New Britain Herald Newspaper, September 3, 1915, Page 1

RS, HOHR BREAKS 2 " PART IN MURDER b Tnsists Toat Story of Neghoes 's. widow, who following her arrest yes- o i * PRICE THREE CENTS. PHYSIGIAN'S FONERAL . Jmaintained- B “whome in the Elmwood district. Y. !‘hen she said: ‘HERALD BEST OF ALL LOCAL. NEWSPAPERS | “ DOWNDENYING HER That She Hired Them to Kill Dr. Mohr Was Concocted DIRECTED BY WIDOW Latter’s Interview With Newspaper- man Interrupted By Sobs and Ends in Outburst of Weeping—Claims That She Has Nothing to Fear and | Cares Not So Much for Herself as - for Her Children. Providence, R. I, Sept. 3.—Amid the preparations for the funeral of her husband, of whose death she is | accused, Mrs. Elizabeth Tiffany Blair Mohr today lost her composure for the first time since suspicion fell upon her. She had attempted a formal in- terview but it was soon interrupted with sobs and ended in an outburst of weeping: The funeral of Dr. Mohr which was Jheld at noon today, at his pretentious was arranged in all its details by the terday, was released on bail of $10,000 and returned to her modest boarding place on Reservoir avenue. Here she halted her duties to receive a .newspaper man and indicated a pur- pose to break the silence heretofore Negroes Story Concocted, She reiterated her declarations of ihnocence and insisted that the story of the three negroes that she had hired them to dispose of her husband was concocted after their plet to rob Dr. Mohr had resulted in his murder. 4 “I am absolutely innocent of this ‘whole terrible affair,” she began calmly enough. “I do not care so much for myself as for my dear chil- dren.” With the mention of the chil- dren the tears came and was some moments before she could continue. Nothing to Fear. J “But I am innocent and have noth- “ing to fear. The story told by thosofi negroes is ridiculous. There is no question but that the story they first told of their plan to rob the doctor was the real motive ror the shooting. “With my attorney, Mr. Cushing, I am making all the arrangements for the funeral services of Dr. Mohr to- @ay. I shall attend the funeral with my two children.” Breaks Down Completely. Here Mrs. Mohr broke down com- ‘pletely and her caller withdrew. Though this was her first formal statement for the press, it was learned that the accused had told the police that her life with Mohr had been most _unhappy, that he taunted her and made her witness his attentions to other women. It was “In one of my jealous moods” that she wrote the letter threateming Miss Emily G. Burger, she said. Talked With Chauffeur. According to the officers she also admitted that she had talked with the doctor’s chauffeur, George W. Healis and C. Victor Brown, who was formerly employed as a hostler by the ! physician, but said that she had sought from them “To find out what the doctor was doing.” Brown and Healis, with Henry /Spellman, are alleged accomplices of Mrs. Mohr, who was involved by their confessions. % Life Anything But Happy. “My life in recent years, she told Chief. Inspector O’Neil, has been any- thing by happy. He used to taunt me terribly by letting me know in one way or another that he went around with other women. He made it a point to let me see him out rid- | ing with other girls. He would get some young woman and take her horse back riding and ride past the ~house so that I could see him. He flaunted these other women right in my face.” Doctor’s Funeral Private. The funeral of Dr. Mohr was pri- vate, the attendance being limited to relatives and a few neighbors. ¢ - The casket, upon which was a spray of pink and asters, the only flowers received, was in the parlor on one side of a long hall and opposite a reception room where were seated Mrs. Mohr, her two children, a nephew, and the doctor’s John D. Mohr of McEwensville, Pa. Widow In Deep Mourning. The widow was in deep mourning. "She children were dressed in white, and wore panama hats. Mrs. Mohr sat composed as the Episcopal service was read but later as she passed through the hall and glanced at the easket she wept audibly. She did not view the body. " A large crowd had gathered out- slde the house but there was no dis- turbance and the curious watched in S sflence as Mrs. Mohr and the children emerged from the house and entered the first of three carriages that car- brother, | LONDON FEARS NEW “GERMAN INTRIGUE” British Press Fails to See Success of American Diplomacy in Subma- rine Campaign, . London, Sept. 8, 8:66 a. m.—The as- sertion that it is difficult to see in what respect American diplomacy has succeeded in the controversy with Germany over the submarine cam- paign is made editorially by the Post, as well as by the Telegraph, and in the Daily Mail, all of which argue along the same line. The Morning Post contends that Ambassador Van Bernstorff is attempt- ing to evade American demands, and declares that while Great Britain is doing her part as a belligerent to up- hald the laws of civilized warfare it is the duty of the United States, as the greatest neutral power to uphold them. The conclusion is drawn that should America make concessions to Germany, America inevitably will become associated with the German code or sea warfare. The Daily News says it cannot imagine that America will withdraw from the unequivocal position she as- sumed in the Lusitania note. The Express fears a new ‘“‘German intrigue” by which an attempt will be made to “hustle” President Wilson into repeating the German demands for “The freedom of the seas,” but is confident the majority of the Amer- ican people will continue sympatheti- cally to understand the British posi- tion. i “At the same time,” says the Ex- press, ‘“The British government must expect pin-pricks from Washington and must be ready to defend its case with discretion and firmness in a spirit of sincere friendship.” NO FURTHER EFFORTS FOR PEACE BY U. §. Until Both Sides in War Wel- comes Good Offices of Wilson. ‘Washington, Sept. 3.—The United States will make no further efforts to bring about peace in Europe until it has received information that its good offices will be welcomed by both sides in the conflict. This was stated authoritatively here today in official discussions of the message from Pope Benedict, delivered to President Wil- son yesterday by Cardinal Gibbons. From the fact that the Vatican is in close touch ‘with Austria the con- struction placed by officials on the pope’s message is that the Germanic powers would be willing to discuss peace at this time. President Wilson has made it clear several times that his offer of his services to bring about peace still stands and that he will do everything possible to further the movement. The United States, however, will do nothing likely to endanger its posi- tion as a friend to all belligerents, it was said authoritatively. The Pope’s message will not be made public by this government al- though there would be no objection if Cardinal Gibbons gives it out. Enough of the contents of the mes- sage is known, however, to give basis for indicating that Austria, Germany and Turkey are not adverse to dis- cussing peace. Cardinal Gibbons had returned to- day to his home in Baltimore without definite infoi®ation regarding the White House conference having been made known or the text of the mes- sage which he conveyed to President Wilson from Pope Benedict regarding peace having been disclosed. Tt was said unofficially, however, that the President was greatly pleased with the message and with the inter- view. Possibility of joint action for peace among the heads of neutral na- tions and the Pope is suggested, al- though this idea lacks official con- firmation. SPAIN NOT TO MOBILIZE. Denies Report That 80,000 Troops Will Be Called Into Service. Paris, Sept. 3, 2:20 P. M.—Pre- mier Dato of Spain stated today that his government had received no re- ply from Germany to its protest against the sinking of the Spanish steamship Isidoro by a submarine, ex- cept the statement that Germany still lacks information concerning the in- cident. In transmitting this information to Paris, the correspondent of the Havas Agency at Madrid adds: ‘The Span- ish government makes formal denial of the statement published abroad that it has determined upon a general mobolization of 800,000 troops in Oc- tober.” STEAMER ROUMANIA NK. British Craft Sent to Bottom Pre- sumably by German Submarine. London, Sept. 3, 9:35 A. M.—The British steamer Roumania has been sunk, presumably by a submarine. The crew has been landed safely. The Roumania was a vessel of 1,638 tons. She sailed from Blyth, July 13, for Archangel, where she ar- rived July 25. No records are avail- able of her movements since that (Continuéd on Fifteenth Page.) | date- JAPANESE MINISTER QUITS MEXICO[CITY Iliness Causes Adatchi tg Break Journey at Orizha GAPITAL SITUATION BRTTER Carranza Orders Release of Amer§can Reporter Imprisoned at Vera —Three ‘Woman Killed Near Brownsville, Ruz Bandits and Mexican Galveston, Tex., Sept. 3.—The firdt direct news from Vera Cruz since th recent hurricane broke the Mexica: cable, was received early today in cablegram which stated the Japanese! minister, Adatchi, had left City and was en route to Japan. Illness caused him to break his jour- ney at Orizaba last night, but his secretary, Senjiro Ohashi, continued to Vera Cruz. H “The situation has been horrible in | Mexico City until recently.” Ohashi said, ‘but due to the constitutionalist administration and the sterling quali- tles of General Gonzales, matters are rapidly improving and normal con- ditions soon will be restored. The people were disposed to be unfriend- ly and hostile to the Carranza gov- ernment in the beginning, but now they are convinced that he is the only man to save the country. They are waiting his arrival to greet him with enthusiasm.” To Release American Reporter, Vera Cruz, Mex., Sept. 3.—Henry ‘W. Francis, an American newspaper correspondent, who was imprisoned here on August 10 by order of Gen- eral Carranza, charged with distribu- ting news in the United States un- tavorable to the Carranza party, is to be released tonight, Carranza having issued orders to that effect. No ex- planation as to the circumstances which led to the issuance of the re- lease order has been given, The state department at Washing- ton has twice made demands for the release of Francis, who is a British subject. The most recent representa- tions, on August 27, were said to have been of a vigorous character. Three Bandits Killed. Brownsville, Tex., Sept. 3.—Three | of the Mexican bandits operating just | north of Brownsville, were killed last night by county officers at Los Cautros five miles east of Barreda Station, fourteen miles north of Brownsville, according tto information received here today. In addition to the Mexican killed last night it is said a Mexican woman, deserted by her husband, when the outlaws appeared at their home north of here last night, was acci- dentally killed by United States sol- diers when she approached them in | the darkness in search of protection. Search for Marauders. Search for the band of Mexican marauders who yesterday killed two Amerijcans and lost one of their number in a fight. with United States soldiers was pressed with vigor today. Spread out in a close cordon, which left no foot of the international boundary unpatrolled, the border guards were ready to shoot on sight if the fifteen remaining members of the band made any effort to ford the swollen Rio Grande to Mexico and safety. Citizens Join Troops. In addition to the soldiers there were hundreds of citizens, headed by Texas Rangers, who pursued the trail of the Mexicans to avenge the thefts cf cattle, burned barns, terrified women and the deaths of half a dozen ! United States citizens. The tactics of the Mexicans yes- terday led army officers to believe that the band has been responsible for much of outlawry of the last several weeks in border counties. First burning a railroad trestle, the bandits vesterday proceeded to make away with a number of ranchers’ horses, burned irrigation pumping stations and an automobile twelve miles north of here, and capped the day with the Kkidnapping of three Americans. Two Americans Killed. Earl Donaldsson, a farmer of Tayette, Mo., and J. H. Smith, an en- gine tender, were killed and their bodies thrown into a dried lake. Stanley Dodds, a contractor, was un- harmed by the Mexicans, presumably Lecause one of the number thought he was a German. Dodds, minus his shoes and hat, which had been ap- rropriated by one of the leaders, escaped from the band when it was attacked by the American soldiers. Aniceto Pizano, who is sald to have engaged in other outlawry on the lower border and in an effort in Mexico to incite a revolution against the United States, was declared by officers to have been the leader of | the bandits, v STEAMER LEWIS SU . San Francisco, Sept. 3.—The British ship William T. Lewis, owned by Hind, Rolph & company of San Francisco, was fired on and is believed to have been sunk today off Queenstown by a submarine, according to a mess- age received here by the marine de- partment of the Chamber of Com- merce. She sailed from Everett, Mexico\ | hibited a passport, NEW BRITAIN, CONWNECTICUT, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1915 —SIXTEEN PAGES. ESTA STRIKE FOMENTING IN LOCAL THEATER? Stage Hands at Russwin Lyceum Will Quit to Force Recognition of Union, is the Rumor, An unconfirmed rumor is being circulated about the city to the effect that the stage hands of the Lyceum theater intend to go on a strike if the union in which they are associat- ed is not recognized more by tho management of the house Officials of the union could not be located this afternoon for verification of the story. Manager Eynch of the theater said that he had no intimation that there was any trouble brewing, but con- tinuing he said, “never cross a bridge until you come to it.”” He spoke of the fair manner in which he haa treated the employes last year and the equaily unfair manner in which they reciprocated his efforts. From the attitude of Manager Lynch it is apparent that he is not worrying any ower the rumors, for he stated that in the event of the stage hands taking action against \lhe house, others would be secured {0 succeed them. He spoke of the efforts of a walking delegate to get hdm to sign an agreement last sea- soR, but there were some objection- able clauses which prevented him from_so doing. Mr. Lynch stated that he a!ways paid the same scale of wages as the union men in any city get, but felt that if he wanted to hire a sompetent man from Hartford or Meriden, he should have the right to do so\ One clause would prevent him from',doing this. Another of the clauses in the rule was that if a man was'to be hired or dismissed it was the union’s business and not the man who owned the theater. DOUBLE ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION IS HELD Johnstons and Griswolds En- tertain at Country Club, Farmington. Mr. and Mrs. Frank H. Johnstcn of 376 West Main street and Dr. and Mrs. Roger M. Griswold of Kensing- ton celebrated their wedding anniver- saries last evening by entertaining a few of their intimate friends and relatives at a dinner party at the Country club, Farmington. Yester- day marked the twenty-ninth anni- | versary of Major and Mrs. Johnston and the thirty-ninth anniversary of Or. and Mrs, Griswold, Mr. and Mrs. Johnston were mar- ried in this city on September 2, 1886, in the Baptist church, Rev. George H. Minor officiating. Before her marriage Mrs. Johnston was Miss Annie Andrews, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Andrews of this city:- Two children have blessed the union, Miss Agnes, who is a student a Wellesley college, and Douglass A., superinten- dent of the City Coal and Wood com- pany. Mr. Johnston is one of New Bri- tain’s most successful business men and is prominent in both public and fraternal life. He is president and treasurer of the City Coal and Wood company, president of the Connecti- cut Chamber of Commerce and is a Mason, a Shriner and major of the Putnam Phalanx. Dr. and Mrs. Griswold were united in matrimony on September 2, 1876, at Mrs. Griswold’s home in Sout ington. Rev- E. P. Hammond of Hartford officiated at the ceremony- Mrs. Griswold before her marriage, was Miss Rebecca E. Norton daughter of Frederick H. and Jane Carter Norton of Southington. Dr. and Mrs. Griswold "have two children, Dr- M. H. Griswold, who is affiliated with his father, and Miss Esther, a teacher at Westerly, R. I Dr. Griswold is one of Berlin's first citizens. He is very popular in the community and represented the town at the general assembly this spring. He is medical examiner for Berlin- BRITISH ARREST AMERICAN. Held for Giving False Name— Escaped From German Camp. London, Sept. 3, 4:48 a. m.—The 7xpress says that Charles Pray, an American automobile mechanic, who escaped from a German concentra- tion camp a few weeks ago, was ar- rested last night under the aliens’ registration act on the charge of giv- ing a false name. It is said his real name is Curran. On reaching London in July a man who described himself as Charles B. Pray of Flint, Mich., submitted to the American consulate an affidavit stat- ing that he had been held in a Ger- man concentration camp since the be- ginning of the war, having previous- 1y been employed by a German auto- mobile company. Although he ex- he stated, he was prevented from communicating with American consulates and was com- pelled to perform hard manual labor He said he escaped from a Wuerttem- burg detention camp in May and walked across France, working his way to London.. WEATHER. Hartford,. Scpt. Hartford and Vicinia tonight. Saturday increasing ‘Wash., March 29 for Sherness, Eng- land, with a cargo of lumber. | cloudiness, e e ERMANS CAPTURE GROD ITISH TRANSPORT IS SU} [ OVER 1,800 MEN DROW? Last Russian Stronghold in Poland Falls into Ha Teutons Who Also Make Further Gains in Camj Against Port of Riga on Baltic ALLIES SURROUND TURKISH FORCE TO BORE OR NOT TO BORE, THE QUESTION Unless Rock Is Found Along Route ‘of Preposed Tunnel, Pipe Line May Be Used After All Preliminary borings along proposed tunnel {rom the upper Burlington water supply to Whigville will be begun within a week or so, Chairman W. S. Rossberg of the water depart- ment stated today, following the trip of inspection made yesterday with Commissioner - Humphrey and City Engineer Hall. The borings will be made to determine whether it will be feasable to construct the tunnel. If it is found that the route is com- posed mostly of soil the tunnel plan may be abandoned- If solid rock is found the tunnel will be built. To construct the tunnel through reck will cost about $25 per foot The expense would be considerably greater if it was necessary to build the tunnel through soil as it would be necessary to shore up the roof and sides every foot of the way. The tunnel, if it is built, will be six feet in diamater at its narrowest point. At some spots along the route it will be 140 feet underground. A resurvey is being made of the pipe- line route and this is nearly complet- ed. 1,000 CHRISTIANS WERE KILLED IN URUMIAH 4,000 Others Died of Disease in Per- sian Town During Five Months of Turkish Occupation. New York, Sept. 3.—At least one thousand Christians were killed and about four thousand others died of disease in Urumiah, Persia, during the five months of Turkish occupation, according to a letter received by J. L. Caldwell, American minister to Teheran, from Dr. William A. shedd of Urumiah, and made public here to- day by the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions. Dr. Shedd stated that his figures were based on careful investigation and record, there having been 3,600 Christian burials alone in the city of Urumiah and the American college compound. He said that before the Russians left Urumiah on January 2 there were between 32,000 and 33,000 Christians in the city and villages on the surrounding plains. Within a few days after January 2 between 8,000 and 9,000 left the country. Of the 6,500 Christian families in the district, Dr. Shedd said, all but 1,000 were robbed of all their posses- sions and nearly all suffered some | loss. He said the total loss to Chris- tians had been estimated at $2,500,- 000, and added that the Presbyterian Mission sustained a loss of $10,000 during one attack. Considerably more than a hundred Christian girls turned Moslems during the Turkish occupation, the writer said, in hope of escaping violence. EIGHTH DAY OF STRIKE. Holyoke, Mass., Sept. 3.—With the failure of every peace-making pro- posal to bring any change in the situation and the apparent unwilling- ness of either the company or the men to concede the, slightest point, Holyoke entered upon its eighth day ot the trolley strike today- with no prospects of immediate settlement. The state board of conciliation and arbitration has left town and aban- doned its efforts to bring about a settlement. Mayor John H. Woods and representative business men re- rewed their efforts to secure a re- storation of street car traffic which has been completely suspended in Holyoke and Amherst since the strike began. DAVIS GENERAL AGEN' New 3.—Official rnouncement the New York, New laven and Hartford Rail- today that, in further- Haven, Sept, an- was made Dy road company its of has ance of its poliey to do all in the interests power to promote New England trade, F. S. gene passenger agent for company and affiliated lines with | headquarters at Pittsburg. Mr. Davis grew up in the freight business, beginning as a checker in 1887 at the freight houses of the Fitchburg road at Warren Bridge, Boston. His re- cent office which he assumed in 1890 wag that of chief of the tariff bureau cf the New England lines. Davis, heen appointed western freight and the ON THE MINIATURE RIOT AT BRIDGEPORT PLANT Two Shots Fired — Police Use Clubs—No One Injured. Bridgeport, Sept. 3—A riot in min- jature in which hundreds of persors took part, occurred outside the gates of the Crane Valve company, in Iran- istan avenue, today, and ten police officers and their clubs to regain con- trol of the situation. During the scrimmage two pistol shots were heard but no one was reported injur- ed by bullets and the supposition is that some excited person fired into the air. The trouble started, cording to two officers who were on duty at the Crane plant where a strike of machinists has been in force for several weeks, when sev- eral men tried to prevent others from going in. At first there was a free for all fight between men who in- tended to enter the gates, and sev- eral men who refused to let them pass. Police reserves were called and when they got there the streets were jammed with people The officers drew their club and ordered crowd tc disperse. Three of them were hurt almost immediately by flying missiles and later required surgical attendance The officers singled out two men as leaders and arrestcd them. The latter were arraigned ‘n cout on charges of breach of ‘he peace, and both received a fine of §1 and costs and six months in jail, the court on second thought making the Jjail penalty onc year. The men in court were Tony Mos- kowsky of 174 Spruce street, and Steve Shusenski of No. 2 West ave- nue, and both are said to have been strikers. The former was singled out as a leader of the trouble, as clad in a bright red sweater he was con- spiguous in the fighting and in giving orders to those around. The crowd did not stop at interference with peo- ple on foot but it halted passing auto- mobiles and molested persons in them. The three officers struck by missiles were Michael Quilty, hit on the leg by a blunt instrument; Mark Kane, face cut, and Mendelson, shoulder wrenched, In addition Officers John Curry, John Dwyer and Sergeant Wheeler were bruised. Moskowsky had his scalp cut open by the night stick of Sergeant Wheeler, and Shu- senski went into court with one ear plastered with paper. Moskowsky was not captured while the crowd was ac- trying to escape, having dodged into a saloon. Since the strike at the Crane plant there has bheen a picket line main- tained by the strikers, and two officers were in the detail to preserve order in that section. These officers, upon finding themselves powerless, tele- phoned for assistance. Officers sent out on emergency calls carry their night sticks, and as soon as they drew these the crowd began to throw bricks, stones and pieces of metal. SHELTON MACHINISTS STRIKE. About Sixty Men Quit Their Jobs at Bassett Plant. Shelton, Sept. 3.—Machinists to the number of sixty, some strikers claim- ing eighty-five, suddenly left their in the R. Bassett companye Earlier in the week wire cov- work today. erers and employes in other depart- ments struck for the eight hour day The machinists then did not go ouf, as they accepted a compromise their demands, receiving a ffty-five hour week for a fifty-nine hour one without pay reduction. It is understood that machin- ists' union last night not stand by their fellows in the Rassett plant because unionism is fighting for an eight hour day and is not seekir a compromise. Today a strike f lowed and it is expected that the machinists will make the eight hou:s demand, as have employes in oth departments. The company employs 1,300 persons, mostly girls. The pro- duct is buckles, corset bones and articles of covered wire, on the voted o in an uproar, but later while he was | GALLIPOLI PE Petrograd Claims Su Forces Along Vilna Sector Between S Rivers—Notable A tinues on Western British Steamers Sunik, Grodno, last of the R holds in Poland, has b by the Germans. The fall of the ou Grodno was reported passage of the Niemen Field Marshal Von troops, and the Germang Russians back through thi the city, the official from Berlin says: British Transport A despatch from Berlin reports the sinking transport which struck & entrance of the Dardane loss of more than 1,800 The date of the disast from Sofia is lacking, and tain whether the despate the sinking of the Royal | the Aegean Sea on Augu more than 1,500 men { whom about 600 were sav loss of another British The surrounding of &nJ part of the Turkish fores Gallipoli Peninsula by t entente allies is reported | from Athens to a Paris n The surrender of the troops is said to be im Russian resistance to pressure in the north conti and Petrograd, in its latest claims an advance by the fending the Vilna line. for the Russians in the sech the Sventa and Vilna ri ported. French Artillery Ag On the western front been a continuation of artillery activity an the French that has been in late o The British steamer | a 1,638 ton vessel, has been sumably by a German to crew was saved. The llam T. Lewis was. also Teutons Take G Berlin, Sept. 3, by Wirel erton, N, J.,—The army of} Marshal Von Hindenburg tured Grodno, the last of Russian fortresses to hold British Transport Berlin, Sept. 3. by Wi ville, N. Y.—"Telegrams £ the Overseas News Gay, “state that off the the Dardanelles a British§ struck a mine and sank | cfficers, 1,250 soldiers and bers of the crew, all of Wl drowned 8ix hundred b recovered.” Advance Towird Ri Berlin, Sept. 3, Via. Lom r1.—The German troops advancing on the impol port of Riga on the Baltie, B a further gain of @ Cfficial announcement was today that they had captul tion northwest of Fri which is about forty miles London Not Surp London, Sept. 3, 11:50 evacuation of Grodno is Petrograd admits officially sian forces are being withd the right bank of the Nis loss by the Russians of their strong fortresses h pected and the report that tion in imminent caused i here. It has been evident time that Grand Duke Nigh intention of allowing of men sufficient to main defense to be penned up in tress which could be invest Along the Galicia border off continues to retire, but out inflicting heavy losses of tro-German forces, which several times Wy attacks In the the extreme north the Gen making little progress. another local says no shalken counter sians claim Vilna, ! sat Artillery Due The great artillery duel’’ along a large part of the front held by the French timate purpose of this activ obscure. The British press is not (Centinued on Fifteenths