Newspaper Page Text
8
sMiniffi
Assistant Engineer Coop
er Testifies Against
Carter.
HOW MATTRESSES WERE BUILT
Cooper Snlil He Hnd the Specifica
tions and Printed Instructions,
But Did Not follow Thera—Claimed
He Went by a Standard Mattress
Pointed Out to Him—Obeyed Orders
He Thought Wrong Bather Than
Lose His Position—His Reports In
troduced to Contradict Some of
His Statements—< onstdered the
Bock Below the Specifications.
Thought the Work an l nqnestion
uhle Success—Put in an Ls
tiinatc for Lobbying.
There was considerable interest yester
day In the testimony of A. 9. Cooper be
fore the court-martial, which resumed its
cession at 11 o'clock.
The witness has been an assistant engi
neer under Capt. Carter for thirteen years
Off and on. Ho was brought hero from
the West by Capt. Carter, having served
with him out there, and was placed in a
position of trust and responsibility even
though lacking at that time In any prac
tical knowledge of the construction of
mattresses, or of Jetty work.
Mr. Cooper has been looked upon all
along as or.e of the star witnesses for the
government, he having given testimony
at length before the board of inquiry. It
Is said to have been principally on his
testimony, together with that of another
employe in the office, that the chargee
against Capt. Carter were based. Mr.
Cooper's testimony was not concluded
■when the court adjourned yesterday after
noon, and the cross-examination will be
resumed when court meets this morning
ut 10:30 o’clock.
Mr. Blair said, before the court proceed
ed further, the accused would like to know
whether he would be allowed to examine
a certain chart which he had been trying
for some time to see, but had been refused
access to it. Capt. Carter, he said wanted
to know whether he would be allowed to
see that chart, and if not, he would, like
to make a motion in the premises.
“I had already anticipated the desire of
the accused,” Col. Barr said, “and that
chart, which has just been completed, will
be open to his inspection to-day."
That was satisfactory to the accused,
and Col. Barr then introduced some reports
made by Marion Twiggs, and referred to
In his evidence taken in Augusta. These
reports were relative to measurements of
mattresses and stone used in the work at
Cumberland sound by the Atlantic Con
tracting Company, and one of them called
attention to the stone as not being up to
specifications.
Col. Barr (hen swore Mr. A. S. Cooper,
one of the supposed star witnesses for the
government, who gave lengthy testimony
before the board of inquiry. He said he
had been employed as assistant engineer
in the Savannah district off nnd on for
thirteen years. Since returning the last
time he had been here, he said, four and a
half years. His duties, he said, had been
in surveying and inspecting the river and
harbor works.
“Please describe the mattresses put into
the Jetties under the contract with the
Atlantic Contracting Company," Col. Barr
6a td.
“There was a bottom grillage of poles
above which was placed some bundles of
brush, and above these there was another
grillage of poles."
"Were those the mattresses that went
Into the work.?" was asked.
"Yes, sir," was the reply.
“Were they In accordance with the spec
ifications for the third type mentioned in
the contract?" was asked.
“They were not. The spe -ideations called
for fascines. Th<-.*. mattresses were built
of bundles of brush, and not of fascines, as
called for. This was done under the con
tract of 1896."
“Was the brush trimmed at all?" wns
asked.
"It was not,” he said.
"Did you see any mattresses built in ac
cordance with the specification.- of the
third design go into the work?” was ask
ed.
• “No, sir. I saw none built In accord
ance with the specifications for that de
eign,” was the reply.
Mr. Cooper staled that he had a copy
of the specifications, but when he return
ed to the service here in 189?. he was told
to follow the style of mattresses he found
being used on the work. These mattresses
“were not built of fascines, as required,
he said, but they were satisfactory to the
officer in charge, and that was what he
•wanted. I saw about all of the mattresses
that went into the work."
The witness gave some testimony with
regard to instructions received about the
hights of the different courses in mats
given him. They were of varying hights.
he said.
“Can you estimate the cost i>or square
yard of these mattresses, us pul Into the
work?” Col. Barr asked.
“I have made an estimate,'’ was the
reply. “The cost of these mattresses,
when sunk, I find to be about 9 cents per
square yard. I based this estimate on a
2.000-yard mattress. The charge is made
per square yard of each course.”
Mr. Cooper then gave a detailed state
ment of his estimate, showing the amount
estimated for each expense, such as la
borers, foremen, privileges, material, etc.
His estimate footed up was $183.75 lor the
construction and sinking a 2,(X)0-yard mat.
He then gave an estimate of the cost of
the plant in use by the Atlantic Contract
ing Company, putting it at *32,450. The
plant, he said, would be worth about slo,uoO
when the company got through with it, in
volving n loss of *22.450. He also gave
computations for interest, and figured the
total loss at-*3O a day on that account. He
gave then a cost of the expense of running
the tugboats used, the best tugs costing
about *25 to *3O a day, and the others about
(15 a day.
"Have you seen any mattresses built in
accordance with the third design?” was
usked.
“I saw some built in accordance with
that design placed in the breakwater nt
Tybee In 1897. They were buiit under the
orders of Capt. Gillette,'' Mr. Cooper sat,)
“That mattress I saw go In place in Au
gust, 1897. It was in exact compliance
with the contract specifications of the
third design. I estimated the cost ol bulld
. (Continued on Third Page.)
RECEPTION TO MISS CARSON.
tinny Paid Their Respects to the
Ynnng Missionary.
A delightful reception was tendered by
the ladies of the congregation of Wesley
Monumental Church yesterday afternoon
to Miss Hattie Carson. There were many
present, ladies especially, during the two
hours, from 4 o'clock until 6, that the re
ception was In progress. Among those
who attended were Rev. Dr. J. O. Branch,
pastor of the church; Rev. J. H. Scruggs
of Trinity Church, Rev. O. F. Cook of
Grace Church, Rev. E. F. Morgan of the
Seventh Street Church, and Rev. Arthur
J. Smith of the First Presbyterian Church.
The reception was held in the Sunday
school room. The seats had been clear
ed from the center of the room and placed
at the sides, thus leaving a large cleared
space, which was very attractively decor
aied with flowers and palms. Mrs. Branch,
president pro tern of the Woman's .Mis
sionary Society of the church, and Miss
Carson occupied seats near the door and
received the visitors.
Those who called were fortunate In hear
ing several excellent musical selections.
Vocal solos were rendered by Mrs.
Charles I). Mize and Mrs. George Wil
liams. These ladies were the recipients
oi many compliments. Miss Josie Dor
sell, one of the most accomplished pian
ists in the city, was heard in several 6elec
nons. Refreshments were served by the
ladles.
Miss Carson, in honor of whom the re
ception was given, is in Savannah, visit
ing her father. Rev. C. H. Carson, on
Huffy street. She has been here nearly
two months, and will soon return to Du
rango, Mexico, where she Is stationed as
a missionary under the direction of the
Woman’s Board of Foreign Missions. Miss
Carson has been at that station for more
than two years. This is hey first visit
in that time to her home. She has achiev
ed great success in her work, and is great
ly interested in it. Many friends here
join in wishing her a continuation of her
success and usefulness In the field of
Christian labor to which she has devoted
her talents.
Miss Carson has spent a portion of her
\ acation at several points In Florida at
tending missionary meetings. Her pres
ence at these meetings aided the cause
of missions greatly. Rev. Dr. Branch
feels great pride in Miss Carson's work
ir. the field of foreign missions, as it was
under his former pastorate at Wesley
Monumental Church that she was received
at a member.
WILL PI T Ul* FIRE ESCAPES,
The I-aw Requiring Thera Likely to
He Complied With.
Fire Chief Maguire has received sev
eral calls from persons to whom he re
cently sent notices to attack fire escapes,
and the indications are that the law will
be complied with by all concerned.
While the former attempts to enforce
the fire escape ordinance hava been In
effectual, It is probably because of the
fact that the chief has never resorted to
the extreme by Inserting In the notices
that those failing to comply would be
Placed on the Police Court docket. There
was never such determination on the part
oi the chief to either enforce the law or
know the reason why.
Thus far there have been no starts
made, and it is probable there are own
ers of buildings who intend waiting until
the time expires, just to see if Chief Ma
guire will docket them. This is sure to
be done, However, and as there is kittle
possibility of Council's repealing the law
just to relieve a favored few, the safest
policy might be to take no risks. De
struction of life in a burning building
without fire escapes might entail Inter
minable law suits to the owner, so that
compliance with the law would be the
cheapest policy after all.
CHANGES IN CITY COUNCIL.
Little Alterntlon In Committees by-
Ur. Duncan's Election.
The election of Dr. William Duncan as
an alderman to succeed Maj. T. S. Wylly,
resigned, will not require any general re
arrangement of the committees of Coun
cil.
The transfer of Alderman Owens to the
head of the drainage committee and the
appointment of Dr. Duncan as chairman
of the public health committee has al
ready been announced.
Mayor Meldrim staled yesterday that
Dr. Duncan would simply take Maj. Wyl
ly's place on the various committees of
which the latter was a member. These
are assessments, finance, harbor and
wharves, and police.
Mayor Meldrim has not decided as yet
whom he will appoint to succeed Maj.
Wylly upon the sanitary board. 'Maj.
Wylly having been one of the aldermanie.
members of the board, his membership
ceased upon the acceptance of his resig
nation by Council.
DIED SUDDENLY' FROM SHOCK.
Cluster Fell In W. H. King's Room
and Unused Hi* Heath.
William H. King, 36 years of age, died
suddenly yesterday morning at his home,
No. 1269 Whitaker street. Mr. King was
known to be a sufferer from heart disease.
About 1 o’clock in the morning some plas
tering fell in the room where he was ly
ing in bed. His wife, who was in an ad
joining room, heard him make a convul
sive movement when the plastering fell.
Knowing his double, she went to him
and found him unconscious. Being una
ble to arouse him, She sent for Dr. J.
Lanier. Dr. l-anier responded, but the
man died shortly after his arrival.
The deceased was employed as a car
penter at the Georgia Car Works. He
leaves a wife and one child, an Infant one
month old.
1,54)0 TAX RETURNS SHORT.
That Number of People Will He
Double Taxed,
Yesterday was the last day for making
cily tax returns of personal properly and
the tax assessors had quite a busy day
of it. A large number came in at the
last moment.
The returns are still short of last year
by about 1.500. While most of the de
faulters are people of small means, there
are some large property owners in the lot.
The tax assessors will now proceed to
double-tax those who have failed to make
their returns.
Found Floating; in tbe River.
The body of a negro was found floating
in the river near the foot of West Broad
street yesterday, it was badly decompos
ed and had evidently been in the water a
number of days. It is supposed to have
been the body of one of the two negroes
who fell into the river and were drowned
Christmas eve night from a flat at the
Plant system wharf.
Nursing mothers find the nutriment they
need in ,
MAI.T-M TRINE
—the Food Drink. Malt-Nutrine Is pre
pared by the famous Anheuser-Busch
Brewing Ass'n, which fact guarantees the
purity, excellence and merit claimed for
it.—ad. <
THE MORNING NEWS: FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 1898.
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENTS.
COMMISSIONER WILI.INK’S REPORT
FOR THE YEAR JUST ENDED.
The Total Expenditure* for Work
tinder the Direction of tlie Com
mlaaloatr tZ13J34.31-.Norr Street
Paving Completed Than in Any
Previous Year of the City’* History.
Asphalt a Costly Pavement to
Clean and Repnlr—Over f IjiOO Ex
pended by the Street and I.anc lie
pertinent in Caring for the Parks
and Trees, Including the Cost of
the New Greenhouse—Another Cre
matory- Needed.
The report of Commissioner of Public
Works Harry Willink upon the operations
of the several'departments under his care
was received at the Mayor's office yester
day. The report is voluminous and goes
fully into the details of the several depart
ments and reasons for all expenditures.
In the opening of his report. Commission
er Willink says: “During the year the
business of the city entrusted to this of
fice has been administered with the view of
securing the best results for the money
paid out. All supplies, as in the previous
year. have been bought un
der competition, bids being secured
from responsible dealers and contracts
awarded to the lowest bidders, due re
gard being had to the quality of supplies,
offered. Faithful and efficient service has
been insisted upon from all employes.
Without exception they have labored in
harmony and given full value for their
wages, The several foremen have intel
ligently and conscientiously performed
their duties and are entitled to proper
credit for their valuable assistance In con
ducting the affairs of the different depart
ments successfully.”
The commissioner expresses his thanks
to the chairman of committees having su
pervision of departments under his con
trol for their co-operation and his appre
ciation of courtesies shown him by them
and by his honor, the Mayor.
The total amount of appropriations to
departments under control of the com-,
missioner for the year was *179.030
and the total expenditures, *213,434.31. In
every department, with the exception of
that of street paving, the expenditures
were within the appropriation, the total
of balances unexpended being nearly $6,000.
In street paving the appropriation was
only *30,000, and the expenditures were
*70.330.30.
“In street paving,” says the commis
sioner, “the excess is, of course, only ap
parent, the city receiving back from the
property owners and railroad companies
about 60 per cent, of all Atonies expended
by It in such improvements."
The balance for the other departments,
the report states, would have been con
siderably larger, but for the fact that
December blllrf. heretofore always paid in
January out of the succeeding year's ap
propriation, were this year largely paid in
the month the bills were contracted. This
practically amounted, to paying for thir
teen months' supplies out of the appropri
ations for 1897.
The commissioner goes into details on
the subject of street paving. During the
year, 12,800 lineal feet, or 2.42 miles, were
added to the paved streets of the
city, as follows: Barnard street 200,
Bryan street 2.300, Farm street
230, Jefferson street 450, Louisville
road, 3,300; President street, 375; Meldrim
avenue, 1,500; Oglethorpe avenue, 4,(BO;
York street. 175.
There are now within the city limits
96 5-16 lineal miles of streets anil lanes,
of which 22.42 miles are paved. The in
crease In the superficial area of paved
streets during the year 1897 was 55.391
square yards, making a total paved area
at present of 516,912 square yards. A tab
ulated statement of the number of square
yards and kind of material on each paved
street is given. The totals are; Asphalt,
118,291 square yards; brick, 6,!M0; chert,
16,773; cobble, 200,153; granite, 58,302; shell,
115,900; gravel. 853. •
The cost of cleaning improved streets
was as follows: Asphalt, *4,338.91, per
square yard, *0.0366; cobble and granite,
*3,235.50, iter square yard, $0.0124; shell,
*791.41, per square yard, $0.0168; brick, $81.56,
per square yard, $0.0117.
Attention Is called to the careless and
unnecessary littering of the streets by the
public, and enforcement of the ordinance
on this subject urged.
Repairs were made to street pavements
at a cost of $6,545.65, divided as follows:
Asphalt, $1,556.55; cobble, $542.76; shell,
$1,446.35. The average cost per square
yard was: Asphalt, $0.05; cobble, $0.0027;
shell, $0.0125. There were no repairs to
brick and granite block pavements.
"The eritieisms on the use of vitrified
brick as a paving material,” says the
commissioner, “have been satisfactorily
answered by the results so far In Savan
nah and other cities. No repairs have
been found necessary to either Habersham
or Abercorn streets. The pavements show
no signs of wear and are in as good condi
tion as whan first laid. Opposition to this
class of pavements must disappear now
that citizens have an opportunity to ob
serve for themselves their superior quali
ties and comparative cheapness.”
The commissioner says that the asphalt
company failed to comply with the terms
of Its contract for the maintenance of the
asphalt pavements at the rate of 5 cents
tier square yard per annum, and at the
close of the year It was found necessary
to stop payment of the bill on this account.
"The company's representative.” says
the report. v was notified frequently as to
the disgraceful condition of certain por
tions of these streets. But slight atten
tion was given to these notices, and at
the end of Decern!.or the streets were In
need of considerable repairs.’’
New- sewers were constructed during the
year of. a length of 6,215 feet, making a
total of 17.88 miles of sewers now in the
city. The improvement effected by the
connection of the Sixth street sewer with
the East Broad street sewer is mention
ed, this sewer having heretofore emptied
into an open ditch. The new sewers on
Abercorn, Bull and Jefferson streets all
empty Into the Sixth street sewer, and
also provide surface drainage for the
southern section.
Among other improvements made at the
city lot on Cemetery street were the erec
tion of a blacksmith shop and a carpen
ter and paint shop, each well suppiim)
with necessdry tools. All shoeihg
of city stock, repairs to wagons, carts,
and other vehicles, as well as the building
of new vehicles, is now’done at these shops
by the city hands.
The expenditures for the maintenance of
the park and tree work from June 24 to
Dec. 31 were $4,526.74, which was charged
to the street and lane department. Anew
greenhouse was’tfuilt. and the old one re
paired at a cost of $940.23. Other improve
ments were made, bringing the total ex
penditure for the greenhouse up to $1,073.92.
There was more street paving completed
during 1897 probably than in any other
year in the history of the city, the com
missioner state?, the total area paved being
52,507 square yards, at a total cost of
$112,297.90. This Includes the work on the
Louisville road, which was approaching
completion at the close of 1896, and the
work on Oglethorpe avenue, which
was begun during that. year
The paving during the year is classed as
follows: Chert, 9.235 square yards; as
phalt, 27,159.1 square yards; granite
blocks, 16,092.9 square yards.
"Considerable work is projected for the
ensuing year.” says the commissioner,
“but it appears to be a matter of grave
4oubt whether the city will do the work
with home iabor or arrange with outside
contractors. In the paving of streets, as
in certain other works, the city paying a
fair rate of wages and giving local labor
the preference at all times, cannot com
pete as ho cost with contractors from oth
er cities paying 25 to 50 per cynt. less to
their employes and importing labor In
the event that Savannah working men
will not accept their rate of wages. If
cheapness of work is the first and only
consideration the city can do best by ar
ranging with these contractors. If it is
desired, though, to give employment
to Savannah labor at a reasonable
rate of wages and keep a considerable
part of the money paid out at home, the
system that has been followed during the
past year is to be recommended. The
work of dry culture, scavenger, crema
tory, O. E. M., city lighting and other
departments is discussed and statistics
given as to the amount of work done and
cost of same.
In speaking of the crematory the com
missioner says the furnaces are not ca
pable of Incinerating all the refuse of the
city, about one-fourth of the matter col
lected by the scavenger wagons having
been hauled Into the country and dumped
there. He advocates the erection of an
other crematory on the east side of the
city to meet present and growing require,
meets. Such a crematory, he states,
would lessen the hauling to be done by
the scavenger wagons and enable them to
give better service.
A saving of S9OO a year was effected by
the consolidation of the positions of super
intendent of crematories and foreman of
city stables, It being possible for the fore
man of stables and the superintendent of
the scavenger department to give all ne
cessary attention to the work at the fur
naces.
Various other matters and items of work
coming under the several departments un
der the control of the commissioner are
enumerated.
MAY HE A TEST CASE.
I'Jnnt System Hospital Department
in Court.
The answer of the Savannah, Florida
and Western Railway Company in the
suit of Annie L. Finney was filed by the
attorneys for the defendant, Messrs. Er
win, dußignori & Chisholm, yesterday in
the City Court. The suit is for $25,000 for
personal damages, sustained by the plaint
iff through the loss of her husband, R.
H. Finney, who died about Jan. 22 of last
year from the result, the plaintiff alleges,
of injuries received in an accident in Flor
ida.
Finney was an engineer for the Plant
System, and received his injuries at the
time his locomotive left the track in the
accident. The railroad’s attorneys take
up the paragraphs of the petition of the
plaintiff one by one and make their an
swers, some of them being in part admit
ted, others denied and some avoided un
der the plea of insufficient information
being at hand to admit of an answer.
An interesting point In conection with
the suit is that it will probably become a
test of the legality of the Plant System
Hospital and Relief Department.
It Is claimed by the railroad that Finney
accepted all risks when he Insured in the
department, and that the company is not
lieble for any sum above the face of his
policy. An explanation Is given in the an
swer of the manner in which the depart
ment is conducted. It is claimed that the
injured engineer accepted benefits from
the department before his death, and was
given medical and surgical treatment and
attention. The defendant further says that
the plaintiff, upon the acceptance by her
of the benefits, then and there elected to
accept the same in full discharge of any
liability on the part of the defendant, and
that she is now estopped from claiming
any damages.
PROSSER CASE A MISTRIAL.
Jury Said to Have Hern 7 for Con
viction to 5 foe Acquittal.
A mistrial was declared yesterday in
the Prosser case. Judge Balligant kept
the jury in until 4:30 o’clock, when, ascer
taining from the foreman that there was
no possibility of their reaching an agree
ment, a mistrial was declared. The Jury
men had been considering the case since
11:30 o’clock the night before, besides hav
ing spent the whole of the previous day
listening to it and they were heartily glad
to be relieved from further consideration
of it.
One of the jurors, Thomas F. Cullen,
was so ill as to require the services of a
physician. The jury is said to have stood
seven for acquittal and five for conviction.
There was a deep, general interest in the
case and constant inquiries were made
for information as to the verdict. When
it was learned that the jury had spent the
night without reaching a verdict, the nat
ural conclusion was that there would be
a mistrial, which proved to be the case.
The case will very probably be taken up
again at the next term of the court.
LITTLE NEGRO KILLED HIMSELF.
Found a Loaded Pistol and Played
With It.
Henry Solomons, a 5-year-old negro boy,
living with his parents on the Taylor plan
tation, five miles west of the city, acci
dentally shot and killed himself last Tues
day.
An older boy had left a cheap pistol of
the bulldog variety on a chair in the room
with the 5-year-old. Hearing a -eport
shortly after he left the room, the older
boy returned and found the little oi .on
the floor with his brains oozing from his
head. The pistol was lying in the fire
place.
There was some excitement among the
negroes, who thought that the older boy
had killed the younger one. Coroner
Goette Investigated the matter and a ne
gro Jury decided that the story of the
older boy was true.
PUTS THE CASE THE OTIfER WAY.
Cohen Estate's Answer to Mr. O'Con
iiell's Petition for Receiver.
Among the answers filed in the Superiot
Court yesterday was one by Lawton &
Cunningham for the executors or the es
tate of Salomon Cohen, denying that the
f state is indebted to Matt O’Connell in the
sum of $1,422.20, or any other amount, as a
balance upon a mutual account between
the estate and Mr. O'Conne).
The answer charges that Mr. O'Connell
Is indebted to the estate on a promissory
note made Nov. 15, 1895, for S9OO, and ask?
for Judgment in that amount. The peti
tion previously filed by Mr. O'Connell ask
ed for the appointment of a receiver for
the estate. The answer declares that Mr.
O'Connell is insolvent, that the estate Is
sufficient to respond to any judgment the
court may render and asks, therefore, that
no receiver iie appointed.
CONGRESSMEN are coming.
River nail Harbor Committee Will
\rrive in Savannah Sunday.
The Congressional committee on rivers
and harbors is expected to arrive Sunday
over the Plant System. It is reported at
the offices of the road that there will he
two Pullman sleeping cars used by the
committee. Some forty-two persons are
said to be In the party. The riant System
may bring the party over by special train.
THEY’VE NOTHING TO SAY.
PASSENGER AGENTS WILL NOT DIS
CUSS THE GALA WEEK RATE.
Merchants Are Hopeful That the
Rate Asked for May Yet He Scour
ed—Are Trying to Arrange Another
Meeting With the Railroad Men.
Col. Wrenn's Presence Desired.
The idea of having a gala week has not
altogether been driven from the minds of
the merchants by the fact of the confer
ence committee of the Southeastern Pass
enger Association not having authorized
as low a rate as had been requested. It
is 6till talked about among them, and
they are trying to hit upon some plan by
which the rate can yet be secured.
Another meeting of the merchants and
the general passenger agents of the lines
running into Savannah will probably be
held. It is not known Just what is ex
pected from such a meeting, but the mer
chants are anxious to have it held.
Something in the way of an explana
tion of how the rate did not come to be
obtained would doubtless be of interest to
the merchants, as they say that the pas
senger men gave them every possible as
surance that they would do all they coul<J
before the committee to secure it. Some
agreement might also be reached that
would be satisfactory to all parties, and
the gala week might be held at the time
originally Intended.
If such a thing could be achieved it
would be a source of satisfaction to a
great many people in Savannah. The
drummers would like very much to see
their state convention made the occasion
for a general celebration on the part of
the city. There will be some five or six
hundred delegates alone in attendance, it
is said—a crowd that would be a splendid
nucleus upon which to build the estimates
of those who would be present at the cele
bration.
The general passenger agents who at
tended the meeting at Atlanta of the con
ference committee, have nothing to say
about the situation. They do not tell how
the rate failed to be secured. They do
not give the reasons inducing the refusal
or say anything about the opposition that
was aroused against it. The merchants
are now trying to ascertain when they
will be able to meet with the railroad men.
They want the latter to fix a time that
will be convenient for them. Col. B. W.
Wrenn, passenger traffic manager of the
Plant system, was wired yesterday and
asked to state when it would be possible
for him to be present at a meeting.
THE PETITION AMENDED.
Florence R. Johnstone Alleges That
He Is Mary M. Barclay's Son.
The plaintiff in the case of Florence
Barclay Johnstone, by his next friend,
against C. C. Taliaferro, trustee, now
pending in the Superior Court, has filed
an amendment to his petition in answer to
a demurrer filed by the defense.
The demurrer set up that the plajntiff
did not have any right of action on ac
count of the fact that he had not fully
set forth his relations to the trust estate
of which the defendant is trustee, or by
what marriage of Mary M. Barclay the
plaintiff became her son. The demurrer
was filed by Messrs. Shussy & Saussy and
Erwin, dußignon & Chisholm, in the de
fendant's behalf.
For the purpose of saving time the
plaintiff's attorneys filed an amendment
to their petition without raising any ques
tion. The amendment to the petition
which has been allowed and ordered filed
by Judge Failigant says:
“That the plaintiff is the natural son of
Mary M. Barclay, born out of wedlock in
tbe J ear 1878, as such is interested in
the trust estate of which C. C. Taliaferro
is the present trustee, and is entitled un
der said trust deed to share in the es
tate equally with the children of the said
Mary M. Barclay by C. C. Taliaferro"
etc.
It is expected now that the defendant
will further demur to the petition and that
the first argument on the suit will come
up in the (Superior Court in that shape
This suit is separate and apart from fha>
in the Court of Ordinary, which Involves
the property left under Mrs. Taliaferro's
will.
ORDERED TO LEAVE TOWN.
Recorder Hnrtridget* Injunction to
Undesirable Visitors.
The hospitality of the city was not ex
tended the majority of those arraigned in
Police Court yesterday, the sentence of
the recorder being to "leave town imme
diately if not sooner.”
Harry Howard, U. Noblian, John Cook,
C. Stevens and Frank Rowland were
among the number asked to leave, and
the reason of the recorder for this sen
tence was that the men were hanging
around the city with nothing to do and
with little prospect of obtaining anything.
They said they were here for work, but
they had been in search of it so long that
it was not thought probable they would get
anything. To rid the city of them was
thought the best course. All shuffied
from the court room and started for the
nearest railroad track.
HIS POCKETS FULL OF GAS TIPS.
Young Tblef Arested by Policeman
Snudiford.
Policeman Sandlford arrested a small
negro named Nathaniel Miller yesterday,
with a number of gas jets on his person,
which had evidently been stolen.
The officer asked the boy where the gas
Jets was from, and in his fright the lad
took the officer to the house from which
he had just stolen them. He had knocked
them off with a hammer, and was intend
ing to take them to the nearest pawn shop
und leave them with his "uncle.” The boy
is only 11 years of age, but is known in po
lice circles as one of the cleverest Juvenile
thieves in town. Policeman Sandiford
sent him to the barracks for court this
morning.
Cos. C to Serenade.
Company O of the Savannah Volunteer
Guards will serenade Lieut. Walter P. Ott
to-morrow night at his home on Gwinnett
street. A band will b? secured and the
advent of the lieutenant into the ranks
of tl*' commissioned cfflceYs of the state
service will be celebrated in music. It is
expected a large "turn out” of the com
pnny will be ready to go to Mr. Ott's
home. The members will ad be in uni
form. Mr. Ott has been made aware of
the intention of the company, and the
time-honored customs upon such sere
nades will be observed. .
Destructive Storms Along the Coast
Reports of mnrltlme disasters along the
coast come In thick and fast. People who
“go down to the sea in ships" should bear
in mind one thing in particular, namelv
that it is highly desirable to take along a
supply of Hostetter's Stomach Bitters ns
a remedy for sea sickness. Nausea dys
pepsia, biliousness, constipation, malaria
nervousness and kidney trouble, all sue’
cumb to its beneficent and speedy action
—ad.
pm
4is
POWDER
Absolutely Pure
FORGED AND PASSED CHECKS.
James W. Pen field NYanted on a Se
rious Change.
James W. Penfield, assistant book
keeper for the J. P. Williams Company, is
wanted for forging the name of Vice
President John A, G. Carson to half a
dozen checks and passing them on various
business men. The checks are supposed
to have been passed yesterday and last
night, after which Penfield left the city.
A check on which the name of Mr. Car
son appeared was turned in to the South
ern Bank by Mr. Pat Manning to be ap
plied on account. Teller Mumford com
municated with Mr. Carson and in a short
time an examination was made and the
check was pronounced a forgery. Within
a little time additional forgeries came to
light and it was found that Mr. John Ly
ons cashed one of the checks amounting
to $35, and Mr. B. Dub of the Screven
House another for sls.
Last night other reports began coming
to Mr. Carson, from which it appeared
that the Metropolitan Clothing Company
had sold Penfield a suit of clothes, and, as
payment, took one of the forged checks
amounting to $35 and returned him the
change. Another check for $25 was cash
ed by Mr. J. J. Sullivafi. Young Penfield
called for something to eat and presented
the check in payment, receiving the differ
ence in change. Judging from the number
of blanks missing from the check book,
the company has reason for believing that
Penfleld’s forgeries ars even more than
ore known at present, though they strong
ly hope such is not the case.
Having access to the office, where he
was assisting in arranging the company’s
books preparatory to a contemplated
change, Penfield had no trouble in obtain
ing the blanks and fixing as many checks
as he pleased. Advantage was taken of
this opportunity, and it Is thought he went
to the office and wrote the checks night
before last, after which he preceded to
palm them off on different ones.
Being well acquainted, and holding a re
sponsible position with the Williams Com
pany, and formerly with Mr. James L.
Farie and W. W. Gordon & Cos., there was
little trouble inducing those defrauded to
cash the checks as an accommodation.
Mr. Carson spoke very highly of Pen
field. He said he was an exceptionally
bright young man, and gave the best of
service. He regretted the irregularity on
account of the dependence of a widowed
mother and other relatives on young Pen
field’s efforts and the effect the young
man’s errors will have on them. When
apprehended the cases against him will
be thoroughly Investigated and other for
geries, if there are any, will be brought to
light.
Penfield is about 23 years old, and has a
large number of friends, who will de
plore the embarrassing circumstances in
to which he has fallen.
AUGUSTA GRAVEL CO. GOT IT.
Awarded the Contract for Furnish
ing Gravel for Dale Avenue.
The County Commissioners, at a special
meeting yesterday afternoon to consider
bids for furnishing the county with 300
carloads of Augusta gravel, to be used
upon Dale avenue, accepted the bid of the
Augusta Gravel Company at *1.20 per cu
bic yard.
Other bids for gravel were as foliows:
Jesse Wadsworth of Alabama, *1.40
per cubic yard delivered f. o. b.
Augusta Cement Gravel Company,
*1.20 per cubic yard.
Fred M. Hull, $1 per cubic yard/
George Parker, $1.05 per cubic yard.
J. E. Coulson, sl.lO per cubic yard.
Wylly & Wilson, $1.16 per cubic vard.
It was thought that Mr. F. M. Hull, as
the lowest bidder, would secure the con
tract, and that Tattnall county gravel
would be given a trial by the Commis
sioners. The matter was considered in
executive session. The reason given for
accepting the bid of the Augusta Gravel
l ompatiy was that the material furnished
by it was considered the best.
The commissioners ordered the eight
carloads of gravel shipped the city by
Wylly & Wilson and seized by Manager
Puroeli of the Augusta Gravel Company
under ti bail in trover process and present
ed by him to the county, turned over to
the city.
Tsfe^f U H n Wa ?> fl !r l by the Savannah and
Isle of Hope Railway Company, asking
remission of the county's porttoA of the
tax upon the railroad for 1897, on the
ground that the railroad was used by th
county for road building purposes during
the greater part of the year and that the
petitioners had no use df it during that
tieffin N ° ° ctlon was taken u P° n the pe-
Ihe petition of J. W. Teeple & Cos. to
relieved from double tax for the year
IK>6, was refused, the favorable action of
the previous meeting being reconsidered
The property was estimated at slsf'o and
double-taxed for $9,000. • * nna
Days Found Not Guilty.
The time of the Superior Court was
chiefly occupied with the trial of Thomas
Days, charged with assaulting with in
tent to murder Henry Rivers. The trial
resulted In an acquittal. 1 a
1 Days was defended by W. F. Slater>
Bill of Exceptions-Filed.
A bill of exceptions was filed yesterday
in the Superior Court by R. r. Richards
attorney for D. C: Bacon, to the decision
of Judge Failigant overruling the
rer filed by Mr. Richards to the i„t
ciston of the court in the Liberty street
paving assessment cases. * street
Tortured For Months.
“I was tortured for nine month? with
nettle rash. I found no relief until i be
gan taking Hood s Sarsaparilla. The first
few bottles relieved me and I continue
its use until 1 was cured 1 im n Cd
bdtter health than for years and my s k „
ts soft and smooth.” Mrs. Luev w u n
low, Bushneil, Fla. ’ BjKe ‘
Hood's Dills are the only pm? to
withjlocd's Sarsaparilla. Ail druggut*
l or Fifty Vrara
Mrs. Winslow's Soothing Syrup has been
used for children teething. It soothes the
child, softens the gums, allays ail pain
cure, wind colic, and is the best remedy
for Diarrhoea. Twenty-five cents a bot
lie.—ad.
BUY
SAFE
OIL.
A lamp exploded In Savannah on g un
day which came very near causing a s e ri*
ous conflagration. The oil which was
it DID NOT come from the
DIXIE OIL GO.
Protect your homes and possibly you*
lives by Insisting upon having only i, ix .
Oil Company’s Safe Oils.
Patronize Home Industry.
REWARD.
SSOO reward is hereby offered for lrf or .
matlon sufficient to convict the party 0
parties who set fire to our oil warehouse
at 3 o’clock on the morning of Jan. 13
iMxie OIL CO
By S- P- SHOTTER, President
For Boys.
/ BOYS*
/ SUITS
f OVERCOATS
\ EXTRA PANTS
\ VERY
\ LOW /
You’d scarcely
believe how cheaply
you can equip your
boys without calling
and seeing goods and prices.
JUST ONE SAMPL^
Will prove the superiority of the “Monte,
vallo” over all other coal, when you test
it in your grate. Free burning hard coa|
for stoves, grates and furnaces constantly
on hand at current prices.
T. F. JOHNSON & CO.,
TELEPHONE 566.
Coal,Coke,Wood
A large supply of all
grades and sizes. Consult
us before making your pur
chases.
Just received a cargo of
Foundry and Domestic Coke,
nice and clean. Just the
thing for grates.
An enormous supply Do
mestic Lump Coal.
Office and Yard Foot Lincoln Street,
’PHONE 68-
C. 11. DIXON & CO.
COAL.
Best quality. Promptly
delivered.
Anthracite.... $5.50 per ton
Domestic Lump 5.00 per ton
Phone 507. Office 14 Bull st
BOND, HARRI3OH & CO,
D. It. THOMAS & SON
WOOD and GOAL,
Telephone 6D, Ollice 10 !Liy> &
SEED .
Virginia Second Crop, Rose, Crown
el, Bliss ami Pride of South, Uou-t
(Maine) Rose, New York State Early Ros i
Potatoes.
Hay, Grain, Feed, Flour, Fruits a-
Vegetables. Selling agents for Commerc
Guano Corrfpany.
W. 1). SIMKINS & CO
PORTLAND CEMENT
FOR SALE BY
C. M. GILBERT & C 0„
IMPORTERS.