hemes, the wherever p Sr the letters “C. H." (court bouse) after the names of county seats, the sim of A ‘The Comfort of the Queen Regarded in Albert Victor's Wedding. It is officially announced that the marriage of Prince Albert Victor of Wales to the Princess Victoria of Teck will take place on February 27, in St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. After the ceremony, on their way to the place where the honeymoon will be spent, the prince ‘and his bride will drive through London. ‘The spot where the honeymoon will be spent is still kept @ secret, but Sandringham’ bas been popularly selected as the first abode of the young couple. The Duke and Duchess of Clarence and Avondale will eventually take up their residence st St. James’ Palace, in the irriage it is the queen was mar- Fied at the Chapel Royal, St. James: the Prince of Wales, Princess Louise of Lorne, the Duke cess Christian. in the private Windsor; Prince Henry of Battenburg at Pingham Church, Isle of Wight: Princess Louise of Wales in the private ickipgbam Palace, and the Duke of burgh was mar- ried at St. Petersburg. “GETTING EVEN” WITH GOV. HILL. Gov. Hill's requisition, which the executive re- fused to honor because Merwin bad not been do - | York I indicted. Cov. Hill declined to surrender a fugitive asked for by Gov. McKinney on the same tech- nical grounds some time ago. The Virginia executive determined to “get even" with Gov. Hill in eg sealbacte ion 3 s a Mekinney said: chepatete oy “Some time ago Isents - ~nisition paper to Gov. Hill fora manin N. York wanted in the jou was accompanied sim- ply by a warrant and not by an indictment. About a week or so later the sheriff arrived with a requisition, the same as I had sent; that is, with o warrant and not an indictment. I told the New York officer that I would not up the man. It is my disposition, I told to be courteous to everybody, but if Gov. did not take off his bat to me I did not to pull mine off to him. Virginia, I was astate the same as New York, and while not claim eny more for her than for New do claim equal rights.” ses OUR AFFAIR WITH CHILE. &)