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THE UNIVERSITY DEFENDED. TRUSTEES WIN A VICTORY IS THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. GRAY’S PROHIBITION BILL KILLED A Brief Summary of Encli Day’ll Pro ceeding* In the House and the Senate. The entire day Wednesday in the house was given up to the university. Borne routine business was transacted and then the fight of the day on the university hearing came up. The university was on trial and was ably represented by Hon. N. J Hammond, president of the hoard of trustees. Another feat ure of almost sensational interest, in that it was not on the program, was a speech by Dr. William H. Felton, of Oartersville, introduced to the general assembly as “the old man eloquent. ” The friends of the institution in the house won a fight in securing the hearing for the trustees. The house lia,l run counter to the wishes of the senate and a sensational conflict was promised. The house resolution pro vided for the hearing before a commit tee of the whole. The senate resolu tion called for a joint session. This precipitated the fight. When the senate resolution came up before the house it was sought to amend it so as to fix the hearing for Wednesday night. The time mention ed in the resolution was 10:30 a. m. That hour came and went while the fight was still on in the house. Then an amendment to this amend ment, fixing the time for the hearing at 11 o’clock was offered. This was put and carried amid applause. There was then a bare margin of 6 minutes aud the trustees awaited the result on the outside. Doth houses then convened in joint session and the trustees, headed by Governor Atkin son, were ushered into the hall They were greeted with applause, and after an introduction by President Berner, of the senate, Colonel Hammond be gan his speech. The first thing done by the senate Wednesday morning was to send the bouse the resolution for a joint session at 10:30 o’clock to hear the university trustees. Pending the receipt of in formation touching the address of the house ou the subject, the senate trans acted routine business. It was nearly 11 o’clock when a message from the house announced that the resolution had been adopted with an amendment fixing the time at 11 o’clock. This was immediately concurred in and the house was noti fied. These two bills were passed by the .senate: Mr. Felder’s bill to expedite ■habeas corpus cases; Mr. Hawes’ bill prohibiting arresting officers from ad vising or procuring se'tlements in • criminal cases and fixing a penalty for <eo doing. Saturday in the House. When the house convened Saturday •morning there were scarcely half the •members present. The first business was that of reading bills for the sec ond time, as there was no quorum ■■pteseut. A large number of bills came ■up for a second reading. The next -work was receiving reports of commit tees. Only one -eport was deserving of notice. That was the minority report from the committee of county aud county matters. This report was sign ed by four of the committee, and was in favor of the court house and county Beat of DeKalb being retained in De catur. Thirty thousand unmarked graves of confederate soldiers may be marked and provided with tombstones as a re sult of a resolution adopted by the house. The resolution was by Mr. Calvin, of Richmond, and provided for the appointment of a commission of Seven members to confer witb legisla tures of other southern states in re gard to a plau to mark the graves of soldiers who lie buried in unmarked graves in tlie far north. Two hills were introduced which if passed will place very stringent re strictions around the street railways. Behind the intronction of at least one of the bills may lie a scheme to secure transfers in Atlanta. Mayor Collier, the advocate of the transfers, was ou the floor of tlie house for quite a w hile during the morning, and it was whis pered around the house that the mayor was working for his cherished idea of street car transfers. Mr. Fogarty, of Richmond, intro duced a very important bill which exactly fit s the present commercial conditions in this country. The meas ure is intended to break the too com mon practice of firms breaking full banded. So many firms and business houses have recently gone to tlie wall after making mortgages to members of tbo families of the members of the firms, that Mr. Fogarty thought some law was necessary to stop this. Monday'* Proceedings. The fight on the state university be gan in the house Monday morning when Speaker Jenkins introduced a resolution providing that the general assembly in joint session hear the trustees of the university on the criti cisms which havo been made of the management of that institution. This was objected toby Mr. Blalock #tid ex-Governor Boynton, of the com mittee, whose report recommends the withdrawal of tlie agricultural' funds fioiti the university. Apeak or Jenkins and Mr. Slaton of Fulton, replied with spirit, saying it was a sorry day when Georgian’s re fused a hearing to public servants. Mr. Blalock declared his willingness to give the trustees a hearing, but in sisted that it be done in committee of tlie whole, where the trustees eouhk lie questioned by lioii.se. Ilis siibstitul|^B V ptl'.l I ~ -drfS governor urged the genera! assembly to hear the trustees at a time when a full attendance could be had. The remainder of the session was devoted to the consideration of new hills and other minor matters. Monday morning’s session of the mint ■ was opened by Senator Battle, of the Twenty-fourth, asking a recon sideration of the senate’s nction Fri day on the house bill by Mr. Calvin regulating the benefits of debentures or redemption companies. He stated as his reason for a reconsideration that the senate journal does not dis close what amendments were made to the bill or whether hey were adopted. On motion of Senator Stewart the bill was recommitted to the committee on bunks. A message from the governor was read stating that the trustees of the university had written him a letter re questing an opportunity to explain to the legislature their management of the university. The message was referred to the committee on rules. Tuesday’* Proceeding*. The convict bill was up in the house Tuesday as the special order, and the fight on this important question is now well under way. Two substitutes were offered. One of them is a straight lease bill, differ ing only in detail from the present lease system, except that it provides for the election by the people of the principal keeper of the penitentiary. This substitute comes from Mr. Stone, of Walton. The other substitute is the Hall bill, which reflects the senti ment of the present administration, and looks towards a reformation of the lease system. The fight did not progress far dur ing the day. The house went into a committee of the whole to consider the measure, which it was proposed to take up section by section. The house got no further, however, than the first section. The matter went over until Wednesday and the house took up the consideration of other matters. Among the great number of new bills introduced was one by Mr. West, of Lowndes, providing for state uni formity in school books and for a book commission. The bill is in line with the minority report of Mr. Beauchamp. Mr. Hill, of Troup, wants to increase the revenue of the State university by charging tuition and introduced a bill to that effect. In the senate, Tuesday, Mr. Cal vin’s resolution for the appoint ment of a commission to mark soldiers’ graves in the northern states was taken up on motion of Senator Blalock and unanimously passed. The following bills were also passed: Making Stafford’s almanac legal evi dence from 1400 to 2000; to create a new charter for the town of Lyons; to abolish the city court of Coffee county; to establish the city court of Douglas; to provide for the validation of bonds; the 'possum bill, requiring county boards of education to have a seal and use it on teachers’ license. The senate, after a lively discussion decided to invite itself to attend the hearing given the university trustees, and, in order to show its independence, changed the hour at which the hearing was to be hold. Thursday's Routine. Along with the first business in the house Thursday the West resolution to limit discussion on the oonvict bill from 11 to 1 o’clock each day came up and after some discussion was passed. The house then took a nibble at the convict bill. A few more amendments to the first section were presented, all of which were discussed without re sults, and then the committee of the whole reported progress. The DeKalb court house fight ran amuck of tho convict bill and both came to a standstill. An effort was made to secure the consideration of the former measure at the expense of the latter, and an interesting fight re sulted. The convict bill gained the right of way, however, and was under discussion during the remainder of the day. Mr. Gray’s prohibition bill came up in the senate as the first business Thursday morning, and after a brief statement by the author, it went to a vote. The bill prohibits the sale of liquors in smaller quantities than one pint, and prohibits the drinking of liquor ou the premises where it is sold. The favorable committee report was agreed to by a vote of 19 to 16. Tlie question then came up on the passage of the bill ar.d Senator Turner rose to favor it. It fell far short of what he desired, but was in the right direction. Senator Gray called for the ayes aud nnys and the vote was 20 to 17. The bill lacked only three votes of a constitutional majority. The football bill came up and passed by a vote of 31 to 4. Senator Turner’s bill prohibiting the shooting at turkeys aud other fowls for a prize, with chances stated on hitting the bird, came on an adverse report, which caused some discussion. The adverse report was disagreed to by a vote of 21 to 14 and the bill stands for a third reading. Mr. Felder’s bill to except the N. C. and St. L. railway from the law pro hibiting the running of freight trains on Sunday was fought by Senator Turner. When the bill came up Sen ator Kilpatrick explained that it ap plied to railroads running through the state less than three miles, aud said there were only six citizens who could be disturbed by the noise of the trains. Hal Lewis Honored. Hon. Hal T. Lewis, of Greensboro, has been appointed by Gov. Atkinson supreme court judge to succeed Judge Spencer R, Atkinson, who resigned to accept a place on the Georgia state railroad commission. The appointment of Colonel Lewis was a surprise all round, but it seems that Governor Atkinson has long con templated the appointment of Mr. Lewis in the event that Judge Samps Harris declined to accept the meut. Tuesday Judg(JjUtfMfl|| ! t : I'QfrSffiSgijjfe COMPETITOR PRISONERS OUT QUEEN REGENT OF SPAIN PARDONS THE FOUR UNFORTUNATES. ms ONCE CONDEMNED TO DIE. DcLome Ha* a Conference With Assistant Secretary J>ay In Kejjard to Weylcr’s Tobacco Decree. Minister Woodford at Madrid has telegraphed the state department that the Spanish cabinet has notified him that the queen has pardoned the Com petitor prisoners. The state department now announces that the Competitor prisoners were turned over to General Lee last Mon day and will be sent by him direct to New York. It is not doubted in Washington that tho prisoners are liberated on some such conditions as were imposed in the case of former prisoners, that is that they will not return to Cuba. After their bitter experience in the Cuban jails, it is not believed the men will be disposed to violate any understanding of this kind to which they may be parties. It is singular that the men should have been for four days in the custody of Consul General Lee without the fact having become generally known, but it is supposed that secrecy was observed in order to secure departure from Ha vana without exciting trouble from the extreme conservative Spanish fac tion. There were four prisoners, namely, Alfred 0. Laborde, tho captain of the Competitor, a native of New Orleans; William Gildea, the mate, a natural ized citizen; Ona Melton, who claims Kansas as his native state, and who went on the Competitor in the capacity of a newspaper correspondent; Charles Barnett, of British birth, but who claimed the protection of the United States by virtue of his sailing on an American vessel. The conditions under which the Competitor was captured April 25, 1896, off the Cuban coast while en gaged in landing arms for the insur gents have been often described. The defense of the men was that they were forced into the exposition against their will by the insurgent party aboard the boat. They were tried by a naval courtmartial before which they could make only a poor showing, prin cipally because of their ignorance of the Spanish language in which the proceedings were conducted, so that their conviction and the imposition of the death sentence was not a matter of surprise. At that point, however, the case as sumed diplomatic importance. May Revoke Weyler’s Decree. Senor Dupuy de Lome, the Spanish minister, had a long conference with Assistant Secretary Day Thursday morning and it is believed that the Spanish government is voluntarily about to remove another troublesome factor from the field of negotiations in revoking the decree made by Weyler prohibiting the exportation of tobacco from Cuba. The reason set up by General Wey ler for the order was the necessity of keeping in Havana the supply of to bacco necessary to run the domestic cigar factories and thus,by giving em ployment to workmen,keep them from drifting into the insurgent ranks. It was a matter of common report, how ever, that another potent reason was a desire to cripple the Cuban cigar mak ers in the United States, from whom the insurgents drew funds. SUICIDE'S CONFESSION READ. Sensation Sprung at Trial of Arroyo’s Lynchers In City of Mexico. A profound sensation was made in the course of the trial of the police officials of the City of Mexico, who 1 are charged with the murder of Ar royo, by the production of the confes | sion of the late inspector general of police, Velasquez, who suicided. It is a most remarkable attempt at self justificai ion, aud falsely states that a mob of the common people lynched Arroyo. The prosecuting attorney in a strong argument pleaded for the execution of a death sentence on all the prisoners except ex-Assistant Chief of Detectives Cabrera and one other minor prisoner. THE Will NOT SIGNED. Beregford’g Wife Was Not Disinherited After All. An interesting piece of news has come to light on information furnish ed by Dr. Miller, a member of the city council of Fitzgerald, Ga. Dr. Miller says that the father-in law of Lord Beresford alias Sydney Lascelles, did not disinherit his daugh ter as has been reported. The will was drawn up and the lawyer who had been employed for the purpose was called away and during his absence the much-abused father suddenly died. Consequently the document was never signed and is harmless. FOOTBALL PROHIBITED By Grand College, Pa., and the Student. Are Disappointed. President Fetterolf of the Grand college at Philadelphia has issued an edict against football, aud henceforth the students of the institution must keep of the gridiron. The ban ou football was the result ' of a boy having his leg fractured at a practice game. As soon as President Fetterolf learned of the accident he is sued an order prohibiting all football games. There are ncarhjdhgMgjlj the cllcve . 1 THANKSGIVING PROCLAM VTION. Issued by Georgian Governor In Accord ance With Time-Honored Custom. The following thanksgiving procla mation was issued by Governor Atkin son Wednesday: Georgia has been greatly blessed during tho past twelve months by the Giver of every good ami perfect gift. She has been exempt from pestilence that walketh in darkness and the dis ease that wasteth at noonday. She has enjoyed the blessings of peace; floods have not mandated her fields nor drought cut off her crops. Tho harvest lias been abundant in her borders. Progress lias marked her footsteps and sons have been protected in their inalienable rights of life, liberty, prosperity and pur suits of happiness. Throughout her limits the smiles of a beneficent provi dence have brightly beamed, and all have been made to feel that their “lines have been cost in pleasant, places.” Therefore, I, W. Y. Atkinson, gov ernor of the state of Georgia, in ac cordance with the time-honored custom of our country and in conformity to the proclamation of the president of the United States aud in special recog nition of the generous gifts of our Heavenly Father, whose blessings have fallen upon all alike, hereby designate and set apart Thursday, November 25th, as a day of Thanksgiving and praise, and I earnestly recommend that all secular labor be laid aside on that day, and that the people around their family altar, as well as in their houses of prayer and public worship, return thanks to the Euler of heaven and earth for the multitude of His tender mercies and richest blessings. Given uiulJt my hand and seal of the executive department at the Capi tol iu the city of Atlanta, this 17th day of November, 1897. W. Y. Atkinson, Governor. COLORED EX-CONGRESSMAN DEAD John M. Langston Horn a Slave and llose To Distinction. Ex-Congressman John M. Langston of Virginia, one of the prominent col ored men of the country, died at Wash ington a day or two ago. He was 68 years of age, having been born a slave in 1829. He was emancipated at the age of six, and was educated at Oberlin, where he graduated from the theological de partment in 1854. He afterward stud ied Viw, and practiced his profession until 1869, during which time he held several township offices in Ohio, being the first colored man elected to office in the United States by popular vote. In 1869 he was Seven a professorship of law at HowarußUiiiversity, remain ing with that institution for seven years. From 1877 to 1885 he was United States Minister and Consul General to Hayti. Upon liis return to this country he became president of tbe Virginia Normal and Collegiate Insti tute at Petersburg, Va.. where he re mained for three years, when he was elected to the fifty-first congress, and was given his seat on contest. Since 1891 Langston had been prominent in politics, but did not hold office. GEORGIA DAIRYMEN Hold Annual XpHPujt of Their Assoeia tioii In Macon. The Dairymen’s Association of Geor gia met in Macon Wednesday morning with Chairman R. J. Bedding presid ing. An address of welcome to the visit ing delegates and the participants in the program was first delivered by Hon. Minter Wimberly, of Bibb, who welcomed them in behalf of the Cen tral City. The annual address of President R. ,7. Bedding was an exhaustive review of the work of the association and was heard with close attention by the members and those who had gathered to hear the opening addresses. BIG MONEY INVOLVED In Decision of Judge Pardee In Georgia Railroad Lease Case. The argument in the Georgia rail road lease case was concluded at At lanta last Tuesday by Mr. Henry Crawford, counsel for Thomas aud Ryan. It is now with Judge Don A. Pardee to say whether or not Thomas and Ryan are entitled to a half interest in the lease of the Georgia railroad or whether the entire lease belongs to the Louisville aud Nashville railroad. SETH TOW HOLDS ON. Columbia College Will Still Retain Him as Its President. A New York special says: When Seth Low decided to become the candidate of the citizens’ union for mayor of New York he sent his resignation as president of Columbia college to the board of trustees. The latter, at their last meeting, de cided to lay the matter of President Low’s resignation over until the next monthly meeting, which was held Monday. The committee, of which Rev. Dr. Morgan Dix was chairman, decided not to accept the resignation and re quested Mr. Low to withdraw it. To this President Low consented. TO ENJOIN TAX COLLECTORS. Tennessee Railroad* Will Fight Constitu tionality of Assessment. Chairman Thompson, of the Ten nessee state railroad commission, states that the attorneys of railroads in the state will at once file a bill attack ing the constitutionality of the state assessment of railroads recently made. Under this assessment the valuation of railroads in the state was increased $30,000,000, iliiiGMMgW v ■.■ GERMANS ROUTE CHINESE. WILLIAM’S SOLDIERS TAKE A FORT FROM TIIE CELESTIALS. PIGTAILS FEARED GERMAN CRUISER The Sultan of Turkey Will Make Amend* to Au*tria For In*tilt* Offered tint Fatter’* Agents. Advices received from Shanghai, China, state that the commander of the German cruiser Division, landed troops at Kiao-Cban on the evening of November 15th. The three forts were held by 1,500 Chinese and their guns commanded the fleet. Admiral von Deiderich placed his four cruisers im mediately opposite, ready to fire, and sent an ultimatum ordering the evacu tion of the forts within three hours. Six hundred German troops and six guns were then landed and began to march forward. The Chinese hesi tated a few moments and then the \vholo body bolted belter skelter across the hills behind the forts. The Ger mans quietly entered the fortifications, hauled down the Chinese flag and hoisted the German standard, which the warships saluted immediately. The Chinese general, who had his family with him, did not flee, but claimed German protection. The forts are now held by the Germans, who, it is believed at Shangliia, intend to re main permanently. In official Chinese circles Germany is considered to have committed an act of war,hut itis regarded as improbable that China, on account of her weak ness will take action upon it as such. American and British warships have been ordered to Kiao Chau to watch developments. The greatest interest is felt as to the result of Germany’s ac tion, because the region is immensely rich in minerals, and the harbor is the best along the coast. It is now asserted that the murder of the two German marines near Yen- Chu-Fu (Yeng-Tu) was not the work of bandits, as originally understood, but w r as deliberately planned by Li Hung Hing, governor of the province, prior to his departure for See-Chuoan, of which he has been appointed vice roy. The Berlin correspondent of the Daily Chronicle says: “Emperor William is devoting con siderable attention to the course of affairs in China and on Wednesday discussed the position of the mission aries with Bishop An /ere, vicar of the German Catholic missions in China. Sultan Will Apologize to Austria. A special dispatch from Vienna says that a telegram has been received there from Baron de Caliee, the Austrian ambassador at Constantinople, saying that the sultan has declared his will ingness to give Austria full satisfac tion for the Messina incidents and in regard to the disputes in connection with tne Oriental railroad, growing out of the transportation of Turkish troops dning the recent war between Turkey and Greece. Had not the Turkish government yielded to the demands of the govern ment of Austria for redress on account of the indignities offered to an Aus trian merchant of Mersina, Herr Braz zafelli, the Austrian ambassador at Constantinople, Baron de Caliee, would have left the Turkish capital and an Austrian warship would have bom barded the port of Mersina, Asia Minor. SEAMEN INDICTED FOB MURDER. Amlorson, the Cook, ami Others Charged With Killing Captain Whitman. The federal grand jury in the case of the crew of the Olive Pecker con vened at Norfolk, Va., Wednesday and returned the following true bills: John Anderson, for murder of Cap tain John W. Whitman. Same for the murder of Mate William Wallace Saunders (two indictments.) Same for the destruction of the vessel. William Horsburgli, John Lind and Manuel Barrial, accessories after the murder of Mate Saunders. Same ac cessories after the murder of Captain Whitman. John Anderson, William Ilors burgh, John Lind and Juan de Dois Barrial for destruction of vessel. TWO BIG CITIES INNOLVEB. Over Seven Million Acres of I.iiml iu Dis pute in Minnesota. An immense claim, embracing 7,000,- 000 acres of land in the northwest aud including the cities of Minneapo lis and St. Paul, was brought before Commissioner Harmann of the general land office at Washington Tuesday and tbe assistance of t£e government in securing official data was called for. The claimants are C. B. Holloway, of Holland, 0., and A. U. Gunn, of Maumee, O. They are now making an examination of the general land office records witb a view to securing copies of certified papers, which they assert will establish their title to the lands claimed by them. CHINESE ARE COMPLACENT. Say Russia, Germany ami France Are Only Preparing to Attack Japan. According to a special dispatch from Shanghai Admiral von Diedrieh, com mander of the German cruiser Divis ion, before landing marines at Klao- Clmu, notified the British, Russian admirals of his it is said the l*.-i -it'i rd approval. / PLUNGED INTO A CREEK. Train Wrecked and llnrned —Only One Heath, lint Many Injured. Train 2 ou the Kansas City, Fort Scott, and Memphis, which left Bir mingham, Ala., Wednesday evening for Kansas City, was derailed west of Walliford, Ark., at 3 o’clock Thurs day morning. The combination coach, chair car and sleeper went over the bank, the combination car going into Spring river. Tho chair car and sleeper were both consumed. One passenger was fatally injured, dying shortly afterward, aud about thirty others more or less seriously hurt. It is believed none of the lat ter will die. No. 2 is a fast through train from the south. Between Williford and Hardy the Memphis tracks parallel the Spring river, a little stream run ning out of Mammoth Springs. When near Williford the engineer felt the train leap forward and found that it had parted between the two day coaches. The last three ears bumped over the ties, the chair car and sleeper turning over on their sides and the combination ear finally going into the river. The engineer hacked up the front part of the train and the work of res cue was immediately begun. The ter ror of the passengers who had gone down into the stream with the combi nation car was heightened by cries of alarm from the chair car and sleeper, both of which soon took fire. The intense darkness added to the confu sion and it was some time before an organized effort at rescue was put into effect by the train crew and those of the passengers who had been able to extricate themselves without nid. Tho passengers in the burning ears were luckily rescued before the fire had reached its height, and but few in those ears were injured. The wreck is the first one of a seri ous nature in the history of the Mem phis road, nnd according to the state ment of General Passenger Agent J. E. LooKwood, Mr. Hoover is the first passenger ever killed while riding on a train on that road. REPORT OF SECRETARY BLISS. Document .Shows Work of Interior De partment For Fust Year. Secretary of the Interior Bliss, iu his annual report, made public Thurs day night, submits estimates aggregat ing $156,532,419 for appropriation by congress for tlie fiscal year ending June 30, 1897. Discussing pensions he says 200,- 000 pension claims are awaiting adju dication and it is estimated that 40 or 50 per cent of these will be finally ad mitted. If they are rapidly adjudi cated they will swell tho pension roll from $5,000,000 to $7,000,000. When, however, these claims are adjudicated and the first payments made thereon, the amount of the pension roll will de crease very rapidly, possibly to $125,- 000,000 or $130,000,000 the first year. The total Indian population of the United States exclusive of the New York Indians and the five civilized tribes, approximates 177,178, located on 177 reservations, which contain approximately 33,404,837 acres. Of these, 4,545 have accepted allotments of land which aggregate 644,147 acres. Secretary Bliss says while the opening of the Wichita reservation in Okla homa to white settlement would great ly promote the development of that country, yet, in view of the unsettled condition of the questions affecting their rights, until there is further leg islation ho does not see how it can be done without causing great injury and distress. To guard against this recommendation is made that the Dawes commission he authorized to investigate questions as to their rights and claims and report recommendations from speedy aud just e tlement. DISASTROUS PRAIRIE FIRES. Thi'efl Thousand Mieep Burned in Texas Counties. A terrific prairie fire has passed through Lubbock, Hale aud Crosby counties, Texas, doing great damage to the ranges. It originated east of Crosby conn!'}', burned eastward through Crosby be fore a severe west wind. Tlie flames made a fire ten miles wide, which traveled at great speed. At least 400 square miles of territory were burned. Cattle suffered and many were burned to death. Three thousand sheep were burned in one flock aud many farmers lost all their winter feed. MAS DREYFUS BLACKMAILED? Tlie Accused Man Said To Be Victim of a Conspiracy. Advices from Paris state that the allegation that Alfred Dreyfus, the former captain of French artillery, was falsely accused and convicted by a courtmartial of selling French mili tary jilans to the agents of a foreign government continues to be widely discussed throughout France. It is claimed that the documents Dreyfus was charged with selling to Germany were never really sold to the agent of that country, but were pre pared in imitation of Dreyfus’s hand writing to blackmail him, his wife be ing a wealthy woman and he himself being in good circumstances. LEE VISITS BLANCO. Our Consul la Received Very ConrteogM At Havana. A special from Havana General Fitzliugh IffM visit*- Monday to WALTER O’QUINN NOI GUILTY JURY MAS QUICK IN MAKING UP THEIR DECISION. A MISTRIAL NARROWLY AVERTED. Jury Was Allowed To Visit Scene of Mur der— Stelnau and Simon Are Re leased On Their Own Bond. The trial of Walter O’Quinn at At lanta ou the charge of having shot and killed Patrolman J. T. Ponder was concluded Wednesday morning and he has been found not guilty and released. A sensation unlooked for occurred when the court was called to order, and for a time it looked as though Judge Candler would declare a mis trial; in fact, he so announced his intention, but after the strongest of arguments from tho attorneys for the defense he decided to allow the trial to proceed. The sensation came when immedi ately after court was called to order Judge Anderson, of the counsel for the prosecution, called the attention of Judge Candler to the fact that the jury had visited the scene of the murder before coming into court. No one had spoken to any member of jury, he said, and the party had simply walked by the place and noth ing had been said about the killing or the trial of O’Quinn. When this had been done Judge Candler said: “Gentlemen, I see no reason why I should not declare a mistrial in this case. The truth of the entire matter hinges upon that locality. This is an outrageous thing and I do not see how I can keep from declaring a mistrial. “The jury, I suppose, did not know what it was doing ami intended no wrong, but such a thing as this is un heard of. “I attach no blame to any one and if there is to be blnme it must rest up on me, I suppose. The jury asked for permission to take exercise and I granted it without telling the officers not to go near the scene of the killing. Notwithstanding all this, at the re quest of O’Qninn’s attorneys, the jury was allowed to visit Stinean’s place and inspect the premises. On their return the trial proceeded. At 11 o’clock the state announced closed, and then a consultation was held be tween the attorneys for both sides, and then one followed between all of the attorneys and Judge Candler. Judge Candler, when this confer ence had ended, said to the jury that the attorneys had decided that as the points at issue were entirely of fact, had decided to submit it without argu ment. He then proceeded to deliver his charge which was brief and to the point. The jury retired at exactly II :17, and soon returned a verdict of not guilty. Louis Steinau and Julius Simon, who were arrested at the same time O’Quinn was and charged with being accessories, were allowed to sign their own bonds in the sum of sl,ooo^each. CQUDOT MAS INNO< ENT. Chief Justice Declares Lynchers Made Horrible Mistake. “An innocent man was liauged by lynchers at Williamsport,” was the startling statement made at Grand Forks, N. D., by Chief Justice Cor liss of tbe state supreme court. “I have documentary evidence to prove the statement,” continued the judge. “The supreme court ordered anew trial in Coudot’s case because it ap peared that he was convicted on the uncorroborated evidence of Hollytrack nnd Ireland, both of whom confessed to taking part in the murder of the Spicer family, aud whose statements were refuted by the strong alibi testi mony given by Dr. Ross, the resident agency physician at Standing Rock. FIXING FREIGHT RATES. Board of Control of Joint Trattle Associ ation in Session at New York. The board of control of the Joint Traffic Association was in session at New York Tuesday. Among the sub jects discussed was that of passenger and freight rates east and west bound which have been iu a chaotic condition for some time. ORDERS FOR ENGINES. Baldwin Works Will He Kept Busy Tarn ing Out Locomotives The Baldwin locomotive works at Philadelphia have in the past few days booked orders for fifty-six locomotives. The orders include twenty-one loco motives for the government state rail way of Finland, the first order of any magnitude that has ever been placed in this country from that country. Another order is for twenty-four broad guage locomotives for the gov ernment of Brazil, while the third or der is from the Grand Trunk railway of Canada and is for ten locomotives. All of these orders call for the comple tion and deli very January,