The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, September 28, 1903, Page 1

SAN FRANCISCO, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1903. PRICE FIVE GLAIMS HE AS A TOOL OF PLOTTERS Obérlin M. Carter to Turn State’s Evidence. | Will Reveal Details of Colossal Savan- nah Frauds. ~ Former Army Captain to|| Testify Against Green and Gaynor. are extr 1 be reles n on Novem- | that Carter nbezzlement | declaration the victim | nd Gaynor. | al, social and finan- | jefended Carter dur- | at work | r Department ndency in favor of prominent army that he will be tool of Green eceive the enor- s a ¢ ney placed to his credit official of the War Depart- | , ®0 far as the court- went, there was ow much money Carter e of the fraud. The upon the question r's share amounted to more 0,000, the amount he is sup- ved from his connec- transection- { t the extradition pro- t Green pass e rece the “arter proposes to effort to ver his property. account- 1 Conrad er er of the United ated that Carter received 15 amount lost to the th His friends been care- ftur but to demon- court nat he indirectly received nor anything like | has not been er in Washington, 1t is said that | rs of these three | d r intention | welcome back to | e from Fort Leav-| woman an- g the swell- his henor. MARRIAGE WILL GIVE | FREEDOM TO ELOPERS | €an Jose Police Interrupt a Love Affair, but Only for a Time. | Se 2.—Two 3 her and Smith, a ut 20°vears of or D. 8. Line- and a rich lv- Two weeks ago the g couple left “ullerton. Last Tues: they came to They have been keeping house | s Mr. and Mrs. Leonard on South First | 4 Linebarger has ve ery stable. The yo; resognized on the street by notified the police. cars short & person who | The parents of the ourg couple were informed. Word came | arrest them if they wére not This afternoon the department | a telegram to have the young | married and release them. Both | iling to get marri Miss Smith | ced in the custod of Matron | ¥ t at tue Red Cross Santtarium and Linebarger released. | ck to arried - | HIGHWAYMAN TAKES COIN | FROM TWO TRAVELERS Hotel Manager and an Eastern Colone]l Have Lively Experience in Oregon. BAKER CITY, Or., Sept. 27.—Manager Harris of the Geiser Grand Hotel of this and Colonel W. B. Stewart of the Simmons Hardwate Company, St. Louis, were held up by a lone highwayman sev- eral miles above Sumpter yesterday morning. They were relieved of all their belongings, including the contents of their grips. Mr. Harris jost more than $300 in money and Mr. Stewart was relleved of sbout §70. cit NIXON SEEKS TO LEAD NEW YORK DEMOCRACY Former Head of the Shipbuilding Trust obtain | | Enters the Field Against McClellan for the Democratic Mayoralty Nomination | | —% RIVALS FOR THE DEMOCRATIC MAYORALTY NOMINATION 1IN NEW YORK. i T SCIETIA { | | | | L . EW YORK, Sept. 2l.—Lewis Nixon, head of the collapsed shipbuilding trust, to-night announced his candidacy for the Democratic nominatfon for Mayor. In'a public state- ment he sald: “I am a candidate for the Democratic FROM PARIS TOHLL IN | K BALLOON York and New Special Cable to an Herald. _Copyright, Herald Publishing Company LONDON, Sept. 21.—A balloon voyage from Paris to Hull, a distance of 360 miles, has been made by three French aeronauts, members of the Aero Club de France. This is the first time a balloon has traveled from Paris to England. An attempt was made in 186 to cross the channel from France, never were heard of afterward. The party which has now accomplished the feat consisted of Comte Henrl de la | Vaulx, Comte Hadelius d’Outremont and Captain Jules Veger of the regiment of engineers at Versailles. They set out from St. Cloud at 6 o'clock last evening. They crossed the channel near Dover at 1 o'clock this morning, and, keeping to the east coast, passed over the estuary of the Thames at 5 o'clock. Rapid progress was subsequently made, the coast being kept in sight near Hull. However, the | wind veered round to the west and when the balloon crossed the Humber, between Grimsby and Hull, at 11:30 o'clock the wind was blowing the aeronauts out to sea. To escape this danger they made a descent about six miles from Hull, hav- ing covered the distance of 360 miles in seventeen hours and forty-five minutes. The aeronauts were naturally elated at their feat. They had set out, they said, with the intention of traveling as far as they could, and but for the wind chang- ing near Hull, there was no reason why they should not have traveled over the entire length of England. One object of the voyage was to experiment with the new arrangement of having a small bal- loon inside the larger one. but the aeronauts | nomination for Mayor. This statement is made with a full knowledge of the uncer- | tainties of the Democratic situation. I| desire to make it clear that I am willing | to make a stand with those Democrats, | however small their number, who believe that the Democratic party of this city should lead and not follow in the forward march of municipal reform.” Speaking of the municipal campaign Mr. Nixon says: "The battle will be won or lost on local sues that are old enough to have gained | a permanent hold on the public mind. These issues are poljce “blackmail’ and | that mercenary spirit which breeds dis- | ! honestly in the public service. To them | | may be charged all the party’s recent loss | of local prestige. The Democracy has not | been beaten on these issues by Republican | 1\'otes alone by any means. It has been | beaten chiefly by Democratic votes. “The Democratic party of the city has | all the issues iIn its favor except these | | two. It is easily within its power to| throw off their dead weight when it | makes up its mind to do so. Its right to | dominacy will be restored as soon as it | There can be no doubt of the re- | | sult of any campaign in which the pa.rlyi explicitly and without equivocation com- | mits itself to the reforms for which the| as four times voted in ten years.’ would say nothing more about | his candidacy. | l] : | does. {NAMAITERS THREATEN TO WAECK JuL — Special Dispatch to The Call. |- HELENA, Mont., Scpt. | a startling 27.—There was in the $50,000 | Northern Pacific dynamite plot to-day, in that it became known that Thomas Tra- vis, chief of police of this city, has re ceived an ultimatum from the conspira- tors ordering the immediate release of two men who are confined in the City Jail on the charge of having attempted to dyna- mite the Northérn Pacific bridge at Liv- ingston a few days after the first, or $25,000 ultimatum, was delivered to the railrcad company. The city officlals have 2 strong case connecting these men with the crime, although the evidence is prin- cipally circumstantial. The notice received by the Helena police is to the effect that if the men are not re- leased by Monday noon the jail will be blown up with dynamite. This letter is believed to have the same origin as those sent to the Northern Pacific demanding $50,000. All of the letters sent to the rafi- road company were mailed at either Hel- ena or Butte and the one received by Chief Travis is postmarked at Helena. It was learned to-day that the Northern Pacific was given until October 4 next to comply with the demands of the conspir- ators. It is learned also that as a means of knowing that their terms had been ac- cepted the railrcad was to place white flags on all engines for at least twenty- four hours prior to the delivery of the money at a point west of Garrison. The company, in its atterapt to capture the dynamiters, blundered in not posting the flags on west bound trains, as di- rected, and then sending out an armed posse on another engine closely pursuing it. As it was the conspirators, not seeing the white flags, did not meet the first light engine. Another gang of men left here to-day development | coming to-day on account of the excite- | ter. This crime has revived the open hos- | contact with both father and son said to- | ily has ecut short its outing In the most ROCKEFELLER FLEES FRON LURKING MEN His Estate in Adi- rondacks Is Forsaken, . Entire Family Hurries| to New York City for Safety. 0il King Receives Warning That His Life 1s in Danger. friaiBe S Spectal Dispatch to The Call. MALONE, N. Y. Sept. 2..—Arrange- ments were made on the New York and | Ottawa Railroad for a special train to- | night to take the members of William | Rockefeller’'s family and their visitors | from Bay Pond in the Adirondacks to | New York City. Neither Rockefeller nor his son, Willlam G. Rockefeller was a passenger on the Adirondack Express that left New York | last evening. Loungers in the station at | Paul Smith’s were disappointed this morn- | ing when the millionaire failed to alight there. It had been assumed that Rocke- feller would come to pass Sunday on the vast preserves in which he has taken so deep an interest. There are no regular trains on Sunday on the Ottawa road which connects with the New York Cen- tral at Tupper Lake Junction. Last Sunday Rockefeller went up on the Adirondack express to Paul Smith's and drove over the eighteen miles of mountain road from there to Bay Pond. It is be- lieved probable that he hesitated about ment prevailing throughout that section because of the murder of Orlando P. Dex- tility against owners of great private pre- serves and there has been incendiary talk on every side. Rockefeller ’;as taken cw:clnl precau- tions since the Dexter murder.” The clear- ing about his residence at Bay Pond has been lighted almost as brilliantly at night as the streets of a city and there has been a cordon of guards to keep out all intru- ders. It is known that the family has been badly frightened by reports that armed men have been seen prowling in the vicinity of the house. Rockefeller's superintendent, John Red- | wood, sent an appeal to New York for | competent detectives. All of the efforts | made to secure the safety of the house- hold did not relieve the overwrought feel- ings of the women, who have been of late little better than prisoners in their great | mansion, as they have hesitated to leave | Many threats have been made against | Rockefeller at different times and they | have been brought to his attention. A | railroad man who has come into frequent day he had informed William G. Rockefel- ler that he did not believe the latter's life was safe. The result is that the fam- attractive season of the year in the Adi- rondacks, when hunting and outdoor sports are most enjoyable. Efforts were made to keep secret the order for the special train. —_———— FESTIVE FLEA INFESTS THE CITY OF CHICAGO Health Department Is Experimenting With a View to Insect’s Ex- termination. CHICAGO, Sept. 21.—A plague of fleas is infesting this city and the Health De- partment officials are unadie to cope ef- fectively with the insects. Hundreds of | complaints have been made at the City Hall and the number is Increasing every | day. Dr. Charles Behm declares that “the| city abounds in fleas” and that.the situa- tion is becoming so serious that the de- partment is carrying on experiments in | the city laboratory to secure an efficient | disinfectant. The persons making com- plaints have been badly affected and many residents, after appealing to ‘their family physicians in vain, have asked the Health Department officials to recommend a cure. Several cases have been reported where patients have been unable to get rid of the pests for several weeks and in the meantime suffered much annoyance and some pain. SHOOTS WIFE AS SHE IS ENTERING A CHURCH ‘Wisconsin Citizen Attempts Murder and Afterward Turns Revolver on Himself. LA CROSSE., Wis.,, Sept. 27.—In the German Lutheran Church at the begin- ning of services to-day Herman Rossow shot his wife and himself in the presence of hundreds of witnesses. Mrs. Rossow will die. Rossow, though dangerously wound- ed, may recover. Rossow “who had been separated from his wife, lay in wait for her opposite the church and shot her three times as she was entering the structure with her mother. L e e e p SRR to search for the ton of dynamite stolen from a local warehouse a week ago. Ow- ing to its dangerous nature it is not be- lieved the thieves carried it a great dis- tance and that this is proving their source of supply for the various outrages against the rallroad’s property admits of no doubt. DESPAIRING MEN END LIVES FROM WHICH HOPE HAS FLED Matthew Gerke Hurls Himself From Blufi at Lands End and His Lifeless Body Is Recovered From Waves Far Below— Henry James Masson, Crippled and in Love, Shoots Himself. Wi /ilfl,‘ e PHOTOG RASH FOUND_ On: k MASSONS BOOY | 1% ATTHEW GERKE,| RIPPLED, almost penniless ! a brewery worker, fur- | and fearing to be dependent nished the tragic suicide of on his friends, Henry James | yesterday. Standing on the | topmost rock of the pro- montory at Land’s End, and jumped, toward the sea and was battered to death before he reached the seeth ocean, the Golden Gate Later his body was picked up by De- life-saving crew. spondency was the cause of the desp act. Disappointment in securing posi and money he expected from an worked on his mind untl he considered life not worth the living and ended what he deemed a miserable existence in the waters of the gate. Shortly before 3 o'clock many pzople assembled in the vicinity of Land's End witnessed Gerke mount the rock from which he plunged to death. His act of self-destruction was . premeditated, and when on the summit he loaded his pockets with rocks and tossed himself downward in the direction of the break- ers. From crag to crag he pitched until ho reached the briny sea and his lifeless form was carried on the waves and thrown against the rocks. Police Oficer Donovan was aboard a California street steam train when the | suicide occurred. He was informed of the | occurrence, and the locomotive was un- coupled from the train and returned to Lands End. When the policeman arrived the body was rolling about in the surf and life was extinct. A message was im- mediately sent to the life-saving station. The life-savers responded, and in view ot | hundreds of people launched their boat. It required but a short time to reach the scene of the tragedy. Then a rope was attached to the body and it was held se- cure until the arrival of Deputy Coroners Charles Meehan, Tom Davis and James Murphy. In the meantime two brave men had stripped and plunged into the sea. F. J. Healy of 333 Twenty-third street and J. S. Tait of S4B Larkin street risked their lives in the hope of rescuing the unfor- tunate suicide. They clutched the body and held it near the shore until the life- savers arrived and took it in charge. About six months ago Gerke made a trip to Germany, expecting to receive $1000 which had been left from a sister’s es- tate. According to Herman Harms, a liquor dealer at 100 Geary street, who identified the body, there was some dis- pute over the money, and the brewery man returned to this city penniless. He resided at 405 Geary street and has been in the habit of paying the landlady his rent from day to day. Yesterday he had no money and promised to pay to-day. Then it was that he must have been seized with a fit of despondency and planned his death. 3 The body is at the Morgue and friends will take charge of it to-day. Gerke left several notes written in Ger- man, which could scarcely be deciphered. The import of them was that he died in distress and that friends would under- stand the reason of his act. —_—ee—————— Count and Marquis Meet in Duel. PARIS, Sept. 27.—A duel with swords has been fought in the grounds of a country club near Biarritz between Count Arcos of Clavijo and the Marquis of Arguida. The latter was thrice wounded in the wrist and forearm. Masson, a stenographer, aged | about years, put a bullet through his brain about 35 o'clock yesterday afternoon in Golden Gate Park, and died two hours later at| the Park Emergency Hospital without re- gaining consciousness. Masson selected for the tragedy a grassy knoll somewhat covered with brush be- hind the handball courts, near the south drive. He had made all preparations for his final act. He had purchased a cheap revolver, disposed of all his earthly be- longings and written a letter expressing kis final wishes. The shot which ended | his life was heard by Policemen Manuel de la Guerra and John O’Shea, who rushed to the spot whence the sound pro- ceeded and found the unfortunate young man gasping in his death agonies. They summoned the ambulance and had him conveyed to the Park Emergency Hos- pital, where his recovery was pronounced impossible. LEAVES A LETTER. In one of the pockets of his coat was found thg following letter, dated yester- day To whom it may concern: This is to cer- tify that I am Harry James Masson. In the | event of my death I desire that I be cre- mated and that my remains be disposed of without any religious ceremony of any kind | and that I wish my friend, Charles Betz of | 729 California street, to have absolute con- trol of everything concerning the handiing of my body and also to have absolute pos- | session of all my belongings contained in my | trunk, Besides the letter, the clothing contained 5 cents in money, a Young Men's Chris- | tian Association card, a cheap chain with- | out a watch and some other trinkets of no value. On the lapel of his coat was the photograph of a young woman, whose identity could not be learned. Charles Betz, to whom the suicide con- fided the care of his body and his belong- ings, was first informed of the tragedy by a Call reporter, and seemed deeply shocked at the news. He said it was not altogether unexpected, as Masson had frequently threatened to take his own life. TIRED OF STRUGGLING. Masson, Betz said, was a sufferer from hip disease, and had to wear apparatus to enable him to walk. Up to two weeks ago he had been employed as a stenogra- pher in the Callaghan building, but he did not know by whom. Two weeks ago Mas- =on told him he had given up his position and said he was tired of struggling with the world. Yesterday afternoon Betz met Masson at the Park and took him for a boat ride. He left him at 4 o'clock and returned to the city. At that time he claims that Masson sald nothing about killing him- self. Betz said he would carry out the wishes of his dead friend and see that his body was cremated, as had been re- quested. It was said that Masson was deeply in love with the girl whose photograph was found on him after the shooting. He made no secret of his infatuation, but never, as far as could be learned, told who the girl was, Y] | startled by the report of a pistol. +* M. GERKE, WHO LEAPED TO DEATH OVER CLIFF, AND MAN WHO SHOT HIMSELF. - Remorse Drives an Englishman to Suicide. ILLIAM CHAMBERS, a young Englishman, weary of the frowns of misfor- tune and stung by re- morse and jealousy, ended his career of adversity by sending a bullet through his brain in a hallway at 413 Harrison street shortly be- fore 7 o'clock last night. Chambers was in an Intoxicated condition when he com- mitted the rash deed and had gone to the | place in search of his wife, who fled from him a few days ago, fearing for her own safety. Chambers and his wife arrived in this city about ten days ago from Wheatland, Yolo County. While residing in the latter town he was wont to maltreat his spouse, and had threatened her life on several oc- casions, so the story gces. The woman became acquainted with Mrs. Payne of 413 Harrison street, this city, who was visit- ing in Wheatland, and confided her trou- bles to the latter. Mrs. Payne took an interest in her newly-made friend’s welfare and invited her- to stop at her home when she ar- rived in this eity if her husband abused her any more. Mrs. Payne heard nothing more from Mrs. Chambers till a few days ago, when the latter called at the home of the former and asked for shelter. WIFE AFRAID OF HIM. Chambers called to see his wife on sev- eral occasions. He was usually intoxi- cated. His wife feared him and tried to shun him. Yesterday evening shortly be- fore 7 o'clock Chambers rang the bell at Mrs. Payne's residence, but receiving no response he turned the knob of the door and walked into the hallway. No one in the house saw him enter, and a few seconds later the occupants wers Mrs. Payne and Mrs. Chambers rushed down stairs, and at the end of a short hallway they saw Chambers lying at full length, his lifeblood fast ebbing from an ugly wound in the roof of his mouth and a 38 caliber pistol tightly clutched in his right hand. Signs of life were still visible, so the patrol wagon at the Harbor Police station was hastily summaned. The dying man was removed to the Harbor Emergency Hospital, but he passed away ere the wagon reached its destination. Chambers left a farewell message for his wife, rudely penciled in a notebook. The missive was full of passionate plead- ings for forgiveness and expressed re- morse for a misspent life and an unhappy marriage. It ran: “Darling. try to forget what I have done. I will meet you In heaven. Do not think of me any more, but remember that I died loving you. Try to forget the past and the lives you have ruined. Give my love to mother and the folks, and remem- "ber that I loved you more than life it- self.” WAS POSSESSED OF MEANS. Chambers was apparently a man of means at one time and of late he had been existing chiefly on remittances from his father in England. He left the old country about a year ago, having lost his fortune there. He came to this State about three months ago and was engaged in some kind of a fruit enterprise in Wheatland. He was last seen at the Win- chester Hotel at 1 o'clock on Sunday morning, when he came looking for C. K. Thorp of Sausalito. He falled to find Thorp at the time and left the hotel with- out going near his room. Among the dead man's effects wefe let- Continued on Page 3, Column 1.