The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, October 29, 1895, Page 1

VOLUME LXXVIIL—NO. 151 SAN FRANCISCO, TUESDAY MORNING, OCTOBER 29, 1895. PRICE FIVE CENTS YOUNG ARMENIANS BU RNED AT THE STAKE Reports of a Most Terrible/ Massacre by the Turks. HUNDREDS WERE SLAIN. | Mussulman Laizes Armed With | Rifles Did the Fiendish Work. MOBS PILLAGED THE VILLAGES. The Situation Serious and Missionaries : Are Reported in Great i Peril. CONSTANTINOPLE, TurkEy, Oct. 28.— Advices from an Armenian source ‘report i he occurrence of a terrible massacre near | B t on the road between Erzeroum and | Erbisond. These reports allege that 500 ish Mussulman Laizes, armed with Henry- | Martini rifles and supported by the Turk- | inhabitants, made an unprovoked attack | upon the Armenian inhabitants of several | villages, and it is further alleged that a number of young men and women were | burned alive at stakes and that many women were assaulted and horribly mutil- ated. After the churches had been desecrated the Mussulman mob pillaged the villages | and stole all the cattle and other property of value they could carry off. It is stated upon the same authority that over 150 Ar- menians were killed. The inhabitants of these villages had made application to the Governor of Baiburt for protection against the raids of the Mussulmans, butthe Gov- | ernor sent only three gendarmes, who did | not arrve until after the murder and pil- | lage were over. ‘ Later Armenian advices from Erzingjan | estimate that several hundred Armenians | were killed in the disturbances. The | Turkish version speaks of fifty being | killed. A dispatch from Trebizond says it | is reported that Turks have attacked the | Armenians in the mountains near the e The military commander at Baiburt has telegraphed an account of the trouble at that place. According to the commander | ten shots were fired from the Armenian gquarter of the town upon a number of | Mussulmans, several of whom fell mortally wounded. The Mussulmans then closed the shops and took arms wherewith to de- fend themselves. A conflict ensued in which a number on both sides were killed or wounded. The officials immediately sent police, gendarmes and troops, who calmed the disturbance. LONDON, Exc., Oct. 28.— The Daily News will to-morrow publish letters from Trebizond, Turkish Armenia, stating that the number of victims in the recent riot- ing is estimated at 700 in the town and 200 | in the surrounding villages. Many Ar- menian women have vanished, and there is scarcely a doubt that they have been | either murdered or kidnaped. Most of the | houses occupied by Armenians were | burned. There is great distress among the survivors, who in large numbers are living in sheds or in the woods. Telegrams from Marash report that the situation there is serious, and that the | English and American missionaries are in peril. The situation around Isoid contin- ues gravely alarming. Frederick Rasch, member of Parlia- ment, has just returned from Constanti- nople. He represents the situation as extremely grave. The Sultan sees no- body, being completely unmanned from fears of assassination. Rasch believes that the Sultan will be assassinated by army officers, who are filled with discon- tent, and are asking questions which the Sultan cannot answer. They want to know, among other things, why Mussul- mans are heavily taxed, while concessions are granted to Armenians. Rasch says that the reports of atrocities from Arme- nian sources are greatly exaggerated. WAS SHOT BY HIS SWEETHEART. An Ohio Youth Carried a Revolverto His Love and She Shot Him and Herself. FRANKLIN, O=nmo, Oct. 28 —William Schaeffer and Sylvia McCabe have been sweethearts for over a year. Yesterday she went to his home to spend the day. Schaeffer had arevolver in his pocket. The girl drew the revolver and asked him if he wanted her to shoot him and he said he did. She shot him in theright temple and he fell to the floor unconscious. He re- gained consciousness two hours later and found her lying near him with a bullet- hole in her left temple. The girl died at 11 o’clock this morning, and Schaeffer is in a critical condition. e CHINESE HURRYING HOMEWARD. It 1s Thought That Rumors of War in the Far East Has Caused the Big Exodus. BOSTON, Mass.,, Oct. 28.—Within the last two months Chinamen in the East have been leaving in Jarge numbers, and, although the authorities have mads every effort to gain some reason to explain the sudden exodus, they have been unable to do so. To-day, however, they gained in- formation from an official source which shows that the Chinamen are hurrying home at the orders of the Chinese Consuls and agents, although why the order should have been issued is a matter of conjecture only. The report has gained credence, how- ever, that this recall hasa great deal of meaning in the light of the present serious gutlook in the East, and even conservative | of fairy sounds k | men. men can only trace in it the prediction of war which has been hanging so heavily on the horizon during the last five years. All the railroads report having very heavy passenger lists of Celestials. TREASURER MORGAN MET A CRANK. Had Communicated With the President by Fairy Sounds and Demanded a Big Check. WASHINGTON, D. C., Oct. 28.—T. B. Mangan, a middle-aged white man, who says he hails from the State of Washing- ton, was placed in the hands of the police | this morning to inquire into his sanity. He called this morning upon United | States Treasurer Morgan and demanded a drait for $317,000,000 in payment of a claim he had against the United States Govern- ment for 12,000 tons of gold lost by the sinking of the steamer Victoria some years ago. He said he had communicated with President Cleveland, and he had said his claim should be paid. When asked if he had seen the President he answered no, but said he had talked with him by means wn only to the two Treasurer Morgan immediately called a treasury watchman and whispered to him that the man was a crank and then in loud tones directed the watchman to accompany Mr. Mangan to the treasury al it that he was given a draft for $317, 0. The watchman handed Man- gan over to the police. CAPTURE OF COMSTOCK, ARREST OF THE CALIFORNIAN WHO STOLE THE JEWELS OF MRS. MARTIN, AFTER PAWNING THE D1AMONDS HE EAsILY PASSED MANY WORTH- LEss CHECKS. NEW YORK, N. Y., Oct. 28.—Charles M. Comstock, a handsome, well-dressed California, about 26 years old, who is said to be connected with the best families of San Francisco, was arrested to-day at the Hotel Martin at the request of the Califor- nie authorities and is now at police head- guarters charged with stealing $65000 worth of diamonds from Mrs. Caroline Colton Martin of Berkeley, Alameda County, in that State. He has admitted taking the jewels and has told what he did with them, and the police are now waiting advices from San Francisco to learn whether they shall hold him for requisition. This crime, it seems, is not the only blot on Comstock’s career, for, after leaving San Francisco and gambling away the pro- ceeds of the sale of the jewelry, he has since been all over the country defrauding his friends and relatives by means of worthless checks, accepted by them from him in good faith, and spending every dollar he could raise at the racetracks. The police understand that he is wanted in Providence, R. 1., for defrauding an aunt by means of & worthless check, and that he has victimized other people, some of them in this city. When brought before Captain O'Brien at police headquarters he at once admitted appropriating and selling the diamonds, The larger portion, he said, he had pawned with a jeweler named Maconski, on Kearny street, San Francisco, for $300, and had afterward sold the tickets to the same man for $100. The most valuable piece, however, a pearl - shaped diamond set in a scarfpin, purchased at Tif- fany’s in 1881 for $3000, he had given to a bookmaker named Beverly at the Grand Hotel, Cincinnati, in return for a loan of §1000. Papers found in Com- stock’s possession proved his statements to be true. CHARGES OF COCKRILL, MISSIONARIES AROUSED BY THE STATEMENTS OF THE COR- RESPONDENT. AN INVESTIGATION DECIDED UPON AT A STORMY MEETING OF THE BOARD. BOSTON, Mass., Oct. 28.—A meeting of the American Board of Missions was held to-night in Music Hall for the purpose of ordering a general inquiry to be made into the statements of Colonel Cockrill, the New York Herald’s correspondent in Ja- pan, that the missionaries there were abusing their power and were utterly in- competent to carry on the work. The meeting was a very stormy one, and after a general discussion the statements were declared unanimously by the assem- bly to be untrue. The committee on foreign missions was then instructed to inquire into the charges and if they found sufficient proof to war- rant an investigation they were to report to the general board and a meeting would be called. The statement of Colonel Cockrill has aroused considerable agitation in mission- ary circles, and the general opinion is that an investigation as to the truth or falsity of the charges will be maee. ) CHOSE A NEW QUEEN. And the King of Korea Also Took the Title of Emperor. ST. PETERSBURG, Russia, Oct. 28. Dickery, Dockexry THE DAIRY RAIDS CELEBRATED BY HAPPY BABES OF SAN FRANCISCO. Dockery, susar and silixj gives us good, pure millx. FIGHTING FOR LIFE, Mudgett, Alias Holmes, Acts as His Own Lawyer in Court. ON TRIAL FOR MURDER. After the Withdrawal of Counsel the Accused Conducted the Case. KEPT IN THE CRIMINAL DOCK. Pleas of the Prisoner to Get Nearer the Jurors Denied by the Court. PHILADELPHIA, Pa., Oct. 28.—Her- man W. Mudgett, alias H. H. Holmes, was arraigned at the bar of justice of the Criminal Court of Philadelphia to-day to defend his life against the charge of mur- dering Benjamin F. Pitzell. The widespread publicity given this sen- sational case attracted a great throng of people to the corridors of the City Hall leading to the courtroom, but in anticipa- tion of the crowd of morbid people who are attracted by the spectacle of a man battling for his life, as are moths around the candle, cordons of police guarded all the entrances, and only those having busi- ress in the courtroom were admitted. The very opening of the trial furnished an unusual incident in court procedure and was in keeping with the strange phases that have made this case unique in the criminal records of the country. Directly after the prisoner had been placed in the dock and Judge Arnold had taken his seat upon the bench, Holmes’ two at- torneys asked foracontinuance of the case. This, however, was refused, as there had already been more than enough of thelaw’s delay and Judge Arnold ordered the trial to be proceeded with. Then the defendant’s lawyers announced that they would withdraw from the case. The Judge expressed his surprise at such unprecedented action at the beginning of a murder trial, and told the two attorneys that if they withdrew they placed them- selves in jeopardy of being disbarred. Nevertheless, with the prospect of disbar- ment before them, the two lawyers per- sisted in their refusal to conduct the case and left the courtroom. The court there- upon appointed two others to conduct the prisoner’s defense. Although accused of crimes that wouid revolt a barbarous sav- age there was something pathetic in the | picture made by Holmes at this point. | Slender, erect and more youthful than his | pictures make him appear, and with an | | added delicacy given his naturally clear | {cut end refined face by hislong confine- | | ment in prison, Holmes arose to his feet | and addressed the court. His voice was weak and quivering like that of a man who had been ill and hardly carried the short distance that separated him from the court. He announced that he would not accept the lawyers appointed by the court and that he would conduct his own defense. A hum of astonishment went around the courtroom, but, alone and without a friend | by his side, the nerve that has enabled this man to leave behind him a trail of dead withouta sho. of compunction or remorse bore him up under the trving or- deal of the desertion of his counsel. Holmes exercised his right of challenge, and before the jury was obtained eighteen men had been set aside by him. When court reconvened this afternoon Holmes sat in the dock busily engaged taking notes during his terrible arraignment by thbe District Attorney in his opening argument. An occasional flush that suffused his cheek and once in a while a slight hifting of the eyebrows when the District Attor- ney became particularly earnest were the only marks of emotion exhibited by Holmes. When the District Attorney had con- cluded his argument Holmes requested that he be allowed light and writing ma- terials in his cell in the County Prison. This was granted him, and then Holmes asked to be allowed to see his wife. A sharp interchange of dialogue occurred between the prisoner and the District At- torney as to which wife he wanted to see, and finally Holmes was driven to say that it was the last woman who had been de- ceived into marrying him. This woman has refused to see Holmes, but he obtained a promise from the court that a letter should be given her to-night, and that if she would comply an answer to it should be sent to him from her. The case was called shortly after 10 o’clock. After the formalities in connec- tion with the opening of court had been concluded, W. H. Shoemaker, of counsel for the prisoner,in an address of some length, asked for a postponement of the case for sixty days. Mr. Shoemaker’s con- tention was that the defense was not pre- pared for trial; that no witnesses were present. District Attorney Graham stren- uously opposed the motion, declaring that the State’s witnesses were present at their own volition, and that if a continuance should be granted it would mean “the absolute destruction of the common- wealth’s case.”” Mrs. Pitzel’s health was impaired, Mr. Graham further said, and it the case should be postponed the strain would intensify her illness. Lawyer Samuel P. Rotan for the defense also pleaded for time in which he and his colleague could realize on Holmes’ assets and thus bring witnesses to Philadelphia who will not come unless their expenses are paid. The discovery of new testimony within the past four or five days which he Continued on Second Page. FORCED TO STEP 0UT. Overthrow of the Ribot Min- istry by the Depu- ties. SCANDALS OF RAILWAYS. French Officials Decidedly Op- posed to Another Panama Canal Affair, PERVERSION OF PUBLIC FUNDS. Culmination of a Great Fraud Engi. neered by the Late Baron de Reinach. PARIS, FrANCE, Oct. 28—The Ribot Min- istry has been overthrown by an adverse vote on M, Rouanet’s interpellation in the Chamber of Deputies, condemning the Government’s course in regard to the Southern Railway scandals. The Govern- ment was defeated by a vote of 310 to 211. After the adverse vote the Ministers filed out of the Chamber to carry their resigna- tions to President Faureat the Elysee. Great excitement prevailed. Deputy Rouanet’s motion, which was adopted and caused the overthrow of the Ministry, was as follows: “The Chamber of Deputies, considering it proper to interdict its members from taking vpart in the operations of financial syndicates, 1s resolved to throw complete light on the affairs of the Southern rail- ways, and invites the Minister of Justice to fulfill all his responsibilities.” The Ministry which has just gone out of office was constituted January 27, 1895, ten days after the election of M. Felix Faure as President of the republic. It was con- stituted as follows; President of the Coun- cil and Minister of Finance, M. Ribot; Minister of the Interior, M. Leygues; Minister of Foreign Affairs, M. Hanotaux; Minister of Public Instruction and Wor- ship, M. Poincaire; Minister of Justice, M, Trarieux; Minister of the Colonies, M. Chautemps; Minister of Commerce, M. Andex Lebon; Minister of Agriculture, M. Gedaud; Minister of Marine, Vice Ad- miral Besnard; Minister of War, General Jamont; Minister of Pablic Works, M. Dupuy Dutemps. Like the preceding Ministry of M. Dupuy, the Ribot Cabinet has been over- thrown on a railway question. Some time since a magisterial investigation was begun into the connection of certain French Senators and Deputies with the A dispatch to the Novoe Vremya from its correspondent in Seoul says that the King of Korea has chosen another Queen and has assumed the title of Emperor. The representatives in Seout of the powers, the dispatch adds, have made a protest against the King’s action. The heir apparent to the throne is going out of the country as the special envoy to Europe of the King’s father. He is sent with the object of preparing the way to the throne for another Prince, who is a son of one of the King’s harem favorites. gt gl i F Trial of a Marquis. BOURGES, Fraxce, Oct. 28.—The trial of the Marquis de Nayve upon a charge ot murdering the illegitimate son of his wife began here this morning. The case is very sensational. WORK OF A CONSTRUCTION GANG ON THE CORRAL HOLLOW RAILROAD. Stockton, Cal., Oct. 28.—The pile-driver of the Corral Hollow Company was to-day moved frow French Camp to the San Joaquin River. To-morrow the work of driving piles for the company’s steel bridge, to be located 1500 feet up the stream from the Southern Pacific crossing, will be begun. The main supports will all be in position when the steel framework arrives from the factory in the East. |OVER $60,000 SUBSCRIBED TO' THE FUND. South of France Railway Syndicate, due to an accusation made in the Chamber by M. Rouanet. M. Rouanet declared that M. Edmond Magnier, a Senator from Var and at that time chief editor of the Evene- ment, had received 87,500 francs as part of the profits of the syndicate, which had been organized by the late Baron de Reinach of Panama canal notoriety. Later a report was made by M. Flory, the omcial accountant in the inquiry, which supplied overwhelming evidence against the members of the syndicate. The railway in question was a short one, built with a few branches in two or three departments of Southeastern France. Cor- ruption of officials and other illegal prac- tices were resorted to to obtain the con- cession for the road and its branches and a guarantee of interest on the capital, | which was watered to an incredible extent. The buagets of the departments were crip- pled for years to come to build and sup- port the railway, which passes througha | region incapable of furnishing a traffic of any consequence. The result of the inquiry was the arrest of a number of politicians and dishonest contractors. It appears from the charges made by M. Rouanet in the Chamber of Deputies to-day that there was a disposi- | tion on the part of the Government to shield those concerned in the scandal, with | the exception of Senator Magnier. How- ever this may be the fact remains that M. Magnier was indicted, but before he could be brought to trial he disappeared. Sub- sequently he returned to Paris and sur-| rendered himself to the authorities. He was tried, convicted and sentenced to one year's imprisonment and to pay a fine of 100 francs. The excitement caused by the overthrow of the Government was all the more in- tense, as the defeat of the Cabinet was, practically speaking, totally unexpected. The opinion expressed in the Gaulois that it was possible that the Ministry would be driven out of office on M. Rouanet’s in- terpellation in no wise voiced the general view, and in political circles scarcely a doubt was entertained that the Govern- ment would be successful in securing from the Chamber a vote of confidence. The result of the vote came as a bolt from the blue sky to many of those whose yote was adverse to the Cabinet. In his speech on his interpellation M. Rouanet reiterated his statement that the facts of the fraud had long been known to & majority of the members of the Cham- ber, but that they had maintained an icy attitude when the suggestion was made that the real culprits be prosecuted. He concluded by demanding that M. Tarieux, Minister of Justice, should give the names | of the real benefactors of the frauds and that the Government should prosecute the offenders. M. Rouanet was followed by other speakers for and against the interpellation and then M. Tarieux ascended the tribune and made a brave defense of the Govern- ment. He scoffed at the suggestion that the Government was screening culprits and declared that the late Baron de Reinach, who was badly mixed up in the Panama canal scandal, was the only per- son who had benefited by the frauds. M. Tarieux gave the names of the members of the railway syndicate and the number of shares held by them. He concluded by appealing to the Chamber to casta sensible vote on the interpellation. The Centrists warmly applauded M. Tarieux on the conclusion of his speech, and it seemed as though the debats had ended in favor of the Cabinet. But Mr. Jourdan, a Republican member, inter- vened, and in a satirical speech rebuked the Ministry for playing a cruel comedy. M. Charles Pelletan, Radical Republi- can, then emphasized the judicial paradox of acquitting Martin, Andre and Robin and condemning Magnier. He insisted that documents had been eliminated from the brief at the trial of the first named and that the Government had connived at the elimination. M. Tarieux again stated that it was im- possible for the Government to prosecute those who hed not incurred penal respon- sibilities. M. Ribot, the Prime Minister, then offered to accept the order of the day pure and simple, but the offer was rejected. The vote on the interpellation was then taken with the result stated. Shortly after the withdrawal of the Ministers for the purpose of tendering their resignations to President Faure, the Chamber took an adjournment until November 4. The resignation of the Cabinet was formally handed to the President at the Palace of the Elysee this evening. It is expected that the next Cabinet will con- sist of a Bourgeois-Peytral combination. SWEEP OF A PRAIRIE FIRE, HousEes, CATTLE AND EVEN Hu- MAN BEINGS CUT DowN BY FLAMES. INDIANA VILLAGES IN DANGER OF sDESTRUCTION, BUT CITIZENS MAaKE A HARD FIGHT. CROWN POINT, Ivp., Oct. 28.—For three days a terrible prairie fire has been burning in the great Kankakee marsh, which composes nearly the entire southern half of Lake and Porter counties. Trees, brush, grass, cattle and even human beings are being swept down. Everything is as dry as tinder and the wind has been blowing a furious gale. It is reported to-night that the flames are approaching the town of Hebron, nine miles east of here. ready been lost, and reports reached here this evening that a family of three had been burned "to death a few miles west of Kouts. The village of Lowell is in the direct path of the advancing flames, and the inhabi- tants have turned out en masse in an e deavor to check the fire. Various ésti- mates ranging from $65,000 to $200 000 have been placed, and unless rain falls it will be still greater. Beveridge Is Delirious. SANDWICH, IrL., Oct.28.—The condi- tion of ex-Governor Beveridge is alarming. He was delirious last night, and his brain is affected. For Pacific Coast Telegrams see Pages 3 and 4. Several lives have al- | The Republican Executive Council Adds the Sum of $5000. UNION LEAGUE MEETING | Preparations Made for a General Gathering Next Monday Night. | EVERYTHING COMING OUR WAY, Railroad and Telegraph Men Are Straining Every Point to Meet the Requirements. | Yesterday was a busy day for the chame pions of San Francisco. The Union League, the Republican Executive Council and the in- vincible J. H. Manley of Maine were all busy working out plans whereby the desired result | could be brought about. The sum of over $61,000 was reached yesterday, and there is | still time to spare in which to secure the bal | ance. The Republican Ezecutive Council | alone added $5000 to the fund, and with the | $25,000 guarantesd by the Union League the necessary $100000 is almost reached. The | railroad and telegraph companies have risen | to the occasion and are doing good work in the matter of preparing to meet the require- ments that will be put upon them if Sam Francisco succeeds in securing the next Ree publican Convention. The interior press has Jjoined its strength to the power of the great dailies of this City, and the entire Union is | being constantly informed that San Francisco is alive and awake and ready to receive her guests from the great East. HESITATION MEANS FAILURE. Now Is the Time to Put Forth All Qur Efforts and Turn the Tide This Way. The problem of how to get the conven- tion to San Francisco is becoming clearer daily, and the questions that seemed to be the most complicated are being dissolved into clear issues. We have the accommodations for the crowd. We have the necessary capital in sight to pay off the debt of the National Committee. We have the telegraphic facilities to supply the East with a concise and complete report of the proceedings of the convention, and now all we require is the approval of the committee. With all these advantages, however, the matter is yet of serious discussion, and those with whom the arrangements will eventually rest aredoing all in their power to exercise discretion and wisdom in reach- ing results. The population at large is awaking to the importance of rapid work. There is no time to lose in the settlement of the matter involved, as other cities, equally anxious and sincere as San Francisco, are straining every point to secure the convene tion and its attendant benefits, Any hesitation on the part of the people who are able to be of the greatest service now may resultin a disaster, notwithstand- ing the encouragement San Francisco is receiving from all parts of the United States. If we do not fight our own battle no one else can be expected to do it for us. In the light of these things it is not only important but wise, to grasp every straw to increase our strength and add to the array of reasons for holding the con- vention here. It is true that we have such men as Hon, Joseph Manley, General Clarkson and other powers of the National Committee at our back, but we should show by our acts and stability that they are receiving the united strength and support of the people of the coast. It can be said with truth that the Stats of California never developed such unity of purpose as is displayed in this fight for the National convention, but there is still an opportunity to do even more. Those who have started the proposition and shown faith in it by liberal subscripe tions to the fund are not disposed to scoff at even the smallest assistance. Every stick of timber added to the foundation strengthens the whole and makes the success of the plan all the more probable. Let every shopkeeper, business man and interested citizen come to the frong and offer what assistance he isable to give, It matters not if he is among the small subscribers so long as he does it for the cause. The old story of the widow’s mita is a good lesson to follow and TEE CaLn hopes to see every man in San Francisca who can afford it come to the aid of his City and State with a donation to the fund. e GRAND MASS-MEETING. State and Municipal Officers and Citizens Will Gather Monday Night With the Unlon League. Another and most important move was made in the vigorous campaign now in progress for the Republican National Con- vention at the meeting of the speclal com- | mittee of the Union League Club appointed to promote the scheme of securing the —— e Nerves Depend upon the blood for sustenance. Therefore 1f the blood is impure they are improperly fed and nervous prostration results. To make pure blood, and nence to cure all nervous troubles, take Hood's Sarsaparilla The One True Blood Purifier. Hood’s Pills ;::.-u Tiver ills, b’&%:n;