davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-05-09
MAJOR LYDECKER.
Sentenced to Forfeit Part of His Pay ant
fn Re Ranrip,anlol

Sentenced to Forfeit Part of His Pay and
to BE Reprimanded.
WASHINGTON, May 4.-The sentence OF
the general court martial in the case of
Major G. j. Lydecker, corps of marines,
who was tried on charges arising out of
the Aqueduct tunnel frauds, was made
public as follows: ITO forfeit to the
United States 800 of his pay for nine
months and to be reprimanded in orders.
The court is thus lenient in view of the
evidence before it that in spaces so con-
fined as those above the arch in the tunnel
it was almost impossible to secure thor
oughly good work under the contract sys-
tenn imposed by law" The sentence has
been approved by the President in the fol-
lowing message:
EXECUTIVE MANSION May 3.-The proceed
ings, finding and sentence OF the court martial
in the case of Major Garrett ]. Lydecller, one
of the corps OF engineers, are approved and will
be carried into effect The gravameIf of the
ofense of this oificer was the neglect of very
high and important duty. 1t was not very i'm
portant from a military standpoint whether a
pecuniary loss did or did not result to the Gov
ernment. But that very great loss and incon-
venience have been inflicted on the COM
munity by the delays which have re-
suited from the failure TO discover
promptly the faulty and fraudulent character of
the work., apparent. The suggestion that The
strictest and most faithful supervision Of the
progress of such work is powerless to detect
and correct the shams which are practiced by
the contractors in the case is discreGit to the
en- ineering profession and entirely inadmissi-
BILE. The sentence imposed by the court seems
TO have given full effect to every suggestion
that might mitigate the offense.
BENJAMIN HARRISON.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-05-09
MAJOR EDWARDS DEAD.
a Well Known Newspaper Man of Kansa
City Dies AfLer Twn !DRYs, Illness.

A Well Known Newspaper Man of Kansas
City Dies After Two Days Illness.
KANSAS CITY. No., May 5.-Major John
N. Edwards, an editorial writer of the
Kansas City Times, died at ten O'Clock
yesterday morning at the Mccarthy
House in jefferson City. He had been
sick but two days. Major Edwards was
one of the best known newspaper men in
the West. He was bora in Virginia forty
seven years ago and LEANED the printers
trade. In 1859 he came 10 Lexington, in
this State, and worked at his trade until
1hs civil war broke out. He enlisted in
the Confederate army and served until
the close of the war as Adjutant on Cen
eral Shelby's staff. He then went co
Mexico and served under Macmillan fo r
a year when he went to St Louis an ]
worked on newspapers of that city. Froln
1868 to 1872 he was employed on the Times
of this city, and after that he was con-
nected with the Sedalia Democrat and ST
Joseph Gazette. In January, 1887, he
came to this city, and has since been en-
gagged in writing editorials for the Times.
He was instrumental in the surrender of
Frank James after Franks brother Jesse
had been killed by Bob Ford.
His remains will be brought to this city.
No arrangements have been made for the
funeral further than that the services will
be held at his late home, I20 Campbell
street. Major Edwards left a widow and
three children, two girls and Toy.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-05-09
GUTHRIE LAND FRAUDS.
Charges Proved Against Ofiicials-Th'
Facts Kept Private.

Charges Proved Against Ohicials-The
Facts Kept Private.
WASHINGTON, May 4-Secretary Noble
has received reports from two special land
inspectors whom he had sent to investi-
gate alleged fraudulent land transactions
at Guthrie, Oklahoma, by United States
officials, and especially by persons who
had been allowed to enter before the open
ing day by assuming the guise of deputy
marshals. The Secretary laid the entire
report before the Cabinet meeting, where
it was fully discussed. At the conclusion
of the meeting the Secretary de-
clined to make public the reports,
Lut said that charges of fraudu-
lent transactions had been so fully
sustained, that the officials implicated had
been notified to purge themselves if they
could. Attorney General Miller also de-
clined to make public the contents of the
reports, but acknowledged that things
looked black for the officials unless they
could clear themselves. 1t is understood
that the officials implicated are Marshal
Needles and the register and receiver of
the Guthrie land office. An investigation
will be carried ON by the Attorney Gen
eral and Secretary Noble jointly, and if
the officials can not clear themselves they
will be dismissed and the land fraudulent
ly claimed will not be allowed.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-05-09
DEATH TO TRAINMEN.


Bad Collision on the Northern Pacific Near
jamestown, Dak.-Narrow Escape of
Pa ssengers in Wisconsin-FIoods in Cam
ada.
ST. PAUL, Mimi, May GA special
from Jamestown, Oak, says the first Sec
tion of the Northern Pacific west-bound
limited passenger train colIided yesterday
with freight No. Is thirty-six miles
west The collision occurred on a bend
and the trains were almost upon each
other before the danger was discov
cred. The iremen and en-
glneers of both trains jumped. En-
glneer Bass, of the passenger. broke his
BACK and died almost Immediately. Fire.
man hiiIen, of the passenger, and Engi-
neer Beal and Frank Kellum of the freight,
escaped without serious injuries. The
postal car jumped the track and was a
complete wreck. Both clerks were badly
injured. One had received notification Of
his removal and was on his last run. His
leg was broken, and he died just after the
train which bore the dead and wounded to
jamestown left Windsor. The other clerk,
Lounsbery, a nephew OF Colonel Louns-
berry. the well known newspaper CORES
pondent had his arm broken in two
gagemaster Nichols, of St Paul, had
his arm broken in two places. The train
bore the usual number of passengers, but
none were injured. Both engines and the
mail and baggage cars left the track and
were badly demolished. A number of
freight cars were entirely destroyed.
Three cars were loaded with Washington
Territory horses, which were killed out
vi -l1% A..
This is the first accident of consequences
which has happened on the Dakota divi-
sion for some time. Engineer Bass,
who was killed, lived here. He was
thirty years old, and was engaged to be
married in about ten days to Miss
Miller, who was greatly shocked at the re-
ceipt of the news of his death and is suf-
fering from hemorrhage as the result
Doubts of her recovery are entertained.
When the news Of the wreck reached here,
Superintendent McCabs, with three sur
! geons and a wrecking car, left for the
scene of the collision. Misunderstanding
of train orders by operators at Steel and
the conductor and engineer of the freig hi
was the cause of the collision.
COLLISION or THE WISCONSIN CENTRAL
ASHLAND, WIS, May Ga bad collision
| occurred ON the Wisconsin Central road
near Highbridge, eighteen miles south
| A passenger train collided with the real
end OF freight train which had ba cked
off the switch. The engine was demoi.
ished. The engineer and fireman, though
they did not jump miraculously escaped
with their lives.
DISAsTR oUS FLOODS IN CANADA!
QUEBEC. May 6-Disastrous floods ar,
reported in the Sagueney districts.
number of bridges have been swept away,
! and there has been much damage Il
houses and other property. Great distress
prevails.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-05-09
HONORING WALLER.
Consul-General Waller Banqueued In
London.

LONDON, Nav 4.-Ex- Governor Waller,
the retiring Consul OF the United States,
was rendered testimonial banquet at the
Hotel Metropoie. There were 2O0 persons
present, among them being Lord Thur
low, Sir Lyon Piayfair, Justin Mccarthy.
II. P, H. Seton Kar, VI. P. Edmund
Yates, Archibald Forbes, Robert Griffin,
IL D., Captain Shaw, c. B J., Admiral Sir
Erasmus Onnemeny, Sir E. j. Reed, +. c.
B, VI. p, Lieutenant General Sir Gerald
Graham, V. c., and Sir John Puleston, NJ.
P. The last named gentleman. who pre-
sided, presented to Mr.. Waller colossal
silver loving cup" from which all drank.
Governor Waller declared that the honor
was intended. not for himself, but for the
country of which he was a representative.
He lauded Robert 7. Lincoln, the newly
appointed American Minister to England,
and at the conclusion of his speech he was
loudly -cheered.
Sir Lyon Playfair and Hon. Justin Nc
Carthy paid high tributes to Mr.. Waller
and Sir Robert Fowler said that nobody
had done more than Minister Phelps and
Mr.. Waller to strengthen the bonds Of
friendship uniting the Anglo-Saxon race.
A toast to the health of President Har-
rison was received with enthusiasm and
was responded to by Mr.. Henry White,
the American Charge d'Affaires.
Colonel Fred Grant, the new American
Minister to Austria, was enthusiastically
welcomed and bowed his acknowledge
ments, but he did not make any remarks.
Among the stewards of the banquet We're
William Black, Charles Dickens. Hon.
Oakley Hall, Chevalier F. Krapf Won Liver
hof, Sir Arthur Sullivan, j. K. O'Toole,
John Russell Young and a number of
others of prominence and distinction.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-05-09
The birmingham Fiend Convicted.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala, May 4.-1he eleventh
day of the Halves trial was the last. Mr..
Hawkins made the closing speech yester-
day morning. occupying more than two
hours, and Judge Green charged the jury
and the court adjourned for dinner. At
S:3) p. m, having been out little over
three hours, the jury came into court and
returned a verdict of guilty, fixing
the penalty at death. Hawes' firm
ness was unshaken. He accepted the
verdict as a man, having expressed him.
self all the while as looking upon his con-
viction in Jefferson County as foregone
conclusion. The verdict meets with popu
lar approval and was expected. Hawes
has two chances yet-an appeal to the
Supreme Court on the refusal of Judge
Green to allow him a change of venue ana
an appeal on various exceptions taken to
the rulings of the court during the pro-
gress of the trial. The general opinion
among the lawyers here is that the Su-
preme Court will order new trial with a
change of venue.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-05-09
MISCELLANEOUS.

A HOSPITAL is TO be built in Iowa in
memory of the late Thomas j. Potter. for
merly vice-president and general man
ager of the Chicago, Burlington s. Quincy.
1t will be known as the Potter Hospital
and will be for sick or disabled railroad
men.
JESSE RUSSELL was horribly mangled
at Selma, Ala, by the premature discharge
of a cannon on centennial day.
a FREIGHT was wrecked near Cisco,
Tex, on the 1st but no one was injured.
THE steamship Berlin from Rio Janeiro
arrived at Bremen on the 1st with yellow
fever on board. Three OF her passengers
died of the disease during the voyage and
a score were down, some of whom could
not recover.
THE great strike in the Pittsburgh Pa.) }
building trade was inaugurated on the 1st
Five thousand men were affected.
THE police at Cronstadt have discovered
another plot against the life of the Gear
and in the course of their Investigations
found Nihilist store house filled with
arms and explosives. Several arrests
have been made in connection with the
discovery.
THE decrease of the public debt during
Aprli was SIo,UIo -o4.II
The Northwestern Miller reports the
-four trade very quiet.
MRS. JOSIE GURLEY has been sentenced
by Judge Shepard, of Chicago to five
years in the penitentiary for kidnapping g
Annie Redmond.
The handsome bay mare Fugue, with a
trotting record of 2:19%, died at Chicago
recently.
THE coal beavers, plumbers and street
shovelers of Duluth, Mimi, went on a
strike on the 1st
OVER 4, ,000, 600 acres of land in Manitoba
have been granted to the Canadian Pacific
and Manitoba railways since the opening
of that country.
NEWS from Southern New Mexico corrob-
crates the reports of murders by Apaches.
Forty of the redskins were out and were
pursued by an armed band of miners and
cowboys.
THE Cragin Manufacturing Company of
Chicago has assigned with SAC, 900 assets
and $4,000 liabilities. 1t made tinware
and sheet iron goods and the assignment
was voluntary.
ONE of the members of the Duquesne
Bessemer steel works strikers finance
committee stated at Pittsburgh, Pa, that
Andrew Carnegie and Captain Jones, OF
the Edgar Thompson steel works. had
placed 81 500 at the disposal of the strikers
and had intimated that if more aid should
be needed it would be forthcoming.
THE ten days quarantine at Sanford.
Fla, against yellow fever has been raised
and the guards dismissed.
SIX dervishes have been executed al
Wady Halfa, Egypt, for outrages on women
and children.
THE dynamite factory at Odeil, near
Hastings, n. Y, was blown up at noon the
other day, just after the workmen had
left the building. The shock resembled
an earthquake and damaged houses and
other property for half & mile around,
but no one was injured.
The remains of five aboriginal mound
builders have been found in a large mound
near Floyd, Iowa. Three were males, one
female and the fifth babe. The bones
are the most perfect yet discovered.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-05-09
Grave Robbers Arrested.

DESvER, Col, May 4-Last week the
widow of Colonel J. A Greenlow received
information that the grave of her husband
had been robbed of the body and she could
gain possession of the remains by paying
a ransom of several thousand dollars. De-
tectiyes have arrested z G. Greenwad. T.
r. Shinr, W. o. Bacon and ]. c. Mccoy.
The thieves had drawn up an agreement
requiring the utmost secrecy and promis-
ing death to any one who should give in
formation regarding the robbery, but one
of them made a full confession and there
is but little doubt of their guilt. One Of
the prisoners is prominent grocery dealer
and the others are all well known. The
body was recovered
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-05-09

GLoUcEsrKR, N j., May S.-George r.
Tombs, lumber dealer of Jersey Shore,
Pa, was found early yesterday morning
at the foot of the stairs of q boarding
house in this place. He died soon after.
The man and a young woman who gave
her name as Miss Donaldson had been
stopping there since Monday. When
found Tombs was fully dressed, with
the exception Of his coat, and a small
lamp was under him Miss Donaldson.
Melvin Jack. the proprietor of the place
and a man named Clayton, who had been
hanging about the house, have been ar
rested on suspicion. Deceased was forty
five years old He had on his person
s. 900 worth of diamonds.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-05-09
ADDITIONAL DISPATCHES.

CLEARING house returns for the week
ended May showed an average decrease
of 15.S compared with the corresponding
week of last year. In New York the de-
crease was 3f2.
A SPECIAL from New York reports the
Standard Oil men preparing to form a
white lead trust.
THE authorities of Schleswig have re-
fused 10 rescind the decree expelling cer-
tain German Americans from the islands
of Amron and Fohr in the North sea.
THE remainder of the rescued passen-
gers and crew of the Danmark arrived at
New York on the 5th from the Azores.
MAJOR JOHN n. EDw ARDS, well known
newspaper man of the Missouri Valley,
died after two days sickness at Jefferson
City, No, on the 4th. He was, during the
war. in Joe Shelby's brigade of Confed-
crates and at the close served in Mexico
for Macmillan.
The Polish priest at Manistee, Mich,
was assaulted Oh the street recently by
his parishioners. The trouble originated
some three months ago, some members OF
the congregation claiming that their pew
rents were extortionate. The militia and
the fire department were called out to
quell the riot.
A PRIV ATE letter from Morrilton, Ark,
states that an attempt to assassinate ex-
Sheriff Harry Coblentz had been made on
the street of that place by Oby Bentley.
The trouble grew out Of the election
frauds.
The miners on a strike at Getzenkirchen,
Westphalia, engaged in rioting the other
day and wrecked a number of shops. The
draw swords
and order was restored with the assist
ance of a detachment of troops.
GEORGE FRANCIS TRAIN ended his recent
fast by lecture at Union Square Theater,
in which he argued that abstinence from
food was a cure for all the ills of the flesh.
Destructive fires were reported in the
Minnesota forests, being worst on the line
of the Duluth and Iron Range west to
Thompson and south beyond Barnum, and
on the Northern Pacific as far as Norman,
seventy miles beyond the Northern Pacific
junction.
A CRANK fired a blank cartridge at Pres
ident Carnot in Paris on the 5th- On be-
ing arrested he stated that his object was
to right his wrongs in having been pun
ished unjustly by the Governor of Mar
Unique.
IT is reported that Kurdish chief who
recently escaped from prison gathered a
number of his followers. attacked an Ar
menian village and seized several promi-
nent men of the village and poured over
them petroleum to which they set fire and
then watched their victims slowly burn to
death.
BUSINESS was quiet on the London
Stock Exchange during the week ended
May 4. American railroad securities con-
tinue to improve. The Continental bourses
We're quiet. The Havana sugar market
was dull
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-05-09
PENSION FRAUDS.
An Extended Fraud Practiced on the Gov
ernment.

An Extended Fraud Practiced on the Gov
ernment.
ST. LOUIS May 5.-Jacob Little, a Union
soldier. died in Andersonville prison, and
in 1871 his widow was granted a pension
of $50 month. She married a man named
Barnes, and died in 1876. Barnes took
his wife's pension papers and went to
Pettis County, Mo-, where he married a
widow named Rogers. He induced her
to impersonate the deceased Mrs.
Little and she drew the pension. Barnes
died in 1877 and tue widow took up
with a man named Rite She wanted to
stop the fraud, but Rite compelled her to
continue it until they separated about a
year ago. Then she ceased drawing the
money and the Government started an in
vestigation. Mrs. Barnes was arrested
yesterday at Somerset, Ozark County, and
Rite was taken into custody in this city.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-05-09

Il saw a shoplifter work for the first
time last week. New York establishments
are more dazzling, tempting and seduc-
tive than ever, so much so that poor, weak
human nature succumbs. / was buying
gloves at a glove counter in one Of the
largest establishments in the city. Just
opposite me were two girls. They were
looking at box of long silk gloves, the
kind that are worn at fancy balls. The
girls were very prettily dressed They
wore directoire gowns of novelty wool
and velvet sealskin jackets and pretty
seal toques with eagle feathers
The girl who was waiting on them went
away for something, and while she
was gone one of the girls took a
pair OF the gloves and handed them to
the other, who Immediately slipped
them into her muff. Then she looked
around to see il any one was observing
her. She glared at me. I stared at her.
The situation was rather. dramatic. She
was evidently frightened, but there was
really no occasion for fear. 1 was even
more afraid of going day after day into q
stuffy, dreadful court to testify against
her than she was Of being arrested. But
thought would give her a scare So i
called to the fioorwaIker and then looked
again at the girls. How they palsd and
quailed before my eyes Then / asked
the walker If he would be so kind as to
tell me where ] could find corsets- He
gave me the requested information and
walked away, giving the 'shoplifters" .
parting gialce.-N. Y. Letter
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-05-09

The famous Hotchkiss will case over
the estate of the late Benjamin Berk-
ley Hotchkiss, inventor OF the Hotch-
kiss gun, who died in Paris in 1885, is
before the Connecticut Superior Court
The case hinges on the question of
domicile and involves an estate valued
at S12, 100000. The widow claims that
the deceased was a legal resident OF
New York. in which case she will re-
ceive Sc. 900. 900 and the father of the
deceased 5000. 600. The contesting
relations claim Paris as his legal resi-
dence. by which, If sustained. they ex-
pect to secure 81, 00o. COO each. Pro-
ceedings have been instituted in New
York and Paris and the probabilities
are that the case viii Be In the courts
for scseral years unless compromised.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-05-09

A NUMBER of enlisted meS in the
army have petitioned the War De
partment to authorize the use of what
is known as the Merriam knapsack,
which differs from the ordinary KNAPP
sack, in throwing the weight of bur-
den on the hips instead of the shoul-
ders. The device was invented by an
American army officer, Colonel Mer-
riam. and has been adopted by all the
Governments of Europe. The petit
tioners state that they will purchase
the knapsacks out of their own pockets
if their use is authorized.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-05-09
Terrible Death of Children.

BALTIMORE. Nd, May &C. Williams,
of Abingdon. near Hartford station on the
Baltimore & Ohio railroad, and his wife
and FIVE children retired about ten O'Clock
last night. An hour later neighbors saw
the house burning and made Intellectual
attempts to quench the flames. Mr.. and
Mrs. Williams escaped with the baby.
who will probably die. The parents, Sc
riously burned themselves, stood watch
ing the fire, which was approaching their
four sleeping ckiidren- The house burned
10 the ground and consumed the children,
furniture and all The people are left
with no children excepting the baby, home
d clothing.