The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, February 1, 1896, Page 3

THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1. 1496 CONFESSES ON THE GALLOWS, Lloyd Montgomery Admits That He Took Three Lives. EXECUTED AT ALBANY. He Appeals for Future Mercy While in the Shadow of Death. 4 BRUTAL CRIME AVENGED. The Youth Had Slain His Parents and a Visitor Because of a Re- proof. ALBANY, Or., Jan. $1.—Lioyd Mont- | gomery, the murderer of his parents and | Daniel McKercher at Brownsville last No- vember, paid the penalty of his crime on the gallows here to-day. His execu(ioni occurred shortly after 7 o’clock this morn- ing. Nothing of importance had happened during the early part of the night. At1 o'clock the Sheriff asked Mongomery if he | did not want a nap, when he lay down | and was almost instantly asleep. Heslept | until 4 o’clock, when he was awakened by | the Sheriff with difficulty. So sound were | his slumbers that it was necessary to raise him up before he could be maue to under- stand what was desired. Then prepara- tions began for his long journey. Among the early callers was Rev. Mr. Shultz of Shedd, who talked and prayed | with him fervently. To him the boy in- | sisted that the McKercher version was | correct; that he killed McKercher after | the latter had killed his mother and { father. Mr. Shultz believed that he had | kept the fact in his mind so much as to | have become convinced of its truth. Mont- | gomery declared that he believed he was saved. A new suit of clothes was puton him | and he was ready for the gallows by 6 o’clock. A bhalf hour before the time set | for the execution Joseph Hume, brother- | in-law of the Sheriff of Brownsville and a | neizhbor of the boy, went to him in his cell. He sat down beside him and placed his hand on his shoulder and cried out, “0 Lloyd,; Lloyd, Lloy and then he| prayed as few men ever pray—a prayer | from the soul, which made a deep impres- | sion on those who heard him and wit- | nessed the scene. { Hume told the boy impressively that he | was in no condition to meet his God with- | out making a complete confession of the | c and must not die with a lie on his The words seemed to impress Mont- gomery and in a few words he admitted | his guilt—that he had killed all three, his father, mother and Daniel McKercher. In the confession he gave no detailsy, but ihey were not necessary. At his own de- sire he wrote the confession of his guilt and signed it as follows: | 1did it; 1 am guilty. O God, have mercy on me! Takemeasl am,a pocr sinner. I am | sorry for what I have done. God, do have ercy on a poor soul; for my seke do, and for- | giveall my sins,and each and every one of | forgive those who sin against thee. | p more precious souls to seek the | or my sske do help them and | hrough this life. Amen. | LLOYD MONTGOMERY. A jury of twelve men was called into the jail, and the death warrant was read to | the condemned man in their presence. At | 7:05 o’clock the prisoner, with the Sheriff, | deputies and Rev. Messrs. Shultz, Snyder | and Little, marched through the residence- | rooms of the Sheriff directly upon the | scaffold. The murderer took his place upon | the trap, with great coolness and nerve, | and, in a strong voice, though somewhat husky, said: “I am sorry for what I have done. I ho ou forgive me. I want God to have - on me, a poor sinner.” | Then Rev. Mr. Snyder of Brownsville | stepped forward and prayed for the man on the trap, and that the end of his life shonld be an awful example to the rising generation. The prayer was somewhat | 1 but it did not seem to disturb the or ost interested. He coolly raised his head and looked at the rope above him | and at the lever on the side. At his re- quest he was shown a model of the scaffold about 5 o’'clock and was familiar with its | make-up. Then he coolly viewed the au- | dience, but nevertheless there was a slight | nervousness he could not conceal. At the end of the prayer the Sheriff placed the black cap upon his head, when Mont- gomery again cried out: “Good-by, friends, I hope to meet you in heaven. I ask God to take a poor | sinner.”’ ! The noose was placed over his head by | the Sheriff and his deputy, Q. E. Propst, | and drawn tightly to his neck. Three strans were around his arms and legs. The knot had been tied by the Sheriff aund | deputy. While this was being done the | prisoner cried : “God, have mercy on me, a sinner! Take measIam!”’ As it was completed he, for the fourth time, spoke: “Kind friends, farewell, farewell.”” The last word was uttered as the Sheriff stepped upon the lever and Lloyd Mont- | gomery fell six feet. Dr. Starr felt his ; pulse and Drs. Ellis and Davis his heart and Dr. Mason held a watch. The beats were normal at first and then rapidly in- creased. At four minutes the rate was 173 | a minute; then they gradually decreased, at six minutes were 126, at eight minutes 65, with very little pulse, at nine no pulse, at ten only a flutter, at eleven an uncertain sound, at twelve minutes a slight move- ment, which was felt up to fourteen min- utes. At foarteen and a_half minutes he was pronounced dead. His neck had been broken, The execution was well arranged and carried out. The abserce of any slip or Tepulsive exhibition was commendable. ‘beut fifty men witnessed the hanging. 2 £ them were a number of strangers, Sheriffs from other counties. John Me- A Amo Kercher, brother of one of the murdered Juen, witnessed the execution. He wore a band of crape around his hat. MeKercher watched the proceedings without any demonstration, but with apparent satis- faction, and when the rope was cut he was one of the first to secure a piece, and 8 £00d-sized piece ut that, Many followed euit, and the rope that hapged loyd Pry- son Montgomery i, ibit The body was taken down, placed on 2 !itter and left in the Courthouse for public inspection, many passing in to view the face of the perpetrator of one of the most coldblooded murders in the history of the Pacific Coast. Last night Montgomery wrote a long let- ter to his brothers and sisters, advising them to join the church and lead a Chris- tian life. Parricideis the crime for which Lloyd Montgomery was hanged to-day. He killed his father and mother and Daniel McKercher at his home, three miles from Brownsville, last November. The mur- ders were committed m broad daylight, and at first baffled investigation, because no motive could be discovered. . Considering the circumstances, Lloy: Montgomery’s triple killing was among the most fearful crimes ever recorded in the annals of the Northwest. An ignorant, vicious, overgrown son of a farmer, hav- ing spent all his life in the peaceful pur- suit of farming, it was probably due to nothing but the sudden awakening of hereditary criminal instincts within him that led him to do murder. His crime was quickiy found out, for he did not possess intelligence enough to maintain the bold face of indifference he first put on. This case is a wonderful one as revealing what a bloodthirsty monster young Montgomery became 1n crime. McKercker called at the Montgomery |- farm on business, and was at the front- yard fence talking to the elder Mont- gomery when Lloyd returned home from squirrel hunting. He walked out to where his father was talking to Mec- Kercher. His father asked him to get him a drink of water. The son replied in an impudent tone, and the father siapped bim. Previously his mother had asked him to get her some wood. The insult before McKercher was too much for the son to stand. He ran around the house, got his rifle and began shoot- ing. He shot his father, then McKercher and finally his mother, who pleaded in vain for her life. The wmurderer left his rifle lying across McKercher’s body, evi- dently for the purpose of conveying the impression that McKercher had done the killing and then had shot himself. After the slaughter of his parents and McKercher Lloyd claimed not to know anything abont it. Then he decided to confess to having killed McKercher to avenge the death of his father and mother. The murderer said that McKercher called on his father for a bill which he owed: they had quarreled and McKercher had killed both his parents. He, arriving just In time to aiscuver the murder, shot Mc- Kercher. To-day Montgomery confessed to having illed all three in a fit of anger. Very little remorse or sincere grief has ever been manifested during his confinement | for his act. The coolnessand promptness with which the officers acted after the Coroner’s jury had returned its verdict, to the effect that the three persons had come to their death at the hands of Lloyd Montgomery, saved the young man’s neck for the gallows in- stead of an imp rovised noose of a Browns- ville mob. The murderer was removed to Albany for safe-keeping. Since being con- fined here in jail, untii to-day, he had denied a previous confession of the crime, always reverting to the origihal story that he kiiled McKercher. He had supplemented his eriginal story with certain embellishments that seemed at times to show that the murderer was proud of his bloody record and had as little regard for his own words and actions as he did for human life. Even his rela- tives never saw him excepting at the trial. It was thought for a time that Mont- gomery was 1nsane, and Judge Burnett had a commission appointed for the pur- pose of examing him. The doctors found that he was sane, and if the prisoner had manifested any symptoms of insanity they were only temporary. Lome T HE HATED ALL MANKIND. Murderer Asimus, a Hunchback, Hanged at Kalama. KALAMA, WasH.,, Jan. 31.—Charles | Asimus was executed this morning ior the murder of James Greenwood at Fowler ranch, three miles west of Kelso, on Sep- tember 21, 1895. Asimus spent a restless night, all Lis efforts to woo slumber failing. A number of times the condemned man lay down, but after a few moments of quiet he would spring to his feet and pace the floor of his cell. As morning drew on his nervous- ness increased, his only relief seeming to be in listening to the death-watch read or talk. Shortly after 9 o’clock Sheriff Watson entered the cell and read the death war- rant, Asimus trembling perceptibly dur- ing the reading. As the Sheriff folded the warrant the murderer was told to stand up | and prepare for the march to the scaffo!d. Asimus made an attempt to rise, but weakly sank back, covering his face with his hands. Sheriff Watson, placing his hand on the shoulder of the doomed man, | spoke a few kind words, and, thus en- couraged, Asimus managed to gain his feet. Passing out of the Courthouse into the bright daylight of the yard Asimus’ eyes rested upon the gallows. At this sight his strength forsook him for a moment, but belped by the attendants he was placed in | -position on the drop. While the deputies were strapping his arms and legs and ad- justing the noose Asimus, in a quavering voice, began to make a speech, his words being hesitating and disconnected. “I suppose everybody. here must die,” he began. “I must die. I'm all right, The Sheriff, he good man. One bad man, I must gie.”” He hesitated and then said: “I do bad thing. T mustdie. I'm all right.” His voice here failed him. The black cap was drawn over his head, and at 9:32 Sheriff Watson touched tne lever, the body falling nine feet. At 9:47 he was pro- nounced dead. Asimus was a hunchback, and when first confined was in a depiorable condi- tion physically and steadily grew worse, He once tried to commit suicide by open- ing the arteries of his arm with the wire points of his shoestring. He was discovered after he had become unconscious from loss of blood and was brought back to life by physicians, After hisarrest he took a very gloomy view of his plight. - He would say: “I am nothing but a hunchback and every one is against me.”’ The fact that he was a cripple and had had many reverses seemed to have embit- tered him, and he felt as though the whole world had turned against him. Asimus was abont 38 yeurs of age, He was born in Germany, where he lived until grown. He claimed his deformity was due to an accident which happened when he was 15 years of age. ewas carryin: a heavy sack of potatoes up some stone steps, when he slipped and fell in such a manner as to injure his spine. His father refused to have his injuries properiy cared for, saying that he was only a trifling boy and not worth the expense. Asimus’ back always gave him much pain, subjecting him to extreme nervous spells. His misfortune embittered the hunch- back, and he looked upon the world as bis enemy. He was at war with all man- kind, and the taunts of the small boy ana the pitying glace of an older person alike stung him. | I | | | information he received of her infidelity, | his face and asked him what he was ACQUITTED AT SACRAMENTO. William C. Christ Found Not Guilty of Wife Murder. leave of absence both Commis. sioner Rogers of Sitka and Commissioner Mellin of Juneau are absent. The United States cutter Corwin, at pres- ent undergoing repairs here, has received orders to relieve the Wolcott, now at Juneau, as soon as possible. The latter vessel is in need of immediate repairs. Captain D, F. Tosier of the United States cutter Grant has received orders to assume command of the fleet of revenue launches now nearing completion at a local ship- yard. Captain Jefferson Slamm will suc- ceed to the command on the Grant, AR i CUYAMACA ROUTE CHANGE. [} Two Plans for an Extension of the Rail- ary. B VERDICT SOON REACHED. Exonerated by the Twelve Men After Deliberation of Seven Minutes. COURT SPECTATORS PLEASED. The Accused Man’s Pitiful Story Outweighed the Arguments of Counsel. SACRAMENTO, CarL., Jan. 31.—It took just seven minutes for the jury in the William C. Christ murder case to bring in a verdict exonerating the accused man, and it is said that nine-tenths of the resi- dents of Sacramento heartily indorse this verdict, while the rest deplore it only on the ground that it sets a bad precedent for the future. The plain, pathetic story of his married life, as narrated on the stand yesterday by the prisoner, produced an impression upon the minds of the twelve men at whose hands his fate was pending that the able arguments of District Attorney Ryan could not remove. His story was further strengthened by the straightforward an- swers during the cross-examinations to which he was subjected by the District Attorpey. : During portions of Attorney for De- fense Higam Johnson’s plea one could see scarcely a dry eye in the audience, and when he referred to the happy life William Christ had led with his wife prior to the the prisoner broke down and resting his head on the table before him sobbed aloud. The scene when the verdict was an- nounced was almost indiscribable. Seven minutes after the jury was sent to the jury-room Judge Hinkson ascended the bench and the jury was seen returning down the corridor. There was an excited murmur of the word ‘“guilty,” for the | spectators could construe the quick return of the jury as meaning nothing else. The slip of paper containing the verdiet was inspected by the Judge and handed back to the foreman. “Read the verdict, Mr. Foreman,” said his Honor, and the foreman uttered these words: “Not guilty.” The acquitted man sprang to his feet, but his attorney seized him and forced him back into his seat. Notwithstanding the severe warning against any demonstration previously given by the court the specta- | tors burst into a shout of satisfaction. On the morning of the 14th day of last | 5 October Mrs. Frances E. Hart, having found in her husband’s pocket some letters and poetry addressed to him by Mrs. Christ, in an insane fit of jealousy took them to the barber-shop, where William Christ was employed, and calling him out handed the epistles to him. At first, so absolute was the barber’s faith in the love and fidelity of his wife, that he laughed over the matter, but evi- dently he allowed his mind to dwell on the subject until his suspicions became aroused, as later in the day he called at Mrs. Hart's residence and talked over the matter with her. On returning home in the evening he ate supper and then entered the sitting- room with his wife, where he taxed her with her alleged infidelity. The testi- mony shows that the woman laughed in going to do about it. What then occurrea will never be known, but a pistol-shot rang out, and when the neighbors entered the house Mrs. Christ lay at full length upon the carpeted floor, with a ghastly wound in her head near her right temple, dead. = Light Companies to Consolidate. SACRAMENTO, CAL., Jan. 8L—Nego- tiations pending between the two largest corporations in this locality are being waiched with great interest by the people of Sacramento. A majority of the directors of the Capi- tal Gas Company have agreed to form a consolidation of all its property, free'of in- cumbrance (except bonds to the amount of $150,000), with the Folsom Electric com- panies, provided all the liens ot the elec. tric companies are reduced from $1,500,000 to $1,000,000. —_— BOLD ALASKA SMUGELERS Liquor Is Landed at.Juneau in Spite of the Revenue Officers. The Steamer Lone Fisherman Seized for Ferrying Without a License. PORT TOWNSEND, Wasn., Jan. 31.— Despite of all denials from Alaska the in- troduction at Juneau of spirituous liquors into the Territory goes merrily on. Re- cently two boatloads were being landed in the darkness from a steamer. The surf was running high and one of the boats was overturned. The occupants narrowly es- caped with their lives and eight or ten kegs of liquor drifted ashore. These were gathered up and placed on the wharf, but the customs officials were absent and a raid was made by the saloon men, who captured the entire lot. The Topeka, arriving to-day, reports the seizure of the steamer Lone Fisherman. This vessel has a bad reputation qn Puget Sound, having been captured 'in 1888 for smuggling. It bhad fitted at great costat Juneau: Ithapvened the weatber was so rough as to preclude the regular trips of the ferry-boat between Junean and Douglas Isiand. Imperative business made communication necessary and the Lone Fisherman was pressed into service. The vessel had mot been regis- tered at the Custom-house, and for this the cutter Wolcott seized it. It is said that the customs officer at Juneau has been absent from his post for some time, and for tel":ih reason alone the license was not issued. en” recently re- | road Are Being Considered by the Directorate. SAN DIEGO, Car., Jan. 81.—According to a statement made a Cuyamaca official to-day the change in the route of that road may be much more important than here- tofore reported. Instead of continuing from Lemon Grove northward through La Mesa colony the road may be changed and run from Lemon Grove east and southward through Spring Valley, thence to Jamacha, Davis- ton and into El Cajon. passing through Bostonia and thence down through the center of the valley to a connection with the present Cuyamaca line near Santee. The alternative of this plan is to con- tinue as at present through La Mesa to and through Eucalyptus Pass, but at that point to divert southward from the pres- ent route through the Marshall place to Bostonia and thence down the center of EL Cajon Valley. These changes are under consideration. On Monday \;ice-PresiQeny Hickman will goout to open negotiations for rights of way, and the securing of the right of way will determine which of the two plans shall be adopted. < The adoption of the line through Spring Valley will cost in construction about $56,- 000, but it will tap a big area of new coun- l{]y and increase the business of the road. Whatever change is made, the present trackage will not be abandoned. The company is still at work reducing the grade between Sixteenth and Twenty-sec- ond streets. The next change of grade will be across Chollar Valley at Gregory Springs, and there is prospects that the change there will be in the form of a high trestle across the valley. The Cuyamaca is being made good enough for a terminus to a transconti- nental line. One of the highest officials of the road was asked to deny the report that the Southern Pacific had & bond on the Cuyamaca, and he refused to do so. GRADUATE AT SAN JOSE A Class of Forty-four Normal School Students Ends Its Labors. Diplomas Granted to All After the Rendition of an Interesting Programme. SAN JOSE, CAL., Jan. 3L.—The spring School were held this morning, forty-four pupils receiving diplomas. The stage was | programme was rendered. The graduates are as follows: “,\'(‘llie Albee, Santa Ciara; Edith Anthony, Mon! Estella Barrows, Santa Clara; Maud Humboldt; Mabel Bishop, Santa Amie Black, Monterey; Fannie Bury, nix, Ari Augustina M. Clark, Marin; { George Clark, Santa Clara; Mattie Close, Santa ie Folger Collins, San Francisco; y, Santa Clara; W, J. E. Copren, tere: | Clara; Bessi i hton, Santa Clara; Ireue de Nise, Sa Clara; Lorena Edgar, Santa Clara ; Lore Emery Alameda; Jessie Ficher, Placer; Lena | Forden, Santa Clara; Sadie Fordef, Sunta | Clara; Neilie D. Foss, Mendocino; Carrie | George, Santa Clara; Mary Halloran, Hum- boldt; John Hancock, Santa Clara; Sarah L. Higby, Alameda; Ivy Hooker, Santa Clara; Estelle Houghton, San Francisco; Martha Hulbe, Marin; Lizzie Irigall, Santa Clara; Jes- sie Jamieson, Marin; Josephine M. Kelley, | Santa Clara; Vicla Knight, | Bertha Lee, Santa Clara; Elenor Lewis, San | Diego; Mae Livingston,Santa Clara; Marguerite | Loudon, Santa Clara; Jennie Lonther, San Luis Obispo; Estelle Lucy, Solano; Rhoda Maxwell, Yolo; Bessie McCabe, Santa Clara; MarvMeCaig, Yuba; Lilllan Miller, Santa Clara; Lulu Mor- gan, Sap Franciseo; Virginis Morgan, Fresno; Mussete Morris, Solano: Jean Patriquin, Mon- terey; Eva Patterson, Fresno; Leo G. Pauley, Kern arl Phillippi, Sacramento; Alice Phil- lips, L Isabella M. Porter, San Francisco; Callie Sharizer, Santa Clara; Irma St. John, Fresno; Roberta A. Thompson, San Mateo’ Mantie Wilber, Santa Clara; Mattie Williams, Sacramento;; Emma Woods, Sacramento; Mary Zmudowsky, Santa Crnz: Ivy M. Yates, San Jose; Lizzie McCauley, Flora R. Mclsaac. Seigh ey CENSURED FOR CARELESSNESS." Jurors in the Murphy Inquest Kebuke the Light Company. BAN JOSE, Cavn., Jan. 31.— Coroner Secord to-day held an inquest over the body of William P. Murphy, the young man who was killed by a shock of elec- tricity while at work in the basement of the Porter block last evening. The jury was unable to agree and two verdicts were Teturned. Eight of the jurors signed a verdict find- ing that the wire had been put inina careless manner, and recommended that in the future the Light and Power Com- pany use more care in putting up wires. The other four signed a verdict recom- mending that more care be taken to pre- vent similgr occurrences. S MRS. BAILEY LOSES. Her Suit to Create a Homestead Is Decided Adversely. SAN JOSE, Carn., Jan. 3L.—Judge Rey- nolds to-day denied the petition of Ellen E. Bailey to havea portion of the estate left by her husband set aside as a homestead. B. B. Bailey died in 1883, leaving an estate consisting of 400 acres of land, valued at $16,000. There are five children, and by the terms of the will the widow was given only a Vife interest in the estate. Judge Reynolds, in denying the petition, held thatif the widow had desired a home- stead she should have applied for it at the time she was appointed executrix, and not waited twelve years. x Stole to Provide Food. SAN JOSE, CAL., Jan. 31.—The charge of misdemeanor embezzlement against Samuel Brown, who, with Lumbodo, was accused of appropriating $4 75 belonging to Mrs. Stanwood, was dismissed and he was allowed to plead guilty to a charge of vagrancy this morning. He told a pitiful story of having a wife and several small children in need and Justice Dwyer sen- tenced him to five days in the County Jail. phiriEpAdeTis Pastor Afflerbach Interred. SAN JOSE, CarL., Jan.3L—The funeral of Rev. C. H. Afflerbach, a prominent min- ister of the German Methodist Episcopal Church, occurred this afternoon. Impres- sive services were held at the German M. E. gh&u-ch and the funeral was largely at- tended. e o MONTEREY ADVENTURE. Merchant Greene and Artist Peters Figure ¥ in a Runaw MONTEREY, Car., Jan. 3L.—While H. A. Greene, a business man of Monterey, and C. Rollo Peters, the artist, of San Francisco, were tandem-riding yesterday afternoon, their horses became frightened at some of)jee: and ran away, wrecking the cart. Mr. Peters saved himself from in- jury by jumping and received only a se- vere shaking up. Mr. Greene was not so fortunate, however, being badly bruised about the head and face, besides receiving a slight fractnre of the skull. He is rest- Alaska at the present time is practicall without Government officials in the judici- ing easily this evening and the physician says that no serious damage will result. graduating exercises of the State Normal | beautifully decorated and an interesting | y Lester Cottreh, Humboldt; Alice J. | ta | San Joaquin; | JUDGE PEERY DIES AT PHENIX A Suicide’s Bullet Ends the Invalid Capitalist’s Existence. SUFFERED FROM DROPSY. Resolved to ‘Anticipate a Slow Death by One More Speedy. LATELY RESIDED IN SAN DIEGO He Had Vacated a Seat on the Missouri Bench to Seek for Health on This Coast. PH@ENIX, Arrz, Jan. 31.—Judge Stephen Peery, late of Sap Diego, com- mitted suicide this afternoon by shooting himseif through the heart. Illness that bid fair to end his life shortly is believed to have actuated him to anticipate a lin- gering death by one more speedy. Judge Peery was a native of Virginia and removea to Missouri some time before the war. He settled at Trenton and iden- tified himself with J. H. Shanklin, one of the ablest financiers Missouri ever knew. This firm did much toward raising money to buiid the Missouri Pacific into Kansas City when the funds of the company hav- ing the project in charge gave out. He was a lifelong Republican and well known in that-party’s councils in Missouri, and this, coupled with his legal ability, resulted in his election to the bench at Trenton when that city went Republican some years ago. During his incumbency he became afflicted with dropsy and resigned his position so that he might remove to 2 warmer climate. His sear b for health led him to seek Southern _alifornia, and he settled in San Diegoabout three yearsago. Immediately after taking up his residence there he com- menced investing, and at the time of his death he had large interests in which much money is inyested. He was also largely in- terested in' Pheenix realty, his nephew, J. ‘W. Walker, acting as his agent, having in- vested over $250,000, in irrigation and kindred enterprises. It was this outlay, coupled with the fact that the climate of San Diego had failed to relieve him, that led Judge Peery to visit Phenix some months ago. Here he steadily grew worse, until to-day he ended his suffering. That his act had been well planned was best evidenced by its careful execution. About 2 o’clock he sept the nurse out of the room to get something and then re- quested his wife to leave. They both complied and a few moments later were startled by the report of a re- | volyver. They rushed in, to find the in- | valid already dead, having shot himself through the heart with a bullet from a 58- | caliber Smith & Wesson. Judge Peery was 58 years of age and leaves a widow and three children. SAN DIEGO, Car., Jan. 3l.—Judge Stephen Peery, who committed suicide at Phenix to-cay, was the father of Herbert, Bessie and Hortense Peery of thiscity. He went to Phenix six months ago for his health, and was accompanied by his wife. Judge Peery had been a resident of this city for two years. | He formerly lived at Trenton, Grundy | County, Mo., where he was a leading | lawyer and a prominent and wealthy citi- | zen. Besides his children here he'leaves | two other daughters, M'ss June, now a student at Stanford University, and Mrs. | Nellie Price, a resideat of Elkado, Iowa. | The deceased was a brother-in-law of | | Judge E. W. Dendrick and Mrs. Mary E. | Walker of this city. Judge Peery’s body | will brobably be taken to his old home for interment in the family burying-ground. T e MEXICO’S GOVERNOR, | BIT NEW Charges Against Revenue Collector Shan- non Filed at Washington. PHENIX, Ariz., Jan. 3L—According to private advices from persons high in authority, received here to-day, Hon. Charles M. Shannon, Democratic Na- | tional Committeeman for Arizona and In- | ternal - Revenue Collector for the District | of Arizona and New Mexico, may in the | next few days lose his official head. | Since his appointment to the office of National committeeman Mr. Shannon, who is well known throughout the West, has been charged by the Governor Hughes | faction with party indiscretions, and he was accused o? having dictated press dis- patches attacking the executive. When he took up his residence in Santa Fe, soon after his appointment as Internal Revenue Collector, he commenced fight- ing Governor Thornton of New Mexico. As a result of this he and Thornton quar- reled in a Santa Fe saloon a few weeks ago, and it is claimed that during the ensuing altercation Shannon knocked the Governor down. This angered the friends of Governor Thorntoun, and the altercation is made the basis of charges recentiy filed with the Inferior Department. HOLD-UP NEAR STOCKTON Farmer Goodman Contributes to the Exchequer of a Road Agent. Halted and Robbed of Cash and a Gold Watch in the Outskirts of the City. STOCKTON, Car., Jan. 31.—A daring hold-up occurred this evening on the French Camp toll-road, just outside the city limits. Benjamin Goodman, a well- known farmer residing near French Camp, was halted by a masked man and com- pelled to turn over his money dnd valua- bles. The robber leveled a revolver at Goodman and commanded him first to dismount and then ordered him to turn his pockets out for inspection. About $40 in gold and silver coin and a gola watch and other valuables was the booty secured by the road agent. When once satisfied that he had all the money in Goodman’s possession he told the farmer to climb back into the wagon and drive ahead as fast as possible, and that if he {,oolllxed back . he would catch a large-sized ullet. Goodman drove on to French Camp sta- tion at a lively speed and from there tele- | They had been on the water two days | four open boats and struck out for Juneau. rnoned to thefauthorities in this city the acts of his adventure. The manner in which the bandit performed his part of the affair leads the officers to believe that it was the work of a professional. o gt PORT MOODY'S MADMAN. Armed With a Shotgun, a Maniac Terrorizes the Inhabitants and Evades Capture. VANCOUVER, B. C., Jan. 3L.—A mad- man at Port Moody is causing residents of that hamlet a great deal of excitement. He is armea with adouble-barreled shot- &un and will allow no one near him. He goes into stores, takes what he wants and then retreats to his cabin, which is strongly barricaded. He is always ready to fight and has plenty of ammunition. Ten men have tried to capture the maniac so far unsuccessfully. is name 18 Wilson. He has been 1n an asylum be- fore and since released has been working as a section hand on the Canadian Pa- cific Railway. Provincial Officer Web- ster, with a posse, is guarding his shack, watching for an opportunity to capture the lunatic. ey TESTING A SANTA CRUZ LAW. Wheelman Martin Will Try Conclusions With a Bicycle Ordinance. SANTA CRUZ, Can, Jan. 31.—The question of the validity of a city ordinance prohibiting the riding of bicycles on the sidewalk came before the Superior Court to-day on a writ of habeas corpas. Benjamin Martin, Deputy County Clerk, was arrested on complaint of Codricilman Maher this afternoon. Netherton and Maguire, his attorneys, advised Martin to plead guilty and stipulate that, for the purpose of testing the validity of the ordi- nance, the court impose, in addition to a fine, an imprisonment sentence of thirty minutes. The time was so fixed merely to cover the clause of the ordinance providing an imprisonment penalty. The case will be heard on Monday, and appealed, simply for the purpose of settling whether the ordinance shall conform to the city char- ter, which prohibits thedouble penalty of fine and imprisonment. s . LOS ANGELES SENSATION. Charges Filea Against Elmo R. Meserve, Superintendent of City Parks. LOS ANGELES, CAL., Jan. 31.—Charges have been filed against the Superintendent of City Parks, Eimo R. Meserve. He is accused of having purchased shrubs and plants for the city parks from a nursery in which he is 1nterested. It is claimed that he obtained a fancy price for these articles. Mr. Meserve is a man of excellent repu- tation, and has conducted the work ot car- ing for and maintaining the city parks at a figure over $3000 less than for the year preceding his incumbency. The outcome of the charges is awaited with interest, as Meserve has many friends. . SUFFERING ON THE YUKON Miners Attempt to Leave Seward City in Open Boats for Juneau. One Party Is Picked Up Half Fam- ished, but the Others Have Not Fen Sighted. PORT TOWNSEND, WasH., Jan. 31.—It is’ reported authoritatively that much bardship is being undergone by those win- tering on the Yukon. The little steamer Rustler recently picked up thirteen men in an open boat on the way to Juneau. without provisions and were nearly dead from hunger, cold and exposure. When the Rustler came alongside the crowd sprang aboard of her like a flock of sheep trying to escape. Before turning back the Yukoners were landed in the cove, to remain there until the Rustler returned to take them to their destination. The Yukoners were well equipped and will fare well while en- camped on the beach. It was learned from them that operatiesns at the Bear mine had closed down for| lack of water - power, and _about fifty workmen had left. Seward City in They had become separated, and ihe boat icked up by the Rustler had long before ost sight of the others. Serious doubts as to their safety are now held, as the ele- ments have been unusually fierce and they have not yet put in an appearance. The | Rustler has now gone to pick up the cast- | aways. MGURE THRDHS REDHOT ST, Continued from First Page. States Supreme Court against the Govern- ment in the ninety-eighth United States reports. Maguire denied that that decision had any such effect, and a long colloquy en- sued on the question. Maguire said that the refunding plan, being rejected as im- practicable and unwise, three courses re- mained open to the Government: First, foreclosure and sale of the roads to who- ever will buy them, as property of other debtors is sold to satisfy similar debts; second, the purchade and operation of roads by the Government, as railroads are owned and operated by other Govern- ments; third, purchase of the roads by the Government at their present value and their maintenance by the Government as a continuous public highway from Omaha to San Francisco, over which trains of all companies may be operated under Govern- ment direction in free competition for the freight and passenger traffic of the Pacific Coast, thus at one stroke closing this vexatious railroad problem, forever doing away with monopoly in railroad transpor- tation in that region at least, and avoiding evils that are incident to the operation of railroads by the Government. “This is,”” he continued, *'I think, by far the best plan. could be established without difficulty and without foss to the Government, and the Government, after having taken the roads at a maximum es- timate of their value, at the foreclosure of the same, would be perfectly free to pur- sueits remedies against the fraudulent stockholders and directors of the com- panies.” The foregoing is a summary of the prin- cipal parts of a three-hour argument, in ‘Wwhich there were numerous interruptions and sharpdiscussion. Upon the whole Lhe speech was very well received by the com- mittee, and it is noticed that arguments against refunding are receiving more at- tention and apparently more earnest con- sideration by the members of the commit- tee than have heretofore been given. At the close of Maguire’s argument a sub-committee was appointed to examine and report the question raised by Maguire as to the priority of the so-called first mortegage bonds. . Representatives Bowers. Hilborn, Mc- Lachlan and ex-Representative Geary were in attendance to-day. RUN DOWN BY A NEEDLES MAN, Murderer Moran Captured After a Six Years’ Search. NOW IN A PENITENTIARY Convicted and Sentenced for the Killing of a Vancouver Soldier. HAD LONG EVADED CAPTURE. When Pursuit Had been Abandoned a Californian Caused the Fugi- tive’s Arrest. PORTLAND, Or., Jan. 31.—Sherift Mil- ler of Vancouver, Wash., passed through here.to-night for the Walla Walla peniten- tiary, having in charge T. D. Moran, sen- tenced to twenty years’ imprisonment and a fine of $5000 for a murder committed six years ago. On the night of December 3, 1889, Moran came {o Vancouver from a logging camp and got drunk in a dancehouse. He there picked a quarrel with one “Big” Mec- Carthy. In his drunken frenzy Moran mistook a discharged soldier, John Wil- son, for McCarthy and stabbea him to death. The bloody deed sobered him at once, and realizing his fatal mistake he escaped, while eye-witnesses were tempo- rarily paralyzed with horror. A large reward was offered for Moran’s apprehension, but after months of unsuc- cessful search for him it was abondoned. Nothing more was thought of Moran until in the early part of October last. Then the Chief of Police at Vancouver re- ceived a letter from Needles, Cal., written by a former soldier at Vancouver Barracks, asking if there was yet a reward for the capture of Moran. Receiving an affirma- tive reply the soldier again wrote that he knew Moran to be in the same town with him. When an officer reached there the murderer was gone. He was tracked to El Paso, Tex., how- ever, and arrested there on October 23. Sheriff Miller brought Moran back to Van- couver in November, and the fugitive was convicted of manslaughter. Moran says that the six years he was at liberty were years of torture. Every stranger who glared at him he suspected of being a detective. He claims to have a wife and three children in Texas, but he has neither written nor received a letter since his return, and his statement is doubted. INVITED TO UTAH, Newspaper Men of the East Will Vistt the New State. SALT LAKE, Utag, Jan. 3L.—At a joint meeting of the Mining Exchange, Cham- ber of Commerce and the Press Club last night it was resolved to issue an invitation to press clubs and newspaper people of the East to visit Utah on a special excursion some time in April, with the object of let- ting them see the resources and possibili- ties of the new State. A fund of from $5000 to $10,000 will be raised for their entertainment, and the Union Pacific and Chicago and Northwest- ern railroad companies have agreed to give free transporiation to the excursionists from Chicago to Salt Lake and return. Committees were appointed to make de- tailed arrangements. —_————— Golden Wedding at Orovills. OROVILLE, Car., Jan. 3L.—Mr. and Mrs. H. Helms celebrated their golden wedding this evening, Judge John C. Gray performing the ceremony upon & bank of violets under an orange tree. NEW TO-DAY. Come Again Children Our opening Children’s Day last Saturday was a big success, notwithstanding the bad weather. Come to-day and see the bigger and better bargains we have to offer for our second Children’s Day. Unequaled goods at un- heard-of prices. Here are a few : Reefer s«m—cueflm Blues and 52.50 Browns.. R $3.50 $4.00 $5.00 Suits, Mixed Cheviots and eeds. Reefer Suits, Cassimeres and Chev= iots,” EJegant.. Conibination Suits, extra palr of Pants and Ca .- These are only samples. We’ve the biggest line ever in San Francisco, and we bought them cheaper than ever before. That’s why we are selling them cheaper than ever before. H. ROMAN & CO., COR. FIFTH AND MARKET STS, ‘We give better attention to Mail Orders than any other city store does or can.