The New York Herald Newspaper, March 19, 1879, Page 4

2 WIDOW OLIVER'S SUIT Continuance of the Case Be- fore Judge Cartter. DECIDED SENSATION IN COURT. The Plaintiff's Kentucky Husband Appears in Person, A GISTORY THAT WaS TOLD THE DEFENDAN'. a Unpleasant Developments for the Aged Senator. ANTERESTING | CORRESPONDENCE. [BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.] Wasuinetos, March 18, 1879, The trial of the suit of Mary S. Oliver against ex- Senator Simon Cameron was resumed this morning. Long before the opening of the doors of the court room hundreds of persons had congregated at the outside anxiously waiting an opportunity to get in, At the hour—ten o’clock—for calling the case every Beat and al! the standing room was occupied. The class of persons present included the best citizens of the city, most of whom, it is said, had not been dnside of a court room for over ten years. Several Uadies were present and were attentive listeners to the testimony of Mrs, Oliver; but before the conclu- sion they retired, satisfied that the nature of the widow's evidence was not suited to refined ears, General Butler and Colonel Cook, of Mr. Cameron’s counsel, were carly on hand, reaching the Court House some time before the plaintiff! and her counsel. On the arrival of the latter all eyes wero turned toward her, but she modestly walked toa seat near her counsel, and did not seem in the least dis- turbed. Her friend, Mrs. Charlton, accompanied her. This lady has acted toward Mrs. Oliver during the past five days as a sort of adviser. She isa tall, slender woman, about fifty years of age, with sharp \features and dark brown cyes. Her hair is gray, and altogether she has the appearance of a person who is ‘fully capable of giving yood advice. SENSATION OF THE DAY, ‘The senSation of the day was when General Butler ‘produced and presented the Kentucky husband of hMrs, Oliver, Mr. J. M. Oliver, a man fully sixty years of age, about six fect high and weighing at least 180 ypounds. He has a heavy white mustache and no hair ‘on the top of his head. After the midday reces the number of spectators increased to such an extent that the Jgdge was compelled to order the Marshal to force the crowd back. A number of the specta| tors having crowded in the jury box, after the crowd ‘was forced back as far as possible, some of the num- ‘der were squeezed ont of the door. ADMISSIBILITY OF EVIDENCE. At the adjournment of the court yesterday, the Point under discussion was whether or not the Plaintiff had the right to introduce evidence to prove geduction under a promise of marriage, no such ‘charge being laid in the declaration, The complain- ant had been heard and’ it was for the defence to reply. General Butler thought the point of considerable im- portance, in the view that it sent the parties to try an issue of which no notice bad been given, and which would involve ‘a tedious and decidedly unpleasant investigation. It would bring paitto the defendant, and, by a number of witnesses, place the plaintiff in an unenviable position before the public. For this, if for no other reason, he would prefer not to see this question opened; but the au- thorities were divided on the admissibility of testi- mony of this character, especially where the charge of eduction was not set down in the bill of complaint. "He did not think a case could be cited to show where it was asked to admit testimony as to seduction, ‘when the averment was not set out in the pleadings. They had here a widow of at least one husband (and they would try and find two or three more before “they got through with the case) going to ihe room of ‘@n aged man aud then making the allegation that he ‘Proposed to make her his wife. By the way, he ‘would say this widow was no chicken and did not need such protection; still she wants damages tor an injured reputation. This was merely a breach of contract, and there was no difference between this and any other contract in the law; for the law has one and the same rule, This was a case of conse- uential damages, and special damages could not be claimed unless they were specificaily set out. He continued his argument at some length, citing Buthorities to sustain his view of the incompetency Of the testimony. Chief Justice Cartter said that the plaintiff pro- «Posed to prove seduction and also to show a contract“ “of marriage. He thoughtit would be an erroz to reject testimony tending to prove a marital contract, and it might be that this contract had its outgrowth in ‘acts. He was in doubt ou the point in relation to seduction, but he would admit the testimony and open this sewer as little 98 possible, for none of them desired to hear such evidence. ‘MRS. OLIVER'S TESTIMONY. Mrs, Oliver then resumed the stand and testified hat, relying upon the promixe of Mr. Cameron to marry her, she permitted him to enjoy improper Privileges ‘with her; 1 the winter Mrs. McVeagh ‘came to the St. nes Hotel, in this city, with her children, and that afternoon Mr. Cam- ron sent for the witness to come to his Parlors at the Congressional Hotel; it rained St the time; when she entered he locked the door and took the key out; he said that his danghters came with the children and annoyed him and he would not Jet them in; he told her that should they come to the door for her to get back of the bed, and if they went to the window for her to go behind the curtain, and that would prevent them secing her; Mrs. M «i the children did come and knocke iving no answer ay; he then said that & # it would look strange: had champagne in the room and invited her to drink, saying that it would help he little Of it; she axked him to go home with her, he said that he would her in a carriage; she €at upon the sofa and requested him to open the door; he 1; he said that she Was not comfortable and got o pillow for her, saying that she could not go ont until morning; Mr. Cam- éron insisted upon her staying—kept the door locked and held the key; she remained in the room all night; Mr. Cameron said she was to marry him, and jnsisted upon her complyiug with his request; no- body would know it, and in the sight of God it Hwould be no crime; shedid comply with his request jshe knew the handwriti Mr. Cameron, and the letters she had exhibited were written by him, ‘THE CROSK EXAMINATION, Cross-examned by General Butler—She had given several interviews to the pr reporters came to {wee her and made up what they said; the article pub- jlished in the Post of January 2%, 1878, wae \s slanderous piece in reference to her ‘many ‘husbands ; it was a libel; it was at New ‘Orleans thot she gave Mr. Cameron a history ‘Of herself; she told him that she was depending upon a lady in that city for a home; that she was vonce in better circumstances, but that she had lost everything; when she wa a little girl she wont to live with Mrs. Oliver at Louisville, Ky., and she sent her to a school kept by Rev. Mr. Brown; Mrs. Oliver's son kept her in a private room in house and promised to marry her, living; after she related her his- meron, he told her to keep it to herself ‘and that she should come to Washington; he would Antroduce ber as the daughter of Commodore Stuart ‘and 4 widow; Mrs. Oliver’s son was named 'Thomae Marshall Oliver; she told My. Cameron that they had pived together as man and wife, and that she-had two ehildren by him; she lived ‘with him from 1864 the time the divorce was gotten from his and the Judge told her that it divorced her ‘also; she told Mr.Cameron at the time she lived with Oliver he had a wife living; after the divorce Oliver left, and she never saw him again; she was born in Ireland, and was a descendant of the Allden family; her father was once a general, but bad be- come reduced by circumstances; her father gave her to afamily named Stuart Living at Petersburg, Va.; Mrs. Oliver took her from there to laleigh, N. O., ‘and afterward to Louisvilie, Ky.; she attended school at a convent at Cedar Grove, Ky.; she told Mr. Cameron that a lady in New Oricaus, who had Jost hor husband by yellow fever, wanted her to live with her; Mr, Cameron said be might make New Orleans his home at some future day and wanted her to come with him; she thought that she would like Aim, because he was kind and gentle. HOW THEY MrT. Her first meeting with Mr. Cumeron was in 1874; ehe daw bim sbout the Marshall estate, and it being +# claim against the United States she thought that he ‘Would take some interest in it; her visit North at that time was to peo her danghter, who wae in a con- ‘Yort in Philadetphia; she spoke to Mr. Cameron sbout it and asked his assistance to get her away; ‘the warriego ceremony between her and Mr. Oliver | were written by her. NEW YORK HERALD, . Oliver's bookkeeper in the asked was ed tA resence ot Mrs. Oliver; she Mr, Cameron it R was |i . and he seid that if she had not seev Mr. the care and love of 4 T will bo happy to Jove and care for bi so samo as if he were Bae MRS. OLIVER TO J. ROWEK. ERIE, Oliver since the war the ceremony amounted to HNGROX. Apri! 29. nothing; she returned to New. Orleans and | This morning I received your letter. I am not boardiny wrote “him” immediately, Dut nothing was said | at the Cutler tose now, and se you are from my bolove about love and matmmony; a number of enazivania, Tame nee, Sam. Pignem, Jo bear letters passed between them, and then Mr. Cam- | jf EE HAD PR ip. eron came to New Orlean: party; she knew that he was a Senator from Penn- sylvania, but did not think the Senator from Penn- H sylvania was a great deal; she knew that be bad been Secretary of War during the Rebellion, but did pot think that was much; she knew that he went as Minister to Rus but being in war times she knew very little abo: ; when he went to New Orieaus she’ vaw him at the St, Charies Yotel; he sent a messenger for her, and she went directly to nim; “he went into ti arlor; there were a number of atlemen there, but they left, seeming inf om out at is Tequest; it was then she made the disclosure of whom and what she was, and be made the promise to pass her offas Commodore Stuart's daughter; he agreed to go into that deception the second time be | ever saw her and after she had told him of ber past life and make ber his wife; that was as true as anything she had sworn to; the marriage contract was not even scaled with a kiss; she denied ever hav- ing worked in a New Yor® Masonic regalia store or | ever having met Thomas M. Oliver in that city at | thatffactory or atan assignation house in that rity and afterward his sending her to Louisville, K she | was in New York in Iv74; had been in Montreal, but not in Quebec: she had never lived under the name of Mary McCafferty end did not give it to Oliver as ber ; she did not tell him t she landed with her father at Quebec and then went to Montreal; neither did she tell him that she was with child by a man named Platt; she did not cohabit with Oliver while she was in New York; she first met him at Petersburg, Va., in 1852; his mother, himself, his nephew and witness went to Louisville together; if he were not her hus- band then ahe never ad one; no tombstone was put up ina Louisville cemetery by her; she saw one that had réference to her; it was at the grave of her baby, Tommy; on it was the inscription, “Sonof Thofnas M. and Mary E. Oliver, age ten months;” Mr. Oliver | put it up, and it was in a respectable burial ground: | it was put up with her knowledge and consent; for several years she was looked upon as Mr. Oliver's wife; the marriage was not lawful, because Le had a wife livil when, he married the witness, who was young at the time, and did not know anything about the former marriage; she would not like to attempt |, to tell her age; she could not do it to a certainty, but supposed that she was not much under thirty-nine, General Butler—Nor L either. I will agree with you there perfectly. Will you swear that you are not fifty? Witness would not swear to that. Hor hus- bana was older than herself, but she did not know how much. ‘ hotograph was here shown her. Witness—That is not Lim. ‘CALL MR. OLIVER,” General Butler—Call Mr. Oliver. Perhaps you may recognize him, (Sensation in court.) Colonel Cook--He has been sent for and will bo here shortly. General Butler—Have you written to him within | \, six months? Witness—Not to know he was living. GeneralButler—Not to know he was living—you would not write to him if you knew he was dead would you? Witness—I wrote to.him to know about my daughter, ' General Butler—Have you not written to him repeatedly of late? ‘itness—I have written to him at several places, but I did not know that he was living. * General Butler—Have you ever been divorced? Witness (showing a paper)—This he told me would divorce both meand the other wife; she did not bring the divorce, but he did; the paper was sent from bemlig, Ma she wrote for it about the tiane thi suit was commenced; she said thut all marriage terminated with divorce, and all marriages termi- nated ina few years anyhow, if you did not hear from the party fo whom you were married; she had not seen her husband since the war, nor had she neard directly from. him; she had made no bargain with him about their child and its education; the sisters had told her that since 1870 he had made a contract with them; He never released hers and her daughters’ trunks from pawn in Louisville in 1864, ‘MR. OLIVER APPEARS, At this point Mr. Oliver entered the chamber. Ho is a stontly built man, about fifty years of age; smooth face, excepting a white moustache, and his head is partly bald, the hair being gray. ‘ee Butler (turning toward him)—Is that Mr. ver Witness—Yes, that is Mr. Oliver; he has changed somewhat, but thatis he. [As she spoke she arose and stepped toward him]. For tive years she held herself out as tris wifo in Louisville; she was about twelve years old when she landed at Montreal; her father and sister visited her at her house while living with Mr. Oliver in Louisville; she had not seen her sister since; when she left Montreal her father gave her to the Stuarts, who took her to Petersburg; she remained there for a year or so, and left with Mrs. Oliver without the with a Senatorial | yf | tox Stuarts knowing where she had gone; her name was changed to Mary Cooper so they could not find her; she put the Stuart in her name and used it some- times out of respect to them; she had written-re- peatedly to them sincs the suit began, but*got no answer; she told. them to direct to Mary Omian But- ler Keefeiny, Now York; Mr. Oliver's néephew’s name was George Gould; he lived in the house with the witness, and called her euntic—Mr. Gould was here ee ‘but the witness failed to identity him— in Louisville she lived with Mrs Oliver until she insisted that she must live by her- self; her husband then got her a home in the ton Road, but in a little while his mother came to live with them; she overheard Mr. Oliver reading a letter to his mother saying:—“Frances is not dead or in- sane and has loft the asylum. What willl do?” Wit- ness then reminded him that he had told her that his wife was dead; he said that he would get a divorce nd arrange it with her; he then left her and went to Lexington, Ky., where he married some one else; she proceeded to New Orleans to find some distant | relatives, but, discovering that they were poor, she did not make horself known to them; she then went in search of her daughter, who was found in a convent at Dayton, Ohio, where she left her and returned to Louisville; then she went to Richmond, Ky., and there D. W. Ewing wished to bring suit againad Mr. Oliver for big... nyfnd wanted her tor a witness, but she des clined’ to have anything to do with it; ‘then she went to New Orleans again; the first time that she saw Mr. Cameron was at ths Congressional Hotel in this city; she did not tell him that she was just from the South, without money and wanted to go to Philadel- phia to see her daughter, and that he gave her $5; she never claimed to haye lost cotton by the war or : ‘ied to get persons to swear to losses sustained by er. MRS, OLIVER TO MR. CAMERON. The following letter was then shown to her and she admitted the handwriting as hers. The envelope bore the stamp “October 31, 1878” :. Hon, Simox Camxno: Late ns it is Twill Jand, if you will m: for a wite, as y ay to God to, hare yon sent to Eng: rovide for me ax you would You have vut a short time mit vars, It will be granted to me because I pray for it; my prayers God always an- swers, Let mo know. Justice to me and fortune is yours. Respectfully, MARY After reading it she laughingly said. Vell, Gen- eral Butler, you can’t blame me for wanting to stir the old man up and get him to marry me."" ‘Twenty-two more letters were shown to her, and she acknowledged having written them, She said that she had not shown the following letter to any- body or recollected receiving it:— MAnutsnvna, Sept. 5, 1875. My Dear Mus. Ontven:— Thope you will be tng, wile votore vory nw! Deel te. Tho sinall sum will pay ly be in Washington in e you may continue to avold 0. your expenses, it twelve or fourteen day: all bad people. Yours MORE LETTERS. ‘The following letters wore submitted by General Butler to Mra. Oliver, and she admitted Saat the t the proper time wi be put in evidence by the defetoe me MRS, OLIVER TO ZENATOR MORRILY. You told me to write m: you, It is simpl, if you can use your intiw favor to nay tothe Hon. Simon Caneron it ie jefor him to send hi frivnds to injure me. Ie told his friend, Mins Anni Davis, of No. 136 © street, henet, ond that lady told Mra. Smith, who was the housekeeper to the Hon. Thad, Stevens, “to come and ¢. Me, Cameron knows fall well how mu ffer, and for him to hire ghesoe ow to injure me unkind. Idan show you ameron’s letters. Ie even t now Fofusos to replace me in office. Hocan tell yon what Lam. Youecan ask him If it is kind in him to injure me here, alone in a strange place, with no friends. He brought me here. Please intere ith him in my behalf. Yt ill do T will let meer from his ttl Mien 8. OLIVER, ‘MRS, OLIVER TO MR. CAMERON. DAY, 318 Pounsylvania avenue. nly see you but for half an hour I wit drop live to know you love me onee ae: Fennnot veo you I will aue youi, because that Annio Davie has separated ws, Bhe sent aan even to my very boned: nso to try to injure me, and told Mrs, Smith to, me she would send her brother after ine, poor, creature, Mrs, Whitney told me that this Annie was the mistross of a Mr. Forney, an editor of paper, ashe had a room in tho house where she lived—in 0 third story of the house where Mr, Butler's is, corner of ow Jersey avenue aud Pennsylvania avonne. and that Q told Mrs, Whiney that phia; that she gave you ten to drink, but you di know it to you water; house, and before that she it or be it to you at Mra, Woltney’s. She did this #0 ae to have power over you, and now you allow her to influence you Against me, She doos not | money. She told Mrs. Whitney, when at Mes. Whitney's cating in yonr roo ended, to control you make you give her a house, You Then sho told Mra, Whitney you gave her & ond ring: that she intended to make you do as she plensed, and she bas mado you forsake me, tien your back on me, You one foe sho has succeeded in “th 6 you never would harinfine oF Hee any one do it. Yo vis go It wad you wont stop it, Why can't tt may make up friends. Whon yu to say, and to know that you love me, told e heat what [ then I will be « MAS. OLIVER TO GENEMAL CAMERON, noN—If any man, or any one, no matter who it id come to you ta my name ib oF on any errand attontion whatever to what they say, 1 havo nottiing to do with any one but my attorneys, Peters eters, MARY 4 OLIVER TO MH. HARK. Iknow'you are good and kind, This young gentleman is from your State. You and he torgther, 1 hope, will be able to settio things for me with Mr, Cameron, I Cameron will let to Tivo with Cameron wishes. Mr. ings to i Wey mo, TF will live anywhert Thive something hele fatinfiod, as L now soo iy cnt Vigase douse influence in ms with this propositio onve and forever. lf. ve ago he hag a large sum for mo: insisted, as usual, I must wake it, [retused. Ido wish you could learn something. Ido think if you would write ral Cameron he would have you coine to his house cure a position here for you. Excuse te. grateful for your kind embrance uf me. giad to hear from you. Write, as you area friend of General Camoron. * .Ms, OLIVER TO GENERAL BEN BUTLER, In this letter she states that she undeérstauds Mr, Butler is interested if the case between her and Mr. Cameron. She says she loves Mr, Cameron the same, but is an orphan, aud took the step ehe did in self-defence, and it he knew the extent of the injury she had received he would approve of it. He told her that he would marry her, and to be slighted now would be for her to be hunted down. She then re- pested the same story about Annie Davis. THK WIDOW TO THE SENATOR. Dayle tells that on one occasion she was sitting oy Je of Mr. Cameron on the railroad cara when he ha nono of their pleasnre trips and Mr, Cameron tor chanced to be on the same ear; saw ber and ine went np to her and forbid her eftting by her ide: ealled ber his i but thet Mr. Cameron told hts daughter if she told her mamma about what she . he would disinherit her. owing her intluence over Mr. Cami Who couid ‘believe that Mr. Cameron would joln hand in hand with such « persa atantl, father's and injure mo, whom e once loved? Mon accost me in the strvet and tell ine Mr. Cas nt them. It all comes from ber y bit from her. Tam rt from the great @ would haveoa jeep to now he turns his back on mo. MRS, OLIVER TO THE SENATOR. In this she suggests that the Senator see the Secre- tary of State, William M. Evarts, about obtaining o position for her, and if he expected God to help him over the seas to England he had better make amends for the injustice done to,her. . THR MEETING ON THE CARS. P Under date of March 17, 1877, she writes to the Senator stating that she has called at Senator Sher- man’s that morning and was pleased to. meet him on the cars. She wants to sec him aud tell him of some- thing for his interest and good. She says:— Thavo told my attornoy this morning I would not have him act for mo in my suit against you, You know now what to suy if he should come to see you. PROPOSING A COMPHONISE, MR. CAMERON -— Dear Sin—I will accept $4,000, Arig g $1,000 T hevo wi alrendy received from you: al you xive me the 4,0u0 in my hand, then and there and for- ever all claims cease of mine against you: but if the attorneys [have vow enguged insists on more I) suppose must submit to them. 1 told them I would not interfe it, us [have always told you, I would accept $4,000 with the one I have received. { will still continue the same, but if ny at O'Neil & Brown, object, they are now at y I must receive the 000 in my hands, You me talking about me, rejected my love; broken my heart; me off; broken my heart forever. at No. 318 Ponnsylvavin avenue, No use to talk to Mrs. Fitzhugh about me; sho will only get you into trouve. Tecan make a settlement now with you, and stop all these mixehief makers. Then I will return In a letter to Mr. A. G. Riddle she wishes that gen- tleman to ask Mr. Cameron to givo her the $+.000, and with what Mr. Riddle has for her, together with the $500 already received, she will call all matters finally settled. In another letter she says sbe will take $1,000 in addition to what has been received and a $75 per month position in the department. At this point, without concluding the. cross-exam- ination, Court adjourned until to-morrow. FORTY-ONE PERSONS HOMELESS. FIVE HOUSES BURNED DOWN AT HUNTER'S POINT—LO8S FIFTEEN THOUSAND DOULARS— SUSPICIONS OF INCENDIARISM. The celebration of St. Patrick’s Day had fairly ended, but all who had taken part in the festivities were not at home and in bed when an alarm of fire rang out in Veruon avenue, Hunter's Point, yesterday morning. The hour was three o’clock—high timo for all good, sober citizens to be in bed—and the locality where tho fire originated seemed to be wrapped in slumber. But in one dwelling a light was still visible. This wason the northern side of the avenue, between Eighth and Ninth streets, and the occasion was something in the nature of a wake ‘over the body of William Westhoff, a popular mem- ber of Union Hose Company No.6. Among those who paid this post-mortem honor to dear friend departed was Peter J. McGrath, who some hours before had been tripping the light and airy at a mid- night dance in Vernon Hall. But suddenly the little up of mourning friends were stat by aloud rap at the door and Larry O’Hearn burst in with the exciting news that. Peter’s hous® and shop, just across the way, were on fire and in @ fair way to be burned tothe ground. Every one sprang to his feet, and rushing from the house found that the rt was all too true. Not only was Peter’s house on fire, but the roof of a similar dwelling, two doors re- moved, was already in flames, aud the indications were that the whole row would be consumed. For- tunately Engine House No.6 stands on the same block, and one large stream of water was turned on the flames in a jiffy. in other companies arrived, and after two hours hard work, ‘with six or seven engines, the fire was ,wholl: under control. But by this time, been feared from the first, the adjoining houses had caught fire and were completely gutted. The scene was terribly exciting. Five dwellings, sheltering nine families, were wrapped in flames, and the terri- fled occupants, in many instances’ half naked, ured forth into the streets with cries of fear an of wretchedness, In one instance an invalid was borne out on a shutter just in time to escape a fear fuldeath. All hands, however, did their best to aid the sufferers and notwithstanding the general ex- citement, everyone escaped without physical injury ‘and was cared for over night by sympathizing neigh- bors. In the despair naturally following #0 severe a misfortune some of the homeless ones found vent for their feelings in denouncing one of their fellow sufferers as an incendiary. Then, too, a rumor got abroad that the fire had been ed by a drunken man throwing a lighted lamp at his wife's head. To investigate these serious charges @ HknaLp reporter visited the scene yesterday afternoon. OWNERS AND OCCUPANTS. An undertaker’s establishment stands at the north- east corner of Vernon avenue and Eighth street. Next to this isa vacant lot, extending the length of the house and yard, in which the fire originated, This building is one of a row of five two story frame structures occupied both as stores and dwellings, They were built nine years ago, and have not changed. hands within that time. ‘Lhe first was owned by Peter MeGrath, who carried on @ flourishing trade in ineat, provisions aud vegetables. The McGrath fam- ily numbers seven. Edward Ford owned the next building, which was occupied by two families of that nume-one on the first floor, numbering four souls; the other upstairs, comprising five. ‘Thomas McMahon, tne owner of the third building, who lives in this city, rented the lower floor to a family of two and the upper to one of equal numbers, On the first floor of the fourth building in the row aGerman named Hildebrandt kept % fancy goods and candy store. Up stairs there ‘Was a family of seven, uamed Carpenter. The build- ing was owned by a Drs. Sheridan, of this city. The first floor of the fifth house, owned by James Con- nors, was occupied by James l'lynn as a liquor store, He has a wife aud five children. A German family of seven live on the second story. {t was from this ‘house that Flynn, too sick to walk, was carried out of the reach of danger on a shutter bustily wrenched trom the window by filial! hands. In ail it will be seen forty-one persons were deprived of fireside and roof by the catastrophe yeaterday morning. If an incendiary started the flames no punishment, the neighbors maintain, would be too severe. Bat it would not be easy to prove that such was the case, The fire broke out in the second story front room of MeGrath’s house, whiie he and his wite were out. He himself says that when the news was brought to him he rushed home immediately, but could find no traces of fire in the building. The roof of McMahon's houso was then in a blaze and the flames spread rapidly along the row. ‘The first floor of each building is still voor and, singularly enough, MeGrath’s store fured better than any other, for his stock, though badly damaged, is not totally destroyed. THK CHANGE OF INCENDIARIEM. To a reporter he said:—I do a business $12,000 a year here, and wouldn't have had this happen for $5,000, When I bought the house and lot I had to pay $4,100 for them; but they ain't worth that now. ‘bere’s a mortgage on it, and Ahad the stock and furniture and fixtures in- sured for $1,600 by H. 8. Anable, I had had the house hoe og painted inside, and got a stock of vegetables only yeetorday. I lose cverything bute little meat.” At the station honse it was said that a rumor had got afloat that McGrath had set fire to the house acct- dentally, His arrest was not contemplated so for as they knew. Mr. Anable, the insurance agent, was out of town, but his son discredited the rumor of incendi- arism. ‘One of the losers by the fire had told him that McGrath was the guilty party, but he did not believe it. Aud as a sufficient ground fdr his beliet he said that the policy on McGrath's place expired on bene and had not been renewed, #0 he would lose everything and gain nothing by the destruction of Mr. McMahon likewise had no sus- believed the fire accidental. is property was insured in the Greenwich Fire In- surance Company of this city for $1,500, aud Mrs. Sheridan's for $1,800. Mr. Ford’s was insured in the St. Nicholas, of New York, for $1,800, aud Mr, Con- nor’s in the Williamsburg City for a similar sum. ‘The engine house, very slightly damaged, was in- sured in the Lycoming, of Muncy, Pa., for $1,000, BUSINESS PICKING UP. At the close of business in the Custom House on Monday evoning it was found that 900 registered en- tries of merchandise had been made on that day, and that many more were offered which had to lie over until yesterday, ‘This is the largest day’s work that has been done in the Custom House since August 1, 1872, when the new tariff went into effect. Even thea the bulk of the business was on withdrawal entries. The amount of duty collected on Monday was over $800,000, is activity in importation is attributed to @ healthy revival in business, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 1879.—TRIPLE SHEET. THB COUNTY CLERK Mr. Gumbleton’s Successor Takes Possession of the Office, CARRIED AT DAYLIGHT. Hubert 0. Thompson and His Friends Tell Their Own Story. INDIGNANT POLITICIANS. Views of Those Who Are Most Interested in the Governor's Action, = ANTI-TAMMANY JUBILANT While the announcement of the Governor's action in removing County Clerk Gumbleton created f quite a sensation in political circles yesterday, the story of theaanner in which Mr. Gumbleton was dispossessed and his office seized by his successor was of a character to heighten tho excitement around the City Halland Court House, It was rather difficult to gather the true story of the capture of the County Clerk’s office by Mr. Hubert P, Thompson, ex-Deputy Commissioner of Public Works, his successor, for naturally enough the accounts given by the friends of both. parties wero somewhat warped by their respective sym- pathies. Acconiing to Mr. Thompson and his friends he only used force enough to take possession of the office in order to avoid a contest in the courts, while according to Mr. Gumbleton’s friends Mr. Thompson, with a party of friendly politicians and a formidable gang of shoulder hitters from a saloon in Second avenue, broke into the offico in the dead of night, burst open a door and proceeded generally like a set of skilful burglars more than like men seeking the peaceable possession of a great county office for its rightful owner, ‘MK. THOMPSON'S STORY. Mr, Thompson, who has hitherto filled the post of Deputy Commiesioner of Public Works (in which office he was also a successor of Mr. Gumbleton, by the way) gives this version of the story :—He only re- ceived at a very iate hour on Monday night the news of the Governor's decisiom and of his own appointment. He thought it was important to gain possession of the office the very next day, and so he immedi- ately proceeded to find his bondsmen and to get his bond approved. He started out in search of some friends and George A. Purser and Police Justice, Henry A. Murray readily consonted,| to go on his bond. Then the party, at three o’clock im the morning, went to Judge Noah Davis’ housogand woke up the Judge, with tho request that he might administer the oath of office to Mr. Thompson and approve his bond, which the andge did in perfect good humor and not in the least angry at having been disturbed at such an untimely hour. Between five and six in the morning the party came down to the Court House, whore the janitor, who held his sppoint- ment from the Department of Public Works as the custodian of all public buildings, recognized Mr. Thompson and readily admitted him. They then entered through the basement amd penetrated through the bindery room, used for tho storage of old books and records, up stairs to the office of the County Clerk. Here they wero re- sisted by Mr. Gumbleton’s janitor, Mr. Cosker, and his w: man, Dowd, who tried,to lock themselves in the County Clerk’s private room, in order to retain ossession of that sanctum, but were routed, ir. Cosker jumping out of the window and running away. id FORCIBLE ENTRANCE. NECESSARY, “What need was there for this night raid?” Mr, Thompeon was asked. “Why did yon not wait till the Office was opened and then demand peaceable possession?” ‘ “Because I knew Gambleton would not give uy the office peaceably,” Mr. Thompson replied. “ heard last night that this janitor and watchman had been placed here specially for the purpose of securing to him forcible possession.” ~ Mr, Thompson went on to say that he gave orders to the janitor and watchman not to let Mr. Gumble- ton into the building. ‘He had no business in the building,” said he. At six o’clock in the morning Mr. Gumbleton appeared, but in pursuance of orders was refused admission into the building, Then a small force of police, numbering abont eight or ten, was sent for in order that clerks who should refuse to recognise Mr. Thompson as Mr. Gumbleton’s successor might be ejected without trouble from the premises. As fast as the clerks ar- rived Mr. Thompson showed them his appointment under the great seal of the State, and asked them whether they would recognize him or not, which, with two. or three exceptions, they all did, saying thet they had no alternative but te do so. Mr. Lough- lin, Gumbleton’s deputy, scorned to recognize Thompson, aud never even made his appearance at the office. THE APPOINTMENT. ‘The appointment, which holds good to tho end of the present year, reads as follow: Tux Pxorce ov Tun State OF New YORK, BY THE GRACE OF GOD FREE AND INDEPENDEST—TO ALL WHOM THESE PRES- ENTS SHALL COMFR—G REETIN Know yo, that we have nominated, constituted and pointed, and by thoes presente do uominate, constitute appoi Habert OU. Thompson, of the city of New York, Cierk of the city and county offNew York in placo of Henry A. Gumbiecton, removed from office, here! ivi nd ranting unto him ail and ities to the said offic reof we hav: our letters to be made patent aud tho great seal of our sald State to be here- wi Witnoss :—Lucius Robinson, Governor of our Jbany, the 17th day of March, in andred and id State, at our city of the year of our Lord one thousand eight sovonty-nine. {Groat seal.) L, ROBINSON, Attosted by ALLEN C. Bxacn, Seeretary of State. THE OTHER VERSION, Mr. John E. Wade, lien clerk of the County Clerk’s office, and a warm friend of Mr. Gumbieton, related the otber versiotl, as narrated to him by McCosker, the janitor, and ‘Dowd, the watchman, and other eyo witnesses. He said that Mr. Thompson came down in company with Maurice J. Powers, fe bee lates tie epuys i he r apy 8 uty fen! E. Knox, & member of the Bar ia. tion Committee; Thomas Costigan, supervisor of the City Record; several employs of the Depart: Public Works, and a gang of roughs from a saloon on Second avenue. The janitor of the build- ing was in the seerct, aud when they arrived, between four and hait-past four in the moruing (not between five and six,aa Mr. Thompson ciaims), he let them quietly in. They then stole down into the basement, and after hammering at the door leading from the Dindery up into the oflice they broke it open, tore down a purtition and thus obtained entrance into the office, There they overpowered McCosker and Dowd, and in order that they might not escape to call upon the police to arrest the trespassers and raiders they held these two men cnptive, until Me- Coskor Jumped out of the window, when they pulled him back by his trousers and neariy ripped them off his legs. Costigan said to McCosker when the: entored, “Mac, bb yg know Mr. Thompson when McCosker ied, ‘Yes, I’ve seen him; bi what does he mean by breaking into the office at thia me of the morning?’ Mr. Thompson returned, am the County Clerk and can come im any way I pleeso.” And hé added, with majestic dignity, “T am also custodian of the public lagers ay Dowd finally ran away and reported at tho City Hall station that a gang of men had burgianously broken open the County Clerk's office. Tho sergeant said he nad no men to spare, but soon after sent Mr. Thom; on, the alleged chiet “burglar,” an officer for his own protection, showing that the police had been “fixed” beforehand. WHAT M2. GUMBLETON Says. Mr, Gumbieton, now ex-County Clerk, told a story, from which tt would ay emf eapartfrom the ‘merits of his case, he been treated with unn essary rudeness aud discourtesy. He said that while his premises had been broken open between four and half ed four according to his own friends, and between five and six according to Mr. Thompson he never recetved official notification even of his removal until pacar md twenty minutes to ten by his watch, Mr. Gumbleton, who appeared cool ond pra caer but seemed to smart under a sense of deeply felt injury, said that the first notice he re- ceived of his removal was from a reporter, who woko him up between twelve and half-past twelve the pro- vious night, and yave him the purport of the Gov- ernor’s decision, which haa already hed down from Albany. He went in, ey for 0 past that in case ir. Thompson, who was to be his suc- corsor, would immediately attempt to gain forcible possession of the office, The junitor refused him admission into tho building, declaring that Mr. v had giyen him strict orders to nobody. Then he went to consult some, friends and his Tr) 4, meet- ing MeCosker, ) ‘was informed that the door leading to the from the bindery had been broken open. “MeCosker said he heard a number of blows upon it,” Mr. Gumbieton said, ‘ao that it cannot be true, as Thompson claims, that it was Say unlocked.” Mr, Gumbleton said there was no doubt that he was the victim of & political in- trigue, at the bottom of which stood Mr, Tiiden, and the object of which was to strike at Tammany Hall, “TRUE TO TAMMANY HALL.” ‘T have alwaya been true to my friends and true to Tammany Hall,” Mr, Gumbleton exclaimed, ‘and, though 1 say it myself, I know that f have made a ood and honest County Clerk and charged no illegal oes: Why, the entire alleged overcharges onl; amounted to $4 82. It was nothing but a political move which Mr, Tilden hit upon to hurt Tammany aud capture the county democracy.” Mr. Gumbleton was asked whether he had known that be was to be removed, and he said that for sev- eral weeks past he had beard rumors to that effect. Ho beard that ex-Mayor Wickham bad specially busied himself in that matter, and, meeting him one day down ou Broadway, called him to account, when Wickham said, with admirable candor, ‘‘If I were in the Governor's place I'd remove you and Loew both, as 8 political measure."* “ would again show the good political sense which you have always shown,” 1 be lied to him, and then he clapped the on the shoulder and walked away. , “What abont the legal proceedings that aro now pending for the examination of the books?" “With regard to that I have been grossly misropre- sented before the public. I naver refused access to my books or records when examinations were sought by any person in the inanner preacribed by law. It ts establiéhed beyond contradiction that 1 offered, and in good faith, these very gentlomen such examination us they desired, This offer is on record, and the good faith of itis shown by my counsel's affidavit and myown, When after such offer they peg to pigne mein a false position before the public by king legal proceedings'to compel me to do what I had voluntarily offerod todo I deemed tt my duty, und Lacted under advice, to defend myself against their unjust attacks, I clearly saw that it was the outcome of @ political design to thwart the voice of the people which had elected me to the position by over forty-six thousand majority. Further, I con- sidered it my duty to defend this expression of the people's confidence, as the attack was in reality not againstme personally, but against the regular demo- cratic party of this county. “Do you propose, Mr. Gumbletou, to contest the Governor's action in the premises ?”” “That is a matter that more properly belongs to counsel to determine. There are various questions that arise in connection with the removal of an elec- ‘tive officer, as, for instance, has he received the hear- ing to which the constitution entitles him; but this I shouid prefer not to discuss at the present time.” AT THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE, The County Clerk’s ofice was a scone of unusual excitement all day. Aline of stalwart policemen kept watch, and Mr. Thompson, who occupied Mr, Gumbleton’s former sanctum, held a perfect levee. Hosts ot anti-Tammany and Irving Hall democrats and others came to bask in the sunlight of the new County Clerk and to offer him their congratulations. Mr. Thompson was unwilling to say who recom- mended lim for appointment to the Governor, ex- cept that the Irving Hall democracy generally ‘aud Mayor Cots. pas, had endorsed him, while he himself not sought the nomination at all, Mr. Thompson appointed Henry J. Ford, formerly one of Mr. Gumbleton’s clerks, but who has acted in concert with him in capturing the offi his deputy, and whose conduct is denoun as ‘treacherous’ Mr, Gumbleton’s clerks. Mr. ‘Thompson promi a retention of a few of the old and ¢xperienced clerks, who are necessary to the smooth routine of the office, It was generally under- stood that all the others would havo to go, and that thus about twenty now places would be found within the next few days for hungry auti-Tammany Hall democrats, The members of the Bar Association Committee who prosecuted Mr. Gumbleton, Mvssrs. Holmes, Knox, McLean and Bush, were in high feather and exultant over their triumph. They made themselves thoroughly at home at office, When asked whether they had now made at last their long desired examination ot the books of the office, Mr. Bush said they had not yet had the time todo 80 nor were they able to tell what the real income of the office was, on the basis of the legal and statatory fees. Mr. Thompson said that the feces to be charged henceforth would be in absolute compliance of the law, Up to a late hour last evening Mr. Thompeon was in full possession of the office with,the exception of two safes, the keys of which he had not yet obtained. Mr, Gumbleton said that one of these safes only contained private papers and, as to the keys for the other, he would wait till he was fsked for them with something like decent oliteness. Mr. Gumbleton’s friends, who appeared be very indignant at his removal andat the manner in which he had been treated’by his successor, said that he would contest the Governor's action in the courts, Comptroller Kelly was quoted as having said caus- tically, in reference to Mr. Gumbleton's removal, that Governor Robinson evidently meant to unite the democratic ty of New York. The Comptroller was also quot as denouncing the removal as an outrage ape justice. Mr. Gumbleton called upon him in the forenoon and held a short conference with him, HOW THE GOVERNOR'S ACTION WAS BECEIVED. The removal of County Clerk Gumbleton and the appointment of Hubert O. Thompson as his successor ‘was received by Tammeanyites and Tammany demo- crate generally with indignation; by anti-‘Tammany men.and republicans with gratification; and by the Fred petro public it was generally rezarded asa bis di atic wg nd Let pinto 4 of the democratic . ‘Those people exp: e opinion also that Pe ompson’s entrance upon the duties of his oftice was far from dignified ordecorous, and that at least some consideration should have been shown the former Clerk, who had thus been excluded from the very yee ie which his office was situ- ated before he even had received notice of his re- moval, . Gumbleton’s friends stoutly declared that he4vould be the next County Clerk, while Mr, Thompson's adherents predicted the same good for- tune for their own chieftain, Sheriff Reily was called upon by. & keporter of the was wy ® fer Heraip. He was quite ping to igving expresso to his opinions on the subject. ‘You can see, he said, “the manifest impropriety of my talk. ing on this matter of the removal of the Connty Clerk. My office was at one time talked of in the same connection. A committee of the Bar Association came here and made a thorough examination of everything connected with it. I gave them every facility to examine the books and-everv- thing pertaining to the trausaction of the business falling to the duty of the Sheriff, They could not find a difference of a ten cent piece in the accounts, Everything done was and is ace to law, and they expressed themselves satisfied. No charges against me have been preferred to the Governor.” John D. Coughlin, of the Marine Court, an active mnany , was quite jubilant when met. “This,” said he, referring to the removal of Mr, Gum- bleton, “is only the beginning. The four Police Com- missioners have fet to &. and then there will be mu- sic all along the line. shall be disappointed if the Mayor does not send in the names of two of their successors to-morrow.”” WHAT ALBANY POLITICIANS THINK OF THE RE- ‘ MOVAL OF GUMBLETON. . {sx TeLeGRarH To THE HERALD.) ¥ ALpaxy, March 18, 1879. Some of the Tammany politicians here discuss the removal of County Clerk Gumbleton with a good deal ofacrimony. They are not mild in their expletives in condemnation of the Governor's action and con- tend that Mr, Gumbleton has been sacrificed for political reasons, They, too, claim to see @ peculiar deal in the acquittal of the Register and insist that Mr. Loow’s head was saved simply to effect an object not yet entirely clear. The truth seems to be in the Leow case that the Governor took into Lemgee al beara ta Bap seoaie' ithe acter of that official ergot (0. to reform his a ed ty tion had been called to certain inert . of com. mon usage for about a century. Tho appoint ment of Mr. Thompson, however, is considered ag throwing down the guuntlet of defiance at the fest of po peas wr my dno ah Re entertained of poace between Tamman; as at present organ- Snel, and the Tiiden-Robinson administration. An- other story comes to me from # prominent politician psn ae! that Governor Robinson's action gives atisfaction to Comptroller Kelly; that an_arrange- ment was entered into by some of the Tammany leaders that if Loew , were retained they would be satisfied with Gumbleton’s ro- moval. In case such a decision was not arrived at, it is further alleged; threats were made that Tammany Hall would ie Robinson's renomination, and the fight should them go on with. out the slightest hope for harmony. present bitter denunciation of the Governor's conolusion by Tammany p in view of the truth of the above agreement, might be construed as simply party be brew fd throw off suspicions as to the real deal behind the scenes, A NEW LINE OF STEAMSHIPS, A new steamship line between this port qnd Havro has been established. It is called the Merchants’ Ex- press Line to Havre, and will be under the manage- ment of Funch, Edye & Co., shipbrokers, of No, 27 South William street. In on interview yesterday with Mr. Edye, of the firm, that gentleman informed the writer that the new line would carry freight ex- clusively. His firm had made arrangements with owners of in Doumark by which they were to be supplied with steamers suflicient to send two fortnightly from this port. Already they a acoured four full-po iron steamers—viz., ,the Volmer, Freja, Herniod Harald, These yousels will all sail under the ish fing. The Volmor is 1,531.tons, 150 horse power, built at - hagon in 1876, and ‘will be commanded by in Hansen; the Froja is 1,364 tons, 160 horse power, built on the Clyde in 1875 and will be commanded by Captain Johannsen; the Hermod is 1, tons, 120 458 horse power, built on the Clyde in 1876 and will bo commanded by Captain Olsen; tho Harald is 1,91 tons, 150 horse power, built at Copenhagen in 1876 and will be commanded by Captain Bonde. Mr. Edyo claimed that the new line fs simply on trial, and, if it proved profit it would be » aves table, obie manent, His firm ised considerable freight by the managers of Sivoral railroads, an a merchants had claimed that it was a necessity and expressed their intontion to give it their support. Tie steamship Volmer will Seale here from Aatwecp in the course of a day or xo and, will on her re- ad the Prete dil tact sliortly feos NAPHTHA GAS. Change in the Mode of Lighting the City of Churches. COAL GAS ABANDONED, Economical Reasons for the Adoption of the New: System. SESE San On and after the first of next month the great city of Brooklyn will be lighted with naphtha gas, instead of coal gas. As there are 14,826 lamps in the city, of which 14,145 are in nightly use, it may be inferred that somebody bas a big contract on hand before the new arrangements can be called complete, The chief reason given for the change, which is ordered by the Board of Aldermen by a vote of 1 to 10, is its economy—a measure especially apropos just now in view of the fact that the appropriation for lighting the city is not sufficient to pay the bills of the gas companies. Brooklyn has been very liberal in its appropriations for gas bills, the amounts for the past twenty years being as follows:— Year. 1870. 187] $7,232,365 of course, the charge per lamp ranging from $25 to $27. Of lato the’ service has been far from satisfactory, cer tain parts of the city being left in total darkness long after eight in the evening, while in others the quality of tho light was little better than that obtainable from the old-fashioned penny dip. Repeated efforts have been made to change from coal gas to naphtha, but hitherto without success. At a meeting of the Board of Aldermen, held on the evening of the 10th inst., two reports were presented by a committee to whom the subject of lighting the city lind been re- ferred. HOW IT HAPPENED. “Honest John” French reported in favor of naph- tha, and offered s resolution directing the Board of City Works to enter into » contract with s New York company known as the Automatic Gas Lamp and Lighting Company, et the rate named in their propossl—viz, $20 40 per lamp for # small district, or $19 85 for the entire city. Al- derman Frencb’s colleagues in the com- mittee fought hard for the gas companies and reported in favor of recontracting with them, An acrid debate followed, in which Alderman French claimed that Brooklyn could not afford to continue to pay tor coal gas, that the appro tion was in- cient, that the light was unsatistactory and that- an arrangement with the naphtha company would ive the city a better illumination, but do. not only it at a saving of $90,000 in tho year. Consider able feeling was manifested by the Alder- men on both sides, one party insisting that the only motive in the proposed arrangement was to compel the gas companies to lower their prices, and the other charging that, as the naphtha company char; $42 50a lamp in New Jersey, it would undou! lay some game on Brooklynas soon as the old mps were stored away the new ones put in Pl lace. Finally the point was raised that neither report was signed by a majority of the committee, and the matter was adjourned for a week, It came up again at the last meeting of the , when several reso- lutions were offered looking to an amicable adjust- ment of the matter with the gas companies, but they ‘wero all voted down or withdrawn. man O’Reilly—now in Washington, where he voted Page cond for Speaker jaa excused in the earlier votes, on the singular plea that ho was “friend, to both Feria} and didn’t desire to interfere with either,” but the Board refused to excuse him on tho final vote, insist: eee. it to be made to go on the record as well as his co! jeagues. The vote when taken was as follows :—Affirmative—Aldermen MolIntyre, O’Cor and Negstive—Aldermen Aitken, Block, Leper The Automatic Gas Lamp snd Lighting Com ni an has a capital of 100,000, ad ofticoa In Bread Murray street, in this city, Its “works”? are place on Cherry street, but they contemplate ones in Brooklyn, The princi zation are John W. Barrow, many years president of the Citizens’' Gas Company; A. 8. Barnes, the publisher; William H. Guion, the steamship agent; A. W, Ten- ney, United States District Attorney, and William Hester, publisher of the Kagle news) 5 rumored yesterday that Judge Alexander McCue ner C. Keeney were large purchasers stock. The light is to be the same as now given in Hoboken, Rochester, Oran; Staton Island, Bridge: we and Pittsburg, and company claim that it ig equal to sixteen candie power, The cost to the city will be $280;778, the lowest possible price fo $5 Statik ees ans yn =~ 377,710, or js (with @ surplus on eplusof $73,947 Das ha nnpacent ae will be needed for repairs, while the cost of coal gas down to April 1 must of course be met. The com; will proceod at once to erect suitable works on T! street, in Brooklyn, and say they will be to furnish hinted that the , but the gae the gas by tho speeitiod time. It Mayor veto action of the congenies are firm in their resoive not to come down, 80 t] . some new measure would seem to be § necessity. ~ fo prominent citisen oe pentror g Matemnenr in the company, says he regrets the new ture be alaxpayer. die thinks the better way would have been to continue the old contract with fewer lamps. the city cannot afford to pay for 14,000 larips let it utile ize but 10,000; but to givo a feeble, halt-starved light is worse than folly; itis ruin to the city and its repu- tation. months the Brooklyn le Ines com- — the bad quality of gas uses, and the same is true of ihe Fa in gg fo =. Br pe Fae of a Kite r clog an merest spear a tine shoots up. But, in addition to this, some of the streets are not lighted until the evening is far advanced, to the ine convenience of the public. This is es able in the streets on and near the some of the streets near the river, joxed that there was no use in seeking relict at the ds of the Aldermen, but the fear seems to have been groundless. With the size and ar ood ote reat first class city Brooklyn re un r the disadvantages of a petty income and the inconveniences of country town. Rapid transit finds but little favor, some of the ferryboats are tied up at half-past ten, its hotels are simply large boarding houses, and’ the Brooklyn Bridge awaits New York capital to complete it. Many ive oper reset taxpayers, it, Books FO) owners. ya. tne Dattiofpeted in he earlier operations of Bridge Company, are interested in the news papers and other great corporations of the city, and thus afford ® pet on which the average citizon can hang the hope that this bere departure is in the best interests of the city, which, though thin in size, is far from ranking with many that ere smaller ig material growth and genuine prosperity. THE RAILROAD CONVENTION, ‘The work of the National Association of General Passenger and Tickot Agents, sitting atthe Metro. politan Hotel, is drawing to a close, and a final ab journment will probably be brought sbout this evening. The delegates forming the body num- ber a trifle less than one hundred, but four times that number of persons com neetod with the passenger ticket business are st the Metropo.iten Hotel nott the pro. Ceedings and consulting with the ofiicials who rep resent the transportation lines, Tho Convene tion met at nine o'clock yeuterday morning and immediately resolved itsclf into a Committee of the Whole with closed doors for the puepose of taking up tho schedule of uniform passenger rates, work om which was begun on Monday morning. A_ la forcoof clerks assisted in the work. Ke half. six o’clock P. M. the committee rose and reported & summer schedule of rates, which was adopted by the Convention. This schedule will go into effect on the Ist of » Te ap, to first class limited and unlimited tickets, also to second class limited and third or eimigtant rates. The rates fixed were those gov- ernitig tratic between the principal points thi he out the country where competition exists, rates for all other points are the aystem adop' establishment of unitorm ing of rates is semi-anuual meetings, and been, the closing work of the moetings. after under the new constitution of the the rate sheet will be the first business taken up after the election of officers, In this way the members hope to avoid the complications which have of late sery to prolong the sessions of the Convention and im- the attainment of perfect co-operation in the usiness in hand, The Convention also voted to hold its next meeti at Louisville, Ky., on tho third Tuesday in Bris salen orgy nud complat es Work on the poasengee teri HM thelr work = Sin. ce Le