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VOLUME XVI DARING ROBBERY ON CENTRAL ROAD Outlaws Blindfold and Tie Express flessen ger. BUT LITTLE BOOTY SECURED Victimized Messenger Tells Thril ling Tale of His Harrowing Experience With Bandits. Express Agent J. N. White of At lanta, whose run is on the Central of Georgia railway between Atlanta and Savannah, was the victim Friday morn ing of one of the most daring express robberies that has been committed in Georgia in years. The robbers, two white men, over powered, blindfolded and bound the messenger and proceeded to rifle the small safe, from which they secured, according to the officials of the Atlanta offico, not more than S3OO and proba bly not S2OO, They left behind a package of SI,OOO in silver, which was too heavy for them to lug off and make a successful escape. • The robbery occurred between 12 and 1 o’clock in the morning on the train which left Atlanta the night be fore at 9 o’clock, and which left Macon a few minutes after midnight for Sa vannah. Just as the train was pulling out of the Macon depot two white men ap peared in the forward door of the ex press car, which for some reason was unlocked, and one of them stated that they had a letter for the messenger, at the same time handing him au ad dressed envelope. As the letter was handed the mes senger the two men pushed their way through the door into the car when Messenger White looked up from the envelope he was gazing into the muz zles of a couple of revolvers which were in dangerous proximity to his head. By this time the train was pretty well under headway, and even if it had not been the messenger could not have called for help, threatened as he was by two such ugly weapons. While one of the robbers kept White covered with his pistol the other put an old sack over his head and tied it, completely and effectually blindfold ing him. His hands were then tied behind his back, bis feet were secure ly bound and then he was tied to the floor of the car, the cords being passed through the wooden grating which covered the floor. This was the condition in which the express messenger was found when the train reached Gordon, about twen ty miles east of Macon and which was the first stop made after leaving Macon. When released he told the story of how he had been held up and bound while the robbers went through the way safe and rifled the money packages it contained. The robbers made an effort to get into the through safe and threatened the life of Messenger White if he did not tell them how to open it. As a matter of fact, however, he did not know the combination of this safe and could not give it to them. The com bination of this safe is known only to officials in Atlanta, Macon and Savan nah, and it is opened only at these points. Not being supplied with dy namite, the robbers made no attempt to get at the contents of the big safe, but satisfied themselves with going through the way safe. An investigation o' the case made by the express and railroad officials in Savannah shows that ihe train was go ing at a too rapid rate between Macon and Gordon for any one to have alighted from it with safety, and the belief is that the robbers jumped out as the train slowed up at Gordon and made their way into the woods. The mail clerk in the next car to the express car heard Messenger White’s call for help as soon as the stopped at Gordon and went to 'sis relief. Assassin Qoes the Hemp Route. Gus Jacobs was hanged in Darling ton, 8. C., Friilay for the assassina tion of John Boyd, a farmer, on the night of May 28, 1900. MOB QOT IN ITS WORK. Negro Assailant of a Wh.te Oirl .Meets the Usual Fate While fishing in the Savannah river near Elberton, Ga., Miss Bhoda Alex ander was criminally assaulted by a negro workman, William Goolsby. No help was near. Miss Alexander at once returned home and reported the matter to her widowed mother. Abont that time the negro himself appeared and off-red to work six months for the widowed mother if she would uot tell on him. Before he could leave the premises some friends appeared, took charge of the negro and left for 1 the river. The cnlpri' was iynched and the body thrown into the river. JtlontijmmT!) illanitor. i'lUbi BE INLUTRAL England Will Accede to Building of Canal on No Other Conditions. i According to a Washington dispatch the administration has succeeded at last in securing a collection of opin ions from the leaders of the senate of | all political parties upon which to base , negotiations for a new isthmian caual treaty to replace the Hay-Pauucefote treaty. In other words, it is aware of the wishes of most of the senators j and the only problem before the state department is to frame a treaty that ! will reflect those views, insuring a | two-thirds vote for ratification, and I shall yet be acceptable to the British | government. If, as reported from London, the ! sine qua non is a neutrality clause, j officials here feel that success on this | point seems within reach. It is ex ! pected that two drafts of a treaty will j be framed before long, probably the j latter part of June, on Mr. Bay’s re | turn from the west. It is hardly ex ! pected, however, that final results will be obtained before next autumn, after ! the return of Lord Pauncefote from j London. A London special says: No definite j decision has yet been reached by the | foreign office here regarding the prob j able attitude of the United States sen ! ate tow-ard the projected Nicaragua j caual treaty. The negotiations pro ! ceeding on the subject of the Hay i Pauncefote treaty in this connection are understood to be based on the sine qua non of neutrality of the caual. If this can be definitely as sured it now seems likely Great Brit ain will agree to abrogate the Clayton- Bulwer treaty, though there is still the possibility of an endeavor on the part of Great Britain to simultaneously bring up the Alaskan boundary mat ter. This last contingency is officially described as being merely n question of policy not very likely to be pursued if the United States is content to make j the canal neutral. ONLY A HIGHWAYMAN. I Correct Status of James Callahan Is Made Known In Court. A special from Omaha, Neb., says: After examing thirty-live witnesses the state rested Thursday afternoon in I the prosecution of James Callahan for the abduction of Eddie Cudahy. The | defense moved to dismiss on the ground that the allegation of robbery had not been sustained. The jury was j excused and the motion argued. At torney McFarland, for the defense,, claimed that Mr. Cudahy had given up his gold of his own free will, had gone fully armed to the rendezvous and had been put in no bodily fear. The of fense, therefore dkl not constitute highway robbery. General Corwin, for the state, argued that although Mr. Cudahy was put to no personal fear, he gave up his money under stress of anxiety lest his son should be deprived of his sight. This constituted an aotive force, the attorney said, and operated identically as if he had been held up by a high wayrnan. Judge Baker sus tained this view. TO RECOVER STEALINGS. Attorney General After “Swag” Em bezzled By Captain Carter. Attorney General Knox, acting un der instructions, proposes to institute immediate proceedings to recover some of the money which former Cap tain O. M. Carter, of the army, ob tained from the government in connec tion with the fraud growing out of the improvements in Savannah harbor. A secret conference between Attorney Genernl Knox and the federal officers who have been at work on this cele brated case bas been in progress at the department of justice the past week to map out a plan of action. GOVERNOR IS LENIENT. South Carolina Murderer’s Neck Saved From the Noose. Governer McSweeney, of South Carolina, has commuted to life im prisonment the death sentence of Miles Cnreton, who was convicted of murder in Greenville and sentenced to hang. This man was respited sev eral weeks ago and is now sent to the penitentiary on the ground that he is weak-minded and not responsible. Both Judge Benet and Solicitor Boggs declined to accept this plea and re fused to recommend u change of sen tence. LINCOLN’S BODY TRANSFERRED. Remains Are Re-Interred In Crypt of National flonument. The remains of Abraham Lincoln and the other members of his family, which have been entombed in the na tional Lincoln monument at Spring field, 111., were repluced in the crypt of the monument Wednesday. Sine-: March 10, 1900, when the work of re building the monument at a cost to the state of Illinois of 8100,000 was commence 1, they have been reposing in a temporary stone vault near the monument. The removal was wit nessed by Governor Yates and other j state officials. MT. VERNON. MONTGOMERY GOT NT Y. GA., THURSDAY. MA Y *>. IDOL NO WRONG DONE BY MISSIONARIES Hinister Conger Refutes Stories of Looting. THE MATTER FULLY EXPLAINED Rev. Ament Also Takes Vigorous Exceptions to Derogatory Statements Published. In reference to the accusations of looting made against missionaries, United States Minister Conger, who arrived at Sail Francisco Wednesday night, makes the following statement: “The Americans have a larger num ber of missionaries out there than any other nation, nud 1 am frank to say that, under tho circumstances, there are very few things which the mission aries have done, if any, for which there need (o be any apology whatever. The stories of their looting are false, to my knowledge. ‘‘Believing that onr government would not demand a monetary indem nity for the murder and pillaging of native Christians, I advised them that wherever they could make settlements with the villages where those murders or destruction of property had taken place to make them on their own re sponsibility. Li Hung Chang and Yen Mao suggested that settlement could be made in this way with the least possible friction. There was no going out and compelling tho people to pay anything. It was altogether voluntary on their part. “ The missionaries have been criti sized severely for going, immediately after the siege was raised, into aban doned houses for shelter for themselves and the native coolies who were ex pelled from their homes. As to this I told them ‘if there is a boxer’s habita tion abandoned, tako possession of it, so yon can have a place in which to shelter and take care of the native Christians.’ ” Speaking of the siege Mr. Conger said: “It took every man we hnd to stand by the women and children. If not, the legation could not have lived, and without the native Christians, none of us would have been saved. The mis sionaries were not the prime causes of the trouble; they were only one of the causes. The missionaries were not responsible for the building of the railroads or for any of the other for eign innovations against which the hatred of the boxers seemed to be di rected.” MISHIONAICY AMENT TALKS. Rev. A. S. Ament, of the American board of foreign missions of the Con gregational church, whose collection of indemnity for damages done -by boxers in China has caused consider able discussion, takes vigorous excep tions to the criticisms made by Mark Twain and others as to tho alleged misconduct of the missionaries. Ho says: “We found onrselves at tho close of the siege with 500 native Christians upon our hands, no food, no clothing, no money and every Christian b-use burned. “On the very day of the arrival of the allied forces we were informed that we must leave the British legation, as it was to be used as headquarters for the officers of the British army. T im mediately thought of a Mongol prince, Hsi Ling, who was an nlly of the box ers and whose place was the headquart ers of boxers and blacklegs. We found the prince’s place entirely empty anil the next day we brought up our na tive Christians and occupied the de serted place. Tn that house and in neighboring houses that we occnpied we put more than 400 people. We took only n 1 andoned property. “The only food in the prince’s place was a bit of rice. We dicided to sell the clothing and curios found npon the premises and realized 82,500 in gold. They were bought by British and American officers at a private sale of two weeks’ duration. “Nutive Christians brought up furs and sable which they had purchased at a low price from wealthy Chinese who feared they might be looted by the military people, and v,ho were willing to dispose of them for a little money. These articles were sold at our place to British and other officers. I con sidered that that was a fair, honest speculation, which injured nobody and which benefited many people. There may have been some looted goods taken, but it was without my knowl edge. The Rnssiun and Sikh soldiers were selling truck very cheap, but my people did rot do the looting.’’ Postmaster In Trouble. Chief Postofliee Inspector Cochran, at Washington, has been notified of tho arrest of Jacob Israel, assistant postmaster at Ocala, Fla. Israel ia charged with the embezzlement of money order lands, whose amount is not stated. BRYAN HAKES ANSWER Declares That He Will Never Again Become a Candidate For the Presidency. In a statement given publicity at Lincoln, Nob., Thursday night, Wil liam J. Bryau says, in effect, that lie has no intention of socking a third nomination for tho presidency. Mr. Bryan's announcement is au answer to an article in an eastern paper specula ting on his plans as a political leader. Mr. Bryau said: “I am not planing for another pres idential nomination, il' 1 wore I would not be editing a papar. If I ever be come a candidate again it will be be cause it seems necessary for tho ad vancement of the principles to which I adhere, and that does not seem prob able. I shall, however, take a part in politics for several years to come if 1 live, and can bo relied upon to sup port those who, as candidates, ad vance Democratic principles and who can be intrusted to enforce them if elected. ‘I have no enemies lo punish. No matter what a man may have said or done against tho ticket in 189(5 or in 1900 that man becomes my friend the moment he accepts Democratic princi ples. Neither have I any disposition to reward political friends at the ex pense of our cause. Mo matter what a man may have said or done for the ticket iu 189(5 or 1900, that man be comes an opponent tho moment he turns against Democratic principles. Political battles are fought not in the past or in Ihe future, but in tho pres ent. The heretofore cannot be recall ed and the hereafter cannot be antici pated; but the NOW is all important.” CALLAHAN IS IDENTIFIED. Young Cudahy Declared Oil (lie Stand “Dark Mail’’ to Be Kidnaper. In tho trial at Omaha Thursday of James Callahan on the charge of con nection with tho kidnaping of Edward Cudahy, Jr., December 18, 1900, the victim took the stand and absolutely identified Callahan ns the “dark man” in tho case. After telling of his con finement minutely, young Cudahy was addressed by attorney Cowan as fol lows: “You may state whether the dark man who put a pistol to your head and made you n prisoner, and who guard ed you most of the time in the house, and who walked down the street with you, and bade you goodby, when you were released, was oue aud the same person.” “It was the same man.” “Who was that man?” “Jim Callahan.” “The defendant here in this case?” “Yes, sir.” From this point on Callahan was referred to by name aud no longer by tho name “durk man.” Callahan betrayed no emotion when the boy said he was one of the abduct ors, but a cynical smile played faintly over liis features. Witness testified that Callahan’s mustache was stubbier at the time of the kidnaping than it is now. SELLS GIRLS FOR FOOD. Harrowing Story Told By Represent ative From Porto Rico. When Dr. L. 8. Rowe, of the Porto Rican code commission, reached New York several days ago he said iu an interview that conditions on the island had been much improved despite the statements made by “a small element of the population in a spirit of pessim ism.” To this exception is taken by Wen cesloa Borda, Jr., a member of the commission chosen by the Planters’, Rankers’ and Merchants’ association of Porto Rico to present to the United States government the ideas of that organization regarding the state of affairs on the island. “Our people are starving,” said Mr. Borda, in an interview, “and the island is now in a worse condition un der the rnle of Governor Allen than it ever was before, even when Spain held sway. So hopeless is the state of af fairs that fathers sell their daughters to keep them from dyiu r, of hunger. These people who say the country is flourishing are the officeholders, repre sentatives of that class of professional politicians into which Governor Allen has fallen—the lowest class of all the island’s inhabitants.” SAFE WAS CARTED AWAY. Bold Burglars Secure SIO,OOO In Gold In Daylight Robbery. A most audacious robbery was com mitted at Anaconda, Mont., Saturday by two burglars, wLo secured 810,000 in gold. The burglars entered the Alaska saloon by forcing in the street door. Bodily picking up u 500 ponud rafe they loaded it onto an express wagon. Driving outside the city limits they broke the safe open aud secured 810,000 iu gold. Putting the broken sate into the wagon they started the horse toward town and made good their escape. There is no clue. ALABAMIANS VOTE FOR A CONVENTION Changes In State Consti tution Favored. VOTERS WERE VERY APATHETIC Convention Will Be Held In Mont gomery-New Suftrnge Law Most Important Feature. Tuesday the people of Alabama voted on the proposition to call a con vention to assemble in Montgomery on May 21st to reform the constitution of tho stato to needs of tho present day. Au exceedingly light vote was polled throughout the state, but the returns indicate that perhaps five-sixths of the counties have voted in favor of a convention being held. The principal reforms which the convention has in view ure the snl frnge, the courts, the terms of public officers and tho abolishment of so much local legislation. No definite programme has been mapped out by any faction of influence aud the convention will nocessarinlly be in session some days before the drift of sentiment can ho obtained. There has been apathy in every county in the stato so far us reports g“- The Democratic campaign commit tee Ims made a brief campaign, and speakers have been sent out, but no where have the people been greatly en thused. There has been no organiza tion against the convention, ns the op position to it was simply declining to go to the polls. At Tuesday’s election fifty-five dele gates from the state at largo were elected and one hundred the counties, each county being allowed so many delegates as it lias members of tho house of representatives. There will in no event he exceeding four or five Republicans or Populists in the convention. While the campaign lias been a spiritless one, another is already on w hich promises to he exceedingly live ly. Former Governor Oates, Hou. John B. Knox, of Anniston, and lion. Teunent Lomax, of Montgomery, are all candidates for tho presidency of the convention, und tho liveliest sort of u race between them is in prospect. SOLDIERS’ HOHE For Georgia Veterans to IP* Opened on June 3d, Jefferson Davis’ Birthday. With appropriate mid imposing cer emonies the Georgia Soldiers’ Horn* at Atlanta, will be opened on June 3d. the anniversary of Jefferson Davis’ birthday. This was decided upon by tlic board of trustees at a meeting Tuesday. A splendid programme is to be ar ranged for the occasion, all the local veteran organizations taking part. The Atlanta chapter of the Daughters of the Confederacy and other like or ders will have a prominent part in the exercises. The board elected James L. Wilson, of Putnam county, superintendent of the home from a list of eighty-five ap plicants for that position. Mr. Wilson was u gullarit soldier in the Twelfth Georgia regiment and served through out the war, principally in Virginia with Stonewall Jackson. The board also unanimously elected Dr. Henry Rossignol, of Habersham county, sur geon of tho home. The surgeon will get a yearly salary of 8200, together with his board. He will be required to remain at the home at nil times. Mrs. Pinkney Thomas, of Augusta, was elected matron. GEORGIA WEEKLY EDITORS. Press Association Meets In Athens on July i6tll and 171 b. The dates for the session of the Georgia Weekly Press Association in Athens next July have been announced by President Coleman, They are the lfith and 17th of July. From Athens the editors will go to Buffalo to visit the Pan-American exposition. SKINNER INDICTED IOR CRETE Tennessee Dairyman Meld For Murdei of Dr. Scruges. A Memphis dispatch says: J. W. Skinner,the wealthy dairyman charged with the assassination of l)r. Hal C. Hcrnggs, was indicted by the grand jury of the criminal court Tuesday af ternoon. Skinner, who was ont on 85,009 bail awaiting the action of the jury, was rearrested and jailed. Skinner still denies all knowledge of the crime. The latest develop ments strengthen the theory that, the crime was the result of a deep-laid plot following a political feud, and that a number of people are mixed up in the affair. I rade favors asked. Cubans Are Anxious Hor city Relatiows With I'ncle sam. Tin Cuban delegation completed it* labors in Washington Saturday. Id tho morning the delegates met Bcorw tnry 110 >t, who esoorted them to the white hom-e, where they had a tii al tall; with the president. Then they paid visits of courtesy to each <f the officials whom tiiey hud met and final ly they started for New York at 11 o’clock Saturday night, homeward bound. They will sail <1 irict for Ha vana. The j roceediugs at tliu white bouse were interesting and important. So nor Capote acted as spokesman for the delegation. He thanked the president for the many courtesies shown them, which they accepted us an expression of good will to the Co linn p epic. He invited the president to visit Cuba, to see for himself the conditions in the island and learn from coutaot with tho inhabitants of the love and ufTeetion the Cubans have for tho I'nited States and their apprecia tion of what has been done for them by this government in their struggle for freedom. Sonor Capote asked the president to do something for tho Cubans upion no economic line, especially in the matter of reciprocal trade relations. He *ni«l that it was especially desirable to have something of this kind done befnie the next crop was harvested, in ord< » that, the Cubans might realize the n«l --vnntages to them of closer political and economic relations with the United States. in reply tlie president said it wan impossible to settle economic question* until tho political questions were dis posed of. lie told the delegates to (irst form their government und then they would ho in a position to go into negotiations with the United Slutes an to i rode reltttions. The president said ho would appoint commissioners immediately a govern ment was organized to negotiate with similar commissioners from the Cuban government for reciprocal trade rela tions, and he believed that the United States would be ready to deal in • manner which would l;e beneficial to both countries. He thanked the dele gation for the invitation to visit the island, and told them to assn re the Cuban people of his friendly interest in them und his desire to see them contented and prosperous. capot* iNTi'itvn wr.r>. On their arrival in New York Sunday tin Cuban delegates wire interviewed. In talking of tho visit to Washington, Honor Capote, head of the delegation, said: "We obtained very important and valuable information and we shall im part it to tho convention immediately upon our return to Culm, but we can not say what the convention will de termine. Whatever expn Hsious f might make would ho merely my peisoni.l views, and it would lie improber for mo to express them. "Our visit lias been very phnsimt und instructive, and the rcpresenUi -1 n>uh made by President MeK mlcy and Secretary Hoot were very sat isfactory. ’* " lien asked whether the delegation would report ill fuvor of the acceplain 4 of the I'latt amendment. Senor Ouj-oln said: "That I cannot tell ” It tins boon said that your confer* cnees at Washington have removed all grounds for opposition to tho Ann ri e.un policy. Is this correct?” "Nn, I cannot say Hint. It is fo* the convention to say. All we can nay is that we are very much pleased with the information wlneli we have re ceived as to the intentions of the American government. The delega tion has prepared a full report of it# conference for the constitutional con vention, tmt it has not yet formulated any recommendations. ” “Are the. delegates unauimons n their view of the representations made to them at Washington, or is there any difference of opinion among them?” "They are quite unanimous in their satisfaction received.” Until,'lm Accepts Carnegie Hit!. Governor Odell of New York line signed the hill which authorized New York city to accept the 50,'200,000 gift of Andrew Carnegie for a free library system. f aKE LABELS CAUSE TROUBLE. Liquor Dealers To Bo Prosecuted Po# Deceiving the Public. A number of suits will he filed na the United States court as the result of tho seizures made in Atlanta, (la., jf liquors with imitation foreign label* An Atlanta law firm has been em ployed to bring suit against the parties noth on the civil and criminal side of the court. They will be prosecuted for viola • ion of a statute which provides that rtny liquors made in this country and void under the pretense of being im ported goods through having upon them an imitation foreign label, shall tie seized. Na 4