The evening world. Newspaper, April 6, 1903, Page 1

SPORTING NEWS ON PAGE 6. RICE ONE CENT. “ Circulation Books Open to All.’’ LT TAOS E VII =A man TAT ARTA MTTO, an oy! ? ae “ Circulation Books Open to All.” | EDITION NEW YORK, MONDAY, APRIL 6, 1903. PRICE ONE CENT, INCENDIARY STARTS BIG APARTMENT FIR ‘Richfield Flats, Nos. 235, 237, 239 and 241 West Forty-third Street, the Scene of a Blaze that Creates Tremendous Excitement. Flaming Brands Carried Through the Air Set Fire to a Building on West Forty-fourth Street, but This Is Quickly Subdued. ‘Two fires which threatened to destroy the entire row of apartments on West Forty-third street known as the Richfield flats, and which epread to adjoining buildings, started simultaneously this afternoon in the basement @nd under the roof of No. 239. } Though the blazes were discovered promptly, they gained such headway by the time the firemen arrived that a second alarm was turned in by Bat- talion Chief Binn, and even with this extra force of firemen and apparatus it was impossible to check the spread of the flames to all the houses in the row and to houses in the rear. According to the firemen and Dr. Taylor, who recently bought the house, the fires were incendiary. Great crowds fiocked into Forty-third and Forty-fourth streets from Seventh and Pighth avenues, and it was found necessary to call out the police reserves from the West Thirtieth, Thirty-seventh and Forty-seventh Street Precincts in order to keep space cleared for ¢he large amount of fire apparatus that was rushed to the scene. The Richfield Flats have long been’ notorious because of the number of raids made upon tenants in the different apartments by the police. When ‘ Capt. Schmittberger went to the West Forty-seventh Street Station he announced that he would clean out the apartments, and he began a serles of raids. When Capt, Dillon succeeded. him the raids were continued and the fluts were slowly emptied. TENANTS WERE CLEARED OUT. © Phen Dr. Taylor bought them,-and told the pollog that if necessary be ‘woul. turn out every tenant in order that he houses would be above re~ proach. He did so, with the result that when the fire started to-day there were only atout five families living in the row that includes Nos. 235, 237 289-ard 241 West Forty-third street. Dr. Taylor was attending several patients in his office, which: ls on the ground floor ofNo, 289, when a cloud of smoke and a bursf of flame shot up from the basement. He ran out calling for his janitor. At the same time the janitor, James Young, who was working on the top floor, discovered that the woodwork under the exves and all along under the tin roof was ablaze, arg started downstairs to alarm the tenants. He and Dr. Taylor ran into the street and sent in an alarm. The fire from\the basement gained headway with remarkable rapidity, spreading to the elevator shaft and up the stairways. ‘Then it leaped across an open air shaft to No. 237 on one side and No. 241 on the other side, and by the time the engines arrived all three houses were blazing fiercely. Though the fire from below spread rapidly, it did not peis such headway as the fire on the roof, which in a few minutes had rapped the roofs of the entire row of apartments in flames. FIREMEN BADLY HAMPERED. When Battalion Chief Binn arrived he turned in a second alarm, which brought Chief Purroy. When the Chief arrived he found that it was almost impossible for his men to get at the fire under ithe roofs for the reason thet tae fire in the lower part of the houses cut off all access, As the fire ate its way from the roofs down into the woodwork on the lower floor flaming embers shot up into the air and were swept north over Anto Forty-fourth street, setting fire to No, 250 West Forty-fourth street. A squad of firemen had to be sent around into the upper street to check this blaze and also to play streams on the roofs of adjoining buildings that were threatened by the showers of firebrands. : When the fire reached its height @ mass of wood and small bits of iron were poured against the stained-glass windows of the Ascension Memorial Churca, at No. 245, adjoining the flats. Every window in the church was completely shattered, and the firemen had great difficulty in saving the church from the flames, BRAVED DEATH FOR HER SAVINGS. eRe The only tenants in the upper floors of No, 289 when the fire started were Miss Lucille Smith and her mother, The young woman succeeded in Betting her mother out safely, but when she reached the street she remem- ‘berea she had forgotten a small safe in which she had sll the money she hed in the world. She told Detective James C. McGee and he volunteered to aesist her through the burning house for her bank, They got upstairs all right, but when they started down again they found themselves practically eut off by the flames. She fainted and the detective had to carry her down four flights of stairs through the fire and smoke, - During the early stages of the fire it seemed as if the entire north side of Forty-third street, between Seventh and BHighth avenues, would go and ‘there was a panic among the tenants of the adjoining houses. Men, women and chidren rushed into the street carrying their treasured belongings and in this wey ® sreat lot of stuff was heaped up in the street that impeded the fire fighters considerably in their work. ! i f | ft s LACKED 2 YEARS OF 100. | THROUGH FIRE TO FAMILY. @amnel Chapin, Brother-In-Law of Russell Sage, Expires, Aged 08. ONEIDA, N. ¥., April 6—Samuel Chapin, one of the oldest residents of (Onelda, died last night. He was ninety- » eget years old, ‘Mr, Chapin was brother-in-law of Russell Bage, of New York, having married Mr, Gage's only sister, Fanny, _Beventy-six years ago, Mra, Chapin, ‘ged-ninety-six, 1 still living, _ Bhp old couple had not been separated ap They Had Beeuw Resoued Already, but Edward Burns Didn't Know It ‘There’ was excitement this afternoon at @ fire in No. 7 Washington street, in the heart of the Assyrian Vilage, An overturned stove started the blase in the @partment of Mrs, Bydenessar, On the floor above Edward Burne lived with his wife and seven children, He was summoned from work nearby, He upstairs to save his family. They vescued and in his frantic SCENE AT THE APARTMENT-HOUSE WORRY LED BARONESS TD SUICIDE. Charles H. Townsend De- clares that Mrs. Van Weik-Wolfbaur Told Him She Was Despondent and Feared that Her Fortune Would Not Support Her- self and Daughter. MYSTERY IN DEATH OF RICH YOUNG WOMAN. She Had Wed Twiee and Ob- tained Two Divorces—Town- send’s Picture, in a Gold Frame, Found Among Her Effects—Had an Appointment to Dine With Him Before She Took Her Life. After an interview with Charles 7. Townsend, the friend of Mrw. Van Wetk- Wolfbauer, Chief of Police Murphy, of Jersey City, came to the decision to-day that the woman killed herself because of ospondency over her matrimonial and financial troubles. While she had a small fortune she feared that !f she lived it would be so eaten fh'to that not enough would be left for the support of her ten- year-old daughter Dorothy. There will ‘be no inquest. at saw heron Thureday afternoon for firet time in over a month," -aald Mr. Townsend to Chief Murphy. _ was despondent ant-cammplained . not enough for herself and ther dat ter" Bhe remarked that she thought it would be better if she were dead. I had an engagement to lecture that night in Brooklyn before the Society and had to leave her, but promtsed-to e her to dinner the next evening. 6he ‘was then at the Marlborough Hotel. “The next I heard of her was from Jersey City. She said she would tele- phone me Saturday. I heard nothing further of hor until I was informed that she was dead. WINS AGAIN * Her True Friend. Campbell B. Royston, of Baltimore, the foster brother of the dead woman, met Townsend in Jersey City Police Head- quarters this wfternoon for the first time, After a conference Mr. Royston said he was convinced that Mr. Townsend was the one true friend Mrs. Van Weik had in the East. In the neme of his family he thanked Mr. Townsend for what he |- had done for her in the three years of their acquaintance. Townsend and Royston were named as executors in a will left by the dead woman. Townsend mede a legal assign- ment of his executorship to Mr. Roy- ston this afternoon, and if his duties director of the Aquarium in. Battery Park permit he will go to Baltimore to-night with the body, ' When asked by Chief Murphy, in Jorsey City, if he was married—this rumor having gained circulation—Mr. Townsend said that he was a bachelor. In explaining the presence of his photo- graph in a gold frame among the effects of Mrs. Van Wetk, he eaid it was of many he had distributed to his friends before departing on a business trip to Durope last spring. He denied Van Welk sent him a pack~ Brings Out a Big Crowd at Bennings Despite a Poor Card, @pecial to The Brening World.) BENNINGS RACE TRACK, Aprit 6.— Fine weather prevailed again this after- noon and the crowd came out to the course in throngs. The raw winde of Satuntay had flown and epring smiled once more, The track was in excellent condition, considering the fact that it was very muddy on Saturday, This only goes to prove that as a drying factor the wind 1s more potent than the sun, The track took five days to dry out last week in weather that would have dried the course in @ day at the New York tracks, The card was not particularly inter- esting this afternoon because the events had light flelds and entries of a not .| very attractive character, The firat and fifth races looked to be the bright spots in the constellation. Betting was bri: on all the events, Bookmakers say that this has been THE WINNERS. furlonge—Dr, Saylor (98 to 10) 1,09, e forty yards—Cloche "D'Or (10 to Girl 3, maker (6 to 1) 2, Meistersinger Time—1,27 24. age by least, denied that had receive Should it reach him, he said, tain valuables, he will tui to Mr, Royston. furlongs—Listaway (7 to 10) FIFTH RACE—April Tugal Bey 2, Himself 3. Shower ‘(Continued on Sixth. Page.) ROOSEVELT'S GUARDS ALERT YANKTON, S. D., Apri! $.—When President Roosevelt arrived ere to-day the police were requested by the Secret Service me" accompanying the party to watch for nine men who were re- arte ieaawing the President and against whom he had been ‘arned. tive Bennett, of Jersey City, called at the Garfield Safe Deposit Company, Sixth avenue and Twenty-third street, to-day and asked permission to open a Dox that had been rented tiiere on Sat- urday by the dead woman, ividently she contemplated eulcide, as she had ranged that the box could be opened either by herself, Mr. Royston or Town- send. It was explained to the manager of the safe deposit vaults that Mrs. Van Welk had committed sulcide, and Mr. Royston was allowed to open the box after a telephone message had been sent to the Aquarium and {t was learned that Townrend was not there, It appears that Mr. Royston expected to find more «Continued on Second Page.) WEATHER FORECAST. Worecast for the thirty-six hour day, for New York Oty vieinity—Wair and warmer to- ‘Tuesday, partly cloudy and warmer. Fregh east to cone pt Ore 10,000 WAGON-MAKERS FIGHT FOR SHORTER HOURS. A general strike of wagon-makers in Greater New York hag egun, and it said that by to-morrow 10,000 men will be out. They demand a reduction in hours. ee ore burned. @ day in more than fifty years, south winds, BASEBALL RESULTS. At Philadelphia—Philadelphia (N, L.), 25 Athletics, 0. nt LATE RESULTS AT BENNINGS, FIRE IN FORTY-THIRD STREET. TOMMY FOSTER FIRST RACE—Five and a half Elaine (7 to 2) 2, Turnpike 3. Time, SECOND RACE—One mile and 1, Mollie Peyton (12 to 1) 2, Alma THIRD RACE—Seven Furlongs.— Tommy Foster (3 to 1) 1, Merry FOURTH RACE—Four and a half | Eclectic (8 to 1) 2, Magic Flute 3, salah Wapato ohppiagketeme KEENE WILL “FIGHT ONIN sP. SUIT Harriman Wins First Round in Southern Pacific In- junction Proceedings to Prevent Voting of Union Pacific Holdings, but Big Operator Is to Appeal to Higher Court. ANNUAL MEETING OF THE RAILR@AD POSTPONED. Action on Election of Directors Stayed Until United States Bench Passes on the Case— Edward Lauterbach, Counsel for Keene Interests, Says His Clients Will Win—Bankers Like To-day’s Ruling. CINCINNATI, O., Aprfl 6.—Judge Lur- ton to-day refused the injunction asked by the Keene pool to prevent the voting of 900,000 shares of Southern Pacific Rall- way stock hel@ by the Union Pacific Railroad, at the annual meeting of the Southern Pacific. This means 4 victory man forees. «*" The sult was brought by Talbot J. Taylor, of New York, on the ground ‘thet, in view of the intimate relations ‘between the two companies, the stock ‘should not be permitted to be voted. cuatont aae the Union Pacic stock would be used in choosing a board St Atrectone Wie would not watery full interests of the small holders. Taylor was backed in the litigation by James R. Keene. Judge Lurton'’s opinion, which was ite. Jepgthy, was against the conten- et complainants that the cific wah an accessory or actual-party to the suit, AS to the averment that the Union Pacific was {AEpencing. the receipts of the Southern Pacific in betterments on the Central Pacific with a view to the Wtimate purchase of that road, the dea a for the Harri- s Was specifically jenied , and that even if true it could not be sustained, except on a showing that the action was ultra vires. in the whole case the Court held that the bill be dismissed. Senator Foraker, who represented the. fomplainent» minority stockholders, of, the Southern trey t wave notice of ap- to the United Btates Court of Ap- eals and asked that pending the hear. Ing of this appeal the election of direc- tors of tha Southern Pacific set for April vtaye. Lawrence Maxwell end Judge Hum- phrey, representing the defendants, agreed to that order, inasmuch as to do otherwise would render the Soper! inet- fective. It was agreed that the stock- holders may meet as arranged and elect 4 chairman and then adjourn until called by the chairman after the appeal has been disposed of by the Court of Ap- ee ceeteeene KEENE WILL WIN, LAUTERBACH DECLARES 1 1) Edward Lauterbach, counsel for Tal- bot, Taylor & Co., in the Keene appli- cation for an injunction to restrain the Union Pacific interests trom yoting their Southern Pacific stock at txe coming annual meeting, sald this afternoon, after getting the decision of Judge Lur- ton, that the case wold be fought to a finish. The decision, he declared, was based Wpon a technicality, tae Judge holding that the Union Pacific was an indispen- sible party in the case, and before an injunction could be granted against it, the Union Pacific would have to be rap- resented directly before the Court, which was not the case in the appiica- tlon just denied Mr. Lauterbach explained that this technicality upon which Judge Lurton had decided the case was one of the difculties with which the Keene side was confronted fhen it first decided to ask for the injunction, It was first thought that the sult might be brought 1p 1, in New York. but the Union Pacific, which was sought to be restrained, js a Uteh corporation, and the New ‘York courts have consistently declined to in- tertere in the matters of foreign conpora- fons. Phe general rule in the bringin, cases tafore the United State Cou that they may be brought inthe where ther the pianull or the I @nt is a citizen, in case of diversity of citizenship, But this does not i the case of 4 Corporation, w ‘bé served only at its habits habitation of a corporation bell, Biate in which It was incorporate: “This case will be won ig of 6 e the M. ks if by us." “The remar e Larton encourage us in our} a opinion that If we can get rid Jurisdictional tangle the case will ‘on its merits.”’ of this ‘be won| | ministrator of the estate, >| dential Insurance Company, and the other was for $10,000, lesued: [PENNELL WAG | IGEFAULT Buffalo Lawyer, Who Loved the Wife of Mysteriously Murdered Edwin. L. Burdi | Reported to Have Victimized the Fr Who Sent Money to Him for Invest Out of $150,000 or More, CARRIED $200,000 INSURANCE __ SO THE LOSSES COULD BE PAL Said to Have; Left Secret Instructions Brother for Making the Payments—Le Contemplated Suicide in a Way That We Make Death Seem Accidental---Made Pr vision to Pay Mrs, Burdick $25,000. _ ; (Seria to The Evening World.) BUFFALO, N. Y., April 6.—It 1s announced this afternoon that R. Pennell, whose name was,ysed in connection with the murder of L. Burdick, and who was killed in an automobile accident on Was a defaulter to the extent of from $150,000 to $200,000. The story out as the result of a legal diepute over two life insurance Policies, defalcations are sald to have been from estates of friends in Maine al other States. . Ss Pennell carried over $200,000 in Mfe insurance policies in after his death the estates might be able to recoup the losses ba had sustained through him. Incidentally, it has been learned that made provision for the payment to Mrs, Edwin L, Bundick of his life insurance. "3 - Pennell had an-income that was suffictent to enable him to sp '$20,000.. The'squres ofthe income was a.mystery to his friendgy:) 5 He practiced law, but his Tegal ‘business was a elie issue. He. seemed to have any cases in the courts, and was not known ti nected in a professional way with any large estates or any interests of kind that would require his serivces as an attorney. RUMORS AFTER HIS DEATH. After Pennell’s death rumors began to be circulated as to his | of income. One story was that’ he had acted as the go-between gamblers and the police officials. V 4 Those who were familiar with the gambling situation here know terly absurd that theory was.’ : ae Later on it was rumored that Pennell had been interested in some @ Rich-Quick scheme in New York, and also that he ‘had speculated euce fully in that city. Investigation failed to chow thet there was any tion for that story, Then came the story that Pennol! had swindled his friends and tives in the East. It wae etated that they sent money to him to be ii in bonds and mortgages and in various mythical enterprises, and Pehnell, instead of investing the funds, had used them bimeelf and averted disclosure by paying the interest on the fake in parts of this story are now said to be true, but he did not swin his relatives In the East. Prey In his will Pennell named as administrators his brother, Pennell, and his wife's brother, Henry W. Lamb. He left to ath trators sealed instructions that upon his death they should malke § full out of his estate all the losses which had been sustained CONTEMPLATED SUICIDE TWO YEARS. Pennell had contemplated suicide for two years, and had been deavoring to work his nerve up to the point where he would dare to his own life. Two years ago he planned to throw himself in train at Peekskill. He wanted to make it appear that his death cident. He stopped off at Peekskil? on the way back from New ‘Yor, his nerve failed him. It is said he recently told the story of t kill incident himself, During the Pan-American Exposition he sought for days for’ aa portunity to commit suicide in a manner that would make it D cldental. He had an {dea that he could be run over in some way the exposition, but he never could nerve himself up to the point could throw himself under @ train or drop under the wheels of e t car, Pennell told all about that before he died. It was the intention of the administrators of his estate to make @om all losses and hush the matter up. It was not the intention to go into: courts about anything. In fact, it is understood that Pennell left ru tons to his brother, whom ‘he named as one of the administrators af B estate, that this should be done. They were in a sealed package to his brother. The package was to be opened only after his death, ATTORNEYS MAINTAIN SILENCE, The attorneys interested in the Pennells or the Pennell estate ie to-day that they kne nothing about Pennell’s alleged defalcations. They: not deny the story, ‘They simply said that Pennell'’s brother bad given secret, sealed instructions, and that the administrator had px refrained from giving any information relative to those instructions, The whole story leaked out as the result of a legal dispute over | {fNirance policies. These two policies were not handed over to One of them as for $15,000, issued by @ ms Mutual Lite Insurance Company. These two policies’ had been Pennell to Attorney Wallace Thayer in trust. In one he waa Wallace Thayer, “Trustee,” and the other he as designated “"W: as Trustee,” There is quite @ difference between the term “as Trustee,” and the insurance companies held ap payments, a Mr, Thayer and the attorneys for the insurance companies | cal matter over, J, Frederick Pennell, the administrator of the estate, POLICE RUN DOWN FUGITIVE. Maine Man, Accused of Murdering , His Wile, Arres' 3 ’ to commit suicide were made known. ) eee steel inet Tmursdey aight |ot Rogers, Locke and Mflbure. end st was tol Brunswick to-day, | Deen called into i wag captured in New * A INE, Me., April 6—Charies y,|@® “ustee, It was then that the story of defalcations uy ae was called in, and Mr, Pennell insisted.on having more he would consent to the payment of “any insurance It was told