Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-12-23
CONDENSED DISPATCHES.

| The Lake Shore has declared a regu-
| lar semi annual dividend of 3 per cent
| payable Feb. /. The Michigan Central
has declared a semi-annual dividend of
per cent. payable Feb. l. The Canada
| Southern has declared semi-annual
dividend Of l per cent. payable Feb l.
This is reduction of 4 per cent.
A large number of families living in
Union county. Arkansas. are destitute,
and many are absolutely starving
| Their condition is due to the failure of
crops in that vicinity, last season,
caused by the severe drouth. 4 mass
meeting at Eldorado has been called TO
ask the state Legislature, Governor and
Congress for relief.
Forefathers day was celebrated at
Portsmouth. y. H., Tuesday with APP
prnpriate exercises by the Piscataqua
Congregational Club. The programme
Included a reception Of members and
guests al North church: dinner at
peirce hall at noon: and an address by
President Dewitt Hyde of Bowdoin
college. on The Spiritual Opportunity
of the Public Schools
The Chicago bundles Of six foreign
newspapers are held by the Chicago
post office aud tho publishers notified
that they viii not he Delivered All the
papers have been found to contain lot
terry advertisements. Some time ago
Postmaster HcSsirg was Informed by
Chicago subscribers Of The papers that
considerable lottery business in small
way WAS l.eing done in Chicago in re-
Spouse 10 The advertisement in "a number
Of German. Dutch and Swedish news
papers circulating I'm the city An exam
iua.ion WAS ordered By the postmaster
and Monday. IA scrutiny OF the foreign
newspaper mail resulted in the hanging
up OF seven different publications, about
2@o papers being in the lot.
John T.. Sullivan was in the poor debtor
session of court. at Boston. Tuesday. on
q florists bill Of S3lS. on which Judgment
had been obtained. The items in the bill
dated from June ~ 1898. to Dec. 2. 1894.
The first was for four buttonhole bou-
quetS, and nearly all the others We're for
to $3.50. The bill was allowed by the court
and "a deputy marshal was given writ
of attachment. John l.. lived at % Fol
som street koNbury. and the officer
could not lind that he had anything TO
attach. 50 he attached chip which ful-
nils the legal requirements. The eN-cham-
pion was examined as TO the amount OF
money he had made ana how ne spent II,
and the case was postponed until Jan II.
A dispatch from Constantinople to
The London Central News says that the
Sultan has issued a decree granting
amnesty 10 200e Armenians convicted
either OF crimes against the govern
ment or against persons or property, or
who were awaiting trial on such
charges. In addition his majesty COM
mutos the death sentences passed on 80
Armenians to Imprisonment in fortress
and promises that these prisoners VIII
he given their liberty if they behave
themselves for three months. rms
rlemency is due TO the Intervention OF
Mgr. Ormanian, the new Armenian
patriarch.
\ man. registering as W. l.. Lawson
of Worcester. was found dead at the
Gallagher House. Lowell. Mass, earl!
Tuesday morning. He was 60 years
of age. Near him was found bottle
of crystals. from which poison label
had been scratched. 1t is thought 10
be a case of suicide From letters
found in the mans pockets, ne Is
thought to be Willard l.. Ripley, Ior-
mefly of Lowell, and an investigation
reveals the fact that the two men
descriptions are similar. He is saiu 10
have a wife and daughter living Ill
Charlton n II