Grand Rapids Herald-Review Newspaper, June 9, 1909, Page 3

AL / eas Wisconsin Senator Completes Long Speech Attacking Changes in Dingley Rates. SLAIN BY ROBBER Evidence Supporting That The: ory Is Adduced at Cor- oner’s Inquest. VALUABLES ARE ALL MISSING Absence of Powder Marks Weakens Suicide Theory—Porter .Spoils a Sensation. Washington, June 6.—Through fore noon, afternoon and evening sessions the senate yesterday labored on the cotton schedule. Mr. La Follette com- pleted his long speech attacking the changes in the Dingley rates which were recommended by the senate finance committee and replied to Sen- ator Penrose’s charge Thursday nigh( that he was shamming sickness as an excuse for his absence from the night session. He said he was not sick, but was very tired.and was resting in or- der to be in shape to continue his speech in the senate yesterday. He asserted that Mr. Penrose might per- form a greater service for the country and his state if he woyld account for his own time when not in the senate. At the night session Chairman Ald- rich replied to Mr. La Follette’s as- saults upon the work of the finance committee and made a general de- fense of the arnendments, which he as- serted were necessary to carry out the intent of the framers of the Ding- ley law. Throughout the entire day the temperature in the chamber was sweltering. Chicago, June. 5. — Evidence sup- porting the theory that Dr. John T. Binkley, Sr., of Evansville, Ind., met his death at the Wellington hotel here Wednesday at the hands of a robber was adduced at the coroner’s inquest yesterday.. The evidence pre- sented did not disprove the hypothe- sis of suicide, but materially weaken- ed it. The testimony adduced was that Dr. Binkley was eighty-two years old, a lover of his family and of the church to whose creed he subscribed —the Presbyterian. Save for a left hand crippled by rheumatism, his health was good, his spirits were high at the prospect of a family re- union, and suicide seemed the far- thest thought from his mind. Found by Daughter. With other members of his family, he came to Chicago Wednesday and remained in his room while the oth- ers went on a shopping tour. When his daughter, Mrs, George Upchurch, returrzd, about 5 p. m., with her daughter Elinor they found the shades drawn and the old physician apparently asleep im an easy chair. The flood of light let in by raising the curtains disclosed his blood-stain- ed face. He sat with his right hand nearest to the bed, which was a foot away. The pistol lay on the bed, with one chamber empty. The bullet had entered his left cheek and lodged in his brain, inflicting a wound from which it is said death must have been instantaneous. S Pockets Were Rifled. His coat and vest were found open and the wallet which he carried in an inside vest pocket was missing, as was his watch. A small sum—$2.41— was found on the dresser in the room. His valise, in which he carried a few medicines and toilet articles, and which had been on his knees when his daughter left him to go shopping, was found in the public toilet room, twenty yards from the room, of the. existence of which the decedent is said to have been in ignorance, his own room being provided with simi- lar facilities. The door of the room was not locked. Dr. John T. Binkley, Jr., a son of the Evansville doctor and founder of the Chicago hospital, testified that death had taken place half an hour or forty minutes before the return of Mrs. Upchurch and her daughter. Found No Powder Marks. The coroner’s jury physician, Dr. Joseph Springer, testified that, con- trary to current reports, he had found no powder marks surrounding the wound. “From the crippled condition of his left hand I should say that he had not fired from that hand, and the po- sition of the wound would indicate that the right hand was not used,’”’ said Dr. Springer. Telegrams from Evansville height- ened the mystery. On top of state- ments by members of the Binkley family declaring that the doctor nev- er carried a weapon, word was re- ceived that the only revolver owned by the latter had been found in its usual place in the Binkley home in that city. Spoils Sensation. Moran, the porter, spoiled a sensa- tion when he took the stand. Miss Upchurch had testified that she was sure her grandfather had been mur- dered because after she fied from the room with her mother, following the discovery of the body, she was seized by some one who attempted to de- tain her. Moran explained that he was the person in question and that he had restrained the woman because of her hysterical condition and to segregate them from the crowd gath- ering in the hall. The hearing of further evidence was postponed until June 10. peniansaaentoa sth RL AS CROPS DAMAGED BY HAIL. ARRESTED FOR MURDER. Anonymous Letter Writer Declares Frank Keller Killed Dr. Binkley. Chicago, June 6.—On the strength of an anonymous and accusing letter, the police are holding Frank Keller, aged twenty-three, in connection with the deathof John T. Binkley, the aged Evansville (Ind.) physician, supposed to have been murdered at the Well- ington hotle. The letter, which was signed “One Who Wants Justice,” told the police that the day after Binkley’s death the writer overheard Keller telling an- other man that he had “got some easy money” at the Wellington hotel, but had to kill an old man to get it. Keller strenuously denied the accu- sation, declaring that he had never used the language quoted, nor, he said did he know any employe of the hotel. “I am inclined to believe Keller’s story,” said Capt. O’Brien, “but we will take him before the various em- ployes of the hotel before releasing him.” . STEAMER AND FERRY COLLIDE. Both Boats Are Damaged and Passen- gers Are Speedily Landed. New York, June 6.—The Metropoli- tan line steamer Yale, plying between New York and Boston, was in colli- sion in the North river yesterday with the Lackawanna ferry boat Bremen. The Yale was only slightly dam- aged, but the Bremen’s side was bad- ly stove in and part of the upper works carried away. Panic among the passengers on the Bremen was checked when it was seen that the boat was in no danger of sinking. The passengers from both boats were speedily landed. THAW MUST STAY IN ASYLUM. Appellate Division Sustains Lower Court, Denying Habeas Corpus. New York, June 6.—Harry K. Thaw must remain in the state asylum for the criminal insane at Matteawan, un- der a decision rendered yesterday by the appellate division of the supreme court in Brooklyn. Thaw’s applica- tion for a writ of habeas corpus re- leasing him from the asylum was dis- missed by a justice of the supreme court several months ago. He then appealed to the appellate division, which sustained the lower court and lismissed the suit. GETS LONG SENTENCE. Chauffeur Goes to Penitentiary for Killing Little Boy. New York, June 6.—A sentence of not less than seven nor more than twenty years in Sing Sing prison was imposed upon William Darragh, a chauffeur, whose automobile ran down and killed Ingvaard Trimble in this city on March 27. Attempt to Free Farmer. Albany, N. Y., June 6.—Contending that his wife, Mary Farmer, in a con- fession given in the death chamber at Auburn prison, just before she was electrocuted on March 28 last, exon- erated her husband from complicity in the murder of Sarah Brennan at Brownsville, Jefferson county, coun- sel for James D, Farmer, who was jointly convicted with his wife, asked the court of appeals to set aside the verdict and granted a new trial. Storms Cause Much Loss to Farmers Near Mason City. Mason City, Iowa, June 5.—Terrible hail storms, following within a few hours of each other, devastated the country for ten miles east of this city, doing untold damage to growing crops and breaking window panes in farm houses. Fruit was badly dam- aged and corn was pounded into the earth. The hail stones were as large as hens’ eggs and irregular in shape. ——— Indicted for Peonage. Mobile, Ala., June 5.—The United States grand jury yesterday indicted nine residents of Monroe county, in- cluding two court officers, on charges of peonage and conspiring to commit peonage. Charged With Murder of Wife. Parkersburg, W. Va. June 5. — Oharged with the murder of his wife, John Flinn, a farmer living in this county, was lodged in jail yesterday. Mrs. Flinn was found dead last Sun- day. “Farmers’ Road” Not for Sale. Grand Forks, N. D., June 6.—It is stated on good authority that the Soo railway made an effort to purchase the Farmers’ railway, running north from Devils Lake, with a view to building a line to connect the Ke mare and Minot lines. The Farmers’ road could not be purchased, how- ever. It is operated in connection with the Great Northern. Satisfied With Strike. Baltimore, Md., June 6.—Both sides are apparently entirely satisfied with the strike conditions in the shops along the line of the Baltimore & Ohio, inaugurated in the Mount Clare shops, this city, in protest against the introduction of the piece- work system. Universalists to Meet. St. Paul, June 6. — The Mi convention of the Universalist denom- ination ‘will be held in St. Paul’s Uni- versalist church June 15 to 17. nA) .Jyears of 1903 and 1904 there was ‘News of Great Northwest GRAFT CHARGE IN BELTRAMI COUNTY Alleged Irregularities Are Found in County Offices by Pub- lic Examiner. REDUCE THE GRADES. Northern Pacific Begins Vast Recon- struction Campaign. ~ St. Paul, June 8.—A two-year cam- paign involving an expenditure of about $16,000,000 has been initiated by the Northern Pacific railway, accord- ing to St. Paul contractors, to reduce grades and perfect branch lines of the road in North Dakota and Montana, where the competition of t he St. Paul railroad’s Pacific coast extension will be most encountered in the fu- ture, This work has already commenced at various points along the main line of the Northern Pacific, and contracts for several very large projects are al- ready in the hands of the general contractors of the road. The work is of such a character as to indicate a definite policy of retrenchment for coming exigencies. WILL GO TO THE GRAD JURY Taxpayers Assert That Officials Have ' Run County in Debt to Verge of Bankruptcy. FLOODS ON CANADIAN LINES. St. Paul, June 6.—Severg criticism of a number of alleged irregularities in the Beltrami county offices is con- tained in a report which one of the deputies in the public examiner's de- partment is writing as a result of an investigation just completed. Public Examiner Anton Schaefer says the re- port will be laid before the grand jury. This is another chapter and may be the culmination of a long fight be- tween some of the officials in Bel- trami county and some of the taxpay- ers. The taxpayers assert that the officials have run the county in debt so that it is practically bankrupt. A bill was passed by the last legislature allowing them to issue bonds to pay up the floating indebtedness, and just now some of the taxpayers are trying to get this bond issue delayed until new officers are ‘elected. Removed and Re-elected. The trouble came to the surface in 1905, when a report of the public ex- aminer asserted that the county com- missioners had vote to day “unitem- ized, unauthorized, unlawful, excessive and fraudulent bills and claims against the county;” that in award- ing the county printing during the Passengers Are Being Housed and Fed at Railroad’s Expense. Winnipeg, June 8—Disastrous floods continue among the Rocky mountains, and traffic is completetly tied up at places on the main line of the Caa- dian Pacific. There has not been a train through for several days and a large number of both east and west- bound passengers are unable to reach destinations. Between Sicamus and Revelstoke serious floods have been caused by a great log jam in the river, which caus- ed water to flood the track for miles. Several transcontinental trains are held on either side and hundreds of passengers are housed and fed at the expense of the railway company. SOLONS ALLOW $7,000,000. University Gets a Million of Amount Appropriated. Madison, Wis., June 8.—According to figures announced, appropriations by the Wisconsin legislature for the biennial period will aggregate $7,- 000,000. Of this amount $1,000,000 is for the state nuiversity; $500,000 for @l/normal schools and improvements; manifest and utter disregard of their | gj 995,000 for charitable and penal in- duties as related to the interests of | stitutions; $250,000 for state fair; the taxpayers in the awarding of the | $50,000 for state parks, and scores of contracts to the highest bidder and of-| miscellaneous assignments of funds. ficially taking part in refusing to let the printing to the lowest responsible bidder; that in allowing bills for work done under these contracts there was a “willful misappropriation of public moneys to private individuals in the allowance of bills which were exces- sive, which facts were known to the commissioners;” that they willfully neglected to prosecute and collect cer- tain claims and demands due the county, especially a claim from one of the banks; that bills were allowed and ordered paid to which the individual commissioners were the chief parties in interest, and which were not proper tlaims against the county.” Commissioners Removed. The removal of County Commission- er F. O. Sibley and West Wright and County Attorney H. J. Loud was rec- ommended. Gov. Johnson made an investigation and ordered the re- moval. But in 1906 Wright and Sib- ley ran and were again elected. The funds of the county had been overdrawn $87,000 in 1905, but Mr. Schaefer says that the floating in- debtedness now is close to $200,000. The taxpayers fear that if bonds are issued by the present commissioners to take care of this there may be more indebtedness run up. FLOOD COMES WITH RUSH. Water Rises Twelve Feet in Half an Hour and Drowns Cattle. Clinton, Iowa, June 7. —.A cloud- burst north of the city swelled a small creek, known as Mill creek, out of its banks, and for a time threatened de- struction of property. As it was the water rose twelve feet in half an hour, drowned several cattle and took out two or three county bridges. The flood receded almost as rapidly as it rose a few hours after the rain. ATTACKS GIRL; GOES TO PEN. Ire Polley Is Sentenced at Black River Falls to Prison. Black River Falls, Wis., June 8. — Ire Polley, twenty-two ‘years old, pleaded guilty before Judge O’Neill to the charge of assault upon Jessie Lis- cum, a fifteen-year-old girl, whose col- larbone was broken and who received several other serious injuries. He was sentenced to ten years in Waupun. Says Girl Stole Jewels. Clinton, Iowa, June 8. — Miss Ger- trude Rowe, a girl of seventeen years, faces a term at the reform school at Mtchellville. She is in custody on the charge of being incorrigible and an habitual vagrant. She was arrest- ed on complaint of a Comanche wom- an, who accuses her of stealing rings and jewelry. AUSTRIAN SUBJECT FREED. Sentenced to Life Term for Murder, He Serves Seventeen Years. Bismarck, June 6.—Joseph Till, sen- tenced for life from Pembina for mur- der, was pardoned yesterday after having served seventeen years. Other pardons granted; Jobn Saunders, Cass county, for seven years, highway robbery. Frank Davis, Grand Forks county, Over Dam to Death. Berlin, Wis., June 8. — The lanuch Sans Souci, from Sauk City, went over the dam here at night with three oc- cupants — L. T. Osborne, Baraboo; Frank New, Prairie du Sac, and etl sehen fOr Aree Charles Sladeck, Sauk City. Osborne Albert Werner, Stutsman county, ten and New were drowned. years, rape. = Freeman J. Weaver, Ramsey coun- Whisky in Starch Boxes. ty, relat, due. Fear. El Reno, Okla., June 8.—Boxes label- Weaver has served three months of ed “Tomatoes” and “Gloss Starch,” his sentence. TH1,"an Austrian, mur- put containing instead whisky, were dered a fellow countryman after hav-| .oizeq here yesterday at the direction ng been in this country eight days. | o¢ the United States District Attorney John Embry because of the false la bels. VERDICT FOR 6 CENTS. Appeal to Be Taken in Case Involving a Minneapolis Company. Eau Claire, Wis., June 6.—In the United States district court in session here a damage suit was brought by H. L. McCoy, Earlie Hare and Charles A. Erdmann, copartners, un- der the firm name of the Dilver Manu- facting company of Minneapolis, against the defendant. The case did not go to the jury, Judge Sanborn di- recting a verdict. An appeal will be taken. Aged Musician Killed by Car. Janesville, Wis., June 8. — William Bradley, sixty-two, of Rockford was run over and killed by a Rockford in- terurban car. He was formerly @ prominent composer and musician. Boiler Goes Up, Killing Victim. Grand Rapids, Wis., June 8. — The explosion of a boiler Saturday morn- ing at Rice Lake, north of this city, re- sulted in the death of one man and serious injury of two others. Uriu at Washington’s Tomb. Washington, June 6.—Vice Admiral Uriu paid pilgrimage to the tomb of George Washington at Mount Vernon and placed there a wreath of red and white roses, a tribute from Japan to the first-great American, $10,000 Fire at Duluth Resort. Duluth, Minn., June 8—The Oatka pavilion, on Park Point, owned by the Interstate Traction company, was de- stroyed by fire yesterday morning. The loss was $10,000 and the insur ance $4,000. Cause unknown. Engineer and Fireman Killed. Saginaw, Mich., June 6.—Engineer John Smita ard Fireman Reynolds were killed yesterday when a Pere ‘Marquette railway engine ran into a washout and tipped over, burying them underneath. _ Rushford Boy Drowned. Rushford, Minn., June 8.—Herbert, aged nine, son of Andreas Ness, a ru- ral mail carrier, was drowned in Rush ing. COLVILL STATUE UNVEILED. Great Crowd Attends Ceremonies at Cannon Falis. William Colvill, whose body rests in the Cannon Falls cemetery, brought great numbers of people to that city. The whole city was in festal garb in honor of the occasion, all the houses being decorated with American flags. The day was crowded with events. At 10 o'clock in the morning a parade was formed on Fourth street, and the column, which included the Grand Army post, proceeded to the cemetery for the Memorial day exercises. At 10:30 o’clock a business meeting of the First Minnesota regiment was held in the main auditorium of the Barnes Memorial church, and at 11:45 the mémbers of the regiment were entertained by the citizens in the din- ing room of the church. Ths principal parade of the day formed on Fourth street at 1:30 p. m. It was headed by the state reform scheol band, and included the Red Cross society, Relief corps, First regi- ment Minnesota volunteers and the pupils of the public schools. Those of the old ®veterans who were not strong enough to march were taken in carriages. Arriving at the cemetery, the un- veiling exercises were begun with prayer by, Rev. J. A. Edlund. After music by the band, the presentation address was delivered by J. F. Searles of Stillwater. The speech of accept- ance was delivered by Gov. Johnson. Following music by a male quartet, an address by Maj. W. D. Hale of Minneapolis, who was unable to be present, was read by Maj. Martin Mc- Ginnis, The oration was then delivered by F. M. Wilson of Red Wing, who elo- quently dwelt upon Col. Colvill’s life as a soldier and patriot. The statue was then unveiled by Miss Elma Wil- liamson. The singing of ‘‘America” by the assemblage, accompanied by the band, closed the exercises. President William May of the First cepted for the First Minnesota the in- vitation of Secretary C. N. Cosgrove of the Minnesota state fair to attend the fair Monday evening, Sept. 6 to witness the first production of “Min- nesota at Gettysburg,” which is to be the big evening spectacle at the fair this year. PEDDLERS’ LAW INVALID. Judge Snow of Winona Declares Act of Legislature Imposing Licenses Unconstitutional. Judge Snow of Winona, in the test case brought before him to define the constitutionality of the peddlers’ license law passed by the last legisla- ture today filed an opinion adverse to the act. This is the law demanded by the several merchants’ associations in the state, and particularly the country merchants. Two years ago Gov. Johnson vetoed a similar bill, but it was again resurrected and passed by the last legislature. The only change made was to eliminate cities of 50,000 and over from its provisions. The test case was brought by a Winona patent medicine concern which has a large number of agents peddling its wares over the state. CAN STATE RUN INDIAN SCHOOL? Attorney General Decides That No One Has the Necessary Authority. The attorney general’s office has give na nopinion in reply to the query from Gov. Johnson, as to the disposi- tion of the Morris Indian school, in which it is held there is no way any one can manage the school except by usurpation of authority. The congressional act turns the school over to the state this summer and an act of the legislature accepts the school, but does not specify who is to manage it. The appropriation made for the maintenance of the school does not become available un- der August, 1910, and for the coming school year there will be no one to run the school nor anything to run it with. PAYS TAXES IN GOPHER TAILS. But County Treasurer Can’t Accept Trophies Sent by Dakotan. County Treasurer Henry C. Hanke of Hennepin county received through the mails thirty-three gopher tails in payment for taxes on property owned by John Erickson, now living at Mi- not, N. D. Mr. Erickson was laboring under the impression that Hennepin county pays a 2 cent bounty on all gopher tails turned into the treasurer's of- fice, just as is done in North Dakota. As the first half of his tax amounts to 66 cents, he thought to trade off his bounty for a tax receipt. The tails were sent back. DEAF OF STATE MEET. It is expected that 500 persons will attend the annual convention of the Minnesota State Association of the Deaf in Minneapolis July 1 to 5. Min- neapolis is the home of half that num- per. The question of securing suita- ble work for deaf mutes will be con- sidered at the gathering. Rev. George F. Flick, Chicago, will creek by the upsetting of a canoe in be one of the principal speakers, All which he and three others were row-|addresses will be given in sign lan- guage. The Week in the State The unveiling of the statue of Col.” /Minnesota Regiment association ac-, MINNESOTA CAN BE NAVIGATED. Steamer Captain Will Lend Efforts to Secure a Government Survey. Navigation of the Minnesota river is not only possible, but entirely prac- ticable, according to Capt. Charles DeMers of the steamer Lorene of Du- buque, which has been making regu- lar trips between St. Peter and Man- kato for three weeks, ‘At a comparatively small cost,, says Capt. DeMers, the stream could be opened to the largest boats now ply- ing the upper waters of the Missis- sippi, and he believes that the volume of freight and passenger business would warrant the establishment of a regular schedule between St. Paul and up river points. Must Secure More Data. Capt. DeMers, who has followed the Mississippi for forty years, expressed himself on the subject of Minnesota river improvement when shown a dis- patch from Washington which stated that the general board haq rejected the recommendation of government engineers , calling for a preliminary survey of the stream. Its members have announced that, while the mat- ter will be kept open for a short time to permit of the filing of additional data, they were far from convinced that the survey would be ordered. Officers of the Minnesota River Im- provement league have set them- selves the task of obiaining data, and they will have a valuable ally in Capt. DeMers, MUST DISPLAY TWO TAGS. Inconsistency in New Automobile Law Explained by Secretary of State. Though the state automobile law provides for two license tags for each machine, and yet only calls for the display of one, and that on the rear of the machine, Secretary of State Schmahi has given notice that he in- terests the law to read that both tags must be displayed. This is the intent, he says, and those who framed the law agree wit hhim. The law as originally drafted called for the purchase and display of two tags, one on the front and the other on the rear of the machine. In this shape it passed the house, but when the senate was reached the commit- tee in charge made it one license tag only. In the committee of the whole, however, the two-tag feature was re- turned, but by a mistake only one or the sections relating to the license plate was changed. Because of this fact some machine owners are only displaying one plate. Recover Old Flags. The eight survivors of Company G, Sixth Minnesota infantry, held their annual reunion Memorial day at the old capitol in St. Paul. The feature of the gathering was the finding of the company flag, which had been mis- laid for nearly twenty years. During all that time it had been in the vaults of the state historical so- ciety, unmarked and unknown, and it might have been there yet had not the removal of a lot of relics to the new capitol brought it to light. There was great rejoicing when the bit of blue silk was unwrapped and shown to the veterans. The flag was presented to the com- pany by the women of St. Paul Oct. 23, 1862, and had been carried in all the engagements participated in by the company. It has been placed in one of the flag cases in the rotunda of the new capitol. Assistant Postmasters Meet. A meeting of the assistant postmas- ters of Minnesota will be held at the postoffice, Minneapolis, June 8, and it is expected that there will be a full attendance of members of the state association, because of the important matters that are to come up. The postal authorities have roused themselves to the idea that the public must be thoroughly educated in postal matters, and to that end much dis- cussion will be indulged in at the meeting. The general delivery is also a matter for considerable worry, and this will be taken up and discussed, as will also what is termed the trans- parent envelope nuisance. The first session will be held Tuesday morning. Springs to Be Exploited. Jordan’s sulphur mud and sulphur water baths are being exploited by two companies, the Rosendahl Sul- phur Springs company and the North Baden Sutphur Baths company. The Rosendahl people are making exten- sive additions, as their capacity is crowded to the limit all the time. It is their intention to begin work on the erection of large hospitals in the fall. The North Baden Sulphur Baths company has property on which are located several fine springs, and this company will soon begin work on a sanatorium and other buildings, John Wunder of Minneapolis having the contract. PAYS REBATE FINE. St. Paul, June 3. — The Wisconsin Central railway yesterday paid its fine for rebating, amounting to $20,- 000.. The road had been indicted, along with the Great Northern and the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Oamaha. The other roads paid their fines, but the Wisconsin line appealed to the United States supreme court. A mandate handed down May 19 by that body decision of the federal district court, » i i