The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-10-30

lies of cliques and,rings He then refers TO the
statements of Mr.. Hatch relative to the water
ed stock of railroads; ALSO to the grant of land:
by the government to aid in building roads and
the separation of land grants from railroads
that the benefits of grants may be dishonesty
appropriated. He also states that grave charges
OF various nature against the railroad man
agement of the country and that the Cheap
transportation Association asks that these
charges be investigated and if Congress finds
that the grants made to railroads have been
obtained by false pretences and used for private
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. they be reclaimed
The Association ask Congress to investigate
the special freight and passenger contracts be-
tween one portion of the country and the other.
1t viii ask Congress to consider if it is not ex
pedient to make laws regulating railroads and
if it is not also expedient to create permanent
railroad commission with power to lay iDjunc-
tons and abate violations of the laws; also that
Congress consider the expediency of establish
ing national railroads from the Western States
to the seaboards.
Mr.. Quincy closes by calling meeting of the
Association in Washington, Jan. 14th, and in
vites delegates from all kindred State organiza-
tons to be present.
Judge Davis Charge in the Stokes Case
Judge Davis, in his charge to the jury in the
Stokes case, referred to the claims of the de-
fence that Fisk died from the effects of NOR
phia. He said this question was an interest
mony on that point and on the point whether
the wound was necessarily fatal and said even
il death was accelerated by morphia, the prs
oner is responsible for the death, assuming ne
fired with intent to kill. He considered the
plea of insanity very weak.
After covering all law points bearing on the
evidence at great length the Judge concluded
his charge by instructing the jury it they are
convinced the prisoner inflicted the wound with
the design to commit murder, even if Fisk dled
hos. I,N., 1n
tempt to commit murder in the first; if his
death was accelerated by medicine, then MUIR
der in the first degree; if the design to kill was
entertained for any length of time before the
deed then murder in the first degree; it the
prisoner unnecessarily killed him under mis-
apprehension, then manslaughter in the second
pegree; if done in the heat of passion with
designing murder, then manSlaughter in the
third degree; if done entirely without design,
then manslaughter in the fourth degree; if in
self defence, then the prisoner was entitled to
acquittal; if convinced he believed Fisk was
about to assault him with pistol, then he is
justified.
He urged the jury to give the case serious
consideration and spare no effort TO come to a
rational verdict as it has occupied public at
tention long enough.
Stokes Convicted of Manslaughter.
Tremaine made several exceptions to the
rulings of the Judge. The case was given to
the jury who, after being out till II o'clock,
returned with verdict of manslaughter in the
third degree and Stokes was sentenced to four
years in Stales Prison at hard labor. When
the announcement of the verdict was made, his
friends gave wild hurrahs, clapped hands and
stamped their feet Stokes held down his
head and smiled.
Various Matters.
Gen, Harrison, of the money order depart
ment of the Post Office, says the effects of the
recent panic have increased the amount of re-
nittances through the post office money order
system from 25 to 30 per cent.
Five cases of rich silk alpaca were seized by
the customs officers yesterday on board the
steamer Scotia. The cases were entered as but
ton hole trimmings. The duty on alpaca is
thirty five per cent. while on button hole trim
mings it is only ten.
In the case Of Tawton, the defaulting cashier
of the Atlantic Bank, the court refusing to
admit testimony to show that the President
knew of his transactions, the defense refused to
present further advices and the Judge directed
the jury to find a verdict for the government
which it did, A motion was made for a new
trial and the prisoner fent to Jail
Arthur Hughes, a negro minstril, has been
arrested for stealing from the Mansion House
at Albany
The Huntington M stery-Suspensiou.
ALBANY, Oct 29.-Gov. Dix today issued a
proclamation offering a reward of $4,000 for
information which would lead to the con-
viction of the persons who caused the death
of Charles G. Kelsey at Huntington, Long Is
land
The puddlers at the Rensselaer, Iron Works
have notified the proprietors that they shall
refuse to work for less than S5.25 per ton. They
were informed that the price was out of the
question, and the offer resuming the mill on
the basis of So. 10 for pudding was withdrawn.
This ends the hope of pudding forge being run
this winter. A majority Of the men seem
willing to go to work, but are intimated by a
few ringleaders.