davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-17
FOUND DEAD BY HIS WIFE.
VALENTINE MERKLEN CUT HIS OWN
THROAT WITH A RAZOR.
HE WAS A MANUFACTURER OF FURNITURE AND
REPurEp TO BE wEALrHY-xRs MERK-
LEN CANNOT ACCOUNT FOR


THE SUICIDE.
The police Of the Fourth Precinct worked Tor
several hours yesterday afternoon on the SUICIDE OF
Valentine Merklen, a wealthy German and manu-
facturer of furniture in New-York, who went to
the bathroom on the top floor Of his home. at NO.
1B Putnam-ave.. at noon. ostensbly to shave MINI
self. An hour passed. and he had not returned 70
the dining room. his wife went upstairs. one
pushed open the door Of the room. and found ner
husband with slash across his throat lying IN
pool of blood with a casped In his left hand.
The children eating luncheon In the basement
heard their mother scream, and q woman next door
called a policeman. who found Mrs Merklen I'M
conscious. Several neighbors tried to bring MIS-
Merklen to consciousness. but a physician had 70
be summoned.
The wife later Informed Detective Shaughnessey
that she did not believe her husband ever intended
to commit suicide. She sent the children to school
in the morning and then went out to visit several
friends. Her husband was then In good spirits, ana
expressed desire TO go into the Suburbs IN the
luncheon, and did not suspect anything when her
husband went upstairs She was emphatic IN say
ing that the business affairs OF her husband were
in excellent condition.
Putnam-ave., had treated Merklen on last Monday
for trivial complaint, and had called on him sew
eral times since. 80
In the neighborhood OF Franklin and Putnam
ayes little is known OF the Merklen family. Merk-
len had five brothers. who conduct two FACTORIES
one Nos 157 to 1877 Goreckst, and the other run.
ming from No. $50 to No. 1886 East Third-st.. New
York
The brothers informed Of the death OF Val
entine and last night came over to Brooklyn. The
coroner will hold an inquest.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-17
ICE FOLLOWING MERCURY.
AS THE LATTER CLIMBS HIGHER THE
PRICE OF THE FORMER FOL-
LOWS SUIT.
POOR PEOPLE AND SMALL CONSUMERS FEEL THE
SUDDEN JUMP MADE BY THE COMBINATION
IN THE COST OF FROZEN WATER
MANUFACTURERS PREPAR-
ING FOR BIG BUsI-
NESS.

The unseasonably hot weather OF the last
week has intensified the popular feeling on the
Ice question. In fact. this promises to be an
absorbing question in this city this summer
The consolidation Of the various companies
has been followed by sharp advance in prices
that will tell heavily upon the poor tenement
house dwellers. The official scale Of prices laid
down for families. bearing date OF April l. IS
as follows:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-17

BURNS SENTENCED TO THREE MONTHS FOR
BEATING HIS WIFE

Andrew Burns. a service-pipe layer for the Will
iamsburg Gaslight Company, who lives at No. SSs
Fushng-ave sent to the penitentiary for three
months by Justice Goeting, in the Lee Avenue
Police Court. yesterday for beating his wife Shs
was in court with dscolored and swollen eyes. ana
could scarcely speak Burns stood before the bar.
ernning while his wife related how he had struck
her and kicked far around. When she finished tell
ing her story sh. begged for Burns's release Burns
began to laugh and stated that the reason he as
saulted his wife because she entertained com.
that when he reproached her she "sassed' him, and
thereupon he gave her slight beating When
Burns received sentence OF three months In the
penitentiary his grin vanished and he almost cried.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-17
MRS. RANKEN TESTIFIED.
HER HUSBAND WAS ALSO CALLED IN RE-
BUTTAL.

HE DECLARED THAT THE MARRIAGE LICENSE
NEVER WENT OUT OF HIS POSSESSION,
AND THAT Mr.. WEBB COULD
NOT HAVE SEEN IT.
Hearing was resumed In the Supreme Court yes
erday before Justice Clement and jury in the suit
OF Mrs Jessie Belknap Ranken. to bar William H.
James, the nephew OF the shipbuilder. Eckford Webb
from all interest in the house No. rs Rush-st Webb
left the house 10 Mrs. Ranken for her services to
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-17
7 The News Of Brooklyn


ent elevated railroads.
1sa3-Brockyn L....................ss $50. llS Ss
I 1893 conn,v s
Total OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. Hos l'i %
Issi-Brookyn 'Sss %
issi-Knss County NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.: 2Si7oeo
Total .si<''oo 80
Total for two years 1921 esa 10
Interest taxes at the rate Of per cent must be
added to the figures. Last years taxes sui uii-
paid, were nearly $4,000, which. with the In
terest. will make total which the roads owe the
city Of about $4,000.
Ex-President Patrick H. Flynn. Of the Nassau
Electric road favors the Page bill. He says ne
thinks 1t is one of the best measures that has
ever been introduced In the interest OF the city
Mr.. Flynn said that II the roads had the priv
iege of crossing the Bridge they should pay In
proportion to the amount Of Bridge they use.
In speaking Of the mechanical features of the
Bridge trains providing the bill passes. Engineer
Barton Of the Union road. said that after care
fully going over the 81 ound he had come to the
conclusion that trains could be safely run on
forty five seconds headway and that they couId
carry 49, 900 people an hour II necessary, during
the rush hours The present capacity OF the
Bridge so Mr.. Barton says is only $4,000 passen-
gers an hour.
ALL SHOULD HAVE a CHANCE.
President C. L. Rossiter. OF the Brooklyn
Heights Company believes that the idea OF
crossing the Bridge is good one and he said his
company had never opposed 1t. Mr. Rossiter
added that according to experts the Bridge was
strong enough to take both the elevated ana sur
face roads across Mr. Rossiter. however saiu
emphatically that he would oppose the elevated
roads going over the Bridge unless the surface
roads had the same privilege.
James F. Church. lawyer. and secretary or tne
Nassau Company believes that If the Bridge is
not large enough for ali the surface companies
the best one should have II And OF course
said ne 1.-The Nassau road Is the best .
Ex-Governor Roswell p. Flower refused 10 ais
cuss the bill or to say anything ABOUT the pro-
posed scheme. ,. .
A resolution has been adopted by District AS
sembly No rs Knights Of Labor stating tha' mo
ADEQUATE compensation had been proposed lor
Bridge rentals. and that the Page bill represented
ono of the most 'barefaced steals OF pubic prop
ertv ever put forward in these times OF corporate
rule The assembly ends its resolutions IN TINS
manner: ., 49,,
"Resolved. That this district assembly con,
demns and denounces the proposed measure ana
it's promoters. and requests every citizen 70 noIa
all who aid OF abet 1t responsible ior such
perfidy'
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-17
WAVE TO SAY ABOUT IT.

cerned II would be able to carry the weight OF
WI" the surface and elevated cars. so long as
u" additional superstructure is built
understand that the elevated companies
I've plans prepared for making all necessary
~1nections and that they have new method
~ propeiling trains across the Bridge. but any
4n'osmation In regard to these plans has been
Enormously kept quiet There Ia man who
va say what the cost Of the extensions at Til
NY and Centre sits. would be- 1t took US four
Years. to get one bridge across. Centre-st.. and
as cost OF these new connections would I'M
eoubtedly be enormous"
PRESIDENT Johnson, OF the Nassau Electric
hallway, said that the people. In his opinion.
would be better served by the trolley companies
1ocsing the Bridge. The elevated roads,"
~ ne. touch such . small portion Of the peo-
~ OF Brooklyn that II they were given
monopoly now the people would not be as well
sSSved a. they are with their present facilities.
sufther than that, / know that the trolley COM
ssaaes could carry four times a. many people
~ - tne Bridge as the elevated cars could l
20 not think that the elevated railroads would In
~ mt OF their monopolizirg the Bridge be able
~ carry more than one-hah what they are doing
~ because the engines could not possibly pull
S y sne trade" Mr. Johnson said he ala not
sSnow what action would be taken to oppose the
sse Dill by the railroad companies.
HOW ABOUT THOSE rAxEss
Henry A. Powell register of arrears. was en-
pnatic In his assertion that the railroad COM
psn'es should pay their back taxes before they
s"empt to assume any fresh obligations
Sseshef did he see why the city should pay the
"a "a Of the necessary approached, a. It would
- - Which could not be done without wip'ns out
( ae following figures furnished BY Mr.. Powell
The San Francisco call., 1896-08-08
LIFE TRUSTS INVALID.
Judge Cofey So Decides in the
Matter of Nathaniel
Coles Estate.
One Hundred Thousand Dollars Worth
of Property to Be Divided
at Once.

Judge Coffey yesterday rendered de-
cision in the suit of Mrs. Maud A. Day
against the executors of the will of her
father, Nathaniel W. Cole. Cole was a
wealthy resident of the Mission, who died
in April, 1894. By the terms of his will he
left all his property, worth about 500 600,
in trust for his daughter, Maud A. Day,
wife of George T. Day, and his adopted
daughter, Edith Baxter Cole.
Mrs. Days property was to continue in
trust until the death of her husband, or if
she should die before him the estate was
to be distributed to her children. Miss
Coles portion of the estate, consisting of
two lots, one on Shotwell and one on Mis-.
sion street, was to be turned over to her
when she became 81 years of age. One
thousand dollars was also left to Mrs.
Emma Ransom of East Oakland, who
was to look after the educa ton and sup
port of Miss Cole during her minority.
The executors of the trust looked after
matters so closely that although Miss
Coles wants were attended to Mrs. Day
received nothing, the balance of the in
come from the estate being applied to the
closing of its accounts. Therefore Mrs.
Day brought suit TO have the trust set
aside, to have Edith Baxter Cole declared
not the legally adopted daughter of the
deceased and to have Mrs. Ransom's leg
acy declared void. 1t was provided, how
ever, in the suit that the adopted daughter
should receive the property willed to her
in any event.
The main point relied.upon by the petit
toner IN assailing the legality of Edith
Bakers adoption was extremely novel,
though apparently supported by an early
California case. 1t was in effect that adop-
tion proceedings are not judicial business
The San Francisco call., 1896-08-08
Nine Out of Twelve Aspirants
Give Satisfactory Evidence
of Skill
CARL MOON LEE REJECTED.
A Denizen of the Chinese Quarter
Falls Down on Theoretical
Dentistry.

The State Board of Dental Examiners
has been in session at the rooms of the
S.omatological Club, corner of Post and
Stockton streets, since Tuesday, endeav-
oring to ascertain by searching examina.
tlons who of the even dozen applicants
who presented themselves were competent
to extract molars, do funny things to
jumping nerves and take all sorts of liber-
ties with the interior of unsuspecting pa
tents heads.
The board at present is composed of five
members This is three shy of the nor
NAL number, one having resigned during
the past year and the terms of two having
expired. The board as at present consti-
tuted consists of: DR.. F. F. Tebbetts OF
Sacramento, president; Thomas MoTffew
of San Francisco, F. w. Bliss, Santa Cruz |;
w. A. Moore, Benicia, and ]. D. Hodgen,
secretary. San Francisco.
The tests to which candidates are sub
mitted are not simple If the forbidding
titles of the subjects of examination are
any guide. The examinations are divided
into two classes. theoretical and practical.
The theoretical embraces an even dozen
such subjects as hygiene, pathology, ma
terra medica, prostneilc aentlstrv, his
tolopy and metallurgy. II the aspirant
masters all these branches he is only half
way to the goal of his ambition. II he
does not attain respectable percentage in
them his troubles are all over.
Yesterday the examiners took the stu
dents who had proved themselves suffi-
GENTLY proficient In theoretical dentistry
to the rooms OF the College of Dentistry.
There they proved their prowess upon the
Jaws of suffering victims
a. the end of this test the examiners re-
paired to the rooms of the Stomatological
Club. and after deliberation decided that
the following young men were entitled to
certificates: H. H Roche of San Fran
cisco F. r. Hustled of San Jose, Ii. F,
Roberts OF San Francisco, M. s. Childs of
Suisun, S. J. Summons OF Oakland, G. w.
Larken of Sacramento, =; Pieper OF San
Jose, J. Bowling OF San francisco, w. w.
Head of San Francisco.
Among the unsuccessful applicants was
Carl Moon Lee, who has for some time
been welding his forceps in Chinatown.
Moon Lee was in nowise abashed by the
imnosing array of high-priced words cor
tained in the questions, and he waded in
merrily.
It was evident from his answers that
even the most abstruse topics had been
given some attention by him, but it was
also evident that his hold upon the
English language was ratner treacherous.
From works on histology and therapeutics
he had undoubtedly cleaned ideas, but
the ideas he had CLEANED Eere not those
which the authors had sown. As q con-
sequence Carl Moon Lee was rejected with
out his having an opportunity to show in
the practical class what new tricks the
heather Chinee is prepared to contribute
to dental science,
The election O. officers which was to
have taken place was deferred on account
OF the vacancies in the board.
The San Francisco call., 1896-08-08
sOUTHslDE REPUBLICANS.
John T. Dare and Other Good
Speakers Address a Large Audi
ence in Sullivan's Hall.

John T. Dare and Other Good
Speakers Address Large Audi
ence in Sullivan's Hall.
Sulliyan's Hall at lila Bryant street
presented an animated appearance last
evening, the occasion being the second
regular meeting of the Imperial Republi-
can Club of the Thirty-first District.
When President James ]. Graham called
the meeting to order there were over 200
enthusiastic members present ID. e. Sui
livan, the vice e-president, who had offered
to uniform the club, stated that he would
have handsome uniforms at the next
meeting.
J.J. Graham then introduced John T.
Dare, the speaker of the evening, who in
an eloquent address said among other
things to the members of the club, who
are largely composed of working people,
that under Republican administration and
protection the workingmen marched into
the factories with well-filled dinner pals
But to-day the dinner-pails are turned up
side down and are empty by reason OF the
Infamous Gorham-Wi bill for revenue
only.
But" said he, 'the workingmen will
take their empty dinner cans and turn
them into snare drums and never stop
drumming them until they have drummed
Mckinley into Office" Mr.. Dare's re-
marks were received with much applause
and enthusiasm. Short speeches were
made by John f. Mullin, Jasper PlanZ,
Tim Foley, w. B. Hopkins and Others.
The club animously indorsed John W.
Koch for the nomination for Justice of the
Peace and adjourned with cheers for Nc
Kinley and protection.
The San Francisco call., 1896-08-08

solid gold horseshoe in his scarf and said
that that was his metal-gold.
II tell you why" he added. 'Guate-
mala is single standard silver country.
Otner countries are gold standard. Mark
the result | paid $110S 80 after my first
sale IN silver to the express office
IN the city of Guatemala. 1 received
lot tnat amount of money a draft
on San Jose, Cal, for $500 in gold. The
next sum L sent was S5g3 in silver, for
which l received $3.50 in gold. next sent
$3.50 IN silver for only $400. That made me
tred OF a money whose value fluctuated
with the mutations of the moon. / will
vote for Mckinley and sound money be-
cause when sell horse l want to receive
dollar that will be worth dollar all the
year around and all over the world.
Silver being the standard OF value in
Guatemala" continued Mr.. Agnew,
everything is dear but human labor.
That is the cheapest commodity in the
whole country. just as it is in California.
Ihe poor have to live on the most lu-
ferlor tood, and the standard of civlllza-
tlon is at the lowest. Thus if a poor man,
who works for 40 or so cents a day, wants
ham and eggs for his breakfast he must
pay 20 cents per pound for his ham. Just
think of it We corn and pork fed phil
osophers of the State of Nebraskal Then
If he wants butter on his bread he must
pay 81 25 pound for his butter!
"The reason for those high prices is ap-
parent in the fact that the gold standard
is recognized as the basis of the currency
in that country.
''The small dealers buy their goods of
the proprietors and pay them gold prices.
As they receive silver for their goods they
must pay accordingly. Hence the high
prices for articles of food
Populists were resting on their arms
yesterday. They learned, after hard and
fru1tless chase, that the Democracy pro-
posed to chew the rag for awhile, as one
OF the members put it. and that they
would not declare themselves until all
matters in controversy had been salts
factori.y arranged. Nothing can be done
until the arrival of ]. ]. Dwyer from the
East.
The San Francisco call., 1896-08-08
OLD DsOLDIERS AND SAILORS
Their Organization Now Has the
Name Mckinley Pre-
fixed.

The annual meeting of the Veteran
Soldiers and Sailors took place yesterday
at their headquarters. The room was
filled with enthusiastic veterans, as the
members had been notified that change
OF name OF the organization by prenxing
that of Mckinley would be acted on, also
that election OF officers would take place.
The proposition of changing the name
was carried by unanimous vote and sne
veterans were elated thereby.
The election of officers resulted as fol-
lows: President, Fergus Hansen; hrst
vice-president, F. W. Whiteside; second
vice president, w. B. Maydwell; treasurer,
l.. ID. Olin; secretary, E. p. Morey; COR
responding secretary, L. Washburn; SER
geant- alarms, John "a. Lakin.
The following preamble and resolutions
were unanimously adopted:
WHEREAS, The Democratic party under the
administration of its chief executive, Grover
Cleveland, has in its management and carry
ing out its principles for the past three years
convinced all unbiased citizens that tariff for
revenue only, coupled with ee-trade doc
trine, has been failure, as evident by bank
ruptcy OF farmers and merchants, the clos
ing of manufactures, the reduction of the
wages of our mechanics and Iaborers,
and the increase of our National debt
dollars; and whereas, under the wise and
judicious administration of the Republican
party, with its principles of tariff and protec-
tion to American products and labor. we were
not only able to carry on the Government but
to reduce our immense National debt over so
per cent, and thereby add to the wealth of the
Nation. thus giving to the laborer an honest
dollar and liberal wages and prosperity to all
of our citizens; therefore, be il
C. Resolved, That we, ex-Union veteran.soldiers
and sailors, gain renew our fealty to the party
of progress and protection; that we indorse
and give our hearty support to the nominees of
the National Republican Convention of 1896,
and will do all in our power to further the
election of William Mckinley and Garret A.
uaha
The San Francisco call., 1896-08-08

have their friends register before precinct
registration should close.
The following resolutions were unani-
mously adopted
WHEREAS, The Fifth Congressional District
Convention has in its judgment selected that
tried and true public servant. Eugene f. Loud,
to be the nominee for the Office of Congress
man in our district; and whereas, we recog-
nize IN Eugene f. Loud man who is worthy
OF the support OF our district in the coming
campaign;
ReSoEred, That we, the Republicans of Ocean
View, do by unanimous vO e 1ndorSe the Hon.
Eugene F. Loud in this district for Congress /;
and il is further
ResoIced, That we pledge ourselves to do all
in our power 10 elect Eugene F. Loud and
thereby return to Congress one who has rep
resented US and his whole district.
WHEREAS, The Fifth Congressional District
Convention has nominated for Presidential
elector the Hon. Claus Spreckels; and whereas,
who has done much to further the interests of
California, and who has been the employer of
workingmen and mechanics in all trades
and occupations. Therefore be it unanimously
ReSokred, That we, the members of the Ocean
View Republican Club, in meeting assembled,
Congressional District Convention in selecting
the Hon. Claus Spreckels to represent us and
the State of California as Presidential elector.
WHEREAS. The County Committee OF the Re-
publican party of San Francisco has appointed
Alonzo Davidson to be County Committeeman
for the Thirty-sixth District in conjunction
with our present committeeman, Charles Main
Yaring;
Resolved, That we indorse the action of said
County Committee in selecting Alonzo David
son County Committeeman, and agree to
give him our aid in the coming campaign.
The San Francisco call., 1896-08-08

tion in this State is not judicial proceed
ing, and the order, therefore, is in no
sense to be considered the judgment of a
court, still some judicial virtue inheres in
it, else 1t we're vain to impose a duty upon
a Judge of Superior Court foreign to his
office and compelling him to make an ex-
animation, take evidence and thereafter
and thereupon, if satisfied to make an
order declaring status" The Judge con-
cludes that though the proceeding be not
any one of the kinds of judicial actions
specified in the Civil Code it has certainly
judicial SAVIOR.
Judge Coffey in his decision concludes
that the first count of the complaint-the
main one-must be sustained. He de-
clares, as has Judge Slack In the Fair case,
that lifelong trust is invalid, because it
suspends the power of alienation beyond
the period of lives and being. Edith Bax-
ter Cole is held to be the legally adopted
daughter of Nathaniel w. Cole, and Mrs.
Ransom s legacy is left untouched.
The trust in Miss Coles case is said to
be invalid, because it continues until she
is 81 years of age whereas the legal ma
jority of women in California is Is years.
The petition for a distribution of the
estate is granted, and the daughter and
the adopted daughter will share it imme-
diately