The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, July 10, 1903, Page 1

@all., T'OEI' M L fl{(‘l\’—.\'(). 40. SAN FRANCISCO, FRIDAY, JULY 10, 1903. 7 PRICE FIVE CENTS. SHIPS RIDE | THOUSANDS T0DISASTER OF NEGROES INTEMPESTS N BONDAGE Great Storms Send System of Peonage Vessels Upon Revives Days Reefs. of Slavery. and Eleven Hundreds of Offenders in South to Be Prosecuted. Skipper Men Lost in the South Seas. German Bark Edith Breaks Department of Justice Ap- in Halves on Rocks Near points Special Counsel New Caledonia. to Assist. Epecial Dispatch to The Call. 3TON, July be an stion of pers ws of the T 9.—In order even more thor- who are vio- i States by bama, Attor- 10x has appointed Julius tant system of hold- debt has been d been scores of since ayed in Alabama alone 1000. tem prevails in Florida, siana, Miss- is the p of the osecuted with the ler to stamp out the abuse, part the persons guilty are aters, contractors or man- th whom, in al- are local or State SEAMEN REACH SHORE. 2 s e Wat- | aut t Constables, Justices of Peace, Mayors, and County Judges are in the conspiracy They work with men who are on the vkout for unfortunate negroes who are in debt or who may have been fined a ng amount in order to get their e for almost nothing and hold them very, surrounded by armed coast Watj al department is much interested in J outcome of the appeal which has » been taken in the first conviction in these case ) question is that of 8. yatt of Florida. Clyatt was a of naval stores. He held in rocks WHen | (o vitude a number of negroes who owed s o B, 4 debts. TWe negroes escaped and 4 guards pursued and ar- dragging them back rma. ng at Newcastle them, Francisco szn slaves were ap- & had a close i before the war. This case was g e oyster Northern District of Florida, went ashore tt was sentenced to four years in a ederal prison. His appeal has been ar- gued before the United States Circuit Court of Appeals at New Orleans and the decision is expected any .day. Influence has been exerted in vain to induce the Department of Justice to cease its efforts to break up this un-American tem. It is said here that the very d was wrecked. ral Cecille, which © New aCle- steamer er b on the gtice and Democrats VESSELS IN ide of the Department of Jus- and Republicans GALES. a, £ Buenos was on s during | ggement in its efforts. from | Judge Jones, before whom the cases in and | Alabama are being tried, is a Democrat. severely | 3 n convicted is very severe. —_———— AMERICAN SHIPPING WILL BE PROTECTED Navy Department Orders the Ban- croft to Release the Vessels Held on the Jrinoco. WASHINGTON, July 9.—The Navy De- partment, at the instance of the State Department, has taken steps to prevent further interference with American ship- ping in the Orinoco, by either the Govern- ment or the rebel forces. This action was taken upon the advice of Mr. Russell, United States charge at Caracas, dated on the 6th inst., to the effect that the Government forces had detained two ships belonging to the Orin- oco Steam Navigation Company, at San Ferdino, and that the insurgents had de- tained and were likely to destroy three other ships belonging to the same com- pany at Ciudad Bolivar. Orders were cabled yesterday to the United States ship Bancfoft, at Port of Spain, to pro- ceed at once up the Orinoco and reiease the detdined vessels. No resistance is enticipated —_———— AMERICANS WNTFOL TIN, MINES IN MEXICO Will Devel: > the Properties. and Establish a Plant in the City of Mexico. AUSTIN, Tex., July 9.—An American have n of he wrec WEW YOREK CENTRAL STOCK SHOWS EXTREME WEAKNESS t Decline in Company’s Bonds Gives Rise to Many Highly Improbable Rumors. July 5.—The of New extreme York Centrai in gave some of them financial dis- al source it was hin the next three months tors will recommena an bonds, f new ck to pay for proposed gyndicate has secured control of the out- ¥ ments in this eity. It put ore in Mexico and will establish ke a holding company | 3 tin plate plant in the City of Mexico ganized to CATTY OUL these | at a cost of $400,000. The active promoters of the syndicate | in Mexico are C. H. Donaldson and J. H. Laughlin. Donaldson is now on his way to New York on business connected with the enterprise. He says that the owners of more than three-fogrths of the produc- ing tin munes in Mexico have joined the syndicate and that practically ail of the Deadlock in Hawaiian Legislature, HONOLULL The present ses- alled to pass the end on Saturday ded by Governor Dole, an event which Is not unlikely. The two | houses are &t a deadlock, beéing unable | tin' mines in Mexico will be placed under 10 sgree regarding the proposed issuance | its contrel. There are mahy tin mines ip of a public Joan for $2,500,00 and in regard | Mexico, but up to this time only a few to the amount to be fixed for salaries of | of them have been developed on an ex- certaln officials. | tensive scale. L BUREAU, 1406 G STREET, N. | indictments have e to have these of- | utmost | to | ee, and, on two convictions, | sentiment in the South ‘is enlisted | alike are giving the department encour- | s language in sentencing prisoners who | ANGLO-SAXON UNITY KING'S FIAST WISH %Edward Asks for . This Nation’s | Good Will. | ‘Hopes to See England | and America Keep | World’s Peace. |Emphatic Declaration at a Dinner to Yankee Naval Officers. 1 J | LONDON, July 8.—Informally welcnm-i ing the American naval officers to Eng- | land to-night, King Edward made an em- | phatic declaration in favor of closer re- | lations between the United States and | England. The King did not speak of an | | alliance, or even an understanding, but | the Impression was clear from his re- | marks that he desired that the two na- | tions move together In the interests of | the peace of the world: Some of the King's Ministers also impressed upon the | American officers their cordial approval of the Monroe doctrine and their desire | that it be supported by’ American influ- ence in a way which would place it above all criticism. The royal welcome was extended to the | American officers at Buckingifam Palace, where at 8:30 o'clock commenced the din- | ner given in their honor by King Ed-| ward. The table was decorated with Marechal Neil roses and gold plate brought from Windsor was used. The | King commanded the most distinguished | | officials of the empire to attend and thir- ty-six ‘guests were present. GUESTS AT KING'S TABLE. | On the King’s right sat Embassador Choate and on his left Rear Admiral Cot- | ton. Among the others present were the | Prince of Wales; Caftain Hemphill, U. | 8. B. Kearsarge; Captain Walker, U. 8. | 8. San Francisco; Captain Cornwall, U. | 8. 8. Chicago; Commander McCrea, U. 8. S. Machias; Flag Lieutenant Hussey, Prince Louis of Battenberg, Colonial Sec- | retary Chamberlain, Premier Balfour, | ¥irst Lord of the Admiralty the Earl of Selborne, Foreign Secretary Lansdowne, Admiral Lord Sir Arnold Forster, Rear | Admiral Hay; Sir Michael Herbert, Brit- ish Embassador at Washmgton; Henry White, -secretary of the United States legation; Lord Charles Beresford, Ad- miral Sir E. H. Seymour, Sir Berkeley Milne, Admiral Sir E. R. Fremantle, Admiral Sir C. F. Hotham, Admiral Sir| Henry Stephenson, Captain Lambton, the | Earl of Howe, Lord Farquhar, Sir| George Clarke, Governor of Victoria, Aus- tralia, and Sir Charles Cust. The King was dressed in the uniform | of an admiral of the British fleet. KING TOASTS PRESIDENT. On the conclusion of the dinner the King in a tactful speech expressed grat- ification at the acceptance of his invita- | tion and cordially welcomed Rear Ad- miral Cotton and his® squadron to Eng- | | land. He asserted that what he said rep- | | resented the sentiment not only of him- | | self but of the whole British people and | he proposed a toast to President Roose- | velt, for whom, the King said, he ‘“en- | tertained the highest consideration and | admiration.” | Embassador Choate responded and in| an eloquent speeeh echoed the wish of | the King for the maintenance and pro- motion of more cordial relations between | the two great English-speaking nations, The King further emphasized his grat- ification by writing at the table a mes- sage to President Roosevelt, in which he stated that it had given him the greatest pleasure to welcome the American squad- ron. King Edward's cordiality made a great impression on the American officers, who left the function convinced of the desire on the part of Great Britain to | maintain the closest relations with the American republic. g e PILGRIM CLUB LUNCHEON. American Naval Officers Are the| Guests of' Honor. | LONDON, July 9.—At the Pilgrims’ Club Juncheon to the visiting American officers | to-day Vice Admiral Lord Charles Beres- ford read the followIng message from the Prince of Wales: 1 very much regret that an engagement win prevent me from being present. Please assure The American naval officers how sorry I am that 1 am unable to have the ple s meeting them on this occasion. . ‘At the center table Lord Beresford pre- sided. On his right was seated Rear Ad- miral Cotton and on his left Captain Lambten, naval ald-de-camp to King Ed- ward. Embassador Choaté, Senator Gorman, Senator Depew, General Lord Grenfell, the Archdeacon of London: Dr. Sinclair and Admiral Sir John Dalrymple sat at the same table. The American. officers present were the same as those who at- tended the state ball. Among the other guests were Captain Charles H. Stock- ton, the United States naval attache; Consul General Evans, Admiral Sir Henry Stephenson, Admiral Lord Charles Scott, Rear Admiral Sir Charles Russell, sir Berkeley Milne, commodore of the royal yachts; Lord George Hamilton Arthur Lee, M. P.; Pe;rry Belmont, George T, wilson of New York, Hamilton McCor. | mick of Chicago and Louis Hay of Mich- igan. The scene was picturesque and nove, All the American and a number of the British officers were in uniform. In proposing the toast to “The King,” Continued on Page 2, Column 6. CHEMIST FINDS EVIDENCE OF POISON IN THE BODY OF LATE COLONEL BEST » AND DECLARES THAT HE WAS MURDERED TR Ui i o— HE mystery of the disappearance of certain organs from the body of W. J. Best, the New York capitalist, who died under sus- picious circumstances on April 6 while under the care of “Doctor” John D. Woods and his reputed sister at their home in San Rafael, was cleared yesterday by the admission of W. G. Ward, who embalmed the body. He says that he removed the organs during the process of embalming and consigned them to a sewer- s and his alleged sister of grand larceny when they are apprehended, and hope that confinement may break them down and cause them to confess to the murder, which the officials feel positive was committed. ' The Marin County officials are confident of convicting | Woods Startling Discovery Made at the Autopsy on the Remains of the Capitalist. Bpecial Dispatch to The Call. A’ said to-day as a result which he had made of EW YORK, July 9.—The Press says: B. Baldwin, chemist of the Newark Board of Health, Dr. Herbert of ‘the preliminary chemical test one piece of intestine found ad- hering to the body of Colonel Best that he had found traces of a powerful irritant poison. Dr. Baldwin said : “In my opinion the discovery of this poison offers sufficient grounds upon which to base a charge of ‘murder by poisoning. All evidence I have deduced so far from the absence of the or- gans, which would most likely show traces of poisoning, and the substitution of sawdust, shows clearly that Best was killed by some poison injected into the vital organs. “District Attorney Chandler Pelser of Newark tells me there is no reason why Essex County should assume the expense of in- vestigating this crime, which was committed in another State. I may be empowered to make an examination or the two remaining organs may be sent in sealed jars to the authorities in California, where an analysis may be made by the city or county chemists.” EW YORK, July 9.—Despite the revelations of the autopsy on the body of Colonel William Best, no steps have been taken by the New Jersey authorities, so far as can be as- certained, to find Dr. John Woods and his wife. Warrants for the arrest of the doctor and his wife on a charge of grand larceny are now in the hands of a de- tective en route East. It was thought Woods might return to the home of his mother, as he did once pefore when be was in difficulty. With her husband and her elder son she lives in Union Hill, N. J. Her husband is a jaborer and her son. is.a helper in a butcher store. When the son was seen to- night he said: “We have not the slightest idea where John and his wife are. We have not seen him in nearly three years, and when he came he was in trouble. We regard him as the black sheep of the family.” It has been learned that Miss Shope, whose name was attached to one of ‘Woods' receipted 1'lls, was a nurse in Steelton, Pa., when Woods was a phy- siclan to the employes of the Steelton Iron Company. She was hired by him to nurse his wife while she was ill. ‘When, about a year ago, Woods and his wife were starting for California they tried .to persuade Miss Shope to accom- pany them, but her friends prevailed on her not to go. This is taken as proof that she was not in San Rafael with them, and therefore the receipt and her name signed to it is probably a forgery. The sons of Best say that judging by the information which has reached them their father had learned the real charac- ter of Woods and had done or said some- thing which had offended him, “When Miss Hickmott was in this city,” said Alfred Best, “she told me she was in Woods' office on the day my father ar- rived in San Rafael. He went to Woods' kouse by invitation, having been a guest there on two previous occasions. Mijsg Continued on Page 2, Column 2. xX AN RAFAEL, July 9.—All mys- tery regarding the disposal of the stomach and other organs of the late Willlam J. Best, whose peculiar death here and the subsequent developments surrounding it have aroused widespread interest, was cleared to-day by the ad- mission of Willlam G. Ward, the under- taker who embalmed the body, that he removed the organs and disposed of them, He says they were consigned to a sewer. They have before now been resolved into their original elements by the waters of the bay. The officials, both here and in the East, who are prosecuting the case believe firmly that the dead man fell a victim to the deadly potions administered to him by Woods under the guise of medical treatment, but the loss of all the organs which could show the presence of polson in the system prevents the primary fact being established that a murder was com- mitted, and consequently precludes the prosecution of any one for a crime that cannot be established. This state of affairs is extremely disap- pointing to District Attorney Boyd and the other officials who have been engaged in ferreting out the alleged crime. Since the advices received the Eastern physiclans who per.orméd an autopsy on Colonel Best’'s remains they have become convinced that his death was due to foul means, and belleve that Woods was re- sponsible for their employment. The fact that he did not die from apoplexy, as was stated in the death certificate signed by ‘Woods and Dr. Jones, was a clincher to the suspicions they had aiready enter- tained. That the dead man was robbed by ———% Marin Official Says He Disposed of Organs. Important Evideace Beyond Reach of Police. Missing “Dr.” Woods Now Sought in Many Cities. 3 Prorocenrye my l{oRu s+ ARD awo ararwy MARIN COUNTY OFFICIALS WHO ARE PROMINENT IN THE INVES- TIGATION BEING MADE TO DETERMINE FACTS POSED MURDER OF COLONEL BEST, AN EASTERN CAPITALIST. IN THE SUP- _— Woods the prosecuting officials say they can prove beyond a doubt, and they have also ample evidence ready to show that the physical condition of the late capi- talist was persistently misrepresented by Woods and his reputed sister. One witness was found by Detective Frank H. Depue to-day who is willing to testify that between April 1 and April o, when Woods represented to others, in- cluding the dead man's son, that Colonel Best was in a comatose condition tn his ed, he was in re: sitting up and chatting cheerfully with Woods and ths woman who lived with him as his sister Mrs. Hairstringer, who occupies a cot- tage adjoining the big red house where Woods lived and entertained many prom:- inent people of San Rafael, is positive that she saw Colonel Best in the garden walking around after April 1 and up to within a few days of his death. These were about the only new developments to- day in the way of gathering information Willlam G. Ward, the undertaker em- ployed by Coroner Sawyer in his estao lishment, who embalmed Best's body af- ter his death. made a full statement tide evening regarding his connection with the case, and it fully exonerates Sawyer and Woods from any blame in the matter of the removal of the stomach and inten- tines from the body after death. “Whatever organs are missing from the body of Colonel Best.” he sald, “wers re- moved by me personally and I am ready to shoulder_the entire responsibility for their removal and dispusition. Neither Dr. Sawyer nor Woods had anything to do with this phase of the case. “What organs I removed in the course of the embalming I do not recoliect ex- e i S il Continued on Page 2, Columan 1.