davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-19
Children of the Capitalist
Accuse the Widow of
Fraud.
Allege That She Married Him
to Gain Possession of His
Property.
Sensational Charges Made in Suit
Brought to Recover the
Estate.

LOS ANGELES, CAL, Dec. 1S.-The
hearing of the remarkable suit of Isabel
Spencer against Mrs. Anna P. Spencer to
estate in this county was begun here to-
day. The defendant is the relict of AM
brose II. Spencer, whose peculiar and
tragic death occurred about eighteen
months ago. The old gentleman was
found dead in his bed one morning and it
was believed that he had been murdered
but it was at LAST decided that he had
taken an overdose of morphine, probably
with suicidal intent. He had large prop
erty interests, and it developed that all
the estate, consisting of real and personal
properly, had been decided to Mrs. Spencer
during the lifetime of her aged husband.
Spencer was survived by two children by
a former wife, Eva ]. Spencer and James
G. Spencer. They were not satisfied with
the disposition of the 100000 worth of
property and assigned their interests to
the plaintiff in the pending action, Isabel
Spencer, who began the suit which is now
up for trial.
The allegations are of a sensational na-
ture. 1t is claimed by the plain tiff that
the widow Spencer, prior to her marriage
with DR.. Spencer, conceived a plan to de-
prive him of his property, and being e
woman of great strength of mind and de-
termination she carried her plan into exc
cution. 1t is further alleged that he was
of a timid disposition and was as wax in
the hands of his vile. 1t is averred that
she encouraged him in the use of NOR
phine until be became addicted to the
habit, and finally was completely subject
to her control, and that while thus in
capable of independent volition he was
induced by her to execute deeds to his
holdings and turn over to her all his per-
sonal property.
Reference is made in the com mplaints to
the tragic death of Ambrose Spencer and
to Mrs. Spencer's connection with the di-
vorce suit between Mr.. and Mrs. D. 2.
Newton, in which she was accused of
having been the cause of their troubles.
This portion of the Dleadings has hereto
fore been stricken out by the court.
The allegations are all denied by the
defendant, who claims that the property
was acquired by her late husband through
the use of her own means, and that its
being decided to her was the strictest JUS
tice. Allegations are made that the de-
ceased had given his children large sums
of money at various times. She denies
that sne encouraged Mr.. Spencer in the
use of morphine and states that she re-
monstrated with him at times regarding
the habit. All charges of undue influence
are also denied
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-19
OPEN TO BoTANIsTS.
Students Need Pay NO Tolls on tne Santa
Monfca Forestry Station.

LOS ANGELES, CAL, Dec. 1S-The
City Council is in receipt of an official
communication, setting forth that at a
meeting of the regents of the State Uni
versity, held on December s, resolutions
were adopted which insist that the for
estry station at Santa Monica has always
been open and always will be for any re-
sponsible boianists to pursue their studies
without paying tolls. The Democratic
County Convention In October adopted a
resolution for an open station, which was
passed without any apparent knowle dge
of the facts. Tho Chamber of Commerce
in August last also adopted sim Iar reso-
luton. The university regents deny en-
phatically the imputations made against
the management OF the station, and appear
to blame Abbott Kinney of this city for
the trouble which has been raised in the
matter. The regents say in their COM
munication that any specific charges of in
sincerity or other dereliction by any of
the employees of the station should be re-
ferred to them for official ratification.
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-19
STANFORD UNIVERSITY NEWS.
Faculty Members WH Address the Teach
ers' Convention at San

STANFORD UNIVERSITY, CAL, D. &c.
1S.-A number of Stanford professors will
address the California Teachers Associa-
ton at its thirtieth annual session. The
institute is to be held at San Jose, Decem-
ber 2s %, 80 and 81, in the Normal School
building. Professor A. B. Clark of the
drawing department will deliver an ad-
dress on Tuesday morning. Method in
Perspec tive" will be his subject. 1t has a
special bearing upon art in the primary
and secondary schools. On the same day
F. Angel, professor OF psychology, speaks
on Limitations and Cautions in Child
Study" During the discussion OF school
hygiene DR.. F. D. Wood will report on
"Recent Progress in School Hygiene. !"
Professor 0. P. Jenkins will discuss "The
New California Movement in Elementary
Education" Wednesday morning Pro-
lessor Ewald Flugel is to speak on "What
We Can Learn From Germany in Teach
Ing the Native Language and Literature.
Among a namber of Others who will de-
liver addresses on ''The Classics IN the
High SCHOOL, is Professor A. T. Murray.
His topic for discussion treats of the
Teaching of Elementary Greek"
President David S. Jordan of Stanford
and Professor Julius Goebel will discuss
German in the schools. The subject of
the former is, German in Secondary
Education; that of the latter is, The
Educational Value of German"
Professors o. P. Jenkins, Fernando San
ford and kellogg will take part in an in
formal discussion, Science in the
Schools"
News was received from DR.. Jordan to
the effect that he left Washington to-day
He has decided to return by way of New
Orleans, stopping there one day. BY SO
doing he will reach the university on De-
Gem Der "a. His preliminary report of his
investigation of the seals about Alaska is
already in print.
The executive committee of the Inter-
society Debating League met to hear the
reports of two subcommittee. The first
was appointed to see if some arrange
meuts might not be effected by which in
tercolleglate debaters could get university
credit for their work. The committee
found that IN both the history and
economic departments there was one
course in which credit was allowed for in
vestigation. BY registering for these
courses, according to the subject for de-
bate, the university credit can be OBJ
tanned. The decision is hailed with much
Joy by all those interested in the welfare
of debating in general. Heretofore no
special attention has been given the de-
bnters, such as has been accorded the par
ticipants in other intercollegiate contests.
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-19
Suicide at Santa Crux.

SANTA CRUZ, CAL, Dec. 1S.-Robert
Fulton Ford, one of the oldest residents of
Santa Cruz County. committed suicide by
taking laudanum in the willows above the
upper bridge near Blaine street to-day.
About twenty years ago he conducted the
old Cottage saloon. well-known resort
for the FOUNDERS. who gave him the sobri-
uuet Sweet Cider" He later resided at
WatsonviIle and Sequel. The cause of
the suicide was the service of citation
upon him to appear in court to give an
accounting of his estate, which has been
for some time in litigation. Grief over the
loss OF his wife also had much to do with
the tragedy. He was "a years old.
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-19
ONLY THE EEGULAR RATES.
Washington Hotels RtE Not OUerchGrge
hurting the Inaugural.

. 'TGShingt Hotels Hdtt Not OuerchGT0e
OWrtn0 the Inaugural.
q. WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec 1s.-Reports
having been circulated in Philadelphia and
other cities to the effect that Washington
hotels had entered into com bination to
charge exorbitant rates during the inaug-
ration week, Chairman Bell of the inaugu-
ration committee authorizes an explicit
denial of the report. Chairman Bell said:
81 have caused diiigenc inquiry TO be
made OF the different hotels. and IND
the story to be absolutely untrue. So far
as l can find no hotel proposes to charge
more than the usual rates at such times"
All indications point to the largest
crowd ever seen in Wa ,hington at any in
auguration and preparations are well un-
der way for the entertainment and care of
the visitors upon that occasion, and with
the well-known ability of Washington to
properly handle large crowds no fears
need be entertained of exlortion or lack
accommodations for all who may come.
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-19
Execution of a Negro Murderer.

UPPER MARLBOROUGH Nd, Dec.
18.-JaInes Smith, a short, thick-set mulat-
to, was hanged here this morning for the
murder of Miss Margaret Drown, white
girl with whom he claimed to be in love.
He cut the girls throat because she re-
pulsed him. After committing the mur-
der, on July %, Smith went to Washing
ton, where he was captured the following
day. A MOB tried to lynch him here and
he was hurried off to the Baltimore Jail.
Last night Sheriff Underwood and his
deputies secretly brought the murderer
back here after he had been baptized by a
Baptist clergyman in the Baltimore
nrison
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-19
Sues for "a Dtrorce.

SAN JOSE, CAL, Dec. 1S.-Elizabeth P.
Peck to-day began suit against Russell
Peck for a divorce on the ground of fail
ure to provide. They were married in
Chicago two years ago. The defendant is
over 20 years of age, and this is his fourth
wife. A short time ago Peck left his wife
and ordered all sources OF supplies
stopped. He is worth considerable money,
put short time ago he decided it all to
his children. She wants the homestead
on Bird avenue set apart for her, together
with alimony and a division of the
property.
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-19
BETAS DEFINES DEMOCRACY.
The Chicago PLATFORM Good Enough for
the He6raskGn.

The Chicago Platform Good Enough Tor
the He6rGsk0n.
RICHMOND. Va, Dec. 18.-The State
of this evening prints letter from Hon.
Messrs. w. ]. Bryan, r. P. Bland, W. J.
Stone, George Fred Williams and John l..
Morgan in reply to query sent out from
that paner as to what, in the view of those
gentlemen, constituted Democracy. Mr.
Bryan's letter read:
LINCOLN. Nebr., Dec. 10, 1896
A To the Editor OF the State have not time 10
4nswer your questions at length. In broad
tense a democracy is a government which the
people run, and Democrat is one who be-
lieves in such government. In party sense,
Democracy is defined by the Chicago platform.
and the person who supports the party and its
platform can call himself a Democrat The
platform is entirely satisfactory TO me. In my
judgment it applied Democratic principles to
present conditions II a minority has right
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-19
MERGED JURoRs ERRED.

Crime Committed by Burglar Whon,
They Had acquitted.
MERGED, CAL, Dec. 1s.-Charles John
son IS again in Jail, charged with burglary.
He was brought up from Los Banos on
similar charge and tried before Judge Law
last Saturday. A local lawyer became
convinced of his innocence and voluntarily
defended him, but Johnson was not salts
fed with the way things were going and
made long speech to the Jury on his
own account. The jury promptly acquitted
him.
That night Johnson entered Mrs.
Napier's lodging-house and carried off a
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-19
Santa CRUZ Hote, Reopened.

SANTA CRUZ, CAL, Dec. 18.-A deci-
sion has been arrived at with reference to
the occupancy of the Pacific Ocean House.
which has been closed for TWO weeks since
j. K. Chaces failure. The new lessees are
Mr. and Mrs. E. B. Pixley, now the pro-
prietors OF the Pixley House in this city.
The Pixleys are we'll known to all visitors
to Santa Cruz, and under their manage
ment it is believed the Ocean House will
again see the palmy days of the Bromleys
and Peakes regime.
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-19
BOUNDING UP JACKRABBITS.
Thousands Slain During the Onslaught
at Lamar, Colo

WICHITA, KANs., Dec. 1s.-The annual
jackrabbit roundup at Lamar, Colo, is
now in progress and many Kansas sports
men are participating in the hunt. The
rabbits have multiplied in that section TO
so great an extent that such mode of ex-
termination becomes necessary. Paul
Morton, third vice President of the Santa
Fe, with large party OF Santa Fe officials,
came in tonight from that place where
they spent the better part of yesterday in
the chase. Ii their accounts may be re-
lied upon $1,000 jacks were slain in the
roundup. The mem bers are elated with
their success, most of them having killed
as high as hundred IN five hours. The
reports of the guns were of such volume as
to suggest g real battle.
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-19
Fi,htno Boats Bln,cn ashore.

CHATHAM, Mass, Dec. 18.-The gale
of Wednesday was the most disastrous in
its results for twenty years. Nearly all
of fleet of $50 fishing boats were driven
on shore or sunk at their moorings. Trees
and fences were leveled and Chatham
Beach was given terrible washing, which
greatly handicapped the life-saving pa troll.
Wires are down in all sections and trains
are day behind time.
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-19
BOY THIEpES ARRESTED.

Quantity of Stolen articles Found In
Their Rendt xrons.
LOS ANGELES, CAL, Dec. 1S.-The
police to-day broke UP a gang of boy
thieves. Thew were caught in the Sisters
building On Macy street, whers they had
rendezvoused for mouths. There are six
of the lads, ranging from Is to 90 years
of age. All have parents living in this
city. The thieves are Willie Henderson,
Ed Young, Thomas Lloyd, Walter Rivas,
Charles Owens and James Allen. In their
rendezvous there were found towels,
womens underclothing, stockings. COR
sets, mems clothing, hose, tools, two
wagon-loads of vegetables and great lot
of tools.
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-19

J. I. James, editor of a bipartisan
weekly newspaper, was arrested tonight
on warrant of indictment by the Fed
erai Grand Jury. James is charged with
violating the postal laws in sending an
obscene publication through the mails.
He has been fined before for the same
offense. This time James used alleged OBJ
scene language in his paper in reference
TO the Parkhurst Society Summing expe-
dition.
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-19
Under a Financial Cloud.

BOSTON, Mass, Dec. 49, = Frank c.
Miles, the treasurer of the Boston Safe
Deposit and Trust Company, is under a
financial cloud. and according to develop
ments to-day deficit variously estimated
at from $50, 900 to 100000 was discovered
in the funds of the company. The cor
poration is one OF the strongest of its kind
in the State.
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-19
Pa,rchnse OF Iron Mines.

NEW YORK, N. Y, Dec. 1S.-It was re-
ported in financial circles to-day that the
purchase of the Mountain and Rathbun
iron mines in the Mesaba range Mime
sofa, by the Carnegie Steel Com pany from
John D. Rockefeller has taken place. The
amount involved is unknown.
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-19
car.on's Fireou0 Arrntgmed.

CARSON, NEv., Dec. 1S.-Walter Kee-
men. the 17-year-old firebug, who was
recently arrested in the act of setting fire
to the public school building, to-day had
his preliminary examination in the JUS
tice Court and was bound over 10 await
the action OF the Grand Jury, with bonds
at $4,000. His counsel offered no defense,
stating that they would wait until the case
came before a higher court. The defense
will be based on an insanity plea.
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-19

suit of clothes, an overcoat and hat.
When the loss was discovered the officials
were notified and gave chase, but Johnson
had the start of them. Sheriff Warfeid
has been advised that he was captured
yesterday in Tuolumne County. He will
be brought back to Merced to stand trial.
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-19
Purcnnse a Weshington Mine.

SEATTLE, WASH, Dec. 49, Dennis
Ryan, a st. Paul capitalist, and his as
sociates have just concluded the purchase
for $3.50, 600 of the controlling interest in
the Bonanza Queen mine owned by
Bender, Sutherland and lockwood, in the
Silverton district. The ore con- sists prin-
cipally of copper, carrying also some
silver and oOld
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-19
Denth ut Almnden

SAN JOSE, CAL, Dec. 1S.-Francis Ben
nett an old resident of this county, died
at New Aimaden this morning. He was
native of Cornwall, Eng, and 81 years of
age. He had been engaged in the mines
at Almaden for thirty years. Four chill
dren survive him.
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-19
Wanted i'm Oreoon.

SACRAMENTO, CAL, Dec. 1S.-Gover-
nor Budd to-day issued warrant fo1
Charles Yocum, upon a requisition from
the Governor of Oregon. Yocum is wanted
in Douglass County, Or. for larceny. He
is now in custody at San Jose.
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-19
Xmas Hats.

For men and boys at a saving to the pur-
chaser of % per cent from prices elsewhere.
Our lines of Fedora. Trilby and stiff hats can
not be beat. The Old X l., l.. V. Merle pro-
prietor, corner Kearny and Commercial streets
and corner Sixth and Mission streets.
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-19
Killed In q Dual

NEW YORK, N. y, Dec. 18.-A special
cable dispatch to the Herald from Tunis
says: Captain Servotte, the naval attache
here, was killed here to-day in duel with
swords by Maifre Maille, Juge de Paix.
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-19
Dro,uned at Santa Crus.

SANTA CRUZ, CAL, Dec. 1S.-J Johnnie
Lyons, a 10-year-old bay, was playing
with a younger companion on the bank of
the San Lorenzo River this afternoon, when
he slipped and iell into the water. The
boy driited out into the stream. The little
chap with him ran for assistance, but
when it arrived young Lyons was
drowned
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-19
1he Monterey at Santa Crux.

SANTA CRUZ. CAL. Dec. 1S.-The
Monterey entered Santa Cruz Bay at 9
O'Clock last evening and is still here. It
has had no communication with the shore
owing to the heavy sea.
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-19

to give party definition of Democracy, then
there may be as many different definitions OF
Democracy as there are persons who desire 10
wear the name. Yours truly.
WILLIAM J. BRYAN.
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-19

Editor James tn Trouble.
LOS ANGELES, CAL, Dec. 1S.-Captain
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-19

and the efforts of its citizens are appar-
emily highly appreciated by the visitors.
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1896-09-05
A Giant Hog.

There is hog on exhibition at
Kaufman, Texas, which is perhaps the
largest living hog in the known world.
1t will be four years old in June and
was raised in Robertson County,
Texas, by Mr.. Briggs. When he sold
the hog six months ago it weighed
1430 pounds. He is eight feet three
inches long, four feet one inch high,
measures six feet around the neck,
eight feet around the body, and twea-
ty-three inches around the forearm.
His feet are as large as common OK.
and the leg bone larger than that OF
the largest steers. He is Poland China
and Red Jersey. He eats corn like an
OK, takes the whole ear in his mouth
at once and eats the cob as well as the
corn, eating from forty to fifty ears of
corn at time. There seems to be no
surplus flesh on him, and physicians
who have examined the hog say he can
easily be made to reach 1900 pounds.
The present owner, 7. Ratigany paid
$3.50 for the hog. and has been offered
$500 for him. he has fire policy on
the animal for $4,000. No other hog,
II Il said. ever reached such tremeu,
deus proportions, -Qalyeston NsyA
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1896-09-05
Raising Buffalo to Sell.

E. A. Bennett, who is at the Hotel
Duquesne, is Texas rancher. He is
visiting John A. Snee, the oil pro-
Queer. Mr.. Bennett wears the typical
sombrero. His ranch is 1870 miles
north of San Antonio.
81 must knock pretty story in the
head" he remarked; ga story of the
nature of 'Lo, the poor INDIAN and
it is that the buffalo, or American BIZ
son, is becoming extinct. That's not
80. Why, do you know that they are
ranching them in Montana and Texas
extensi, ely, and on smaller scale in
some other placss' A man in Mon.
tana is experimenting by crossing the
buffalo with the black polled Angus
cattle. He is of the opinion that q
finer hide can be obtained by this
union.
Goodnight, the greatest Texas cat
tleman, has fully 1900, 900 acres OF
ground ranched in, and is breeding
the bison pure. He has fenced off q
big tract of land, and is well satisfied
that he will make q success of his new
enterprise. He has already sold many
animals of his own raising to show
people and to ZOOS in several places.
Goodnight, too, has herd of elk, but
they are not profitable. There is lit
tie or no sale for them. For meat
purposes the buffalo is not in it. The
tongue makes good eating and por.
tions OF the headquarters, but the rest
of the carcass is worth little for eat.
ing. It would make mighty good
phosphate, though.
81 have sent lot of cattle on to
New York. My partner is in charge.
We will get but four cents per pound
or 81 per hundred, while parties in
Texas who herd cattle to Galveston
and ship to England get eleven cents
per pound. "-Pittsburg Dispatch.
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1896-09-05
A Fathers Brave Deed.

One of the most remarkable incl
dents of the big cyclone in Michigan
was that in which Charles Bradley, of
Thomas, proved himself an absolute
hero. Bradley and his wife and their
two children were just sitting down to
supper WIN the storm struck their
house. The husband cried out to his
wife to go into the cellar at once. She
obeyed, and Bradley followed with the
children. Mrs. Bradley was afraid
that the lamp in the dining room
might be overturned and set fire to
the house. She went upstairs and ex-
tinguished the lamp, and on her re-
turn was about to place the children
under washtub when the crash came.
"Put the babies down and bend over
hem I" cried Bradley. Mrs. Bradley
did what she was told, and her hus-
band protected her body with his
own. The bricks and beams fell upon
him and almost buried him in the
debris, but he did not vince. When
the damage was done Mrs. Bradley
crawled out and her husband followed
her. "When the cyclone had passed, /"
said the woman, describing the mat
ter, "Charley told me to crawl out,
and then he shook the rubbish off and
got out himself. Oh. my brave, good
husbandr' Mr.. Bradley's homestead
was lifted by the wind and dropped
100 feet from its original site.
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1896-09-05
Brothers Meet After Thirty Years.

Colonel John Whitney. Department
Commander of the Kansas Grand Army
of the Republic, and Major "Tom"
Anderson, of Topeka, who is connected
with'the Rock Island Road, were in the
city May 81 making arrangements for
headquarters for the Kansas delega-
ton to the National Encampment.
They stopped at the Hotel Ryan,
where they were visited by number
of Grand Army of the Republic men,
and later man walked up to Colonel
Whitney and said: ssHello, John"
The Colonel extended his hand, but
confessed that the other had little
the advantage of him. When the
latter explained that he was his
brother, whom he had not seen for
thirty-one years, Colonel Whitney's
embarrassment gave way to JOY. and
there was pathetic little scene for a:
moment. This brother lives in Mime
apolis,- and, having heard that the
COLONEL was coming to Sc. Paul, came
oyer to meet HIN. -Sh Peul NINA.
Pioneer pssas.