Newspaper Page Text
I
THE WEATHER.
Forecast—To-day and to-mor
row, partly cloudy, with varia
ble winds.
The
GEORGIAN WANT ADS
J L/
Use Tor Results
J11
nr*
VOL. XL NO. 222.
BK OFFICIALS HE ACCUSES
Probers To Be Formally Appointed
To-day Will Take Up the Charges
Against Ragsdale, Maddox and
Spratling—Statement Branded Lies.
Maddox Says Allegations Are a Mass
of Lies—Ragsdale and Spratling
Also Make Brief General Denial j Colonel' Astor left $5,000.000 to
Sensation in Council To-morrow.
Alderman John E. ' McClelland has tiled sensational
charges against three Aldermen, accusing them of having acted
in violation of the law to their own profit.
The accused are Aldermen J. W. Maddox. I. N. Ragsdale and
F. J. Spratling. Maddox alone replied at any length, branding
McClelland’s statement as a mass of “lies.” The other two con
tented themselves with the declaration that they would be ready
to prove their innocence when the Council committee meets.
'Pile investigators will be formally appointed this aft
ernoon and sensational developments are looked for. Alderman
John S. Candler will be chairman of the committee. Here is a
copy of McClelland’s statement addressed to .Judge Candler, fur
nished to the newspapers:
CHARGES AGAINST MADDOX.
"‘'sybu. .John S. Candler, Chairman Special Investigating Committee
• City Council, City.
Dear Sir: Under the resolution approved April 11. 11)13, and
} in fuftnerance of the orderly proceeding of your honorable com
mittee. I do hereby charge as follows:
That Alderman J. \V. Maddox is engaged in the business ot excavating !
Vd removing dirt, and rock, and has violated seetlou 100 ol the City Cqiie.,
> ' 1910. provided as follows:
It shall not be lawful for any member of the General Council
to be interested, either directly or indirectly, in any contract with
the city of Atlanta. 1he Mayor and General Council, or any one or
more of them, having for its object the public improvement of th<
city. W any part thereof, or the expenditures of its moneys. A
violati n of this section by any member of the General Council, aha.
on conviction thereof, bo punished as prescribed in section 1310 c
the Code of this State (being section 1039 of Criminal Code of 18951.
1 ch „rge that said Alderman has repeatedly, openly and notoriously, ac
cepted d performed sub-contracts for the removal of rock, dirt and grading,
from persons, firms and corporations who had contracted with the city of
Atlanta for the construction of public improvements. Said direct contracts
having been made and entered into while said Maddox was an official mem
ber of the Board of Alderman of the city of Atlanta.
Morgan's Estate
Is Largest Ever
Given in the U. S.
Lowest estimate of val
ue of real estate, in
surance, bank, railroad,
industrial and other
stocks . $40,000,000
Value of art collections,
conservatively e s t i -
mated . 60,000,000
Total . . . i.$100,000,000
How it compares with other in
herited-fortunes:
John Jacob Astor $87,216,691
E. H. Harrlman 69,686.654
Cornelius Vanderbilt 68,350,000
Russell Sage 79.000,000
John L. Kennedy 65,553.000
Marshall Field 70.000.000
Jay Gould 78,000,000
W. H. Vanderbilt 40.000.000
Mr. Morgan left $3,000,000 to
each daughter, $100,000 a year and
residences in town and country to
wife, residuary estate absolutely to
wife, $5,000,000 -to daughter, and
residuary to his son. Vincent.
Mr. Harriman and Mr. Sage left
their entire fortune absolutely to
their wives, without reserve.
Cornelius Vanderbilt left $1,000,-
000 to eldest son and namesake and
more than $60,000,000 to his sec
ond, Alfred.
Jay Gould left $5,000,000 special
bequest to eldest son. George, and
divided all the rest equally among
his five children, boys and girls
alike, giving each one more than
$10,000,000.
ATLANTA. HA.. MONDAY. APRIL 21. 11)13.
STRINGER LAYS
tUH THEFT FI
TO DRIKKING
‘ 0
Express Messenger, in Jesup Jail,! Urges Conciliatory Policy Toward
Tells Story of Crime to Sun- ! Japan on Alien Land
day American. \ Legislation,
2 C lb NTS K VERY WHE RE P ^ R S°
M RS. COPLEY THAW, formerly the Countess of Yarmouth,
and sister of Horry K. Thaw, who will marry Geoffrey G.
Whitney, p banker, of Boston, at Cumberland Island, Ga., to
morrow .
FIND THREE DEAD
IN ANCIENT WELL
Illinois Woman and Her Two Chil
dren Slain and Their Bodies
Hidden for Week,
ELGIN. ILL.. A]” i 1 21. ~-Search for
! Mrs. Maud Sleep and her two chil-
[ dren. who disappeared last Monday
j evening. end<*d to-day with the fin 1-
j ing of the three bodies in an aban-
i cloned well on her husband's farm
near Elgin.
! Airs. Sleep had been shot four times
and the two children had been beat
en to death. The Elgin police be
lieved all three had been murdered
■ind their bodies thrown into the* well.
There were four bullet wounds in
Mrs. Sleep’s body. An, ax, stained
with blood, was found in a shed near
the well. It.was supposed the slayer
of the trio killed the children with
the ax after shooting the mother to
death.
., , , . . . , t • i • „ . , Posses of farmers were organized
I further charge tha£ his said conduct was so openly violative of said I ti .; v afternoon to search bar traces </
of Mrs. Sleep and her two
A lynching is expected if
Courtland S. Winn, requested said Maddox to either abandon said contracts
section that the then presiding Mayor of the city of Atlanta. Honorable
the slaye
children,
the murderer is found.
At the inquest begun by the Coro
ner this afternoon a note was pro
duced. It was found in the well and
was signed “Maud.'' The note said:
“Dear Father—I have \killed my
self. Good-bye.”
The note was not in the handwrit
ing of Mrs. Sleep, according to neigh
bors who were close l'rlends of tlm
murdered woman. The police were
convinced it was a forgery.
New Skirt Shows
Limbs to the Knee
c. to resign his official position, in order that the charter law of (he city
might he respected and obeyed. ,
I further charge that said Maddox declined to comply with the request
of Honorable Courtland S. Winn, and that he neither resigned his said posi
tion as alderman, nor abandoned his contracts; and that he continued to
openly violate said section.
I further charge that the object of said section was to pevent any offi
cial from using his position to advance his personal interests; and that ^aid
conduct upon the part of said Maddox was detrimental to the interests of
'.he public, and that he did, as an official, use his official position for the
purpose of advancing his pecuniary interests.
CHARGES AGAINST RAGSDALE
I charge that I. N. Ragsdale, a member of the Aldermanic Board of the Flesh-Colored Stockings Revealed by
city of Atlanta, is, and has been, engaged in the barter and sale of live ! Slash in Front of the
stock, and that, since his-election to the Aldermanic Board, he had occupied \ Garment.
‘'position on the Board of Fire Masters—a department of the city which
is constantly engaged in the purchase and sale of live stock.
1 charge that said Ragsdale, directly or indirectly, formed with others
dummy partnership, known as J. R. Lawhon & Company, and that said
Lawhon contributed no substantial capital to said firm: and that the capi
tal of said firm was almost entirely contributed by said I. X. Ragsda’e. di
et tiy, or indirectly, and another firm which likewise dealt largely with the
city of Atlanta in live stock,
I charge that said J. R. Lawhon & Company since the election to office
• f said Ragsdale lias been constantly buying and selling live slock for the
city of Atlanta through the said Ragsdale, as the official representative of
the city of Atlanta and member of the Board of Fire Masters.
Said dummy partnership was formed and said transactions were had by
said Ragsdale for tbo end and purpose that he would be colorable protected
from section 100 of the Code of 1910, which is above fully set forth.
I charge that said Ragsdale has further, in violation of said section
directly, sold live stock to the city of Atlanta, and has had warrants and
vouchers issued to him directly by the city, transferring !o hint public funds
in payment of said sales.
I further charge that live stock, the property of the city of Atlanta, lias
been condemned as being unfit for use. and that (he disposal of the same
was delegated to the said Ragsdale: and that he did sell said live stock,
without public advertisement or competitive bids, to his dummy partner
ship, Lawhon & Company, or others interested with him, for sums less than
the real value of said stock.
I further charge that said transaction constituted a deliberate disregard
of the obligations and trust imposed upon, and assumed by, the said Rags
dale as a public official of the city of Atlanta, and were in denial of the legal
restrictions imposed by said section 100 of the Code of the city of Atlanta.
CHARGES AGAINST SPRATLING.
i charge that F. J. Spratling. a member of the Aldermanic Board of the
city of Atlanta, was nominated at a primary held in the fall of l!'H. which
-aid nomination was the equivalent of a legal election: ihat h • was the
XKVV YORK. April - I. Fifth Ave
nue was treated to a view of the lat
est freak of fashiqn to-day when a
trim little blonde strolled up the ave
nue above Forty-second Street wear
ing a skirt that was divided in front.
As the little woman walked along,
the divided skirt gave an ample
glimpse of flesh-colored silk stockings
to the point just below tin: knee.
Tile new skirt was of heavy dark
blue cloth of moderate wqitii and of
ordinary walking length. The divl-
f m in front was cm away much in
the fashion of a man's-cutaway coat
and was bound with heavy black
braid.
Just what style it wa.s above the
knees no one seemed to notice.
Convict Succeeds
To Title in England
Noble Prisoner Has Spent Most of
His Time Behind Bars in
United States.
LEA YEN WORTH. KANS., April
21.—Fred Grey, serving a sentence for
misuse of the mails, was notified to
day tli^J he lias succeeded to a Brit
ish title and a largo estate in Eng
land on account of th»» death of his
older brother. Hi: term will expire
.Iune 10. and he will Icjave at once for
England
hi
• Id.
Knglhii i
. . .charges c
t te j dnl} elected a member of the Aldermanic Board A Her said noun j the mail.-
Continued cn Page Two. Ji* i
i. frouiot.ng sale
lei!;., his la‘T nr
I
FELL WHILE INTOXICATED
Habit Just a Month Old—Refused
to Touch Another Package
Containing $4,500.
JESUP. GA.. April 21.—J. B.
Stringer, the young express messen
ger arrested to-day for the theft of
$5,600 in currency in transit between
Brunswick and Atlanta banks, from
the Souhern' Express Company, told
the story of his crime and its causes
to The Sunday American as he sat
in his cell in the county jail. He
blamed drink for his plight.
^Stringer. a slight country boy.
seemed frightened and on thi verge
of an emotional collapse in the Wayne
county jail this afternoon. With his
fingers nervously working and pinch
ing at his face h»* explained the as
tonishing case.
The boy made the remarkable stene
ment tlliat he spurned a package
which contained $4.600—the com
panion of the one he stole.
“I let it lie there,, in" the car," he
said. "I did not want it. After 1
had taken the one package, the other
seemed to repel me
“It is all because I drank too much
Wednesday night. J don’t know of
anything else that made me take the
money, *1 have handled many pack
ages containing thousands of dollars
before this, and did not want to taki
them.
Began Drinking Month Ago.
“Bui about a month ago J stalled
to drink a little, and Wfnli^^ugy uighi,.
1 drank too muqh. M? nerves were
shattered. In the car the temptation
came to me to take the money out
of.the package.
“The temptation was new to me.
but nervous and sick as T was I did
not seem to care. I cut up sonic
papers 1 had in the car to read, and
put the scraps in the package, re
pealed it. aryl put the money in the
safe until 1 got to Jesup. Somehow,
f could not urge myself to touch the
other package with the $4,500.
“When 1 got to Jesup, I took the
money with me, got a glass jar from
the restaurant, went down the rail
road to the water tank and buried tin
money.
“Then I sat down, still and quiet,
for the first time since the impulse
first came tp me. The thought of
what I had done sobered me. and
I saw what a fix I was in. 1 decided"
to return the money, bui they caught
me.”
Alone in His Offense.
The boy declared that he was alone
in' his offense, and that nothing had
inspired him to steal the money ex
cept the drunken impulse.
“Before I lefr Brunswick on the
trip.” he said, "1 had no thought that
I would take the money. The idea
had never entered my head. It came
.til at once, like that, and seemed to
hold me.”
The boy seemed ignorant and help
less, He has not employed a lawyer,
and said he did not know what he
would do.
“I don’t know what will happen,”
he said, in a tone of hopelessness.
“And I don’t know what to do. I
ean’i do anything, I reckon.”
Stringer waived preliminary hear
ing, and his case will go to the grand
jury for consideration. A bond of
$5,000 was fixed, which the boy lias
not furnished. The Superior Four:
session begins here next week, with
Judge E. Graham, of Haselhurst, pre
siding. and it is probable that he will
be tried then.
Superintendent Knowles, of the
Southern Express Company. was
here to-day, but would make no state
ment except that the entire $5,000 had
b£en recovered, and that Stringer had
taken it. fie left this afternoon with
his detectives for Brunswick, but will
be here Tuesday when court convenes.
Express Thefts Infrequent.
.Local officials of the Southern Ex
press Company, discussing yester
day the theft of $5,000 by J. B. Strin
ger. declared that they did not fear
repetitions «>f the offense. Dishonesty
among employees, they said, is in
frequent.
Here is how Joseph E. Skaggs. At
lanta agent of the company, answer
ed the question as to why so few
packages containing money were
stolen:
Because of the inherent honesty of
the employees.
Because the employees are trusted
implicitly and respect their trust.
Because there is a fraternity among
the employees of the express com
panies that makes them work to-
geiher for the company and for them
selves.
Only 1 in 1,000 Goes Wrong.
“Express companies work on the
theory,” said Mr. Skaggs, “that all
men aru honest until they are proven
otherwise. «*nd though, of course, we
do not. 1 iirov temptation in any man’s,
way more than is necessary, it is a
fact that the honesty of th» express
employee is the safety of the pa<‘k-
^ges. honest' is a better safeguard
than all the system of protection
liiat could be d- - <1. arid if you let
,.;au i nov that you trmt him >♦. L
DISREGARDS ALL PROTESTS
Alarmed Over Growing Anti-
American Feeling in the Ori
ental Kingdom.
WASHINGTON. April 21.--Presi
dent Wilson, thoroughly alarmed over
the rising tide of anti-American feel
ing in Japan, caused Secretary Bryan
to send a telegram to Governor John
son. of California to-day. urging a
conciliatory policy toward the Orien
tal nation in the proposed alien land
legislation.
The step was taken by the President
over the protest of the California del
egation. the members of which declare
that the national government has no
right to interfere in a matter so vital
to the social and industrial life of
that community.
Here Is the message to Governor
Johnson:
“The President directs me to say
£«* £ 7
a*
1? ' >' ?:-J -
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1 mmm
tV • *•
m
■ * *4' * *,
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S'
Lhai while ht fully' recognizes the
right of the‘people of California to
legislate according tt> their judgment
on the subject of land tenure, lie
feels it hb : duty to urge a recogni
tion of the international character of
such legislation* Being anxious to
preserve,and strengthen the long
standing friendly relations existing
between this country and the nations
of the Orient, he very respectfully but
most earnestly advises against the
use of the word 'ineligible to citizen
ship.’ He asks that you bring this
view to the attention of the legisla
tes! He believes the Senate bill as
telegraphed to the Department of
State is greatly to be preferred. That
bill limited ownership to citizens and
those who had declared their inten
tions to become citizens.
(Signed) “W. J. BRYAN.’
Japanese Start Trouble.
The telegram was the result of a
two-hour conference between the
President and the State Department
officials. Confidential reports were
read which tell that the warring po
litical factions in Japan are making
use of the California incident to
arouse feeling among the uneducated
masses which could easily precipitate
war.
The following interviews obtained
by The Sunday American correspond
ent indicate clearly the attitude of the
California delegation:
Representative Kent: '.Japan is
running its usual bluff. The pre
tense that, the Japanese nation does
not recognize racial distinctions in its
international relations is absurd.
There are racial distinctions which
must be reckoned within international
intercourse, and Japan should ac
knowledge this and tak* a broad
view of the question.”
Says Delay Is Dangerous.
Representative Raker: “If the
California Legislature will only go
ahead and pass its legislation the
disturbance will subside and the alien
act can then he calmly viewed
through the ordinary diplomatic
channel. The legislation itself is not
half so dangerous as the delay which
gives opportunity for agitation and
Japanese jingoism.”
Congressman Kahn: “What is all
the turmoil about? Is California to
he prohibited from doing what the
1'nited States Government and many'
of the State Governments have al
ready done? States where the race
problem does not enter have auti-
alien laws. California is clearly’ with
in its right:; and is dealing with a
problem far mut> vital u> »ts future
than that which existed when other
Stat* adopted similar legislation. I
%m> furr'
Will Outbid Detroit ] || I 11II miCCCI I
- For Asphalt Expert j‘-'LL I nl« nUddLLL
Chairman Smith Says County Must
Have Proctor, No Matter
What the Cost.
'll TO GOD’
Opening Words Commit Soul to
Savior and Urge Children to
Keep Christian Faith—Relig
ious Spirit Is Manifest,
Widow Gets $1,000,000 inr
Trust, $100,000 Annual In
come and City and Country
Homes—3 Daughters Share.
Two Sons-in-Law Draw $1,000,—
000 Each—Art Treasures Go
to J, P. Morgan, Jr,—$3,000,-
000 to Relatives and Others,
Chairman Shelby Smith, of :ae
County Board, said yesterday ire had
telegraphed C. A. Proctor. Detroit hn
phalt expert, asking what salary fi-
would accept to supervise the roa
work of Fulton County. Mr. Smith
said the county would outbid Dc
troit for Mr. Proctor’s services if nec
essary.
Smith said that .ince Proctor had
declined to accept the position of**
fared him at ;i salary of $3,600 he
had made an extensive investigation
that developed the fact that Proctor
was one of the five first-class asphalt
experts .available in the United States
and that he was doubly determined
Fulton County ami Atlanta should
have the best.
“Wo want Proctor at any cost."
he said. “We have talked our situa
tion over with him in detail, and
would rather have him than any man
we know of.
“Proctor gets something over $4.-
000 now, and we’ll have to come si hit
stronger than that. I have no doubt
the city will pay its share of the
e what u good
dll pay
salary when they
man he is.”
'Hold-up Insurance’
Issued in New York
Timid Citizen Can Now Pay Premium
and Trot Horne Happily. Re
gardless of Footpads.
will
ilslaj
NEW YORK April 2). The recent
increase in tlie number of hold-ups
here has resulted in big indemnity !
firms issuing “hold-up insurance."
The timid citizen who fears his
homeward journey will be molested
by the man with gun and mask has
only to go to his broker, fill in a
policy, pay a small premium and
trot happily homeward.
Home concerns will protect against
burglars, taxi bandits who lift the
till after trussing the clerk up and j
storing him beneath the counter, or j
J the pickpocket who removes your j
| roll in a crowd.
! “It's a new 'kink.’ but the public are
I beginning to catch on to it; said »’. I
R. .‘hephaid. a manager of ope <.f j
new insnr- j
*i*fect god
Will Take Moving Pictures of Eu
ropean Working Women as
High Tariff Argument,
NEW YORK, April 21.—Lillian
Russell is going to Europe early in
June on a novel philanthropic project.
Accompanied t>y moving picture op
erators. she will visit England,
France, Belgium, Holland, Germany,
Austria, Russia and Italy for the pur-j
pose of making pictures of the women
workers in those countries. She In
tends next winter to lecture on the
subject of labor slavery in Europe.
The pictures will illustrate her ad
dresses. Miss Russell said to-day:
“I intend getting material that will
ease the discontent of women with
their lot. 1 think that our women live
In an industrial paradise compared
with most other nations. I am going
to get . pictures of English women
dragging coal trucks like beasts of
burden for a shilling a day.
“I will show Belgian and Dutch
women Lugging at ploughs and har
rows and pulling barges like oxen. I
will snow the field labor of women in
Austria. GeTipany. Russia and Laly.
1 will show the abominable condi-1
tioiia under which the poor live and
toil all over Europe.
' During the Fong essional cam
paigns n< xt fall I shall go on the
stump with my motion pictures in
aid of those candidates who favor
protection of American industries.”
Southern Cooking
■Just Suits Senators
Dixie Manager to Supply Hungry
Statesmen With Hot Biscuit
and Cor^ Pone.
WASHINGTON, April 21.—South
ern cook nig, which has become fa
mous all over the world, lias won an
other victovy. It his captured no
lo-*.s important a body than the United
States Senate. The Committee on
Rule- of that body settled the “liun-
ger strike” existing bv deciding to
NEW YORK. April L«.—“1 commit
my tfoul into the hands of my Sa
viour. in full confidence that, having
redeemed it and washed in His moot
precious blood, He will present it
faultless before the thi*one x of my
HeavenL Father; and 1 entreat my
children to maintain and defend at all
hazards and at any cost of personal
sacrifice the blessed doctrine of the
complete atonement for sin through
the blood of Jeans Christ, once offered,
and through that alone.”
This is the striking utterance which
begins the, last will and testament of
John Pisrpont Morgan, who died at
Rome on March 31 last, whose body,
heaped bver with flowers from fhe
crowned heads of Europe, was a fort
night later brought back to his own
land an I last Monday was borne to
its last resting place at Hartford,
< ’©nn.
Ever since the funeral the publica
tion of the great financier’s last will
has been awaited with keen expecta
tion, and it'is safe to say that of all
the interesting testaments of eminent
citizens of America that of Mr. Mor
gan is by far the most interesting.
No Idea of Fortune.
As to the amount of the estate,
there is nothing in the will to give
any accurate idea, and the executors
declare no announcement will be (
made on this point until the ap
praisal has been made for determin
ing the State inheritance tax.
The amount of bequests and trusts
named by specific sums is under $20,-
000,000, but the entire residue of the
estate is left to J. P. Morgan. Jr., who
is designated by hi? father to be
come the chief heir, not only to his
fortune, but to his many charitable
and artistic activities.
Mr. Morgan has apparently pro
vided with painstaking care for every
contingency that might affect hir
family or his banking firm and to hie
executors, his son. John Pierpont
Morgan. Jr., his two sons-in-law,
William Pierson Hamilton and Ii. L.
Srftterlee, and his friend. Lewis Cass
Ledyard. he gives careful directions
under many clauses a« to alternate
course of procedure.
Grandson Is Trustee.
His grandson. Junius Spencer Mor*
gan, Jr., a youngf man of only 2R
now a student at Harvard, is repeat
edly nominated to take up important
duties in the event of death of hi*
father, John Pierpont Morgan, Jr. ’
The question most frequently asked
lias been as to the disposition of Mr
Morgan’s collections of pictures and
other art treasures. Mr. Morgan
makes plain what his own hopes on
this point have bean, and leaves his
son entire freedom on the matter.
His will declared he left tin- mat
ter of establishing a permanent dis
position of these collections until lo *
late, and says: “It would be agree
able to me to have the ‘Morgan
Memorial,’ whicli ’ forms a portion ' *
the property of the Wadsworth Athe
naeum at Hartford. Conn., utilized to
effectuate a part of this purpose. I
do not. however, by the expression of
these wishes, Intend to impose upon
my said son, or my said grandson,
any duty or obligation, legal or mora'.
nor to qualify, in any manner or in
any degree, hie absolute and unquali
fied ownership jf said collections,
should they pass to him under thtw
will.”
Chephard, manage
firms dealing !n the
engap
He
hot
deli.
I
EDITOR NELSON FREED
OF CONTEMPT CHARGE
\ \
JEFFERSON CITY, MO.. April l
William R Nelson, owner of T;
Kansas City Star, who was charge
with malice in the publication of j
article in his payer, was found n
guiltv in the State Supreme Coi
to-day. Mr. Nelson was held in eo
tempt of court lest February for 1
publication of tiio article and
*. t«* serve tint* fia\ in ja.1l.