The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1883-11-22
KANSAS STATE NEWS.

decision the other day overruling the mo-
tion of the Santa Fe attorney to dismiss the
Usage City coal case on the ground that it
should have been brought by the mining
companies affected, instead of Usage City.
In closing their decision the Commissioners
said: SIN all matters which form the basis
Of complaint, when the matter complained
of affects but one individual or constitutes a
personal grievance, the complaint would
more properly come from the person who
has occasion for complaint, but if the mat.
tars complained of are the existence of a
state of things which effects injuriously a
number of persons of the same locality, it
appears to be found not inappropriate for
the Mayor and Council, or Trustees, as the
case may be, to prefer the complaint. The
complaint in this case is of the latter ma
.ure, and we think it comes properly from
the Mayor and Council of Usage City, and
therefore overrule the motion to dismiss"
THE Railroad Commissioners met the
representatives of the different railroads,
in conference at Topeka on the evening Of
the 18th, according to agreement. The
meeting was held with closed doors, and
the only action taken consisted principally
in discussion of the situation of the previous
week. The Commissioners accepted a prop
csition from the railroads extending the
time appointed for the Beloit decision to
take effect, hoping and believing that its
Lleeting would settle all existing difficulties
and bring about state of harmony before
final adjournment. The conference con-
tinued during the week without reaching
any final conclusion.
CHARLES WILSON recently earned a
livelihood by peddling pies, cakes, apples,
etc., among the soldiers at Fort Leaven-
worth, and became quite favorite there.
He lived alone in a small frame house,
where he often invited soldiers, purchasing
the whisky for them, and then they would
have "good time" This action on Viii.
sons part naturally had the effect of draw
ing the boys together and he had no trouble
in having visitors at his house every even
ing. The other morning he was found dead
with his skull crushed. The house had been
fired inside by the murderer, evidently to
hide the crime, but the smoke led to the
discovery of it. Wilson was 'ffty-five
years old. No clew to the murderer.
THE CAPITAL states that "some ruthless
vandal recently cut table of statistics out
of the middle of a page in one of the Cyclic
puedias at the State Library, and besides
destroying that page mutilated several
others. This is piece of vandalism of the
worst kind, considering the fact that the
person who committed the act utterly de-
stroyed the future use of the book so far as
that particular table is concerned. The
table might have been copied in ten min.
utes, and it was probably owing to the ex-
treme laziness of the vandal that it was
cut out"
C. WOOD DAVIS, of Sedgewick County,
has commenced suit in the United States
Circuit Court in this State against the st.
Louis & San Francisco Railroad-one for
$4,000 and one for $9,000-for overcharges
on freight he has paid for transporting coal.
It is stated that he has .also commenced
suit for damages aggregating $4,000.
"UNCLE JOHN WILSON," well-known in
the pioneer days as landlord at Le-
compton and Topeka, and a universal ia
vorite with all who ever stopped with him,
died recently at Emporia, aged seventy
five years.
Hon. WILLIAM SIMS, Secretary of the State
Board of Agriculture, recently stated that
Kansas, all things considered, has just had
the most prosperous year of her history,
and, although the wheat crop will fall
little below that of last year, the corn crop
will come to the front in fine style.
MRS. BAILEY, who was in Jail at Wichita,
awaiting trial for the murder of Clement
Bothomley, a prominent cattle man in tae
Indian Territory, was recently removed TO
Topeka, by order of Judge Foster, of
the United States District Court, who final
ly decided to admit her to bail in the sum
Of $4,000. As she has wealthy relatives ii
was thought she could easily procure bail.
Her trunk, brought by the officers from the
Indian Territory at the time of her arrest,
more than $6,000in diamonds and
other fine jewelry. This, however, is
claimed by the administrator of Mr.. Bo.
in Newton, who claims that Bo
thomley leaves a wife and children, now
living in England.
H. c. SPEER, State Superintendent of
Public Instruction, has prepared the pro-
gramme for the twenty fourth annual ses-
sion of the State Teachers Association, !
which convenes in Topeka, December Goth. |
The Normal School at Emporia, through |
Miss HoXie, invites the cooperation of all !
Institutions and schools of Kansas in max |
ng a special exhibit of work in the depart !
nent of drawing, at the association meet |
ng, with view to arousing more general |
interest in the subject. For information .
egarding plan of same, address the State /,
Topeka, or Miss L. F.
1oxie, Fort Scott.
ROBERT A. MURRAY, of Taylorville, KY,
lnder arrest in Sedgewick County, for ex-
ensive forgeries, while in charge Of an
fficer on north-bound Santa Fe train,
ecently sprang from the cars and made
lis escape. Murray has light hair, no beard,
kept a light mustache, and is about
wenty seven years old. He has fine ap.
'earing, straight form, has blue eyes, and
vas formerly engaged as a hotel clerk in
arious towns in Southern Kansas. He is
eported to be a dangerous character.
FREDERICK SCHMELTZ, a German about
orty years of age, committed suicide ths
ther evening at Leavenworth by taking 8
evolver and discharging it through, his
louth. The deed was done in front of his
,ife's door, she having discarded him for a
elbow she liked better. Hewas her second
usband, both of whom, it is stated, had
aken themselves off the same way.
" .