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! Tbe Times-Recoider is the ONLY
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THIRTY-EIGHTH TEAR.
CLAUD CHANCE GIVEN
HIS FREEDOM BY THE
JURY IN LEE COUNTY
Jury Was Out For
17 Hours On
The Case
THREE OTHER MEN
m IN COURT
G. H. Laramore
Was Foreman of
The Jury
LEESBURG, Ga., Feb. 4.—Claud
Chance was acquitted Friday morning
by a jury o£ eleven men who decided
his case, charged with the murder of
A D. Oliver, the famous banker who
operated in south Georgia.
On the motion of Solicitor General J.
R. Williams the court nol pressed the
three indictments against G. W.
Chance, Minter Kennedy and Ike Car
ter, on a charge of murder in connec
tion with the death of Oliver.
All appeared happy and were mak
ing their preparations for their return
home to Smithville.
Claud Chance and the other three
Mien indicted on the same charge, his
father, G. W. Chance, Minter Kennedy
and the negro, Ike Carter, were in the
court room when the verdict was re
ceived. Claud Chance appeared proud
and happy when the slow words were
read which gave him his freedom. He
thanked 7 the jury for their verdict.
Each of three other defendants and
the attorneys for the defense thanked
the jury for their verdict.
Judge Z. A. Littlejohn expressed the
thanks of the court to the jury for
their patience in the trial of the case,
and excused them from further ser
vice at the special term of the Lee
Superior court.
G. H. Laramore was foreman of the
jury which gave Claud Chance his lib
erty. The body of eleven men who
decided his fate received the case for
their deliberation at 2 o’clock Thurs
day aftrnoon, and it was 9:25 o’clock
Friday morning when the court re
ceived the verdict.
Rumors state that the jury had much
trouble in arriving at their verdict. It
is said that balloting was 7 for ac
quittal and 4 for conviction during the
early stages of their retirement, while
later the vote was 8 and 3, then 9 and
2. and just before the verdict was ren
dered for acquittal the jury stood 10
to 1 for acquittal.
The trial of the case has attracted at
tention throughout the state. Scores
of visitors made Leesburg a ecca of at
tention during the first days of this
week. *
A. D. Oliver, a famous banker, who
operated through south Georgia, was
killed in front of his bank building in
Leesburg about 8 o’clock ort the night
of February 17th, 1915. It is almost a
year since the first men charged with
l:is murder were placed on trial.
A corhmittal trial was .held shortly
after the murder when Claud Chance
ard his father, G. W. Chance, were re
leased. The grand jury at the May
term of the Lee Superior court failed
to indict any one for the murder.
The case was revived several weeks
prior to the convening of the Novem-
SIX WOMEN DIE
BROOKLYN FIRE
NEW YORK, Feb. 3. —Six women
perished today in a fire which destroy
ed the home of Mrs. Casimir Tag, in
Brooklyn.
The dead are:
CAROLINE TAG, aged 18.
HELEN TAG, aged 16.
HANNAH E. SNAVELY, 17, a guest
in the Tag home.
JENNIS STEBMAN, 24, a nurse.
ANNA CAIN, 21, servant In the Casi
mir household.
LIZZIE CAIN, 25, another servant.
Mrs. Tag escaped, clad only in
her night clothing, and all of the in
terior furnishings of the home wer.e
destroyed. The insurance carried on
the building and its furnishings is un
known.
Misses Carolina and Helen Tag,
two of the victims, were daughters of
Mrs. Tag, and Miss Hannah Snav
ely, who also lost her life, was their
guest for the -week-end. All of these
were sleeping on an upper floor and
met death through suffocation. Miss
Carolina Tag, who was to have
been married on February 15, suc
ceeded in arousing her motherr and
assisting her to escape, but lost her
own life while endeavoring to assist
the other victims.
Anna and Lizzie Cain, the two ser
vants who were burned to death, were
sisters, and had been in the service of
Mrs. Tag durin a number of
years. The Are was first discovered
in the servants’ quarters, and is at
tributed to defective electric installa
tions.
DR. THERREL SPEAKS
SDNO£ MORNING
Dr. J. H. Therrell, secretary of the
Sunday School Board of the South
Georgia conference, will speak at the
First Methodist church Sunday morn
ing at 11 o’clock.
Dr. Therrell is well known in Ameri
cus, where he has often visited, and a
large congregation will greet him Sum
day morning.
ter session of the grand jury, when
the four men were indicted for :he
crime.
The later developments in the case
are well known to the public.
Final Steps in Case.
Shortly after noon Thursday, the
fate of Claud Chance, charged with
murder in the cake of three other men
also indicted for the death of A. D.
Oliver, was given to the jury of eleven
men.
An exhaustive and comprehensive
charge was delivered by Judge Z. A.
Littlejohn.
The final argument in the case -was
made by Frank A. Hooper, of Atlanta,
who conducted the case for the prose
cution. The first argument of the
morning was made by H. A. Wilkerson,
of Dawson, who conducted the case for
the defense.
AHLRICUSTIMES-RECOROER
MEMBER ASSOCIATED PRESS
GREGORY THINKS
TOM WAESON IS
GUILTY CHARGES
WASHINGTON, D. C„ Feb. 4.—At
torney General Gregory, it became
known today, frankly told the delega
tion of Georgia members of the house
who called on him yesterday in regard
to the government’s contemplated
prosecution of Thomas E. Watson, the
Georgia editor, for circulating obscene
•matter through the mails, that the de
partment had been assured by tw.enty
Georgians it would not be possible to
secure a fair trial of the case in that
state.
For this reason the attorney general
lis contemplating laying the facts in
the case before the federal grand jury
in Chicago, Philadelphia, Richmond or
some other jurisdiction, with the view
of bringing Mr. Watson to trial for his
prticles bearing on the recent murder
trial of Leo M. Frank.
Guilty, Says Gregory.
"I have read the articles in The
Jeffersonian bearing upon the Frank
case very carefully,” Mr. Gregory told
the Georgians, ‘‘and’ there is not the
slightest doubt in my ind that he is
guilty. The only question with me
now' is whether to bring the prosecu
tion in Georgia or in some other place,
where he has circulated this obscene
matter.”
The attorney general doe snot want
t ( , be placed in the position of select
ing some place where the sentiment is
distinctivly hostile to Watson. For this
reason he stated that the trial would
not be held in either Boston, New York
or Baltimore, because of the strong
hostility in these cities against Wat
sen among Catholic and Jewish citi
zens.
Senators join Protest.
Georgia members of congress, nearly
all of them at one time or another in
recent years, have been under the whip
of Watson's scornful criticism are de
fending their action in pleading with
the department of justice, not to try
Watson outside of Georgia, the state
of his residence, on the ground that it
would be a reflection upon the citizen
ship of the state, and yesterday the
two senators joined in the protest.
Georgia congressmen are not at
tempting to stop the trial. One mem
ber of the delegation said: ‘‘So far as
I am concerned, Watson might be hung
drawn and quartered. I detest every
bone in his body. I am not willing to
pee the stigma put upon the state that
mob rule prevails in Georgia, and that
this man or any other could not get a
fair trial.”
In a formal statement signed by all
twelve of the Georgia representatives
in the house and sent to Attorney Gen
eral Gregory today, it is assertd that
the contemplated action of the depart
ment is consodered "of vital import
ance to the state,” and if carried into
effect, will be ‘‘very offensive to the
people of Georgia.” Such procedure,
they assert, is “unusual, if not unpre
cedented.”
Senators Smith and Hardwick and
the house members of the Georgia del
egation in congress today sent a writ
ten protest to Attorney General Greg
ory.
Two Brothers
Are Sentenced
In New York
ATLANTA, Ga., Feb. 4.—Two broth
ers, Charles Morris and Meyer Etman,
sentenced in New York for conspiracy
to defraud the governent, began terms
at the federal prison here today.
AMERICUS, GEORGIA, FRIDAY AFTERNOON, FEBRUARY 4, 1916
4 SIXTY PERISH WHEN ♦
♦ JAP VESSEL GOES DOWN 4-
♦ SHANGHAI, Feb. 4—Sixty per- ♦
♦ sons perished when the Japanese ♦
♦ liner Daijin Maru sunk Wednes- 4-
♦ nesday, after being in collision 4-
4- with the steamer Linan. +
4 A number of warships have en- +
4- gaged in the search for survivors 4
♦ and it is believed all of these 4
4- have been picked up. The num- 4
j 4 missing are believed to have been 4
4 drowned. 4
444-r444444-4-r444
I). 5. MUST DECIDE
LENGTH OF THE 5111
WASHINGTON, D. C., Feb. 4.—The
British ambassador, Sir Cecil Spring-
Rice, today delivered to the state de
partment a formal demand for the re
turn of the captured British liner Ap
pam to the vessel’s original owners.
The demand was made under a British
interpretation of The Hague conven
tion and existing treaties between the
United States and England.
WASHINGTON, D. C., Feb. 4.—Sec
retary Lansing today indicated the
United States authorities have decided
the disposition of the captured British
liner is to be decided in accordance
with the provosions of the Prussian-
American treaty. This convention has
been decided to cover the case pre
sented;, and Secretary Lansing, so rul
ed in accordance with the German con
tention.
Having decided to dispose of the Ap
pam case under the Prussian-Ameri
can treaty and not The Hague conven
tion, Secretary Lansing this afternoon
indicated that all remaining to be de
cided is how long the vessel is to be
permitted to remain in American wa
ters. An interpretation of the treaty’s
terms in such cases is now being pre
pared under direction of the depart
ment of state.
All persons on board the Appam on
the ship’s arrival, except the members
of the prize crew, were released and
permitted to go ashore late yesterday.
These releases were made under ex
plicit orders from Washington, and
o>er the protest of Lieut. Berg, who
desired to retain several on board as
military prisoners. The persons sought
t<> be thus held had been employed as
gun-pointers ond destroyed merchant
vessels.
French Cruiser Watching ( apes.
NORFOLK, Va., Feb. 4. —An armed
warship, believed to be a French cruis
err, has been sighted off the Virginia
capes. The vessel is believed to be
on guard to prevent the captured Brit
ish ship Appam putting to sea again.
Aerial Movements Interesting.
LONDON, Feb. 4. —Aerial activities
are of chief interest in today's war
news, these raids being reported from
al! sources and on several fronts.
The Austrian report.having attack
ed Durazzo, but there is no Italian con
firmation of this report. Another raid
directed against Avlona, is also re
ported from Vienna.
Increasing aerial activity by the
Russians in Galicia has been com
menced, but points attacked are not
given. The raids in that region are be
lieved to have been directed against
Austrian entrenchments and in recon
noitering.
A Petrograd newspaper today pub
lished a news despatch from the Cau
casus saying Erzerum had been evac
uated by the Turks, but no confirma
tion of this report can be gained.
A German and Austrian air flotilla
attempted a second raid over the En
tente encampment at Saloniki during
last night, but the effort was frus
trated. None of the attackers succeed-
THE PARLIAMENT
HOME IN CANADA
EATEN BULAMES
OTTAWA, Ont., Feb. —Late today,
Canadian officials who have been in
vestigating the fire which destroyed
the parliament building stated no evi
dence of incendiarianism had been un
covered.
William S. Loggie, a member from
North Umberland, who was first be
lieved to have lost his life, is thought
to have escaped, though he has not
been located definitely. The library
building, adjoining the main struc
ture, was saved.
OTTAWA, Ont., Feb. 4.—At least six
persons are dead and many have sus
tained serious and, perhaps, fatal in
juries, the result of a disastrous con
flagration which destroyed the Can
adian parliament building here during
last night and early today. The origin
of the fire is attributed by government
authorities to the explosion of an in
cendiary bomb. German influences, un
doubtedly, dictated the placing of the
bcmb which resulted in the destruc
tion of the building.
The Canadian parliament was in
session when the bomb exploded, and
I many members of the body narrow
ly escaped with their lives. Among
the injured are several representatives
from different provinces. William S.
Loggie, member of parliament from
North Umberland, province of New
Brunswick, is among the missing. His
body is believed to lie among the
ruins. A great mass of masonry,
twisted steel, gaunt uprights and
smoking ashes is all that remains of
the once magnificent structure, which
cost Canada $6,000,000 to erect.
Frederick F. Pardee, chief Liberal
“whip” in parliament, was at first re
ported as among the victims, but at
noon today it was established that he
escaped. Mr. Pardee, w'hose position
in parliament corresponds wiht that
of majority floor leader in the United
States congress, it is learned, left last
night for Sarania, Ont., and it would
have been impossible for him to have
returned before the fire was discov
ered. He is expected to reach Ottawa
this afterrnoon. A number of other
prominent members who were thought
to have been injured at first have also
been located and their safety estab
lished.
Martin Burrell, minister of agricul
ture, whose offices are in the parlia
ment building, was painfully burned
about the head before he escaped.
Many valuable records were destroyed
and a number of employees sustained
minor injuries, which were not con
sidered in making up the foregoing
casualty lists. Canadian militia and
troops in training for service in Eu
rope, were rushed to the scene dur
ing last night, and are patrolling the
devastated block today. Comparative
ly little excitement exists, though
there is an intense undercurrent of
indignation aroused by the cowardly
act which resulted so disastrously.
It is difficult at this hour to esti
mate the financial loss sustained. The
political importance of the fire is
great, as papers of great value to the
Dominion government may have been
destroyed. As most of these were kept
ir. fire-proof vaults, however, It may
develop they escaped harm. The in
surance carried on the destroyed struc
ture is unknown.
ed in reaching their objective, so vig
ilant was the watch and successful the
effort to thwart their purpose.
There are no important infantry ac
tivities to report along any of the
fronts.
GLOOM CAST OVER THE
FOREIGN SITUATION
BECAUSE OF GERMANY
1 DISASTROUS FIRE
IN ATLANTIC GUY
ATLANTIC CITY, N. J„ Feb. 4.
Three are dead and four seriously
ly injured, the result of a disastrous
fire here this morning. The property
damage will be considerable, but at
noon had not been estimated.
The dead were all guests of the Ov
erbrook hotel, which was destroyed in
the conflagration. The building oc
cupying one entire block, was almost
wholly destroyed. Several of the dead
leaped from upper story windows and
were crushed to death by the force o£
their fall. Others met death through
suffocation, being unable to reach
openings or find stairways. The hotel
elevators became unmanageable short
ly after the fine was discovered; and
t> this fact is attributed the inability
of the victims to escape.
indication are that the fire originat
ed in the kitchen of the Overby hotel,
but the flames spread so rapidly, it was
impossible to definitely locate their
origin. Nearby buildings were saved
from serious damage, by the work of
the fire department.
GLHYCfiSE GOES ON
WITH ELEVEN MEN
The case of the Commercial City
Bank vs. C. C. Clay, et al., was resum
ed Friday morning in the City court
after a recess had been taken late
Thursday afternoon because of the ill
ness of T. F. Robbins, of the Seven
teenth district, one of the jurors. By
agreement of both sides in the case,
Mr. Robbins was excused from further
service, and the trial proceeded with
eleven jurors.
The case has already been going on
the fourth day of the court and the
plaintiff had not rested its case. C.
C. Clay, one of the defendants, had
been on the witness stand during a
greater part of the trial.
Judge William M. Harper called the
docket of civil cases Thursday after
noon and decided that it was not nec
essary to order another panel of jurors
for the trial of civil cases pending.
Court will likely adjou-n for the
term upon conclusion of the Clay
case.
REO MOTOR CAR
TO HAVE BRANCH
ATLANTA, Ga., Feb. 4.—Officials of
the Reo Motor car interests announce
that the talked-of establishment of a
big branch plant here in the imme
diate future is as a matter of fact not
contemplated.
At the same time it is announced,
however, that the business of the or-,
ganization has increased materialrl
in the South, and that the matter of
'ultimately establishing a plant in this
'territory is not at all beyond consid
eraion.
CIT~V
EDITIONI
Lusitania Case In
Not As Near
Settled
bernstorfFgets
VEIAIJNSTRUCTIONS
“Illegal” Does Not
Appear In Her
Note
WASHINGTON, D. C„ Feb. 4.—Sec
retary Lansing today declined to com
ment on thei Lusitania case, and the
German embassy professed to be with
cut confirmation of Berlin press dis
patches bearing upon the negotiations.
President Wilson returned here at
one o’clock this afternoon, and when
requested by an Associated Press rep
resentative, declined to comment on
press dispatches from Berlin. The
situation is grave.
BERLIN, F'b. 4 —lnformation reach
ing the Associated Press early today
indicates that under no circumstances
will Germany admit the sinking of the
Lusitania was an illegal act. Along
,v. ith this information comes the news
that negotiations with the Washington
government on this subject are not
so near an agreement as has hereto
fore been indicated. The situation to
day has lost all of its roseate aspect
and the outlook now appears some
what gloomy.
The view is expressed here that the
most serious crisis of the war has aris
en in connection with the Lusitania in
cident. The result of pending negotia
tions now hinges upon the word "il
legal,” and it is impossible to foresee
the outcome. The correspondent of the
Associated Press is informed today,
positively and authoritatively, that
"Germany can’t and won’t designate as
illegal" the sinking of the liner by a
submarine.
Germans hint Doff er ent.
Dr. Alfred Zeimmerman, under sec
retary for foreign affairs, and who has
represented the Kaiser throughout the
negotiations with Washington, in an
pterview given out today, explicitly
states that Germany has done every
thing in its power to maintain friend
ly relations with the American gov
ernment. “But there are limits beyond
which even friendship snaps,” he adds.
Dr. Zeimmerman expressed the opin
ion that the matter had been amicably
settled, “until new demands were
made,” but no intimation is given con
cerning the nature of these demands.
“Your must not push your demands
too far,” Dr. Zeimmerman said. “Yon
must not push your demands too far.
You must not attempt to humiliate
Germany.” These words, ever, though
not officially addressed to official
Washington, indicate the tension chat
exists, and coming from so high an au
thority as the under secretary for for
eign affairs, are believed to portend
an interruption of doplomatic relations
the American government
reconsiders its position.
Whereas two days ago ft was an
nounced by the Germany foreign office
(Continued on Page 8.)
NUMBER 39