davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The times., 1898-01-13
MAY ABOLISH HANGING,
An Interesting Fight in Virgins
Over Capital Punishment


Over Capital Punis shment.
Richmond, Va, Jan. 12--There prom
iseS to be lively fight in the Virginia
legislature over capital punishment
Mr.. F. Weldon Berry, the young rep
resentative in the House from Stafford.
will begin. it Mr. Berry wants capital
punishment abolished. He says that
he has spent much time delving in the
ancient records of Stafford and King
George counties. He says that what hs
found there convinces him that when
the penalties We're most severe crimes
were most common. He thinks that il
has been clearly demonstrated that
capital punishment is a failure as
preventive of the crimes it is intended
to abolish, and that the doctrine of
the old dispenSation, requiring mans
blood to be shed for the shedding of
blood, is contrary to the spirit of the
new +S,
1t is not likely that Mr.. -Berrys bill
Will become law. One, strong arga-
ment that will be used against its en-
actment will be that it will lead to
more lynchings for criminal assault
and attempted criminal assault, which
are now capital crimes. A number of
lynchingS have been prevented in this
State in The last few years by the
prompt trial and execution of accused
men.
There has been growing feeling i'm
this State recently that hangings
should be public. The friends of this
method say that it would have whole
some effect upon those contemplating
an offense punishable by death if exc,
cutions were not held in private.
At the last session of the legislature
a bill was partially prepared. but never
completed, requiring all capital punish.
ment meted out at the penitentiary
here by electricity. This bill is likely
to be finished and offered before the
General Assembly adjourns. Several
sheriffs are interested in the bill. and
have already been here sounding the
members to see whether Or not such a
measure would prevail. They say that
the bill would greatly reduce the pres
ent expenses of capital punishment,
which yearly amount to considerable
figure.
The times., 1898-01-13
MARYLAND STATE NEWS.

Frank s. Jones Is dead. near Potomac.
aged thlrty-eight.
Mrs. Reuhama Keller, aged fIfty-two, is
dead at FTostburg-
FiIbert Cook, justice of The peace. dieS
at Queenstown yesterday.
The Douglas Guards, Hagerstown, has
membership of siXty-two.
A license law has been prepared by the
Laurel Charter Committee
Congressman Baker has been elected presi-
dent of the Aberdeen National Bank
Judge Pearce took his seat upon tie
bench of the eouIt OF appeals yesterday.
The Denton and Cambridge Railroad Com
pany via shortly be incorporated to build
road from Denton 10 fredericksburg
a farmers institute was held at Annap-
oils yesterday. A club for Anne Arundel
was organized, with Wilbur Finkbine as
president.
Mrs. Catherine Bell is dead at Potosi.
Mo. she was the mother Of Mrs. William
r. TiIghnlan and Mrs. Ernest A. Toadyine
OF Salisbury.
Testimony in the Gordon Clagett con
tested election case. involving the Sena-
tOrShiD from Prince Georges county, VIII
be taken To ii HyattsvilIe.
recount o. the ballots east at the EIavre
de Grace city election was made Monday
night, and the successful ca ntIida tes
gained vote or two each.
a new telephone company is to be es-
tabiished at Cumberland in opposition T."
the Bell system. Under it's franchise. now
befOTe the CITY council. not more than
SIS n year is to be charged for phones
in residences nor more than S24 year for
business houses.
Col. Thomas s. HOoiSOn moved the adj
mission OF Ephraim Nutter To the Somer-
set bar Tuesday. Nutter has been try
ing TO he admitted for several years. He
was refused certificate at the April
term, and it is argued that he cannot ap-
ply again within a year.
The suit OF the Somerset school board
against the county cornrut>sio ners was
tried yesterday at Princess Anne and held
sub curia. The plaintiff claims nearly $14,-
600 for delinquencieS in the school funds
since 1898, and the county commissioners
hold that the tax collectors and their
bondsInen are the responsible part les
Water COmmiSs ioner G. j. Orrick, OF
Cumberland, who has been requested to
resign by the city council because he tes-
titled for the Piedmont Pulp Mills in the
Potomac poIut case at Frederi OK.
yesterday applied for an injunction re-
straning the city OF Cumberland from
pa wing counsel and -itneSs fees in the case
with city money. \ temporary injunction
was issued.
The times., 1898-01-13

ence in their States, who personally
were convinced that they were doing
wrong, and that the Olney- Pauneefote
scheme was as villainous in design and
as destructive in its possibilities as the
treason of Benedict Arnold.
There seems to be need for a better
and wider conception Of American pa
triotism, and Of national duty and hon
or Pulpit and college alike are re-
sponsible to posterity and God for the
teachings they offer to the people of
the generation. They should frown
down the recent tendency to emasculat-
ed citizenship, and begin to preach the
gospel that bad as war is. dishonor and
disgrace are worse, and thousand
times more to be feared. They should
teach that this is not lost continent.
floating about in trackless space, but a
country surrounded by the armed fleets
and bristling forts of Great Britain,
and faced on one side by the un-
friendly front of western Europe, ana
on the other by the same powers camp
ed along the Asiatic coast, from the
SueZ canal to Port Arthur. They snouio
warn the youth of America that TINS
rich heritage of theirs, won with plood
and wounds by gallant forefathers, can
only be preserved through courage
and with arms; that a growth OF qua
kerism or cowardice in our information
al policy and action by and by VIII re-
suit. as the same factors of ISOLATION
and vegetable peace have resulted III
China. in some day making this coun-.
try also the pIunder of nations who
know how to protect and advance the
arts of peace with the art OF war
The times., 1898-01-13

may have been perverted to the Anglo.
Japanese and Sugar cause in this way,
but. beyond that, the scheme appears
to have been quite innocuous.
Other methods have been heard
from, but very much on the quiet
The political and financial elements in
combination against the treaty are
fairly well under cover. though perhaps
not as completely so as their chief rep
resentatives imagine. 1t would be out
of the question that England or Japan
should appear openly in the lobby,
but the peculiar means through which
the former secured the demonetization
of silver in 1878 can be administered by
private hands, and the Importance of
the case does not admit of any doubt
that those hands are most literally
supplied with power TO draw at
sight .1a.
In spite of these considerations. the
tide is setting so strongly for annex
alton that it is doubtful if even willing.
ness to eXpend millions to defeat it.
and thus place Hawaii within the reach
of Great Britain. would be sufficient
TO stem it. But there still is danger
in overconfidence. The Influences bat
Ting TO deprive us of this splendid
prize have endless resources and able
tools. Their game is all prearranged.
The minute the treaty should be reject
ed the news would fash to Vancouver,
whence. a swift steamer would start
for Honolulu. Then there would be an
''emeute, and Princess Kiauiani would
be declared Queen of Hawaii, under a
British protectorate.
To see this bit of prey slip from her
grasp into the possession of the Ameri-
can people is gall and bitterness for
England, and We must be prepared to
see her potent influence eXerted to the
last in the Senate Chamber, where
often before it has dictated and direct
ed national legislation.
The times., 1898-01-13
TRIED BY COURT MARTIAL.
Capt. Carter, of the Engineer Corps,
Answers Charges.


Savannah, Ga, Jan. 12.-The trial by
court-martiaI of Capt. Oberiin A. Car
ter, corps of engineers, of the United
States Army. began here this morning.
The court consists of Brigadier Gen.
Otis. president. and twelve members.
-Four charges were read, as follows:
Conspiring to defraud the United
States Government.
Causing false and fraudulent claims
10 be made against the United States.
Conduct unbecoming an officer and
gentleman.
EmbezzlemeEt as defined in section
o4SS Revised Statutes of the United
States.
Frank p. Blair. of st. Louis, associate
counsel for Capt Carter. put in a for
mai plea of the statute of limitations
upon all the charges dating back as
far as two years. He supplemented his
plea with statement from Capt Car
ter, asserting that Congress has enact
ed the i03d article of war. otherwise
known as the military statute of linn
itations, pursuant to the modern ju-
dietary policy of all civilized nations
for the protection of persons accused
of offenses, and that courts and ap-
proved text writers unite in saying that
as such it must be construed literally
He further declares that his plea is not
confession of guilt, but entirely conf
patible with innocence. In the review
he says:
II find many papers lost. the mean
ing of memoranda made at the time.
and then sufficient for their purpose.
have become indistinct and in some
cases the connection lost. Witnesses
cognizant of facts, and whose testi-
mony would clear my reputation as to
some of the specifications. are dead.
My own memory fails me in some in
stances"
The court sustained the plea
To the other charges Capt. Carter
pleaded not guilty. After this there
was a recess taken until II O'Clock to-
morrow.
There are two specifications under
the first charge. 1t is alleged that
Capt. Carter. in 1892 and 1896. combined
with John F.GaynoT, William T.Gaynor,
Anson NJ. Bangs, and divers other per-
sons TO defTaud the United States OF
large sums of money by giving out
work in Cumberland Sound, Jekyl creek
and Savannah river harbor. The fraud
ulent claims against the United States
were made, it is alleged, in favor of
Edward H. Gaynor for amounts vary
ing from $500 TO over 5000, and over
period extending from November.
1892. to May. 1895.
Another specification is that Capt.
Carter, in 1896, caused 10 be prepared
a payroll upon which the names OF
certain persons appeared as labOrers.
when Capt. Carter knew such entry
was false.
The sustaining plea of the statute OF
limitations by the cOurt-martial dis
poses of those charges. dating back
more than two years. and leaves only
those pertaining to the work in Cum
berland Sound and that in the Savan-
nah district for the past two years "
be investigated
The times., 1898-01-13

A man down in Texas is suing the Pun
man Palace Car Company for $50 900
damages because he was bitten by
centipeae i'm Pullman berth while travel
ing from San Antonio to Dallas. The
company should defend this suit with re-
leniless vigor. If it should go against
them the door would be opened for a
flood of claims. Thousands OF people may
have suffered total destruction OF their
digestive apparatus through consuming the
conventional three-decker Pullman bass
wood sandwich, and precedents should be
prevented at any cost.
The times., 1898-01-13
" "a
The Poet and the C.hiIdren
WITH a glory of winter sunshine
Over his locks of gray,
In the old historic ma nsion
He Sa { on his last BIRTHDAY.

With glory of winter sunshine
Over his locks of gray,
In the old historic mansion
He sat on his last birthday
With his books a nd his plea SAINT pictures
And his household ind his kin,
While sound as of myriads singing
From far and near stole in
1T came from his Own fair city,
From the prairie's boufdless plain,
FROM the Golden Gate of sunset,
And the cedafn woods of Maine.
And his heart gfe W warm within him,
Anu MS fnolStening eyes grew dim
For he kne W that ms country's IS children
We're singing. the songs of him.
The lays of his life's glad morning.
Ine pSa Inns OF MS evening time,
Whose echoes shall float forever
On the winds of every CLINE.
All their beautiful consultations,
Sent forth like birds of cheer
Game flocking back to his windows,
And sang in the poets ear.
Grateful, but solemn and tender,
The music rose and fell
With JOY akin to sadness,
And a greeting like farewell.
With sense of awe he listened
To the voices sweet and Young.
The last of earth and the first OF heaven
Seemed in the songs they sung.
And waiting little longer
For the wonderful change to come,
He heard the suInmoning angel
Who calls Gods children home!
And TO him in holier welcome,
Was the mystical meaning given
or the words of the blessed Master.
'.of such is the Kingdoii Of Hea ven!'
John Il. Whit ier.
The times., 1898-01-13
Plain Questions for Democrats

Do we or do we not want an honest
non-partisan census in the year 1909
Have we or have we not power enough
in Congress to compel one of that kind,
or. in case the Republican party is
determined upon another unabridged
Ananias like the Porter census" to
say that there shall be none at all?
Both questions can and should be
promptly answered in the affirmative
by our Democratic Sena tors and Rep
resentatives. Having done so. they
should go to work and let the other
side understand distinctly that they
mean business. There viii be vicious
resistance, but the Republican leaders
know well enough that, in the Senate
for instance, they can be bottled up
without the least question, and it is our
opinion that on this subject it will not
be long before they viii be ready to
surrender at discretion.
1t is a scandal and a crime that any
census should be manipulated as the
tenth and eleventh have been. to lie in
the interests Of a corrupt political par
ty and vicious fiscal system. Whether
the next census is to be kept within
the scope of its Constitutional limits or
not, to whatever ii is to amount, it
should and must be taken from under
the control of partisans and il ought
TO be organized and directed by
strictly non-partisan expert commits
sion.
Once more we ask Democrats in Con-
gress: What are you going to do about
it?
The times., 1898-01-13
The Lobster PASSES.

The SachuSettS Fish Commits
sioners give ii as their well considered
opinion that the lobster is about to
disappear from Massachusetts, waters.
There have been carefully framed laws
for the protection of this complicated
and valuable crustacean but they do
not seem to protect. The lobster catch
in Massachusetts has decreased nearly
80 per cent. in the last ten years. Az
the latter day novelist might say, the
passing of the lobster is at hand.
There is, at all events, an opportunity
for the modern realistic fiction-smith
in this fact. We have had the pass
ing" of King Arthur. and patriotism
and old-fashioned Christianity, and Os-
car Wilde, and the horse. and Thomas
cats; why not the passing" of the
lobster? There is plenty of local color
in this subject-after he has been boil
ed; there is conviction in his grasp
of your finger or toe; and there is an
unuttered depth of melancholy in the
consideration of him-a la Newburgh,
late at night. Why should he not be
immoTtalfzed in the short story? This
idea is recommended TO the careful
consideration Of the recherche, bric-a-
brac, esthetic literary monthly.
But let us be thankful, after all. that
the lobster is not necessity. II we
have to lose anything let it be the
luxuries. Lobsters are good things and
interesting, but they are not absolutely
necessary to the preservation of the
human family. The main use of them
thus far has been to produce dyspep-
sia, and if according TO the visions of
certain newspapers. stomachs are to
be abolished, the lobster might as well
go too.
The times., 1898-01-13

Notwithstanding the Intervention OF the
National Administration in the Repulhi-
can municipal fight in Philadelphia, the
primaries were carried handsomely by
Dave Martin, against the united forces
of Quay, Penrose and the Federal power.
The new idea of interference in local
family feuds has not seemed to operate
well for the friends OF Mr.. Mckinley. The
New York exploit was "a allure. and the
Philadelphia experiment seems to nave
been equally unsuccessful.
The times., 1898-01-13
Administration News From Cuba.

administration NGNS IbiIl tubd'
The reports brought back from Cuba
by Mr. Russell, of the Department Of
Justice, are grewsome and suggestive.
He declares that 200 900 Cubans to-day
are starving within the Spanish lines
The Spaniards have ceased to pay or
feed their own troops. and never made
any pretense to DO anything for the
perishing -'reconcentrados.
MIR Russell is very strong in his opin-
ion that we ought to make great efforts
TO feed these unfortunates. Probably
he is right. but it ought TO be done
through American and not Spanish
agencies If the Spaniards get hold of
relief goods or money from this eoun-
try. anyone with a grain of common
sense should know that American
charity Will be used to succor and sup
port the Spanish soldiers, and to keep
them in the field.
Mr.. McKinley's appeal for help
would have met a heartier and
more liberal response if there were
not a widespread belief that it was not
intended to help the Spaniards more
than their Cuban prisoners. The fact
that distribution" is being made
through Spanish officials taints the
whole scheme with suspicion. Ii has
too much the appearance OF a subter-
fuge resorted to that the real duty of
national intervention. in the name of
humanity. may be avoided.
The times., 1898-01-13
ropmal.,- Terrible Predicament.
From the ChieegD Tribune.r

Vt IUIlI VIC NIIIt7V'--I II Z I'7tItit9sI
William Lattman had niraCJ lJus es-
cape at the Hurtman mine in Illinois. He
is the topman- Surprising the cage was at
the top he showed a car into the shaft. He
was drawn after it. In his downward
plunge he caught the wire cable and saved
himself. He hung there with the bottom
oG the shaft 500 feet below until almost
exhausted. His cries were heard the cable
was drawn up and he was rescued His
hands were terribly torn.
The times., 1898-01-13

There is strong iroba bility that the re-
troactive sealskin regulations of the Treas
ury Department Will be modified Otherwise,
Mr.. Mckinley win be confronted by a
serious political danger. Every American
citizeness who has had her handsome and
costly furs seized and confiscated viii be
an active nd revengeful rooter against the
Administration. 1t is serious matter,
and demands wise and delicate statesman
ship.
The times., 1898-01-13
S1ipshod English.
trrom the Minnsa polls Times

tFrom the Minnea polls Thnes.l
Liberty to talk as he pleases is the birth
right of the modern American child, and
he uses it to produce jargen, half
made up of slovenly pronunciation and
half Of street slang. uttered with sort of
barroom intonation. Now that the country
is beginning to pay some attention to tie
esthetie side of life this evil OF bad IAN
qua ge ought to be taken in hanGby parents
and teachers.
The times., 1898-01-13

The election in Louisiana on the ques-
ton OF const itutional convention to
change the State constitution has been
carried affiruaiveIy by ma ajority OF
something like $4,000. Delegates Were
voted for at the same time. II is ac-
knowledged that the principal object of
the movement is to establish an educa-
tional suffrage qualification, nd thus dis
franchise a large portion of the negro
vote
The times., 1898-01-13

The other day an item appeared in Re'
publican papers generally to the effect
that Mr.. Croker had frowned down a
proposition to invite Mr.. Bryan to become
a meruber of the new Democratic Club in
New York. We have 1t upon the highest
authority that the report in question not
only is false but that Mr.. Croker per-
sonally requested a gentleman high in the
councils of the party to invite Mr.. Bryan
to send in his name. The now nearly for
gotten little Waldorf gold dinner party
would like to make it appear that Tam
many is leaning toward them. But IL will
not work. Tammany Win be found IN
the straight Democratic column, now and
in the future.
The times., 1898-01-13

The Hon. ID. B. Hill is not satisfied thab
Tamn1anv will be able to control the State
as we'll as the city Democratic organization
in New York. Mr.. Croker and his friends
are short 90 votes of a ma Jority IN the
State convention. They are reported as
seeking for these in Rensselaer,, Erie ana
few other promising counties but Mr.. Hill
does not think they can be secured. he
INDUCES in some pleasan references TO
Mr.. Croker's absence in Europe during
the campaign OF 1896, aid compares
the fact with his own patriotic presence
In Woolfert's Roost during that momentous
period. he also says that ne is happys
All of which goes TO show that If David b.
is dead, he has not yet realized the fact.
The times., 1898-01-13
Mnmwumn AhsnIntion.

tFrom the New York Times.)
Jackson was ignorant, and so is Bryan.
For sixty years the streaming light of
history has been turned upon JacksOn's
attack on the United States Bank, but
Bryan cIings to Jackson's delusions. We
pa rtlon ackson for theerrors into w hic h he
was betrayed by unscrupulous advisers
and his combatiye temperament. Bryan
is Gnpa rdonable.
The times., 1898-01-13
Degenerate Boston.

tFTom the Chicago Times Herald.)
Somebody in Boston has been making
fifteen So bills by cutting fourteen bills
to pieces and pasting the fragments to-
gether. They are very wise in Boston,
but there are better ways than that to
make money.
The times., 1898-01-13
Shooting Out Electric Lights
(From the Brooklyn Ti.nes.,


A most remarkable case is now in the
legal courts. The farmers OF Jamaica
Farms, l.. l.. do not want electric light
and will not have it. They say the light
dra ws bcyclists, who keep them awake
nights and rob the orchards OF their
fruits. The farmers have taken things in
their own hands and are shooting ont
the lights.
The times., 1898-01-13
victor Huge.s Gold Mine.

from the London DAILY News1
Our Paris correspondent writes: The
French author whose works brought In
most money In his lifetime was Victor
Hugo. Their sale has teen still greater
since bis death. In that tine they have
brought in G24O,OO0 Isl eco OO0j."
The times., 1898-01-13
The Campaign Against Annexation

Tie campaign a8Hsifsb afHeNutfoH.
While it is true that the international
events of the past weeks have taken a
great deal of the wind out of the sails
of those who oppose the annexation
of the Hawaiian Islands. it is plain that
they do not yet despair OF defeating
the treaty or at least of securing
postponement of finaf action, which
would leave the matter hanging in the
air at the adjournment of Congress.
What new play in such directions
may be in contemplation has not yet
developed. One method OF soaring
Senators who thoroughly believe in
TIE treaty, as great, national oppor-
tunity into open opposition. has
been the device of flooding them with
remonstrances and petitions from the
beet-sugar districts. in which the Su,
gar Trust interest has spent much in,
genuity and more money in working
up a foolish and ignorant sentiment
among certain farming communities
against the measure. One or two votes
The times., 1898-01-13
Godkin on America.

(From the New York Evening Post.l
Americans are the proudest as well as
Gus of their liberties and fiercely resent
ful of any encroachment upon their rights.
We know this because we have heard it
said,
The times., 1898-01-13
Exploding Republican Scheme

from the Omaha World Herald.l
A great many Republican newspapers are
now enga ged in running Mr.. Bryan for
Congress in the hope that it will prevent
him from making another race for the
Presidency.
The times., 1898-01-13
The Meanest of the Mean

tFrom the New York Worldly
The passing of Russell Sage is recorded
today. No flowers, no mourners.
The times., 1898-01-13
A Pointer to Dyspeptics.

FTOM the GaIEeSt0h NeWs.I
Tie Boston Herald asks: Is the stomach
superfluous?' 1t is in Cuba and the Klon-
dixie.
The times., 1898-01-13
A Possible Breach of Promise

tFrom the New York Times.)
We fear that Mr.. Mckinley has be en-
trifliug with Senator Chandler.
The times., 1898-01-13
A Vulgar FRACTION.

eFronl the Chicago NewsD
society-A fraction Whose numerator Is
clothes, and whose denominator is cash.