Newspaper Page Text
THE MORNING NEWS. (
( . u‘,TlsVi - Incorporated 1888. -
j p resic ient.
W'EYLER WARS on women.
thKUS< wives a>o sisters ok
* 1-athiots imprisoned.
■ .i.ihlK'tl Female* Satrt to Have
Vi ia l la Loathsome Prison,
( ommon l ri...inals-A Fnm
,.,0...15es t Add to the Terror,
'"'up crowded Populace of the
* ..Small Pox la Epidemic.
o, h .r Tale* ol Travelers Front
""west Fla.. Jan. 18.-The following
k ' advices have been received here:
of the civil governor of Puerto
B! L ordaz Avecellla, the following
flmv'uUhed ladies have been arrested in
’ " Concepcion Agramonte, the
th “ . 0 f Francisco Sanchez Betancourt,
* -retary of the treasury in the last
"!r ami the mother of Benjamin, Callxto,
Irniando. Alfredo and Eugenio Sanchez
a ramonte. all of whom are in the revo
lution. the latter (Eugenio) being Go
mf-z'* phvsician.
Ulg£ „ Silva de Recio, the wife of Briga.
dier Lope Iteoio Loynaz.
Maria Aguilar, the sister of Antonio *g
ui ‘ ar varona, ex-Cuban civil governor of
Puerto Principe.
It is also rumored that President Cts
ros' sister and the following prominent
citizens have been arrested: Jose Morell
Xiquts. Carlos Adan y Masvidal, Ramon
Uoza y Boza, Alberto Agramonte y Boza,
joso More y Pera, Vicente Ramirez y Le
desma and many others.
Tile city is terribly excited, not only on
account of these arrests, but also on ac
count of the suspension of the El Pueblo,
persons wishing to leave are unable to
do so. the governor prohibiting their de
parture. The condition of the jail is
frightful. There are no accommodations
for ladies, and those arrested are confined
with common criminals.
Gomez was last reported at the ranch
* La Campana,” near Sancti Spiritu. There
are many rebel movements in that section
and Remedios. Gomez appears to be mak
ing a concentration of rebel forces, prepar
atory to a formal advance. The govern
men is rushing troops to that section and
establishing a strong line on the borders
of Matanzas and Santa Clara provinces. It
is said Gomez has given orders to continue
the skirmishing policy and to press no
tights with troops, but harass them until
the dry season is over. He has also ord
ered the capture of all cattle possible. It
appears, Gomez will not come to Havana
province yet, knowing he would be caught
in a trap, as this section affords no faeil
ities to deploy his forces. There are no
woods or lulls, and besides it is crossed
with too many roads, railroads, towns at
a short distance, etc. Then, too, Weyler,
Would throw on Gomez the forty or fifty
thousand men the captain general has in
hiding behind the troeha. Gomez knows
IVeyler’s plan and is too smart to be
caught.
The rebels continue active around Ha
vana city. The people of the city have
keen without milk for the last four days.
Vegetables are becoming scarce, and the
prices are increasing. The poorer people
are suffering thereby.
The condition of things is becoming
alarming. Smallpox has extended to all
the wards of the city, and has assumed
frightful proportions. The death rate Is
•li per cent. Smallpox has been officially
declared epidemic.
The censorship is more rigorous than
ever. The publication of all news of the
burning of cane fields, farms, estates,
etc known to be occurring daily in the
western provinces, especially Havana and
Matanzas. is prohibited. The flames can
be seen from the city. Rumors of many
fights reach the city, hut are never print
'd Pressure is exerted on correspond
ent? of local papers never to transmit im
portant happenings in the section named,
nor news of rebel movements.
THIRSTY FOR BLOOD.
A Louisiana Mob Lynch n Negro For
a Murderous Assault.
Xej Orleans, La., Jan. 18.—News reach
ed hot; to-day of the lynching of a mur
dero'is n>'gro highwayman near White
1 as >le on the Texas and Pacific road Sat
ttrday night.
A Plantation engineer named Beauvais
" lit to White Castle Saturday night. Re
'■ dramg home, he walked along the raii
rot l track. He overtook an unknown ne
tro' anil together they walked some dis
" when suddenly the negro fell b<A
:- 1 ' 1 and knocked Beauvais down with a
1,1 beat the engineer about the
ikal au l face until he appeared to be
I " : > iis lay unconscious for some time,
• "'■ >•• • 1 his senses sufficiently to
H ‘, w " yto a house not tar away.
. ad l. ~, robbed of a small sum of
J. 1 - v and some valuables.
," o( the affair spread, and very
' c guilty negro was found and ful
iii.V.'i."," *' 1I( ‘ was placed in the lock
lute ('astle, but at a late hour a
b;m out and hung him. Beau
v "rnught to this city for medical
If) ii, ' ami wl *’ recover from his severe
Git V\ \TMIN-BLACK CONTEST.
o, l|mti curat of th „ ri| „ e by t , |p
I'leeltons Committee.
Jan. 18.— Action on the
■"• •n-Bl.t u contested election case from
p oi ' 1 1 Georgia district has been post
-1 ,-r l, ? u ®° elections committee No.
of th, 1 i u ‘ " tl,e l®th Inst. The purpose
|. ' " I V i <o enable members of the
:, , " familiarize themselves with
is.,;', Sl ‘ ‘he hope that at the next
t • agreement respecting the re
' m he reached.
"•E EASTERN SCOURGE.
of the Dreaded Bubonic
, I’lnguc |„ Ind'lg.
v '" •‘ ii| b IS.—The bubonic plague,
"or,. .I 1 ,l ' a S lr >B this city, la growing
Ittnts ' of the inhab
fearlv .‘ l ' rpnaln S- it Is estimated that
r "'l'" .itl.m"nf .n CtU o lly two -‘hirds of the
b? tu . ‘he city have fled to conn
tnUin< , i,... 0 o,lK ' r cities, and in many
‘lttai, “ ve 'Hurried the contagion with
fpj t |®o#nino Itoi
A CURTAILED “RI : SIP.”
Disnllrctcd Republicans In Delaware
indulge In a Kick.
Dover, Del., Jan. 18.—Robert I.
Hanley, union republican (an Addicks
man), a member of the state Senate, this
afternoon organized a “rump Senate" by
swearing in J. Frank Allee, union repub
lican (an Addicks man), who is alleged
to have been counted out in Kent county,
and Thomas Curry of Sussex county, who
was defeated.
This is preliminary to the rump election
of J. Edward Addicks as United States
senator. Where the other two senators
necessary to form a quorum of the rump
House and Senate are to come from is not
known.
The caucus of the rump general assem
bly this evening nominated J. Edward
Addicks for United States senator.
The democrats of the regular general as
sembly did not go into caucus at 9 o’clock
as was agreed to.
The democratic caucus reconvened after
midnight and Gen. R. R. Kenney was nom
inated for senator on the twenty-sixth
ballot.
The nomination of Kenney is virtually
a victory for the silver men, although his
real attitude on the money question is un
known He was a member of the demo
cratic national committee and supported
Bryan. When Bryan visited Delaware he
was entertained at Kenney's house.
He was bom at Little Creek Hundred,
Sussex county, Sept. 9. 1866; graduated at
Hpbert College, New York, in 1877; went
to' Texas, taught school there and in Vir
ginia in 1878, studied law with the late
Chancellor Saulsbury, and was admitted
to the bar in 1881; was state librarian in
1883, and adjutant general under Gov.
Biggs in 1887.
Later in the evening the democrats of
the regular assembly went into caucus to
nominate a United States senator, but af
ter two futile ballots a recess was taken
at midnight. Willard Saulsbury was in
the lead, being but seven short of enough
votes to nominate him.
THE STAFFA A TOTAL LOSS.
The Accident Dne to a Fog—The
Crew Saved.
Norfolk, Va., Jan. 18.—The British
steamer Staffa of Hartlepool, England,
stranded Saturday, lies on her side on the
beach near Cape Henry, with her hold
full of water, her bottom knocked out and
the waters flowing over her.
Capt. Ostergardt and twenty-one sailors
were rescued from her yesterday morn
ing by the tug W. D. Jones of the Mer
ritt Wrecking Organization of this city.
Fifteen of the seamen are at the Union
mission here, awaiting transportation to
their homes.
Capt. Ostergardt states that the steam
er is a total loss, and that the value of
the vessel and cargo is $120,000. She was
laden with corn, and bound from New
Orleans. She encountered heavy fogs and
high winds, and unable to find a course,
or keep it found, was forced ashore at 4:40
Saturday morning.
A PANIC IN NAPLES.
Fears That the Indian Plague AA’ill
be Introduced There.
London, Jan. 18.—The Daily News will
to-morrow publish a dispatch from Rome
saying that a panic exists in Naplies and
in Sicily, caused by fears that the Indian
plague will be introduced there by steam
ers arriving from Indian ports.
The residents of Messina have demand
ed that steamers from those ports be pro
hibited from coaling there.
The dispatch adds that the Austrian
steamer Kaiser Franz Josef from Bom
bay landed two sick sailors at Massawah,
on the Red Sea, and they subsequently
died from the bubonic plague, it is alleged.
THE CZAR’S HEALTH GOOD.
The Report That Dr. Rerirniann Has
Been Summoned to St. Petersburg
Denied.
St. Petersburg, Jan. 18.—The czar to
day attended a parade of the troops held
in honor of the feast of the Epiphany,
which falls on Jan. 18, according to the
Russian calendar. His presence has
quieted the rumors regarding his health.
Prof. Bergmann, the eminent German
physician, who was reported yesterday to
have been summoned to St. Petersburg
to perform an operation on the czar, to
day denies that he has received such a
summons.
A LYNCHING IN MISSISSIPPI.
A Mnrileron* Car Porter Meets Sum
mary Justice,
Columbus, Miss., Jan. 18.—Meager par
ticulars of a lynching, which occurred
about sixty miles west of here on the
Southern railway, Saturday night, reach
ed here to-day. The body is identified as
that of Peter Henderson, the negro sleep
ing car porter, who assaulted John Grif
fin, a flagman, with a linch pin one day
last week.
Griffin, though seriously wounded, has
recovered. There Is no clew to the lynch
ers
Kruno* Wants to Trent With I *.
Vienna, Jan. 18.—The Polltlsche Corre
sponded has a dispatch from Paris, which
states that France is discussing the ad
visibility of negotiating with the United
Stales an arbitration treaty on the model
of ihe one signed a few days ago by the
British and American governments.
WASHINGTON NOTES.
Increasing the Currency—Some
l'lums Distributed by the President
Washington, Jan. 18.—The issue of stan
dard silver dollars from the mints and
treasury offices for the week ending Jan.
16, wa3 $217,749; and for the corresponding
period last year was $233,400.
The shipment of fractional silver coin
from Jan. 2 to 16 aggregated $212,000.
The President to-day nominated Thomas
D. Boyrum of North Carolina to be collec
tor of customs for the district of Alber
marle, N. C., and F. M. Mumford to be
postmaster at St. Franclsvllle, Ra.
New Postmasters In Georglii.
Washington, D. C., Jan. 18.—Three
new postmasters were appointed
In Georgia to-day, as follows:
R. A. Whitmire, Mallorysvine, Wilkes
county.
J. P. Crumley, New Rome. Floyd county.
W, A. Sumner, Pughslcy, Emanuel coun
ty.
SAA r AIsNAH, GA., TUESDAY, JANUARY 19. 1897.
BANKS DROP LIKE NINE PINS.
THREE MORE FAILERES CAUSED
BY THE FLURRY’ IN THE YVEST.
The Minnesota Savings Hank Could
Not Save Itself Even by the Sixty
Day Rule—Excitement Caused la
Newport, Ky„ by the Closing of the
National Dank—Depositors Are
Mad and Indulge In Ugly Talk—-A
Failure at Louisville.
St. Paul, Minn., Jan. B.—The Minnesota
Savings Bank succumbed to-day to the
effect of the recent flurry in bank affairs.
Its doors were closed and a deed of as
signment filed in court, William Bicket,
Sr., vice president of the defunct Alle
mania Bank, being named as assignee.
He is the father of William Bicket, Jr.,
president of the bank.
An affidavit was also filed stating the
assets would realize about $250,000, and
the liabilities were about $230,000.
When the failures of banks in the Twin
Cities began the Minnesota took advant
age of the sixty day notice rule, but the
withdrawals were so heavy that it was Un
able to raise enough cash to meet all de
mands and the assignment was decided
upon as the best step to take in the inter
ests of all depositors.
The bank has on deposit SIO,OOO of the St.
Taul city funds and $2,600 belonging to
Ramsay county. It never had any state
deposits. The bank was incorporated in
1868 as the Union Savings Bank of Roches
ter, Minn., by Senator Daniels of that
city and his friends, who operated it as
an adjunct of the Union National Bank
of Rochester, When the legislature passed
a law in 1889 which allowed the transfer
of such charters to other cities than where
organized, the Union Bank was purchased
by W. F. Bicket and associates, and its
name and location changed.
The assignee was the first president,
after the bank's removal to this city, and
since his retirement from its active man
agement he has been familiar with its af
fairs. Depositors had confidence in the
institution on account of his nominal con
nection therewith.
WANTED THEIR MONEY.
Depositors in the Newport Bank
Don’t Like Promises.
Cincinnati, Jan. 18.—The First National
Bank of Newport, Ky„ did not open its
door this morning. The news spread rap
idly and soon there was a crowd of ex
cited depositors assembled in front of the
bank, clamoring for an explanation.
The officials sent out word that the bank
was solvent, but had been forced to close
for lack of ready money. Assurances
were offered that no one would lose any
thing. The depositors, however, refused
to be satisfied. Ugly rumors found ex
pression and the excitement grew still
greater when it became known that Con
troller of the Currency Eckels and the
national bank examiner of Washington
were to be in Newport to-day. The cap
ital stock of the bank is $200,000. John
Trapp is president.
The bank will be reorganized. The de
posits are about $370,000, and depositors
will be paid in full.
Director Charles Spinks says the bank
closed because of the recklessness of
Cashier Yautzy and Director McCracken.
A late and rather startling development
is that Mr. John Trapp, ex-sheriff of tho
county, who was elected president of the
bank a week ago to succeed Dr. Gunkel,
who precipitately resigned, refused to ac
cept the office unless the bank's affairs
were thoroughly investigated.
It seems that C. W. Nagel, who was
elected to succeed Youtzy as cashier, had
made sufficient investigation himself to
warrant him in warning his friend Trapp
that all was not as it should be. There
fore, the bank has been without a presi
dent for nearly a week.
Every bank In Covington, which ad
joins Newport, bad to meet a run to-day
as best it could on short notice. Citi
zens rushed to their places of deposit by
the hundreds as soon as they heard the
news that the First National had not
opened its doors in the morning, and drew
their savings. Many heavy depositors
were among those on the run.
LOUISVILLE BANK SUSPENDS.
German National Falls to Open For
Business Yesterday Morning.
Louisville, Ky., Jan. 18,-JThe German
National Bank, at First and Market
streets, did not open its doors for business
this morning, and the announcement is
made that the Institution was in the hands
of Bank Examiner James Escott. The
capital stock is $251,500, with a surplus of
$131,000. J- M. McKnight is president.
The hank has been In a shaky condition
for three years, owing to the failure of
the Louisville Deposit Bank, by which it
lost $75,000 and that also between $250,000
and $300,000 worth of law suits are pend
ing, growing out of the bank's connection
with the failure.
Since the first of the year $75,000 In de
posits have been withdrawn and several
days ago Bank Examiner Escott began an
Investigation. Saturday he wired the re
sult to the controller of the currency and
the Older came for the hank to be closed
at once.
President McKnight says depositors will
be paid in full, The bank has on hand
S6O 000 in cash. The deposits subject to
check are about $205,000. There are also
certificates of deposit for $60,000. Mr. Mc-
Knight hopes to have the bank reorgan
ized and ready for business in fifteen days.
BUCKNER ORPHAN HOME VICTIMS.
Tlie Seventeenth Is Dcnd mid Three
Others Not Expected to l.lve.
Dallas, Tex., Jan. 18.—The seventeenth
victim of the Buckner orphan home died
to-day. He was Danny Grace, 6 years ol<}.
His last words were: “Is Father Buckner
burning?”
Charles Friend, Richard Bumall and
Charles Brann are expected to die at any
moment. All the other injured in the
home hospital are reported out of danger.
Assistance is being sent to the home from
all over Texas in the way of money and
general supplies.
* M \I.LIIITzE At COLUMBUS.
Poke's Jewelry Store Destroyed and
Other Stores Ilnmnged.
Columbus, Ga., Jan. 18.-Virgll Poke's
Jewelry store on Broad street was com
pletely gutted by fire at 11:30 o'clock to
night. The origin Is unknown. The stock
was valued at about $16,000: Insurance
known, SB,OOO.
Stanfield Johnson's book store, adjoin
ing, was damaged by smoke and water
to the extent of SI,OOO.
The Rankin house narrowly elcaped.
THEY' STAND BY ALTGELD.
.<
llUilAls Democrats More Ilnrnionloiis
Thun the Republicans.
Springfield, 111.. Jan. 18.—Failing to
nominate a candidate for United States
senator, the republican caucus, after tak
ing two ballots, adjourned until to-morrow
evening. The vote for adjournment stood
74 ayes to 52 nays.
William E. Mason developed the great
est strength, but never was nearer than
seventeen votes of the nomination. The
ballot will be taken in the two houses
according to law at noon to-morrow, re
gardless of the failure of the caucus to
nominate.
The democratic memE rs of the fortieth
general assembly. In caucus to-night,
unanimously nominated ex-Gov. John P.
Altgeld as their candidate for United
States senator.
The caucus by an overwhelming vote
decided to refuse to listen to nominating
speeches and after the candidates named
had been presented,the first ballot was tak
en. It resulted: Mason, 46; Lortmer, 39;
Hitt, 12; Hopkins, 6; Carr, 10; Alerton, 1;
Adams, 2; Cannon, 10.
Second ballot: Mason, 43; Lorimer, 40;
Hitt, 16; Hopkins, 6; Carr, 6; Allerton, 1;
Adams, 1; Cannon, 11.
The adjournment of the caucus is con
ceded to be in the interest of the anti-
Mason forces and the prophecy is made
by politicians that Mason’s chances have
been materially lessened and that if Lori
mer fails to get together enough of Ma
son’s disintegrated forces, Hitt’s, Can
non’s and Hopkin’s stock w'ill go up.
The possibility of Gov. Tanner's enter
ing the race seems to be materially increas
ed and the only reason he hesitates, is
said to be that the machine organization
does not want Lieut.-Gov. Northeott as
governor. The fight has now reached its
culmination, and the excitement is at a
high pitch.
PRITCHARD’S ELECTION ASSURED.
Interesting Events In North Cnroli
nn’s Muddy Polities.
Raleigh, N. C., Jan. 18.—The democrats
and both populist factions held caucuses
to-night. The former adjourned to meet
at 9:30 o’clock in the morning, without hav
ing named a candidate. It is understood
that Col. J. £5. Carr of Durham, will bo
the choice of the caucus unless some over
ture is received from the Butler populists.
The camp of Butler’s followers was
thrown into consternation by the report
that Dr. Cyrus Thompson, whom they
nominated for senator Friday night, was
advising his friends to vote for Pritch
ard. This turned out to be true. Butler
was greatly agitated. He went in great
haste to the caucus. It was learned after
the caucus adjourned that Thompson was
not withdrawn, but that it was understood
that Oliver H. Dockery would receive the
populist vote in the legislature to-morrow.
Eighteen Pritchard populists met to
night and tesolved to stand firm. These,
with the solid republican vote, will give
Pritchard four votes more than a major
ity. At his hour )lt appears
that the election of Pritchard is assured.
AN EMPTY HONOR FOR HILL.
Nominated For Senator by n Caucus.
Two Members Balt the fnuciih.
Albany, N. Y., Jan. 18.—The democratic
members of the legislature met in caucus
to-night and gave David B. HP' the empty
honor of a nomination for the office of
United States senator and nominated
Henry P. O’Neil of New York for the of
fice of regent of the university.
Senator Guy opposed the nomination of
Senator Hill. He said he would withdraw
from the caucus if Senator Hill was re
nominated.
Forty-one votes were cast, of which Hill
received 36; Robert C. Titus of Buffalo,
who was the democratic candidate for
court of appeals Judge last fall, received 2,
and William F. Porter of Watertown, who
was the silver candidate for governor last
fall, received 3 votes.
Senators Coffee and McNulty of Brook
lyn and Guy of New York and Assembly
man Cain and Zurn ©f Brooklyn bolted
the caucus.
NEW YORK'S ASSEMBLY.
Ballot YA'tll He Taken Wednesday
For Senator to Sneered Hill.
Albany, N. Y., Jan. 18.—When the Sen
ate convened to-night Senator Ellsworth
moved that the Senate at noon to-morrow
ballot for United States senator and re
gent of the university, and that both
houses meet at noon on Wednesday In
Joint sesion to elect for both offices. This
was adopted.
Senator Grady offered a substitute reso
lution for that which Senator Lexow In
troduced, providing for the investigation
of trusts. His preamble differs from that
of Senator Lexow, In that it declares that
such trusts and combinations do exist and
specifies that the Investigation committee
shall report within five days.
DUBOIS MEN Alt E HOPEFUL.
Ills Chance For tlie Senate From
Idaho Seems to Be Brighter,
Boise, Idaho, Jan. 18.—The populist cau
cus this morning again switched to Clag
gett. In the legislature the first vote re
sulted: Claggett, 24; Dubois. 25; Nelson,
pop., 13.
Tho votes for Nelson were cast by dem
ocrats. Dubois men claim there Is little
chance of the democrats and populists
coming together, and that ultimately Du
bois will receive enough democratic votes
to elect him.
Nevada's Election.
Carson, Nev., Jan. 18.—The legislature
convened this afternoon. Only routine
business was transacted. A caucus of
the members of both houses was held
this evening. Thirty-eight members were
present, and of this number thirty-five
voted for Senator John P. Jones. Mr.
Jones will be elected to-morrow.
EN ROUTE TO TEXAS.
W. J. Hrynn In Lecture ut Houston
Next Thursday.
Chicago. 111., Jan. 18,-Wllliam J. Bryan
left this city to-night for Houston, Tex.,
where he will lecture next Thursday even
ing.
Mr. Bryan Is accompanied by his sten
ographer, and during his trip to the south
ern city he will complete the work on his
book.
Progress of the Plague.
Bombay, Jan. 18.—The returns issued by
the health authorities to-day show that
there have been 3,636 cases of the plague
and 2,592 deaths from the disease.
HAS THE CHAIN BEEN BROKEN?
SOMETHING IS LNCONSTITT TION.AI.
ABOUT THE DISPENSARY LAW.
Its friends Say That Only One Im
material Clause Is Declared A old
l>y the Court, A\ lille Those Whose
Wish Atay Be Said to Be Father to
the Thouitht .Are Rejoicing; Over
AA lint They Consider the Death
Knell of the Obnoxious I.uil—Tl li
man and Irby Express Themselves.
Washington, Jan. 18.—Senator Tillman's
hobby, the South Carolina dispensary li
quor law, was ditched to-day by the su
premo court of the United States. The
court decided that the law Is unconstitu
tional, so far as It seeks to prohibit citi
zens o>f the state from Importing into
the commonwealth liquor for personal
use. The question whether the state has
the right to engage in the liquor traffic
was not raised during the trial, hence the
constitutionality of the entire dispensary
law was not passed upon by the court.
The general opinion of South Carolin
ians and lawyers, who have followed this
interesting case, is that to-day's decis
ion practically destroys the famous liquor
law which enabled Senator Tillman to
ride into the governor's chair and thence
to the United States Senate. Ever since
the Chicago convention, Tillman's influ
ence in South Carolina has been on the
down grade, and his political enemies
claim that the decision of the supreme
court to-day will expedite his journey into
political obscurity.
One of the interesting incidents of the
day was the wide difference of opinion be
tween the two South Carolina senators
on this subject. Irby claims to have made
Tillman, but recently they quarrelled, and
Tillman undertook to displace Irby In the
Senate with ex-Gov. John Gary Evans.
Irby joined forces with the anti-Tillman
faction in the state and helped to defeat
Evans with Judge Earle. To-day Till
man and Irby met In the Senate chamber
for the first time this session. Tillman
advanced toward his colleague and extend
ed his hand. The handshake that follow
ed was about as cordial as that Corbett
and Fitzsimmons will put up if they ever
meet at the ring side. A few perfunctory
words were exchanged and the hated rivals
parted. A few minutes later the news
reached the Senate that the South Caro
lina liquor ease had been decided against
the state. Here Is how the South Caroli
na senators expressed themselves on the
subject:
Senator Tillman said he was “daddy”
of the dispensary child, and, therefore, he
was anxious to ascertain to what extent
the supreme court had mutilated his off
spring.
There was considerable confusion over
the decision of the court, owing to the
fact that Chief Justice Fuller announced
the decree of the court, for Mr. Justice
Shiras, who was absent from the bench
to-day. The decision was quite lengthy,
and the chief justice made but a brief
statement of the finding of the court. His
condensation was such that It was diffi
cult to determine whether the court had
passed upon the entire dispensary act, or
simply that part of it which enables par
ties to bring liquor into the state for their
personal use.
After spending several hours in trying
to get at the real scope of the decision.
Senator Tillman was informed by Mr. Jus
tice Brown, who dissented from the opin
ion of the court, that the decision simply
affirms the decree of the lower court,which
decided that it was unconstitutional for
the state authorities to arrest persons for
bringing liquor into the state for personal
use. With that understanding of the de
cision Senator Tillman exclaimed: “That
decision does not kill my dispensary law
by a jug full. As I understand it, the
decision simply affirms the derision of
Judge Simonton, who, more, than a year
ago, issued an injunction which prevented
the state officers from arresting and seiz
ing liquor brought Into the state for tlie
personal use of the parties interested. It
does not go into the general question of
the constitutional right of tho slate to
traffic In liquor. We have been operating
under the injunction of Judge Simonton
for more than a year, and the decision
rendered to-day does not materially effect
the existence of the law. We will go
right ahead and enforce the law, so us
not to conflict with the supreme court,
but if we find that the law is not broad
enough I will undertake to get a special
act of congress passed to give us all the
power we desire to enforce the law. The
fight Is not over, by a jug full, and we will
continue to defend the dispensary law.
because we believe it Is for the good of
the people of the state.”
"Will not the decision rendered to-day
enable or encourage people to evade the
law and make combinations to get liquor
into the state under the pretext that it is
for their personal use?”
“If they do we will capture their stuff,
just as we are doing to-day. If any fur
ther legislation Is necessary our legisla
ture Is In session and we will amend the
law to meet any emergency that may
arise. There is a mistaken idea prevail
ing in the minds of certain people that
the dispensary law was enacted to give
the state revenue. That was not the in
tention of the framers of the law. We
want to break up the barroom system and
curtail the consumption of liquor in the
state. We don’t care anything about the
revenues we get from It If we can prevent
drunkenness and check the influence of the
rum sellers in state politics. A great deal
has been said about the dispensary law
being used to promote the political ambi
tions of certain men in the state. Those
charges are without foundation, and It
will not do for the enemies of the law to
keep up that old cry.’’
Senator Irby said he was unable to see
tho text of the decision, but the impression
given him by those who listened to Us
reading by Chief Justice Fuller was that
the court decides the entire dispensary act
unconstitutional. He read Mr. Justice
Brown’s dissent, which seems to take the
ground that the majority of the court erred
In declaring the whole act unconstitu
tional.
“I have always believed in the spirit of
the dispensary law," said Senator Irby,
“but I realize that it has been rendered
obnoxious to a majority of the people of
the state by the methods employed in ex
ecuting It. Even if the court has not de
cided the entire act unconstitutional by
deciding the interstate commerce feature
of the law unconstitutional, the decision
practically sounds the death knell of the
law in South Carolina. "The law Is un
popular In the state because It
Increases the price of liquor to
the consumer. 1 appreciate the
fact that the dispensary system is
better for the morality of our people
that the public bar-room, but the execu
tion of the law has been tainted with
scandal, and It has been used for the po
litical advancement of certain persons.
“The law properly administered, is, in
my judgment, a good law, but it is evi
dent that the many objections raised
against it are Justifiable. The decision
of the court practically kills the law, for
under the decision of the court persons
are entitled to go outside of the state and
purchase their liquor, which necessarily
reduces the revenues to the state con
templated by the dispensary law.
“Prom a business standpoint the state
cannot afford to continue the system, and,
therefore, I believe the law is dead. The
returns to the state have not been as
great as expected, besides the political
crimes eomtnited in the name of the
dispensary law, combined to render the
law generally obnoxious throughout the
state.”
The Decision ninl Dissent In Dried.
Washington, Jan. 18.—The supreme court
of the X'nited States to-day decided that
the famous dispensary law of South Car
olina, at least so far as It attempted to
prevent a citizen of the state from Im
porting Into the commonwealth liquor for
his own use, was In violation of the inter
state commerce clause of the federal con
stitution and therefore null and void.
The opinion of the court was prepared
by Mr. Justice Shiras, but in his absence,
owing to indisposition, its conclusions
were announced by Chief Justice Fuller.
The cases at bar were begun in the fed
eral court for South Carolina by James
Donald, a citizen of that state, upon the
seizure of a case of California claret, six
bottles of Maryland whisky, and a barrel
of Rochester, N. Y., beer by R. M. Gard
ner, M. T. Hollicks, E. C. Beach and J. M.
Scott, state constables, acting under the
provisions of the dispensary law directing
the seizure of all the liquors in the hands
of any common carrier, agent or private
citizen, not sold by the state agent,
whether Imported or otherwise. The trial
court gave Donald Judgment for S3OO, In
each case, and the case was appealed.
The cases were argued last fall, the vali
dity of the entire law being brought into
question.
The opinion of the court stated that
the proceedings was not against the state
(which could not be brought without Its
consent) and that the pleadings of the rec
ord raised questions which gave the su
preme. court of the United States Juris
diction of the whole subject. The law
was discussed at great length in the opin
ion and many authorities cited, the >e
sult being that the judgment of the court
below in favor of the owner of the liq
uors was affirmed, with costs, for the rea
son that the law was in contravention
of the clause of the national constitution
regulating commerce between the states.
The opinion conceded that the legislature
of the state passed the law in what It
believed to be the exercise of Its police
power and with no Intention to Interfere
with the operation of any federal law or
to discriminate against the produirts of
any other state, but that intention, It con
tinued, could not finally control the deter
mination of the effect of the law.
Mr. Justice Brewer did not hear the ar
gument, and took no part in the decision.
Mr. Justice Brown recorded a vigorous
dissent, saying: “The effect of the enact
ment of the Wilson law seems to me to
withdraw intoxicating liquors from the
operation of the commerce clause of the
constitution, and to permit the traffic in
them to be regulated In such manner as
the several states, in the exercise
of their police powers, shall deem
best for the general interests of
the public. The act is not
limited In its operation, as the majority
deration seems to assume, state laws for
bidding the Importation, manufacture and
sale of such liuqors; but declares that they
Bhai be subject, upon their arrival within
the state, to the operation of aii Its laws
enacted in the exercise of its police powers.
Now, as congress has expressly declared
that such articles shall, upon their arrival
in the state, become subject to its laws, to
the same extent as if they had been orig
inally produced there, and, as the dispen
sary act does not declare them contraband
as imported liquors, or because they were
imported, but because they were not
bought from a state officer authorized to
sell the same, and as the law makes no
discrimination in that particular between
imported and domestic liquors, it Is impos
sible for me, to see why congress has not
directly authorized the action that was
taken by the state officers in seizing these
liquors. But, as 1 understand, the court
bases, to a certain extent, its opinion of
the unconstitutionallty of tihs act upon the
fact that the traffic In intoxicating liquors
Is not absolutely prohibited, but is
monopolized by the stats itself
through the agency of a state
commissioners. Granting that the act
gives the state itself a monopoly of all
the traffic In such liquors, It is not a mo
nopoly in the ordinary or odious sense
of the term, where one Individual or eoi%-
poration Is given the right to manufac
ture or trade which is not open to others,
but a monopoly for the benefit of the
whole people of the state, the profits of
which, if any, are enjoyed by the wdioie
people; in short, a monopoly In the same
sense in which the postcfflce department
and tiie right to carry the mails is a mo
nopoly of the federal government.”
Quoting Chief Justices Marshall and
Waite upon the necessity and expediency
of the court's acting with great delicacy
and hesitation in declaring a statute un
constitutional, Justice Brown concluded:
“I regard these words as particularly ap
plicable to the dealings by this court with
the proceedings of a state legislature, and
that their right to determine what Is for
the best interests of their people should
be carefully respected, except where it
comes in manifest condict with the domi
nant law. Especially should everything
bo avoided which curries the suggestion
of a vexatious Interference with state ac
tion. The manifest dangers to the future
of the country, which lurk In the inflexi
bility of the federal uonstitution, can only
be averted by carefully distinguishing be
tween such laws as practically concern the
inhabitants of a particular state only, and
are Intended bona fide for their welfare,
and such as are a mere subterfuge for an
unlawful discrimination, and cannot be
carried into effect without doing palpable
Injustice to citizens of other states. It
should not be overlooked in this connec
tion that the complaints in this case ema
nate from a citizen of South Carolina, who
seeks to defy the law of his own state,
and puts forward us his excuse the injus
tice done the citizens of other states who
make no complaint of her action in this
particular incident. If a state cannot pro
hibit her own citizens from Importing 11-
quori., as well as buying them at home,
the Wilson bill 1 is set at naught, and the
prohibitory laws of the several states
rendered inoperative In a vital particular.
The fact that these liquors were Imported
for complainant's own use and consump
tion, Instead of for sale, raises no ques
(Contlnued on Fifth Page.)
l DAIRY. $lO A YEAR. 1
< CENTS A COPY. i
I WEEKLY 2-XIMES-A-WEEK $1 A YEAR V
TREMBLING JN_THE BALANCE.
M’tMSIl STATESMEN SEEK UNCLE)
SAM'S GOOD GRACES.
A Condition of Affairs That Will
Prove Interesting: to Cuban Patri
ots and Sympathizers--The Latin
lllood Waxes Warm Over theSitun
tion—Progress of the W ar in, Cnhu.
Keitels Attack Spanish War Ves
sels.
London, Jan. 18.—A dispatch from Ma
drid to Hie Central News says that the
Tiempo (newspaper) declares that the con
dition of affairs which recently brough*
the ministry to the verge of a crisis haa
been renewed and a crisis is imminent.
The dispatch also says that in the course
of an interview yesterday that Senor Mo
tet, who was minister of foreign affaira
In the cabinet of Senor Sagasta, said:
"The government of the United States al
ways works for peace. Cuba ought to bo
guaranteed all of the conditions of prog
ress.”
Senor PI y Margall, the eminent Spanish
republican leader, is also reported to have
said in an interview: “Peace ought to
be made, not by handling concessions, but
by granting to Cuba the fullest auton
omy.”
On other hand, Senor Croizard, a lead
ing royalist, is credited with having de
clared, in an interview, that "whoever per
mits the Spanish sovereignty of Cuba to
be shaken without drawing his sword, is
a truitor to his country.”
'EI Liberal published a report of an in
terview with Senor Emilio Castelar, tha
republican leader, in which he favors a
diplomatic entente with the United States
and the adoption of commercial reforms
in the Antilles, so as to facilitate the re
lations of those islands with the Unite*]
States.
Senor Valera, formerly Spanish minis
ter at Washington, expressed the opinion
that Spain ought to accept the good of
fices of the American government.
WAR VESSELS ATTACKED.
Cuban Rebels Have No Nary, lint
They Fight by Sen as Well as Land.
Havana, Jan. 18.—Though the insurgents
have no navy they do not hesitate, whert
the opportunity offers, to attack the Span
ish warships. The latest instance of this
Kind occurred yesterday morning when a>
Spanish gunboat was sunk by means oil
a torpedo and many of her crew killed.
A detachment of rebels bad made an at
tack upon the forts at Guamo, some dis
tance up the Canto river, province of
Santiago de Cuba, and the Spanish troops
fearing that they would not be aide lo
hold out asked for assistance from Man
zanillo, on the coast. On Saturday night,
the gunboats Cent India and Relampago
left Manzanillo under orders to ascend the
river and protect the forts. All went well
until the gunboats were opposite a place
called Mango, when the Relampago struck
a torpedo. Instantly there was a terrltlo
explosion. The hull of the Relampago
was torn open and the vessel went down.
Those on board of the ship who were un
injured jumped into the river and swam
for the Centinella.
The Centlnella's boats picked up the sur
vivors under a heavy fire from rebels. Tha
Centinella then returned to Manzanillo.
The commander of the Centinella was se
riously wounded.
The official report of the affair states
that the commander, second engineer and
three sailors of the Relampago were killed,
and her boatswain, quartermaster, first
engineer, pilot and four sailors wounded.
The boatswain of the Centinella was
killed and the pilot, second engineer, gun
ner and six sailors were wounded.
Both gun boats were small vessels, In
tended principally for river service and
they did not carry large crews.
A TRAIN ROBBED IN CUBA.
Official Reports Make It a Case ol
Bandits.
Havana, Jan. 18,—Official news has been
received here of the halting and plunder
ing of a railway train, near this city, on
the night of Jan. 16, by bands of “platea
dos.”
The train was the last one running from
Regia, a suburb of Havana on the east
side of Havana bay to Guanabacoa, five
miles further east. The robbers stopped
the train at 10:30 p. m., and covering the
passengers with their guns proceeded lo
rob them of everything of value they had
about them. There were ten Spanish of
ficers on board the train, who had been
on a pleasure trip to the city and were
returning to Guanabacoa. These, the rob
bers made prisoners and took away with
them. Nine officers were subsequently
released, but one of them, a native Cu
ban, was killed for being found In tha
Spanish service.
AX AMBASSADOR KHUH Cl BA.
Hr Gori to Atlanta to Seek At<l For
(iniprnl lacrpt.
Atlanta, Ga., Jan. 18.—Gen. Lacret of the
revolutionary army of Cuba has sent to
the United States Lieut. Col. Eugenio Va*
rolll, who has placed the facts in his
possession in the hands of Dr. A. J. Diaz
of this city.
Col. Varelll reports the Cubans to be in
excellent condition.
Gen. Lacret Is at present operating in
Matanzas province, while Gen. Gomez Is
in Havana province, pushing toward tho
city. The greatest enthusiasm prevails
among the people.
Col. Varellt's mission Is to secure ma
terial aid for Gen. Lacret.
THE HEAD OK .lAOKXOV9 BAH.
DeMth of it t'k-omtnent ami Honored
Mississippi Lawyer.
Jackson, Miss., Jan. 18.—Col. W. L. Nu
gent died at his residence here this morn
ing, after a very short illness with la
grippe, which brought on heart failure.
Col. Nugent was the recognized head of
the Jackson bar and one of the most pro.
found lawyers of the state. He was senior
member of the firm of Nugent & MeWli
lie, attorneys for the Queen and Crescent
railway, and ho enjoyed a lucrative prac
tice along other lines. He was prominent
In all good works, having been superin
tendent of the Methodist Sunday school a
quarter of a century.
He was a brother of the late Judge
Thomas Nugent, the populist candidate
for governor of Texas three years ago.