davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The record-union., 1897-09-28
LATIMER TRAGEDY.
The Coroner's Jury Renders It's
Verdict in the Case.

HAZLETON Pa), Sept. 27.-The
Coroner's jury which investigated the
death of the strikers at Latimer, in
Deputy Coroner Coffmann's office this
evening, after an hours deliberation,
rendered the following verdict:
THAT from the circumstances of the
case, and from evidence offered, that
said Clement Platock, with others,
came to his death by gunshot wounds
on September 10, 1897 at the hands of
Sheriff James Martin and deputies, and
in this, we, the jury do all agree, and
we, Phil J. Boyle, Thomas T. Thomas,
Barton Fress and Peter McKiernan of
this jury do further say that the said
Clement Platock, with Others was
marching peacefully and unarmed on
the public highway: that they were in
tercepted by said Sheriff Martin and
his deputies and mercilessly shot to
death, and we do further find that the
killing was unnecessary, and could
have been avoided without serious in
jury to either person or property, and
we find, finally, that the killing was
wanton and unjustifiable, but in this,
we, George Maue and F. J. MacNeal
of this jury, do not concur, and we, the
jury, do further say that there was
such strong suspicion of unlawful vio-
lence at the hands of person or per-
sons unknown to this jury as to make
this INQUEST necessary"
The record-union., 1897-09-28
STRIKES ARE USELESS.
Debs Says They Are All Lost and
Don't Pay.

CHICAGO, Sept. 27.-About two hum
dred representatives of labor Organiza
tions were present in Orpheus Hall in
the Schiller building to-day to attend
the National Labor Conference called
by the ST. Louis Labor Convention.
Many organizations affiliated with the
American Federation of Labor were
represented, but those delegates said
they were not there in any official ca
pacity.
President E. V. Debs of the Social
Democracy explained the objects of the
conference.
Strikes don't pay" said Mr. Debs.
"All strikes are lost. They are useless.
They are caused by the employing
classes. When capitalists get ready for
a strike they provoke them, knowing
well their cause is won before the con-
f1ict is begun. The various labor un-
ions of this country have all they can
do to take care of their own men. New
er was that better exemplified than in
the recent miners strike. Never in my
experience have seen a strike which
had the sympathy of the public and
even of part of the employing class as
that one did, and yet when an appeal
was made for financial aid less than
seven cents per striking miner was re-
ceived"
There was much bitter criticism Of
President Gompers of the American
Federation of Labor for asking mem
bers not to attend the meeting.
The record-union., 1897-09-28
TRIAL OF LUETGERT.
The Business Partner of Defendant
on the Witness Stand.

CHICAGO. Sept. q. The leading
event of the day in the trial of a L.
Luetgert was William Charles Luet-
gerts business partner He explained
why. as he claimed, the caustic potash
in which the body of Mrs Luetgert is
alleged to have been dissolved, was
bought.
According to Charles story, the pot
ash was purchased as the principal in
gredient Of a quantity of soft soap, to
be used in cleaning up the big factory
preparatory to its sale to an English
syndicate. The witness said he sug-
gested this method of putting the
factory in shape himself. and that
Luetgert. acting upon the suggestion,
ordered a barrel Of caustic potash sent
to the factory in March last. This
was about the time the prosecution
claims the negotiations were pending
between Luetgert and Davey, the mys-
terious Englishman, who is said to have
represented the syndicate. and who bor-
rowed something like $4,000 from
Luetgert.
Charles also offered an explanation
of the apparently barricaded door to
the basement by telling about a chase
The record-union., 1897-09-28
The SEAL QUESTION.
GREAT BRITAIN STILL FAVORS
A CONFERENCE.
Willing to Take Part, but Objects
to the Presence of Japan
and Russia.

LONDON, Sept 27.-An announce
ment was made this afternoon confirm
ing the dispatches of the Associated
Press Of Saturday last. The Marquis
of Salisbury has not withdrawn from
the Behring Sea conference. but has
simply objected to the presence of ia
pan and Russia. Negotiations on the
subject are proceeding. Great Britain
is willing to take part in the confer
ence, and is endeavoring to secure the
acquiescence of Canada
The United States ambassador, Colo
mel John Hay, and the British Ernbas-
sador to the United States, Sir Julian
Pauncefote, visited the Foreign Office
this afternoon.
The whole trouble seems to be due to
the failure of the Marquis of Salisbury
to respond 10 Colonel Hays note of
agreement to a meeting of experts, in
which Colonel Hay stated that the
President had not notified him that
Japan and Russian representatives
would be present.
No exception being taken. Colonel
Hay supposed the matter was settled
until the action taken last Wednesday,
when it was announced that the Mar
quiS of Salisbury never contemplated
taking part in a conference in which
Russia and Japan were represented
having always contended, as shown in
his dispatch of May 9th, that they have
no locus standi.
It is also pointed out that the Mar
quis of Salisbury's letter of July Both
distinctly says that Great Britain had
agreed to meeting of British, Cana
dian and American experts.
The japanese Minister here said to a
reporter of the Associated Press:
"WiiIe no formal communications
have passed between Japan and Eng
lan1, I have discussed the arrange
ments for a conference with the For
eign Office officials"
1t is a curious fact that Colonel Hays
dispatch of July 9th is omitted from
the Behring Sea blue book, just issued.
The record-union., 1897-09-28
UNCLE SANS FINANCES.
RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES
OF THE GOVERNMENT.
September Statement VIII Show
Material Decrease in Deficit, as
Compared With August.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 27.-The Sep
tember monthly statement of the Gov
ernment receipts and expenditures VIII
show a material decrease in the deficit,
as compared with August. The in
crease that will be shown in receipts
from internal revenue sources seems
to Justify the expectation of the Treas
ury officials that by January lst next
the deficit will have been reduced to a
nominal amount.
The excess of expenditures over re-
ceipts so far this month amounts to
something over $3, ,250,000, but is ex-
pected that by October 1st this excess
viii have been reduced S3,0O0,000 or
less. making the deficit for the first
quarter of the fiscal year about So
100000.
Internal revenue officials call atten-
ton to the fact that already the re-
ceipts from internal revenue exceeded
those Of last year by about $4,000, 900,
and confidently predict that by Janu-
ary 1st this increase viii have reached
$7000,000, and possibly SS,0OO,000.
The receipts from customs so far
show no material gains. nor is it ex-
pected that any substantial improve
ment VIII be shown until after the first
of the year.
The expenditures on account of the
Pacific railroads at the beginning Of
the year will be exceptionally heavy. On
January 1st there will be due matured
bonds of the Central Pacific to the
amount Of S10614,120: Union Pacific,
S15,919. 512; Kansas Pacific, 81, ,423, 600;
Central. branch of the Union Pacific,
$500. .000; Sioux City and Pacific, ST.
62S. 800. making a total Of S29, ,904, ,952.
In addition to this amount, the inter
est payments on January 1st will ag-
gregate approximately S7.000000 If
however. the offer of the reorganization
committee Of the Union Pacific is ac-
cepted, about S40000.000 would be
added to the available cash in the treas
ury and would reduce the January pay
ments on the account of the Pacific
railroads by about SIT. 100000
Estimating the deficit for the next
three months at S17, 100000, exclusive
Of the payments on account of the Pa
cific railroads. the available cash bal
ance in the treasury at the close of the
first half of the fiscal year would be
about $4,000 900 in excess of the pres
ent figures. or S225, 600 600 This
would be a net loss for the six months
of $1,000 600.
Summing the situation up. the treas
ury officials confidently predict that be
fore the close of the calendar year the
receipts will fully equal or exceed the
needs of the Government.
The record-union., 1897-09-28
SIR JULIAN PAUNCEFoTE.
The British Embassador Expected
Early in October.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 27.-Sir Julian
Pauncefote, the British ambassador. is
expected to return here from his Lon
don trip about October 18th, notwith-
standing reports that he would not be
back in time for the Behring Sea con-
ference. The staff of the British En-
bassay, now at Manchester by the-Sea,
will return next week and according
to present plans the entire British rep
resentation will be here when the seal
conference is held.
With the return of Sir Julian it is be-
lieved steps will be taken by the Brit
ish authorities to negotiate reciprocity
treaties under the new tariff laws be-
tween the United States and British
American colonies Word reaches here
that Sir Augustus Hemming, Governor
General of British Guiana, has urged
the authorities at London to effect
reciprocity arrangements with the
United States, and in support of this
the Legislature of the colony adopted
the following resolution:
THAT his excellency, the Governor
General, be respectfully requested to
cause inquiries to be made in connec-
ton with the reciprocity clause in the
new tariff bill of the United States as
to the expediency of entering into any
arrangements which will assure the ad-
mission of the sugar product of the
colony on the most favorable terms"
1t was urged in support of this reso-
luton that the sugar industry Of the
colony was dependent on the United
States market, which takes II per cent.
of the entire product. Sir Cavendish
Boyle, the Colonial Secretary, said this
view had been presented to the Co
loniaI Minister, Joseph Chamberlain,
and that it was expected that the repre-
sentative at Washington would be
asked to look after the interests Of the
British colonies in this particular. The
reciprocity treaty would permit of a
reduction of duty on sugar from Gui-
ana of about SO cents on 100 pounds.
Under the British colonial system ali
treaties in behalf of the colonies must
be made by the imperial Government.
1t is believed that if reciprocity ne
gotiations are begun in behalf of Brit
ish Guiana and other Southern colonies
it will lead to similar negotiations for
Canada, where the Liberal Ministry is
Favorable to reciprocity
The record-union., 1897-09-28
COWED BY DEPUTIES.
A Threatened Lynching in Mis-
souri, Fails to MateriaIize.

LECTION CMo.). Sept. 27.-The lynch
ing threatened by the farmers of JEFF
ferson Township did not materialize
to-day at the preliminary examination
of James Hull Joseph McKeehan and
Lee Jackson, accused of abducting, out
raging and robbing Mrs. Andrew Stills,
the young woman who was forcibly
taken from her husband ON the high
way two weeks ago and held pris-
oner. as she claims, for several days.
Two thousand men from the sur
rounding country thronged the village
and there was much talk and excite
ment, but ten armed deputies and Tn
der Sheriff Long succeeded in prevent
ing any disturbance.
No building in the village was large
enough to accommodate the court, and
the trial was held under a big tent
Mr.. and Mrs. Stills reported their story
of the alleged outrage to-day. To-
morrow the defendants will endeavor
to prove that the woman is not of good
character.
The record-union., 1897-09-28
PRESIDENT MCKINLEY.
A Slight Mishap While He Is Out
Driving.

ADAMS (Mass). Sept. 27.-The plans
Of President Mckinley and the mem
bers of his party We're slightly changed
to-day, on account of the unpropitious
weather and the slight indisposition of
Mrs. Mckinley The trip to Williams
town which had been planned, was de-
ferred until tomorrow. President Nc
Kinley and Attorney General McKenna
Joined Mr. Plunkett in an hours drive
about the town.
During the ride a slight mishap oc-
CURED. AS they were passing along
Summer street a strap broke, and the
collar on one of the horses fell off. The
animal tripped and fell, and the other
horse became frightened, but the cool
ness of the driver prevented a serious
accident. The President jumped out
of the carriage, and the others followed.
The horse was led back to the stable,
and another sent out. The party then
continued their ride.
The record-union., 1897-09-28

for rats in which a small dog was an
active participant. He said that the
factory had been infested by rats for
some time, and that an effort had been
made to get rid of them. The evening
of April Both he and Luetgert, with
others, were lin the basement, when
terrier which belonged to the witness
got after a rat. Charles, Luetgert and
others moved boxes, barrels and other
obstacles to aid the dog in his chase,
and the boxes and barrels We're hurled
in a pile against the door. The barri-
cade of the door was unintentional, he
said.
Charles says besides the caustic pot
ash two or three barrels of taHow. a
quantity of grease and some Clipped
bone which was to be used in making
the soft soap was delivered at the
factory. He said he aided OdOrofsky
and Levandowski the two labOrers en-
ployed in the factory, to place some
of the stuff in the middle vat. He also
saw Frank Bialk in the factory at the
time The caustic potash was put in
the vat, and Luetgert said he would
see to turning on the steam and boil
ing the stuff
Charles said he met Luetgert in a
saloon opposite the factory on the even
ing of the night Mrs. Luetgert disap-
peared, and Luetgert said he was going
over to the factory to turn on the
steam At o'clock the same night
Charles said he went to the basement
of the factory and found Luetgert there,
and the steam turned on. The mixture
boiled over once or twice and splashed
upon the floor he said. The following
day he visited the factory basement,
and saw the mixture in the vat The
tallow was in one portion of the vat
and the grease or lard had collected in
another part of the vat by itself Luet-
CERT again turned on the steam in the
mixture. the witness said.
The record-union., 1897-09-28
Completes the Bloody Work by Sending a
Bullet Into His Own Head.
The Family Were Prosperous Ger
mans Living Near Carro1Iton,
and Were Supposed to Have
Lived Happily Together, and No
Motive Gam be Assigned for the
Terrible Deed.

CARROLLTON Qa.), Sept. 27.-The
slaughter of a mother and her six chill
dren occurred at the home of John
Boecker, a farmer living eight miles
northwest of here last night Boecker,
the fiendish husband, completed his
bloody work by sending a bullet into
his own head, infiicting a fatal wound.
The family were prosperous Germans,
and, as far as known, had lived hap
PLY. No motive for the tragedy had
been disclosed. Boecker's victims are
his wife and these children: Caroline,
aged IA: Christine, aged 9; Henry, aged
5; Lizzie, aged 8; John, aged 3, and
an infant. All are dead, but Henry,
and the latter cannot recover from his
wounds.
BOecker's brother Henry, who lives
about twenty rods away, went to the
house at 8 o'clock this morning, and,
was the first to know of the tragedy.
Boecker with his wife and baby slept
in a back room, and their corpses lay
on one bed. The wife had been shot
in the neck with shotgun, which
stood in the corner. The baby had
been shot, and its head crushed with
the butt Of a revolver. The man, still
breathing, had a bullet hole high up
on the forehead, and by his side was
a six-shoOter with two chambers empty.
Upstairs Henry and Lizzie lay on a
bed With bullet holes in their heads,
the latter dead, the boy still breathing.
In the opposite corner of the same room
Caroline, Christine and John were dead,
each with a bullet hole in the fore
head, though Caroline had two.
LaCe this afternoon the bodies were
still untouched, the Sheriff and Coro-
ner being occupied in arranging for the
inquest.
It is undoubtedly a case Of murder
and suicide.
All but two children met with instant
death. fer the blood cIots were under
the head, and they lay as calmly in
repose as if in sleep. All except Henry,
who is not yet dead, were attired in
night robes.
The weapon Boecker had borrowed
from his brother Henry last Thursday.
remarking that he wanted it to kill
rats in the cellar. 1t is now recalled
that Poecker had since then practiced
at target shooting.
Boeeker was A years old, and for
over twenty years had lived in the
same neighborhood, in fact on the same
farm. lie has been regarded as a pros
porous farmer, and only recently
bought q 200 acre farm a few miles
from the old homestead. Yesterday he
attended Catholic services with his
family. Later he was visited by
neighbor, who says that when he left
the Boecker home in the evening they
were seemingly a happy family, and
not a premonition of the awful tragedy
enacted a few hours later was given
by Becker or anyone of the household.
Members of his fathers family say
he had no family troubles, his financial
affairs were in good shape and they
can assign no motive for the terrible
crime. On the other hand, it is said
that John had disagreed with the old
folks end Henry over the occupancy OF
the farm on which John lived, and this
is assigned by some as the cause of
the trouble, which eliminated in muir
der and suicide.
The record-union., 1897-09-28
FROM LAKES TO SEABOARD.
The Deep Waterways Commission
Have Selected a Route.

ALBANY On. ", Sept. 27.-The
Deep Water Ways Commission. ap-
pointed by President Mckinley to re-
port on canal route connecting the
upper lakes with the seaboard, have
practically selected a route, according
to a. statement made by Chief Engineer
Harris Of the Commission, starting
from North Tonawanda to Lake Erie.
near Wilson, beginning again at Os-
wego, thence to Lake Oneida, and from
there to the Mohawk River, which is a
direct connection with the Hudson.
To a certain extent the proposed
water way follows the lines suggested
by the Hon. Nathan Sweet The cost
of the construction viii be, according
to estimates. $50. O9S COL The Suez ca
nal cost S1O0,000 600.
The record-union., 1897-09-28
Government Not in Need of Gold.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 27.-Assistant
Secretary Vanderlip to-day received a
telegram from leading banker in New
York asking upon what terms the Gov
ernemtn would receive million dol
lars or more in gold in San Francisco
and upon receipt of last telegraphic no.
tice of it's deposit issue currency
against it in New York. The Assist
ant Secretary has replied in effect that
the Government is not in need of gold,
and therefore will not be able to make
any concessions as to transportation
and insurance in the present instance.
The record-union., 1897-09-28
BICYCLE MEET.
Bald Defeats Loughead and Coop
er at Trenton. N. J.

TRENTON On. j., Sept. 27.-Over
10,00Q persons witnessed the bicycle
races at the opening of the Interstate
Fair in this city to-day. Nearly all the
crack riders of the country were pres
ent, and took part in the professional
events, which were the one-mile open
and two-nlile handicap. Fred Sims Of
Philadelphia, who was on the track to
take Fart in both professional events,
was served with notice that he had
been suspended until next August for
unfair riding.
Jimmy Michael, paced by a sextet
and quad, did five miles in 9:32 1-5.
The record-union., 1897-09-28
HENRY GEORGE FOR MAYOR.
Nominated by the Free Silverites of
Greater New York.

NEW YORK, Sept. 27-The most
important development in the Greater
New York political situation to-day
was the unanimous nomination of
Henry George for Mayor by the United
Democracy, composed of numerous free
silver and Bryan clubs. The conven-
tion nominated John G. Boyd for Con-
trollar and Winfield S. Overton for
President of the Municipal Council. a
belief is current that Mr.. George Will
not accept to-night's nomination, if
Tammany indorses the Chicago plat
form. On the other hand, the old-time
Democratic leaders prefer to ignore the
silver question altogether. So the
Democrats are as much worried over
Henry George. as the Republicans are
over Seth Low.
The Republican Assembly district
leaders of the borough of Manhattan
met tonight, and, after a long confer
ence, decided to place in nomination at
the city convention these names:
Mayor, Benjamin F. Tracy; Controller,
Ashbel P. Fitch; Counsel, Ross Apple
ton.
At a meeting of the Executive Com
mittae Of Tammany Hall to-day the roll
of Assembly districts for nomination
for city and county officers was called,
with the following results: Mayor,
William Schermer, George B. McClen-
nand. Charles G. Knox; President of
the Borough, George w. Plunkett,
Charles r. Allen; Controller, Ashbel P.
Fitch.
Much stir was created in political
circles to-day by the publication of a
letter purporting to have been sent
to Colonel William L. Brown of the
New York Daily News by Hon. Will
liam J. Bryan urging t}at the munich
pal campaign in Great, New York
should be run in harmony with the
principles and declarations of the ma
tiOnal organization
The record-union., 1897-09-28
France Has Discriminating Duty.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 27.-Albion w.
Tourgo. United States Consul at Bor-
deaux. has made a report to the State
Department upon Section % of the Tar
iff Act which would be most valua-
BILE contribution to the literature on the
subject, had the decision of the Attor-
nev-General not been rendered. He
shows conclusively that the French
Government has for years practiced,
without protest from foreign nations, a
system of discriminating levying of i'm
port taxes that corresponds very close
ly with the amendment supposed TO
have been embodied in Section %.
The record-union., 1897-09-28
The Americans Won.

PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 27.-The
three days cricket match begun Friday
between a picked team of Philadelphia
amateurs and Captain Warmers Eng
lish amateur team ended this after
noon in a victory for the Philadelphians
with four wickets to spare. The score
stood: English. first inning 63; second
inning 372. Total 435. Philadelphia,
first inning 252, second 1874 with the
loss of 6 wicketsl. Total 436.
The record-union., 1897-09-28
AN ARKANSAS TRAGEDY.
Two Unarmed Men Alta ed by n
Farmer and His Sons.

LITTLE ROCK (Ark), Sept. 81
News is just received from Tulip, Dali
las County Of a fight on Saturday with
pistols and knives between five men,
which resulted in the death of Robert
Kelly and the fatal wounding of his
brother Walter.
John Davis, q farmer, and his sons
Will and Henry, assaulted the Kelly
brothers. The Kellys were unarmed'
but defended themselves as best they
could.
The tragedy grew out of lawsuit
which is being tried to-day. Davis ana
his two sons were arrested and lodged
in iail in Princeton. Public sympathy
is with the Kelly family, and is very
bitter against the Davis crowd. Fur
ther bloodshed is looked for
The record-union., 1897-09-28
Springs and Womack Hill, Ala, is de-

Springs and Womack Hill, Ala, is de-
MED on the best of authority
SEVEN NEW CASES AT EDWARDS.
EDWARDS Cdiss.), Sept. 27.-Seven
new cases of yellow fever have devel-
oped since o'clock last night. John
L. Redfeld, the Mayor, was taken sick
this morning.
The situation here is grave, indeed,
and deaths may be expected at any
time until the much -prayed-for frost
appears. The weather remains un-
favorable, with chilly nights and warm
days
A special train from Vicksburg ar
rived at noon with nurses and provis-
ions.
The record-union., 1897-09-28
INTERCHANGEABLE Mileage System.

CHICAGO, Sept 27.-At a meeting
Of the Eastern Committee of the West
ern lines it was agreed that commenc-
ing November 1. 1897. the Western
lines for the territory not covered by
the Western lines mileage bureau would
in addition to the present forms of one
and two thousand mile tickets now on
sale, place in effect the so-called inter
changeable mileage credit system,
which is to be interchangeable between
all of the lines.
The record-union., 1897-09-28
a Priest Assaulted.

PITTSBURG. Sept. pa sensation
was caused in St Philomena's Roman
Catholic Church to-day by an assault
committed upon Rev. Father Wernet
at the moment when he was elevating
the host. The priests assailant was
Mamie Greserson, a Frenchman, who
gave as a reason that the priest was
not doing right. 1t is believed that
Greserson is insane. Father Wernet is
not seriously hurt.