davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-09-24

men slipped and I tried to get a good
look at him. Quick as a flash he hit
me on the head with the butt of his re-
volver. They put seven sticks of dyna-
mite on the big combination safe and
set the portable safe on top of the
dynamite.
1.-The car finally stopped and they set
a fuse. I saw a match struck They
jumped out leaving me in the car.
pleaded with them and they finally let
me jump down. We all moved up on
the other side of the road. 1t seemed
an age as we waited. The fuse had ap-
parently refused to work and they sent
me to uncouple the engine from the
baggage car. Just as was doing this
there was flash ana a roar. fell to
the ground stunned. When recovered
sufficiently to gain my feet some one
said Git I started on the run down
the track toward the rest of the train,
while the fohbers, who had come up by
this time made for the wrecked ex-
press car
Left Their Card.
The police profess to believe that
John Kennedy, whose name has ap-
peared in connection with several train
robberies in this vicinity, and who was
but recently released on bail pending
trial for the murder OF Miss Shumacher,
a grocery woman, was connected with
last nights hold up. To the officers to-
day Operator Hisey gave a. card which
he asserts was handed to him by one of
the two men who entered ms once lasC
night. The card read: 1--WE, the
masked knights of the road. robbed the
Missouri Pacific at the Belt junction
tonight. The supply of quails was
good With much love, we remain,
''(SigneD John Kennedy, Bill Ryan,
Bill Anderson, Sam Brown, jim Red
mOnd.
'We are Ex-Com- -spect-to.''
Redmond is wanted for completely
with Kennedy on the Schumacher muir
der.
It will be remembered that last winter
Kennedy was arrested late at night
loaded down with arms. He claimed to
be going quail hunting, but 1t was be-
lieved he was bent on train robbery.
People in the vicinity of Dawson ear
" this morning claim to have seen five
men drive furiously away from the
scene of the robbery in the direction of
Kennedy's home in the Cracker-neck
district Kennedy's whereabouts to-
day are not known.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-09-24
MY HONOLULU LADY.
The Tune That Topeka Must
Have as Substitute For
'sHOt Time.''

The music dealers Of Topeka are
frantic. The melody 'My Honolulu
Lady is about to spring into enormous
popularity in Topeka and there are
no copies of the song to be had nearer
than Chicago. Wires have been kept
hot telegraphing for all the available
copies 1t is probable that 5000 copies
of the song could be sold in Topeka if
they can be got here by Wednesday
The cause of all this demand for MY
Honolulu Lady, is that the bands and
orchestras in California have made it
the welcoming piece for Miss Anna
Rose wherever she appears. At the
Jockey club races in Sacramento yes
terday when Miss Roses carriage en-
tered the quarter stretch, the band
struck up MY Honolulu Lady, amid
the cheers of the people in the grand
stand. When Miss Rose entered the
box reserved for her and her party at
the theater last evening the orchestra
ceased the music it was playing and
saluted her with the strains of my
Honolulu Lady"
MarshalPs band is now moving with all
possible haste to get the music in time
to practice up on the piece by next
Wednesday. The new tune will take
the place of "a Hot Time which was
the last carnivaPs music. If the mus
ic can be got here, it will be heard on
our streets as universally as "a Hot
Time was last year.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-09-24
DEWEY'S WISH
Is That the Flag May Float
Over Manila Forever.

st. Louis, Sept PA Globe-D Democrat
special from Manila says: Standing
on the quarterback of the Baltimore
yesterday, and gazing at the American
flag over Fort Santiago within the wall
ed city, Admiral Dewey said:
Il hope it floats there forever, for
ever. 1t is strange that we have wrested
an empire from those people, and that
with the loss of only a few men. Our
navy did most remarkable work If I
were a religious man, and I hope am
I should say that it was the hand of
God. I remember, when we engaged
the fleet, seeing shells fired directly at
US, and I do not understand under
heaven why we escaped.
''Then we came up here in the Olym-
pia and sent them an ultimatum. In
three letters that were written by Consul
Williams I told them if they fired an
other shot would destroy their city.
I demanded the surrender of some
small vessels that scurried into Pasig,
and which, I believed, were torpedo
boats, and asked the joint use of the
cable We were close in and alone, but
they did not fire, and we never did.
Il am proud of these men under me,
and proud to be their leader. They are
all efficient. I gave up the Olympia and
sent her to Hong Kong, and came on
the Baltimore. Here I find everything
as efficient as on the Olympia I am
sending all of the squadron up to the
cleaned, and have asked for a battle
ship and armOred cruiser. 1 do not in
tend to go home, unless it is absolutely
necessary, for there is much work still
to be done here. / do not want to go
until it is all over. The truth has not
been told about this place. It is not so
hot, and the weather is much better
than has been asserted. In the fleet VIC
have less sickness than on an ordinary
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-09-24
Matt H. Witt.

calmly laid down on a bunch of straw
which he had prepared and waited for
death.
There are two causes assigned. One
is a love affair and the other is depres-
sion of spirits over a business venture.
He had been devoting his attentions to
a young woman named Dora Bergman.
He had purchased a half interest in the
drug store where he was found only
two weeks ago. 1t is probable that
worry over business had more to do
with the suicide than disappointment
in love.
Matt Witt came to Topeka about two
years ago from Abilene. He was en-
ployed as pharmacist by the Sim
Drug company and was there until less
than a year ago when he was employed
by E. T. Sim at the corner of Fifth
street and Kansas avenue.
The young man was of a gloomy dis
position. He was moody over imagi-
nary Sights and he frequently said that
he would kill himself. These threats
Of self-destructiOn were made so fire.
quently that no one thought much
about them.
While employed by the Sim Drug
company Mr.. Witt was continually eX-
perimenting with poisons. Mr.. B. F.
Sim says that the cat was the victim o1
the young mans experiments which
were continued until the cat died from
the effect of them. He would inject
low it with a dose of cocaine and then
watch the effect of the drugs on the
animal It may be that these expert
ments were only preliminary to anoth-
er which was tried with such successful
results last evening.
For two or three days Wits friends
who called at his store noticed that he
was not in good spirits. He complain
ed that business was not as good as he
hoped. Friday he was about the store
as usual. G. B. Lyon, his partner ar
rived at the store just before noon. He
had been in the habit of staying at the
store while Witt went to the Chester
field for lunch This time the young
man suggested that Mr.. Lyon go to the
Chesterfield while he remained at the
store.
There was nothing especially strange
about this to DR.. Lyon who went to the
hotel and back to his office without
again stopping at the store Witt ate
no dinner Dick johnson, the man who
sent lunches to the store was there at 2
o'clock and talked to Witt. He noticed
nothing peculiar in the actions of the
young man. He said that business had
been better than formerly and appear
ed in better spirits than on the day be
fore. Johnson left the store, but he
passd the door about 4 o'clock and
saw Witt at work behind the counter.
It is supposed that he was then mixing
the deadly decoction-
Everything was done with the great
| est care and precision. Witt sat down
at his desk and wrote four letters, one
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-09-24
KILLED BY PIRATES.
Captain Brooks Murdered ON
Board His Yacht.

SausaIito. Cal, Sept. 24.-Captain
Brooks, Of the yacht Chispa, which was
anchored in the stream opposite this
town, was murdered at 1:45 O'Clock this
morning by two bay pirates. They
boarded the little vessel, evidently be-
heving it to be without a watchman.
They plundered the lockers and were
about ready to pull ashore in a small
bOat when Captain Brooks and COM
panion who had been asleep in the
cabin, were aroused and made their
appearance on deck. A desperate fight
ensued during which Captain Brooks
was killed and the other man, whose
name has not been learned was wound
ed The murderers then made their
escape, pulling toward the shore in
the darkness
Captain Brooks was a well known
cltlzen, having been for twenty years
IN the employ Of IsadOre Gutte,a prom
lnent insurance man and commodore
OF the yacht club having its headquar-
ters here. The men who committed
the crime seem to have made good their
escape, as there is no clew as to their
identity.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-09-24
FIRST MEETING
Of the Commissioners to Investigate
the Conduct of the War.

Washington, Sept. 24.-The commits
sion to investigate the conduct of the
war department during the recent con-
fiict with Spain held it's initial meeting
in the Office of President Mckinley at
the White House today. There were
eight members present and it was an
nOunced that the services of a ninth
man were counted upon, though his
name was not made public The eight
who were present: Major General
Granville NJ. Dodge, of Iowa; Colonel
J. A. Sexton, of Illinois; Captain z. P.
Howell, of Georgia; Major General J.
M. Wilson, chief of engineers of the
United States army; Hon. Charles Den
by, of Indiana, late minister to China;
Ex-Governor Urban A. Woodbury., of
Vermont; Ex-Governor James A.
Beaver, of Pennsylvania, and Major
General H. McCool1, of the army, re-
tired.
The appearance of Governor Beaver
as a member of the commission was a
surprise as his selection was not known
until he appeared at the White House
at the beginning of the session.
Cincinnati, Sept. 24-Dr. Phineas s.
Conner, of this city, a distinguished
physician and surgeon, who served as
an assistant surgeon in the United
States army during the civil war has
accepted the invitation of the president
to become a member of the commission
to investigate the conduct of the war
department
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-09-24
SATURATED
SOL. MORPHINE.
WILL BE BACK IN AN HOUR.

. .
The door was then locked from the
inside and this label was pasted on the
inside.
1t is known that the poison was mix
ed after DR.. Lyon left the store because
he says there was no such mixture OF
labelled bottle there when he left. The
sign on the door was in Wits hand
writing.
What transpired after that is a mat
ter of conjecture in a measure. but it is
certain that the letters were carefully
addressed and placed on the medicine
case behind the prescription desk.
Then the young man took the bottle
behind the prescription case. He pour
ed it's contents into a graduate and
drank it off Morphine does not act
slowly and the suicide must have rush
ed through the back door in some haste.
He lift his hat and coat on a show case
and did not stop to take off the sleeve
protectors which he wore. He closed
the back door when he went out but did
basement through the rear doorway
and walked to the front of the cellar.
1t may be that he stopped to arrange
his deathbed but it is more probable
that all that had been done beforehand.
Three large boxes were arranged in
row about four feet from the front win
dow of the basement. They were just
long enough to hide the body OF a taII
man lying at full length on the floor.
Some straw was taken from the boxes
and carefully arranged on the floor. 1t
was not an inviting place for bed. The
basement was dark and damp. Long
strings of cobwebs hung from the joists.
He stretched himself on the straw,
, clasped his hands across his breast,
\ closed his eyes and went to sleep. He
glided from this into the deeper sleep
) from which there is no awakening
without a single struggle. His eyes re-
manned closed and his hands were
cIasped in front of him. The head was
thrown back as if there had been pro-
test when the last breath left the body
but that was the only evidence of a
struggle. Even the mouth was firmly
closed.
) DR. Lyon returned to the store at 40
and found the card on the door. He
thought it strange and in an hour he
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-09-24
Miss Dora Bergman.

came back The front door was still
locked and the card remained in its
place. He went around to the back
door. 1t was Iatched but was not lock-
ed. He opened it and walked in AS he
walked around the prescription case he
saw the hat and coat of his partner ly-
ing on a show case. A dread took pos
session of him and he took another step
when his eye rested on the four letters
left on the shelf behind the little desk.
He picked them up and found one ad-
trembling hand and this is what he
found:
Topeka, Kan, Sept 81 '98.
To c. B. Lyon, Al Kansas Avenue.
I give to Mr.. J. c. Witt a half inter-
est in the store of Witt & Lyon, AL
Kansas avenue. as he may demand on
DR.. Lyon did not wait to make fur
ther investigation. He ran to the police
station at once where he found Ser
geant Tim Donovan who accompanied
him back to the store. They first made
a search of the upper room but found
nothing but the coat and vest. Be
hind the prescription case they found
the empty bottle labeled morphine"
Sergeant Donovan then went to the
basement and grOped his way to the
front end. AS he approached the front
door he glanced behind the boxes and
there he saw the form of the young
man. He felt his hands but they were
cold. DR.. Lyon entered the basement
and as he looked at the form of his as
Sociate IN business tears SIfeaIneo from
his eyes. It was about seven o'clock
when the body was found and it was
already rigid. A crowd began to
gather at once but the people were kept
out of the dark, i'll smelling basement
by the police. Undertaken StOker was
called and he removed the body to his
esta blishment soon after the coroner
arrived.
After this had been done a most un-
heard of thing occurred. Coroner Wes-
terfeld took charge of the three letters
which were found sealed on the shelf
and when ne reached the police sta
ton he broke the seals of these letters
He read the letter Mr.. Witt had writ
ten to his sweetheart and the one ad-
dressed to his brother, John G. Witt.
He would have read the one addressed
to NJ. Witt, father of the young man,
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-09-24
DEFEATS ROOSEVELT.
It is Shown That He is Not a
Citizen of New York.

Albany, N. Y, Sept. 24.-The support
ers of Governor Black have exposed
their hand, which has been responsible
for their great confidence in their abil-
ity to defeat Colonel Roosevelt for the
'gubernatoriaI nomination, and which
makes the nomination of the colonel an
impOsSfbility Colonel Roosevelt, they
say, is ineligible" to run as a candi-
date for governor in this state at this
time. Superintendent of Public Works
Aldridge with a delegation of Republt-
cans who have been affiliated with him
in the fight for Governor Blacks re-
nomination, as against Mr.. Roosevelt,
left for New York city to tell Senator
PIatt and the local Republican leaders
why Mr.. Roosevelt is ineligible" for
the nomination, and when the matter
has been placed before him and his
associates in that city, the Black men
say, Colonel Roosevelt VIII no longer De
mentioned as a candidate for governor.
New York, Sept. 24.-The World pub
fishes the following:
Qualifications of governor"
mo person shall be eligible to the
Office of governor or lieutenant COVER
nor except a citizen of the United
States of the age of not less than 80
years, and who shall have been for five
years next preceding his election a resi-
dent of this state-ConstitutiOn OF the
state of New York, article iv, section
dore Roosevelt being duly sworn says:
" on April 19 last, L was appointed
secretary of the navy. came on to
Washington and took up my residence
here. on May 1, 1897, I and my family
moved out of the house we had been
occupying in New York city and my
sister moved in. had rented the house
from her, my understanding being that
nv family should move out on May /,
hut that could stay there until oct
/. 1897, if I so desired. had no resi-
dence in New York city, and did not
vote and could not vote there at the
last election. Since October, 1891
have not had any domicile or residence
in New York city and have not and 90
not now own or lease any dWelllng
house there whatsoever. Last June 1
rented the house in which l am now
residing with my family at 1910 n.
Street. Washington, D. G. In OCTOBER
last my family came here from oyster
Bay. Long Island, and since then nave
been and now am a resident OF Wash
ington. ,,,,.1r,r ~ ,,
THEODORE ROOSEV Eli
Sworn to before me this 21st day or
-AAS'i s.EDWIN P. HANNA,
Notary Public"
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-09-24
UNRAvELED.
Yellow Pond Mystery is Now
Cleared Up.

Bridgeport, Conn, Sept 24.-Superin-
tendent of Police Birmingham has is
sued a statement in which he announc-
ed the complete unravelling of the Yel-
low Mill pond murder mystery. The
superintendent says Dr.. Nancy Gull
ford caused the death of Emma Gill by
a criminal operation, asserts that the
body was dismembered in a bath tub
at the GuiIford house and names Harry
Oxley as an accomplice to the extent of
being responsible for the condition of
the girl and consenting to a criminal
ODerafiOO
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-09-24
AT MRS.MANSPEAKER'S
Well Known Society Leader Offers
Her Home for Miss Roses
Entertainment.

The Karnival knights had made elab-
crate preparations to entertain the Kar-
nivaI Queen, Miss Anna Rose of Hawaii
at the Throop hotel, but there was a
sudden change in the arrangements ow-
ing to letter received from Miss Rose
in which she said that she preferred be
ing entertained at private house.
KNIGHTS out of a dilemma by kindly Of
fering the use of her mansion at the
corner of Tenth and Harrison streets
for the entertainment of Miss Rose dur
ing her stay in Topeka. Her prOffer
was accepted at once.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-09-24
mann BROKE TWO.
One Man Killed and Another Injured
in the smashup Which Followed.


ST. Paul, Mimi, Sept. 24-An Ash
land, Wis, special to the Dispatch
says:
A frightful train wreck occurred last
night on the Central road near White
river, a small station near Ashland.
Harrison Fifield was instantly killed,
Walter Sharple fatally injured and
Thomas Johnson and two tramps mir
aeulously escaped injury. All five were
riding in a box car from Mellin to Ash
land. The train broke in two and in
going down grade the two ends came
together. The box car the men were
IN was in front of the back part of the
train and it was entirely demolished.
Fifield was killed instantly and has
been brought here. Sharple is at the
Sisters hospital Johnson, Fiheld, and
SharpIe were all laboring men residing
at Eau Claire. They were without
funds and having secured a job in
paper mill at Cloquett, Mimi, they were
trying to get there by stealing rides.
Fiield had a wife and three children
at Eau Claire. The other two men are
single.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-09-24
A MOSQUITO INVASION
Makes Life Burdensome to the Peo-
pie of Britain.

copyright. 1898, by Associated Press
London, Sept. 24.-Great Britain con-
tinues to enjoy fine though decidedly
cooler weather. The rainfall is still
practically nil and the farmers are bit
terly complaining of the impossibility
of commencing autumn operations, Ow-
ing to the adamantine state of the
ground.
The recent hot spell brought a plague
of mosquitoes to several counties, re-
sulting in the introduction of American
mosquito nets. The sheep fair at Loves
yesterday had to be suspended owing
to the swarms of mosquitoes.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-09-24
SOUGHT REST
IN DEATH.
Matt Witt, the Young Druggist,
Takes Morphine.
His Mind a Prey to Gloomy
Thoughts.
CAUSE OF THE ACT
Is Believed to Be Business Dis
appointments
Rather Than the Outcome Of a
Love Affair.
HE LEFT 4 LETTERS
One of Which Was Addressed to
Miss Dora Bergman.
Coroner Has the Bad Taste, to
Open the Letter.
HE LEFT 4 LETTERS
One of Which Was Addressed to
Miss Dora Bergman.
Coroner Has the Bad Taste, to
Open the Letter.
Should Have Held 1t Sacred
From Public Inspection.

Matt H. Witt was found dead in the
basement of his drug store at All Kan
sas avenue at o'clock last night He
had evidently been dead two or three
hours for the body was cold and rigid.
He prepared for himself dose of NOR
phine and walked out of the back door
of his store and into the basement
through the outside entrance and then
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-09-24
FROM THE SIRDAR.

London, Sept 24.-The British gov
ernment has received the first news
from General Sir Herbert Kitchener,
since he started from Khartoum for
Fashoda, but only the fact that he had
captured some small boats has been al
lowed n Leak ont
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-09-24
So KLONDIKERS
Bring Out S1oo,ooo-Millions to Fol-
low Soon.

Seattle, Sept. 24-Steamer schooner
Samoa has arrived here from St. Mich
ael, Alaska, with 6fty-three Klond1kers
and gold dust estimated at 100000.
The officers of the Samoa say that the
steamer Bertha was to sail from St
Michael September 13, for San Francis
co with one of the largest gold corgoes
of the season.
They estimated that it would be be-
tween two and one-half and three mill
lions.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-09-24
OPPOSE ANNEXATION.
Ewart, Superintendent at Hawaii,
Comments on Feeling.

Attchison. Kan Sept. 24-william R.
Ewart SUPERINTENDENT of one of John D.
Spreckles' sugar planta tions in Hawaii, is
now in Atehison on on a s visit; In In the judg-
ton of the residents of Hawaii favor an
nexa ton with the United States The in n
annexation. At the last election only a
little over 2. 800 voters registered
Before the overthrow of the queen the
registered voters were over 1900. Mr..
Fwart believes that the falling of is due
to a lack Of interest in the new govern
ment.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-09-24
CURZON MADE A PEER.
Mary Letter Curzon is Now
Baroness.

London, Sept. 24.-It is officially an
nounced that the Honorable George N.
Curzon, until recently parliamentary
secretary for the foreign Office, who is
to succeed the Earl of Elgin as viceroy
of India, has been elevated to the peer
age as Baron Curzon of Kedelston.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-09-24

Chicago, Sept. 24-Weather forecast
for Kansas: Generally fair tonight and
Sunday; cooler in west portion tonight;
variable winds.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-09-24

to his partner, one to his father, anoth-
er to his brother and the other to Miss
Dora Bergman, the young woman to
whom he had been engaged Then he
found a large bottle and measured out
enough morphine to make death sure.
He put some water in the bottle and
shook it until the white powder had
been dissolved. Then he printed the
following label in a bold hand:
.............-...,.. ...........
SATURATED
SOL. MORPHINE. ::
{:
s.''s ''''' ..'' ''s.''-
This label was carefully pasted on the
bottle. Then he wrote another as fol-
lows:
.'.'.. '.'....'......'..... ..''.'.'''.''''''.
WILL BE BACK IN AN HOUR. !:
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-09-24

Continued on Seventh Page.)