Newspaper Page Text
The Jones County News
VOL. IX.
COLOMBIA WARNED
Pigmy Republic Considers
Americans as Prey.
BAD TREATMENT COMMON
Property Belonging to Subjects of
Uncle Sam Frequently Seized by
Government Officials on
Slightest Pretext.
A Washington special says: Tho
diplomatic exchanges between the Uni¬
ted States legation at Bogota and the
state department iu Washington, which
will appear in the forthcoming volume
bf foreign relations, discloses that nu
merous complaints were made by
American citizens during the revolu¬
tion in Columbia of the action of mili¬
tary authorities of that government in
ex-appropriating tnelr mules and other
property.
Mr. Beauprie, the American charge
at Bogota, in the absence of Minister
Hart, writing to the state department
concerning the rights of citizons of the
United States as to the ex-appropria¬
tion of property, cited a case that
came under his personal observation.
An American citlzeti who had dined
with him found upon going to look af¬
ter two animals he had purchase)
that the saddles and bridles had been
taken by a government official, wh >
had left a receipt fixing the value of
the articles taken at 1,000 posos, while
it was estimated that the American
citizen would be obliged to pay 5,000
pesos to duplicate his lost articles.
Speaking of this case, Mr. Behupne
said:
“There are a dozen stores in Bogota
selling the saddles, and hundreds of
saddles for sale,” and then asked
"Whence the urgent, Immediate and
pressing emergency?” that would jus¬
tify the forcible ex-appropriation of
the saddles, etc., from the American.
“Certainly under the system of arni-
trarily fixing the value of such prop¬
erty, it is much cheaper to get it this
way and the day of payment is indefin¬
itely postponed, but ! cannot believe it
consistent with the guaranties of pub¬
lic treaty or the laws of nations. It
is altogether probable that in the ma
jorty of cas.es the regulations for ap¬
propriation are no more valid, nor jur.i
than these in the case just cited."
Assistant Secretary Hill, in a com¬
munication to tho United States legu
tion at Bogota, said nmong other
things:
“The declaration of the minister of
war that all foreigners should be
deemed public enemies cannot hut he
regarded as gratuitously offensive and
this government must remonstrate
against such characterization of its
citizens availing tt l lselves of their
conventional rights of visit and so¬
journ in Colombia. It should have
been made the occasion of instant and
vigorous protest.”
The attitude of this government to¬
ward the seizure by Colombia of prop
erty of Americans for military pur¬
poses is shown by the following in¬
struction sent by Dr. Hill, as acting
secretary' of state, to the American le¬
gation at Bogota:
"You will notify the Colombian gov
ernment that this government will hold
it responsible for any proven oases of
seizure of American property for mili¬
tary purposes without due compensa¬
tion.”
Among the other subjects of the dip¬
lomatic exchanges between Washing¬
ton and Bogota contained in this vol¬
ume are the seizure of vessels and al¬
leged discrimination against American
enterprise in Colombia, the reopening
of United States schools at Baranqull-
la, Medillen and Bogota closed by the
Colombian authorities, and the ques¬
tion of neutrality of aliens.
RUSSIAN JAILS ARE CROWDED.
Two Thousand Persons Arrested in St.
Petersburg District.
A dispatch from St. Petersburg says
serious disturbances took place in va¬
rious districts of St. Petersburg
Thursday night and nearly 2.000 per
eons who were not providod with pass¬
ports, as required by tho law, were ar¬
rested.
PRESIDENT IN RETIREMENT.
Reaches Yellowsto e Park and is
Buried from the florid.
A special from Livingston, Montana,
pays: President Roosevelt entered tin
[Yellowstone Park Wednesday after¬
noon and for the next sixteen days
(he outside world will know very lit¬
tle of his doings.
Accompanied by John Burrough;
pnd a detachment of cavalry, he plung¬
ed into the park for what he hope3 be
)wo weeks of rest. The remainder c#
(he party will live on the train at Cin¬
nabar, three miles from Gardner,
which is the entrance to the park.
ADLAI LOSES MOUSTACHE.
Former Vice President Burned While
Fighting Incipient Blaze
In endeavoring to extisguish a fire
at his residence In Bloomington, III..
Wednesday afternoon, former Vice
President A. E. Stevenson was seri
ously burned about the head, ficc and
hands, losing his hair and moustache
A curtain caught fire from a gas jet.
READY FOR INSPECTION.
Militia Companies In Southern States
Await the Coming of Specially De¬
tailed Army Officers.
The Atlanta Constitution’s Washing¬
ton correspondent wires the following
to his paper:
The condition of the militia in the
different southern states Is shown by
the preliminary reports made to the
wur department In response to the
questions sent out for the purpose of
securing information to form as a ba¬
sis for the inspection or muster of the
militia soon to he made.
Colonel Parker, of the adjutant gen¬
eral's office, who has charge of tho
new militia division, has given me the
opportunity of looking over the record
of replies from tho southern states.
These show that the militia in all of
the southern states is ready for imme¬
diate inspection, or what is the same
thing, Inspection upon ten days’ notice.
The appointment of inspectors is made
by the different department command¬
ers. Most of the southern states are
in the department of the east, and the
assignments will, therefore, he made
by General Chaffee.
The records show that in Georgia
there are 108 companies of the state
troops distributed at 48 stations.
In Alabama the total number of sep¬
arate organizations is not given, but
the adjutant general states that, ac¬
cording to his Idea, tne inspection
should begin with the Montgomery
companies, to be followed by tho com¬
panies at Mobile, and adds that out¬
side of Mobile and Montgomery there
are thirty other towns in Alabama at
which militia companies are located.
The adjutant general of Florida
states that there are companies at
thirteen towns and cities in that state.
The militia is soon to be reorganized
under the new law and he prefers that
the inspection be made in August.
South Carolina has 46 companies
stationed at 35 different places.
Tennesseo has 25 organizations at
12 places. The new adjutant general
of that state his written that he pre¬
fers that the inspection of Tennessee
troops be deferred until May or Juno
because he has just assumed office.
Virginia, 35 organizations at 22 sta¬
tions.
Mississippi, 31 companies at 28 sta¬
tions.
Louisiana, 25 companies at 10 sta¬
tions.
Texas. 62 companies at 47 stations.
The only southern state from which
there has been no report is Arkansas.
HUNDRED M0R0S SLAIN.
American Troops In Philippines Knock
Out Another Rebel Band in
Mindanao Island.
A special from Manila says: Cap¬
tain Pershing’s force captured Baco-
lod, Island of Mindanao, Wednesday,
killed a hundred M?ros and wounded
many others. Three Americans were
wounded.
Pershing’s forces consisted of Shaw's
battalion of the 27th infantry, Kilpat¬
rick of the 15th Cavalry and Chacaucis
battery.
Pershing was surveying the West
Sohe lands when the Bacolodians op¬
posed his advance and provoked the
fight. Pershing surrounded and at¬
tacked their stronghold, first shelling
them and rushing his troops forward
charging gallantly. After crossing the
deep moat and entering the fort, the
Americans engaged the Moros’ bayo¬
nets against Krisses.
A hundred of the defenders were
killed, including tho datto of Panan-
dungan and many were wounded.
After the capture of the fort it was
destroyed.
The Bacolod leaders and a majority
of the people of that district had been
hostile to the Americans and encour¬
aged attacks on American camps.
They rejected the tenders of friend¬
ship.
It is expected that the defeat of ths
Bacolodians will result in all the Mo¬
ros acknowledging American sover¬
eignty.
Senate Passes 8t. Louis Fair Bill.
The Tennessee sonate Friday after¬
noon passed the house bill appropriate
ing $40,000 for a Tennessee exhibit at
the Louisiana Purchase exposition at
St. Louis. The bill now goes to the
governor for his approval.
PENNELL INQUEST UNDER WAY.
Witnesses of the Automobile’s Plunge
Into Rock Quarry are Called.
The inquest into the death of Ar¬
thur R. Pennell and his wife Was be
gun at Buffalo, N. Y., Friday before
Police Judge Murphy, who conducted
the Burdick inquest.
Besides the witnesses from the
neighborhood of the stone quarry,
who observed the movements of Pen¬
nell and his wife with their outomobilJ
on the afternoon of the tragedy and
saw them take the fatal plunge, a num
her of Pennell’s friends were called.
NEGRO TEACHERS MEET.
8tate Association at Montgomery Ad
dressed by Professor Council.
The State Teachers’ Association of
negroes of Alabama met in Montgom-
ery tendance. Thursday Professor night with W. H. a lar Council. ®® a ^
of the State Normal institute, made
the opening address His speech was
along the line of negro development
V was a masterly speech and be wa*
frequently applauded
GHAY. JONES CO.GA.. THURSDAY. APRIL 16.1903.
BLOW DEALT TRUST
Gigantic Railroad Merger is
Declared to be Illegal.
GOVERNMENT WINS CASE
Northern Securities Company is Er>-
joined from Voting the Stock
of Northern Pacific and
Vice-Versa.
The position of the United States
government in tho suit brought
against the Northern Securities Com¬
pany, the Northern Pacific, the Great
Northern railways, and individual offi¬
cials and directors of those companies,
was sustained in the decision handed
down in the United States circuit court
of appeals in St. Paul, Minn., Thurs¬
day,
Tho case was originally brought in
(he United States district court in the
same city, hut under a special act of
congress was taken at once to the
court of appeals, which court was to
expedite the hearing and decision of
the case in every manner possible.
The taking of testimony in St. Paul
and in New York lasted for several
weeks and the arguments in St. Louis
before Circuit Judges Caldwell, San¬
born, Thayer and Van Deventer took
several days. The decision of the
court was written by Judge Thayer,
and was filed in St. Paul, where tho
original action was instituted. An ap¬
peal to the United States supreme
count will be taken immediately. All
four judges concurred in the conclu¬
sions of the court, which were stated
by Circuit Judge Thayer.
The court holds that “the
which was devised and consummated,
led inevitably to the following results:
“1. It placed the control of the two
roads in the hands of a single person,
to-wit, the Securities company, by vir¬
tue of its ownership of a large major¬
ity of the stock of both companies.
2. It destroyed every motive for com¬
petition between two roads engaged
In interstate traffic, which were natur¬
al competitors for business, by pooling
the earnings of the two roads for the
common benefit of the stockholders of
both companies; and, according to the
familiar rule, that every one is pre¬
sumed to intend what is tho necessary
consequence of his own acts, when
done wilfully and deliberately, we
must conclude that those who conceiv¬
ed and executed the plan aforesaid. In¬
tended. among other things, to accom¬
plish these objects.”
Displeases Magnate Morgan.
According to a New York special,
J. Picrpont. Morgan is credited with
the following expressions in regard to
the decision:
“Until I see the full text of the de¬
cision I should not care to express an
opinion on it. This much is certain,
however, it will not rest where it is.
“The question of the right of two or
more railroads to be operated by a
holding company will be taken to the
United States supreme court at Wash¬
ington. Instead of looking upon tho
decision of tho court today as a blow
to railroad enterprise, I should say
that the reverse is the vase. Capital
all over the country is anxious to know
its rights in tho matter of railroad con¬
struction and operation. Rallroat
men want to know where they stand.
“The decision today is just one step
closer to a decision from the United
States supreme court, which will be
final, for even if the Northern Securi¬
ties had won today, the government’s
attorney would probably have ap
pealed.
“The question was of such impor¬
tance that an appeal was assured, no
matter who won. Theso facts are plain.
Both railroads held by the Northern
Securities Company still exist and are
doing a good business.
“When railroad men know exactly
how the law is to be interpreted, they
will probably find good way to see that
properties are operated economically
and profitably.”
Three Cremated in Philadelphia.
Three persons met death in a Phila¬
delphia tenement house fire Thursday,
and two others were severely but not
fatally burned.
VISITED BANK THIEF’S FARM.
Directors Making Determined Efforts
to Reduce Sims' Shortage.
A committee of the directors of the
Capital City National bank, of Atlanta,
went to Richlands Farms, in Greene
county, Friday to investigate the prop-
erty into which G- H. Sims, the default-
ing clerk, has been putting the bank’s
money.
So far ths bank has not succeeded in
getting hold of any further assets of
Sims, but is still at work on this line
and has expectations of reducing thi
shortage to a still greater extent.
FRUIIT BROKER WINS CASE.
Trial at Valdosta, Georgia, Results in
Verdict of "Not Guilty.”
At Valdosta, Ga., Tuesday the case
of the state vs. J. D. O’Brj an, the
pitt gbur g 6 f ru it broker who was arrest-
ed some time ago in the charge of a
misdemeanor, resulted in the verdict
of not guilty in the city court, the yer
diet having been reached after a trial
lwstin S through nearly three days.
mother amdchildslain
Most Brutal and Mysterious Triple
Crime erpetrated In Heart of
Shreveport, Louisiana.
At. Shreveport, La., early Saturday
morning,* Mrs. Aline Matthews, aged
45 years, wife of Frank Matthews, a
well-known civil engineer, was bru¬
tally murdered in ner bed by a negro,
who It is believed outraged his victim
before slaying her. Tho woman’s ilt-
tie daughter, Aline, aged 10, was fa¬
tally wounded. Ait ax was the instru¬
ment employed in both cases.
Ed Porter, a negro strongly suspect¬
ed of the crime, was shot to deatli by
two police sergeants while attempting
to escape. Ho had been run down at a
point about live miles from Shreve-
port.
The discovery of the crime was
made at 5:30 o’clock Saturday morn-
ing by a servant, who entered the bed
room of Mrs. Matthews. The unfor-
tunate woman, who was almost hacked
to pieces, had been dead for soma
time. Her daughter was still alive
when the servant entered. Entrance
was effected through a side window,
and although there were fifteen per¬
sons in the house, which is situated in
the very heart of the residence district
of Shreveport, no ono heard a singlo
suspicious sound during the uight.
The skull of Mrs. Matthews was
crushed and she bore evidence of hav¬
ing been criminally assaulted. Tho
child’s skull was fractured, her chest
crushed and shoulder lacerated.
Mrs. Matthews wore a diamond ring
and diamond earrings, which were not
touched by the murderer and three
pocketbooks containing money were in
the room, showing that criminal as¬
sault furnished the motive for the
crime. An ax covered with blood and
hair was found in the kitchen.
ATLANTA BANKS AMALGAMATE.
Institution Robbed by Hallman Sims
Merges With Atlanta National.
Tho Capital City National hank, of
Atlanta' has amalgamated with the
Atlanta National bank. The transac¬
tion waB consummated Saturday night
at 11:30 o’clock and when the
Institutions of the city opened at 0
•j'clock Monday morning those who
aad deposits in the Capital City found
themselves doing business with the
Atlanta National.
Arrangements for the trade had
been in progress for several days, but
’he matter was kept so thoroughly se¬
cret that the announcement occasion-
5d the greatest surprise.
After the defalcation of Hallman
dims, the collection clerk of the Capi-
lal City bank, who secured nearly
5100,000, the stockholders of the bank
were approached in regard to an amal¬
At first this was not considered, but
the matter was fully discussed. Tho
concensus of opinion was that while
tho shock of the shortage would have
no immediate effect—would not injure
the bank In (ho slightest—yet it might
impede its growth, keeping it back for
some time from the rapidly increasing
progress its officers have developed.
Tho stockholders of the Capital City
hank will receive 120 for their stock.
TRAGIC EASTER IN BUFFALO.
Doubly Fatal Shooting Affray and a
Round of Suicides Enliven the Day.
A shooting affray, in which a 9-year-
pld boy was killed and a woman mor¬
tally wounded, a murder, a suicide,
and two attempts at suicide that may
result fatally, occurred in Buffalo, N.
Y., Sunday night.
Joseph Kwaitoskski, 51 years old, a
respected Polish citizen, Is locked up
at police headquarters, accused with
shooting his landlady and killing his
own 9-year-old boy.
George Denning, another citizen, ha-1
been separated from his wife. Sun¬
day he tried to induce her to resume
marital relations. She refused and
he shot at her. She fell in a faint,
and believing he had killed her, Den¬
ning committed suicide.
Miss Marie Beers, 20 years old, com¬
mitted suicide during the day.
Bertha Vaughan, 23 years old, swal¬
lowed a dose of vitrjoi. Her condition
is serious.
Miss Blanche Murphy, after a quar¬
rel with an unknown man, swallowed a
quantity of laudanum and may die.
AN INCIPIENT RACE RIOT.
Mob of Negroes Demolish Town Hall
at Gleves, Ohio, and Fight Results.
A mob of negroes, numbering nearly
fifty, armed with various weapons, as
sauited the town hall of Gleves, Ohio,
Thursday morning, completely demol¬
ishing its walls, roof and windows
w , th boulderB> c lubs and bullets. A
number of young white people were
dancing in the hall at the time and
several were slightly injured,
With drawn revolvers, white men
chased tho negroes away in a running
fight through the town. More shots
were fired, but no one was killed.
ADMIRAL BELKNAP DEAD.
Succumbed to Apoplectic Stroke While
in Key West, Florida.
A dispatch was received at the navy
department Tuesday from Key West
announcing the death of Rear Admiral
George S. Belknap, U. 8. N., retired.
Death occurred of apoplexy. The do-
ceased was detailed for duty in the
execution of certain plans for estah-
fishing a naval base.
a deaoly CYCLONE
Cuts Swath Through Sections
of Alabama and Arkansas.
SCORE REPORTED DEAD.
Twelve Victims In Alabama and Nine
in Arkancas—Frightful Work
of Destruction on All
Sides.
Without a word of warning tho little
hamlet of Hopewell, Ala., 40 miles
north of Birmingham and about a
mile from Hanceville, was swept away
early Wednesday morning by a cy¬
clone which cut a path of desolation
a mil ° wide and two mlIes lon K acroS3
a prosperous farming section of
Blount county. Twelve persons were
instantly killed, three or four fatally
injured and a score of others serious¬
ly hurt. Those killed outright were:
Mr. and Mrs. Mason Griffin, James
Griffin, Henry McCoy, Frederick Mc¬
Coy, Miss Birdie McCoy, C. C. Oden,
prominent planter; Miss Norma Odou,
Hester Oden, Miss Thelma Oden, Mrs.
C. C. Oden, Miss Griffin.
Among the large number of injured
it is believed several will die.
The storm came from the south¬
west and traversed its destructive
path in a northeasterly direction,
tearing everything in its way.
The section through which it went
is flat, on an elevated tableland in
the hilly section of Blount county.
was not the slightest intimation
of its approach until the houses were
being torn to pieces.
Killed in a Twinkling.
One of the first houses visited was
that of Nathan Griffin. The house
was demolished and Mr. Griffin and
his son, Jame3, were killed in the
twinkling of an eye. Mts. Griffin
was so badly Injured that she died
within a short time. The son and
niece of Mrs. Griffin made a miracu¬
lous escape, running from the house
before the demolition was complete,
and saving their lives. They were in¬
jured, but will recover.
The house of John McCoy was next
wrecked, but he and his family es¬
caped with severe bruises. The hour/.’
was absolutely destroyed.
The house of Mr. Henry McCoy, son
of Mr. John McCoy, received tho
worst impact of the storm. His wife
was severely injured; (wo of his chil¬
dren were knocked unconscious and
may die, and ho and hts babe and two
other children were soon among the
dead.
He was still clasping his baby in hi3
arms when his body wuh found close
to the house. Evidently he had made
an effort to get out of the house, car¬
rying tho children with him. The
bodies are terribly disfigured, where
flying planks struck them.
The storm then took an easterly di¬
rection and struck tho house of Mr.
C. C. Oden. Mr. Oden was kiiloJ
outright and so wore his three daugh¬
ters, 16, 12 and 9 years, respectively.
Mrs. Oden received injuries from
which she died later on.
Deadly Work in Arkansas.
Specials from several towns in
White and Cleburne counties, Arkan¬
sas, tell of a cyclone wtiich swept
through that section Tuesday night-
leaving death and destruction in Its
wake. The major portion of the
country through which the storm
plowed its way is remote from rail¬
roads, telegraph or telephone lines.
Thus far it has been impossible to
ascertain where the storm began, but
it is known that It raged in those two
counties and tho list of casualties will,
from indications, mount much higher
than it now is, with nine dead, three
dying and thirteen others badly injur¬
ed. The towns of Little Red, Albion,
Bradford, Heber and Par.gburn have
been hoard from thus far.
Tho dead arc: Jim Leggett, Joe
Leggett and Torn King and wife an 1
three King children, Little Red; young
lady school teacher, who was hoarding
at King’s; A. C. Williams, noar Heber.
FLORIDA SOLONS BEGIN WORK.
State Legislature Meets in Tallahas¬
see—Caucus Officers Elected.
Both houses of the Florida legisla
ture formally organized Tuesday by
electing tho officials nominated at
caucuses Monday night.
Speaker Gibbon’s steering commit¬
tee will consist of Robert McNamee,
of Hillsboro; Raymond Bullock, of
Marion; Scott Loltln, of Escambia;
A. V. Ixmg, of Bradford; Daniel
Campbell, of Walton; Ed Hopkins, of
Leon, and C. L. Knowles, of Monroe,
secretary.
BIG STRIKE FOR MAY DAY.
All Structural Iron Workers M-> Be
Involved in General Tie-Up.
Labor leaders report that the execu¬
tive board of the structural iron work
ers decided recently to order a strike
of the structural iron workers on May
1, unless the American Bridge Com¬
pany had not by that time acceded to
the demands of their striking em
ployes. Nine thousand men will prob¬
ably be Involved.
TILLMAN TRIAL IN JULY.
Absence of Important Witnesses foi
the Defense Results in Granting
of Postponement.
A special dispatch of Wednesday
from Columbia, S. C. ( says:
"James H. Tillman, who shot
and killed N. G. Gonzales, the editor
of The Columbia State, on January 15
last, was taken to the criminal court
here today for the purpose of having
him plead to the indictment returned
against him last Monday for murder
and carrying concealed or unlawful
arms, as they were termed In this
state.
"The arraignment was not had,
however, the proceedings, which it
was thought to bo of a purely formal
character, turned out to be highly sen¬
sational. The trial of the defendant
had been set for next Monday am’
both slde3 had caused (he report to bo
circulated that they were ready for
trial.
"Much to the surprise of the spec¬
tators and lawyers here, the defense
today availed themselves of the op¬
portunity presented to secure a contin¬
uance, on the ground that It had been
impossible to secure the attendance
of two material witnesses, Captain J.
A. White and Miss Mary Julia Roper.
"Tillman, the defendant;, was
brought into court shortly before tho
proceedings were convened. He was
accompanied by his uncle, Senator
“Bon’’ Tillman, who appeared to he
very much more deeply concerned
about tho proceedings than the prl»
oner himself. Distinguished counsel
appeared on hotli sides. The peopls
were represented by Colonel Andrew
Crawford and Solicitor (common¬
wealth's attorney) J. William Thur¬
mond, and the defense by Congress¬
man George W. Croft, who was at
one time the defendant’s law partner,
and Patrick H. Nelson.
“The prosecuting officer opened the
proceedings with a request for an ar
ralgnment. Counsel for the defense
Interrupted to enter a motion for a
continuance, on tho ground of the ab
sence of the two witnesses already
mentioned. They presented affidayitf
from tho witnesses, which, In a meas
ure, indicated what they would test!
fy to. Tho prosecution promptly an¬
nounced that it was entirely willing
to qccept these affidavits and strenu
ously objected to any further delaj
in the case.
“The point was made that the de
fense had had ample time to prepare
for the trial and tho affidavits were
all that was necessary in the defend¬
ant's behalf, so far as tho witnesses
in question were concerned.
“The prosecution urged that a rule
had been made recently to prevent
continuances under such circum¬
stances as those shown In this case,
hut the court ruled against them and
granted a continuance until the July
term on an affidavit of the defendant’s
counsel, stating that It had been im¬
possible to get witnesses hero In time
for this term. The solicitor for tho
prosecution then urged that the de¬
fendant bo arraigned at this time, but
Judge Klugh declined to accedo to
this request and tho prisoner was re¬
manded and the case continued until
tho Juno term of court."
.
CANAL WORK PROGRESSING.
Panama Company to Continue Until
Uncle Sam Takes Charge.
Mr. Cromwell, counsel for the Pana
ma Canal Company, and Admiral
Walker, called at the state depart¬
ment Wednesday to talk to Secretary
Hay about the work of the sub-com¬
mittee which Is to visit tho isthmus
to appraise the value of the work the
company is now doing on the canal.
It was reported to tho secretary that
die company now employs 160 engin¬
eers, about forty-flvo medical office! s
and about 1,500 laborers on the canal.
These are nearly all at work in the
Culcbra cut. Five thousand dollars
a day is a modest estimate of the
money which the United States wi’i
bo expected to pay tho canal company
for continuing this work until the ex¬
change of ratifications of the treaty.
King Christian is Eighty-Five.
King Christian, of Denmark, cele¬
brated his eighty-fifth birthday Wed¬
nesday. He was in the best of health
and was the recipient of many con¬
gratulations and gifts.
BANK CASES ARE 8ETTLEC.
Suits Against W. S. Witham Dismissed
in Pike Superior Court.
The cases against Banker W. S.
William growing out of his connection
with the Barnesvilie, Oa., Savings
Bank, were called in Pike superior
court, in session at Zebulon, and, upon
the recommendation of the prosecu¬
tion the court dismissed the cases,
The matter was settled on the fol¬
lowing basis. The stockholders in the
bank who are solvent paid in $15,000;
W. S. Witliam paid $8,500 and some
outside cost and all cases, both clv’l
and criminal, were settled or dis¬
missed.
WORK ON LEVEE UNDONE.
Mended Crevasse at Hymelia Fails to
Stand the Great Strain.
A New Orleans special says; With
the blowing of forty feet of cribbing
at the Hymelia crevasse Wednesday
the situation there has again become
serious and fears are expressed that
unless the damage can be Immediate¬
ly repaired other portions of the 3,000
feet of work will be endangered by
the strain placed upon it.
NO. 21.
MERCER DECISION
The All-Absorbing Topic of
Discussion Just Now.
WILLIAMS GIVES VIEWS
Speculation on Effects of Ultimate Ac¬
tion of High Court is Indulged
in By Politicians in
Washington.
The decision of the United States
circuit court of appeals in the North¬
ern Securities Company case, Mr.
John Skelton Williams, president of
the Seaboard Air Line railway system,
says ho regards as one of the greatest
blessings and the brightest promises
for railroad interests and general busi¬
ness that the country could have. In
an Interview Sunday, with a represen¬
tative of tho Associated Press, when
asked his opinion of the decision, Mr.
Williams said:
"I am satisfied that when they
como to study the matter carefully
railroad men and thinking men of ail
classes, not only in the south, hut in
Uie country generally, except those
whose ambitious schemes are directly
hindered, will bo united in the feeling
that the decision is sound law, good
sense, and for the advantage of all
legitimate interests and for tho coun¬
try’s welfare. From a legal stand point
it accords with tho opinions of many
of the ablest lawyers of the country,
and it seems to bo fortified with au¬
thorities and reasoning too strong to
ho shaken,
"I have no fear that the supremo
court will reverse or seriously modify
it. Public policy, public sentiment and
established principles and precedents
law combine to sustain the circuit
court. From a commercial and practi¬
cal railroad standpoint tho soundness
the court’s position is indisputable.
It voices the judgment of probably
nine-tenths of the most conservative
business men of the country. Last No¬
vember, in New Orleans, in an address
before the trust company section of
the American Bankers’ Association, l
took the ground that there must he a
check to the processes of merger and
combination. I found my position was
heartily approved by most of my hear¬
ers and by the public generally, if I
may judge from press comments, and I
am satisfied tho country at large will
welcome the court’s action."
Discussed in Washington.
A Washington special says: The
possible effects, politically, of the
merger decision which lias created
such a stir in the industrial world are
being discussed very prominently by
politicians of both parties in Wash¬
ington. While nobody will be satisfied
until the principles involved in this
case aro passed upon by the supreme
court of the United States, there is a
general disposition to believe that the
action of the circuit court of appeals
inay ho taken as fairly indicative of
the final decision of tho highest court
The first credit for the success of
the case brought by the government is
given, by those who understand the
history o* tho proceedings, to Attor¬
ney General Knox—and that is where
It belongs. While President Roose¬
velt was preaching the necessity of an
amendment to the constitution in ol¬
der to pave the way for legislation
which would recognize the "new rela¬
tionship between capital and tho gov¬
ernment,” wmen he was proclaiming
in ills speochos, Attorney General
Knox took the position that the laws
upon the statute hooks were sufficient
to cure some of tho most flagrant
evils which had grown up as a part of
the trust system, and that the fault in
the past had been largely due to lack
of aggressiveness on the part of tho
officials of the department of juBtics.
in his speech at Pittsburg, Attorney
General Knox took this position and
his prosecution of the case against tho
Northern Securities Company was in
line with his declaration in that
speech. It is well known that Presi¬
dent Roosevelt had no part whatsoever
In shaping this case until after Attor¬
ney General Knox had drawn his bills
and had made his case complete.
Tho credit for the success of tho
government’s case belongs, therefore,
to tho attorney general,
BOLL WEVIL IN CUBA.
Enemy of Cotton Exists Plentifully
Throughout the Island.
E. A. Schwarz has just returned to
Washington from Cuba, where he wenr
for the department of agriculture to
make an investigation ot the cotton
lands and of the depredations of tho
cotton boll wevil. Tne especial pur¬
pose of his visit was the desire to find,
if possible, some parasite which will
destroy this pest so fatal to cotton. He
failed to find any such parasite. He
found instead that the wevil exists
pretty generally throughout Cuba and
that the cotton possibilities of the is¬
land are, naturally, very much injured
MUST HAVE SEPARATE SCHOOLS.
Kansas Supreme Court Decides an Im¬
portant Race Question.
The supreme court of Kansas, Satui-
day, decided that the Topeka board of
education can maintain separate
schools for white and negro children
and can compel the negro children to
attend the negro schools. A colored
man had taken his son to the white
school and the pupil was refused at-
mittance.