Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, March 17, 1886, Page 2

— THE OMAHA DAILY BEE, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 1833, DRAWING T0 A CLOSE. The Great Murder Trial Nearing the End— All Evidence In. ARGUMENTS ALREADY BEGUN District Attorney Kstelle Makes the Opening Specch—Judge Savage Follows and Will Continue This Morning. Notwithstanding the fact that all the important testimony in the Lauer was finished by the time court adjourned Monday, the room yesterday morning was filled long before Judge Neville 100k his seat upon the beneh, The interest in the cnse is so great that every syllablo th ills from the lipsof a witness is seized upon by the audienc from mouth to mouth i the court room. The people unfortunate enough to be relegated to the rear can scarcely hear a word that is spoken except when Gen, Cowin's resonant voiee repeats the an- swer of a witness in order to make it have a more telling effect upon the jur However, the pe row of seats ask those in front of them what i said and despite the strict injunctions of Judge Neville the examination procecds from the witness to his auditors who ary in front and from them to the fartherest corner of the room. It is often destroyed by its passage through so many ears and mouths, but at the same time it relates to the Lauer trial and is interesting. Even if a person cannot he: said he is well satisfied to ren room and simvly to use his eyes. isGen. Cowin. the central figur the law this ¢ eriminal lawyer in the west, alert, and attentive to every detail, he sits in his chair calmly but relentlessly fiming:nlhu witnesses for the defence.He oes not permit the least point to escape his leg: District Attorney Estelle also has centered nis entire interest in the case, which is probably the most import- ant which he has ever been called upon to prosecute. His suggestions to Ge Cowin are always (o the point and are exceedingly valuable to his associate. Judge Thurston, enlm, imperturbable and dignified, makes his presence felt by the manner in which he_ throws out sug- gestions to the jury. He docs this in an unexceptionable manner but with telling effect. Behind him is Judge Savag whose clear cut features and gray hai command the greatest respect. ?hw amines witnesses thoroughly and readily every point advantageous to his what 15 among 8, whose cross-examwination n s made him, perhaps, the first shful, st witnes who testificd that he g man’s testimony at the preliminar) amination. Judge Thurston then read some extracts from the printed evidence ich Mr. Potter verifie “This is our casi Mr: Thurston, quiet Y stated that the prosecution had rebutting testimony to introduce, and the court took a re of thirty minutes to enable the state to procure their witnesses During the recess the ladies chatted ploasantly with each other, and " the counsel for both sides went into the judge’s room, presumably to consult with each other in regard to the trial. When the court convened again James Richards was called to tne stand. He was oxamined in regard to the con- | dition of the stove, and stated thav he did not know whether or not there had been fire 1n stove since the tests were made. Gen. Cowin then asked to introduce the | stove doors in evidence, | Judge Savage looked at his associate }dor a second, and said ‘“we object.” “Yes" chimed in Mr. Thurston, “That’s | mot rebuttal, morcover its irrelevant.” i, The court, however, overruled the ob- i«;(:tum, and the old veteran eputy Sheriff Henry Grebe brought A. Potter, Dr. Coff- y ex- the doors into court and identified them, The doors to the lower part of the stove were blackened and red with soot; while the upper doors ghtér. On cross-examination . Grebe said that he did not know how long a time had e sed since there Lad been a fire in the stove. “But you know that Mr. Joe ller was at the house Saturday?” *No, si ot.' . Iler,” remarked Gen. Cowin, irebe left the stand., Mr, Iler stated that while he was the Lauer house Saturday nothing was done with the doors of the stove except removing them from their hinges. j d to a cross-examina- tion by Judge \e, who asked him abouta conversation that he had with Miss Lauer when he visited the house. This was objected to by the prosceu- tion he: evidence and the court sustained the objection, Mr. Iier stated that he was interested in the trial and that he one of the parties who had engaged ( Cowin to prosccute the ase, Mr. v was the last witness called y either side, “We would like to know the order in which the counsel for the prosecution will speak,” said Judge Savago. It was then stated’ that Mr. Estelle would open and Gen, Cowin close the e . “We objeet,” said Judge S: ze “‘to Baving the case closed by the paid counsel of the prosecution, private counsel, who 8 not acting under the sanction of an oflicial oath, nor in the per- formance of private deeds Wao protest against it as unwarranted, unheard of und contrary to the pr governing the fair trial of a_cuse; us in violation of the constitutional provision that every man shall have a fair and im- artial trial. “It is a common thing in this court," rejoined ( al O . "My friend “Thurston has often assisted the ‘brosecu- tion.” *‘I never took a fee to convict a man for his life,” rejoined Mr, Thurston. The court then ruled that the prosecution could muke any wrrang ement they chose in regard to the manner of presenting their arguments, In ThelAfternoon, The erowd which thronged the court l\oum at the opening of the aiternoon ses- sion was too large to be admitted to the Sherifl’ Coburn stood at the to the inside of the railing, tly examined every pe pplying for adnussion. — If they did not e a good reason for for being allowed to enter the sacred precinet reserved for lawyers they we rigidly excluded, My, "Estele’s ar ment was begun at 2 o'clock and was listened to with the g It was delivered in a s wd will add gr u- atly to his reput 4 In heginning his spoc h he congratu- jury on tl at the cas “1 do not inal la Z a o pve, takes any delight in convie nal. Forme the prisoner pot allowed ~ to have any coun- sel but the court. He was' compelled 10 prove his mnoeence by walking ons gridiron or doing vattle for Lis life. our time all is ehanged, and prisoners are allowed the vight of counsel. Heis flvun wore right than the prosecution an obtain. I desire in this case th each one interested in tus case shall fe au overpowering sense of duty. Isee op- posed 10 mie in this casc & man whoso *@panie 1s the very antithesis of his nature, and bandied | who hair is frosted by of many winters, l) his election. I remember how upon him the robe of his office. 1 see associated with him a gentleman of learning and eloquence. ~ | remember that he his probably stood between more nd punishment than any other man ehraska. I have associated with me a gentleman whom 1 all know, and who, like me, is only inspired by a ‘sense of duty.” Mr the snow remember he took men stelle then went on to specify the dith which Lauer was charged y proof of the case demanded a ict “that was inferentially aski 3 the indictment he first that is known of by the jury of the lives of these two people,” coniinued he, “‘was when_they were maried. He mustas he now listens to the story, remember the solemn vow that he took on that occasion, How was that vow kept the solemn to love, protect and cherish? before that VOW was in the presence of the mother who gave his wife birth, he charged her with being | faithless. There is the sceret of the whole transaction. His soul was in- flamed by that most damnable feeling— je Inm)y," He then spoke of the evidence given by Emma Bell, in regard to the time when Lauer threw the dish of cranberry ice at his wife, and drew a pathetic ; sture of the changes in her disposition rom gay to grave. The testimony in re- gard ~ to that episode was, he said, entirely without contradiction. He commented upon the remark made by Mrs. Lauer that ‘‘she would rather live with her husband even if she knew he would kill her,” and made it a strong ]mmtm fihowin% the relation existing between them. He said that a demon of lousy existed in Lauer's soul which (e it impossible for his wife to live with him. Mr. Lstelle then continued as follows: Mrs. Bell tells us how Sallie Lauer, when she first went there in the morning, was smil- ing, her face was bright and she was happy, and that household seemed to rest in peace ictude, But how soon it was changed ! son of the change we do not know, but it did eome remember, gentlemen of the jury, that'this stands without contra- diction, that this change did come, and at about 9'o’clock in the morning Sallie Lauer, from tLe bright, happy woman that she was in the morning, was in tears that continued up until noon. Then came the who, as he says, by an accident sentlier to her grave: then b nd the scene changes: and what ction on this occasion speaking of this, gentlemen of the jury, want you to take into consideration that stands absolutely without contradiction. No one has contradicted. no one has denied or attempted to deny this thing, How soon the seene ch inged. Then asking her, with possi- bly an insulting leer, if his words may be properly interpreted, “What kind of a mess 15 this to set before « man?” What kind of a dish to set before a man prepared for the nourishment of his body under the super- vision of the wife whom'he had sworn and vowed to love, cherish and protect. *This is apretty mess.” Oll, THE ANGUISIT that must have Been in that woman’s voice said, “That 13" the sauce, and I 't have time to cool it.”” “Then what fol- lowed right immediately? The woman who had been there that morning, the witr uma Bell. heard the cover raised from some dish, and almost immediately after that she saw'the wife of this man come inta the kitehen with her face covered with a hot ““mess,” scorched and burning. But, oh, gentlemen of the jury, the burn and scorch on the face and neck it” scems could not be compared to the burn and scorch on the She might stand and submit without vord and a complaiut to that treatment if it ended with the pain inflicted on the body. Do you believe that an unkind act toward a wite, that a cruel blow inflicted on her can be forgotten® Is it not ratheras a drop of ink i il of water—it forever discolors, and ngs with it pain on_the whole futuré life. Could the act be entirely wiped out, could she ever forget it? Could the heart wounded by that cruel and inthuman aet become so healed as to lead her to forget it? ‘After the Incident that is thus related to you by the woman Mrs, Bell, Mrs. Lauer is found seeking theshelter of her uncle’s roof, leaving her home, going where she knows that she will receive the kindest care, going where she knows that anything she may de- sire, that is in the power of man to grant, will be done for her, She goes there in what kind of conditlon? When you think of her condition when she went there, it tells more of the inner life of these two people than could be written in a volume. She goes there smarting under the humiliation and pain that must be entailed by the separation. ioing there ns she did, as sho declared, as told by Mr. ler, that she “would rather live with John W, Lauer, if he Killed her, than to live apart’ from him.”" That tells' more than all that counsel can talk or witnesses swear to, as long as_counsels talk and wit- nesses swear, Going there under a sense of humiliation, SRING FROM THE DISGRACE of a separation, suffering from the injury that had been inflicted on her, suffering not only on her own account, woilld bring sadness and Sorrow to eyery member of her family, - What, [ ask, centle- men of the jury, what couid ‘ever lead that woman who secined to love that man, what could lead her to do this, save and except this hing to which I have adverted? ving him as she did under those cir- cumstances, I tell you gentlemen of the jury, it tells to me, and it must tell to you, a_story of pain and suffering and anguish that 1 can not reliearse to you. = It has been said by one of the best men” that ever stood before an American_ juror, “The man who walks up- rightly walks sofely.” ““The man whose every act may be opeaed to the light of day, has nothing to fear; but the man who has been guilty of crime, why, the very atmos- phereds Tull of chimzes iainst i, No [awn can be so level, it can not be rolied so asto givo lfu a saf . ep he blunders; as he pa . and his eye his e nd accuses him.” We this charge on thi ion, and we believe the proof will carry it out, The defendant says, T mistook her tor a burglar.” Every circumstance, ey ct, every look of this defendant puts it bevond & question not only that the defendant did not mistake her fora burglar,but that every word he spoke on that oceasion, if I rightly inter- pret his acts, were words that HAD BE 2D BEFORE, e said, 1 heard a voic was a burglar,”” “Now noti he states his Story, lie follows in_its various details"everything that was done. e turned on his pillaw, his revolyer Iying on the right of him with its muzzle away from him. ~ He remembers how he must have grasped the revolver in his band as he saw the form approaching, and up to this time, he says, he was in cumbent position. As Lo saw this form a prosching ho fired the fatal siot. Much lias heen said of the light in that room, but if this woman_was the woman she has been pictured, it she was the woman with the white aud lovely face, why it the moon had been on the other side of the earth, if the sky had been gnveioped in a darkness that was s0 dark as to render it Impossible for a man safely to take a step; if, insteadof the stove being full of conls and with tire in if, Lad been as black as night, why the very light of that woman's countenance should have cast aside the gloom of that room, and it must have done so. ‘There was a woman standing there, as sle must have suppose, with her sworn protector, full of lite and for: giveness. She had forgott. robably, wmoment that any blow | inflicted, Why, what is the us the lizht in that room. | made it as brig noon day suu it is not even pretended that there | any timefanyithought save of self, Thiuki selt, selt alone. Wiy, gentlemen of the jury, | does not that tell you' more than I eould say it I talked a w “Uhe iden of & man who thinks that his house is infested with bur- gl in the welock that up ul radiant as it under the other his knows that about & retived with him: all of that thought and re ilectiof vl consideration, tha that time le had not one thought wite. If that was true It must huve be :m :1)‘ @ wan who was supremely seliisl ure room; wife fte THE FATAL SHOT. He looked over the foot of the bed, yet up to this time be had stili no thouglit of his wite. All centered and ~concentrated on him Wien he reclined, or sat back in the bed, then for the fist time Le thought of | his wife. Iustead of looking to see [t she was Iying by his side, he puis out his hand to foel il she is there. He finds hat there is & vacaney., He says that he lwmmcdiately sprang (rom the bed aud ran around tie foot of the bod. Alr. Lee says: that the body was Iyiug on the back, that the bunds were by the butbecause it | Ler countenanee would have | | side, tnat one may have been placed this wa; but remember that the _defendant, John W. Laver, does not say it. He says that he shook | Ter, and turned her slightly, but all of that testimony fails, and fails uiterly, to show that atany time he turned her on her back. I want you to observe, gentlemen of the Jury, that he pretends to narrate alinost every circimstance that transpired from the tinie of his awakening until he saw his sister in the doorway. But there is one that he has forgotten, and I believe there is but one, He forgets where he placed his revolver. He does not_know whether he pl it on the dressing case o1 on the stand, but it s a mat- ter of astonishment to me that when Mr. Lee went into that room he found it carefully laid away in the dressing case. That is what astonishes me. He says: “1 gotdown by her side, and T then knew it was my wife.” He did not know whether she was dead or how badly she was injured, and he makes the suggestion that she may have been in a faint. “Lying there at this hour in the morning, he the only other oceupant of the room at that time, he 1ds her in that condition. And there is the damnable part of this transaction. There is the part of this story that proclaims louder thian voice ean’ proctaim, prociaims that the part that he acted after the discovery of the death of his wife by other people, was a part that had been rehearsed. Ile says the blood gushed from her mouth, and he felt her heart beating. The heart that had been warm with life, that had at all times been ready to turn towards him that HEART WAS BEATING. of this defendant after the arrival of the coroner and his assistant. I think I know how a mother, who has raised a child until it had grown to' be one or two years of age, might have raised it and nurtured it and nourished it. She might have closed its eyes in death, she might even, with the lustinet which would inspire a loving and motherly woman, she might have performed the last sad office. She might haye washed its body she might have prepared its body for the co fin, might have clothed it in its burial olothe: night have lain it in the coffin and close ids for the last time over its body. She might have done all this, and I could under- stand it. I could know how a mother's heart would be held to it. but I could not understand how a man by an accident that was certainly, if an_aceldent, the maost unfortunate that could befall a man, if by that accident he had killed his wife, I cannot understand, neither do 1 believe that you could understand how a man could assist a coroner who was then and there inyestigating the accident. ‘T'he next day there is an inquest and I will call your attention_to some scenes t curred, notat the inquest, but imm after, The testimony is before you a not only uncontradicted, but unimpe Mr. Baldwin, in company with Major Den- went into the room” where this fearful edy had been enacted and while there W Mr. uer and Mr, dwin aske him this question: **How did this thing I In response to that guestion he then ya: “T awoke suddenly. I heardvolces—" o rest of tha story you have heard. But hie says then, “I went to the side of my wife and [ saw her lying on the floor. 1 saw her breathing, and you remember how the testi- mony_ say . Baldwin savs, And o picked her up and laid her on the bed? No, nothing of thatkind was done, *‘Lleft her for the coroner.” The Address of Judge Savage. While Mr. Estelle was spe: m% Lauer sat with his left hand covering his face and did not once look at the prosecuting officer. He seemed to be lost in a reverie but at the same time his eyes showed that ho was aware of what was transpiring. When Judge Savage began his masteriy address the prisoner straightened up and looked alternately at the jury and the man who was pleading for his life. As Mzr. Estelle finished his admirable argu udience took a breathing sy and moved in their chairs in_order to ob- tain a more comfortable position. Judge Savage then rose to his feet and spoke substantially as follow: Gentlemen of the jury, you occupy a holy position. It is not forany profane footsteps to approach the sanctuary in which you aro seated. You havesworn, with uplifted hands, that you have entered upon the investization of this case with your minds like a sheet of white paper, without prejudice, without bias, able togive the defendant A FAIR AND IMPARTIAL TRIAT upon the testimony adduced before you, and upon the law applicable to that testiniony and nothing else. And you have sworn upon be- ing accepted, after such statement, that you will truly ' try _the sues ' between the state of Nebraska and John W. Lauer; that you make a true deliverance—not o true verdict, as is tho oath which you take in civil cases—but a true deliverance, which has been held by ane of the greatest writers of modern times on the Inw, means that you will not say that he is guilty unless his uilt is vroven to yond that doubt which the law calls able; that you will enter upon the investig tion of his case remembering that he who comes before you charged with ecrime is presumed to “bo innocent—innocent in our_eyes, innocent in the eyes of the law until the proof of his guilt is such as to exclude, in the language of my friend, every other lypothesls save that of guilt. "1 speak_ then betc r and im- partial ju You are like i a vast forest. You have before voit and around Labout you the light of your fire, you may ¢ in the distance the howl of the wolf or s of the serpent, but they do not ap- you in the light shed upon your deliberation, they cannot touch you, they nuot effect your views of the case. You like dwellers on a far off island in stormy 'he winds may howl and the waves they cannot reach, they ecan- not overwhelm' the pinnacle’ on ~which you sit secur We enter upon ihe defense of this ease with confidence then, ause we are before a jury of impartial men. admit a difliculty, £ ADMIT A PREJUDICE, admit a desire on the part of one faction it of this community that this poor suffer for his misadventure, for term applicd to his act, as though the horror of the shooting, as tho the death of the noor unhappy lady could expiated by blood, It is a feeling which v not enter your deiiberations, A’prejudic not new. ~Trials like this hay d_be- fore. Prejudices li before, I'hey areas old as hu Moses, the law giver, recogni pursuance to the command of the Lord.he up the cities of refuge, not for the mur not for the eriminal, but for him who by adventure, had eaused the death of his man, to! protect him agamsy the avenger of blood. “He who by accident had slain his tellow fled, the avenger of blood might pur- suo himy, piojudico wight howl about him, ho Passe the duicrt, hoswai the river withthe amily and friends of the deceased howling after him and sceking to show that | tho” 1aw of blood for " blood . shouid | be exccuted in his case. But when the poor panting man came under the alm' trees of Rameoth Gilead he was safe. 'he instant he entered those walls, as the gates of that great city elosed a him, he was safe for a year and a day. RElders of the city came about him and they questioned his case, and it it scemed that it was an history. it when HOMICIDE BY MISADVENTURE they kept him until the prejudice had died away and settled down, as all prejudices die | away and settle down, ‘and he was restored, ee and happy, to his'home as you will re- store this man to his howe and to Lis family and to his friends, | The speaker then re I the case. e admitted that Lauer had sbused his wife prior to their separation, but elaimed that | after they were reunited that naughtbut love, wace and happiness prevailed. ' Before he 1 finished his argument the time for ad- journment of court arrived and he was | Oblized to wait until 9:30 this wmorting to ftinish, Caught [u Omaha, | H. ¥. Koontz was ted last night | by Ofticer O'Boyle at the instance of a constable from Albion, Iowa, who had a warrant charging him with larceny. i Koontz had been engaged in the coal | business, and had absconded with the | I. peeeds of sales which did not belong to iim. He was locked up at the central police station, ST 1ck by the Cars. John Meyers, an Omaha man, was struck by a freight train near Waterloo, last evening, and severely, though it is thought not dangerously injured. He was walking on the track when the accident occurred, and is supposed to have been intoxicated: " He was brought to Omaha and is now lying at St. Joseph's tospital St | MANAGERS AN MEN CONFER | The K. of L. Exw’n Seorot Meeting 'Wigh U, P. Offiials, . N GIVE US MORE MLNUFACTORIES. _— The Board of Trads Heeds the Cry and Devises Wags and Means— A Lively Gougeit Meeting ~Other Loeal News, L Conferring With Ofcials, Shortly after nine o'clock yesterday morning the delegaton of Knights of Labor headed by Mr, Neasham, filed into the oflice of Geneal Superintendent S. T. Smith. General — Manager Callaway joined the prty and the con- ference commenced with closed doors The session lasted wtil half-past two o'clock in the afternoon. Chairman Neash am was met on the steps of the headquar- ters building by a reperter for the Be but he declined to make any utterance on the matter. “I have got nothing to s about the conference,” he firmly de clared, as he broke away from the inter- viewer and moved across the street. General Superintendent Smith said that he could say nothing about the sub- ject of the conference to the papers, yet, and could not state when he would be ready to say anything about the matter. “Really,” he remarked, “there was noth- ing of any importance discussed, only some minor matters which oceasionall come up between the management and employes of the rond."” ‘Do you anticipate a strike among the employes of the road on the question of the new system of wages?” ‘‘No, sir, we do not. The conference has been pleasant and satitfactory to all parties.” It 1s rumored that one of the matters concerning which the committee came to confer with the ofticials was the em- ployment of Chinese labor by the Union Pacific. 1t tated that the knights are about to enter upon an anti-coolie cam- paign, and have sent this committce to Omaha to open the warfare. TO AID MANUFACTURES, The Board of Trade Decides to Assist New Manufactories. DA special meeting of the board of trade was held last night, with Max Meyer in the chair. The object of the meeting was to assist Mr. Walker in efforts to or- ganize a company to start the nail works in operation. Mr. Walker statpd that his plans were nearly completed; and that he only needed $10,000, whichihe thought would be forthcoming in f}m morning. The ident then stated that he had re- d o number of letters from people who were desirous of starting manufac- tories in Omaha, and .who would like to obtain encouragement. The Smith & Holderman Elevator company, of Toledo wroto that they wanted to move their works westward, and yould like to have Omaha_capital ifivegted in their enter- }»r They employed from thirty to orty men. The project was favorably considered, as it was thought that Omaha was destined to be In need of a groat any clevators. ., Jlarke thonght that some method should be adopted, to render substantial md to manufactaring companies which wanted to come to Omaha. Mr, Davis advocated the plan of ex- empting companics from taxation and instanced several towns where such a system was in vogu * Another 1dea which met with general favor was to organize a company which would temporarily assist new companics by taking stock and helping the enter- prise in various other wuys, The senti- ment of the meeting was that a company should be organized which would advance money to concerns desirous of entering into business. C. E. Mayne, R. C. Patterson and H, H. Clarke were ap- pointed to organize such a company, and Me Davis, Goodman and Broateh w directed to ask the council to exempt new companiet from taxation for thtee or five years. A DISTINGUISHED GATHERING. A U. 8. Senator, A U. 8, Representa- tive and a Bee Reporter Com- mune Together. A reporter for the BEE swung himsolf aboard the funeral train bearing the re- sof Senator Miller Monday night, and after securing data about the members and mission of the party, engaged in con- versation with some of the distinguished ators. tor Jones, of Colorado, w. questioned about the silver coinage situa- tion so far as concerns immediate legis- lation. “Ldon’t think,” he said in reply to the BEE man’s leading query, “that 1 could successully predict for you what will do in the way of increasing coinage the present session. ain [am that a il for the suspen- sion of silver coinage will not be passed at this sion. Such a bill would fail over- whelmingly both n the house and senate. Therc popular fecling, which is grow- ry hour, that there is not enough silver in"the country 1d that that metal ought to remain as it is now, the standard of monetary value. Those are my owh nyictions on the matter and [ that the present agitation will only result in a victory for ‘our side.' " Congressman Milliken, of Maine, remarks in replying to ques- tion of the reporter, that the feeling in Washington was decidedly in favor of Gen. Hpward as the successor to Gen, Pope, who, 15 to be 1 from the junior major-ggnovaley. “Of course there is a strong plessyre being brought to be: upon Présid¢nt Cleveland,'” he said, “in favor of Lther candidates for the place, but I Qon't Ehinlk It will amount to anything. From yhat I have scen, I be- licve that Gen, Howar( will certainly re- ceive the appointment,’’ “What will the genyte do about con- firming the pumf appointments of sident Clevelgnd®” Edmunds, as you, know, has intro- duced a resolution. practically providing that the president ,Imll “show cause” for the removal of, office holders a whom charges have | referred —that is, that he produc filed inst each incumbent. whose place b s to fill, It is certain that the stand by this resolution—further han that, asto what it will do, itis hard to ict, Idon't believe that there is one of us who would care to stake his reputa- tion as a prophet on a prediction us o the outcome of the struggle. s briefly nst A LIVELY MEETING. Oity Councilmen Talk Long and Loud ortant Business Transacte, Every member of the city council cept Mr. Thrane was present at the me ing last night, the four eouneilmen who had been in New Orleans having re- turned. It was expected that there would be a lively time in regard to the appro priation of §300 for the Thurston wip to New Orleans, and the expectation was re- atized. Mr.- Leeder arose to a question of privilege and characterized. the asser- _ground in question to one Gr tion that the appropriation was a steal s a lie and announced that the city sould not lose a cent by the transaction. Messrs. Behm, Ford and Goodrich agreed with Mr Leeder, and all expressed themselves in foreible, if not elegant language Considerable important business was also transacted. City Attorney Connell reported that the city could use the funds appropriated by the board of education in beginning the construction of the city hall, and Mr. Goodrich introduced a res- olution, which was adopted, instructing the board of public works to advertise for bids for the construction of the build ing. . An ordinance was prepared by the city aftorney and submitted to the council wealing the ordinance granting the franchise of the city to the gas company, which was read twice and referred to the proper committee, An ordinance was passed changing the names of certain 8treets in order to make the names of the streets uniform. The conncil will hold an adjourned meeting Friday evening. An Iuteresting Case. Justice Helsley rendered decision yes- terday in the somewhat important case entitled the Northwestern Electrie Light and Power company against the First Congregational church and John A. Waketield. The decision of the judge was in favor of the plaintifi’ corporation. The suit was quite an interesting one. It appeared from the evidence that J C Elliot and wifo leased the spot of ifling for a period of five yoars, rent payable quar- terly in advance. The lease provided that should the lessee become in arrears of rent, the lease terminated and the lessor should be given peaceable posse on. Elliot erected on this ground the rink and mortgaged the building and lease for 82,000 to John A. Wakefield. The mortgage becoming due Mr, Wake- field foreclosed his lien on the building and not on the lease and took possession of the former. When notice to quit pos- session was served, Waketield was found in po: on and a lease was at once made by the owners of the ground to the Congregationa. church of Omaha, Elliot claiming that his \gos of rent had not worked a forfeiture he assigned it to the Northwestern Electrie Laght and Power company. Upon this assigned conveyence suit was brought, which has jn‘;_l terminated successfully for the plain- tifr, A Delighttul Concert. The second of the series of concerts by the First Congregational choir, assisted by Mrs, Martin Cahn, was given last eve ning before an enthutiastic audience at the Tabernacle. The programme through- out waz finely rendered, rl number being heartily er rendition of the song, “Thine Blue and Tender,” by Mrs. Cahn, took the audience by storm, snd to the ap- use which followed she responded re. The closing numbe in Dall’ Amore," from opera of Rigoletto, by Mrs. Cahn, Mrs. Esta- brook, Mr. Wilkins and_Mr. Estabrook, s the gem of the evening. The entire programme was as follows: “God Save the Queen”. Variations by a “Two Brown b “With a Violet Mr. Wilkin “Thine Eyesso Blue and Mrs, Calin, . Organ solo, Offertorre in E Mr. Taber. “The Arrow and the Song” Mr. Henry Estabrook. he Wandered Down the Mo\mlulllcl ...Clay uartette, “‘Bella Figlia Dell' Amor (From opera of Rigoletto) . Mrs, Cahn, Mrs, Estabrook, Mr. Mr. Estabrook. —— Notice to Laborer: The Knights of Labor of Grand Island, Neb., would respectfully warn laboring men throughout the country that Grand Island and the country around is overrun with laborers, who have been induced to come here by contractors and their agents under promise of labor on the new railroads projected from this city to the northwest. These men have been brought here under promised labor, and, failng to ind employment, are left destitute on the town ‘and country around. In the interest of laboring men we make this statement, that they may not be deceived in coming to a place where the supply of labor is greater than the demand. By order of committee K. of L, Remarkable Accident. One of the most p wilroad cas- ualties that has occurred on the Union Pacific was reported by an overland pas- senger who arrived \y morning from Ogden. At a small station between Rawlins and Laramie City the section boss, William O'Brien, was struck by a locomotive. Hewas picked up and found to be dead. The body was taken to Lara- mie City, where examination showed that no bones had been broken and not a bruise was perceptible, but by the blow of the pilot the unfortunate mun had been s0 suddenly propelled forward that his neck was broken. .. Pinsuti “Move On, There." The police were busily ¢ night sting s, looking e vs being pulled in in loss than three hours, T'hecity has been sud denly infested with a gang of mendicants ginee the coming of the warm weather, and the police are endeavoring to do their part in forcing them to “‘move on.” Mr.C. J. B Towa, has returned from the he made arvangements with ble lron works to o his patent nd rail lock east. and it will soon dy for public examination, Partics building fences should see his improve- ment adyertised on another page. -—— Personnl Paragraphs. Ed Mclntyre, of Seward, is at the Pax- ton. Hon. Tobias Castor, of Wilber, is in the city. J. W, Lane, of Fremont, is a Paxton guest, Robert Ken, the Paxton: kmil R, D'Artori is at the Millard. John Pierce and Jesse Daniclson, of Chadron are stopping at the Paxton. A. Smith, of Beatrice ived in Omaha last evening and is at the Paxton, Miss Lena May, Sioux City, and Mrs A, J. Finlayson, of Blair, arc Paxton guests. Ex-Goyernor Robert Brownville, is in the the Paxton. Sumner Johngon, an old Omaha ne paper man, and now connected with ne Sun, is in the city with sekman of Council Blufls, t where the Mal- 51 Scotland, 18 at of Los Angeles, Cal., w. eity, Furnas, of stopping ut wife. J. D. La Course, of the railway service, has returned from a visit with ads in Canada, greatly improved in alth Hon. Joe Fairfield, a member of the y council of Plattsmouth, is a guest at ton, and leaves for Sidney, Neb., 2| uting Barohart Bros. & Spindler, the Chicago type foun ders, was in Omaha yesterdily on his way to Denver, Brevities. The mayor's city election proclamation was issued and posted throughout the city yesterday. Fhe trigl of Willlam Bchwite for se!l ing liquor to minors, which hud been set for yesterday afternoou iu police court, was again continued the crape. FIRED AT (0:80, How Thomas Obeyed Orders About Four Hundred Degrees Too Well, Lafayette Comet: Thoy engaged a new t the Lahr house last night. He ve young man, with Hiber an type of countenance and large, horny hauds about the size of hams. Every- body liked him, he was so cheerful, so obliging, and o rigorously and serupu- lously exact in carrying out every order given him On last Tuesday Mr. J. B. Johnson, the vice president of the Omaha Chilled Plow works, put up at the hotel. Mr. John- son is & very dignified and polished gen tleman and extremely particular about his room and service. That evening a very extrrordi thing oeeurred, Some it was nine’ o'clock; others place it as late as half past ten. At any rate, somewhere near that time Mr.John son was amazed to seo the door of his rom open and a man step in “Who the devil are you?" Johnson. *'O1 am the porter,” replied the stran- ger, deliberately removing his coat and volling up his sleeyes C'Well, what is the meaning of this sin- gular intrusion?” inquired Mr. Johnson Thomas did not reply. e spit upon Ius hands, exceuted a rapid and fantastic jig and leaped suddenly upon the aston 1shed guest, Help! Murder!” ' bellowed My, John- son, “‘crazy man killing me!” hut up, yo dhirty spalpeen!” eried Thomas, obtaining a firm firip upon the bust of his trousers and propelling him rapidly out of the room, “it's none o’ the loikes 0’ yo that's wanted in a dacent house " “But, my good man!” gasped Mr. Johnson, his ‘words coming by exeited ks, “there is some mistake! Let me asked Mr. td, ye hoodlum!” replied s, rushing him toward the i “‘we're on to ye! The house has ad ye spotted! hie next instant the ridor were amazed to sec two figures, one s]\llntvrmf; and kicking and the other and” determined, shood down the ase, plunge through the lobby and appear into the outer darkness In a few moments Thomas returned panting and rolling down his sleeves. “What in the name of heaven were you doing?" asked Mr. Weekly, the proprie- tor, when he recovered sufliciently from the shock to ing that dhirty blackguard Johnson,” replied Thoms “Firing him? Hold me, somebody! l\\']nl; put such an infernal idea into your head ¥ Here she is,” replied Thomas, with an injured air, holding the slate before the proprietor’s cyes, “By — the — great — horn - gasped Mr. Weekly, and then swooned away. This was what he read: “No. 40; fire at 10:30. st guests in the cor- Hubbard ana His Danghter. New York Times: It was Gov. Hub- bard’s daughter Nellie who set the fashion for rich men's daughters to clope with their_co: Her| Ilfulness was the brilli s greatest grief. He presented to the world a_caim demeanor and apparently a placi his bearing did not_frankly - of his 1i He suftered more Dbitterly his fricnds and companions suspeeted. On one oceasion a rumor was current that he 1 d to his daughter, and that she to come into Ius fiouschold again, and a newspaper re- porter was assigned to investigate the re- port. He found Gov. Hubbard in the aw library of the state capitol. “Jtis not true,” said the governor ealmly. = ‘It is not true,” and went on reading the w book before him. He dismissed the subject just as he might have sent a book gent nbout his business, but a minute or two later us the new per man looked down into the library from the gallpry aboye an altogether ‘different scene pro- d itself. The strong man stood 1n & y one of the tall book es, his d 1 his hands, crying like a child rtbroken. Alone he was himself. ——~— In Favor of Eight Hours. Washington Criti “Papa,” said tho daughter of a large employer of labor, “are you in favor of the eight hour sys' daughter,” he answered, “un- n circumstances Iam.” Oh, I'm so glad,” she rapturously med. “Why, my dear, why are you so intex- ested “Bec x- use, papa, George only stays four hours every evening, and he told me last night if you favored the eight-hour - tem he needn’t o home so rly. dear old papa, I'm so glad vorof it,” and she threw lier soft white arms about his neck and choked ofl' all explanations. -~ Domestic Life. Estelline (Dak.) Bell: A man stopped at the house of a Dakota sett et a dring of water, He found him sitting in the shade, winle another man was work- ing near by. “I shouldn’t think y ou would need to keep a hired man on'your small farm,’” the traveler said +Oh, Idon’t need to, I keep him s have somebody to boss around,” I should think it would be cheaper to let the man go and boss your wife.” St replied tho settler, solemn- v, don’t know Sary—it 'w'd be to have a comp'ny of the wmy here all the time if T wanted ter see auy of my bossin’ ed out.” - - A Thrifty Young Woman, s Clara—Oh, Ethe) pect to have lovelest spring hat, and all it will price 1 shall have to I shall teim it my- s to ou Mi, th cost will be the ay for the ribbon, 2 you the frame? G5, 1 was rummag ing in the storeroom this morning, and vhat do you think T found? Miss Ethel—I have noidea. Miss Clara—Ono of last year's peach- baskets, Gloomy Days Tramp—Are you & grand srmy man? Gentleman Tramp—Could y who lost his leg during the w Gentleman (giving him 10 regiment did you belong to? wny, sir. 1 was run down by & beer-wagon & day or two after the battle of Fair Oaks. Those were gloomy days, sir. help a poor fellow r? nts)—What - A Bit of Professional Pride, He was o ndertaker and his wife had just died. Fhey found him mourn ¢’s hat in his hand, earveful removing am_ deeply so you have lost your wife os, 1 fel it deeply, £ assure you “She'was a lovely woman.” “Indeed she was, She was woman. She was o lovely that it was pusitive pride to bary her.”’ - seviption. Chroniele I fe idedly unwell this morning,” ob: Grover. “What nad I better do? “Do you fecl more than ordinary poor ' queried Lamont Dun, 1 do, b ‘Why, 1 think ' send another mes ge to the senste it L were you." 2 R Dan's 'r de- ved Pittsbur What do you pre- We ofter for s al traets of acrg property. the bestin market, convenigit to Belt B,ch DL Taowas & Beo. 8 Croighiou Block [STEADY FEELING PREVAILED A Substantial Business Done In All the Speoulative Markets, QUOTATIONS BELOW YESTERDAY A Slump On the Late Session in Al Commoditios—Light Receipts Help Cattle Salesmen— General Reports, CHICAGO GRAIN MARKET. CnicAao, March [Special Telegram, = The speculative markets were less exe cited today, and a steadier feeling pre- vailed all around. A smaller volume of bus- iness in the ageregate was transacted in both breadstuffs and provisions, and as very little news of moment was received from the out- side the day wore away without sensational features of any kind. In the pork pit there was a better class buying, as it was generally believed that after yesterday's sharp break & reaction would follow. There was not so much inelination to hammer the market at any rate. and it recovered 150 of the ground lost, Cudahy, Hateley, Robert Warren and Hutchinson taking considerable of the product. Commercial eables denoted a halt in the upward tendency of wheat in foreign markets, spot wheat in Liverpool being quoted quict and steady, and London was called “quietel ‘The weather over there was reported cold, with heavy snow storms provailing in some parts ot England. WarAT—Wheat for May delivery was }g0 lower at the cpening, both here and in New York. This reaction from yesterday’s bulge was attributed to the spring-like weather, less favorable news from abroad, and a smaller decrease in the visible supply than was ex- peeted. In St. Louis the spread between May and longer futures widened about 3ge, a fact that was regarded as of some signiticance, inasmueh as shorts in the southwest were dis- posed to cover their June and August wheat in this market. First sales e at t4ige for May. After selling up to 443e the market broke to Sil;@si3gc on the split, with fre- quent fluctuations between these extremes. At around S4' @t the bulk of business was transacted. Whenever the market got un- der$4!ge good buying set in on both local and outside order account. Ream was a large sellerin early dealings, and the Dester erowd 1d a good deal of quiet buying. MiNorR GRAINsS—Corn and oats wero weaker for both cash and forward delivery, heavy receipts of the foruer tending to offset any firmness that might otherwise have been imparted to trade through sympathy with the other article, y corn sold during the regu- Jar session at oige and closed at 8030 at1p. m., or 4e lower. May oats broke at 313ge, then recovered and rested at 813c, be- ing }ge off. Giltedge cash corn of contract grades in store was fully 3{c lower than yesterday. Provistons—Provisions were less active but somewhat stronger, the sharp deeline of yesterday bringing in moderate buying orders, resulting in an advance of 15 per barrel on pork, 5¢ on lard and 7sc on_ weats, The business done was not nearly so large as on yesterday, and the buying was mainly on local account. Hogs were steady and in light supply. R Boanrp—There was fair ac- v in the afternoon in speculativ icles, and a weaker feeling prevailed in both grain and provisions. Mess pork eclosed 12c Jower than at 1 0’clock, lard 2}e, wheat and and oats 4 Engagements of York were said to calls, B495@s434e. Chandler-Brown Co’s Report. The following report of Chicago's specula- tive markets is furnished the Bee by W. P. Peck, Omaha representative of Chandler- Brown Co., of Chieago and Milwaukee: Wheat opened weak and e below the clos- ing yesterday. 'The visible supply decreased only 418,000 bushels, Cables were quiet. Mark Lane was firm and prices unchanged. Frost in England continues. New York re- ported private cable firm, but foreign all sell- Brown wired at 10:30, “Wheat gain- ing strength; bulls buying freely. Hancock is back here a strong bull, Ream openly sell- ing, but I think his brokers are carrying wheat for him.” Receipts of primary markets, 5 shipments, 75,000 bushels, New York reported six loads of wheat n for export up to 12 o'clock. wheat opened at $1i4c, sold for 84%@ 847 psed at $1%c at 1p. m, Corn—weak; May 59}{@30!¢c, Provisions—Firm and a shade higher. 2:30 p. m,—Wheat steady at 84'gc for May. Corn—Xe off. Pork—10e lower. w Yorlk reports ten loads of wheat taken in all for export, lot receipts, wheat, 76 cars, corn, T30 cars, oats, 101 cars, 2,000 bush- ta OPTIONS. Furuado), | Wi Murch Muy =z | (T August CORN: March I April My June LAl Maroh April My Juno Poui Murc April Muy Juno : SEHORT RiBs— March ; May June £33 s S3EE oo ccoe eonm 58 CHICAGO LIVE 8TOCK. cAGo, March 16.—[8pecial Telegram.] —Carrie—Recelpts to-day were much light- or than many had expected, and for that rea- son the trade was more favorable to sales- men, ‘The market was very slow to open, but the general demand for good to cholee fat stock of all weights was fully equal to the supply. Low grades ot b attle sold slow- Iy, but prices in all branches of frade were about tsteady. A8 great searci- ty of good « 1,200 1b Colorados sold at $4.80, and the bulk of natives sold at about $4.75@5.00. Shipping steers, 1,850 to 1,500 Ihs, $4.90625,00; 1,200 10 1,350 Ibs, §4.006 0; 950 10 1,200 1bs, § 3,904,580, Hoas—As compared with yesterday there was little or no chunge either in the demand or prices in this market, but compared with a values are 15@20¢ lower, To-day theavy made §4.30 to $4.40, good 1o sorts $4.1064.25, with P Packing and shipping, 250 to 440 1bs, 8 45, - AL Mareh 16, =Mo: cay at 160 per cent. PLisiE SEKCAN 1, SteuLig ExonaNeE—Dull but stead L8T0e fur sixty duys and 4895 n GoveiusygsTs—Dull but steady, Stocks - Stocks were extremely ‘dull t without other features. The i ning, was weak thll 11 o' hest’ prices of the day generally weie cicd. After anid-duy the wailct | was o siid duil ws & rale Lo the close, New York, ¥=0n call, PAPENR--4@5 per cent.