Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, January 20, 1888, Page 1

——— g | SEVENTEENTH YEAR. AHA DAILY BEE. OMAHA, FRIDAY. MORN NG, JA ARY 20, 1888, THE BOCUS AGENT OF PATTI. Frison Life of Benson at Portemouth and Elsewhore. THE OFFICIALS AFRAID OF HIM. How the Shrewd Swindler Made Mis- erable the Lives of His Keepers— His Attempted Cremation- Radical Revolution, Chronicle of a Crook. (Copuright 1558 by James Gordon Bennett.) Powrssovtin, Jan. 19.—(New York Her- ald Cable—Special to the Bk ] —The news of Benson's arrcst in the United States was received by the prison authorities here with this comment: “Tlank heaven his offense was not one 1o bring him back here.” This induced the Heruld correspondent to inter- view a veterin war whose name cannot be mentione instead of writing a diary like Byrnes, memorizes events in a kind of of peripatetic eyclopedia for the home office. His recollections [ have reduced to a narrative and these Bensoniana serve as guides 1o the keepers who may fer have this remarkable convict in charge, Upon the 9th of April, 1887, at the central criminal court, London, he was sentenced to fifteen years penal servitude. After serving his probationery period at Pentonville he was, being a Hebrew, sent to Portsmouth in June, 1878 to complete his sentence. In May, 1883, however, he had proved such a trouble- | whose Inspector some prisoner that he was sent to Darmoor, where he remained until entitled to his ticket of leave. During his imprisonment Benson w at no time a favorite wmong the prison authoritics, He was always regarded with suspicion and kept under rigorous surveillance. There was never any likelihood of his trying to escape, but the ofticers could never be sure he was not hatching mischief such ae to cause anxiety and annoyance. He first came under notice during the Franco-German war, when he obtained £1,000 from the lord mayor of London ostensibly for the relief of sufferers from the bombardment of the Chateau d'Un He was arrested immediately and sentenced 1o fifteen months. Scon after his arrival at Newgate he broke up his cell furniture which he set on fire ana then sat on the flames, apparently with a view to, snicide. By the time the fire was discovered Benson had sustained such injur- ies a8 to produce permanent lameness, His father, whose offices were in the Faubourg St. Honore, occupied a prominent position in Pars, Sufficient influence was brought to bear on the home office so that before the fifteea months had expired, Benson was lib- erated, Then he developed those greater schemes of fraud which ended in his being sentenced to peual servitude, He took up his residence in the Isle of Wight and passed himself off as Count Posino, He started the Isle of Wight Journal. The newspaper still exists, but he made many enemies by the personal char- acter of his articles, 1t was at this time he made the acquaintance of William Kerr, with Wwhos: o the great turf frauds were concocte Kerr was in the habit of supplying him with the matter and Benson cdited the sporting paper through whichi the frauds were worked. The suspi- clons of the police were arouscd and Inspector Clark frequently visited Shanklin in the in terests of Scotland Yard. Benson then re moved to London, where the turf frauds wi matured. Benson, hearing that Kerr had di- vulged the secrets of the couspiracy, proffered himself s queen’s evidence, but though he was allowed to appear in the witness box the bome offce consistently refused to reconsider his case or grant him special privileges, On th other hand Kerr was treated with marked When the case was concluded hie was re- moved to Chatham and allowed to work out his marks. Further, he was allowed to make ten marks a day, whercas ordinarily the best conducted convict can make 1o more than eight, and thus every six days of his impris- onment counted as ten. The rough and dan erous plan of breaking out of his cell was the ouly means that Benson did not employ to secure his liberty. There was one long strugele between him und the author ties. First ho was granted a ticket of leave. There ure some convicts who work as con- seientiously us if they were on piece work. Henson was never one of those. His lame- ness was always o valid excuse for avoiding laborous work, consequently the authorities made a tailor of him, but he never got beyond the patching stage. At length he obtained ad- mission to the hospital, and in his memorials to the home oftice adroitly magnified the im- portunce of this event to show that his health was being permanently injured by continuous confinement but the home oftice was obdurate. He next tried what could be done on medical grounds and carried his point to the farthest Timit. After staying in bed over two hundred days ho was naturally weakened and his com- Plexion grew deathly pale. Knowmg as he did the great powers vested in the hands of medical oficers in vecommending for re mission of seutence or discharge, he pressed his case with great assuduity, but the medical officers were convinced he was foigning, and when he saw no chance of sue cess in this direction he got out of bed and soon regained his strength. Benson's own warden had no more difficulty with him than any other. While there was never a show- ing of violen the principal officers e so harrassed that, no matter at what prison he was, the oficials were always glad to have him removed, for if he was not complaing of sickness, he was forever making formal complaints to the governor or memorial the home ofice. His verbal complaints were artfully prolix, and purposely ambign ous that it wa: often dificultto discover his grievance, while his written memorials are quoted as evidence of the best diction and best peumanship that ever emanated from a convict in prison. But, with such suspicion was ho always regarded, that no officer from the governor to the voungest warden would ever speak to hiw or be spoken to by him except in the presence of witnesses, But, while he was a thorn in the side of the officials, he was the admiration of his fellow- prisoners, by whom he was looked upon as a polished blade, and as soon us he entered the prison his black, flashing eyes, loug, thick eye-lashes and swarthy complexion drew upon him the regard of his brother convicts, #0 that the freemasonry among prisoners by weans of which one man can communic with another, he brought to perfection and he had & code of signs made by cyes, ears, mouth and hands which was only un derstood by his coufederates. He thus was enubled to keep himself informed of all that was going on in the prison. He somehow so fascinated the other convicts that all were ready to serve him at the risk of infringing thie prison rules, yet iy would iever lose self respect and even il the exercise ground instead of wulking with *the other’ pris- w would wwble around the .county eniency. S0 zing | ards always supported by u walking stick, his excuse being that owing to his lameness he was unab® to walk as fast as the others, About 1583 it became kuown that Benson was in the habit of receiving supplies of tobacco. Searching inquiry was set afoot. It was ob vious he could only obtain his supplies through the warden and later it was discov- ered that he had succeeded in exchanging tobacco for the food of his fellow prisoners. All along he denied the ges and he was strapped and scarched but as the searching proved futile these procecdings furnished Benson with capital chances for memorials and it is needless 1o suy that he made the most of the hardship. Ultimately the prison authorities were put upon their mettle, They were con- vinced that their suspicions were right though their conduct appeared 1o place them in the wrong. They determined to bring the matter to an issue. Without a moment's warning Benson was ordered to his cell for solitary confineme As soon as he got there it was noticed that in stripping he stood awhile on one of his leggins. Having completely disrobed he was ordered 1o the farthest corner of the cell where his clothing, article by cle, was handed to him after being closely examined. The leg- 1 which he stood persistently, was 110 special inspection, and in it was found a small flannel bag containing two ounces of tobacco. The authorities were thus able to justify their suspicions and Ben- son was sentenced toa dietary punishment for the offense. Benson, though a man of great intellectual capacity was not remarkable as a student. He drew a book once a week from the library, but indulged in only casual reading. Often when supposed to be at work ot reading he was discovered standing on u stool looking into the corridor to sce what was going on. For this offense lie was frequently punished. While in prison he often expressed his inten tion of writing a book that should contain his prison expericnces, and he frequently ap- plied for materials to enable him to keep memoranda. but the application was steadily fused. Benson s a linguist and a musi- cian, and at Portsmouth prison the harmon. ium in the synagogue has not been opened since he last touched the ke Not only did he play accompaniments at the services, but he trained the twenty- five or thirty Hebrews who were fellow- prisoners, and formed the best choir in the establishment, Having a tolerable acquaint- ance with every European language it is singular that when he went to Portsmouth he knew nothing of Hebrew. He, however, placed himself under the tuition of an hono- rary Jewish visitor and grasped the language in a short time. He also composed a number of Jewish melodies. Al are still in the prison and are remarkable evidences of his taste and skill. Benson's father died in 1554 and, though he often boasted that his frauds had been sufficiently successful to ensure him a settled income of £1,200 a year, he went to Paris immediately after his libera- tion ouly to find his brother had been left the wholo of his father's wealth in the early part of his prison career. Benson was visited by Mr. Franklin, of the firm of Montague & Co. 4 bankers, Broad street, London, as it was be lieved the convict could furnish valuable in- formation of some frauds thut had just previously been perpetrated on the bank, but though the interview was protracted beyond the period allowed by the regulations, Benson refused to gi any information. Benson's next imprisonment was in Brussels, where he had established a branch oftice of a fraudu- lent news agency. Your correspondent found among the prison authorities several who predicted that considering the general laxity of American criminal jurisprudence Benson would be cleared enough by delays, writs of error and the like to get the best of its process in the end. GAL REFORM, olution Urged i lish Law. (Copiight 1858 by James G Loxboy, Jan. 19.—[New York Her: Cuble—Special to the Bee,|—A radical ¢ lution now moves here not only in politics but law. No less a person than the solicitor general, Sir Edward Clarke, Q. C., M. P, has thrown his conservative influence in favor of a union of solicitor and barrister in one person the same as in the United States, Presiding at the unnual dinner of the Bir- mingham law students’ society, which was attended by a large number of solicitors and FOR A A Rad 1 Re Eng- don Bennett.) barristers, he took the boldest ground yet taken in England for this reform. He has o great majority not only of solicitors, but of influential barristers against him, The junmior barristers are with him because they can, while await- ing to become gray, do much solicitors’ work. The evil to be redressed is an- expensive and tedious one. English solicitors get no re- tainers or counsel fees, and must do some- thing at court in order to earn costs, hence these favor litigation. There is no pecuni inducement for English solicitors to compro- mise, or negative, or settle, and the temy, tion is to bring or defend suits nilly-willy in order to get business and make costs. But let the solicitor general state and discu the evils, and what he said will certainly interest the thousands of lawyers and litigau your readers, He began: “Let us see how a private petitioner, hay: g ground of complaint to enforee his rights by law, is affected by the system. He goes to the solicitor and explains the case and usks if he ought to bring an action. He is advised to do so. A writ is issued and an action launched. The pleadings, presenting no diffeulty, ave prepared in the solicitors office, summonses are heard at chambers, or- ders are made, and the solicitor or clerk, who is always in communication with him, does the work. Then comes the trial. It may be that the case s sent dow to county court for trial. 1If so, the solicitor may appear. He has his bundle of papers containing all the notes taken and all the suggestions made. He knows the whole case and he conducts it in this inferior court. But if the trial is in the superior court coun- sel has to be instructed, all the facts set down in writing, all proofs of witnesses written out with stch fullness that person who has never seen them and who comes among fresh to the case shall know exactly what the; can say in the matter. Then general observations are added by the industrions clerk and it goes to the law sta- tioner, who puts it upon paper most incon- venient i size and shape. The statement of facts, pleading, correspondence and obse tions are fully written out in a round hand tie observations are not very often read b any tter the first draft is made, but they £0 at 214d the folio for the draft, and 4d the folio fc Lof the brief copies, and then counsel is instructed, the brief fees are paid, and ot an enormous cost the knowledge which the solicitor had has been conveyed to another person in - order that he may put be fore the court the matters which probably the solicitors know much better and could ex- Plain as well. In most cases the counsel is not the: choice of the litigant, - but simply counsel usually employed by the solicito Whether he performs.tus duty or neglecti it, one whethe: The bri he may tried; in his claims, solic for whi litigant empioy The practice both a and ferior conside bility le bench, bar, i licitors' he had and ind tiently and int duct of clearer legal liability another court been earned. Wwho would make great advocats barristers from the usel English AiMculty States the partaken of by lawyy legal proc come which would enable him to wait p higher distinction. vocacy would be very often more thoroughly r he does well or ill, he s under no to the man by whom he is paid. not have told him all the facts; v not have read it; he may be in when the case is being but the client s absolutely hands and cannot sustain any legal even for return fees which have not Yet there are now solicitors 18, there are do thoroughly well ef mauy who would ors’ work, and by letting each do work ch he is best fitted we should give the alarger area of choice and save him s burden of being bound to persons instead of one. barrister who goes to e In the colonies or India has to act solicitor and counsel, and finds no in doing so. Again, in the United tem has been long established, two while the incomes of the leaders of the legal profession there are not, 1 believe, in- in this country and vs in public life very all who have read reports of dings in the States recognize the of their advocates and the sound to those earned rabl rning which is found on their judicial The young man now coming to the f he find no clients to intrust him with briefs, can earn no money at all in his profession. If he were allowed to do so- work and receive solicitors’ remuner- atlon, he would almost certainly be able, if made himself known for his capacity ustry, to earn at least that small in- and safely for an_opportunity for I think the work of ad elligently performed if the advocate had a closer practical knowledge of the con- his cause in its earlier sta appreciation of the impor wes and a ce and meaning of the different steps that have been taken, ‘The struggle of the man who comes to the bar without. very powerful patrons to force him into a practice has alw. hard ong of agencie colonial 5 0! use turn a ate years. literature, AVvS been e, but T believe it becomes harder of Many barristers go to the ranks others seek secretaryships, s or some small appointmeats. in the sucrificed service. Others, having f their lives in compulsory idleness ® no man gave them anything to do, way to the other branch of the pro- fession, and in so doing abandon with a sigh all the sidered one of the most important at present as the b the inns generous ambitions with which they There are other subjects to be con- and the matter of legal education is So far ieft entirely to Now the inns ar bhar is concerned it i of the court. venerable, interesting institutions, but their staunch they do any substantial work legal of likely be admissi should benches of the different inns, who a anxious to which t unable study o \est admirers hardly contend that in the way cducation. It is hardly the anomaly will long to continue that on to practice in the courts of justice be practically in the discretion of the < only attract members to the inn to hey respectively belong and are alike to enforce any real course of legal v attract a sufficient number of real that allowed students, even by offering substantial scholarships and prizes. [ think that in these inns we have material for a much bet- ter system. Let the whole profession be one body alike in the requirements of education—alike in its privileges. alike in its opportunities for the achievement of public distinction and obtaining professional rewards: and the inns of t sour could b The Americau naturally ask: * He may read That t the rigid tc alone, the re red rag swer s Charles Church r excellent librari es they possess, might fitly be « in which the work of real the court, with their stately halls, s, and the large re- lloges legal education e carried on.” awyers who read this will n the reform be carried 7 the barometer in this fact: day’s tory Globe, which believes in v maxim, “Let il as also well relentles sly proceeded to attac orm. Progress to a strict tory is us a to a bull, and the an- found, in the fact that Lora Beresford, like Lord Randolph ill, has resigned because his tory col- leagues and assoclates refuse to sanction his aim and an Cr bar the, equal t8 Britain’s mercantile marine, haps out of b The German BEkuIY, Jan. amende before s and dmiral 1 progr old fogy reform - the nay, of the time of th nean war has been selected in his place to attempt to make English war ships o sdward Clarke will now be hunted his office by the Salisbury minmtry, filitary Bill. 19.—The military bill as ed and passed at the first reading was the reichstag committee to-day. The committee approved the rightto formulate several proposals on the second reading. M. Stowdazi, member of the Roumanian cabinet, came to Berlin to obtain an insight marck’s view tingencies mania. further arrival of Ru: fantry Rovno, on w Rus: growin especi into Bis on political and military con- invoiving the interests of Rou- Advices from the fronticr report the n troops. One in division arrived at Doubuo, another at vk of fortifying Doubno goes cessation. The condition of troops on thie Galiclan frontier is & worse, Typhus fever is raging, Iy at Camp Gzeutoschan. The stily forwarding provisions, Bent ufactur The arrest was du Dietz, « that structic with reference the event of the mobilization of the Ge forces, Streisguth the French gov Arrested For Treason, 1y, Jan. 19.—Karl Streisguth, a man- er, was arrested at Strasburg to-day to a confession made by L spy recently arrested, to the effect had received money from rnment for rev ns given to the Alsatian authorities to the operation of lines in rman houses in The poli re searching Strasburg and seizing all compromising pa pers. Dunriy, Jan, 19, that the government I The Cork Sca Tuited had al. and alleges arranged for the Ir arrest of Canon O'Mahoney, who charged Major Jail, wi Keller, the measure by Catholic _constable part in arms, intimat with 1 Queen SHAN under were Hoang sudden | caped SUAK Was W to go to Vie Loxt i parham 4 Mabrin, Jan, 1 ‘Wholesale Drow Roberts, Governor of Cork county th corrupting young girls, and Canon but had been deterred from enforeing the intimation that every in Cork ordered to take the arvests would throw down bis Isabella Leaves Spain. —In consequence of an the ernment that she ion from must not allow her name to be conneeted Le jutrigues of tue opposition, Isaveila bas left the country. . ing of Chinamen. ual, Jan. 19.—While 4,000 workmen the command of several mandarins making a breakwater to stem the Ho floods they were engulfed by the v 1of the w rs. Only a few es ex- Heavy Rebel Losses, 1, Jan. 19.—The rebels lost 't battle, € unded in the 180 men lolel Kitchener, who fight, has been obliged tund treatment, e oY orla Will Not Open Parliament. 0N, Jan. 19.—The queen will not open ient i person. She-will start for the nt after e & of the session, 0 Cairo for re RIFLES FOR TRAIN ROBBERS. Disastrous Failure of an Attempt Upon a Wabash Express, THE LEADER FILLED WITH LEAD. One of the Gang Gives Away the Job and a Red-Hot Reception is Prepared For Them— Full Details. The Missouri Method. KANsAs City, Jan, 19.—[Special Telegram to the Bee.| —News reached here this morn- ing of the attempted robbery of the enst- bound Wabash express train which left this city for Louis at 8:30 last evening, at a point near Cooley's Lake, a fishing resort, and one of the loneliest places in winter. ‘When the train stopped at Missouri City on the platform was a band of men armed with shotguns, The conductor was informed that they were under command of an official of the county, who had recel word that an attempt would be made to raf the St. Louis express at a lonely spot a little less than two miles eust of Missouri City. One of the oficers got in the cab of the en gine with the engineer and the others dis. tributed themselves throughout the train. None of the passengers of the train were no- tified of the *.Imfl*r, At 9:30, us the point of attack was neared. a red light was seen gleaming ahead. As the train slowed up the engincer saw three masked men, armed with rifles, standing on the track, “Get out of there,” said the three men to the engincer. Morsey climbed down out of the cab. Just as he reached the ground the officer in the cab pointed his shot gun out of the win- dow and fired. As soon as the shot was fired he and Morsey dropped down out of sight. The shot from the cab was answered with shots from the wuns of the three rob- bers, which rattled about the engine, but did no harm. The three men retived in a demor- alized state. As they moved back a part of leader of the the posse came up from the woods, where alment for some time, had they had been in conc and opened fire on them. These men been sent out from Missouri City in ad of the train and had concealed themselves to be in readiness whenever they should be needed, About twenty shots in all were fired, and in a very few moments the four robbers were captured. B 5 the leader of the robbers, w. the first fire. He w a house near by and a guard placed over him Swinny several years ago served a Lwo years term m the Missourd penitentiary for having sent threatening letters to the late A. A, Talmage, at that time gencral manager of the Gould system of railroads. The plot was given away by one of the gang named King. who told Grant_Arnold, station agent at Missouri City, what was goingon. Arnold inturn informed the sherift of Clay county, and the latter immediately gathered a po Arnold one of the posse, and it was hé who shot the leader from the cab. - Kiug remained with the gang and signaled the train to stop, but took no other part in the uffair, [Press.] —Train robbers were foiled last wight in an attempt fo rob the express train on the Wabash road ut Cooley’s lake, twenty-four miles eastof Kansus City. The regular Kansas City & St. Louis express train left Kansus City at $:20p, m. At Missouri City a band of armed men hoarded the train and informed the conductor they were under command of an ofcial of the county, who had received word that an attempt would be mude to rob the express. One of the officers got into the cab of the engine with the engmeer and fircman and the others distributed then- sclves through the train. Cooley's lake, a fishing resort, was the place where the at- d at tack was to be made. At9:30 as the point of attack w neared a red light was seen gleaming ahead. ~ As the train slowed up the engineer was orderved to leave the engine by three masked men, who were armed with rifles. Just as he rveached the ground the officer in the cab fived his shot-gun out of the window. Whether he hit the leader of the band he does not know, but thinks he did. shot from the cab was answered with shots from the robbers, which rattled around the engine, but did no harm. The three men then retre As they moved back part of the fosse, came up from the woods, where they had been i concealment for some time, and opened fire on them. These men had been sent out from Missouri City in advance of the train and had concealed themselves to be in readiness when they should be needed. About twenty shots were exchanged. The men on the train joined in_pursuit of the robbers. The posse continued —in _ pursuit of the rob- bers, ard when the train reached Moberly there was a report that two of them had been captured, and in the struggle one of themhad been’ kil The robbers are known to be farmers living in the neighbor- hood of Missovri City. Oue of them is said 10 have been a member of the James gang. Telegrams to General Manager Hays s that all of the would-be robbers were cap. tured. Three men were overtaken by the posse and the fourth, the leader, a man named Barney Swinny, who received a load of shot in the breast, was found in the woods, where he had crawled after being shot. The names of the would-be robbers are: Johu B. Swinny, leader, John I Noah Dresi and W. H. Hartis. best information at hand, John King, who has figured all day as an informer, is Nouh Dresi. The men have been taken 1o the Clay county jail at Liberty, the county seat. Har- grave has made a full conf will t ¥ on the witn next Wedn day when the men will an exumination. Itis mot known here how badly Swinn wounded, but from brief tel Missouri City it is tense feeling against him at that pl that ke will probably be lynched. -~ o SONS ASSASSINATED, Mexican Members of the Order Made Victims of Fanatic Crry oF Mexico, Jan. —Public indigna tion has been aroused in the state of Pucblo r the assassination, within a few months state, of several Free Masons whose political and’ religious ideas were repugnant 1o the fanatical cleric The Free Masons throughout the republic support the re-clec- tion of President Diaz, and this fact partly explaius such acts. The clericals in the dis- trict mentioned have declared thut they would kill every Free Mason. Mrs. Hem Acquitted. Warenioo, Ia, Jan. 19.—Mrs. Hemme was acquitted of the murder of her husband and discharged. The result is a disappoint- ment to most people here, who considered that Mrs. Hemme's complicity in the murder arly established at her preliminary examination, not alone by the testimony of Mundfrom. but by a strong chain of cireum- stantial evidence. When placed on the stand Mundfrom continued the tactics begun aft From the M - noon until it became apparent would tell nothing of what he knew. He even denied his own guilt. Recognizing the fact that be could not_convict the defend- ant without the testimony of Mundfrom, County Attorney Multon withdrew the suit and Judge Couch instructed the jury to ren dict of not This is a_good wisdom of the statute guilty. Said Judge ustration of the Juiring that the tes timony of an accomplice shall be corrob orated.” Whoever committed the crime, the punishwent hLas fallen on all alike. Mund- from, yet a young man, will spend the re mander of his life befund the bars. Tho littlc property possessed by the Hommoer iias been iearly il consumed by the expen: o of { litigation, and nothing remnins for the uiis- erable old_woman but to end her existence a pauper. What disposition will be made of the three little daughters has not been ac- cided upon, R — Held For Murder. RArio Ciry, Dak., Jan. 19.—(Special Tele- gram to the Bre.]—Some weeks ago, near Fairburn, two farmers, Gnibb and Raridan by name, quarrelled over the possession of house owned by the first and rented by the latter named. Both drew pistols and several shiots were fired. Gnibb foll dead with a bullet theough his heart, and Raridan hud o severe flesh wound in the leg. The coroner's jury at the time exonorated Raridan, on the grounds of sclf-defense. The dead man’s friends, however, caused his arrest, and to-day he had a'lengthy hearing before justice of the peace at Hermosa. He was bound over to answer in the Custer county court to the charge of murder. ———— SALE OF COAL LANDS. A Kansas City Syndicate Disposes of Its Holdings at Leavenworth, KANsA$Crry, Mo, Jan. 19.—[Special Tele gram to the Ber.]—The sale of 813 acres of coal lands adjoining the city limits of Leay- enworth on the south was consummated to-day, the purchasing partios being u syndi cate composed of Vinton Skillings and others, of Leavenworth. These gentlemen have or- ganized a company and will proceed to sink shaffs and develop the coal fields. The price pud for the land was 160,000, The land was owned by a Kansas City ndicate, headed by A. Frost. These gentlemen purchased 1,600 acres just south of the Leavenworth city limits about a year ago and have made a neat sum on their investment already. It is said that the Rock hd road (Chicago, Kunsas & Nebraska in Kansas), recently made an offer of §200,000 for the Riverside coal mine at Leavenworth, owned by J. A. Bovard & Co., of this city, which was refused. The Rock Island has no coal mines, Those who pretend to know say the Rock Island will lease the Leavenworth, ‘Topeka & Southern from Leavenworth to Topeka after February next, giving it a line through Leavenworth: The old Rock Tsland bridge at Leavenworth, which burned about, a year ago, is being repaived and strengthened and will be finished avout Februar; In connection with Leavenworth's coal interests & movement is on line to bring c the river open foot there to form a barge il into Kansas City as soon as —_—— The Blaines in Mila BosToN, Jan, 19.—[Special Telegram to the Bee.|—The correspondent of the Boston Transeript writes from Hotel Cavour, Milan, under date of Christiias: “The first night Tar- vived here I was much pleascd with the looks of two ladies who sat near me at the table d’hote—mother and daughter, both fine look- ing, with charming manners. We soon found that we had mutual fricnds, and the mother told me & great deal about Bar Harbor. The daughter, a fine, stylish, lovely girl, made herself agreeable to me. The father,it seems, is very much troubled with rheumatism, and keeps in his room. Imagine my surprise when the proprictor of the hotel told me this morn- ing that the ladies I sat near at dinner were the wife and daughter of J. G. Blaine, and the proprietor added: ‘I can’t quite make out who he'is, as he never shows himself.’ 1 told him that Mr. tslainc might be our future president, but that failed to convey any idea 1o his Italian brain, and he only " shook his head and said: ‘I cannot make him out.’” S Monopoly Methods in Canada. OTTAWA, Jan. 10.—[Special Telegram to the Bee.]--Telegrams received from all parts of the Canadian northwest report that wheat is down 10 cents a bushel below the prices in the ruling markets on the American side of the line. The loss is having a serious cffect on the Canadian northwest, and is due almost entirely to the refusal of the Dominion au- thorities to allow re-entry certificates for wheat sent over American roads to Canadian and eastern points, The restriction of ship- ments had the effect of confining the farmer practically to a home market. the department rigorously shuts out f Canadian territory all cars sent over laid down to connect with the Northern Pa cific. This fresh attempt to create artificial traflic for the Canada Paclfic at the expense of the producer is denounced everywhere throughout the Canadian northwest, ‘and is causing considerable eriticism in other parts of the dominion, e The Needs of the Soldeirs Home, Des Moixs, Ta., Jan. 19.——[Special Tele- 1 to the the Bee.]—The board of trus- s of the soldiers' home at Marshalltown, have been in session here for the past two preparing their report to the governor., k the legislature for an appropriation 0,000 for additional buildings and for fin- ishing up the work ralready begun. They propose to expend £5,000 for cottages for offi- cers, about the same amount for a building to be used as heaaquarters of the commissary department, and the other 10,000 they want to appiy to finishing the grounds and build- ings yet uncompleted. The home is rapidly fillingz up, and the sixty or seventy old vet erans thehe now express themselves s moro than satisfied with the careful and generous treatment which the state has given them, Passengers at a Poor House, Dunvque, Ia, Jan. 19.—(Special gram to the bound pa: at Rockdale last night was not cleared till 9 o'clock this morning and trains duc from the The ruling of m Tele- west last night and tained. The hungr, , SIXLY-1WO in all, having no other alte marched in a body to the Dubuque county poor house, where they were served with an excellent breakfast by the stewart. They had an enjoyable time and drank to his health for his hospitality, e e Meeting of Nebraska Mil LixcoLy, Neb, Jan, 1 pelal Telo- gram to the Bre.|—The State Millers asso- ciation held its sceond unnual meeting at the Capital hotel to-night. There were present some sixty delegates and will ud they ed ills in the state having a total 000 barrels of flour daily. . C. Alparaiso, was ro-elec apucity White, of dent und D, H. Harris, of Bennett, soc and treasurer, Took Ammonia By Mistake Brue Seiinas, Neb, Jan. Telegram to the Bee.|—J. S. Riste, a residing four miles south of he took a large swallow of spirits of ammonia through mistake this morning and now lies in a very critical condition. His son had purchased tiic amonia as a wash for an eruption on his arm and had placed it on the shelf with medicine his father was taking for the same uilment, The old gentlemun’s throat and stomuch were severely burned. A Clean Sweey OGALLALA, Neb., Jan, 10, —(Spe gram to the Bre | —The oficial vol Kins county shows a clean sw publican ticket by ties ranging from 12 There was uo selection for county K of the ¥ New York, Jan. 19, of the American Protoctive riff league was held to-day. President Edward H. Ammi- down occupicd the chair. Sceretary Garland 1 the annual report, which stated league correspondence had extended 1o thirty-scven states and six territories, nois led the list with 838 correspondents w York second, with 2 | The objective | point of the leagud's work is the west ! - Beresford's Su or Loxnox, Jan. 18 —Adnira: George Tyron will succoed iderosford s ; vl of | admiraity, o | BLIZZARD VICTIMS, Further Reports of Fatalities in Da- kota and the Northwest. Bia Stoxe Ciry, Dak,, Jan. 19.—In Roberts county Ernest Zerible and August Zielke, farmers, perished in the late blizzard. Miss Little, of Geneva, was at her school and George Rowell went to bring her &ome, The former has been found dead but the tter hus not been found, though he is supposed to be certainly lost.” Adolph Koeckivitz und his hired man went forty rods from the house o bring in a load of Koy and_perished. Mrs. Emmulson, going home from Oterville, froze to death. A Storm Raging in Dakota. Warretox, Dak,, Jan. 10.~A storm which began at 10 o'clock last night is aing fure ously to-night. Trains on the Milwaukee road have been abondoned. The Northern Pacific branch is closed. Manitoba trains are two and a half hours late, The temper ture is 83> below. A Mile Bacefooted In the Snow. Dvrer, Jan, 19.~The house of August Wintross burned yesterday morni. His family were obliged to trudge nearly a mile barefooted in their night clothes to a neigh bor's Kouse. All were badly frozen. Far- mer Wintross will probably lose his feet and legs. A school teacher living in the house was also badly frozen Another Blizzard Predicted. Prerne, Dak., Jan, 19.—~Trains have been ordered to await the abatement of the storm, The signal officer at Fort Sully predicts an- other terrible blizzard from the north. The mercury is 155 below and still falling, The Mercury Falling in lowa. Des MoiNes, In, Jan, 19.—The mercury has been steadily falling all day. and to-night promises to be one of the coldest of the sea son. In northern Iowa a blizzard has been raging. All trains have been abandoned at Mason City. The thermometer is 25= below there to-night, Little Suffering om the Blizzard, Varparaiso, Neb., Jan. 19.—[Special to the Bek.]—There was 1o loss of life and no very great suffering reported in this county us u result of the recant storm. There were sev. eral narrow eseapes but everyone got safely housed before the blizzard bewan. School children, a great many of them, remained in the sehool houses during the night. At Sicux City. ovx Ciry, la, Jan, 19, “Tho ther- mometer is 152 below at midnight and all = ailronds are tied up except the Sioux City & Pacific, because of drifting snow. Last Night's Cold. St Pavr, Jan. 19.—Dispatches indi that to-day’s storm in southern Dakota, Minnesota, while severe and accompanicd by extreme cold, is not to be classed s a_ genu. ine blizzard, and is not likely to be followed by the disastrous consequences of its imme. diate predecessor. It has, however, had _the effect of again filling up the cuts and tem porarily susvending railway traffic, just be ginning to be resumed To-night’s weether report shows the fol- lowing conditions at_the points named: St. Paul, 18 below, cloud; St. Vineent, 52 below, clear; Huren, Dak., 20 below, fair; Yank: ton, Dak. below: Bismarck, 26 below, ¢ 12 below, snow; Qu_Appelle, N, WL T, 88 below; Ga 6 below, clear, ixtreme Cold in the South. OPELANSAS, La., Jun. 19.—The coldest weather experienced here for years has pre- vailed for the past few days. Sleet and ra fell alternatelv on Monday and Tuesday, covering trees with ice aninch thick. The ground has been frozen ever since. Business has been practically suspended and travel has been almost stopped on account of the impassible condition of the roads. JACKSONVILL Fla, Jan, 10.—Thin formed here this morning. BrowssviLL here du ice 'he weather been very been Monday was the rienced on this frontier since 185081, On both sides of the river stock has suffered much and there h been cousiderable loss in cattle, horses and sheep espeeially. Poor and illy prepared people have suffered ters On Tuesday coldest day ¢ beeves were killed and tributed in the market by Senor Villareal, president of the Red club, and 0. day the Blue club dis tributed nearly eight hundred lavge rations of Deef and corn’, and supplied wood to the poor. Three persons, Francis Hezzo, oged ninety two: Marcus Rajus, teamstér of artill and an unknown man to death, The Cold Spell in Texas. Panis, Tex., Jan. 19.—The long cold spell began to moderate to-day, and the snow is ebeen found froz melting, Many stories of suffering are com- mg in. In Halifax. HALIFAX, Jan. 10.—The first snow storm of now prevailing, is one of the years. In the midst of the il contractor at_ Arichtat, sent a r-old boy named Gurnong with blishment. The boy has not been seen since and is supposed to have fallen through the ice, a large sheet of open water being apparent n his track. LOOKS BAD FOR 'I'HIZI CATTL Indications That Dakota Stock Will Suffer From This Cold Wave. Rarmn Crry, Duk., Jan, Special Tele- gram to the Bee.]—The third scction of the cold wave reached here this morning, the temperature falling from 40 above to S below in twenty-four hours, The cold wave fag is flying from the signal station. This storm will be very hard on stock. The snow is acep on the ranges and the warm days of t carly part of the week melted this cnough to allow a heavy erust to form, The cold now will freeze this too hard to break and unless warm weather comes soon thousands of cattle ud horses will starve. Grass is long on the e and there is plenty of water, but every thing is frozen tight - Weather Indications, Nebraska: Colder, followed warmer, fair weather, followed by fresh to brisk northerly winds, be variable, For Towa: Colder, followed by warmer, fair weather, fresh to brisk northerly winds, by snow, ming becoming variable. For Dakota: Colder, fair weather, fol- lowed by slightly higher temperature in western portion, fresh coming variable. Cold wave signals ar northerly winds, be continued at the sig 216 CONFESSION OF A MURDERER. UMBER Charles E. Moyers Acknowledges the Killing of James Wolr, THE INDEPENDENCE TRAGEDY, After Vainly Endeavoring to Procure Work He Commits the Crime atthe Instigation of His Companion. A Clean Breast of the Cring Kaxsas Ciry, Jan, 19, pecial Tele- gram to the Bee. ]~ Charles K. Moyers, the man arrested yesterday for the murder of Jumes Weir at the Liberty street depot in Independence two weeks ago last Monday night, confessed the crime this morning in the corridor of the Second street jail in the presence of County Marshall MeGowan, The story Moyers told is as follows: ‘1 am twenty-three years of age and was born at Chambersburg. Franklin - county, P., on December b, 1861, My parents are now liv- ing in Altoona. My father is employed in the car works at that place. 1 have @& mar- ried sister living in Milwauki All of my conneetions are respectable people, On Octo- ber 27, 1887, 1 arrived in Leavenworth, and, Dbeing a musician, 1 associated myself with the band at the soldiers® home. T came to Kansas City and went about the city looking for work, but could get none, On the evening of December 8 1 went to the Delmonico hotel and slept in the basement, I there.become acquainted with John Bo- gard. Bogard the next day suggested to me that we go to Independence to look for work, as he was well acquainted there, We walked to Independence and arrived late in the after- noon. We begged a supper and then went to the depot. Afterwards we crossed the track to a flour will, whe, s was an electric light, and remained there until it becameo o, the fury fires gotting low. Then we returned to the depot waiting room. A noowas sitti in a chair tilted back wainst the wall, asleep. Bogard aid to me: “That man has ot apile with him Let us hold him upand take away the swag At first Tobjected to_this, but Bogard persisted in asking me to do it. He suggested that 1 get a coupling pin_for a weapon. T tried to et a pin out of & freight car, but it was fastened tight. Bogard went to the other end of the car and said: “I've ot a pin,’ and handed it to me. We went into the’ depot again. The man was still asleep. 1 refused to attack the man and Bo- gard suid : o coward; you dare not doit.’ The s o dim light in_ the depot from o keroscne lamp. I told Bogard I was no coward and struck the man on the right side of the he a httle and I'struck him twice afterwards, After the first lick Bogard came up and put. his hands in the man's 1eft. pocket and pulled out awallet. We went over to the clectrio tight and divided up the money. T gave Bo- 2250 in silver and I took the green- We went on the outskirts of the d. He moved town and s ated, promising to meet each other in a street, the name of which I do mnot remember, We met there and Hogard promnsed to write to me o Kansas City under tire name of George Washington. I came to Kansas City, walked to Argentine, took u Santa Fe freight train for Topeka and the next day went to Leaven- worth, 1 there re-cngaged with the band of the soldiers' home. 1 was hard up and cold and did not mean to kill the man when I struck him. Twas surprised when I learned that the man was dead and I dow't care what becomes of me. | shall plead guilty to him, " » mild-looking man, Heo wept bitterly as he related his story. Lease Ratified. 1. 19.—The Northern Pacifie the regular meeting to-day fo mally ratified the lease of the Ordgon Navie ation company. The only change made fromi the terms already announced was the climination of the provision by which the rthern Pacifie's liability was restricted to half the amnual rentai. By the terms of the lease as finally agreed to, the Oregon Railway and_Navigation company will bo operated by the Union Pacific and - Northern Pacific companics for ninety nine years. Tho Union Pacific and Northern Pacific jointly and severally guarantee the payment “of ail charges, including the 6 per cent dividends o the stock per annim, and in ease either company fails to pay its provision of charges the otheér company will be liable for the full wmount. directors —— Sufferings of Shipwrecked Sailors. New HAveN, Jan. 19— [Special Teleg to the Bee.|—The three musted schooner, Ida E. Latham, Captain Thateher, from Bos- ton for New York, went ashore Tuesday night at Merwin's Point. The crew took to a yawl, reaching shore after a hard struggle, They made their way to a farm house, whera shelter was refused them, but were con- signed to a barn, where they remained until yesterday morning, sufferin bly from cold. Speaking of the treatment by the inhospitable farmer, one man suid: *“The barn was full of cracks and it was intensely cold. We were tired enough to sleep, bt were obliged to keep walking all night, 1t is a wonder we were not frozen to death One man had his stockings frozen to his feet, 1f we had only been allowed to slecp on the floor of the kitchen we would Lave been grateful.” - The Bell Telep) Ciry or Mesico, Ju decision was render yeste district court of the re validity of the Bell telephon re Victorious, 19.An importang rdav by the first Mrming the and Bluke ihlic transmitter patents under the laws of M ico. The defendants in the case, a Gorman mercantile house, are ordered their stock of instruments Telephone company and i their profits 1o the Mexi astatement of ud hand them over and 1o pay all the costs, The defendants will appeal to the supreme court, but it is believed the des cision will be sustained L e Smuggled to the Othe ore, Tacoma, W. 'L, Jan. 19.—Fourteen Chinge men left Vietoria yesterday morning in a small boat from Sun Juan island, hence to » themsclves on - to the main land of wshington Territory. The boat upset wh near the aslands All ids were drowned. und their bodies were washed upon the shore. - A Swindled Spinister. nal service stations in Dakota, Minnesota, Norristows, Pa., Jan. 19~ Miss Mary A, lowa and Wisconsin until Saturday moruizg. | Brown, a maiden ludy residing here, pose L m— : sessed of consideranle property, has been 3 O'Neill and His Wives, swindied out of 0,00 by a Philadelphis St. Louts, Jan, 10.~[Bpecial Tologram 10 | woman who made litvestments for women, the Bee.]—Mrs. Moore, who claims to be | She conducted a *ladics' bank.” and. prome the wife of Congressman O'Neill, began rgeveturns for every d ar invested, Tuesday a suit for divorce from O'Neill, but .\l;s; Hlm\\n u.‘.\ forced I‘v’l““ a F‘rif.::t; dropped it on being told by friends that she | Moent to-day. Shewas worth aboui 150 nmlvI BAvo & reslaance in the state to :l»lm):u | butis now ruined. Judgments i, ting, a standing in the court. Learning that | ¥1%000 buve been filed against Ler O'Neill's residence here was sufticient she "4 hus instructed her attorney o proceed with Suit For Damages, the case S1. Lotis, Jan. 19.-George W. Voisce = - | and Patrick O'Neill have begun suit at Helle s Arvested For Murder. | yilg 1)), for 450,000 damages each ugainsh ViNceases, Ind., 19.~Charles Park- | poyective Thomas Farle A Ptk B hurst was urrested at Sullivan this morning | Bowman for wmprsonment, in cons ostensibly on the charge of drunkenness, but | nection with i or of ex r Bow- in fact on the charge of having killed the man, of Kast 5t 1is epot agent at Marshall, 1, nearly two years , - ago. Parkhurst betvayed hiwself o a com- 1 To ¥ ot Milwankee Lager, panion while drunk | Avsasy Y., Jdun. 16.—AL the stute - | workingmen's assewmbly, which commenced An Appeai to Org, i Labor, | this morning, a resciution was adopted re- PriransLeiia, Jan n L. questing all wembers of organized labor and chairman of the Philadelphia & Readn their frignds to boycoit Miwaukee luger Employes’ Execeutive board, has issued a uuti! the o tween the browers and apieat 0 organized Jabor wherever found.” | e settled.