davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-05-07
DELIBERATE
MURDER.
An Over Night Guest at a Farm
House
COOlly Shoots Down the Family
in the Morning.
KILLS THE MEN FIRST
While Doing Chores in the
Barn Yard.
Then Goes to the House and
Eats Breakfast,
After Which He Arises and
Shoots the Women.

Milwaukee, May IA double and
what may yet prove a quadrupIe muir
der occurred at the farm house of
Alexander Harris, who resided in the
southeast corner of the township of
Waukesha, early this morning. The
victims were Mr.. Harris, his wife, hired
girl and hired man. The crime was
committed, it is supposed, by a farm
hand named Vim. Pouch, who had been
sheltered by the farmer over night
The dead and wounded are:
Alexander Harris, aged As. killed out
right.
Mrs. Harris, aged A, killed.
Hired girl, fatally wounded
Hired man, probably fatally wound
VIM. Pouch worked for Mr. Harris
about two years ago and last night at
his own request, was given lodging
over night
After concluding his breakfast this
morning Pouch arose from the table
ana started to walk to the door. Before
the women realized what was about to
happen, he wheeled around and shot
Mrs. Harris in the breast and then fired
at the hired girl. The farmers wife
fell to the floor and expired soon after
ward.
About 5 o'clock Mr. Harris and the
hired man arose and went to the yard
to milk the cows, Mrs. Harris and the
girl preparing breakfast. POuCh Ie1C
ms room quietly and going to the yard
where the men were bade them good
morning Harris and the hired man
We're sitting on stools near each other
and before they were aware of any evil
doing Pouch drew a revolver and fired
at the farmer, killing him. The muir
derer then shot the hired man, inf1ict-
ing probably a fatal wound.
The terrible sight did not unnerYe the
man, for he left his victims where they
fell and walked leisurely to the kitchen
of the farm house. There he met Mrs.
Harris and the hired girl and chatted
pleasantly with them for a few min
utes.
He said Mr.. Harris would not be in
for a few minutes and that he would
partake of his breakfast at once. The
women waited upon the murderer, who
seemed to relish the meal.
After finishing his bloody work the
murderer mounted bicycle and rode
away. He started in a southwesterly
direction over the MuckWOnagO road. A
posse of farmers is in hot pursuit
The farmers are greatly excited and
enraged, and should they get hold of
the man before the officers he will un-
dOubtedIy be Iynched.
The suppOsitiOn of the authorities is
that the man is rather insane, or that
he has committed the terrible deed in
order to hide the evidence of another
crime The manner in which the muir
ders were committed show plainly that
he had been deliberate in arranging his
plans.
Mr. Harris was one of the best known
farmers in the county and was quite
weII-to-do. Pouch had worked for
him some time during the summer of
1895 and nothing occurred, so far as
known, to cause any enmlty between
them. He is described as about feet
in height, 20 years OF age, wears a NOUS
tache and has blue eyes. The name
of the hired man is Nelson McHolt.
He is 25 years of age The girl is
Helen Vesbach, aged 26.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-05-07
SAGE VS.. GOULD.
Uncle Russell Calls George Js
Gould to Account.
He Demands Information About
Certain Transactions
OF MUTUAL INTEREST.
Can't Understand Why He is
Kept in the Dark.
Alleges Bad Financiering on the
Part of Gould.

New York, May IA sharp break in
Missouri Pacific railway stock yester-
day to TO- the lowest point on record, al
though followed by a rally revived the
rumors in regard to a falling out be-
tween President George J. Gould and
Russell Sage, the two largest holders OF
stock and bonds.
The most sensational report is that
Mr.. Sage requested from George Gould
an accounting for the construction OF
certain lines of the st. Louis, Iron
Mountain & Southern railway in Louis
lana. He did not claim there anything
wrong about the construction of the
road, but he was simply after informa-
ton, and he did not see why he should
not have il, since he is probably the
second largest holder of the stock OF
the company.
Another dispute is said to have been
over the issue of the new Manhattan
4 per cent bonds to refund the Z per
cent bonds of the old New York eleva-
ted railroad Mr.. Sage is said to have
opposed issuing the bonds at just the
time they were f1Oated, because double.
interest had to be paid for a period OF
nearly six months.
Another incident that is said to have,
added to the cOOlnesS between them.
was the reduction of the dividend on
Manhattan stock from 6 to per cent.
Mr.. Gould, it is said, wanted to finish
the year 1896 on a per cent basis and
then reduce the dividend in the first
quarter of 1897, while Mr.. Sage favored
the reduction in the last quarter OF
1896,
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-05-07
SOMETHING IS WRONG.
The Oregon Will Leave the Port Or
chard Dock-Various Reasons
Assigned.

Seattle, Wash, May THE battle
ship Oregon will probably leave the
Port Orchard dock at the high tide on
Saturday night. 1t may be two months
before the repairs can be made to the
ship, and the authorities determined it
would be better for the Oregon to be
in the water meantime, owing to the
strain the ship would be subjected to
during so long stay in dock.
San Francisco, May IA dispatch
from Tacoma to the effect that the new
Port Orchard dry dock, recently con-
structed at a cost of 81, 900, O00 was in
a state of collapse and that as a result
of the docking of the battleship Ore
gon the basin had settled in an alarm
ing manner, making it necessary to float
the war vessel out again in a hurry,
created a sensation in naval circles
yesterday. The telegram also stated
that the foundation of the dock was
laid on slippery quicksand, that the
whole country in the neighborhOOd was
filed with subterranean springs, which
made the ground soft and treacherOus,
and that the selection of the site was
brought about by a private corporation
composed of real estate men, who had
cleared half a million dollars by the
whole transaction.
Commander J. G. Morony, United
States navy, when seen, denied en-
phatically that there was any truth in
the report.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-05-07
HANNA
FRUSTRATED.
Unable to Stand the Strain Put
Upon Him
By the Hungry Office Seekers
at Washington.
SEIZED WITH VERTIGO
ReStOratiVes Were Applied and
He Revived.
Insisted on Going to the Senate
to Vote.

Washington, May THE first victim
scored by the onrush of the army Office
seekers is no less a person than Mark
from Ohio, after standing the strain of
a long political campaign, has broken
down under the rush of applicants for
office
Following out this plan of campaign,
Mr.. Hanna has kept open house at the
national headquarters in the Glover
building, at his apartments in the Ar
From early in the morning until late at
night the applicants for office have
camped upon his trail, and the most
humble of them have succeeded in
gaining access to the alI-poWerful chair
man.
Mr.. Hanna has been engaged not only
in looking after the preliminaries of his
own senatorial campaign in Ohio, but
also in adjusting differences in other
states and in fulfilling multitudinOus
vague promises made even before the
convention at st. Louis. But mortal
flesh and blood were not created to bear
up successfully against the persistent
seekers. The result has been that Mr.
Hanna, who is the picture of health, has
at last broken down under the strain.
While at the office of the national
committee yesterday he was seized
with a vertigo which prOstrated him for
tack, being in every respect like one
with which he was visited in Cleveland
during the early days of the campaign
last summer. The usual restorativeS
were applied, and Mr.. Hanna in spite
of the protests of friends and physicians
cast his vote in favor of the arbitration
treatV-
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-05-07
DAUGHTER OF MRS. LEASE
Sets a Wichita Audience Wild With
Her Graduating Address.

commencement exercises of the Wich-
ita high school at the auditorium last
night ecIipsed all former ones in ora
torical display; Is young men and 19
young women comprised the class.
Miss Evelyn Louise Lease, eldest
daughter of Miss Mary E. Lease, was
the VaIedictOrian of the class, and the
vast audience fairly went wild over her
grafton, which was the best of the ev-
ening.
Miss Lease is wonderfully like her IA
nous mother, and the demonstration of
her power leads many to predict a bril-
liant career. She has voice rema rka-
Bile for its clearneSs and power Miss
Lease also composed the words of the
class song
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-05-07
KANSAS LEGION.
Large Attendance at the AnnuaiMeeu-
ing at Leavenworth.

Leavenworth, May THE Kansas
Loyal Legion held it's annual meeting at
the National hotel in this city last night.
The attendance was large, members of
the order from all parts of Kansas be-
ing present. Colonel Conover and Col
Onel Hunt, of Kansas City, were among
the visitors present.
were elected as follows: Commander
Lieutenant ]. T. HaskilI; senior vice
commander, J. A. McGonigIe; junior
vice commander, Major S. R. Washer;
treasurer, ]. L. Weaver; registrar. Ma
jor o. B. Gum; chancellor Captain R.
w. jenkins; chaplain Captain George
Robinson; cOuncil-MajOr Frank Hills
niger, Captain Rockwell, Major J. +
Hudson, General J. K. Proudft and
Captain J. f Huston.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-05-07
CULLOM'S TARIFF IDEAS.
Wants q Provision in the Tariff Bill
for Permanent Commission.

Washington, May I'm reply 10 in
quiries as to his view on a permanent
tariff commission, Senator Cullom has
written the following letter:
Washington, ID. c., May g.
Mr. Samuel B. Archer, Secretary of the
Tariff Commission League, Newark,
New Jersey.
My Dear Sir-You have asked me
two or three times whether I have been
and am now, in favor of a permanent
tariff commission. I have for many
years thought that there ought to be
some means devised by which we could
avoid these constant and extreme
changes in tariff legislation-hrst going
far in the direction of a high tariff and
on the occasion of change of politics.
going as far the other way
l believe that through the judicious
agency of a permanent tariff commits
sion composed of experts, statisticians
and business men such changes could
be made from year to year by congress
as might be indicated and clearly shown
to be wise. This would save the ne
cessity of requiring a change of the
whole tariff system by whatever party
came into power.
Certainly we cannot continue fndefin-
itely as we have been doing with refer
ence to that subject, because the busi-
ness of the country will not tolerate it.
[ hope sincerely that this congress may
provide for some kind of a commission,
which will aid in changing the situation
and 1 should be glad if an amendment
of the kind indicated were to- be incOr-
porated in the bill now before the SEN
ate, known as the Dingley bill
Very truly yours,
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-05-07
NORTH TOPEKA ROBBERY.

The house of Dr. C. B. Lyon. 1901 Har-
rison street, was entered by thieves be-
fore half past nine o'clock last even
ing. DR.. and Mrs. Lyon and little son
ing up the house and taking the key to
the sitting room door The girl who is
Miss Della Neiswinder of Silver Lake
had already gone driving with Mr.
Steele, and had the hall door key. Upon
her return at half past nine she was
surprised to find the hall door standing
open. Being frightened she called Mr.
Steele back and they went over the
house. They found the room over the
parlOr had been searched The draw
ers from the dresser had been taken out
and the contents scattered over the
floor. The bed had been torn up even
the springs taken off, the carpets ripped
up at the corners and the room thor
missed here. The robbers had gone to
Miss Neiswinder'S room and finding her
trunk locked, took it to the orchard
west of the house and broke it OPEN A
box securely padlocked which had been
made to fit the trunk, and containing
valuable papers belonging to Miss
Neiswinders father was broken open
and the papers scattered over the
ground. where they were found this
morning. The robbers secured some
silver teaspoons which had belonged to
Mrs. Lyons mother and grandmother.
They were marked with a monogram
and were worn quite thin. Two of the
spoons were found in the orchard and
two in the house this morning, leaving
IA missing. 1t is supposed the thieves
were frightened away, as some rooms in
the house were not visited When thew
left, however, they took all the KEYS be
longing to the place. Entrance was eff
fected by using a skeleton kew This is
the second instance of burglary in this
neighbOrhOod, as one night this week a
house on Topeka avenue was entered
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-05-07
NEW POLICE BOARD.
Report That New Board Has Been
Determined On,
William Green.
John ArmSt trOng.
T. NJ. NeWland.

William Green.
John Armstrong.
F. NJ Newland
This is said to be the slate for the
new police board in Topeka. Mr. Green
and Mr.. Armstrong are prohibition
Democrats and Mr.. New1and is a radi-
cal Republican prOhibitionist with in
dependent tendencies. The Populists
rank him among their number and he
would be appointed as a POpulist 1t
is said that VIM. Dransffeld, a POpulist
who was a candidate before, may possi-
bly, be named when the changes are
made.
This information comes from one who
is closely connected with the governors
Office Gov. Leedy is out of town today
and no one could be found who would
verify the report and the information
concerning the change has been kept
very quiet.
The PopuIists in Topeka have organ
lied fight on Commissioner NJ. D.
Henderson and Chief Steele, but it is
reported that if any change is made it
will be a clean sweep. Another report
is that Wilson Keith is to remain on the
board and the Populist members are
to go.
A quiet meeting will be held tonight
by a dozen leading POpulists to make
demand upon Gov. Leedy TO remove
Commissioner Henderson and Chief of
Police Steele,
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-05-07
NOT APEARLY ROSE.
Anna Howard Removed From the
Position of High Priestess.

There is a row 81 the bon-ton colored
western organization known briefly as
the Kansas and Nebraska Grand Tenn
pie and Tabernacle of the Knights and
Daughters of Tabor of the International
Order of Twelve, and its all on account
of Frank Wilson, chief grand mentor
Of the International Order of Twelve,
and Anna Howard, late high priestess
of the Pearly Rose Ia bernacle No. n
of the same aggregation.
MandamuS proceedings We're commen-
ced in the district court this morning to
cOmpeI Chief Grand Mentor Wilson to
restore Anna Howard to the office of
high priestess, from which pinnacle
she states in her petition, he thrust her
a month ago.
The petition Of the former high prizes
tess fails to give an accurate descrip-
ton of the row which resulted in her
deposition. as she states that she was
thrown out of the lodge for no cause
wha tsoever."
Wilson lives in Kansas City, and it
was during a visit to this city that he
cut off the high priestess of the Pearly
Rose She says that she has been in
the order for the past u years. and has
paid into the treasury during that time
about SIS
Judge Hazen will hear the writ of
mandamuS some day next week
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-05-07
GOVERNOR IN KANSAS CITY
Makes a Visit to the stockyards and
Looks About
Today's Kansas City Journal says:

Today's Kansas City Journal says:
Governor John w. I.eedy of Kansas,
was in Kansas City yesterday and dur
ing the morning hours also went down
to the stock yeards to see what sort of
a place it was what kind of people were
there and how they behaved while do
ing business. Governor Leedy was in
the city to read a PAPER at the Grain
and Trade congress primarily, but he
had a deep interest in the pending con-
test between the people of Kansas and
the stock yards company in the fight to
cut the charges for feed and yardage
now in force at the yards. While he is
not a witness in the hearing and has
not taken a PERSONAL interest in the
case outside of cOunselng with the at
torney general, he has a deep interest
and is anxious for that measure to be
upheld by the courts so the people can
have relief from the burdensome charg
es now imposed at this market.
Congressman Mason S. Peters, who
has been in business at the yards for
many years, piIOted the governor about
the exchange and introduced him to
many of the commission men and Off
cials whom they met. The action of the
governor and the other representatives
of the administration in visiting the
stock yards during the hearing now in
progress shows them to be made of
sterner stuff than the memb bers of the
legislature who were in the city to take
testimony concerning the yards when
the IegiSla ture was considering the bill.
The members of that committee said
they dared not go down as they feared
violence from their constituents in case
they would go and the fact became
known. Governor Leedy and the others
went like James Whitcomb Riley, with
O1lT 9TeV 9DOlOo-V -
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-05-07
1900 CONTESTANTS
Enter the Trials at the Turnfest To-
day

St Louis, May THE second days
work of the National funniest began
early and the beautiful weather that
marked the first day of the festival
continued, with prospects that it will
be enjoyed during the remainder of the
week.
AS early as o'clock the different
Turner societies marched to the infield
or the race track at the fair grounds
and took their places to begin the day s
exercises From O'Clock until noon
the time was taken up with class COM
petition for the actives in three groups.
AT times there were as many as 1000
men on the field and the scene was a
picturesque one as they marched and
countermarched, their bright steel
Wands flashing in the sunlight as they
went through the various exercises
The first group consisted of 110 classes
numbering from to 18 men inclusive,
and divided into four subdivisions.
Emil Woerner and K. Bockhusen acted
as judges for this group. In group 2
were eleven classes, numbering from
19 to 3S men, inclusive, with Otto Boet-
tiger and K. Heckrich as judges.
There were ten classes in the third
group, numbering from 80 to So men,
inclusive Albert Nathan and Oscar
Ernst were judges of this group.
The competitive work consisted of
prescribed exercises with iron wands,
putting the 16 pound shot, high-far
jumping and 100 yards running.
While the outdoor exercises were be
ing proceeded with another competition
was held in the upper hall of the House
of Public Comfort, on the fair grounds.
This consisted of recitatiOns and i'm
promptu speeches.
There were 16 contestants among
whom were the following: Ottilie Bur
ger of Kansas City, Henry Bender of
st. Louis, NJ. DOehner of Cleveland, A.
Fuchs of Chicago, E. Gichener of St.
Louis, E. Koenig of Kansas City, Mrs.
Hilderbrand of Kansas City, Otto Kali
meir and George KOhIe of St. Louis,
Charles Miller of Milwaukee, Herman
Schultz of Leavenworth, Kan, c..
Schmidt of Boston and K. Walter of
Decatur, Hi
there was a competition in chorus sing
ing between a number of singing sOcie-
ties. This will continue through the
week and Sunday the winners will be
awarded diplomas and other prizes.
This afternoon for an hour there were
model exercises by the seniors, the
classes consisting of men over 80 years
of age. This was followed by masse
exercises by the juniors aged IA to IS
years, on parallel bars and with dumb
bells. The ladies' classes, under the
direction of Ferd FrOelich, went
through masse exercises with clubs,
which We're performed with precision
and grace and won them great ap-
plause.
At the same time there were individ-
ua1 contests in the amphitheater for
supremacy in wrestling and fencing.
Not until Sunday will any of the
contestants know what their standing
is, their marking in each of the exer-
cises being taken by the Judges, who
make the final computations and award
the prizes, which consist, as they did
at Athens, of laurel Wreaths.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-05-07
B. OIL. F. VOTING
On the Proposition to Unite With the
American Federation of Labor

Terre Haute, Ind, May THE lodges
of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Fire
men throughout the country voted the
1st of this month on the proposition to
affiliate with the American Federation
of Labor. The proposition was before
the biennial convention at Galveston
last summer and was strongly urged
by Grand Master Sargent and Presi-
dent Gompers of the Federation, who
was present by invitation. The i'm
preston is that the returns will show
that the proposition has been carried
by more than twO-thirds of the mem
bers- The affiliatiOn is for fraterna1
and financial assistance and cannot in
volVe the firemen in a strike or other
radical action not authorized by their
own laws
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-05-07
HUMAN MISERY.
Lots of it Jumped Together in the
Quick Family.

Mrs. Samuel P. Quick, wife of the
man who IS now awaiting sentence by
Judge Hazen for criminal assault, is
dangerously i'll with dropsy. Today
she was removed to the Salvation Army
hospital from her rooms at 215 West
Fifth street.
For two weeks past she has been suf-
fering greatly from the disease and
permission was given for her admission
to the hospital. She will probably not
live many weeks. just before taking
her to the hospital her husband, Sam
ueI P. Quick, was brought from the
county Jail to bid her goodbye. He
assisted in carrying her on stretcher
to Knights ambulance. When the cot
had been placed in it, Quick leaned
over his wife and bade her adieu. It
was a pitifuI sight. The large, strong
man wept convulsively, kissing her
he said "GoOd-bye,' and the doors of
the ambulance were closed. The am
bulance rolled away and Quick, dazed
with grief, walked back to the county
jail in company with a deputy sheriff.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-05-07
DENIED IN ST. LOUIS.
Vice President of the ETo. Pac. Says
the Road is All Right

ST. Louis, May 7-Mr. c. G.. Warner.
vice president of the Missouri Pacifiol
made the following statement today in
reference to the story sent out from
New York of a rupture between Mr..
George Gould and Russell Sage. There
is no depreciation in the business, or
actual value of the Missouri Pacific rail-
road. II is in first-clasS condition and
there Is a surprise in store for the
bears.
Il know nothing of any controversy
between Mr.. Gould and Mr. Sage. That
portion of the story is not in evidence
here There may be a difference OF
opinion between Mr.. Gould and Mr..
Sage, but I have no knowledge of the
alleged rupture.
In short, there is no trouble at this
end of the line, and we expect this year
to do a larger amount of business than
ever before