Evening Star Newspaper, January 5, 1895, Page 6

6 THE EVENING STAR, SATURDAY, JANUARY 5, 1895-TWENTY PAGES. FATAL ATTRACTION| Draws the Policeman and the Fes- tive Peanut Together. FRUIT ALSO IS POPULAR Wire Screens No Protection From Blue-Coated Guardians. ifs Fs Pons —— HOW Giacomo the ffuiterer, sat dozing over the charcoal prazier in the fruit stand, dreaming of far-away Italy, of the sun- Fissed slopes of Piedmont, the song of the surf on the golden sands of Naples, or the sigh of the night wind through Catania's | groves, 01 perhaps he was dreaming of the rise in the Virginia peanut market or the corner in Florida oranges. Outside little Roma watched the rows of chilling apples on the stand, and the shriveled bananas on the bunch, while the steam from the peanut coaster whistled blithely im the wind. Little Roma blew up- on nis finger tips to warm them, and stamped his clammy feet upon the pave- ment, casting sulky glances at the glow- Ing charcoal within. Poor, guileless chil- dren of the sunny south, thought The Star man, picking up a rosy apple, with the frost-bitten side turned to the wall, how they must long for the bright land of their birth! “Paddy, ye young divil, why don't yez wait on the gentleman?” shouted Giacomo, waking up. “Bad luck to yez for a thrifling omadhoun!” “Why, you are not an Italian,” said The Star man. “Byetalian, is it? And did yez take me for a bloomin’ dago?” ‘said Giacomo; with @ gleam of resentment in his eye. “Praised be the saints, the divil a wan of me is Eye- talian!” Then ‘ne Star man went inside, and pretty soon was sitting down with his Gigcomo A Conneoiascur in Apples. by the glowing charcoal, as sociable as you please. y don’t you let the boy come in and get warm?" said The Star man, pointing to “little Roma.” “Sure, and if I did there wouldn't be a paynut left om the shtand,” replied this Giacomo, whose name was O'Flaherty and who Wailed from the county Clare. “Ye see, the regular ‘copper’ on this beat has been thransferred and thim young div- fis on the square haven't got afraid av the new mun yit; they would steal the pennies off a dead man’s eyes if he wasn't looking. Oh, that other copper was a darlint. The byes wor as afraid as death av him and the divil. a.one.av.thim would lift a paynut. Begorrah, I've seen him chase a crowd av thim to the Cypitot and give every one a rap wid his billy till the young rascal eouldn’t sit down for a week.” “Why how did he happen to take such good hk pt your stand?" “Su made it am object to him,” said Giacomo, with a wink. “There wor pay- nute and figs whinever Ne passed, not to shpeak of the basket of bananys and anges which he took home ivery Saturday night for the ould woman and the childer. ‘And he knew everybody, too. One day he was shtanding there eating a foine Cali- forny peach I had saved for him, whin up walked an illigant looking gentleman. “‘Gimme a nickel’s worth of goobers,’ sez he. “Of what? sez I. “Of goohers,” sez he. “Go long wid yez," sez I, ‘and shtop your foolin’.” “fT am not foolin’,” sez he; ‘I want some goobers.’ “Well, yez better go where your goobers grow,’ sez I, and with that the man wint away. Whist, O'Flaherty,’ sez ‘don’t ye know who that is?” “*No, nor I don’t care, either; he can't make shport av me in my own place,’ sez I. “Well, that’s a Congressman from Geor- gy.’ sez he, ‘and he wanted some paynuts; they call "em goobers in Georgy. “The next day I saw the gentleman pass up to the Capitol and he looked black at me, but I shtepped up to him and sez, ‘Beg- gin’ your honor’s pardon, but I have got thim goobers yez was asking for.’ Wid that he laughed and bought some, and now he stops every day and gets a nickel’s werth, except when he has his bye along, and then he gets 1 cents’ worth.” Strained Relations, ‘The cordial relations between policemen ard fruit stand men, however, sometimes become strained. When Henry Lavinsky, the keeper of the 14th street fruit stand, was tried in the Police Court a few days ago he caused some merriment when he said the prosecution against him was the result of spite, because he had put a stop to the eating of pears by a hungry ser- geant. This remark was passed by the court almost unnoticed. Certainly it play- ed no part in the court's judgment in the case. But to those acquainted with the re- the copper, lations existing between the vender and the flow Are Yes Sellin’ Paynuts?” policemen, thg remark recalled the fact that the Italian peanut stands, according to common report, furnish many a police- man with peanuts, fruit and cheap candy. Not only do some of them take what t eat on their beats, but they fill their ockets, and It is suspected that their fam- lies have been supplied in this way. There were more peanut stands here several years ago than thers are now, although the push- cart men and storekeepers make a total of just 4s many places. These places, as a rule, are conducted by foreigners, principally Italians and Gree! and mary of them have done busines: New York, where they paid cash money to the pelice, and when they get eff here by siving a little fruit they are well satisfied. All this is according to common report, nd might be true or not true. Persons vho have witnessed policemen turn in at roll cz and empty their pockets of pea- nuts or chestnuts for the benefit of their brother officers who were uot or the favor- cd beats thirk at any rate that there is extreme liberality amongythe stand keep- ers. The keepers of the stands, according to cemmon report, have tried all sorts of plans to get away from the poljce toll. ‘They have put up screens, and ntany of them no longer have their peanuts piled on trays, but have them put up in piper tacks before leaving home, for certainly there ere no policemen v7ho would take @ whole bag of the nuts.. ‘There is at least one policeman on the Yorce who will no longer trouble any of the dealers, whether they have screens or A Taste for Cocoanut. net. He had his share of peanuts and was made so sick that he came near losing his life, and now he has “sworn off.” A matter which might act so disestrously to a policeman was believed to be a mat- ter for serious investigation, and Star re- perters have looked into the ccmbination of policemen and peanuts with scme start- ling results. Doesn't Apply te Cops. “The Lord helps those who help them- selves, but the Lord help the man who helps himself to these peanuts.” So reads ® conspicuous sign over an open bag of peanuts at afruit stand on a prominent corner in this city. The name of the mer- chant and the exact location of his stand are suppressed, for the good business rea- son that the place is not advertised. The ewner admitted to a Star reporter last night that the warning did not apply to policemen.. They were exempt, he ex- plained, for purely business reasons. Police- imen would stop on their rounds for a short chat, take @ handful.of peanuts, an apple cr an orange, whichever was handiest, and then move on. They never thought of paying for what they took in this way. and the dealer in question said he had never deemed it advisable to call atten; tion to the omission. An effort was made by a Star man to obtain further informa- tion on this subject, but with poor success. Jie invested hard-earned. money at several street stands and tried his best to cajole the proprietors into confession. All were eloquent in praise of the excellence of their stock and its cheapness, but so far as their relations with the guardians of the peace ure concerned they displayed a power ef reticence and evasion unequaled by the raost rkilled diplomat of the State Depart- ment. The large stand on G street near 15th street offered a fine field for investi- gation. Tropical fruit and nuts of all Kinds were openly displayed in profusion. ‘The Star man bought five cents’ worth of peanuts. The bag was full, cpen and un- protected, and seemed to be a big tempta- tion to the transfer crowd that gathers on this corner. The dealer was a half-grown boy, who appeared to be stupefied by cold or the want cf sleep. ‘People take lots of yeer peanuts without paying?” said the reporter in his most insinuating manner, pointing to th> open bag. “Tres dollar,” said the boy, stracted way. “Do you lose $3 on each bag of peanuts?” he reperter. you want?” responded the half- @azed dearer. “I suppose the policemen take most of them?" persisted the reporter. The boy in an ab- A Protective Measure. id not deign to answer this question, and having satisfied himself that his visitor meant to buy no more, he retired to a se- cluded place behind his stand, and ap- parently went to sleep. That he kept one €ye open, however, was demonstrated when the repor passing his place an hour later, put his hard on an orange and found the boy at his side in a moment, with out- stretched hand and the remark, “fiva centa,” getting which he again retired. He satisfied his visitor on one point, and that was that if the police on that beat imposed cn him he did not propose to make any complaint against them. Loved the Force. “Give me a nickel’s worth of goobers,” remarked a reporter for The Star to the Italian lady who manages a pie, peanut and fruitery affair on 9th street. As she heaped the cup with its misleading bottom and de- posited the nuts in the reporter’s pocket the purchaser said: ‘What's the favorite food with policemen at this season?’ She did not appear to comprehend the full import of the query, and alternately smoothed her midnight locks—as darksome as the ways of sin—and stroked her apron. The question had been a little sudden, “Well, how do you like the gentlemen of the force?” con- tinued the insuppressible reporter for The Star. The lady began to converse in ac- cents richly redolent with the fumes of garlic. She talked with great abandon. What she said was to the effect that po- licemen were lovely. They had such pol- ished manners and buttons and such per- suasive ways and clubs. Most of the cop- pers on that beat were personal friends of ber family. They called on her nearly every time they walked around the square. They called with the utmost regularity when a new corsignment of peanuts has come in. Most policemen have a fondness for pea- puts, she said, and a special bag of those which could not be sold is kept constantly ready for them. One officer, the lady said, bad a very fine appetite for apples. He could spot a specked pippin across the street, and you could turn the bad side down as often as you wanted to, but that policeman would never adopt that par- lar apple. Another officer, who lives and keeps order in the second pre permint “t, runs to gum drops and p a is one of the fondest men w of an orange. Privates ian- and the like, but when they to be sergeants they tike oranges and grapes. One officer with an Italian ume never forgets me when he goes by. strong point is cocoaaut strips. One cocoanut strip will make him happy for a day. He is one of the cheapest gentlemen to piease on the whole force. Policemen Hi were delightful to have around at night. ‘fhen when she had some domestic chores to do in the back of the premises, such as hanging out the wash or making the lem- onade, the police would take care of the stand gnd look out for the children. The lady intimated that she never felt so in- tensely complimented or so hugely tickled as when some great, big, red and rosy offi- cer of the metropolitan force came along and swiped a pear, banana, orange, stick of candy or a pocketful of peanuts. She was delighted to have them call, and stat- ed that during the year she will be charm- ed to reczive visits from the police and their friends Put Up a Screen. The nobleman from Italy who dispens2s fruits, nuts, candies and broken English for a cash consideration at a prominent commer on Pennsylvania svenue was in a loquacious mood this morning when a Star reporter invested five cents in a bag of hot peanuts and a moment later squandered an additional cent on a piece of cocoanut, which was fished from a water-filled jar by a grimy hand. “Whats the favorite luxury indulged in by the guardians of the peace, so far as your commercial pursuit is concerned?” asked the reporter, as he prepared ty dis- sect a peanut. ‘The merchant looked eghast, but man- aged to remark that he did not quite com- prehend. “Well, then,’ continued the reporter, after removing a portion cf a goober from a hollow tooth, “does the cop on this beat ever jag anything from your stand?” The question in its modified form was evidently clear to the Italian, for he in- startly became unduly excited. “De coppa in day time he ain’ so badda,” the man from the land of street organs said. “But the much bigga one with mustache, he come here ut night time and eat sometime more I makka all day. He first take pea- nut, fills his hands. Then he comes around again and take more peanut. Next time walka: way with apple and then he came and stand and stand and eat and eat everything he reach. “Look a that,’ continued the proprietor of the stand, pointing to a heavy wire net- work which covered the fruits and nuts along the entire front portion of the stand. “Cost me four dollar twenty centa and all on account of da cop. banan off the bunch. No put. wire over that; can’t do.” : “Why don’t you politely request the offi- cer to cease his peculations—I mean, stop eating your goods?"' asked the reporter. “That no do, for then he runna me in, the dealer replied with a sigh. _The re- porter, after extracting a piece of copeanut from his windpipe, sighed in sympathy and moved on. * Took the Stand. At another point the proprietor stood be- side his unpretentious stand, next a door- way, and called out: ‘Fina fruit.” A re- porter of The Star stopped long enough to buy a frozen orange, and just then one of Maj. Moore's finest passed. He looked at the orange the scribe held and concluded he wanted one just like it. “H're, John; how's business?” said the policeman, interrupting the sale and_se- lecting the best orange-in the pile, which he coolly peeled before the poor Italian and His Favorite Frait. gulped down. John did not deign to reply, and the protector of the people moved off humming “A Policeman's Life Is Not a Happy One. “How about that, John; do you let the policemen help themselves to anything on your stand without charge?” “My nama is notta John,” replied the son of sunny Italiy, testily. “It es Guisseppa Garibaldi. Dissa policeman maka me seck.: De poor Italiana man he maka de fool. Dessa verra badda country for policeman. Badda man.”" Guisseppa Garibaldi then proceeded to re- late how, some years ago, upon his refusal to give a policeman a dozen bananas, he was forced to take his stand from the sidewalk. Investigation, however, proved that this was a mistake. The removal of the stand, with a number of others, was ordered at the time by the Commissioners, who held that they were obstructions and there was no legal authority for them. But Guisseppa didn’t know that, and his story of the affair is interesting. ‘The reporter bought a pound of grapes and the storekeeper unbosomed himself. He said: “A long time ago I comma to dissa city. I bring ze monk an’ ze orBanna. Lettle a while I makka mucha mon. Ze monk he getta seck anna die, an’ I buy dissa stand. Onna day a policeman passa by an’ say: ‘Gooda mornin’, Johnny.’ I no know ze man, but say gooda rornin’, too. He tooka hes fista full of penutta and walka on. De nexta day he comma long ard said: ‘Gooda mornin’, Johnny,’ and teck a bigga pear likka des (illustrating by his two fists). It breakka my heart, but I say nussing. He comma back in a minute an’ say* ‘Johnny, givva me dissa bunch bananna for my wifa.’ I say, no, sir. De nexta day he tocka: de whole damn stan. No, sir, I say nussing now, de policeman can takka what he likka.” Method Explained. Two sons of sunny Italy, pushing before them, respectively, low, two-wheeled carts, on which were piled high the seductive peanut, the plump banana, the rosy apple and other similar delicacies, had stopped to compare notes and exchange the com- pliments of the season. Each praised, in the purest of Italiana-Americana language, and with many suggestive shrugs and nods, the excellence of their wares, as a Star reporter stopped to invest. The in- vestment made, they were about to resume their interrupted compliments, when The Star man inquired: “How's business?” Both venders shrugged their shoulders, and the taller one said: “Vera bad. Too mucha Chris’mas. De people spenda all de mon.” “But,” suggested the reporter, “there's lots of money for you when business 13s good.” ‘Another mutual shrug, and then the shorter ‘No mucha profit. We sell mucha chea} “Lose much?” inquired The Star’s man. “Si, si,” both quickly replied. “Give away much?” “gi, si,” with innumerable shrugs and nod: is. rolice?”” ‘The last inquiry was regarded with much suspicion, and, after several rapidly spoken words had been exchanged between the proprietors of the carts, unintelligible to their customer, the taller one cautiously said: “De policeaman taka what he lika, de banan, de peanutta, jus’ whata he lika.” “Pay for them?” “My Goda, no paya ’tall,” both exclaimed with one voice, and with pitying emphasis for their inquirer’s ignorance. Then the smaller voiced what was clearly the experience of both: “De policeaman he say, ‘Hello, John.’ Me say, ‘Hello,’ and Zien de _policeaman he say, ‘Gooda stuff, John.’ Me say nothin’, an’ den de policea- man he taka de banan. Me say nothin’. Den de policeaman say, ‘So long, John,’ and walka ‘way. Me waita 'til de policea- man git ‘way off, dea me say, ‘Sacre!’ Den me pusha de cart, an’ me meeta ‘nother policeaman. He stop an’ me stop, and den say, ‘How's busiress, John?” Me say, era mucha bad,’ an’ den de policeaman he say, ‘Tough lucka, John.’ Den de po- liceaman he sticka his club under his arm, reacha for de peanutta, taka lot, an’ den i ‘Ta, ta, John,’ an’ walka way. Me * ag'in, an’ pusha de cart ‘long. meeta ’ncther policeaman. He say, ‘Gota license, John?’ Me show de badge, an’ den he s Dat’s all right, John.” Den he say, ‘Nicea apples, John. de policeaman he Me say nothin’, an’ de! "long, taka de big apple an’ say, ‘Mova John.’ Me mova "long! “And so that is the way it is done, Is It inquired The Star’s man, but the men with the carts espied a policeman coming down the street, and, without answering, they hastily proceeded to put as great a dis- tance between them and the officer as they were capable of. Now he pula de| LACK OF WATER Complaints Are Received Duily by the Commissioners. THE DAILY WASTE THE MAIN CAUSE Meters to Regulate the Supply for Commercial Purposes. VIEWS OF THE OFFICIALS 4 % Palas ps The waste of Petomac water has be- come such an ifmpettant factor in the sup- ply that the Commissioners are seriously considering thé, adVisability of introducing water meters. ; = It has practically been decided to make a start July 1 Hex}, due. At first it is; proposed to make the use of meters <pbligatory where water is used for commercial purposes, as for ex- ample, by livery stables, boilers, hotels and manufactories ‘ot various kinds. After this hgs been tried the question of the extensian of the meter system to private houses will: be considered. There has been a proposition to give a certain amount free, from twenty-five to thirty gallons a day, on the present system to householders and charge for all over that amount used. The meter system, however, has its drawbacks, and Capt. Powell thinks it will be difficult to operate them here, be- cause of the condition of the Potomac water, which contains-a good deal of sedi- ment, which wilt n@t-onty:‘clog up: the- ‘meters, but cut the -vaives. zo There is a reguiation-in force, however, which gives the Commissioners. power. to. compel the vse of meters. Some time ago an effort was made to compel their use by hotels, but the Commissioners had to recede from their position. For several months'the engineer depart- ment has been testing water meters of various patterns, with the ultimate inten- tion of buying a large number of them to furnish to the people. The price for putting a meter in a private house will be $18 for a 3-4-inch supply pipe. An inch and a half supply pipe for livery stables would cost $30, and a hotel meter with a two-inch supply pipe would cost about $40. These meters are to be put in at the cost of the water users at wholesale prices. Opposition Expected. The Commissioners expect a big fight, in fact, as one of them facetiously remarked: “It will be worse than the question of a contagious hospital site.” There are many arguments against the obligatory use of meters in municipalities. Scientists do not believe in limiting the use of water. They regard water as a_ very good thing to be used by the people. When the people are restricted, especially the poorer classes, who need it most, it con- duces, it is claimed, to bad sanitary con- ditions. People will be prone to negiect cleanliness when they have to.pay for it. It is believed that it will be a long time before there is a general system of meters in private houses. The one object of the Commissioners is to curtail the enormous waste of water, and they propose to do their utmost ‘in this regard. ~ The Lack of Water. “What is the matter with the water sup- ply? Why is it that houses on the high levels cannot get water above the second floor?”” ‘These are momentous questions these days, and the Commissioners are being im- portuned daily for satisfactory answers which will increase the supply and giye householders on the high levels more wa- ter. Since the cold weather set In the list of complaints in this respect has increased tenfold, and there is a general cry all over the city for more water. There are several reasons why the supply is not sufficient to meet the demand. In the first place, the supplying reservoir ts not large enough, and then, again, thé wakte during the past few weeks has beer’ enérmous. This has been due to the factl that householders, to keep their pipes fromi freezing; have allowed the water to run. . In’a recent letter-to the Commissioners a complainant suggested that if the Commis- sioners would only stop the extension of the water matas into the county, where they were of wo practical benefit, there would be no trquble experienced in getting water on the high jJevels. It is well known that during the past year the engineer de- partment has laid a number of water-mains into the county,,and while the District has been put to practically no expense (the cost of the mains being jn all cases borne by the abutting propetty owners), yet the water which has been tirned into these mains somewhat affec{s the general supply. A prominent ofticial of the water depart- ment in discussing the situation today said that the conditions were practically the same regarding the supply of water as they were before the forty-eight-inch main was laid, which at the time was believed would settle the supply question for many years to come. But the constantly grow- ing suburbs and the water mains laid to supply them has been a most serious con- dition that had not been looked for, and the result is that at the present time there is not, by many millions of gallons, a suf- ficient supply of water for the District. THere are many people who believe that the Commissioners have erred in allowing this unrestricted extension of the water mains. . Col. Elliot's Views. According to Col. Elliot, who has charge of the Washington aqueduct, it would seem that the supply of water is gr.cty hin- dered by the accumulation of sediment, and in his arguments before tho House committee on appropriations he urged that an item of $14,000 for cleaning out the con- duit be allowed, which, he said, is about one-fourth filled with sediment, and which interferes with the delivery of water. He also said in plain terms that the aqueduct was in danger, but that he would rather run the risk of that for another year than not get the money for cleaning out the conduit. Col. Elliot stated before the com- mittee that his desire for many years had been to raise the dam at the Great Falls for increasing the water supply. “Last year,” he said, “there was a great deficiency and the people could not get water in their bath rooms—next summer ft will be worse.” Continuing, he said: ‘Ihe dam at Great Falls is 148 feet above the level of the water at the Navy Yard. The top of the conduit is a circular arch nine feet high. This conduit is not filled up now at Great Falls by two feet. The effect of the raising of that dam would be to make the water flow faster and give more veloc- ity. The water will run two feet a second faster, and it will increase the supply 25,- 000,000 gallons of water per day. The Ly- decker tunnel would*not give any more water to the city until we raise that dam, because it must flow in before it can flow out. We take it all out now. We will get more water by raising the dam.” In reply to a question if he could at the same time get an increased supply, he said “yes,” and stated that the Potomac river had a supply of 700,000,000 gallons a day, and that the total cost of raising the dam would be about $125,000, and it would take one year to do the work. In reply to a question if the raising of the dam would stop the water supply, he replied that it would not, and said further that either the Lydecker tunnel must be completed or a new 48-inch main laid down at an expense of $1,000,000 in order to get more water. Capt. Powell’s Prediction, Capt. Powell, in speaking of the question of raising the dam, said: “We will not get the dam raised ‘until the summer of 18. In that case wé will have to wait a year and a half befote we get any more water. We have had trouble for two or three years, and the Conimissioners find an in- creasing demand for water. Everybody is complaining. People now get no water in their bath rooms nor water closets. We had to send around a card through the po- lice, and have a copy of it left in eve house, enjoining householders to he care- ful of the water. We then changed our regulations, prohibiting the use of water for sprinkling streets and lawns and steps. We limited the use of water to an hour in the evening and an hour in the morning. It is very warm here in summer, and it is delightful to be able to sprinkle the en- trance to one’s house. Next summer we will have a still worse condition, and the summer after that jt will be even worse.” Col. Elliot stated that Washington uses mcre water than any other city in the world, except Rome. The per capita sup- ply is more than 200 gallons, which is equal to five barrels per day. Of this amount the United States government uses a large part, for which it pays nothing. The Enormous Waste. Commissioner Powell, when questioned by a reporter of The Star concerning the water supply, said: “The great trouble is in the enormous waste that is daily going on in the city. ‘That in connection with the insufficiency of the distributing reservoir is responsible for the complaints that we are receiving every day from citizens living on high levels.” “How about these mains that are being laid out in the county? Isit not a fact that they are responsible for the insufficient water supply?” “Well, you can hardly attribute it to them, They use some water, it is true, but the residents out there are certainly as much entitled to a supply of water as any other citizens in the District. The Com- missioners ‘have urged in their strongest terms before Congress an appropriation‘ to increase the water supply of the city. What we want to know primarily is whether Congress proposes to do anything with the Lydecker tunnel. If not, then we must make proviston for laying a new forty-eight-inch main, for the ‘city 1s rapid: when water-rentsare~|-ty—growing. I consider this .one of _the,| most urgent things before the Commis- sioners.” a TO BE ARGUED. Case of Fred. Miller, Charged With Making Beoks. Fred. T. Miller, the young horseman who was indicted lust Mcnday for conducting bookmaking at the Benning race track -early-.last month, was arraigned before Judge Cole in Criminal Court No. 2 this morning. He pleaded not guilty, but that plea: was’subsequently withdrawn, and the defendant entered a demurrer to the indict- ment. Arguments on the demurrer were then set for next Saturday morning. The demurrer ‘says that the indictment ts fatally @éfective for the reason that it dees not charge the defendant with any, offense against any law im force in the ‘District, und for the further reason that Ahe supposed offense of bookmaking in the indictment mentioned and charged js not unlawful. | Mr. Henry E. Davis, counsel for Miller, Suggested to District Attorney Birney that as Judge Cole had, in the case of the Ivy City vookmakers, held“that bookmaking is unlawful in the District, the present case should be argued before some other judge. Mr. Birney, however, stated that he was perfectly satisfied to have Judge Ccle again pass upon the question, and Judge Cole said that if there were no ap- peal from his decision he would decline to again determine. But, explained the court, the defendant had the right of appeal to the Court of Appeals, and the defendant cculd therefore suffer no injury. lt was a question, remarked Judge Cole, which should be settled as soon as possible by the appellate court. Mr. Davis said that he labored under the disadvantage of being required to convince the court that it had made a mistake, to which Judge Cole replied that, while he was at the present time certain that he was correct in declaring bookmaking illegal, he might discover that he had erred. He intimated, however, that he had read every authority obtainable on the subject, and that unless something new-was presented he would decide as he had held before. i --Mr.. Davis promised to present new a thorities, and the case was then set down for argument at 10:30 next Saturday morn- ing. —_——_—_ NOVEL POINT OF LAW. Transmission of Racing Information % Claimed to Be IHegal. In Criminal Court No. 2, this morning, the seeming inconsistency of the law was aptly illustrated. A number of persons re- “cently indicted were arraigned, and among them Palmer P. Babcock and Frederick J. Owens, two young white men, were called upon to plead to an indictment charging them with conspiracy against the Western Union Telegraph Company by tapping the wires of the company in September last running to the Alexander Island race track. ‘The wires are alleged to have been tapped cn the Long bridge, to the injury of the ccmpany’s business with certain race tracks throughout the country. A few minutes previous to the arraignment of Babcock ai Owens, Fred T. Miller had been arraigned for conducting bookmaking in the District. Babcock and Owens plead not guilty, with leave to demur on or be- fcre Saturday next. It is understood that, in demurring to the indictnient, the defendants will contend that, as bookmaking is made an offense in the District, the Western Union Telegraph Company was engaged in an unlawful busi- ress. That is, it is said that the defend- ants will argue that in transmitting racing information through the District the tele- greph company was engaged in the promo- tion of an unlawful business, and that the prosecution is, therefore, estopped from setting cut in the indictment that the al- leged action of the deferdants in tapping the wires was to the prejudice of any legal right of the company. THE BOND ISSUE. The Federation of Lubor Expresses Its Opposition to the Proposed Measure. The proposed issue of District bonds is meeting with opposition from the Federa- tion of Labor of the District of Columbia. The federation has approved resolutions condemning in no unmeasured way the. bond project. The resolutions call for a mass mecting of the citizens to protest against the enactment of this measure without being vcted on by the people, and assert that the “bill is the most infamous one that has been brought to the consid- eration of Ccngress and the attention of the people of the District since the present form of government was inaugurated; that it violates the plighted faith of the United States, which guaranteed upon the part of the national government one-half of the indebtedness of the District, and violates as well the fundamental principles upon which all free government is founded, by the imposition of extra burdens and taxation without the consent of the peo- ple.” The resolutions further provide “that an appeal be made to all the inhab- itants of the District who agree with us to unite in a mass meeting to protest against the enactment of the measure prior to a submission of the question to a vote of the people.” —__—- Union Veteran Installation. Scores of friends of Encampment No. 111, Union Veteran Legion, assembled last evening to witness the annual installation of the following officers of that organiza- tion: Colenel, Thomas J. Shannon; lieuten- ant colonel, W. T. Pierson; major, Herbert H. Rey; chaplain, P, H. Clemons; quar- termaster, F. R. Sparks; surgeon, Philip Metzger; officer of the day, William Wil- adjutant, Edward Dunn; efficer of sen; the guard, C. E. Hooks; sergeant major, L. Fugitt; quartermaster sergeant, Arthur M. Bean; color sergeant, J. A. McDowell; sentinel, Richard Willer; past colonel, Oli- ver Sloan. A number of officers of the National Encampment were in attendance. A musical and literary entertainment fol- lowed the installation, those participating in the program being Miss Lucie E, Mor- timer, Miss May Clemon, Miss Ida Fin- ney, Miss Gertie Dana, Miss Marie Mac- Nichol, Master Irwin Kirkwood, Charles Dunn and Charles E. Hooks. Denth of Charles S. Hill. Mr. Charles S. Hill died yesterday at his apartments in the Milton, on H street be- tween 17th and 18th streets. He-had heen ill for scme days past frcm heart trouble, ard his death was not unexpected. He Jeaves a wife and several children. Fun- eral services will be held at the chapel in Oak Hill cemetery on Monday at o'clock. The ceased, for a number of years held a position in the State Department. He was spetially interested in statistics \.as looked upon as an expert. ‘as the secretary of the National Statistical As- sceiation, the headquarters of which were in this city. pee cena The United States grand jury at Phoenix, Ariz., is considering the charge of venality against Governor L. C. Hughes. In climbing a ladder on the Penn: railroad station at Jersey City ye: Frank Murphy lost his focting and-grasped a live electric wire to save himself. He was instantly killed. HIS SWORD BROKEN Public Degradation of a French Mil- itary Officer. CAPT. DREYFUS’ PUNISHMENT FIRST OF Charged With Disclosing Secrets to Foreigners. — PROTESTS HIS INNOCENCE PARIS, January 5.—Capt. Alfred Dreyfus of the fourteenth regiment of artillery, who was tried by court-martial, convicted of treason in disclosing important war office documents to.foreigners and sentenced to deportment and imprisonment for life in a fortress, was publicly degraded this morn- dng im front of the military school of this city. Capt. Dreyfus slept well and was awaken- ed at 5 o'clock in the morning, when he was informed that this was the day fixed for his degradation in public. He displayed no emotion until he was dressed in the full uniform of his rank and prepared to leave the Cherche-Midi prison for the military school. He then. turned.deathly pale and his hands shook as he signed the prison register. When this formality was gone through, two gendarmes, with revolvers in their hands, escorted him to a closed military wagon, drawn by four horses and escorted by a troop of mounted republican guards. In this wagon, surrounded by the guards with drawn Dreyfus was driven to the military. school. The route -between the prison many thousands of spectators, and a large crowd of people was gathered about the military school, which is a large establish- ment near the Invalides, and covers an area of about twenty-six acres. Behind the school is the Place De Fon- tenoy, upon which is a handsome monu- ment, erected in memory of the soldiers and sallors who fell in the war of 1870-71. Greeted With Hisses and Groans. The arrival at the school of two outriders who preceded the wagon caused intense excitement among the persons there as- sembled, and here and there groans and Hisses were heard as the wagon passed. When Dreyfus arrived at the military school he was placed in an improvised cell, and detchments from every branch of the garrison of Paris began assembling on the Place De Fontenoy, and by 9 a.m. fully 5,000 troops were ranged around the quadrangle. At 9 o'clock Dreyfus was conducted to the square and was led before Gen. D'Ar- ras, who was in command of the troops, and the sentence of the court-martial was read to the prisoner, The general then briefly addressed Dreyfus, saying: “‘You are adjudged un- worthy to bear arms. In the name of the French people I degrade you.” General D'Arras then gave a sharp word of. eommand, and a ‘non-commissioned .of- cer approached Dreyfus, the infantry pre- vented arms, the cavalry presented swords soiemn roll from I swear it. “I am innocent. France!" Broke the Prisoner's Sword. The non-commissioned officer then tore off Dreyfus’ epaulettes and all the other distinct marks of his rank as a captein of artillery, ending up with breaking the pris- oner’s sword in two and throwing the two halves at his feet. Dreyfus was then marched, bareheaded, gjouna'the entire square; m front of the ps. He was greatly excited and shout- ed more than once: “I am innocent. I swear it.” But every time the prisoner spoke, in ac- cordance with orders previously issued, his voice was drowned by the roil of drums. As Dreyfus passed in front of the place éccupied by the representatives of the press he shouted:“Tell the whole of France that I am innocent.” This caused some officers of the army re- serve, who were standing by, to retort: “Down with Judas. Silence, traitor.” It was evident that Dreyfus felt these words keenly, for he turned sharply around and faced the officers in a threatening man- ner. But before he could say or do any- thing further he was seized by the soldiers who were escorting him and forced to con- tinue his humiliating march around the square. ‘Tne crowd outside the school, on hearing the prisoner's voice when he protested his innocence, raised fierce cries of “Death to the traitor. Death to the traitor.” These cries of the populace were accom- panied by the shrill whistling peculiar to a Parisian mob. When the proceedings were ended Drey- fus was handcuffed, taken to a prison van and driven to an ordinary prison, escorted by_a squad of gendarmes. The troops then-tharched ‘back to their various barracks, the crowds outside the military school cheering each detachment, and shouting: “Vive la France! Vive TY'armee! Vive la patrie!” Qn the other hand, the sight of the prison van, which was driven rapidly through the crowds, evoked renewed cries of “Death to the traitor! Death to the Gern an.” It is expected that Capt. Dreyfus will be interned in the Iles Du Salut, off the coast of French Gainea, South America, which will be converted into a penal settlement. See Nratal Murder in Kentucky. Sheriff John I. Van Arsdall shot and’ al- most instantly killed Dr. F. L. Harrod at Harrodsburg, Ky., yesterday. The causes leading up to the killing are attributable to the recent election. Van Arsdall was a candidate for re-election and was opposed by the doctor. An anonymous circular in which Van Arsdall was raked fore and aft in his domestic relations was sent out. He was charged with throwing a bucket of water on his sick wife while she war in bed in order to make her get up and cook breakfast. It was also charg- ed that he had unmercifully whipped his grown caughter with a club. Van Arsdall was defeated for re-election. It was charg- ed that Dr. Harrod was the author of this circular, as he had lived in the house with Van Arsdall, and was a strong supporter of the sheriff in his first race. ——-e- Mexico's Alleged Claim. Speaking of the reported claim of Mexico against Guatemala for $1,968,000 for “inva- sion damages,” Minister Arviaga of Gua- temala said last night that he had no in- formation on the subject. He believed the regotiations for the settlement of the boundary dispute were proceeding quietly. Minister DeLeon, Guatemala’s special en- voy, sad: “As for the reported claim, the sum mentioned may be the total of the de- mands made by private citizens. When individuals make claims on foreign nations they usually. ask enormous sums, much more than they dream of getting.” SSS Daring Bank Robbery. The Ontario, Cal., State Bank-was robbed yesterday by two men. Cashier Fred Stamm was alone. A revolver was put/| under his nose by one of the men, while! the other jumped behind the counter, club- bed Stamm with a revolver butt, forced | him into the vault and locked him in. R. P. Sibley of the Ontario Cannery came into the bank and wes ordered to hold up his hands. He was then clubbed until he was insensible. About $000 was taken. As soon as Sibley was conscious he gave the alarm. The robbers drove away in a buggy adra, where they boarded a train for Angeles. Officers were notitied and were intercepted a few iniles from . The men were arrested and proved to be Frank Corfway and J. Steadmar, no- torious eastern crooks. Only a small amount of money was found on them and it is believed they buried the plunder before reaching Spadra. ——+e+- Thomas DePuy, a prominent laws Seattle, Wash., was found dead in Golden st Hotel at § Franc OY terday. A deep bruise is left eye told the story of a sand bag or a fall. Lady Florence Dixie of Engiand has be- come president of the Ladies’ Foot Ball Club, which is organized under the London rules. of the ‘andthe school was ted by {the ieee =Eatp World’s Fair MEDAL AND DIPLOMA PRIZE MEDAL aT WORLD'S FAIR. Awarded AYER’S Cherry Pectoral For -Throat and |AYER’S CHERRY]|* PECTORAL. PRIZE MEDAL = aT Complaints. | wornps ram. - Lung IF YOU ARE NERVOUS OR DYSPEPTIC TRY Carter's Little Nerve Pills. é 3 nervous, 2nd nervousness makes you dyspeptic; either oue renders you miserable, and these little pills cure both. IF THE BABY IS CUTTING TEETH BE § and ase that old and well-tried semedy, Mrs. ‘Winslow's Soothing Ssrup for children teething. It soothes the child, softens the gum, allays a pain, cures wind colic and is the best remedy for Giarrhoea. 25 cents a bottle. sel0-1¥ ‘The best lator of the digestive organs and the best ay known is Dr. Siegert’s Anzostura Bitters. it. HE BOUGHT BRASS BRICKS. A Veteran Traveler Paid $5,000 for Some Valuable Experience. W. A. Withers of Gloucester county, Va., who has traveled all over this country and Europe, was yesterday swindled out of $5,000 by two sharpers, who played the old game of selling a brick of gold. It seems t Mr. Withers had been induced to come to Richmond by the sharpers to purchase the gold bricks. A man giving the name of Thomas H. Parker of Pailadelpflia, at Richmond, had registered at a hotel,.and Thursday night Withers registered at the same house. Yes- terday this man and another stranger drove Withers out several miles beyond the city, where they showed him two bricks which they claimed were of gold. Mr. Withers was satisfied with the statement of the men, and when the party drove back to the city he drew $5,000 out of a bank and paid it in exchange for the brick. Not long thereafter Parker paid his bill at the hotel and left the city. Withers took the bricks to a local jeweler and learned that they were made of brass. Finding that he had-been swindled, With- ers went to the chief ef police and told his story. Parker and his companion are be- lieved to have gone to Norfolk. so< NEW POWER FOR SATOLLI. Almost Plenary Authority Give im the Papal Encyclical. A special cablegram to the Chicago Post from Rome says: The expected encycitcal from Pope Leo addressed to the arch- bishops and bishops of the United States is now ready and wili be transmitted through- out the usual Channels-in a few days. It treats. principally with the authority and powers of the apostolic delegate, Monsignor Satoli, who is confirmed and strengthened in his position. : Pope Leo confirms the friendly disposition previously manifested teward a republican form of government, demonstrating anew that the church is free to accept and show sympathy with popular institutions not in- herently hostile to Christian principles. In detail the encyclical enlarges to the fullest extent the power and jurisdiction of the apostolic delegate, thus conferring on Monsignor Satolli almost plenary authoricy. All matters of internal and local contro- versy affecting the church in the United States shall no longer be under the juris- diction of the courts of the propaganda, but will be heard and disposed of in the delegate’s tribunal, which becomes in fact an American ecclesiastical court. MOONSHINERS KILLED. Sheriff Jent-ings and a Posse Cupture the Still. Sheriff H. L. Jennings, with two deputy marshals and a large pospe.ef assistants, made a desperate raid on a moonshine still sixteen miles from Clinton, Van Buren county, Ark., last Wednesday night, and succeeded in killing two of its operators and capturing the still. The posse crept up to within a short distance of the place before their presence was discovered. Though takea unawares, the moonshiners made a desperate fight, and for a while bul- lets flew in every direction. Putnam, the leader of the moonshiners, was shot through the head and fell dead on the ground His nephew, a boy seventeen years of ape, tumbied over next and died soon afterward. Two moonshiners were captured and one escaped. Not one of the posse was seriously wounded, thouga Sheriff Jennings had a narrow escape from death. The officers ar- rived at Little Rock with the two prison- ers yesterday. Yoo Yourg for the Stage. Mayor Strong of New York refused yes- terday to grant a permit for the appea: ance of Hazel Jack, a four-months-old in- fant, in a play at the American Theater January 8 and 9. The Gerry Society pro- tested. “The society knows its business,” said the mayor, “‘and uiMess there are very good reasons to the contrary its protests should and will be heeded by me.” The mayor granted permits for six little girls to appear in “Cavalleria Rusticana,” seventeen in “Carmen” and twelve in “Elaine,” all at the Metropolitan Opera House. Other children of five, six and eight were given permission to appear in other places. —- +0 New Jersey Senators in Caucus. The sixteen republican Senators of New Jersey heid a caucus at Trenton last night, and fixed upon a slate which will prevail at the organization of the senate when the legislature convenes next Tuesday. The result was the nomination of Stokes for president of the senate by unanimous vote. H. B. Rollinson of Rahway, the candidate of Senator Voorhees of Union, received the nemination for secretary of the senate, and A. 8. Church of Middlesex was nominated for assistant journal clerk. —_—_+#e Contest in the Ashland, Ky., District. Congressman-elect William C. Owens filed his answer yesterday afternoon to Judge Denny's notice of contest. It is a long document, and charges general fraud at various voting places in Fsyette county, Ky. Judge Denny gave notice that he would take the depositions of 143 republi- cans and democrets on Monday, which would disprove allegations znade in Owens’ answer. ———__-+e+ Extending the Civil Service Law. The President has approved a rule plac- ing superintendents of post office stations throughout the country in the classified service. The order takes effect imme- diately. There are 126 of these offices in the United States, and the appointment of the superintendents is delegated to post- masters. Their salaries range from $1,000 to $2,540 per annum. 2 Naval Orders. . Surgeon J. B. Parker has been ordered to duty in connection with the congressional committee on the Ford’s Theater disaster, elieving Medical Director B. H. Kidd, who will take the place of Medical Direc~ tor Michael Bradley on the naval exam- ining board. Down Goen the Gold Reserve. Advices from the subtreasury at New York state chat $2,300,000 in gold was with- drawn yesterday for export, which leaves the true amount of the gold reserve §81,- 014,379, -+e- An Appointment. Herbert Haggath of Alaska has been ap- pointed assistant United States attorney for the district of Alaska. s