Newspaper Page Text
VOL. 6.—N0.'131.
TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.
LATEST EVENTS OF INTEREST AT
HOME AND ABROAD.
A Hitch In the Removal of the Danville
(V’a.) Postmaster—Emperor William In
, a Critical Condition—Communistic
Demonstration at Victor Hugo’s
Funeral Feared—General Items.
Danville, Va., May 28.—There seems
to be a hitch about removing A. M. Wheel
er, Republican postmaster in this city. Some
time ago a petition was sent up from Dan
ville signed by some 300 citicens, asking for
Wheeler’s removal, on the ground that he
was an offensive partisan. The Register
publishes an interview with Wheeler, in
which he says he recently waited on the
President and filed an affidavit, stating
that all the charges against him
were false; that he bad never been a parti
san, never was a readjuster, was always con
servative in his pt lilies, and did not think
he came under the manifesto against of
fensive partisans. He asked therefore to be
retained under the civil service laws.
Wheeler is originally from Buffalo and an
acquaintance of the President. Mr. Cleve
land told him the people of Virginia had
been groaning under the one man power for
a long time past, and ought to be relieved,
but he would look into Wheeler s case and
see justice done him. The Register pub
lishes various statements from citizens to
show that Wheeler was actively engaged in
politics, and that his claim to conservatism
is not well founded. The case excites much
interest here.
A NEIGHBORHOOD WAR.
Between Two Desperate Clans in Ken
tucky.
Cattleburg, Ky., May 28—A gentleman
who arrived here last night brings news of
a neighborhood war on the head waters of
Beaver creek, Knott county. The leaders in
the trouble are Tait H\ll on one side, and
Clabe. Jones on the other. Each had
from 20 to 30 desperate followers.
The origin of the troubleis said to have been
the killing of a man named Talyre, some
time last March, in Floyd county, when
Jones charged Hall with being responsible
for the murder. This caused Hall, who has
killed two or three men in his time to go on
the warpath for Jones. The latter, apprised
of his danger, rallied his friends and Hall
was put on the defensive. A few days ago
Hall’s party were driven into the house by
Jones and his men, and since
then war has been waged in
earnest. Hall and his crowd
arestill fortified in a hous’, which is sur
rounded by Jones and his followers. On
several occasions the Hall faction have
made sorties but were driven bick, and up
to last accounts five men had been killed
and several wounded.
FATAL RAILWAY ACCIDENT
Caused by the Breaking of a Brake Band.
Charlestown, W. Va., May 28.—At
the Kanawha colliery yesterday, a car con
taining thirteen miners was being drawn
up the mountain to a mine on the inclined
railroad, when the brake band broke. This
destroyed the balance that hail existed be
tween the car and another car loaded with
coal which was being lowered on
another track. The heavy coal car began to
descend with great rapidity, hurling the
passenger car up the mountain side. Some
of the men jumped out instantly and es
caped with severe bruises. Four remained
aboard and attempted to jump upon the
platform at the top as the car reached it,
but were thrown with such force against
the timbers that they were killed,
VICTOR HUGO’S FUNERAL.
Every Precaution Taken to Prevent an
Outbreak.
Paris, May 28—Tbe police and
military officials are taking every
precaution to prevent an outbreak
during the progress of the funeral
of the late Victor Hugo, which takes place
on Monday. The authorities have issued a
decrease ordering the priests stationed at
the Pantheon to quit within 48 hours.
This order has created much feeling aid in
dignation in Roman Catholic circles, and
several of tie organs of the church co itain
bitter articles denouncing this action of the
government as sacrelegirus and tyranical.
EMPEROR WILLIAM,
He Pass s a Bad Night and His Condition
Critical.
Berlin, May 28.—1 t was officiary an
nounced this morning that the Emperor
William spent a bad night. He was very
restless and slept only at intervals. His
physicians report his condition to-doy as
much worse, and say that internal, compli
cations from which he Is suffering, have
become more alarming in their symptoms,
The Imperial family arrived from Potsdam
last night. Many point to the fact of their
sudden and unexpected return as an indi
cation that the Emperor's condition is
Critical,
—V
COLORED LAWYERS IN SOUTH CARO
LINA.
Slit-Eared Whitaker Among the Number,
Columbia, S. C., May 28—Four young
colored men were admitted to practice at
the bar of this State yesterday after credita
bly passing a severe examination. One of
them is J. C. Whitaker, the cadet who
became notorious at West Point.
Ice cream soda 5 'tents at 'Oppenheimers.
Pure fruit syrups.
Sanannal) Dm I n Simes.
ATLANTA FLASHES.
A Sharp Jeweler in Trouble -CapUal City
Club Charged with Violating the Law
by Selling Liquor on Sunday.
Special Dispatch to the Daily Times.
Atlanta, May 28.—The name of George
Sharpe, the jeweler, is again before the pub
lic. Sharpe decamped several years ago
with the diamonds and money of hundreds
of trusting friends and has never been heard
of since. Now the Bank of the State of
Georgia revives the old story by a suit just
filed against J. W. English and F. M.
Cohen. The latter was president of the
bank and the former was vice president.
Sharpe had $13,000 worth of diamonds de
posited with the bank as collateral. He bor
rowed the diamonds to show to an alleged
customer and never came back any more.
Hence the suit of the bank. The case was
tried yesterday and a verdict is expected to
day.
The case against the Capital City Club for
selling whiskey on Sunday was argued before
Judge Clarke yesterday, but no decision has
been rendered yet.
The late committee of the pool met yester
day at the Kimball House, but transacted no
business of importance.
Atlanta is passing through a great religious
revival. Services will be held Sunday in
the biggest warehouse in the city.
The fund for the Young Men’s Christian
Association building has passed beyond
$50,000.
THE CLUVERIUS TRIAL.
Continuation of the Case For the Defense
Richmond, Va., May 28.—Judge Atkins
to day issued an order clearing the court
room of all persons except witnesses, law
yers and reporters. This action was taken in
order to enhance the comfort of those who
were necessarily compelled to be present.
W. A. Edwards,of King and Queen county,
testified that Bigg, the well digger, had
spoken of having seen letters from Lilli n
Madison in which she complained of having
an unhappy home.
B. Anderson, of King and Queen county,
testified that he saw prisoner on tbe 14 h of
March and saw no scratches on his hand?.
A number of other witnesses from King
and Queen county testified that the prisoner
had borne a good character prior to his
arrest.
Capt. A. F. Bagby, testified that he met
the prisoner at the York river depot of the
Danville railroad, in Richmond, on Satur
day morning, March 14; that he spoke to
him; that they went down on the train t >■
gether; that he didn’t remember
noticing his hands particularly; that
they parel ■at West Point; that
the prisoner was at his house next day
before dark; that they we tto Tappahan
nock, next day and slept in the same hotil
that night; that he noticed nothing unusual
in prisoner’s demeanor; that when he met
prisoner at the depot in Richmond he had
on a black felt hat and dark overcoat.
Thomas Bagbv, of West Point, testified
that he was in Richmond on the 13th of
March; that he saw the prisoner on that
day at Mozart Hall between the hours of
2 and 3 o’clock; that he saw the prisoner
in the police court the day the case was
called; spoke to the prisoner, and he (pris
oner) asked witness what time it was. Wit
ness saw prisoner at the Dime Museum in
Mozart Hall. When asked whether it was
in the evening or at night, witness "replied,
“in the evening.”
MUSICAL FESTIVAL IN PETERSBURG.
A Decided Success and Brilliant Triumph
Petersburg, Va, May 28—The second
musical festival was inaugurated yesterday
afternoon by an organ recital at tbe Market
Street M. E. Church. Clarence Eddy, of
Chicago, was the organist, and scored a
brilliant triumph. He is the best performer
on the organ ever heard here
not excepting Fred Archer. Mrs. E. Aline
Osgood, of Boston; the St. Cecilia quartette
of Washington, composed of Misses Minnie
Ewan, Emma Detweiler, Jessie Harvey and
Mrs. Harriet Mills and Wm. Mackridge
tenor, were the sc Gists. Yesterday even
ing the first concert was given at the
Academy of Music, all the artists appearing
except Mrs. Osgood. The grand chorus, led
by Herr Carl Zerrahn, of Boston, was superb,
and each of its performances elicited the
most enthusiastic applause.
The Lynchburg Concordia Glee Club
made a fine impression. The festival orches
tra is all that could be desired.
The audience was the most brilliant ever
assembled in the Academy and contained a
large contingent of Richmonders as
well as visitors from Lynch
burg, Farmville and Other points
in the State. Baltimore and Washington
were also represented. This afternoon there
will be a recital of chamber music, and
this evening the sacred concert will be
given, at which Mme. Teresa Carreno, the
famous pianiste, Mrs. Osgood and the
Lynchburg Mozart Association will be
heard.
VIRGINIA MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.
Even the Negroes Bolting Mahone,
Lynchburg, May 28,-= a Tli4 municipal
election is progressing qn&Jtly. The effort
of the Mahone party IX) put a ticket in the
field for city council Vas a complete failure
and most of the 'negroes voted the Demo
cratic ticket,
It is genetally believed the Southwest
Railroad Subscription will be defeated.
Noß'fc'lk, Va.. May 28. —The election
to-day for Citv Treasurer is passing off very
quietly. At 2 o’clock the Democrats had
about 100 majority.
'Richmond, Va, May '2B.—The only
officer voted forte-day in this city was
Samuel C. Greenhow, fat City Treasurer.
There was no opposition/and Mr. Green
how will receive abotit 4,060 votes out of
15,000, and will give his $751000 bond and
be Treasurer again.
SAVANNAH, GEORGIA, THURSDAY, MAY 28, 1885.
A TALK WITH RIEL.
HE DENIES THAT HIS WAR WAS A
REBELLION.
Declares it Was a Fight lor Rights—Ty
rannized Over Until Korced to Resistance
—Declares Himself Loyal to the Con
stitution, and a Citizen of the
United States—The Batoche F.ght.
Winnipeg, May 28.—The Rev. Mr. Pitt
blado, of this city, was on board the steamer
Northcottf when Riel was being conveyed to
Saskatoon. He had some conversation with
the rebel leader, whom he describes as a
cunning, intel igent man. Riel says he did
not know what the authorities would do
with him. He was forced to fight, he said,
by the mounted police and Hudson Bay
officers, who tyrannized over tbe half breeds.
He said that in the Batoche fight he had
about 500 men, but would have bad more
had not Otter’s attack prevented the Indians
from joining him, in which case the tight
would have been much worse. “I expected
an attack on tbe north side of the river and
left fifty men to resist it cn that side. This
weakened us on the other side.”
“Where were you during the fight?”
“At first, when the mist was on the river,
I was on the north side, but when the
attack was made I went everywhere among
the men and all through the pits. Eight ol
my men were killed and two wounded fa
tally, I fear.”
Riel set forth the claims of the half
breeds in these words: “Wedid not rebel.
We have never yet b« i treated with about
our rights. The half-breeds of Manitoba
have entered into a treaty. That treaty
stipulates that the arrangements to be made
with the half-breeds of the Terri
tories would be similar with those
made with Manitoba. No treaty had ever
been made with us. We never transferred
our rights and before they are taken from
us we wish to have a treaty made and think
we have a right to expect that the condi
tions of that treaty will be similar to the
one made with the settled half-breeds in
Manitoba. No, th's is not rebellion; we sim
ply defend onrstlves. We don’t belong to
the Hudson Bay Company. They sold their
interest in the country. The Indians who I
took the treity sol i what interest they had !
in the country and the half-breeds of the
Territories are the owners of the soil they
occupy. They have au interest in the coun
try with which they have never parted.
They desire to have an equitabla arrange
ment made for their interests—they defend
themselves.”
Riel’s answer as to what he would do if
charged with treason was as follows: 1 would
asy, first that while I was a subject of the
English government I was liyal to the con
stitution. If J, with others, was instru
mental in securing tbe recognition of the
rights of haifbreeds, my conduct was con
doned if not justified by a treaty which the
government made with me. Second, the
government recognized me as Governor of
Manitoba for two months from the 24th of
June till the 24th of August, when I gov
erned Manitoba. When Wolseley entered
he called me a bandit, not a traitor.
He never arrested me. When governor
Archibald came he shook hands with me; so
did Colonel Irvine, and I served faithfully
in trying to put down the Fenian invasion.
The Government recognized my services. I
resigned my seat in the Provincial Legisla
ture to a member of the Government. I
have shown the Government many favors,
but they have never conferred a single favor
on me. I have been true to the half-breeds.
I have not rebelled against the Government,
and, besides, I am a citizen of the United
States. I have my papers all right, and a
citizen of the United States can scarcely be a
traitor to the Dominion Government.”
New York Stock Market.
New York, May 28 —At 1:30 p. m. to
day quotations were:
Union Pacific 54
Missouri Pacific 95%
Western Union Telegraph Co 60%
Pacific Mail 56%
Lake Shore 52%
Louisville and Nashville 33%
Texas Pacific 11%
Denver and Kio Grande 5%
Michigan Central 48%
Delaware, Lackawanna<Si West’n 101%
Northwestern 93%
St. Paul 68%
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy 121%
Oregi u Transcontinental 13%
Northern Pacilic z 39
Rock Island 114%
Jertey Central 37%
Memunis and Charleston 36
East Tennessee, Va. & Ga (coin) 21%
East Tennessee. Va. dt Ga. (pfd) 5%
Philadelphia and Reading 13%
Omaha (com) 20
Omaha (pfd) 71
New York Central - 83%
Kansas and Texas 17%
Erie -. 9%
New York Produce Market.
New York, May, 28.—Flour dull and
unchanged. Wheat—No. 2, red winter, for
June, 86}. Corn—No. 2, mixed, for J June,
56}. Oats —No. 2, mixed, for June, 35|a46}.
Pork dull—mess,sllall 75. Lard—July $6 83
Mollases; firm, 20 for 50 test. Rosin quiet.
Rice steady. Sugar—Refined firm; cut loaf,
7f; granulated, 6 15-16a7. Tallow quiet;
prime city, 5 11-16a7|. Coffee firm; fair
cargoes, B|.
Chicago ’Change.
Chicago, May 28. —Wheat opened, June
86}, July 88|, August 90}. Corn—June
and July 45}, August 46J. Oats—June32j
to 32|, July 32}. Pork—June $lO 45, July
$lO 55, August $lO 65. Lard—-June $6 47,
July $6 50. Ribs—June $5 £2, July $5 s 2,
August $5 37}
—
Probabilities.
Washington, May 28.—For the South
Atlantic States partly tloudy weather and
occasional rain,'southerly winds. In South
ern portion variable winds in Northern
portion, stational temperature.
Indians Leaving Reservations.
Fort Bayard, N. M., May 28. —The
Indians are leaving their reservation daily.
Thenutnber of Indians doing killins during
the'last ten days is said by the military
authorities to be only 134.
THE CENTRAL CITY.
A Lecherous Farmer Meets His Deserts—
Gossipy Notes.
Special Corespondence to tbe Daily Times.
Macon, May 27.—“ Twenty-two buck
shot in two leads all fired into one man’s
body and the man not dead yet.” Yester
day morning, a few miles from Brown’s
Crossing, in Baldwin county, on the Geor
gia Railroad, Mr. Henry Lane, a well-to do
farmer and worthy man, left his peaceful
home to go to Haddock’s Station, the next
below Brown’s Crossing, to make some nec
essary purchases, and on his way to the
railroad station he passed the house of
W’iiliam Whiddon, also a farmer in good
circumstaaces and well thought of in the
county. Lane asked Whiddon if there was
anything he could do for him, if there was
any purchases he wished made, or
other business that he could attend to for
him while away. To this Whiddon an
swered no, and thanked him for his kind
ness, all of which was very pleasant between
two neighbors, and neither dreaming that
the next time they met it would be at the
point of the shotgun and pistol, but such
weie the developments, for soon after Lane
got out of sight Whiddon went to Lane’s
house and called Mrs. Lane for the ostensi
ble purpose of borrowing a saw, but for the
real purpose of committing rape. Mrs.
Lane was not yet dressed, and answered
Whiddon from behind the window curtain.
Whiddon at once took in the situation and
walked into her room and told 1 er he did not
want any saw, and immediately attacked
her and her screams brought some negroes
from the yard, whereupon Whiddon released
her and immediately took to his heels
Last night Mr. Lane returned from Had
dock’s and was immediately informed by his
wife of the attack, and instead of going in
the dark and hunting up Whiddon, he spent
the night quietly and early this morning
loaded his double-barrel gun with buckshot
and went over to kill Whiddon on sight.
He came upon Whiddon suddenly and
emptied his gun, containing twenty-two
buckshot, into Whiddon’s left side. Whid
don was not unprepared, however, for the
attack, and shot several times at Lane with
a large pistol, neither shot taking any effect
whatever. He did not even give Lane a
scratch. Lane went immediately and gave
himself up to the sheriff, who would not
even held nim. Whiddon at last accounts
was not dead, but it is impossible for him to
live. The people of that section all endorse
Lane’s action in the fullest and strongest
terms.
The game of base ball this afternoon be
tween the Amateur nines of the Macon
Volunteers and Griffin Guards, was very in
teresting and enjoyable. Both nines play
a good game. The score resulted Griffin 8;
and Macon 5.
The foundation for the Wadley monu
ment has been completed, and the erection
of the pedestal begins to-morrow. Mr.
Robert Cushing, the sculptor, works very
rapidly and thoroughly. He is a perfect
gentleman and answers questions most po
litely and courteously.
The United States Court is about to close
its session, business has given out
and an adjournment will be taken Saturday,
when Judge Speer will go to Atlanta to
hold court.
Harold.
A MURDERER.
Weeps Piteously Over His Crime.
Onancock, Va., May 28.—While a party
of young folks were going home from a farm
frolic in Accomac county, night before last,
Wm. Ray Field and John Young quarrelled
over a trifling thing. Field drew a pistol
on Y r oung, but was disarmed by the
latter. He then seized a fence rail and
dashed Young’s branis out. He was arrested
and lodged in jail at Accomac. He wept
piteously and declares that he did not
intend to kill Young.
A BREAKFAST TO STANLEY.
Ho Eulogizes Christian Efforts in Africa.
London, May 28. —A dejeuner was given
to Mr. Henry M. Stanley to day by promi
nent Baptists, who are in London attending
the May meetings. In referring to the
efforts of the Baptist missionaries in Africa:
Mr. Stanley spoke in eulogistic terms of the
efficiency with which the work of spreading
Christianity was performed j
The Murderous Apaches.
Tucson, Arizona, May 28.—The presens
raid of Geronimo is already more disastrous
to life than that of two years ago when
Judge McComas was slain. Then but
seventeen persons were murdered while five
have been killed in Arizona so far and
twenty-five in New Mexico.
The Mahdi Arranging for Peace.
Dongola, May 28.—MCwS has reached
here to the effect that the Mahdi is prepar
ing to dispatbh an envoy to tbe Khedive for
the purpose of obtaining terms upon which
peace may be restored in the Soudan.
Demonstration by Communists.
‘ Paris, May 28.—The Communists have
completed arrangements for another dem
stration to-day.
Prince Bismarck to go to Klssengen.
Berlin, May 28.—Prince Bismarck will
go to Kissenger in June. He has already
rented a villa there.
Discount Reduced.
London, May 28—The Bank of Eugland
has reduced its rate of discount to 2 per
cent.
Mormon Immigrants.
New .York, May 28 —The steamship
Wisconsin, from Liverpool, landed 406
Mormon immigrants yesterday.
—Judge W. Perkins, Southern editor of
the New York South, is in the city, and
paid the Times office a visit to-day.
INTERESTING CASE
AGAINST THE KNIGHTS OF THE
GOLDEN RULE.
Insurance Companies and Suicide Cases—
An Old and Interesting Subject Ably
Discussed—Precedents Cited Bear
ing on the Matter—Decision
Against the Knights.
The case of Mrs. Laura Newton, widow of
Stephen B. Newton, and J. T. Shuptrine,
guardian, et al. vs. the Knights of the Golden
Rule, in the City Court, mention of which
was made yesterday, came to a conclusion in
the afternoon after the Times had gone to
press. The deceased was a member of a
local lodge, and had his life insured for
$2,000 on December 1, 1880, and on Decem
ber 6, 1882, shot and and killed himself in
Cemetery street, in this ciiy. His widow
and the guardian for his children demanded
the money due on the policy claims, but the
Knights of the Golden Rule refused to com
ply, alleging that deceased had violated one
of the rules and forfeited his insurance and
annulled the contract by taking his own life.
Suit was brought by Mrs. Newton and Dr.
Shuptrine to recover the sum of $4,000.
The case was tried yesterday in
the City Court, and it was
well tried too. The counsel for the Grand
Lodge of the Knights throughout the
ccuntry. S. M. Bernhardt, Esq-, of Louis
ville, Ky., assisted by Isaac Beckett, Esq.,
defended the suit, and C. A. West, Esq.,
appeared for the plaintiffs. The laws re
lating to suicides violating a policy, and
those in reference to sanity and mental de
rangement were fully difeussed and elaborat
ed. The learned Judge then decidedly ex
plained all the bearings of the case and
the applications of the laws to the case at
bar to the jury. That body retired and
after deliberating a short time returned a
verdict for plaintiffs in the sum of $2,804,
principal and interest from March 6tb,
1883. Several imjortant decisions were
read by counsel on both sides in reference
to suicides vitiating policies of insurance
and their effect on contracts, and
in this connection a recital of the following
state of facts may not be inappropriate.
They embody tbe same principles substan
tially as in the case against the Knights of
the Gclden Rule yesterday:
Capt. Calvocoresses was a retired officer
of the United States Navy. He lived at
Littlefield, Conn, and was ccmfortally
situated, having half pay and a considerable
sum of prize money. His fortune amounted
to SIO,OOO. In December, 1871, he com
menced to insure bis life and by April, 1872,
bad secured policies in twenty different
companies, amounting to $195,000. On
Monday, June 3d, 1872, Capt. Calvocoresses
left his home, stating that he was going to
New York to attend to some insurance busi
ness, and took with him a sword, cane and
valise. He checked his baggage to Bridge
port, and that same night shot and
killed himself with an old-fashioned
percussion lock horse pistol. The
heirs of the deceased presented claims
for insurance money and the companies re
sisted payment. Legal negotiations followed
and little by little the plot of self destruc
tion, long concealed, developed itself. The
companies, according to all showing, had a
good case to fight, and the legal battle be
gan to seem interminable, but the dead
man’s heirs were open to a compromise and
this was reached, and a tedious and costly
litigation was avoided.
Col. Milton Dwight, was a well
known citizen of Binghampton, N. Y.
He applied to every insurance com
pany in the United States in
the months of August and September, 1878,
and sought to obtain insurance on his life to
the amount of $450,000. He succeeded in
placing policies aggregating $255,000. All
these insurances were effected between Au
gust 18th and September 19ffi, 1878. On
the 15th day of the following
month Dwight was taken sick. On the
15th day of November following he was
reported dead, and the case excited wide
interest. A post mortem examination was
held, and fourteen reputable physicians
signed a statement of facts that appeared
at an autopsy. The insurance companies
were represented at the post mortem. Most
of the physicians held that Dwight was of
sound health and mind when he insured,
and then deliberately exposed himself to
every possible risk to accelerate his end.
The Equitable Insurance Company of New
York decided to pay the amount insured,
$50,000. The Home Company cf New
York, which had a policy of $5,000, fol
lowed, and the other companies resolved to
fight the claims in the courts, but the
Court of Appeals in Albany, New York, to
which they had resorted, dismissed the
appeals, seven in number, and the compa
nies were left no alternative but to settle.
The Monroe Snyder case also attracted
wide attention. He was a respected citizen
of Bethlehem, Pa., was at one time pos
sessed of means, but becoming involved in
unprofitable business ventures, he was on
the verge of a crash. He then insured his
life in several companies for $65,000. On
February 21, 1873, Mr. Snyder left home
ostensibly to go to New York and consult
an auri.St about his hearing which was seri
ously impaired. 'Me left New York for
here about 5:30 o’clock in the afternoon, and
about 10 o’clock that night was found on the
Lehigh bridge by a watchman apparently
asleep. He said he was stabbed twice, but
no blood was found on him. On February
22d his body was found in Monocacy creek,
near the South Bethlehem bridge, which
was not the one on which the watchman
found him. There were three cuts on him
in the abdomen but none necessarily fatal.
The curious part about them was that there
were no rents in bis clothes over the
wounds. It was as if the clothes bad been
removed, and then adjusted and buttoned
over the wounds.
Detectives investigated the case and con
cluded that Snyder had killed himself.
Suits for the recovery of his insurance
money followed, and his heirs compelled
tbe irsurance companies to toe the financial
mark. The elements of mystery that sur
sounded and characterized the Snyder case
were presented in another fame us case
S6OO A YEAR
which cost the insurance companies dearly.
This was the case of Ja<ob C. Wallis.
He was a farmer of Johnson county,
Missouri, and a man of good
character and small means. He
had a quarrel with a family named Bone
in reference to said claim for land. The
men of osseous* cognomen, had been guer
rillas under Quantrell during the war and
when they threatened vengence on Wallis
no one blamed him for expressing a fear of
them. On Sept. 22, 1873, Wallis left home
at 1 o’clock in the afternoon, showing his
wife some money which he said was SBO he
■ intended to pay a neighbor, and he was
seen riding towards the latter’s house.
Four hours later his body was discovered
lying on the road, his pocket book empty
and papers strewn on the ground.
Two physicians examined the body and
discovered a gun shot wound involving both
both lungs and the heart, and then a pistol
with which the wound was indicted lay
forty-five feet distant. The weapon was
recognized as his own. Suspicion naturally
rested on the Bones’ and they were arrested
but they established alibis and were ac
quitted. It was then discovered that
Wallis did not owe any money and did not
have to go to his neighbors and that
on the muddy ground about the body
no tracks were observed but those of
a man and a horse. People working
close by heard the shot, and saw no one and
on the whole the only conclusion that could
be arrived at was that Wallis had been
assassinated by a phantom or had suicided.
He was insured for $12,000 and despite law
suits his heirs recovered the amount.
William Callendar, of York, Pa., is
another case in point. He rode to Harris
burg, Pa., on the 26th day of March, 1854,
and obtained a policy of insurance on his life
for $5,000 in the Keystone Mutual Life and
Health Insurance Company, of Harrisburg.
The policy, like that of the Knights of the
Golden Rule and all other policies, was “to
be void if the assured died by hisown hand.”
He started home that afternoon, was taken
sick on the way and died at a toll gate at the
turnpike that night. The claim for the
insurat.ee was presented and refused
and suit followed. The ruling of the court
was that suicide, according to tbe expressed
terms and conditions of a policy, voided the
contract, and the company was sustained.
Upon appeal the decision of the lower
court was affirmed, and the Supreme Court
held that the court below was very plainly
right in charging that if no condition had
been inserted iu tbe policy, a man who
commits suicide is guilty of such a fraud on
tbe insurers of his lite that his representa
tives cannot recover for that reason alone.”
A woman named Mary Stephens lived in
Ypsilanti. She had $20,000 on her life in
five companies. Shortly after the policies
were issued she drowned hersilf in a well,
and the companies refused to pay the
claims. They set up a powerful
defense of deliberate suicide. Anthony
Mcßeynt Ids of Ann Harbor, Mich., a law
yer of tbe tld school, years ago
made a superb appeal for the heirs before
the cmrt and won her case.
Biron Bela Olrige was a wealthy man of
Pestb, Hungary. He married a rich wife,
but the nobleman went through his proper
ty in a short time. He secured insurances
of SIOO,OOO each, in four different compa
nies the terms being that if he died the
amount shoul 1 be paid over to his family.
In October 1875 his physical constitution,
once so strong, could no longer stand an
agency so potent of evil, that it was under
mining it, and the Baron was compelled to
go to bed. One doctor said it was a case of
galloping consumption and the rest shook
their heads ominously but Baron died with
in fourteen days thereafter. After his death
a will was found in which he bequeathed
his life insurance policies to his wife.
Now the baroness preferred her claims for
a half million due on the policies. The
companies refused payment on the ground
that the deceased committed suicide by
deliberately swallowing the nicotine from
three thousand five hundred cigars, which
he had smoked. The heirs recovered the
insurance despite all the courts.
There are hundreds of other cases of a
like nature on the books and records, and
right here in our own city, several cases
have occurred where associations and insur
ance companies have paid policies rather
than go to law.
Isle of Hope Yacht Club.
The annual meeting of tbe above named
club was held to-day at the office of Mr. F.
C. Wylly and was largely attended, Com
modore T. P. Bond in the chair. The Sec
retary and Treasurer H. C. Claghorn having
resigned, W. D. Johnston was requested to
act as Secretary. The minutes of the last
meeting and report of the finances of the
Club were read and confirmed, and the fol
lowing new members were elected: Joseph
Hull, Dr. L. A. Fallicant, R. S. Claghorn,
T. B. Thompson, Dr? C. N. Brandt and
Jacob Lutz.
The election of officers for the ensuing
year then look place and the following were
elected:
Commodore—T. P. Bond.
Vice Commodore—R. M. Demere.
Rear Commodore—J. M. Bryan.
Secretary and Treasurer—James G. Har
dee.
Stewards—W. D. Johnston, Albert Wylly,
J. H. Dews, R. B. Habereham, I. G. Haas.
Sailing Committee—George W. Wylly-,
A. Boaaud, R. B. Habersham.
Timers —J. A G. Carson, A. L. DcsbouiD
1 ns, J. W. Burroughs, F. X. Douglass.
Measurer —James K. Munnerlyn.
The finances of the dub are in a prosper
ous condition and the members present
showed great enthusiasm and are determined
to make the annual regatta that will be held
at the Isle of Hope about the 25th of June,
a memorable occasion, at which time there
will be a steamer to go over the course and. a
band of music for the members and their
guests. The membership of the club is about
65, and the yearly dues $5.
Port Grape Wine for the Sick.
We can confidently recommend Speer's
Port Grape Wine, which was awarded the
highest premium at the World's Fair, a su
perior article of wine for the sick and debili
-1 tated.
I The vineyard and cellars are at Passaic,
I New Jersey, near New York City.—Medical
Review.
> For sale by Osceola Butler, Druggist,
i corner Bull and Congress streets.