Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, May 23, 1891, Page 2

[—— HORROR OF HANGING. Havenstine's Excontion Exhibits the Bru- tality That May Result from the Law. TWICE DROPPED BEFORE HE DIED. Oaloulations Based on a Bag of Sand Proved £adly Incorrect, HIS NECK WAS NOT ELASTIC A LITTLE, Ouoked by the Nooss While the Rope Was Being Spliced. THOUSANDS GAZED UPON THE SCENE. Etockade About the Gallows Pulled Down by the Crowd, Eager to See the Murderver Die The Death, Brokey Bow, Neb., May [Special Telegram to Tue Bee.|—Albert . Hauen- stine was hung this afternoon for the murder of Hiram Roten and William Ashl The drop fell at one minute past 1 o k, The rope broke and Hauenstine fell to the ground. He was taken again to the affold by Sheriff Jones and Janitor Blair. At 1:04 o'clock the drop fell the second time, and the neck of the murderer was broken, Hauenstine was shaved ex and donned a suit of dark blue clothe He was attended 20, by his spiritual advise Rev. T. Haley, who was assisted by Rev. F. Wolf of Grand Island. These afforded him the consolation of religion, after which he reccived com- munion, His brother ca led and conversed with him for atime. He then wrote letters to his sis- ters, Mrs. Redhead and Mrs. Byler, and pened autographic verses for his brother and the clergy man in attendance, which he wrote from memory. The remainder of the forenoon was passed In spiritual meditation with the clergyman. Coming of the Crowd At 10 o'clock Sheriff Jones ordered a wire fence erected twenty-five feot outside tho wooden shell which enclosed the scaffold on the south side of the jail. By this time thousands of people from town and country bad assembled around the building., As fast as the stakes were driven they were pulled up by people in the crowd. A deputy was flually placed at each post. A move was made to connect the post with barbed wire, but was discoutinued, because It was shown to bo a violation of the law to string such wire inthe city. A round wire was substituted. The sheriff caught one man in the aet of pulling up a post and flung him over the wire. For atime it was thought a fight would result, L= the fellow who was flung out slunk away. _ At 12:30 young Ashley, a son of one of the murdered mon, and a brother of Roten, the other victim, with several more re ad- mitted to the scaffold. As soor as Roten reached the platform he threw over the frame enclosure which hid the instrument of death from the crowd, asmall pine block. This, by previous arrangement, was a signal that Hauenstine was coming and for an at- tack to be made on the inclosing walls, A young fellow named Stackley ran to the south wall and despite the presence of the deputios was followod by others. Tho; pulled and the wall fell to the ground, catch- ing as it droppid au old man who received some bruises about the shoulders. Roten from tho scaifold started the west wall with a kick and hauds outside tore it o the ground, The crowd, however, remained about ten yards from the scaffold, At the request of the sheriff the hundrads of poople prowised to advance no nearer, Commencing the Hanging. At 12:45 p. m. the sheriff read the death warrant to Hauenstinein his cell. The con- demned was removed and a few miautes later the procession to the gallows took place, the sheriff leading accowpanied by several doputics. the murderer walking botween Fathors Haley and Wolf. As the party ap- proached, Roten, in a spirit of levity shouted to a man in the crowd: “Dock, I am a judge of the foot race.” The yells which grested this wit sub- sided as Hauenstine appeared on the scaffold. He was pale and excited, He glanced at the crowd beyond. The sun beat down warmly upon his baro head and Father Haley kept off the rays with his hands. Hauenstine was askod if he desived to say anything, and being urged to do so by his spiritual advisor, suid: “What I have to say is thav for the wrong I have done I am heartily sorry. I am very sorry forall the trouble I have given the publie, and if I have offend»1yon I ask your pardon. Here on tho gallows I ask you to take warning from me; little things grow into bix things. Don't wait until you have whore I have come to. Seek salvation, Flo then stepped back upon tho t head bent down, showing a vosary ar neck. Futher Haley pressed a erucitix to his lips. Father If, in an undertone, re- oited the litany and Hauenstine joined in. The murderer's limbs were then strapped at the ankles and knees, tho arms pinioned and the wrists firmly bound by stout steaps. In this work Sheriff Wilson of Buffalo county assisted, . Hauenstine was then turned toward the west and his eyes sought tae floor, Beneath his feev some enemy had written in pencil: *“When Hauenstine Is hung, hell etornity. Hauenstine hell” These words doubtless failed to attract the eyes of the condemned man, because ho was engaged in prayer. Br.ke the Rope. His devotions were not interfered with as the sheriff placed the noose about his neck and adjusted the knot beside the left ear. Over his head droppad the black cap, which the sheriff tied bebind, Thut officer then stepped to the east side of the scuffold and with a razor cut the cord which supported the trap. The door fell, and Hauenstine dropped’ like alog to the ground. ‘The rope whjch ex- tended frowm the cross-beam to thering above snapped like twine, ‘The unfortunate man was borne again to the scaffold. asked the sheriff to loosen the kuot to euable bim to breathe. The clasped the man so tightly that it could not be loosenea. Meanwhile the ropes were re- united, the trap was raised, aud ho was again aropped through it. This time, however, the rope stood the strain, Haueustine remained suspended {n alr, his boad Bewt almost on his right shoulder. The body swuug 1o the breese, the breast heaved, come p. his ind s WENTIETH YEAR. | noose, however, had | ) Ho was ablo to speak, ana | APpearance, TORNING, the lower limbs were lowered and raised for atime with regularity. The hands labored to relieve the muscles, while the fingers worked convulsively The crowd looked on without a murmur and one of the dead man’s enemies spat upon him Dead in a Dozen Minutes. Dr. Morris felt the pulse, which at 8 min- utes after the fall was at 120. Eleven minutes and a half after the drop life was pronvunced extinet and the body was cut down. The romnins we taken to the sher- iff’s ofMice and turned over to the brother of the deceased, "T'ne brother proposes to bury the remains on his farm forty-five miles from this city. The crowd surged toward the scaffold, but was kept back by the deputies. The rope which was broken had twice stood a drop test of 200 poun Is. [t was rumored that 1v had been cut by son t the friendsof the murdered men, Hauenstine having killed two men, and they held it was but just that he should hang twice himsolf, It was rumored thatthe dead man's enemies proposed to take the body on the way to the grave and quarter it on the praivie, but this is denied. Would Have Lynched Him. If Hauenstine did not hang toduy no person in Custer county could have saved him from the mob, His enemies came proviaed with ropes, crowbars, sledges and chisels and would have had his blood at any cost. It leaked ont this afternoon after the exe- cution, reports to the contrary notwithstand. ing, that a last attempt was madeon Wednes- day to save Hauenstine, H. M. Sullivan, who has been associated with P. Humph- rey and C. L. Gutterson in the murderer's defense, asked a reprieve from Governor ‘Thayer until a transcript of the testimony of th anity inquiry could be sabmitted to bim for the purpose of securing a commuta- tion of sentence. Earty in the evening the crowd dispersed. The Crime. The crime for which Albert E. Hauenstine was executed was the killing of Herman ten, and William Ashley, in Roten Valley, Custer Co., Friday, Nov. 9, 1588, between one and two o'clock in the afternoon. The murder was the result of an attempt of Roten and Ashley to regain pos: on of a clock and other property which were stolen from the school house in Roten Valiey, in which A. W. Grifith was teacher and of the voard of which the murdered meun were members, Hauenstine had been arrested several times on the charge of petty larcony. On the occasion of the last trial, he defended himself and was acquitted. He then stated that the first man or men who should again come to his house to search for stolen proper- ty would never leave the place alive. When the property was found missing from the school Hauenstine was suspected. Roten and Ashley obtained u search war- raut and proceded to Hauenstine's house. It was about the noon hour, M Hauenstine was preparing dinner. Hauenstine himself told her he saw some men coming from the southwest and went out to meet them. The isitors entered his premises and were met by the owner outside the door. The part talked together for some time. Mrs. Hauen- tine then went to the door and asked them o come in to dinner. The husband re-en- tered th e and was followed by Roten and Ashl two latter deciined an invitation to cat by Hauenstine, und his wife did justic i I. After dianer, all the men ropairad Lo the premises without and again , but Mrs. Hauenstive did not know what formed tbe subject of conversn- tion. She claimed, however, that no angry words had been used between them. Later, her husband came back to the house, got the clock which was veing sought, brought it out and gave it to Roten, that gentleman puttirg it in his pocket. A fow miuutes later the wife heard tha reports of two pistol shots in rapid succession, The next woment Hauenstine re-entered the house and said: “Come nud go along. we will die tozether.’ He theu went out to the barn, hitched up a team and veturning to the bodies, covered them with His wife and he got into i drove off, n that Roten and Ashley had gone to hauenstine’s house and a number of thelr friends waitod in anxioty as to what would be the result of the visit, It was known also that the suspect had become desperate, and it was feared that blood would be shed on oue side or the other. The two board members did not put in an appearance at their homes for a couple of days after they had started for the Hauen- stine premises, and, accordingly, s number of their friends started out to make an in- quiry as to the cause of their detention. Sheriff Penn was informed aud a search was instituted for the murderer. At this time, Hauenstine and his wife had had three days' lead of tho officers of the law, sufticient to have placed them far beyoud the limits of the state. But they did not appre- ciate the advantage. neaded divectly for Arpold, v exchanged their outfit for a livery team, making the representation that they were on their y to Broken Bow. Theuce they went to South Loup, passiug Callaway and Ra- , and finally reaching Madison. About. miles outside the town they stopped at u farmhouse and Hauenstine hired out to husk corn. Heworked there about three da; aod sold his fivery team and buggy in Madi- son, in Madison eounty, for #i His hiring out to a farmer would seem to argue that he hud no fear of arrest, but it was that delay which brought him within the hands of the law. After the saleof the outfit Hauenstine's wife took the morning train on the Union Pacific for Columbus and her husband 'eft for the same place on the train in the afte uoon. A clue was first obtained to the murderer Davis of O'Neill. He had r ved cuph and deseription of the murderer and the latter's wifo, and, about the tune the Haueustines were in the vicinity of Madi- If we have to die, where son, Dayis was there on the trail of un O'Neill horsethiof. He made inguiries v garding the horses he was in search of and recoived from an old man a descrivgion of the Hauenstine outfit, which, he claimed, bad passed that way a fow days before. Davis immediately concluded the party was the one wanted i Broken Bow. He {mme. diately drove to Madison. The afternoon tralu was pullmg out of the city as Davis ontered. The latter accordingly telegraphed the conductor of the train "at the first station out asking whether a man of Hauenstine's description was on board A reply was received to tho effect that such a person was on board. He cordingly telegraphed the facts to the sherift of PPlatté county us also did the condactor. Iu response the sheriff and marshal met, flagged and boarded the train halfa mile from Columbus, They advanced from the the half-smoking car,half-vaggage car, - eustine sat with his Winchester across his kuees ready for immediate use, with bis left hand upon his revolver. ‘The sheriff walked through the caras if he bad not noticed Haueustine and passed him as if to make his exit from the other eud of car. Tho marshal followed. After the former had passed Huuenstine, he turned sudaenly caughed him by the arms while the warshal, in an iustant bad the murdecer manacled, Haueustine hud not expocted arrest from any one except Custer county peovle. He wis therefore, keeping a close wateh for Sherift Penn, 'If that official bad put in an ho would either have been killed or Hauenstine would have died in the attempt to kill him, because the latter proforved death o being taken alive, Hauenstine was taken to Broken Bow, Custer county, where he was imprisoned. Ho had no excuse to offer for kitling Roten and Ashley, claiming that the former was ono of bis best friends, Ho was placed on trial March 27, the fol- lowing jury belug impaneled: E. A. Wood- ward, W. Y. Phillips, R. L. Duncanson, A. [CONTINUED ON 8ECOND PAGE.] WFARLAND'S MOUTH SEALED. He Will Not Be Allow:d to Tell His Story to the Jury, ALL EVIDENCE IN THE SHZEDY CASE IN. Testimony Offered in Rebuttal—State Witnesses Contradicted by the De- fense—Ready for the Attor= neys' Argoments. LivcoLy, Neb, May 22.—[Spacial to Tur BeE.|—At noon today J. E. Philpot, attorney for Moaday McFarland, stated that a cou- sultation was to be held as to whether or not Monday McFarland was to go on the witness stand, It was decided, however, not to put him on the stand. It is now believed that the negro's doom is sealed, and that Mrs. Sheedy will escape. Colonel Philpot has not yet answered the prosecution as to whother or not he would put his client on tho stuud in case immunity was granted. The trial has been an expensive luxury to the county, as it has entailed the expenditure of over §10,000. When court reconvened this morning L. C. Burr, an attorney, was put on the wwitness stand to disprove the testimony of Pawn- broker Goldwater, who claimed to have sold the cane to Mouday McFarland. In his tes- timony Goldwater declared that he had made no arrangements concerninga reward. Burr claimed tnat Goldwater had come to kim at one time and wanted to know waat he could do to force the payment of the reward. Ex-Captain Carder was then called, He proved a very irrascible witness, Oace ho positively refused to answer a question and came very near being sent to jail for con- tempt of court. Carder identified tho cane as the one formerly owned by him, On cross. examination he declared that the cane identical in every way with the one he owned. He was asked if he nad not in the Capital hotel informed Henry Hoagland that he was not sure the cane was his, The wit- ness grew evasive and first replied: —**I don't remember even meeting Hoagland at the Capital hotel.” “Didn’t you then say sometning of that kind to Mr. Hoagland somewhera else 2! “I've answered that question once before," id the witness testily. “If you had aoy orains you would know that,” “We want to know, Mr, Carder,” said Mr. Hall, “whether or not you made such a re- mark to Mr. Hogiand or not" The witness said nothing and the court be- came aroused and told the witness to answer the questions put by Mr. Hull. Carder then veplied : ] don't remember over saying any thing of the kind to Mr. Hoagland.” Carder was asked if he had not said some- thing of the kind to Messrs. Dorgan and Hyers of the penitentiary. Mo witness again commenced ewvasions, but finally declared that he daid not re member suying anything of the kind to those gentle- men, The wituess was asked if he identified the cane from tho brass tacks in the nead of it. “r'his was the time that Carder refused to reply. The court finally had to bring him to time by the threat of a fine or imprisonment. Carder then replied : ‘'Yes, sir; I ldentified the cane from the brass tacks in the heaa.” Juiler Barues of the police station testifled that he ideutified the cane just aftex it was found as one that formerly belonged to Carder, He recognized it from two indenta- tions, or **scallops,” as he termed them. The cane was then handed to Barnes and he pounted out four indentations. He was not sure which were the two he saw originally. Mr. Strode, counsel for Mrs. Sheedy, re- marked; “It is probable*that those extra scallops were'put in by the attorneys on the part of the prosecution. " *'You mean that they were put there by Monday McFavland,” retorted Mr. Hall. “Shorthand reporter, take that down!” shouted Strode. “Yes, shorthand reporter, do it,” said Lambertson, “and also put down what Mr. Strode said concerning the attorneys for tho prosocution mutilating the cane.’’ Miss Fannie Warner testified that she had given Mr. and Mrs. Sheedy four dancing lessons about a year and a half ago. At that time Mr. and Mrs. Sheedy appeared v attentive and devoted to each other. Wii- ness was at the Sheedy residence wfter Mr. Sheedy was hurt. Saw Mrs, Sheed v kn ing at'the bedside of her husband. Her face was buried on the pillow, She exhibited signs of sorrow. Her sobs shook tha bad. Mrs. Kittie Melick, wife of the ex-mar- shal, was put ou the stand. As she huad been in constaut attendance at the trial for five days, conirary to the rule of the court con- cerning witnesses being excluded, Mr. Hall objected to the witness testify- ing. Mr. Strode, attorney for Mis. Sheedy, said that he did ot know " 'until yesterday afternoon that Mrs. Melick would bo & good witness for them. The judve then overruled Me. Hall's objection and the witness went on the stand Murs, Melick merely testified, howewer, that she bad been at the Sheedy residence nearly every day between the time that Sheedy was assaulted and the time that Mrs. Sheedy was arrested on the charge of murder and Mrs. Sneedv evinced evidences of griefl wheneyer Mr, Sheedy’s name vas mentioned. Court then adjourned until 2 p, m. E. H. Andrus was the first witness_ called in the afternoon. He testified that ho had seen Mr. and Mrs. Sheedy often at Cushman park and the conduct of Mrs. Sheedy was exemplary. Mr. W.'J. Marshall testified virtually to the same effect. Japtain W. W, waus asked if be remembered telling Miiler and Sipe that the cane found at the Sheedy residence was his, but afterwards told them that it wos Carder denied making such statements. T. B, Baker, a brother-in-law of Mrs, Sheely, was called. Ho testificd that ho was at the Sheedy residence from the Tues- day to the Friday of the week that Sheedy aied and was buried, He testifiod that ho was ut_tne Sheedy residence on Wednesday, the day that Mr. Oppenheimer came there with the power of attorney, but positively denied that Walstrom was there, the testi- mouy of Oppanheimer to the contwary not- withstandi. He further declared that Onppenheimer wus mistaken about the plano being oven and that Mrs. Sheedy touched it gaily as she passed it. Witness was positive that the piano was shut. On being asked where the piano stood he first declared thut it stood on the west side of the room, but later said that it stood on the south side of the room. Witness was in the parlor five minutes Saturday when Walstrom was there. Mvrs. Dean, a sister of Mrs. Sheedy, was called, Sue'declared that the piano was closed the entire week following the death of John Sheedy. The the testimony of this witness was for the purpose of 1 peaching Attorney Oppenheimer’s statement. Sho declured that the ouly time Harry Walstrom was at the house wis on the Saturday fol- lowing the burial when Oppenheimer stated that Walstrom was there. Witness thought that Dennis Shoedy sent for Walstrom, Was not sure whether or Lot it was Mrs. Sheedy who sent for Walstrom, Hyman Goldwater, the pawnbroker, was then called, Colonel Philpot, attorney for | Monday McParland, arose and deciared that | he proposed to impeach this witness, whohad | been put on the stand on behalf of the state, Mr. Hail objected to the witness being put | on the stand, declaring that the stato had | rested once and that tho state wituesses could tot be called back. Objection over- ruled. Strode asked “Dido’t you say to Mr. L. C, fixed the hiead of the cane, or you told your boy to fix the head of the cané " “No, sir; not such & word. I didw't say ity was the reply. *'Did vou noton the same day at. the ofice of L. C. Burr ask him If you couldn’t sue for the mouncy, and didn't vou tell Buwe that he needu’t sue for the money for thuy bud ixed ; Carder was recalled and Oficors Buwr that you t all or paid nd dido't Burr thon say to you, ‘Mr. Goldwateér you didn't have that cane in your store at all{f ana didu't you say es no difference, I am entitled to money, all of L1 all of 1t," replied 'his i1s o great le Goldwater. L. C. Burr, the attorney, was put on tho stand and asked if when Mr. Goldwater came tohim ke had not asked him whother or not he had fixed the head of the eane or his boy had fixed the cane. The witness answered : “He told me thut in sabstance," * The question was then asked: “‘Ou the same day did Mr, Goldwator tell you that u neodn't sue for tha reward because it had all been fixed, and ! farther, didn’t yon say to him ‘you didn’t hdve that sane in your store,’ or words to that effect: sud didu’t he say, ‘that makes no difference, I'm afier my reward,’ or words to that effect 1’ ‘'Yes, sir, he told me that in substance,” was tho reply. The other” statements of Mr. Goldwater were also discredited by Mr. Burr. Colonel Philpot then went on the witness stand. Ho put his own questions and then answered them. He tastified that on the night following the arrest of McFarland Mu- lone said concerning the negro: ““He is in a desperate coadition and commit suicido before moraing," Marshal Melick was put on the stand and asked what reward was offered for the arrest and conviction of the murderers. Witness testified that a rowaed of &,000 had been offered by Donnis Shoedy and Mr: 3 for the arcrest of the mu Later Mrs, Sheedy withdrews her Witness continded: “Mr. Dennis offered $1000 roward. 1 told alone of this, Tais reward was offered to me privately. I oftered James Malone one-half of this'in case of conviction. The second offer of reward was made after Mrs, Sueedy’s avrest,” Mr. Strode, attorney for Mrs, Sheedy, then went on the witness stand and declardd that on the night following McFarland’s arvest Malone said to witness: “Wo kept him in the sweat box all night and we got the con- fession out of him tnis morning.’’ P. J. Stepney, a cousin of McFarland, was put on the witness stand, A cane mutilated to imitate the appearance of the cane found on the porch of the ‘Sheedy residence was handed ‘to the witness and he was asked moanwhile if that was not tho sams caue which he loaned to Monday McFarland last summer. Before he looked at the caue the witness answered : “Yes sir.” The witness was asked hy Mr. Hall if the overcoat he had on was net the one he loaned to Monday McFarland the night of the mur- dor of Jolin Sheedy. Objected to and objec- tion sustained. Coroner Holyoke was put on tho witness stand and produced the cheok bone of John Sheeay, He tostitied that at the thne of the may autopsy the check bone was broken only at its point of articulation with the forehcad The bone had to be pried dut. Ho testitiel further that he took charge’of the stomach and later sent it to rof. Vaughn of Chicago. Dennis Sheedy offered $300 to pay toward the expense of the analysis of the stomach. Denuis Sheedy sald that the county offerad only $30. The stomach was put jn a sealed Jur in the back part of Brown's drug sto Almost anybody could have gotten at the ja Mr. Strode then announced that all the tes- imony on the part of the defense was in. The prosecution then declared that there was some ovidence to be given in rebuttal. The first witness was William' Bradeen, Mr, Bradeen testified that on the evening Sheedy was assaulted William Gleason, tho gambler whom the defenss has endeavored to implicate in the murder, was in the club rooms over the Ivy Leafsaloon from 7 until 8130 o'clock. s Charles E. Aloxander, the State Journal, testifi der stated to him tha ‘was unable to identify the cane. (This glivectly oppo- site the testhmony of Cardde). ¥ Strode then asked: ‘“‘Hd¥en"t yot taken a deep interest in this trial “Ihave taken a deep interest in this case only as a newspaper reporter,” was Alex- ander’s reply. i In reJlly to another q‘neslmn Alexander titied : arder asked we not, to say anything in the paper avout nis not, being able to identify the cane.” Deputy Sheriff Hoaglan was recalled, and testitied positively that Captain Carder told him at the Capital hotel fn the prosence of Judge J. D. Wright that ke was not sure that the cane was his. { Anson Fullington testifled that ho was in the club rooms over the Ivy Leaf saloon the night that Sneedy was assaulted. Mr. Glea- son was there from 6 to 8 o'clock Sergeant Fred Miller testified that on the day following the time that the cane was found on the porch of thg Sheely residenca Captain Carder informed witness that he couldn’t identify the cana #s his own. Mr. Lamberison, attornoy for the state, then offered an almanae {u évidence to show that there was no moon oh the night tI Monday McFarland shot, at John Sheedy, butin the face of which Mr. and Mrs. Hos- man, who were thirty-five feet awny, claimed that'it was a white man who did the shoot- ing. Stearns objected to the almanac being pre- sented, He said: *“There is no evidence ¢hat this almanac is a scientific work,” This remark caused a laugh and even the court had to smile. His honor paid no atten- tion to the objection and vhe almanac went in. Court then adjourned. ' golico veporter on t Captain Car: [t More Irrigation Schemes. Lour Crry, Neb., May 22.—[Special Tele- gram to Tue Bre.] —Tha people of Loup City and Sherman county are feeling jubilant over the prospecte of securing the construction of a canal thirteen miles loug, with a carrying capacity of 150 cubic fost Jer second, which will irrigate 15,000 acres of land. The canal terminates near the school house at Loup City and a dam is to be. eonstructed across Dead Hosse creek soma mine hundred feet i leusth and it will bo of such dic mensious as to form a lake, extending up Dead Horse creok about,a mile, The estimato for building the dam aloge is about $14,000. The appraisers have at work this week adjusting the damages' where it has been v to condemn the laud for right of The damagoes ary only 8350 and will haye to bo raised to pay $he amount of dam- ages allowed by the appraisers, and as one of the strongest companies i the United States bave fully completed arsgagements with our local company to build it $here is but little doubt but that dirt will beflying soon. Superior High S! Graduates, Sureniow, Neb., May 52— [Special to T Bre.|—Notwithstanding, the inclemency of the weather the opera. was crowded to suffocation last evenin, itness tne fourth aunual commencement 6f tho Superior high school. In honor of the gecasion the ladies of the city handsomely § ted the stage with flowers and foras ta profusion. These, with choice oil painti| mirrors, elogant curtains tage a palace of s comprised ten hemselves excol- lentifully remem- plomas were pre- sented by Rev. O. M. SRepherd. The Su- perior high school has afggined a hizh stand ard under the able diretion of Prof. I. B, Wilson and the people of Superior are more than proud of the excaliacy attained by the graduating class of 13815 General Van Wygk's Opinion. siAskA City, Neb., May 22.—(Spacial ogram to Tue Bew)—General C. W. Van Wyck returned toddy from the Cinciu- nati convention safferlng from hoarseness and a bad cold. Ho sald it was a great meot ing and the attendance was unusually lar; there being some ninely persons in attend- ance from Nebrasku alope, Everytbing was harmonious and lh:xlulhm adopted seemed to meet with the hedriyapproval of all. I consider it the coming y,” sald the ge:- eral. I canuot un&fiu the most fuvo able candidate for p£ ideot; the time is too far away. Peftes might be the choico now and perbiaps not bodu it two years from now. ‘The prohibitionists tried” to get a plank in tho platform, but they aid not suc- ceed, It is bard to tell Bow what party they Wil ture W nexeM and made th acquiy he clas wils ith flowers, T INCLINED T0 BE MISLEADING, Sensational and Ovordrawa Report Oon- oerning Seoretary Blaine's Hoalth, ITS PULICATION CIUZL AND UNJUST. His M n v gor Never Brighter or Stronger Than Today ot of the Unfortunate Stories Avroad. Wasmivarox Braeaw Tis Ba 514 Foviranr ¢ St e } Wasimixarox, D. C., May 22, Unusual interest in the health of Secrotary Blaine was aroused today by the publicatio n of alengthy and somewhat sensational dis- pateh from this city in the New York Herald representing the scoretary as boing in rapid decline of not oniy physical, but montal vigor, and predicting that ha would not re. sume his ofMicial duties. Tho publication was greatly regretted und sincorely deplored u oficlal circles, as it did Me. Blaiue injus tico and was inclined to bo misleading. See- retary Blaine has overworked himself. Ho has tiad upon his hands more vexatious prob lems than have come before tho department of state for very many years, and he has given 0o many hours and too much of his strongth to his work. He has not ouly mot neglected his duties, but has been wonderfully prompt in disposing of them. He has as brilliant, te- nacious, vigorous and flexible a mind as was probably ever found in an overworkod phys- ical composition, He is not very vigorous in body, but itis believed by those who kuow his condition bost, that with a few weeks of complete rest he will bo himself again. Tt is cruelly unjust to even intimate that Blaine is incapacitated from the performance of his official duties by reason of a depresssion of physical streuglh which effects his mind, as is fntimated in the New York Horald, ov to intimato as it does that his montal condition is, or hus been such as to atiract the atten- tion of his co-lanorers, for that is untrue. To get at the real facts your correspondent called upou several gentlemen who are com- monly accepted as Mr. Blaine’s most in- timate friends, and who for this reason Kknow the real condition of his meutal faculties. They were emphatic in stating that Mr. Blaine's mental vigor was never stronger or brighter than it is today and that there is not the slightest weakening in his intellectual grasp. General John W, Foster, one of Mr. Blaine's closest associates, who recently went on a special mission to Spain in company with James G. Bluine, jr., said: “‘The friends of Mr. Blaine have known for a long time that he suffered occasionally from indigestion and gout, but these attacks have been wholly physical and were uo moro than many men have, There was never the remotest clouding of his mental strength. [ had been with him very frequently up to the time he went to New York. I neversaw his mind stronger or move active. These sensu- tional stories are very unfortunate for they d credit the head of our state department bofore tho powers of the world. Representativos of foreign nations who are here will at once send these published statemonts to their respective governments as a proof emanating from ourselves that tho oficer of our state flairs -l;i‘I f‘ordgn relations has become in- tated, Mr. Wiliam B. Curtls, director of the bureau of American republics, and others who have been much with Mr. Blaine of late, while recoguizing him as overworked, said he would regain his puysical strangth with rest and that his mind was as strong us ever. LAND DECISIONS. Assistant Secretary Chandler today de- cided the petition for certiovari in the case of Robert Reed vs. Richard Dowling et al, from the Chadron land office involving casb entry for the southwest quarter of section 11, township 81 notth, range 46 west, in whict the Nebraska land and investment’ company are interested, having filed a motion for the remstatement of tho entry, that a hearing b ordered and that it be allowed to iutcervene as a party defend int. The land was deeded to Edw . Cous for 81,400 March 14, 1586, by Dowiing, and on Februs 1838, Coolk land “and invest- The assispant sec- of the apvellunt ment company for §,000. retary grants the petition and directs evidence to be taken on the points in question affecting the priority of rights to the proverty. The assistant secrétary afirms the deci sion below holding for cancellation the home- stead entry of Angeline Vandergrift for the northeast quarter of soction 2, township 14 uorth, rango 1y west, Grand Tsland district, contested by David W John. MISCELLANEOUS, William Gray of Towa, a $1,000 clerk at the' geological survey, has resigned. By direction of the secretary of war a leave of absence for six mouths on a surgeon’s cer- tificate of disability is granted First Lieuten- ant Alexander Ogle, Seventeenth iunfantry. Leave of absence for three months, to take effect on or about July 15, if his services can then bo spared by his post commander, is granted Captain Stephen W. Groesback, Sixth infantry. Perky 8, Hearis, — e BASK RORBERS SENTENCED, Valparaiso Imit:tors of Jesse James Sent to the Penitentiary, Wanoo, Neb.,, May 22.—[Spocial to Tur :12.]—Judge Miller has been presiding over 100 ot the district conrt in this county since last Monday. The important cases disposed of were those against “Hiuk" Val- lery for libelling Eliza King and the ones against Frank Tobin, Elmer Nelson and Jesse Ruby for attempting to rob the Valpar aiso bank a few weeks ago. Vallery plead not guiity and was tried and the case sub mitted to the jury, and after being out about thirty minutes they returned a verdict of guilty, A motion for a new: trial has boen made and will be passed on 1 a fow days, when he will receive his sentence if a new trial 18 not granted. There were three'cbarges against Tobin, Nelson and Ruby, viz: Assault with intent t0 rob, assault withintent to kill and murder, To the and assault with intent to wound. last charge they all plead guilty. was accepted by the prosocuting attorney and he then put tho parties on trmal for assault with intent to rob and they filed a plea in bar uulllngl!lp former conviction for thesame offense. 1o this the attorneys for the state demurred. The court overruled the demurrer and sustained tne plea, holding thut they would not ba twice convicted for the same criminal act. Affidavits were read showing former excollent charucter for Ruby. Tobin was sentonced to six years in the perfitentiary, Nelson five yeurs, anda Ruby three yoars, Tobin was given one year more than Nelson on accouut of the fact that he did’the shooting, Guilty of Manslaughter, Pierce, Neb, May 22.-[Special Tele- gram to Tue Bew]—After being out all night the jury in the case of the state of Ne braska vs William Tiobs, charged with mur- der in the first degree, found bim guiity of menslaughter. The verdict is generally ap- oroved. Tibbs killed a man named Britton at Wayne lust October. Britton was of a guar. relsome disposition and on several occasions bad threatened to kil, 1ibbs, who did all he could to avoid him and keep out of his way. On the day that the killing took place Brit ton was following Tibbs, who, fearing an as- sault from Britton, raised u vock aud struck him a blow ou the head, from the effects of which he died, . May 22.—[Special Telegram to Tue Mee.]—Colonel Heny, Captain Hughes, Lisutenants Taylor aud o| ran away from home about and Troop K, ight for Fort M M thence b ton, D, C. Horrible Crime Uncarthed. Keanxey, Neb, May 22--|Special Tele- gram to Tue Bre, ] A highly sensational af- fair was ugearthed here this afternoon in the discovery of a three months old child in the channel leading from the lake to the river A. D. Shreve, who was trolling for fish, caught the body and drew it out, and was startied at finding the corpse of a baby. The news was spread rapidly about the city and the coroner with s uumber of citizens was soon at the place to view the remains. The child was \\r‘!l dressed and had evidently been thrown into the wator aliv perhaps A week aro, A string was tied around its neck to which an empty bottle was attache [t is supposed that the bottle had been tilled with shot or some heavy ma terial to serve as a sinker, There was also & coil of wire wrapped around the body with a loop at the end which had the appearance of a clasp about some neavy abject A coroner’s jury was summoned and the work of ferretting out a clue to the murder was bewun nan of questionable char. acter was at ouce suspected and up to a late hour tonight sho has eluded the police, but deputy sheriffs ara scouring all parts of the city to fiud her. The autborities are de termined to run the guilty one down. The coroner's jury has adjourned until Monday Fe; ave cntertai that the woman will drown herself during the night as she was considerably agitated whon last seen, cavalry leavo , taking tho to_Chicago, the Bultimore & Ohio to Washing- A Wandering Boy. Neb.,, May [Speeial T sle- gram to Tue Bee|-Teday little Claude Burcham, whos other and step-father, Williamn Lewis, reside ore mile south of Chapman, was found wandering about the city barefooted and without an escort. At the station he related a sad talo, saying thut owing to his stop-father's constant abuse he two weeks ago, cnptured him and promised uts if he would be content Keansey A band of gypsies flattering inducen to rove about with them. They ca a few days w 1the boy was detai here d by them to steal boards for fiel fusal was unmercifully the first opportunity the would-be benefactor 10 his mother by the i on hbis re horsewhipped. At d escaped from fis , and he will be restored withoritics of the city d of the Session Kearsey, Neb, Special to Tue Bre.]—The State Dental association closed its session lust night. ‘The election of officers resulted: A. W. Nason, Omaha, president; I Skede, Seward, vice president; Dr, M Beatrice, recoraing se vy H, J Norfolk, correspouding secretar'y; Dr. Fremont, treasurer. Dr. Miiler of Island and Funck of s re elected on the board of censors, The president and secretary were instructed to issue credentials to any member of the asso- clation who wished to attend the American Dental association in Saratoga in August Fremont was selected as the place for hold- ing the meeting next yea Notes, ¢ 22.—[Special to ie.|—A heavy rain fell the past twenty-four hours throughout western Ne- braska. Prospects w: never brighter for an immense crop, Corn is being contracted 45 cents for fali delivery here, Several irvigating compinies are making a rush to push through Dawson county. Tho Kearney company will probably hold the field, building from Willow Island to connect with the Kearney canal noc.h of - Eim creek. Nearly forty miles of new work will be con- stracted, Worlt has comm school building, wi cost, of §15,000, ced on the Second ward ch will be completed at a “ill B th: Defenss, LiNcoLy, Neb,, May 22.—[Special to Tue Bk, ]—The preliminary trial of E. W. Hutch- inson, the old man who shot Cella (alias Jon- nie) Green, will be had before Police Juage Houstou tomorrow afternoon. Witnesses at the coroner’s inquest testified that they saw no difference in Hutchinson’s manner when he called on the fatal night from what it had been on otfer visits, but his attoraey will # conduct the case on the theory of insanity The old man is feeble and his actions ar likely to give color to that tucory. His Ba Brokex Bow, Nel egram to T Yesterday S. Gestwite loft Berwyn to go to W lle. He was riding a stallion, and when about two miles Insanit, K Broker Special Tel- northeast of Berwvn was thrown from the horse, it is supposed by the saddlo turning. He wis found lying in the road and tho he standing by his side. Goestwite was r moved to ahouse near by. His back was found to be broken aad his breast crushed. Medical aia was summoned, but he died about 1 o'clock. Ho was about fifty years of age. Gone to Alr.ca Neprasga Ciry, Neb, May 2 to Tuk Beg.|—Mr. and Mvs, Leger ieft herve yesterday bound for Africa. Mr. Leger was married to Miss Walters of th: ty carly in the spring. Shortly after the marriaze he was appointed by the Baptlst board as treasurer of the Congo mission. Mrs, Lezer will accompany her husband as far as Lon- don, and will remain there while Mr. Leger is getting settled in his new fieid of 1abor. —iSpecial A Burgiar Sentened, Beamiie, Neb, May 22,--[Special Tele- gram to Tite Bee, |—Peter Crounse was ar- raigned in the district court this afternoon, charged with Dburglarizing the German National bank some months ugo and stealing thovefrom a case of valuable vars coins be- longiug to Frank Harper. Crounse pleaded guilty to grand lavceny and was sentonced to two years in the penitentiary. Nelson's Schpls Close, Nen:oy, Neb,, M 2.[Special to Tur Bee.|--The public schools closed today and an entertainment was given this evening. Jt has been a very successful school yeur, and hereafter its course of study will be so ar- ranged that the graduates can enter the state university without examination. The con- tract for tho new school building s to be et in a few days, L Not ldentifled. HarpiNatoN, Nob,, May 22, —[Special Tele gram to Tur Ber. |-~The floater found in the Missouri river was interred without identifi- cation. ‘I'no body was in an advanced stage of decay. The only articles found in bis clothing was a pocket knife and uu almunuc bearing tho advertisement of a Yankton drug store, For tlegal Liquor Selling. HartiNgroN, Nev, May -[Special to viie Beel. ~Willlam B. Curey of Beldon, has been bound over to the district court to answver to the charge of seliing liguor with- out & licenss, A quantity of liquor: lzed on his promises were ordered destroyod by the county court. Inf Nennaska Crey, D to Tur Bee)—Mr. and Mrs, Sibley, mission workers, were g well reception at the Y oung M ristinn associatio | vooms last night. The affair was informal but was muck enjoyed by those who attended, 1 e ion. b, May 22, [Spociui | Horaca A, eu a fare- Grain L Ciawronn, Neb, Special to Tae Brk.—Raln 18 falling whundantly tod The prospects for ¢ wrain 1s ook all vlanted. tionally well, 0ps wero never botter, g well. Corn is nwarly All rauge stock is doing oxcop- of Drouth Dispelled. NEWMAN Guiove, Neb.,, May -|Special to "Yuk Ber, |-~The fivst rainstorm of any ex- tent feill here yesterdry, and all fears of drouth are dispelled. The crop prospect is | very encou § sod Lhe farmers are happy. — VUMBER 334 RICHARD MELODY'S DEATH, Singular Haste with Which an 0ld Farmes Was Laid Away, HISTORY OF A RATHER QUESR CASE. Op - ration at a Surgioal Institute Fole lowed by Doath and a Coroaer’ Investigatic \ hat the Records = how, Richard Meolody, a farmer age and a vesident of Stuart, a medical instituto at 7 evening, o'clock At 11 o'clock the same night his vody was taken from the fustitute &'s undortaking establishment, At § o'clock yostorday morning tho remains of the aged farmor wore placed in o $3 unty coltin and buried in the potters' fleld. 10 body was placed in the rouzh pine box jJust as it had boen taken from the bod, withe out a stitch of clothing or even a sheet placed over the nakod torm, The history of the case is: On May 5 Richard Molody was induced by Agent J ucker of the institute to come to Owaha for troatment for a sore foot. A part of the foot had boen ampitated some yours ago. Molody was sufforing from ros1s of the oscalsis and astraggulus, two aech of the foot, ne bones in the A contract was drawn up by Tucker, ng ing that the iustituto surgeons were to pecform an operation on the foot and to give Melody twa woeks' board at their hospital. For all of this Melody was to pay $119. The records at the instituto offico show that this money wis paid according to the contract, and the payment is admitted by the managers, An operation was performed on May 8 by Dr. Isane Sinclar, and it is said that J, Hughson and Dr. J.'12, Williams assisted a¥ this operation, though Drs. MeLaughin and Williams contradicted other on this point when _sec But_they all agree that Dr. Sinclair was the principal at the operation, Gangreue set in almost Immediately aftor- A second operation was performed & day or 50 ago. Noroliof foliowed this second operation, and the od man_died, Before dying Melody signed a will which had been drawn up for him. He left all his real and personal property to his brother, Christopher Melody. —I'he property consists of 160 acres of land'in soction 24, township 83, range 15, in Holt county this state, Tne farm is well stocked with horses. A note for 8115, which is deposited in the Stuart State bank, a certificate of deposit for on_the same bank and & n cash was also willed to the brother. The will is witnessed by Dr. Isaae Sinclair, Heney Re a nurso at the insti- wte, and Re: Bruen, The priest had been cailed in to admiuister the last rites of the church to the dying wan and conse- a witness to the signing of the In tie face of the fact that Melody had on his person tho $115 note, the $35 cers tificate of deposit and #1.67 in cash his body was not even given a decent burfal, In a satchel velonging to the dead man was & good suit or clothes, but this was not placed upen him before nis burial. No effort had been made to notify the friends of the de- ceased at Stuart of his death, though there were letters in the old man's pocketbook givs fug the address of friends, A gontleman who was aware of the peculiar vircumstances connected with the death and hasty, sccret buriat of Melody, notified Cor- oner Harrigan and requested an investiga- tion, The coroner in company with e~ tective called upon the medical institute ofticers und made a demand for the property left by the deceased. T'his was turned over, ‘Then the coroner demanded a sight of the records. On the books of the institute was the record of Melody having paid §10 for the operation and two weeks’ board. After considerable questioning the coroner leurued the facts as statod. A visit was paid to the potter's field, and under the direction of the coroucr, the body was exhumed and taken to Gring's undertak- ing rooms. Dr. Coulter made & post mortem. examination last night to determine the ex- act cause of death, Dr. Havrigan said that if the ordinary pre- cantions had heen taken there would ~have been no necessity for blood poisoning or gan- grene, as the oporation was a simple one. Dr. Williams at first denied that Tucker was emploved by the iustitute, but Dr. MeLaughblin adufitted it and stated that Tucker wus at Booue, Ia. telegraphed for and instructed once, The coroner also wired William of Stuart, a friend of tho dec quested Bim to be here today. Au inquest will bo held at 2 o'plock this afternoon at Gring’s, whea a thorough inves- tization will be made into all the transac- tions iu the caso, e — GAS EXPLUSION IN A MINE, Ho has been to come at Kirdenday ased, and re- gro Conv nd One Free iner Killed. Binvisanay, Ala, May 22.-At the Pratt mines today an oxplosion of gasin & shaft where convicts were working kiled ten ro convicts and one froo miner named, lom Moore, 1t is bolieved that the wmen had in some way knoclked off a plauk from m door which stood across an old word chamber and on whioh the was written, The gas rushed out and caught fire from the lamps, Ofticers of the company went to the rescue and worked to suve thi men, but wore thems selyes aimost suffocated and narrowly ese caped, being dragged out unconscious, ~ The 5 of the dead have all been recovered, THE WEATHER FORECAST, For Omabia and Vicinity—Fair; Slightly warmer. Wasaivaron, May 23.—Forocast till 8 p, urday: For the Dakotis—Warmer; 1 south winds. v fissouri ~Fair Saturday; y vight; north winds, For lowa--Fuir Saturday; warmer; winds g 1 southeast, Cunsas - Warmer; fair; winds becom- uth » Net warmor by ka and Colorado--Fair Satur- v south winds, ks TR eception to the Pastor, Kranxey, Neb, May 22 --Special Tele- gram to Tur Bre,]—Rev. Dr. John Askin and femily wors givon a public reception to- night by their frionds, The reverend gentle- man and bis family will leave in 8 few days, for thewr old homd in Kngland, whero the; will spend the summer, The oceasion was 8 very pleasant affair, and scores of friends Dude their pastor a kindly good- bye, to whioh he respouded in oae of his charactersuie speeches, -— *teamship Arvivals, At New Yorl-~I'he Werra, from Bremen; the Holland, from Liverpool. At Hamburg-~The Columbia, from New York; the Rugia, from New York, AL Queenstown —The Bothuia, from New Yorlk for Liverpool, At Southampton—The Elbe, York for Bremen from New Ilinois Crops in Good Shape. Srixarienn, 11, May 22, —'I'he state board of agriculture reports vhat never before since 1884 has the condition of wheat becn 0 prome ising. torn averages 0 por ceut above the normal, ltye is in excellent coudition at 108 and oats at 0. Tho fruit erop promises to be the largest over known, el SEBAY, Ieported Dissbled at Sex, Ew Youx, May 2% ~The Dutch steames Veendam s wd disabled at sea, Bhe ls bonnd for this port with G20 passeneers. Aceuts say theie ure no apprehensious for her safety, and that she will arrive al right. ) o YL -