The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1899-03-22
Domestic News,


CHICAGO, March 14-Gustavus +.
Swift, head OF the packing house Of
Swift & Co., was before the govern
ment court of inquiry to-day. He gave
his version Of the contract entered into
with the government by Swift & Co.,
which was, in substance, that the fresh
beef was guaranteed to be good only
twenty-four hours after it left the re-
frigerator, end not eeventy-two hours
as reported; that no chemicals were
used as preservatives and that the beef
was all purchased by or through Gen,
Eagan.
CHICAGO, March 15.-Tne testimony
of Col. o. M. Smitb, beef inquiry board,
this morning created proiund sensa.
ton, as the result will probably be the
board will censure administration and
commisary department under Eagan.
For no apparent reason, Smith de-
clared, Eagan purchased direct from
Packers themselves millions of pounds
of canned roast beef in addition to that
bought through the regular channel.
Eagan was shown to have conducted
personally the negotiations leading
to awards Of refrigerated beef contracts.
CHICAGO, March 15.-Search for the
remains of the body of Mrs. August
Becker whom her husband confessed
numbering ended last night when Beck
er made confession as follows: son
the afternoon of January 81, we quar-
relied. l hit her with Ratchet on the
head killing her. undressed her,
burned the clothing in the kitchen
stove, took cleaver and cut her head
off and threw it into boiler full of hot
water. l boiled the body one piece at
time and as fast as the meat fell from
the bones put them into the fire. In
this way boiled the body all to pieces.
What was left l buried in the alley
near the barn."
MONTREAL, March 10 1t has been
definitely decided TO hold the next an
nual encampment of the Vermont
division, Grand Army of the Republic,
in this city the third week in June.
The ACCESSIBILITY of this departure has
been earnestly discussed throughout
the winter and it is believed the de-
cision will prove popular and besides
beneiting the post which this depart
ment has established in Montreal and
Quebec, 1t will also tend to increase the
present good feeling between Vermont
ers and their British neighbors.
w. H. II. Slack of Springfield is
prominently mentioned as the next de-
partment commander.
HAVANA, March 14.-Gen. Gomez
speaks lightly of the Cuban military as.
sembly. He says he recognizes only
one power in Cuba, and that power is
the United States government. He
declares that all the Cubans can do is
talk, as the military assembly cannot
act without the permission of the
United States authorities. In his opin-
ion the assembly is acting as it does
because it wants to get more money
out of the United States. In this con.
nection he points out that the assem-
bly, first proposed to ask $4,000, 900.
As for himself, ne AYERS that he is not
beggar. The United States govern.
ment offered S8,000,000 and he has
never asked an increase in the gift.
Indeed, he says, to ask more would be
undignifed and improper.
Gen. Gomez calls the assembly ga
collection of black clouds with much
thunder but little rain" The assem-
bly, met Tuesday afternoon with the
usual guard in attendance. Most of
the time was occupied in discussing the
pronouncement which is to be issued
with view of justifying the action of
last Saturday in the eyes of the people.
ALBANY, N. Y, March 15.-Gover-
nor Roosevelt has refused TO commute
the death sentence OF Mrs. Martha
Place, the Brooklyn murderess.
In refusing to commute the death
sentence Governor Roosevelt says he
finds no doubt of guilt and no basis for
any interference. He closes by saying:
"The only case of capital punishment
which has occurred since the beginning
of my term as governor was for wife
murder and refused to consider the
appeals made to me on behalf of the
man who had killed his wife, after /
became convinced that he had really
done the deed, and was sane. In that
case woman was killed by man in
this case woman was killed by another
woman. The law makes no distinction
of sex in such crime. This murder
was one of peculiar deliberation and
atrocity. TO interfere with the course
of The law in this case could be justified
only on the ground that never hereaf-
ter, under any circumstances should
capital punishment be inflicted upon
any murderess, even though the victim
WAS herself woman, and even though
that victims torture preceded her
death"