davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-20
LAWYERS In STRAITS.
Mason Brothers Schedule Liabilities
Amounting to Over 100000.

CHICAGO, Dec 19.-Henry B. and Henry
4. Mason, surviving members of the law
firm of Mason Brothers, have filed in the
United States District Court a petition in
voluntary bankruptcy, in which they sched-
ule liabilities amounting to over $500, OOO
Their assets, which consist mostly of real
estate, most of which is heavily encum-
bered, are placed at $4,000. Edward c.
Mason, the well-known lawyer who died
yesterday was one of the partners in the
firm. Many large creditors, secured and I'M
secured are named and the petition is said
to have been preciptated by reason of the
TACT that the most of the debts fell due at
the same time. The principal unsecured
claims are: The National City Bank of
Ottawa, for $1,000; the Merchants Loan and
Trust Company, for 5000, and the Joliet
National Bank for 1900. All these debts are
for money borrowed to carry on real-estate
deals. A score of other creditors whose
claims are not known, are named The un-
secured creditor to whom the firm is in
debted is the First National Bank of Chi
cago for $4,000. There are number of debts
outstanding against Henry E. Mason indi-
Vidually. The largest of these are in favor
OF OF IN me . BERKSHIRE j Life Insurance Company
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-20
NEWSPAPER SENSATIONS.
Yellow Journals Follow Up Their
War Hnbit-Men Who Deny.

Washington Letter in New York Post.
Among the results of the recent war its
effect upon washington journalism should
not be overlooked. AN epidemic of taking
set in with the destruction OF the Maine and
events of the past week show that this cpl
demic has not spent its force. Two great
New York daiies attracted the attention of
the country on Friday morning by Wash
ington dispatch TO the effect that Japan was
willing to pay $500 $4,000 for the Philippine
islands and that the President of the United
States was seriously thinking of accepting
the OFFER This would have been interesting
If true.
One of the great journals told the story
substantially on its own authority, while the
other sprinkled bit OF salt upon II by cit
ing Senator Kyle as its authority. Inasmuch
that day there could be no doubt that the
circumstantial evidence in favor of the story
was very strong. The fact that Kyle is not
a member of the foreign relations commit
tee that he pays little attention to inter-
national affairs and has never been regard
ed as an authority on diplomacy cut little
figure This was certainly a strange source
from which TO expect diplomatic ''sensa-
tons" but on the principle that spiritual
vision is said to be withheld from the wise
and prudent II was possible that TO a South
Dakota senator might have been revealed
the wonderful developments of the new po-
litical geography.
OF course all the parties in interest
promptly denied the story. Secretary Hay
declared that the report possessed not a
shadow Of foundation. The Japanese lega-
ton was equally emphatic. White House
officers who are in the Presidents conf
dence asserted that he had never heard of IL.
About this time Mr.. Kyle arose TO say that
the fame he had won as discnyerer was
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-20
WON MRS. M'KINLEY'S FAVOR.
Atlanta Negress offered Position of
Cook at White House.

ATLANTA, Ga, Dec. 19.-"Aunt Martha
an ancient and respectable negress of this
city, is relating with much gusto the cir
cumstances under which she has been Of
fered position of the White House
cooks. On the first day of the peace jubilee,
Wednesday, on which the floral parade was
held, the atmosphere was very chilly and
moist and there was much debating among
the ladies of the city as to the safety of
venturing out in the open carriages. Mrs
Mckinley, though fearing the effects of ex-
posture to the disagreeable weather, did not
want to injure the affair by setting the other
ladies a bad example, so entered her
rage and was driven off at the head of the
procession Aunt Martha says she had eX-
pected that the wife of the President would
suffer much inconvenience on account of the
weather, SO she brought a hot brick, well
wrapped up, along with her, and wnen the
presidential carriage was compelled to halt
for a short time after passing the jubilee
arch she boldly stepped up and deftly in
serted the brick under the feet of Mrs. Nc
Kinley, explaining that it was too cold a day
to be out unless some such precaution was
adOpte0. Mucn pleased, Mrs. Mckinley in
Stituted inquiries about Martha, and finding
her satisfactory. made her offer as a
White House cook through one OF the At
lanta ladies who had observed the incident.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-20
LEVEL-HEADED JAPANESE.
Commander MORT Places Dewey In tn g
Same Class with Nelson.

SEATTLE, Wash, Dec. 19.-Commander
Mort, who is on his way to San Francisco
to take charge of the new Japanese cruiser
Chitose, says the policy of expansion which
has been adopted by the United States re-
ceives the most cordial moral support of
the Japanese from sentimental and CONNER
cial reasons. Commander Mort places Ad-
miral Dewey III the same class with Ito and
Nelson. He is not only a great naval Of
ficer," said he, but general and a states.
man." He did not know Admiral Dewey
personally, but he saw the result of his
work, having arrived at Manila in COM
mand Of the cruiser Naninawa to look out
for Japanese interests there.
Commander Mort thinks considerable
portion of the future contracts for war
ships will be let to American firms One of
the principal reasons for this, aside from
the superior workmanship, will be because
the United States is near to the home
country, so that the vessels can be taken
across the Pacific without a long voyage
through the Suez canal or around the Cape
of Good Hope.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-20
POVERTY CAUSES SUICIDE.
Former Successful Politician and Bus
mess Man Takes His Own Life.

UTICA, N. Y, Dec. 19.-James Fl. Rea,
bookkeeper in one of the breweries here,
opened his mail to-day and found the fol-
lowing letter, signed LIE Roy w. Midlam,
and dated Sunday. Dec. 1S:
Dear Henry-When this reaches you I
will be a dead man in q room at the Metro
poltan Hotel, Fayette street. My son is
sick in bed in New York and my wife is
in absolutely destitute circumstances. As
the last request of an old friend, for Gods
sake send her $40 so she will get 1T Tuesday
morning. Her address is Mary Midlam, 331
West Fourteenth street, New York. l shall
have to be .dried by the authorities, as |
have not one cent But, Henry be on hand
if YOU can. and see that l am put away
decenty. Good bye. and God bless you
Mr.. Rea stepped to the telephone and in
CURED of the Metropolitan Hotel if Mr..
Midlam was a guest there. He was told
that he was. He then asked that some one
be sent at once to his room to discover the
condition of the occupant. Within d few
minutes the answer was received that Mid
lam was uead-that he had shot himself.
Midlam was about SiXty-two years of age.
He came here from Georgia many years
ago and entered the office of Horato Sey-
mour as a clerk He became popular and
was elected city treasurer. Finally he went
to Michigan and engaged In business with
Horatio Seymour jr., and was very sue
cessful there for time. He was prom
inent Democratic politician in that state,
and was appointed postmaster at Marquette
during CleVelands first term Two years
ago he engaged in some unfortunate Specu-
lations and lost his property. The letter
to his friend explains the rest. He wrote q
letter similar to the above to another friend
and one to the authorities. His last occu-
patton was as travelling salesman Tor Far
sons & Co, tobacconsts, of New York.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-20
DREYFUS CASE DEBATE
ANOTHER LIVELY DISCUSSION IN THE
FRENCH DEPUTIES.
Chamber supports vi. Dupuy in His
cret DOssier from the Court.

PARIS, Dec. 19.-There was a repetition
in the Chamber of Deputies. NJ. Lasies, anti
Semitic, interpelated the government on the
subject of the alleged indiscretions of the
Brisson Ministry in the Dreyfus affair. He
accused former Premier NJ Brisson of vio-
lating the constitution and violently at
tackled the Court of Cessation, whose presi-
dent, NJ. Loews, he said, was a brother
of a German official. The speech of VI.
Lasies elected uproar and protests.
The minister of war, NJ. De Freycinet,
replied that he did not desire to appear as
wishing to influence the decision of the
Court of Cessation. But, the minister added,
while willing to submit to the court all the
official documents in his possession, he was
absolutely determined not to submit the
secret batch of documents in the case,
which, he pointed out, contained papers af-
fecting the seucrity of the nation. He added
that if the house did not approve of his
attitude he was willing 40 resign
NJ Lasies said he thought that under the
circumstances the revision of the Dreyfus
trial was only comedy, and he thanked
M De Freycinet for furnishing official con-
firmation of the report that the secret
batch of documents so frequently referred
to really existed. He then withdrew his in
teTpellation.
The chamber later discussed an interpret
lation by M. Miilerand relative to the con-
ditions on which the secret dossier could
be communicated to the Court of Cessation,
as, he contended unless the court were put
in possession of all the documents the whole
case of revision was Vitiated.
M. Dupuy the premier, replied that unless
guarantees of absolute secrecy were forth
coming the government would not communi-
cate the contents of these documents to the
court. The premier declared also that it
was impossible to show the documents to
the defense unless the government were abb
soluteIy assured of secrecy.
M. Brisson said: There is no document
In the Dreyfus dossier that could affect the
security of the state / examined the entire
dosser after the discovery of the Henry
forgery and considered them all suspicious"
M. Cavaignac, former minister of war. in
terJected: Yes, M. BrissOn and M. Sarrien
examined the documents. l thought it nee
essary to show them. Afterward | offered TO
show M. BrissOn certain documents in the
hands of General Como, in which there
We're elements of the conviction, but NJ
Brisson thought it useless to examine
After further debate, which had been
throughout of the most animated character,
the chamber, by a vote of 370fagainst so,
approved the attitude of the government
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-20
Testing Musser's Defense.
e indianapolis Journal

Special to the Indianapolis journal.
PORTLAND, Ind, Dec. 19.-In order to
rebut the evidence Of Miss Artie Bryan, one
of the strongest witnesses for the defense In
the Albert Musser murder trial, now on at
Hartford City, a test was made under the
same conditions alleged to have existed
when Miss Bryan says she saw Mrs. Stoltz
on Friday evening, Feb. II, twenty-four
hours or Ihereabouts after the prosecution
alleges that the widow was murdered. The
identical lamp used by Mrs. Stoltz was
brought in from the country, placed on a
stand and lighted, and the witnesses then
went to the corner of the Bryan homestead
and looked across the intervening zoo feet
A woman impersonated the murdered widow
by walking back and forth before the light
and witnesses who saw the test differed,
some claiming they could see her plainly
as the Bryan girl Is alleged to have done
and others that they could not see her
There seems to be a general opinion now
that Musser will be acquitted, as the state
evidence has not been as positive as that
given by the defense, and then the former
has to combat with the acquittal OF Mar
shall also.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-20
USED TOO MUCH POWDER
CAUSE OF FATAL EXPLOSIONS IN
THE MINES AT CLINTON.
Murder Trials Mt Hartford City and
Muncie-kOOpman's Terre Haute
SwindIe-State News.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.

Special TO the Indianapolis Journal.
CLINTON, Ind. Dec. 19.-Newton Mum
sey, who was burned in the mine explosion
here a few days ago. died yesterday after
a week of suffering, making the second
death from that accident. The state mine
inspector and coroner are again holding an
inquest as to the cause Of the accident. 1t
has developed beyond question that the ex-
plosion was caused by shot fired by Mum
sey in which ne had put nearly twenty
pounds of blasting powder. This is about
three times as much as is considered safe.
1t appears that the practice has grown up
of late particularly in this mine, of making
the powder do nearly all the work. 1t has
been nothing unusual to hear miners speak
of putting off twenty and even twenty-five
pounds of powder at a shot. This was con-
trary to the orders of the company, and
against the advice of the mine inspector,
but it was the easiest and fastest way of
getting out coal, and was kept up. Super
intendent Shirkie claims that he warned
Munsey few days before the accident, and
notified him that any miner known to use
an overcharge of powder would be dis
charged.
There had been several small explosions
before in this mine, all due to the same
cause, and a number of miners had been
slightly burned Some of the miners ap-
peared to pride themselves on the amount
of powder they were using, and the fright
they could cause their fellow-workmen 1t
is the general opinion that fatal accident
was the only thing that would put stop
to the dangerous practice. 1t occurred at
night. when only four men were in the mine.
Had it happened during the day the fatal
tiles would probably have reached a hum
bred. Since the accident the local union has
taken the matter up, and no miner is al
lowed to use over seven pounds OF powder
in one shot under penalty of expulsion from
H. q ri of
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-20

owing up more and more millions that
should be used for the welfare of the peo-
Pc ana the advancement Of the world On
TOP are few very rich and comfortable
Down below with an ever-increasing pres
sure OF taxes for ornaments is the great
mass of poor people whose position is not
very good. There is an ever-increasing null
titude of those below with their breeding
dlscontent ripening into socialism and de-
veloping into all kinds of anarchy No. do
not find our civilization good. Why do we
make Il SOL We have at the present moment
arrived at this stage. that we have put all of
our very best manhood in the army. So
much is this the case that we cannot
mobilize she whole Of our troops in Euro
pean countries without dislocating the
whole fabric of the social community. War
has become so expensive that no state can
stand the strain of prOtracted war without
having to- look bankruptcy in the face, and
we are 50 perfecting our modern weapons
OF destruction that no army can go into the
field without losing so large d proportion Of
its officers that when the war is over. even
II taat army be victorious, the war will have
inflicted irreparable loss on the country
What with disConneetion, caused by mobil-
izing; what with empty exchequer; what
with decimated ranks Of leading and gov
erning men, ] see nothing before any
ton but a terrible heritage of revolutionary
anarchy"
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-20
FULL OF BLUNDERS.
Had Holes Discovered i'm Musser's De-
Tense at Hartford City.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal
HARTFORD CITY, Ind, Dec 19-Albert
Musser, who is being tried for the murder
Of Mrs. Louisa Stoltz at Portland, had a
bad day to-day. The State is believed to
have shattered the evidence introduced in
Musser's defense on Friday and Saturday.
The testimony of Mrs. Ellingwood, the AL
exandria boarding house keeper, and her
son was destroyed. Both said that Musser
stayed all night at their place on Thurs
day night, Feb. 10, 1898; that he arose early
and departed on account of being afraid of
the husband Of a newly married couple. The
son testified that he met Musser on the
streets of Alexandria that night and invited
him down. and that Musser boarded three
weeks with them in December. Saturday
the ex-sheriff of Adams county testified that
he saw Musser three times day from pee
Is to 20 at Decatur, the fact being that Mus
ser was in jail. To-day the tlmekeeper or
the steel mill where young El1ngWood Is
employed testified that the young man
worked all night on the nights of FEB. :,
8 and TO- Ellingwood testified that he was
at home on Thursday night and heard Mus
ser come in and depart the next morning.
The husband of the young married woman
whom Musser had insulted testified this aft
ernoon that the date to which the Filing
woods referred was March l, 1898 sister
in-law of Mr. Thomas, of Portland, VINO
stated that he saw Mrs StOtz on Friday,
testified that Thomas was at Camden on
that day at about the hour he said he saw
Mrs StoltZ at Portland. Conclusive evil
dence was given to the erect that MIS- rs
evidence in the case was concluded TINS
evening. 1t is the general opinion that had
the case against Marshall been as strohS
as that against Musser he would not now
be free The case will probably go 10 the
Jury Wednesday morning.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-20
PRAISE FOR SALISBURY.
Earl of SeIbOrne on Britain'S ReIa-
tiOnS with the United States.

tiOns with the United States.
EEADING, England, Dec. 49, - At the
opening OF the Wellington Club here to-day
the Earl of Selborne. under secretary for
the colonies, discussed at length the foreign
policy OF the government In so doing he
maintained that the Marquis of Salisbury's
management of the relations between Great
Britain and the United States alone entities
him TO the absolute confidence of the coun-
try. The under secretary pointed out the
change which had taken place from three
years back, when both countries were dis
cussing the possibilities of war which
chanee would not have been possible except
Tor the cool, firm, far-seeing way in which
the premier had dealt with the Venezuelan
diifieulty. Continuing, the Earl of Seborne
remarked: "A very simple but very great
thing has happened. A misunderstanding
has been removed. The people of the United
states had not understood Great Britain's
Teal feeling toward them. Now they under
stand them. That is all. But it is immense.
Great britain has not proposed to use the
United States for her purposes any more
than our friends across the Atlantic have
proposed to use Great Britain for their pur-
pose. where our interests are identical we
may nope for cooperation. When one coun-
try has an interest and the other has none
we MAJ nope that the country not interested
VIII do what 1t to support it's end
Where their interests may unhappiIy tend
Cancellation to an understanding, so as to
arrive al a speedy compromise before there
Is any chance of a breach of their friend
ship" loud cheers)
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-20
ANOTHER MISTRlAL.
Jury in Senator kenney Case Could
Not Agree and Was Discharged.

WILMINGTON, Del, Dec. 19.-After de-
liberating since O'Clock last Friday even
ing, the jury in the Kenney case was dis
charged this afternoon without having
reached verdict. This is the second mis-
trial of the case Last July United States
Senator Richard r. Kenney was placed on
trial, charged with aiding and abetting
Teller Boggs, of the First National Bank
of Dover in misappropriating bank funds.
Boggs pleaded guilty and was the chief wit
ness against the senator in both cases.
After the first disagreement charge of
conspiracy was Joined to the original in
dictment About twelve ballots were taken
by the jurors On the first they stood eight
for acquittal, three for conviction and one
blank. The next ten varied slightly from
these figures On one they stood ten for ac-
quittal and two for conviction The last
ballot was the same the first. District
Attorney Nandegrift will report the case to
the Department of Justice at Washingto ton
and wants its instructions as TO his further
course Although Senator Kenney will say
nothing concerning this second mistrial, his
friends profess to be much disappointed as
they had expected an acQuittal.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-20

Letting the people to take part in a move
ment to force the police to put a stop to
the bad houses, gambling rooms and sa-
looms. The statement was made that
there are over one hundred gambling rooms
in the city, and the crusaders claim to have
the names of proprietors and many who
frequent them. They stated that the sa-
looms were never closed and described how
curtains are stretched across the center of
the barrooms and business done behind
these from backdoor entrances. Two men
on the Police Board are representatives of
the liberal element here. Several public as
saults resulted from the last crusade made
by the Young Mems Christian Band, five
members being attacked one night in law
office by agents of the saloon men and I'M
mercifully whipped. This put stop to the
crusade in a short time.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-20

KOKOMO, Ind, Dee. in. 3. Brown,
one of the earliest residents of this county,
died to-day at his, home in this city, aged
seventy-four. He held many public offices
in his time. During the most turbulent peri
cd of the countys history he was elected
sheriff He did much toward Kidding the
county of lawess characters and was great
ly feared by the thugs and cutthroats in
early days. In later years he was real es-
tate agent. Four years ago Mr.. Brown was
a candidate for representative and came
within few votes of receiving the Repub-
lican nomination over S. T.. Nicholson. Sew
eral weeks ago he was taken to the insane
asylum, but was brought back.
COLUMBUS, Ind, Dec. 19.-Matthew S.
Kirby. aged seventy-siX, an old soldier, died
at his home this morning.
DR. Charles Rathbun aged ninety, an old
Indiana medical practitioner, died at the
residence of his daughter in this city, last
night. The deceased was a relative of Rath-
bone who organized the Rathbone Sisters.
Mrs. Mary Roeback, aged sixty-three,
well-known woman of this city, died to-
day.
CRAWFORDSVILLE,I Ind. Dec. 19.-The
funeral of d. Todd Hills city treasurer,
took place this afternoon. the remains being
laid TO rest at Oakhill Cemetery. All of the
city officials attended in a body. The pail
bearers were six sons of the late treasurer.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-20
NOT SUCCESSFUL.
Ex-President Cleveland Will Abandon
His 'FSchOOI Farm" for Boys.

PRINCETON, N. j., Dec 19.-Ex-Presi-
dent Grover Cleveland has decided to aban-
don the school farm which he, in COM
pany with others, undertook early in the
summer. Mr.. Cleveland, shortly after tax
ing up residence in Princeton, purchased
a large farm near this place as an invest
ment Mr. Vroom, an enthusiastic student
of social subjects, succeeded in interesting
the ex-President in plan for a school
farm for homeless boys. 1t was intended to
train the boys in the best methods of agri-
culture, at the same time giving them the
advantages or a good communal home.
The youths were to be allotted certain sec
tons of the farm and were to he given credit
individually for the amount # farm prod
uce raised on their respective i1ts. In prac-
tice the scheme failed, and the ex-President
has decided to return to the original method
OF farming.