The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-10-16
KANSAS STATE NEWS.

As the west-bolnd passenger train on the
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad
reached point one mile east of EmpOria
Junction on the 5th the engine struck an
obstruction. in the shape of a crcSS-tie,
which had been placed on the track. 1t
pushed it lengthwiSe between the guard
rail and outside rail on bridge across
small stream, and passed on safely.
, freight train following the passenger was
thrown from the track, wrecking the engine
and nine cars. The fireman, named Scott,
was found crushed and killed under the
engine. The engineer was slightly wounded.
1t is supposed that the crOss-tie was put on
for the purpose of wrecking the passenger
train. The Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe
Road has offered reward of S., 600 for the
apprehension and conviction of the guilty
parties, and the Governor offers an ad
ditional reward of $500.
A MAN named Dempsey, a section fore
man, recently got drunk at Coolidge and
brutally murdered his invalid wife. Demp-
sey made no attempt to escape, and was ar
rested. He was too crazy drunk to know
what lie had done, and only realized his
crime several hours later, when he had par
TALLY sObered up.
IN the late decision in the ''Ritchie Addi-
ton" case of Topeka, the Supreme Court
held that where an act of the Legislature,
attempting to confer corporate powers, is so
special in its provisions that it can apply
only to three certain cities, and cannot pos
sibly at any time apply to any other cOrpo-
ration, public or private, it is UncOnstitu-
tonal and void. This decision renders void
the act of the Topeka City Council annex
ing Ritchie's Addition, and throws cloud
upon the title to many lots sold for taxes.
WHILE Mrs. Oscar Anderson and her
mother, Mrs. Hamblin, were out driving at
Topeka the other dav, their horse became
frightened at a passing locomotive, and,
turning suddenly, overturned the buggy,
throwing the occupants out. Mrs. Hamblin'S
right arm was broken by the fall, and Mrs.
Anderson was injured.
GEORGE WEBER, the supposed burglar
arrested at Topeka lately on suspicion of
having robbed Rudolff's grocery, proved to
be one of the most desperate and sharpest
crooks in this country. 1t was developed
that he heads regularly organized gang of
thieves, who are scattered all over the cOun-
try, committing midnight thefts wherever
Weber has been in advance and made OBJ
ServatiOnS. That was his mission in Topeka,
as was shown by a set of cypher books
found in his possession which gives descrip-
tionS and locations of several business
houses, also how to enter them, the kind Of
safes they have and what tools were neces-
Sary to do the work with.
Two coIored men who were recently dig
ging for the foundation of the capitol at
Topeka, were buried beneath a lot of fall
ing earth. One was inSenSble when taken
out. and while receiving severe injuries, 1t
was thought both would recover.
DETECTIVES at Topeka recently arrested
three men who were believed to be the par
ties who attempted to wreck the Santa Fe
passenger train near EmpOria. They gave
their names as James FOrney, August For
ney and William Mound. When captured
they were at the Central Hotel, 4 lOw-clasS
house on the corner of Fifth and Jackson
streets. They protested very strongly, and
with half chance would have fought, as all
of them were hard-loOking characters. They
were taken before Justice, but they waived
preliminary examination and were bound
over to the District Court in the sum of
$4,000 each.
A SWEEPING reduction was made in the
Missouri Pacific shops at Parsons the other
day, both in force and in the wages of those
retained. Seventy-five men from the differ
ent departments of the shops were dis
charged. Considerable hardship will be the
result of this reduction.
THE Board of Railroad Commissioners
have received a complaint from j. NJ.
Covert, of Atchis6n, complaining that the
Missouri Pacific Company, operating the
Central Branch. refuses to receive cars
loaded with coal from the Hannibal Il st.
Joseph Road unless they receive in advance
mileage of three-quarters of a cent per
mile from AtchSon to the point of deStina
ton and return. This is regarded as an in
dication that the Missouri Pacific does not
propose 10 accept the late ruling of the
board and proposes to carry the matter into
the courts.
PROF. +. E. JEROME, of Russell, has been
appointed by the Department of Agricul-
ture at Washington. TO make a report re-
garding the treeless plains of Kansas. Prof.
Jerome is making extensive tours over the
State to verify facts and secure evidence of
a geological character upon which to make
a report which will be of value to the De
partment. The report will be completed
about December 1.
SEVERAL prominent gentlemen of Mis-
souri, and Kansas have formed private cor
pOratioD to be known as the New Mexico
Mica Mining Company, with 81 900, 600 CAP
ital stock The headquarters of the compa-
nv will be in WyandOtte. The charter of
the company was recently filed with the
Secretary of State.
CHARLES JONES, desperate WyandOtte
darkey. was recently arrested while practic-
ing with razor upon his wife. Before his
murderouS hand was stayed he inflicted
nine ugly gashes upon her body.
THE twenty-fifth annual session of the
Grand Lodge of Good Templars recently in
session at Topeka, elected the following
officers for the ensuing year: G. ". c. T.,
p. S. Loofbourrow. of Clay Center; G. w.
V. r.. Mrs. NJ. E. WiliefOrd, Galena; G. w.
c.. A. ID. Billings, Marion; G. w. S., Miss
Ada Peck, topeka: G.. w. T., l.. Brown,
Girard: G.. w. c., Rev. G. s. Dearborn, Os-
kaIooSa: G.. W. NJ, James A. Troutman,
Topeka; REPRESENTATIVES to r. W. G. L. to
b, held in Toronto. Can, next May, James
\. Troutman, Topeka, l.. Brown, Girard
Aiternates James Grimes, Parsons, Rev. g.
s. Dearborn, OskaloOsa; Chief SuIArinten-
dent of Juvenile Templars, Mrs. E. ID. Gar
lick. Winfield.
MARY BRowN, a coIOred woman living
in tie southern part of the city Of Leaven-
worth, was recently terribly gOred by a cow.
She went to milk. when the beast turned
upon her and inflicted bad wounds with her
horns on the woman's back and hip.
MR. >. LEWIS, the STOCK man, arrested at
the instance of Wood Bros (Or obtaining
money under false pretenses, returned to
Wyandotte, having been discharged at En-
poria. where he was taken for trial. He
stated that he proposed to bring suit against
Wood Bros for damage to his business.
Corn crop immense.
PosT-oFF1CE changes in Kansas during
the week ended October 4, 1884: Estab-
lshed - Protection, Comanche County,
James r. Holland Postmaster. DiScon-