The Press., 1888-11-22

John Hodel, who was sent to state pris- on for life from Holland County in May last, for the murder of his wife and chil- dren in Hebron last November, committed suicide by hanging in his cell early last Monday morning. Hodel entered the pris- on May 2, and was at once put to work in the shoe shop. He was moody, but show ed no signs of insanity. He made no trouble for the officers, obeyed the rules, and was one of the most docile of the pris- oners. No change in his condition was noticeable during the past few days. Shortly after 5 o'clock Monday morning Officer Doolittle passed Hodel's cell on the third tier and noticed the prisoner in his bed Less than an hour afterwards when the officer made his tour to notify the con- victs of breakfast time, he discovered HO- del hanging directly against the grated cell door. He summoned help, and the prisoner was cut down and efforts made to restore life to his still warm body, but without effect Hodel exercised consider able ingenuity in fixing the moose. He used towel, tying two knots in 1t, one at either end, and slitting it all the way be- tween. Then he tied on piece of black wrapping twine, and to this hls handker- chief. He carried the twine through the slit to finish the moose and make it certain to do it's work completely. Fastening the handkerchief to the bars of the ventilator transom over the cell door, he jumped off the bed on which he had been standing. In dropping his body rubbed against the grat- ing of the door. He must have dressed himself and began his preparations imme- diately after the early morning round of the officer, as he had been dead but few minutes when found. His body was pre- pared for burial, and as he had no friends in this country his remains were inferred in the prison cemetery. During his six months Imprisonment Hodel had not been visited by any one, nor had he received a letter.
 Springfield had an exciting experience with body of tramps on Saturday. Some 9 ordered from a freight train for time terrorized the little body of train men and station men at Indian Orchard. Prevent ed by free use of clubs from boarding the train again, they kept the people of the station in state of seiges for some time. threatening lives, and stoning the station and passing trains. Officers were tele- phoned for to the city, who went on in a special train, and, meeting the tramps, bounced upon them, arresting six. A se7- enth, the ringleader, was fleeing from Marshal Clune, when the latter stumbled, and accidentally discharged pistol held in his hand. The ball entered the neck of the flying outlaw, and a lightning stroke could not have ended his life more sudden of his carelessness, but the death of the miscreant seems to be little regretted by any others of those who saw the acts ot the brigands, of whom he was the leader. All the tramps were armed and free in their threats of shooting. For long time train hands on the road have been annoy ed by these gentry, and in many cases have feared to make stand against them, being in dread of derailed trains and flying mis. siles. The time seems to have come to in some manner abate the nuisance. Seven more of the tramps were arrested in Palm CT on Sunday, making account of IA out oi the 9.
 Boston Journal: The existing laws fol dealing with this nuisance may be adequ- ate, if they are thooughly enforced, but this they rarely are. The best way tf fight the tramp, in the long run, is tc compel him to work. That is something which he hates more than imprisonment. Towns and cities which condition the giv- ing of lodging and a breakfast upon the rendering of a certain quota of work, will find that the fraternity will be shy of thei1 hospitality.
 The rivalry for the banner IS close be. tween Kansas and Pennsylvania. The lat. ter gave 80,O00 and the former 82,000 re. publican plurality.
 General Harrison will be 55 years, 6 months and IA days old at the time of his inauguration.
 OFFICIAL LIST OF PATENTS ISSUED TO C1r1 zENs OF CONNECTICUT from the U. s. patent office for the week ending November 13, 1888, as reported from the office of Simonds & Bur. dett, solicitors of patents, No. Central Row, Hartford Conn.
 Ernest G. Cone, East Hampton, foot-rest for radiators.
 Otto Leuting, Derby, piano-pedal.
 Joseph M. Morrow, Morrow, fractional driving mechanism.
 Aquila Moore, assignor to Peck Brothers & Co.,, New Haven, waste plug for wash basins
 Charles G. Perkins, Hartford, electric-lamr switch.
 Frank Rhind, assignor of one-half to E. Miller & Co.,, Meriden, hanging lamp.
 Friend W. Smith, Jr., Bridgeport, assignol to Columbia Rubber Company, of Massa- chusetts, former for seamless dress-shields. OndEI0S Op0uS0A1 dSSlSuOr u Overman Wheel Company, Boston, Mass, bicycles.
 Clarence H. Stilson, New Haven, elevator.
 John B. Wallace, assignor to Electric Sup ply Company, Ansonia, carbon battery.
 William s. Whiting, assiguor of one-half to O. F. Trott, Waterbury, automatic railway gates.
 John Rogers, New Canasn, group of statu- ary.
 TRADEMARKS.
 Joseph Parker $ Son, New Haven, blot ting, matrix, book and co!ored cover paper and paper-fber lint.
 Joseph Parker & Son, New Haveu, blot ting paper, two patents ,...
 William H. Rogers, Hartford, silver or sill ver-plated tableware.
 (Contributed.)
 A RECIPE FOR SWEEPING CARPETs.-I think I hear the reader making fun of the above heading, and exclaiming ''The idea of recipe for sweeping a carpet!' But that is just what I mean to say. If there is an abonina- ton of domestic life it is the hired girl who will not sweep clean. Of the four girls that have employed in the last twelve years, only one knew how to sweep well. At the three