Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, February 03, 1902, Image 1

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Atlanta ekljj ■ WittWL VOL. IV. FIGHTING LIKE DEMONS MURDERERS CAPTURED With Woman They Turn Weapons On Them selves When Hope Is Gone. PITTSBURG. Pa.. January 30—Edward and Joan Biddle awaiting execution tn the county jati for the murder of grocer Thoma* E>. Kahney. <rf. Mount Washing ton, oaerpowerad the guards at 4 o'clock this marking and escaped. Both prisoners had been provided with saws with which they cut the bars in their cells and were ready at any mo ment to make an opening sufficiently large to pass through. ' Shortly before 4 o'clock one of the Bid dles called to James McGeary. who had charge of the outside gates, and asked for some cramp medicine in a hurry, say lag his brother was dangerously sick. McGeary hastened to the cell with the medicine, when John Biddle sprang through the opening in the cell and. seis ing the guard around the waist, hurled him over the railing to the stone floor 'beneath, a distance of sixteen feet. . Edward Biddle joined his brother im-J mediately and both, with drawn revolvers, hhrrled td the first floor, where they met Guard Reynolds and shot him. There were but three men on duty and the third was ou one of the upper ranges. He was ordered down at the point of the revolvers, and the three guards were put in the dungeon. The keys were taken from Keeper Mc- Geary and the two desperate prisoners bad a clear field. The only persons who witnessed the escape were prisoners, who could not interfere or give an alarm. The Biddies went to the wardrobe. Where tife guards kept their clothing, and each put on a new suit. They then unlocked the outside gates and passed out into Ross street. ■ The escape of lhe Biddies has been ex plained Warden Peter K. Soffel has au thorised its publication. ft is thwwHegation that his wife to re sponsible. for the furnishing of the igvol- i , ver and* saws to the Bid,Bea which en abled tliem to escape. Tn her infatuation for the handsome despeiMdo. Edward'Biddle. It to altered, thpirshe has left her husband and her fTvr children, and it to supposed to to meet escaped convicts at a place agreed upon. BUTLER Pa.. Feb. L-The fugitive Biddle brothers and Mrs. Soffel. wife of the Pittsburg jailer, who aided the mur- to escape, were overtaken by po- Hee and detectives near here jrasterday afternoon, and after a desperate battle i the trg wet* .captured, frightfully iacer- 1 ated whh bullets. Both men and the woman turned their weaprtw upon themselves * bva thqy The Ptttsb -rg officers were met at But- I ler yesterday afternoon by Deputy Sher- ( iff* Rainey and Hoon and Officers Frank , Holliday and Aaron Thompson, the latter under command of Chief of Police Robert Ray. of Butler Ph* officers were certain that they were on the right trail. It .was only a question of ttme when they would catch up with the escaping condemned murderer* and their companion. When the detectives got within W yards of the fugitives they opened lire. The Biddles promptly answered with shotguns and revolvers. Mrs. Soffel. too. stood up in the sleigh with a revolver in each hand and biased away at her pursuers. When 1 Ed Biddle fell and she saw she was about ' to be captured she flr*<l a bullet Into her breast An examination by physicians > shows that she will recover, as the bullet I was deflected by her corset and the wound to comparatively slight. Edward Biddle got a bullet in the breast which penetrated his right lung. John Biddle may recover, his wounds, though numerous, failing to reach a vital spot. The escape of the officers is miraculous. The Biddlts have demonstrated on several occasions that they are good marksmen and why they should have failed today to bring down their men is a mystery. The story of the fight as told by one of the detectives to as follows: The Biddles were sitting on the right side of the cutter. Mrs. Soffel was on the left side. > • . “Hold up your hands and surrender’” cried Detective McGovern. Ed Biddle jumped up from his seat and raising a shot gun. fired at McGovern. He aimed badly and shot scattered on the road alongside McGovern. Detectives McGovern end Roach dis charged their Winchesters at Ed Biddle. Both shots took effect. Jack Biddles raised from his seat and discharged his revolver *t the three officers. Then the detectives opened fire on the boys in rapid succession. The shots knocked them out of the sleigh. Ed fell sprawling on the snow and Jack fell cm top of him. His firearms fell alongside. The Bid dles’ horse then became frightened and ran away across a field. It was at this time that Mrs. Soffel was seen to collapse tn the steigb. The detective- approached the wounded men and Detective Swinehart was clos ing in upon them when Detective Mc- Govern called to him to stay back; that the Biddles were only feigning. Detective Roach saw Ed Biddle reach in bls coat pocket as If for a gun and letectlve shot him again. Then McGov ern ran up within five feet of the boys and emptied Ms winchester into them. The Biddles then yielded. After the Biddle* yielded. Roach and McGovern handcuffed the Biddles' hands and feet an they were taken to Butler. When the horse ran away Mrs. Soffel fell from the sleigh and was picked up and placed in the detectives' large sleigh with her companions and taken to the at Butler. A\the jail tonight Ed Biddle called for a priest and made the following state ment: "I have been accused jof a great many serious erimes. 1 admit that I could have committed many, the opitortunities for them having presented themselves. I want to say now that I did not kill De tective Fitzgerald. nor did I shoot Thom as Kahney. nor was my brother impli cated in the latter affair. Mrs. Soffel aid ed us-in getting out of tne county jail and had It not been for her we would have made dur es. ape today. She gave up everything for us and I was bound to back her. I teld her I was guiltless of | the crime for which I- was about to be executed and she was Impressed and fielded to my suggestion. I planned it.” Mrs. Soffel made a statement after her capture in which she raid she became in volved In the affair through her sympathy for Ed Biddle. She said she now rcalixed her mistake and wished she was dead. She said she did not shoot herself, but was the first one shot by the detectives. Dr. J. E. Byers, who examined the Bld- ! dies and Mrs. Soffel as soon as the prts- ! one rs were taken into the county jai’ ' made ths folloxring statement late last j night: “The woui.-Js vs all lh.ee prisoners art I 1 ' exceedingly grave and may result fatal ly before another 24 hours. The bullet which struck Mrs. Soffel and which ap pears to have been self-infl’cted. entered her left breast at the nipple and passing about six inches through her chest. It lodged under the skin of the back al most opposite its point of entrance "From my examination of Mrs. Soffel's wound I think she may live, but her ex posure to the cold and the excitement knd nervous shock of this affair may so com plicate matters that her breast wound may prove fatal. “The bifttet .undoubtedly glanced from her breast bone. Her chances for recov ery are favorable, but as I said, the at tending circumstances aflh lively to pro duce unfavorable symptoms before morn ing. “As to Edward Biddle. I think his wounds are the worst of any of the th nee. He was shot through the breast twice and was also shot In the mouth. •'His arm is broken, but whether by a shot or by his fall from the sleigh has not been determined “Edward Biddle's left lung to full of blood. His breathing is greatly impaired, nnd I doubt if he cah Hve. —■ • "The wounds of John Biddle are numer ous. He has six gunshot wounds in his abdomen and five in the right arm. '‘Stray pieces* of shot also hit him in 'Jte face, but none of John Biddle's wounds are of themselves necessarily fa tal . ?. : . j ■ "The chief danger in his case is from blood poisoning, which is not unlikely." Suicide Was Planned. From the statement made this morn ing by “Jack" Biddle, in his cell, it is evi wdent that the escaped convicts and their ‘accomplice had arranged to commit sui cide in case capture became Imminent. In addition. “Jack", also told how they es caped. Their manner of getting put of Jril, ac cording to his statement, was as has al ready been published. McGeary, he says, fell over the range when he jerked loose from the hold the prisoner had on him. He says Mrs. Soffel helped them to es cape. but would not say she supplied the saws. The sawing of the bars of the cells, he said, was completed before January 14 and that several times previous to the day on which the escape was made their plans failed through some little detail. “Jack" again reiterated that he never killed anyone, and that he never put a bullet into anyone except Keeper Rey nolds. He said the first crime he ever committed was assisting to fob a Hquor -store at Carnegie, but admitted that he had participated tn a number of robberies after that. After they had left the Jail they went to a-houae near a railroad In - Pittsburg They remained there all of Thursday. The peo ple In the bouse. "Jack" said, when they read of the escape from the jail, recog nised them and would only let them re main after the Biddles gave them a "bunch of money. ” They remained at the house until Thurs ' day night, leaving it as soon as it grew I dark. “Jack" says he wanted to stay there and that “Ed" was a too willing to , “I wouldn't let them go alone," “Jack” I said, "and as soon as it grew dark we I went down the street and took a Perrys® ville avenue car. We rode to the end of the line and from there walked until we reached the farm where we stole the horse. "If it had not been for the woman we would not have been caught, for we could easily have gotten another horse and by this time been more than 100 miles away. It’s a lead-pipe cinch that we would have escaped, but we could not let that poor wdlnan go by herself. “She did all she could with us—betrayed ' her husband, deserted her family, ail to help us out. and we would have been a > great deal worse than we are thought to i be if we had thrown her down. "When we saw the officers coming to ward us on the road yesterday qyening we knew it was all up. We did not fire a shot at the officers, but agreed to kill our selves. I shot myself in the mouth. ’Ed’ shot himself over the heart, and the wo men shot herself in the breast. We knew we had no chance to get away, and we knew we would swing if taken back, and that to why we wanted tp kill ourselves." It has been discovered that "Jack” has two bullet holes through his mouth, in stead of one. as first thought. One of hte other wounds is through his abdomen and it is thought into his bowels and this may cause his death, because peritonitis usu ally reeult* from wounds of this kind. Bullets from two of his other wounds about the stomach were taken out this morning. The Kahney murder. "Ed" alleged was committed by Walter Dorman, assisted by «t man who had that day come from Chi cago. and the Zebers woman, who put on a man's suit. This. "Ed" said, she had often done before when she had assisted them tn their robberies. He admitted hav ing committed a great many robberies, but stoutly maintained that he had never killed any one. Suicide Theory Confirmed. Drs. Greer and Bicker, who have been attending the two Biddles, made a report this morning that apparently confirms Jack Biddle’s story that the fugitives had tried to kill themselves. They had come to thia conclusion after a complete examination and a partial probing of the wounds of both men. Ed Biddle, who is generally supposed to be worst injured, has several powder marks on his left breast, which would gn to show that he attempted to kill him self. In Jack’s mouth are three bullet wounds, which would be prtma facie evi dence that he wanted to rid the world of himself. One of the bullets, which evi dently came from a revolver carried away a portion of his tonsil, which the doctors say would only have happened by the holding of a revolver to his mouth. The declaration by Edward Biddle that he did not shoot Detective Fitzgerald, and was not implicated In the Kahney murder is given no credence by Superintendent of Police Demmel and Detective Kelly. As to the Biddles' declaration that neither of them was at the Kahney house the night of the murder. Detective Kelly said: "That is absurd. Fred Ohltnger posi tively identified them, as did several oth ers. The Zebers woman was accounted for that night. The Bidoles' statement In tnis regard is absurd, as a preponderance of evidence shows.” Former Warden Soffel made the start ling revelation that he had been under the Influence of chloroform during the night when the Biddles broke jail. Mr. Soffel believed the anaesthtic was admin istered by his wife. | The Butler officers demand half the re ward of $5,000 and in order to hold the prisoners, warrants were sworn out for the Biddles, charging them with felonious shooting in attempting to ki,i Mrs. Soffel. District Attorney Haymaker says the position taken by tne Butler officials is wholly untenable, and steps will be taken at once to compel them to relinquish their claims. BOTH DIDOLES ARE DEAD; SOFFEL WOMAN STILL LIVES I BUTI.ER. Pa.. Feb. I.—At the close of ! a day of Intense excitement and many I conflicting stories concerning the chances- ' ATLANTA, GEORGIA, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1902. SHAW TO MTU ANO SUCCEEDS ME IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY . WHEN NEW GUARDIAN OF THE NA TION’S GOLD WAS SWORN IN AT WASHINGTON. WASHINGTON. Feb. I.—At 10:30 o'clock today tn the presence of the chief of ficials of the treasury department. Sena tor Dolliver and nearly all of lowa's del egation in the lower house of congress, and other-friends. Formre Governor Les lie M. Shaw, of lowa, took the prescribed oath of office as secretary of the treas ury suceeding L. J. Gage. The retiring secretary of the treasury succeeding J. Gage. The retiring secretary was among the first to grasp his hand and as he did so said: “Mr. Secretary. I congratulate you and wish for your administration the highest possible degree of success." Secretary Shaw responded: "I thank you. sir. most sincerely, and if my success shall be anything like that of my predecessor I shall be fully satis fied.” The new and the retiring secretaries then received all of the officials and clerks in the treasury building to the number of over 2.000. Secretary Gage has the love and respect of the officials and clerks of the depart ment to a remarkable degree as was shown In their leave-taking. Many eyes were wet and voices trembled as the chief they had known and loved ao well was grasped by the hand probably for the last time. Secretary Gage remained in conference with his successor an hour or more and then left the department. He will go to New York tomorrow or Monday to re main a few days and in the course of two or three weeks will go to Florida for a rest of two or three months. OVER TOO KILLED BI EXPLOSION ; IN JUNE EAGLE PASS. Tex., Feb. 3.—An explo sion tp the Hondo mine in Mexico caused a terrlble lose of life and great damage to the mine Saturday. . Eighty-flve dead bodies had been re covered from the mine at last accounts. There were one hundred and sixty miners at work in the mine, and all of them are .undoubrsilij- deetoteWfc ■■ The majority of the viitms are Mexi can* and Chinamen, very few Americans being at work in the mine. The Hondo mine is located at the ter minus of a branch of the Mexican inter national road, about two miles from Eagle, Pass. The explosion occurred in mine No. 6 and was ocasioned by striking a gas pocket. SAILORS OF THE KAISER ARE GUESTS OF CONGRESS WASHINGTON, Jan. 31.—After some preliminary minor business yesterday In house the committees were called and Mr. Moody, of Oregon, from the committee on mining, presented a bill for the protection of the lives of miners in the territories. It provides that in every mine over 100 feet in depth mine owners be required to pro vide 5.500 cubic feet of pure air for every 50 miners. Mr. Lacy, of lowa, the author of the bill, urged the importance of proper ven tilation of coal mines. He offered an amendment providing that the manager* of coal mines should employ shot-firers to fire shots therein. While the bill was being discussed some thing of a stir was caused by the appear ance of officers and marines of the Ger man cruiser Moltke, who marched into the public gallery in uniform and accou tred with their side arms. The confusion was so pronounced that the speaker was obliged to call the house to order. The Lacy amendment was adopted and the bill was passed, The house then went into committee of the whole and entered upon the consid eration of the bill for the creation of a permanent census bureau. About 23 of the petty officers of the Ger man warphip now here were among the spectators in the galleries at the opening of yesterday's session of the senate. Mr. Hoar, of Massachusetts, at the con clusion of routine business, called up for consideration the joint resolution uropos- Ing an amendment to the constitution of the United States respecting the succes sion to the presidency in case the presi dent-elect should die between the time of his election and the date of his Inau guration. Without a word of comment the resolution was passed, the president pro tern, announcing, at the request of Mr. Hoar, that' two-thlrds of the senators had voted for It. A bill appropriating SIOO,OOO for the es tablishment of the Fredericksburg and adjacent national battlefields’ memorial park, in Virginia, was passed. The bill was amended by striking out the state ment that on the limited territory to be comprised in the park more great battles were fought, more men engaged and more execution done than on any other spot of similar area in the world. The following bills were also passed: Appropriating $150,000 for the erection of a public building at Greenville, Tenn.: fixing the compensation of district super intendent in the life saving service at $2,- 000 per annum: appropriating $160,000 for the erection of a public building at La rede. Tex.: appropriating $75,000 for the erection of a public building at Nachez. Miss. The vote by which the bill for the use of the United States of devices invented by its naval officers and covered by let ters patent passed yesterday was recon sidered at the instance of Mr. Cockrell and the bill again placed on the calen dar. • for life of the wounded Biddle brothers and Mrs. Kate Soffel. the unexpected has happened. John Biddle, who until late this afternoon was the more likely broth er to escape present death, succumbed at 7:35- p. m. His brother. Ed, who has been uncon scious practically ail day and who was considered a dying man last nfight, sur vived until 11 o'clock, when he, too, went over the great divide. The latter’s suffer ings were horrible. Mrs. Soffel. who developed symptoms of pneumonia, nas a chance for life, and un it** «'>mf unforeseen complication sets In will recover. • Ml MAKES PLEA FOB HI 111 BIFF. J —-A OF CUBA MAY DECLINE UNLESS GIVEN CONCES- SIONS. NEW YORK. Fetpl.—T. Estrada Pal ma, president-elect tof the Republic of I Cuba, whose home W at Central Valley, I N. Y„ has been in Consultation with the members of the UuAn commission, who are in this country t# urge a reduction of 50 per cent of the duly on sugar imported from Cuba, i '1 Mr. Palma decline* to discuss the situ ation either In Washington or in Cuba for publication until he has given it further consideration. There|FiU be another con ference. after which t is possible he may decide to issue a si itement defining his position. . . He refused to disci i* the report that he may’ decline to aece t the presidency of the republic unless t iriff concessions are made. CIVIL GOVERNOR TAFT TELLS OF PHILIPPINES ■' WASHINGTON. January Bi.-The in vestigatlon into the conditions in the Philippine archipelago atpropos of the ef fort to secure legislation for the govern ment of these islands was begun by the senats committee on! the Philippines to day W. H. Taft, otvil governor of the archipelago, was thaiflrst witness called. There was a full attendance of members of the committee, an.l Senator Lodge, chairman of the committee, explained that the committee desired not only the full est information concerning the Islands, but any advice that Governor Taft might offer concerning the questions at issue. Governor Taft said be had gone to the Philippines In the Spring of WOO, and had visited almost alf the provinces dur ing the pa»t year, lie said that In all, the Filipino or Chrisßan provinces there is a form orcfvtt govtmment. There are 34 of these provinces., The Moros are all friendly, except a few, who had never been otherwtoe thaa hs*stile to the Span iards. Even theM • were now being brought over by. lhe. prospect of trade of which they are very fond. The commission's tour of the island, Governor Taft said, had only been under taken after ths re-etection of President McKinley , when the / time seemed ripe for the establishment ot local govern ment In the Islands. They presented to the dlgnltariesr of the various places visited an explanation of the provincial and municipal acts. t . "WerWad sotae-o*U>»y,” he said, "not from the rear platform of the train, but generally from the windows of the car." He then gave in detail th* proceedings of the meeting at the various places vis ited. saying that some seventeen capitals of the provinces were vlaltea on the first tour. At each place the delegates of the people were met, the prescribed special act was passed and the governor appoint ed, who was authorized to organise mu nicipalities. These provincial govern ments consisted, he explained, of a gov ernor, secretary, superintendent, treasur er and a fiscal or prosecuting attorney. In all cases where the selection could be made without arousing jealousies, natives had been chosen. All these appointments are temporary and next month their suc cessors will be elected. When the fac tions were too strong Americans were placed at the head of each provincial gov ernment. In all cases the treasurer and superintendent were Americans. The commission had first given its at tention to the northern provinces, and in April started south on a trip of fifty-four days. They had been received most cor dially everywhere. This latter remark led the witness into a few discursive re marks upon the subject of Filipino hos pitality. “The Spaniards," he said, “will always tell you that his house is yours, but he does not always mean that you should take him at his word, but the Filipino will tell you the same thing and he al ways means what he says. He will turn his family out and install you in his hab itation.” SPANISH WAR TAXES WILL BE GIVEN KNIFE WASHINGTON, Jan. 30.—The house committee on ways and means has unan imously authorized Chairman Payne to report a bill repealing all the Spanish war revenue taxes except the tax on mixed flour. The repeal is to take effect July 1, 1902. except the duty on tea. which is to take effect January 1, 1903. Chairman Payne made a statement showing that the total reduction would be $77,000,000 annually. The delay In the repeal of the tax on tea is for the purpose of enabling those who have stocks on hand to dis pose of them before the repeal takes effect. Mr. Payne says the country will start upon the next fiscal year with $174,000,000 available cash. An amendment was offered by Mr. New land/ to except from the repeal the tax on petroleum and sugar refineries, and by Mr. Richardson to repeal the custom duties on trust made goods. Brfth were defeated by party votes. Mr. Newlands’ amendment also provided for a tax of one-tenth of one per cent on the gross receipts of all corporations whose annual receipts exceed $10,000,000. wwomi MW, CONN, WATERBURY, Conn.. Feb. 3.—ln the hardest gale of the winter Waterbury struggled tonight with a fire that de stroyed a large area of the business sec tion of the city and threatened to wipe it out entirely. The blaze started in the up holstery department on the third floor of the store of Reed & Hughes, dry goods company, Nos. 108 to 120 Bank street, and that*store and many adjoining buildings were reduced in a few hours to smolder ing embers. An estimate of $2,000,000 as the amount of the property loss on buildings and con tents was -considered conservative by in surance men. The origin of the fire is unknown and It was- not discovered until it had gained tremendous headway. An Edinburg doctor has discovered that colds are contagious. At any rate, every one you come in contact with seems to j Miuvc one. I SLIDE ROOSEVELT WILL SEE THE CDRDNSTIDN PRESIDENT CONSENTS TO LET HIS DAUGHTER VISIT ENGLAND TO ATTEND CORONATION OF KING EDWARD. WASHINGTON, Feb. I.—Miss Alice Roosevelt told several of her girl friends today that she would go to the corona tion of King Edward as the guest of Whitelaw Reid, special ambassador from the United States, says the Wataington correspondent of the New York World. Nobody at the white house, would make the announcement, but Intimate friends of the Roosevelts confirmed the statement. The party will sail June sth from New York. The diplomats here are greatly inter ested In the proposed visit. It is the opinion at the ambassies that Court eti quette would be’ binding on Miss Roose velt. Ambassador Choate has been consult ed about the matter. Those familiar with the court proced ure say that Miss Roosevelt, as the daughter of the president of the United States, should be received with the most distinguished honor. It is held by these experts that Miss Roosevelt would be out of place merely as a young lady in the suite of the special ambassador. The hard-and-fast rules of a monarchy, it is declared, make It necessary that she should be rec*fcnized completely or not at all. In such event Miss Roosevelt would rank with the princesses of the blood, next to those in immediate succession to a throne. She would therefore wear a robe of crimson, or, as It Is called, royal pur ple. She would be distinguished from the peeresses by additional bands of ermine and miniver. The princesses will wear golden coronets. Miss Roosevelt would be conspicuous in this group because she would not wear a coronet. If court etiquette should be strictly ob served Miss Roosevelt would lodge at one of the royal palaces. Diplomats here say It would be Impossible for her to travel incognito because her presence In London would be recognized by the royal family and every mark of attention and honor would be extended to her. The visit of Prince Henry to the Uni ted States is not a parallel case. While a blood relative of the Kaiser, he is not directly descended from the reigning sov ereign. Therefore, the experts say, the honor paid Miss Roosevelt would equal that to be given the eldest daughter of Emperor William, or of the czar him self. In its possibilities for the exchange of International compliments, the visit of Miss Roosevelt would exceed in import ance that of Prince Henry. The oppor tunities for* display of international amity and cordiality would be greater, because she is a young girl, and the felicitations would be o< a much more subtle character. Mias Roosevelt has asked this favor of her father as a birthday gift. Her pre sentation at court. It is held, would ex cel In importance that of any other American woman. She would be treated with a cordiality only extended to house hold guests, and would appear at the first drawing-room after the coronation, her actual presentation having been made pri vately. • . CRUMPACKER WANTS , TO AIM BLOW AT SOUTH WASHINGTON, D. C.. January 31. Representative Crumpacker of the house of Indiana, has asked Representative Cannon, chairman of the republican cau cus committee to call a caucus for next Monday night for the purpose of consid ering the Crumpacker bill, to reduce rep resentation in the southern states which have passed laws disfranchisting the ne gro. Southern republicans are opposed to the Crumpacker bill and will urge thp Gibson bill iu the caucus. The Gibson bill provides a severe pen alty for frauds in elections. SENnP~fOT LIFE ■ ffllll WEEK OF CRIME ONE OF THE QUICKEST ACTIONS OF JUSTICE EVER RECORDED IN A MURDER CASE IN GRIFFIN. GRIFFIN. Ga., Feb. I.—Wiley Redding entered a plea of guilty to the charge of murder yesterday afternoon and within less than a week after committing the crime was under a life sentence to the state penitentiary. Redding became involved in an alterca tion w*ith another negro named Hardy Lindsey last Friday on the plantation of Mr. W. P. Walker, in this county. The difficulty arose over a debt of 10 cents, and it Is said Redding, with but little provoca tion, emptied the contents of a shotgun in the breast of his adversary, killing him Instantly. The slayer fled and was captured last Monday in Butts county by Sheriff Craw ford, who brought him to Griffin and de livered him to Sheriff Freeman. When the case was called in the superior court yesterday afternoon Redding’s at torneys agreed upon his entering a plea of guilty upon the prosecution agreeing to recommend life imprisonment, thereby saving the negro’s life. ARRANGINGMEETING OF LABOR LEADERS CHATTANOOGA, Feb. 1.-M. J. Noon an. of Nashville, has been in the city for several days making preparations for the meeting ff the state executive commit tee of the American Federation of Labor, which meets here the first Monday in April. Mr. Noonan is making a trip to all the cities to strengthen the union or ganizations. italian’celebratio’n" STOPPED BY DYNAMITE NEW YORK. Feb. I.—A dynamite bomb exploded in the midst of a crowd of Ital ians celebrating a feast day in Elizabeth street, severely injuring two persons and threw the others into a uanic. Two Ital ians. who caused the explosion, were ar rested. They claimed the usual fireworks had been omitted from the celebration, and for that reason they-set off the bomb.. HON. J. POPE BROWN RETIRES FROM RACE KNOXVILLE, TENN., HRS WELCOME FDDJCHLEI OFFICIAL PROGRAM OF THE EN- TERTAINMENT PLAN HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED IN TENN- ESSEE CITY. KNOXVILLE, Tenn., Feb. I.—The offi cial program for the entertainment of Ad miral and Mrs. Schley during their stay in Knoxville from Tuesday night to Fri day morning next week was given out this morning. They will be met at Chat tanooga Tuesday afternoon by a commit tee who will escort them to Knoxville in a private car arriving here at 8 p. m. A reception will be held immediately at the Southern railway passenger station by the general reception committee. Admiral and Mrs. Schley will then be driven to the Imperial hotel, where they will be guests while here. Wednesday morning a grand parade will be led and reviewed by Admiral and Mrs. Schley. At noon the ad dress of welcome will be delivered by W. B. Lockett, president of the chamber of commerce, after which a formal public reception will be held. At 8:30 p. m. the admiral will be given a banquet, at the conclusion of which the Knoxville loving cup will be presented him. Thursday Admiral and Mrs. Schley and , citizens will visit the birthplace of Ad miral David Farragut, at Lowe’s ferry. In the afternoon a reception will be ten dered Mrs. Schley by the Daughters of the American Revolution. In the evening the Cumberland club will receive in honor of Admiral Schley. Friday morning at 8:30 o’clock Admiral and Mrs. Schley will leave for Washington, over the Southern, byway of Asheville and Salisbury, N. C. NASHVILLE ACCORDS BIG RECEPTION TO HERO NASHVILLE. Tenn., Feb. I.—The in clement weather necessitated an abandon ment of the parade this morning in honor of Admiral Schley, but the exercises at the statehouse were begun shortly before noon. In his response Admiral Schley said: “I have all my life long* tied to my country, my people and my family. I have had no other view and no other ambition. If I have served you acceptably in the nearly one-half a century in your service, I am satisfied. The memory of yo*lr wel come today will sweeten every hour ot life I have yet to Hve, I have' no other hope but to live always in your love and es teem. and will know no place in which that might be placed in jeopardy.” jddgTWfobd BREATHES LAST IN GDLUMBUS WAS PROMINENT LAWYER AND FORMERLY A JUDGE OF THE SU- PREME COURT OF STATE OF GEORGIA. COLUMBUS. Ga., Feb. I.—Judge Mark H. Blandford, a prominent lawyer and ior years a judge on the supreme bench of Georgia, died at his home here today at 12:30 o’clock. TROOPS IN SAMAR SUFFER INTENSE HARDSHIPS WASHINGTON, Feb. 1.-Secretary Long Thursday received following cable gram* from Rear Admiral Rodgers, at Cavite, concerning the march of the ma rines across Samar: "Details Waller's expedition across Sa mar not yet received. Much credit due Shoemaker for services rendered in con nection with rescue. Detachment at Lan ang. Marines in Samar will be relieved in about ten days." The other dispatch reads: “Following casualties, Captain Porter’s command, attempting march Lanang to Basey, Samar: Lieut. A. S. Williams, slightly wounded In chest and weeping eczema; Corporal W. Slattery, Privates J. Mcßay, E. Witzell, J. W. Hackler, W. D. Smith, R. Desmond. J. E. Egan, T. J. Carey, condition serious from weeping eczema. Privates P. J. Connell, T. Sanjule, G. N. Foster, T. Bredtt, J. Woods, F. F. Brown. T. Murray. M. Bas sett. L. A. Bailey and J. Baronie. miss ing, hope abandoned.” privatFsubscriptions TO PAY PRINCE’S EXPENSES NEW YORK, Feb. I.—The expenses of the reception and entertainment of Prince Henry of Prussia are to be met by pri vate subscription, and the committee on finance, named by the executive commit tee in charge of the arrangements, is now at work discussing methods and means of rajsing the money needed. No decision has been arrived at thus far. but at a meeting of the committee on finance, which will be held In the rooms fit the chamber of commerce next Tuesday, it is likely that a definite plan will be ap proved. TWO HUNDRED PASSENGERS ARE PRISONERS OF THE ICE CHICAGO. Jan. 31.—The steamers At lanta and lowa, with nearly 200 people aboard were still fast in the ice at 8 a. m. today. The passengers whose impris onment began Wednesday night, were physically comfortable, but eager for the west wind which it is expected will break up the ice. HON. DUPONT GUERRY OPENS HEADQUARTERS MACON. Feb. I.—Hon. Dupont Guerry has established headquarters in the Wash ington block, and the details of the office will be in charge of Mr. William F. Blue. Mr. Guerry’s campaign is now on in ear nest. He is absent from the city, and knows nothing about the opening of campaign headquarters here. NO. 41. Railroad Commissioner Says He Is Going To Stick to Farm- ing. Hon. J. Pope Brown has spoken regard- j ing hte candidacy for governor, and says he will not make the race. The announcement of Mr. Brown, which w»s in a letter to C. R. Pendleton, editor of The Telegraph, and which letter ap peared in Saturday’s issue of that paper, recalls his former announcement that he would probably be in the race. For sever al months there have been reports that Mr. Brown would not run. But when these reports were circulated they were strong ly denied by the friends of the Pulaski county farmer and railroad commissioner. Private business affairs says Mr. Brown caused him to reach the conclusion that it was best to leave the race alone. His letter of withdrawal Is a very strong document, though it lacks the usual char acteristic of declining in favor of some other candidate as most withdrawals do. The fact that Mr. Brown Is no longer a candidate for governor will be of great Interest to hundreds of Georgians, who were his friends and whp would have vot ed for him, and to hundreds of others who liked Mr. Brown, but on account of the candidacy of others could not have voted for him. The following is what Mr. Brown said in his letter to Colonel Pen dleton: . , _ “To the Editor of The Telegraph: Sev eral weeks ago you were kind enough to allow me to say through your columns to my friends that I was a candidate for governor, and at the proper tkne would go before the people and submit my upon the public questions I considered, properly at issue. Since then my time has been entirely occupied in the effort to so arrange my private affairs that they might be conducted during my absence in the canvass without sacrifice or material injury. The time consumed in this has,, already resulted in injury to myself, po litically. and further delay would be dis tinct injustice to my friends. The time has. therefore, arrived for a positive de cision. , "After the maturest consideration I have concluded that I cannot abandon and sac rifice a business, the foundation* of which are the result of twenty-five year* of constant labor, and the successful con tinuance of which will yet require un ceasing vigilance. While my ambition and inclination incline me to enter this race, my sober judgment tells me to let It alone. I am called upon to decide between business and politics, and as I ride over the fields that have been the best friend* to me and my fathers before me. I feel that I will make a mistake in turning my back upon them to seek even the high est position in the gift of the people. “So. I ask the privilege of again ad dressing my friends through your eplumn* to *ay that I withdraw from the race for the goremshlp.. To my friends in my own and adjoining counties, and to my friends throughout the state who have so generously offered me their loyal and zealous support. I return my sincere and heartfelt thanks. I feel that they have greatly honored me beyond my deserts. I can only hope that the future may hold an opportunity of proving my grateful appreciation of their partial kindneps. For your own courteous and considerate treat ment upon all occasions, you will please accept my sincere thanks. “J. P. BROWN. "Hawkinsville, Ga. Jan. 31. 190 B.” What Will Smith Do? Now that Mr. Brown has formally an nounced to the people of Georgia that he will not be a candidate for governor, the ’ friends of the Hon. James M. Smith, of Oglethorpe, and the friends of the other candidates, and the people of the state ; who never vote but keep an eye on the ■ political field, will begin to ask: “What will Jim Smith do?” Mr. Smith has been mentioned as a pos sible candidate of late almost as often as has tar. Brown. His decision just now would be as interesting as Mr. Brown’s, and will be awaited with a great deal of interest. « Campaign is Now On. k With the resignation of Mr. Terrell tak ing effect Saturday, with Guerry and Estill announced candidates and already j in the field, the gubernatorial campaign is taking shape. It is up to Mr. Snnth , now to say what he is going to do. Mr. Brown has put his friends on notice as to his intentions. Mr. Guerry says he is a candidate. Mr. Estill states that he would like to be governor, and Mr. Terrell has given up a state position in hopes ot filling Governor Candler’s place next year. There will be speeches in different coun ties, there will be mass meetings and ral lies and clubs formed and all that sort of thing. There will be Terrell organizations. Guerry organizations, Estill organizations and, maybe, Smith organizations, if Mr. Smith will say whether he is going to farm in Oglethorpe county or get into the gubernatorial race. Former Attorney General J. M. Terrell, who is now a candidate for governor, when shown tfle announcement of Mr. Brown, saying he would not be in the race, said: "I read with pleasure Mr. Brown’s con clusion to retire from the race for govern or and Interpose no objection to the other gentlemen retiring.” e Mr. Terrell seemed very much pleased when he learned that Mr. Brown would be out of the struggle. He declined to say how It would affect his chances. The Journal wired Col. J. H. Estill, of Savannah, who Is also a candidate and asked his views on the subpect of Mr. Brown’s retirement. Colonel Esjill replied as follows: “Hon. Pope Brown had never formally announced his candidacy but there is no doubt that he had many admirers throughout the state and the news that he will not be a candidate will be quite generally ’ regretted as he is a gentle man of high character and has rendered the people and the state conspicous ser vice.” Hon. Dupont Guerry wired: “Have not seen Mr. Brown's withdraw al: if 1 see it in time wil igive opinion.” Governor Candler said he thought that the withdrawal of Mr. Brown would di vide his support. "I don’t think." said the governor, ‘that Mr. Brown’s withdrawal will have any effect on the race as those people who had intended to support him will now support all three candidates. .Mr. Brown js a splendid man. and if he had been elected he would have made a splen did official.” Mr*. Mary A. Van, Aged 107, I* Dead. MACON, Jan. 30—Mrs. Mary A. Van, who was born in 1795, died at Griswoldville yesterday. Her funeral will occur this morning. She was in her 107th year, and had been familiar with much of the histo ry of middle Georgia in away that is not permitted to many people. She was one of the most interesting character* by rea son of the fact that her memory’ was so well preserved and she was so very intel ligent and observant. She leaves several children and grandchildren. Her children are all well along in year*. A-