davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-22
BoNAI sENTENCED TO DIE.
TO ne Hanged for the Nichols Murder ON April
Ia xt-Week Trial.


BRIDGEPORT, Conn.,, Dec. c1.-Charles A.
Bonai was to-day sentenced by Judge Elmer to
be hanged on April IA, 1898, for the murder of
condemned man received the sentence without
emotion. Neither his wife nor his mother was
in court to hear tho sentence of death passed
upon him.
Before sentence was passed Bonai spoke brief
ly. His voice was firm and he was composed.
He thanked his counsel for their efforts In his
behalf ana then said he was ready to have the
sentence of death passed upon him.
NJ. IL, Pease of the Massachusetts police at
Lee, Mass, came here TO identify Bonai and
Weeks AS the men who killed Henry +. Reed
and his sister. Blanche Reed, at North Adams.
Aug. u. 1897. Mr.. Reed was mysteriously
killed at that place, and robbers dealt tho fatal
blows. His sister was shot four times. Bonai
and Weeks both admit being in Richmond and
Hancock. Mass, at that time. only fifteen miles
from the scene of the murder. Another crime
of which they were SUSPECTED was the robbery
Of Levi Riggs at Sheffield, Mass. in November,
1896. Two masked men broke into the house,
robbed the people therein of about $40, and,
taking Ruggs's horse and wagon. drove TO Hnd.
men corresponds with Bonai and Weeks. and
their photographs have been partly identified.
,b Aitt %GrHin ay ,%a tn 1se ndpG Ti i%n counsel, said I'D
the crimes that Bonai and Weeks had Commit
ted. Tic said that Bonai had nothing to do with
either of the above. The case against David
Weeks, Bonai's pal, has been continued until
the next term OF the Criminal Superior COurI.
which will DO next February; In addressing
the Court Attorney Lynch asked that the date
of Bonai's execution be set 30 far ahead that
Bon1i might DO able TO go on the stand when
Weeks Is tried. The request was granted.
1t Ia understood that no promises OF leniency
had been held out by the state to Weeks for ties.
tifying against Bonai in the trial just ondod,
first degree.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-22
$500, 900 FIRE IN KANSAS o1TY.
Tho Auditorium Hotol and Theatre Barned-
Ali the Quests Escaped.

Tho Auditorium Hotel and Theatre Burned
All the Guests Escaped.
KANSAS CITY, Mo-, Dec. 21.-The Auditorium
Hotel and Theatre were destroyed by fire this
morning. The loss is about 100000. Tho
theatre was the largest and finest west OF Chi
cago. and would seat 5000 people. 1t was built
in 1887 by Col. George w. Warder, and cost
$780, DOC. Since then $92. 1000 has been spent on
1t. Mr.. Alexander Frazer bought the property
last spring from tho National Bank of Com
merce or this city. The consideration was given
as $4OO.000; One-half of the structure was u
fashionable hotel.
When the fire was discovered at 1 A. NJ. there
were 1O5 guests in the building. Al got out
safely. but many lost their clothing and jcwelry.
Criley and Fiery were the managers OF tho
hotel. They say the furniture cost $50. 600.
The fire was started BY crossing Of electric light
wires. The house will not be rebuilt. 1t has
always. until this season, been run at a loss.
This year the theatre has been run by Paxton &
Burgess Of the Boyd and New Creighton thea
tres, Omaha, as a continuous. performance
house. and has made money. The house has
hoodooed everybody: The only state Demo.
was nominated in the Auditorium in 1894.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-22
DOCK GANG LEADER NABBED.
Eo Tries TO Escape-Desperads's Falls Boys or
Il and l6 Wears.

h ana 10 hoAro.
Edward Purcell. 81 years old. OF 72 West
Ninety.eighth street. reputed leader of the Dry
Dock gang. together with Reuben Oldmis. Il
years old, of 73l Tenth avenue. and Frank
O'Neil. Is years old. of 516 West Forty-nlnth
street. were arraigned in the West Side Police
Court yesterday on a charge Of being suspi-
cious persons. They were remanded until this
morning to give the detectives time 10 Ret evil
dence and find the owners of q miscellaneous as
sortment of stolen goods.
Capt. Schmittberger said that his detectives
had made a very important capture. and that
Purcell WAS the most desperate thief that had
ever operated on the west side. This assertion
by the Captain was verified to a degree by Pur-
cell. who tried to regain his liberty by fighting
the policemen OF the court squad. Two blue
coats we're obliged to drag him from the court
room TO the corridor leading to- the prison pen.
and, before they succeeded In locking him up.
the crook managed to make a vicious assault
upon Sergeant Lane.
The so-called dock gang 10 accused of most of
the robberies which havo recently taken place
on the west side.
John Reilly. who was sentenced on Monday to
Sing Sing for a robbery ut Fifty-fourth street
and Ninth avenue. WAS ono OF the dock gang,
and shared the glory of leadership with Purcell.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-22
"CLOAKMAKERs IN A FIX.
Compelled TO Give Bond Now That They Wont
strike when the Hsuuy season Opens.

Compelled to Give bond Now That They Won't
strike when the busy season Opens.
The members OF the Cloakmakers' Union. now
that tho slack season is on and there is no
wages agreement, arc working for any wages
they can get with tho consent OF the union.
They will make q demand for q new agreement
at the end of January. when the busy season
opens. They are now in a bad way. as they ex-
pected the fall season. which closed very abrupt.
ly. to last n month longer.
The cloakmaSers were greatly excited yester.
day ovCr an alleged plan OF a manufacturer to
make it impossible for his. employees to strike
for higher wages. in the busy. season without
FORGETTING $5, besides 81 q week to BIO deducted
from their wages until the busy season opens.
Some Of them. Secretary Braf said, accepted
the conditions.
This hrm." he said, requires each man 1t
employs at present to deposit IS as a guarantee
that he will not strike, and, besides, 81 a week
to be kept Off his wages. until the busy season
as q further guarantee. II he strikes for higher
wages when the busy senson opens, or after.
ward, he ~fOrfeits the. VS. and the dollar a week.
II he doesn't strike he will get all that money
back at the end Of the busy season."
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-22
PoTTERs WON'T GET THE ADVANCE.
They Admit tho Manufacturers liability to
Give Them the Iucrense Agreed On.

They Admit tho Manufacturer liability to
Givo Them the uncrense Agreed On.
TRENTON, n. j.. Dec. 2l.-The committee
representing the Eastern manufacturing pot
ters and their workmen met to-day In Philadel.
phia. but the representatives of the Western
men were absent. Tho Eastern committee
men adopted resolutions declaring the joint
committee dissolved, the Western men having
neglected or refused to attend three confer.
ences called for the purpose of e~ffecting a settle.
mcnt OF the wages OF the operative potters Of
the country. This means that the operatives
will not get the Christmas increase Of 12M per
cent. in their wages that was promised last
summer. The committeeman of the Eastern
operatives acknowledge that the Eastern man.
ufacturers have exhausted every means of
carrying out the agreement, and negotiations
will be entered into tomorrow by the Trenton
potters and their workmen with q view to reach
ing II compromise.
Tho manufacturers are willing to pay as high
rates as those in the West. They have learned
that the English manufacturers have reduced
their selling prices to meet the increased duties
imposed by the Dingley tariff and that New
York importers are boasting that they will sell
English goods below whatever prices the Amer
lean manufacturers agree upon.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-22
TEE WAGE our IN oorroN MILLS.
Fali River Operators say They Will Resist
Those In Other Townn Will Accept.


SuNcooK, n. H., Dec. 21.-Noticcs have been
posted at the China. Pembroke and Webster
cotton mills here announcing u reduction Of
wages OF the operatives OF about 10 per cont. on
Jan. !. The cut.down will affect the superin-
tendents and overseers and all other employees.
There are 1,5oo operatives employed In those
mills. The mills manufacture print cloth, tho
class of goods being the same as those made at
Fall River. The cut-down will probably DO
accepted.
MANCHESTER. n. H., Dec. 21.-Notices Of a
cnt'down in wages OF about 10 per cent. to take
effect on Jan. l, were posted In the Stark mills
and the Amory mills this morning. The II, 900
men in the Amory. Stark and Jefferson mills,
together with the employees OF tho Amoskeag
corporal ion. will make a total OF about 10000
IN this city TO be affected by the reduction. The
Stark mills operate $4,000 spindles and the
Amory mills ! 49, 600. 1t is thought that the re.
d4ction VIII be accepted in all the mills.
FALL RIVER, Mass, Dec. 2l.-The conference
yesterday be tween the manufacturers and OPP
~eratives on the proposed reduction OF wages in
the cotton mills was %fruitless. This afternoon
the manufacturers. In O letter to the labor
unions. informed them that they will hold to
their hrst decision and reduce wages IL 1.D per
cent. on Jan. 3. The operatives say they will
resist.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-22
nrAvr nrA1Ls ron SANTA CLAUS.

Dena Letter once tho Enr late whtsh q Haal-
tituae or Chidisb Hlspes are whisporea.
Dear Santa Claus. piese send me q Q wheel bicyicis
and a pare OF hid gloves and . pare OF rubbers and .
boz of candy.
Thus writes n boy whose name and address in
this city Il 10 unnecessary TO give, and his letter
addressed ''For Santa Claus" was one Of a huge
pile OF similar missives upon the desk Of W. w.
Stone. in the Inquiry Department OF the General
Post Office yesterday.
Letters from children to Santa Claus begin to
reach the Post Ohlce six weeks or two months
before Christmas. One girl writes:
"You needn't mind about me so much, Santa,
but please send O wheel carriage to my lame
slater"
Another asks for something to make mamma
we'll and q lot OF toys for ME that won't make q
noise"
A boy wants "a sled with an iron front on II,
because there's another boy on my street that
kept running into me all last winter The iron
front is evidently desired for purposes OF
vengeance.
Claus. whether they are stamped or not, are
sent to Mr.. Stone, who Is known as tho blind
reader" the reason given for tho title being
that he can read almost evory language or ini-
tation thereof and can decipher what would
prove uninteiligtblo. scrawls to most people.
Claus in various parts Of the world. and occa.
sionally a letter comes addressed to Santa
Claus in heaven All OF them, after they have
been examined and sorted by blind Reader
Stone. are sent to the Dead Letter Office in
Washington.
Some OF these letters are addressed to Santa
Claus. In care of some firm OF toy dealers or tho
department stores where toys are sold. These.
IL stamped arc sent to their destinations. and
are rarely returned to the Post Office.
An old Post Office employee said yesterday
that some storekeepers rent the letters they re.
ceived to the parents of the children whit wrote
them. thriftiIy inclosing their advertisement
and circulars.
II have known instances" he said also,
where storekeepers have sent presents to chill
drcn who have written to Santa Claus in their
care after they had asnertainod that tho parents
were actually too poor to buy them."
MANY such instances T. he was asked.
Yes, quite a good many. You see, such
things come under my notice In my department.,
and in the cases l have known the senderB didn't
make any splurge about it or tell any of you
newspaper folks in order to get an advertise
ment."
Just animated by the spirit of Christina,
YES. replied the Post ofice man, there's
good deal Of that about yet"
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-22
FERRY F~RANCHIsES SOLD.

Ne hid Tor the Twenty.third Street Grsenpeint
Ferry. Upset. Price sag. 900 . Year.
At the public sale Of ferry franchises by the
Comptroller yesterday the ferry to South
Brooklyn was awarded to the company now
operating it for Ave years at an upset price of
$1,000 a year. The West Twenty.third Street
Ferry to Jersey City went 10 the Erie Railroad
At an annual rental OF 81 $40. The Long Island
Street Ferry, and the ferry from East Ninety.
ninth street to College Point was bid in by the
present lessee ut S., 800 q year. The Liberty
Street Ferry was knocked down to tho New
Jersey Central Railroad at $4,000 q year.
East Twenty third street to Greenpoint. the
upset price for which was fixed by the Comp.
troller at 800, 900 a year. and the sale was ad.
journed for one week.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-22
TIRE TALLY-HO DISASTER SUIT.
Case In tho Hands or the J~ury-Platnti1 Re-
duces His Demand TO S., 900.

The trial Of the suit of John ]. Lewis against
tbo Long Island Railroad Comnanv for $40 600
W -. nH.s...s T.. A.. "u"S
Tor personal injuries, sustained III the taiiy-no
disaster ut the Merrick road crossing last Me-
mortal Day. WINS brought to a close: yesterday
."onnA o. ""o
In tho Supreme Court IN Brooklyn and a sealed
verdict will be handed in this morning. In re.
f,sirg IN grant Tho nation NJ Con Trocv for n
e $50 80, -.
dismissal Justice Garretson SAID tnat the case
possessed SO many intricate points that 1t ought
20 ,o IN , btoher count for Anal settIemen, In
~ ~ 49,. W.. ", ~ -. 49, -
MS ADDRESS 10 the jury 1en. tracy couhsei for
the company, said:
.As Tn the ringing of the hell. We know nv
~ =. ~. r,.r
inc mar VINO rang IL that IL dio ring. ineir
own witness. who was on the engine, testified
IN tho somc thing We and thew have nroved
" $50 ~ - -
IL. Ihen comes the electric oei. lhev say IL
didn't aound that mnrnin0 Well sunpoae n
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-22
FROSTS IN
They Are Likely to Damage tho stu Un.
gathered Orange Crop.

SAN FRANCISCO. Dec. 2l.-The heaviest frosts
for over twenty years are reported from all
parts of tho State. The result will be disastrous
in the orange growing sections of southern Cali
fornia unless smudges save the fruit. Ventura
experts estimate the amount of fruit now on tho
trees and liable to freezing at 10. 0 carloads,
aggregating 300. 900 boxes of oranges. which.
valued at 50 a box, makes 5000. 600 worth of
oranges exposed to the freezing atmosphere
This does not include lemons and lines. How
mains to be seen. The Weather Bureau has
sent out warnings, but it has been impossible for
all the orchards to gather fruit promptly nnd
much of 1t which hasn't ripened sufficiently to
pick will be spoiled by frost.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-22
BROOKE YN,S

The Rev. DR.. stOrrs DscIincs to Omoiate no
tho Orator.
1t was decided yesterday that the consolida-
ton wake" in Brooklyn should take the form
of q public reception in tho City Hall on New
Years eve. with Mayor Wurster and as many
surviving Mayors of tho expiring city as can
attend as the chief mourners. The Rev. DR.. r.
S. Storrs having declined to deliver the Grafton,
the Rev. DR.. Theodore l.. Cuyler, who was ono
of the strongest opponents OF the plan to create
the Greater New York. will probably be invited
to take his place.
Former Senator Stephen NJ. Griswold. William
Berri, Henry Young, DIR. j. l.. Watson, and
Herbert +. Gunnison have been appointed q
subcommittee TO attend 10 the details.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-22

The British steamship Oakdale, lying at tho
foot of Richard street, Brooklyn, has been seized
by the United States Marshal under n libel filed
in the United States District Court by William
h. Phelps of Oswego. n. Y. who asks damages
to the amount OF $50, 900 for injuries he claims
to have received while n passenger on the YES
sci. He says that while entering the harbor of
st. Georges. Bermuda. tbs OakdRle collided
with the schooner Clayola, which was lying at
down with such violence as to fracture his skull
and break several of his ribs. The collision. he
asserts. was due to the negligence and ineficien-
cy of the Captain and crew Of the Oakdale.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-22
A FAMIL AsPHFxIATED.
Overcome by Gas from = Coal slave whose
Lid Had Been Taken ON.

The family OF Samuel Lichtenstein, who lives
on the third floor at $50 Rivington street. had a
narrow escape from asphyxiation early yester-
day morning. Mr.. Lichtenstein has boon an in.
valid for three years. and his wife keeps a
grocery and provision store. About 8 O'Clock
Monday evening Lichtenstein took tho lid on
the coal stove in tho front room because OF the
heat. Latur the family went to bed.
shortly after ! o'clock Mrs. Lichtenstein was
aroused by her husband anu found the room 80
Sho sent her little girl TO get some water, but the
child WAS so overcome that she tainted on the
way, Two young mon who have rooms In tho
fiat were aroused with difficulty. and they as,
sisted in getting Mr.. Llchtenstein and the
felt the effects OF The gas, but wero not made
seriously III.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-22
OFFERED TO COPPER THE COZ.
Policeman Arrested 0'NeiI TO Get Rvsn-Wm
Probably he Tried.

Policeman Arrested O'Neili 20 Get Bven-Win
Probably Be Tried.
Policeman Basil g. Harpur of tho steam
boiler inspection squad will probably be tried
by the Police Commissioners as a result of his
arrangement in Centre Street Court yesterday
of James O'Neill OF 800 Pearl street on a charge
OF intoxication.
O'Ncill declared that the policeman, who was
in civilians clothes. ordered him on Monday
Pearl street, where he lodged. because he offered
to cover q bet the bluecoat made In O game OF
dice he was playing with the hotel keeper.
O'Ncill's arrest followed. although he was per-
fectly sober. Richardson corrobOrated the state
ment of O'Neill. who was discharged. Both made
quarters, after Harpur had been blown up by
Magistrate Kudlich.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-22
RUMoRy ABOUT Il LAND SALE.
J. PierDont Morgan L. Not Going Int the re
tail Coal Business.

y. PierDont MorEnn 10 Not t:oInE Int the Re-
tail Coal Business.
A story was published yesterday that J. Pier.
pont Morgan was preparing to retail coal at
cheap rates. through the agency of the Susque.
hanna and Western Railroad. 1t was further
stated that the recent transfer of Go lots at
135th street. fronting on the north bank of tho
Harlem River. was made by August Belmont &
Co., for use in this scheme, to be the site of large
coalpockets. ]. Pierpont Morgan, Jr.. refused
to talk about the story yesterday. but at the
Office of August Belmont s. Co. 1t was stated
that there is no truth in it.
Charles Stewart Dawson, the attorney for
Belmont g. Co. in this transfer. stated that the
only truth in tho various reports of this sale
lay in his original statement. that 1t was sold
to a syndicate for 1894. 600, to be used for grain
elevators and as q freight terminal for one Of
Jersey side.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-22
LEFT THE SAFE DOOR OPEN.
A Package or $40. o NlissinE from the south
ern Express Co.'s 1ass In Columbia. o. q.

A Package or OlO. 600 Missing from the south
ern Express Co.'S sase in Columbia. Q. 4.
COLUMBIA. s. c., Dec. 21.-A package of 3d..
900 mysteriously disappeared from the safe In
the office of tho Southern Express Company
here yesterday morning. Tho first intimation
here that anything was crooked was given by
the arrival on q special train of o. NJ. Sadler.
Division Superintendent Dudley. followed by
W.. j. Croswell, another superintendent.
Newberry on Sunday. It could not be delivered
that day and was returned here because the safe
In that town was considered insecure. The
money was put In o safe In the ofic here, which
was left unlocked all night.
Assistant General Superintendent of the
Chattanooga. arrived here tonight and took up
the investigation with the four division superin-
tendents who were already on the ground.
After concluding his investigation. Mr.. Leary
said there had been no outsider engaged in the
robbery; that II was done by men In the office.
lie would remain here. no said, until the thief
was in jail.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-22
New site for the soldiers, Memorial.

The Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Commit
tee will sit to-day Jointly with the Municipal
Art Commission to discuss a new site for tho
monument. At the last meeting of the Art
Commission the proposition to erect the monu.
ment designed byC w. and A. A, Stoughton on
the so'called Plaza site" WAS defeated by the
adverse vote of the two expert members.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-22
Wi, Chime the "Anse,us, rnr,c. Daily.

The new chimes for the towers OF st. Patrick's
Cathedral are now in place. and the problem of
ringing them automatically is now under con.
sideration. The intention was that they should
ring the "Angelus" the usual three times u day,
at g O'Clock in the morning. at noon. and at q In
tho evening. In Difference to late sleepers in
the neighborhood the morning chime will ring
at 4 instead OF q. and tho chime in memory OF
tho dead will be rung at 2 =. NJ. The difficulty is
TO get a mechanism which will do this work au.
tomutically. Several concerns are bidding for
fha work
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-22
Interstate Ce%nyention or Conl Mluerl.

~PITTsBURa. Pa, Dec. 2l.-The coal miners and
operators Joint convention agreed this evening
to send committees to meet similar committees
from Ohio. Indiana and Illinois at Columbus, o.,
on next Monday. These committees will ar.
range for an interstate convention to be held
about Jan. Is. 1898, and will agree on the wage
rate TO be paid between Jan. l and the day OF
the convention.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-22
TWO MEN IN ONE OFFICE.
Wsrthiey Contends That ne IL stIl = Dsput
Collector. Though He Was Renewed.

AsBUR PARK, n. j.. dec. 2l.-On account Of
the refusal of Benjamin Worthley to vacate the
office of deputy internal revenue collector for
this district. there arc two persons executing
Its functions. Worthley was appointed under
James Butcher. When Mr.. Butcher was retired
under the present Republican administrator
and his place was taken by, Isaac Moffett, the
latter notified all OF Butchers collectors to get
out.
Worthley refused. claiming that under the
civil service rules he could not be removed ex-
Toms River was appointed In his place. Even
then WOrthley remained firm. For some time
d~istiIiers in county doing prscti.
cally the same work. Worthley has taken bis
case TO the Supreme Court, and a decision Is
eagerly awaited, as It will affect thousands OF
similar employees In different parts Of the
country,
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-22
Feaerat,on or Lnbor ndIouru,,

NASHVILLE, Dec. 21.-The seventeenth annual
session of the American Federation of Labor end.
ed to-day. the convention adjourning to meet
next year in Kansas City.
The chief business transacted to-day was the
election Of Thomas /. Kidd of Chicago as fratcr-
and the Consideration of the report of the Griev-
ance Committees. The report was discussed
and acted upon in executive session. and the
greater part Of the morning was thus consumed.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-22
Irlahmen Try to Gust a Frenchman.

Four Irish-Americans are on strike at present
against one Frenchman in the laundry of Patrick
O'Thayne, at IA Grove street. The strike has
been in progress a week, but it was not made
public until yesterday. The Frenchman. who 10
known as French Louis" is q non-union man,
and tho strikers were non-union men. too, until
last Sunday. when with a number of others. they
were organized by District Assembly 40, X. Of l..
as the Shirt Ironers' Union.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-22

At its meeting this afternoon the Board Of
Walking Delegates will consider the advisable
iy of extending the strike on the Syndicate
building on Park row to other buildings on
which J. B. g.. J. NJ. Cornell. against whom the
strike is directed, have contracts. 1t was said
yesterday that the Iron League would support
delegates do not like the idea of going to war
with the Iron League at present.