Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1876-05-13
THE NEWS.

PIPER, the Boston murderer, now
confesses that he also had an insane
propensity to incendiarism.
1t is thought that the Bowen ex-
amining committee will report in ia
vor of his expulsion from Plymouth
church.
DIR. Height, of the Western Chris
tian Advocate, denies the charge
that the Methodist Book Concern in
the West is insolvent.
The Michigan republican conven-
ton appointed delegates to the Gin
cinnati Convention and passed nom
committal resolutions.
The report teiegraphed to a New
York paper in reference to Tweed's
residence during the past winter at
Georgian Boy, Ontario, is contra
dicted.
DiaZ, the Mexican revolutionary
commander, is reported to be retreat
ing on Matamoras, being unable to
penetrate to the interior owing to
the scarcity of provisions and water.
The United States Ind ian agent at
Red Cloud writes that there is no
foundation whatever to the report
that The Indians Of that agency are
in starving condition.
DIR. VIM. Hall, editor Of Halls
Journal of Health, fell in fit in the
street at New York Wednesday night
and expired in a few minutes. DR..
Hall was sixty-three years OF age,
and the cause of his death is not
known.
The telegraph brings an abstract
of the testimony in the libel suit, now
in progress in San Francisco, of the
Bulletin and Call against the Alta
Cdlifor ala, from which it appears,
by the admission of Mr.. Mills, the
present President of the Bank of
California, that the charges of defal-
cation made against the late Presi-
dent Ralston were but too true, and
that that and his over-iGSue of stock
to cover up his deficit VS. the cause
of the failure of the bank.
At the annual meeting of the
AmericanTract Society in New York
Yesterday, the reports showed that
more than 10000, 10000 pages of tracts
have been distributed during the
year; receipts for the year, including
$1O1 ,718 in donations and legacies,
1892 ,252; to which add 1922 bal
ances, making total resources for the
year $500, SIT. The expenditures have
been 1901 1903, leaving a balanc in the
treasury of $2,773. William Strong,
of Philadelphia, was chosen Presi-
dent for the ensuing year. Fifty
two vice presidents were also elected,
and thirty-six director with but few
changes from last year.
A dispatch from Boston announce
that Thos. w. Piper has confessed
the murder of Mabel Young, and
also the murder of Bridget Landre-
gan, of which he was suspected over
two years ago. The motion for new
trial in the Supreme Court Monday
was therefore Overruled. 1t is also
now certain that Piper was the as
sailant of Mary lyman, who was mys-
teriously beaten July l, 1874, but re-
covered, and is now in an insane
asylum. Piper confesses that he at
tempted to kill her. He says that
while under the influence of stimu-
lants he had an insane desire to shed
blood, and it is suspected that he will
now try the insane dodge.
The Grand Jury of the Criminal
Court of the District of Columbia
Tuesday found a true bill of indict-
ment against W. w. Belknap, late
Secretary of War. The indictment
sets forth that he was Secretary of
War ON June 16, 1878, at which time
a certain question, matter, cause or
proceedings were pending in relation
to the appointment and retention in
office of the trader at the post of Fort
Sill, in the Indian Territory; that he
did unlawfully, wilfully and CORRUPT
ly accept and receive the sum of ST.
700 from one Caleb p. Marsh, with
intent to have decision and action on
the question pending influenced, and
did appoint one John s. Evans, and
did retain John S. Evans as post
trader in consideration of having re-
ceived said sum. The additional
counts charge him with receiving
81 500 for the same purpose on No
vember A, 1878, January %, 1874 !;
10th April, 1874; oath May, 1875, and
November Is, 1876; and $3.50 Janua-
ry Is, 1876.