davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1899-03-16
BEckER's HORRIBLE STORY.
He Butchercd His Wife
and Burned the Body.

Chicago, March l6.-August A..
Becker, The sarsagemaller who has
been under arrest for four weeks on a
charge OF numbering his wife, made IL
full confession last night. He said
he cut his wife TO pieces and burned
the remains i'm stove.
Becker, when first arrested admit
ted killing his wife, but declared he
pushed her Off the Randolph street
Niaduct into the lake, and that She
Was drowned. The police have never
placed any reliance in the drowning
confession and have kept up their
work on the idea that Becker had
killed the woman in his house and
made way with the body. The finding
days ago in Becker's barn put
strength in their theory and late last
night they induced Becker to con-
fess.
In his confession Becker said he had
killed his wife by striking her on the
head with a Ratchet in the kitchen of
his home. He then cut the body 10
pieces and boiled it in large kettle.
Nfter watching the disintegration of
the remains for several hours, and
when nothing was left that resemblcd
il human body. Becker says he took
what remained and burned it in a red
hot stove. the fire having been pre-
pared by him. The bones which would
not burn he buried on the prairie
near his home. January ~ was the
date Becker says he committed the
murder He asserts the crime was net
prcmeditated, but that he quarreled
with his wife on the afternoon of that
day and in the heat of passion he
struck her on the head with the
Ratchet. Only one blow was needed to
cause death and after that had been
struck the sausagemaRer says lie
bought of the way to dispose of the
remains of his wife in order to destroy
all chances of detection.
The piece of lung and portion of the
,alico which was found in the barn,
ana the police believed to be strong
evidence against Becker, he claims
could not be any part OF the body of
his wife as he is certain that he de-
stroyed every particle of flesh and he
maintains that the dress which she
bore was also entirely burned.
The police will look for the woman's
bones today. They refuse to tell at
present the location of the spot where
Becker saws they are buried
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1899-03-16
MANY OFFICERS DISCHARGED.
One Major General and a Dozen
Brigadiers Among Them.

Washington, March 16.-By direc-
tion of the president the following
named general officers are honorably
discharged from the volunteer army
of the United States, to take effect this
year on the dates specified, their serv-
ices being no longer required
Major General j. w. Keifer. Nav
12; Brigadier Generals Abraham Il
Arnold, May l2; Alexander c. NJ. PEN
nington. April -: Simon Snyder. May
la: George NJ. Randall. April L.; Mich
ael V. Sheridan. May IL: Henry r..
Douglas. May IL; Henry Y. Boynton,
April ~: Chambers McKibbin, May 10,
Gilbert S. Carpenter, May i2, and
Charles +. Humphrey. May IL.
The officers named will relieve their
aides and order them TO join their
regiments. Brigadier General McKib-
bin will proceed to Columbus bar
racks, Ohio, and assume command of
that post. The other officers. eNcu-
sive of the volunteer army. will pro-
coed to their homes. while those of the
permanent establishment will join
their regiments.
A large number of subordinate Off
GERS are also discharged.
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1899-03-16
GOOD STRATEGIC POINT.
pasig an Excellent Base for Opera.
tions i'm the Interior.

Washington. March 16-Pasig, recently
captured by General Wheaton. is an I'M
portant town ten miles east of Manila, on
the Pasig river This stream is the outlet
of Bay lake, II large inland sen, and is
twelve miles long 1t is the principal
terror and passes between the commercial
districts and the fortress of Manila.
Where the river enters Manila bay the
city of Manila has been built on both
banks The extensive suburbs of the city
stretch along both margins of the Pasig.
covering an area of about five square
miles. Small nat-bottomed steamers ply
the sea carrying most of the commerce of
the interior of the southern part of Iuzon
Island. The river has an average breadth
of $50 feet and q depth of three to twenty
five feet.
The center for the interior trade is the
city of Pasig. 1t is the principal outer
market of Manila. Standing as 1t does
are empted into the Pasig river. the lake
traffic as well as the trade from the fertile
territory round about passes through this
inland city. For three miles along the
banks of the river near the city is an UNI
broken line of aquatic preserves for the
ducks bred to supply the wants of Manila.
Whey are fed on shell fish brought from
matched in Pateros. a town on an arm of
the river Two or three miles south and
little west of PaSig.
Pasig is considered an excellent vantage
point from which to command military
operations in the interior. The river forms
quick and easy avenue of communica-
ton with Manila, and the river gunboats
can keep ii clear at all times. The gun
boats can be made effective over IA large
territory on Bay lake
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1899-03-16
CUBAN EDUCATIONAL PLAN.
Board Appointed by General Wood
Formulates n System.

ToTHtuluVeS SyStcms
Santiago de Cuba, March 16.-(Cor-
respondence of the Associated Press.)
The report of the board appointed by
General Wood to formulate scheme
for public education in the province of
Santiago has been made public. The
report is prefaced by detailed de-
scription of the existing educational
system and brings out the point that
under Spanish rule Cuba was afforded
the advantages of q system that COM
pared we'll with any of those now in
use by the, English speaking races.
However, though the system lin the
anain was worthy OF admiration and
imitation its practical results, con-
trolled as i, was by officials who We're
really aliens in the country and quite
free from all responsibility to the pco-
pie. left everything to be desired.
So far as known there was not "
single building or foot of land IN the
province owned by the people for
school purposes and moi Il single dol
lar of endowment for any educational
institution. On these conclusions the
board says:
THE immediate need therefore. of
the people in Cuba. especially in this
province, * a system of primary and
secondary education supported entire
~ from public funds, absolutely free to
all children of school age, administered
with Il view to the highest efficiency
and the greatest economy and follow
ing courses adapted to the changed
conditions resulting from the cNtinc-
ton of Spanish sovereignty in the
island"
TO bring this about the hoard rec
ommends that census be taken of all
children in The province of school age.
The schools are to be divided into kim
dergartens. elementary, municipal and
superior primary schools. High
schools, says the board, should not be
established until the primary schools
are in good working order.
N single university declares the
board SHOULD suffice for the entire
island and the duty of providing and
maintaining such an institution, as
we'll as normal schools. special schools
for deaf mutes and other detectives
and Il correctional institution should
bc left to the general government of
Cuba
Local school councils, with one pro-
Nincial school council, are suggested,
members of such council to receive no
salary.
Religious institutions of any nature
are held by the board to be inadmissi-
bile. In all schools English must be
taught and attendance compulsory.
The Spanish authorities separated
seNes with severe rules even in liinder-
gartens. The board recommends that
this he abolished and that all schools
be open 10 girls and boys.
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1899-03-16
WOMAN ASTRONOMER
: WINS 0ls1lNo1d
Mrs. Fleming, Of Harvard, Discovs
a New Star in Constellation
Sagittarius. -
But FEW FOUND SINCE Isl
In Three Centuries Only ii Disco3:
cries Have Been Made-..Mfs;::
tlemipg's Find stirs TIP
Astronomers.

Cambridge, Mass, March 16.-The
discovery OF new star in the constel-
lation Sagittarius by Mrs. Wilhelmina
Fleming, curator of astronomical pho
tographs at Harvard university, this
week, has set the astronomical world
on fire with enthusiasm, and nightly
the world over telescopes have been
trained on this celestial visitor.
The plates from which the discov-
cry was made by Mrs. Fleming came
from the Harvard astronomical sta.
ton at Arequipa, PERT; where the
Bruce Photographic telescope is
mounted. They were taken last spring
and because OF the war with Spain an9
.ne oanger OF thelr oelng connscatea
~ n sh!PPeo dlrect 1rom leru through
spanish countries, ifo1. flcNeIihg, u.-
leeeoi ol the harvard oDser'a a
.r,: mem Sent around Sape TUT
ms VI course, oeiayea ,helr aIlis .a
anu consequently 'Ie uiscosery VI 'he
s'a NJ some SIN mon,hs ia,er' A.
Mhen pnotographea In !n iu .ae
i' az, s.ar was OF .ne nun mug nl.uGe'
oue tho pla.es taken 10 cohnrnl l.s us
covevy aI me harvard opselsa.oly
SHOW .hae ~ mas grown oimne anu
'nao ue.oie Ions ~ will 1n.y
appear u IRON .ne sou.neI t:l heavens 81 -
~ ~. source ol Huch gIati.uue W I .i...
lackerlng ana Mrs. flemng ina. ~ .ie -
were enaDiea 10 secure u secol,u sev ".
P.ates 1his week. showing .ne s'ai
ave, Hr 'he iaPse VI SO many lloi y. 10.
a MIS-. , iiehins' WHO ,ink n,t 49, stro
molas M aa. .ne wol hu;sht an1 ohaar,,
noillcal sasan's. = p.'g 81. anu n ,,e oau.
young woman anu ism ye' ~ years u
age; A.. , o.,,.,., .,,oso ,,.,,,e
one Is ,he ohiy woman Miose e. nao
mas nesi. i.Inolea ~ aa4aia a ~ at;.
~ Mi'h Piace III ''s c'''a'os"e " o'''
GERS.
Few Found IN Three centuries.
Much Importance is attached by as
tronomers to the discovery OF new
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1899-03-16
ACTED WITH EDMUND kEAn.
Death of Mrs. Robert Kelley, En-.
glish Actress, in Her 03d Year.

DcaUu OIL NkrSs 1tOUcfC AcCAGyS Ell.
glish Actress, in Her Odd Year.
London March 14.-Mrs. Robert Kelley,
the actress, died from pneumonia yester-
day in her 93d year. Her husband died
thirty years ago. She made her first ap-
pearance on the stage seventy-nine years
ago.
on the stage at the Lyceum theater, Lon
don, in 1925, in the title role of the operetta
of .'Rosina." Her first great success was
made in 1892 at the Theater Royal, Co
vent Garden, where she appeared in THE
Tartar Witch" and 1.-THE Pedler Boy"
1.-THE Clutterbucks, or the Railroad OF
Love-" and other plays.
She soon became an important member
of the Covent Garden house. She sang
in opera with Malibran, and played Me-
rissa to the Shylock of Edmund Kean.
At that time she was small in figure very
sprightly in manner, and more than made
up for lack of decided beauty of feature
by the expression of her face and the
brightness of her eyes. 1t was at Co
vent Garden that she first met Robert
Kelley. whom John Reeve christened 1.-The
multum in parvo comedian" he was so
small and droll.
Soon after their marriage the keeleys
went to America The tour comprised ev-
in the states, and also in Canada. on
their return to England the couple went
Lyceum theater, then laboring under a
heavy cloud CO ;ong-continued ill-luck:
The delightful soubrette and the droll
Bob" Kelley. by sheer hard work and
personal popularity. broke the evil spell.
and pantomine, drama, screaming farce
and light operas were produced in sue
cessful succession. Afterwards they
abandoned the Lyceum and joined the
Keans at the Princes, where they played
all the leading comic characters during
the Keans' brilliant management.
by her rendering of the characters of
Smike, Mrs. Peerybingle and Clemency
Newcome in stage adaptations of Dick
ems novels, nicholas Nickelby, THE
Cricket on the Hearth" and ."rhe Battle
of Life" After her husbands death Mrs.
Kelley rarely appeared on the stage.
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1899-03-16
Not vlLLAMIL's SKELETON.
Bones Found Near Santiago Belong
I'd. q Spanish Sailor.

Bones Found Near Santiago Belong
to q Spanish Sailor.
Washington, March 16.-Thc secre-
tary of the navy has received the fol-
lowing telegram:
Portland, Ore, March 14.-Remains
found in chair about four miles west
of Santiago, as reported in today's
papers, not those of Villamil, but of
Spanish seaman. Report follows by
mail.
proctor; Assistant Engineer
The officer from whom the above
message was Received was an engineer
on board the Gloucester. which was
the instrument that destroyed the ill
fated Pluton, on board of which Adj
miral Nillamil started from Santiago.
He was i'm charge of the landing
party which went to the succor of the
Spanish sailors, who managed to
reach the shore from the sinking ves-
sci, and were being fired upon by the
Cubans. While bringing this particu-
lar seaman down to the shore to take
him aboard the Gloucester, the sea-
man died and his remains were al
lowed to sit in the chair in which the
body had been conveyed. The depart
ment officials believe that Nillamil's
body lies at the bottom of the sea.
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1899-03-16
COURT OF INQUIRY.
'ap,ain Bonner, Who Commanded
Transport Manitoba. Testifies. i,


Chicago, March 16.--The court of in
,uiry resumed its investigation of the
Eeef question this morning Captain
l:omer. of Aspinwall, acting commits
sary OF volunteers. during the Spanish
var in command of the transport
Manitoba. was the first witness. He
testified he Manitoba carried IA large
quantity of refrigerator beef to Ponce.
Puerto l:ico. arriving August 10. The
vessel was aground three days. When
finally he reported to General Gilmore
The latter told him he had better throw
he. beef overheard, as he could get all
the beef he wanted ashore. The ship
WAS later sent to Miowa, where the
beef was issued To troops and found to
he of excellent quality. and the troops
were delighted with it. In one ease
il was hauled inland and not delivered
10 troops till 9 p. M. when it was
ronnd to be spoiled. He remained at
Miowa until September I, discharging
'il.artermasters' and commissaries'
stores and then was ordered to take
troops to New York. He had on board
when he left Newport News 100000
pounds of meat. About $4,000 pounds
WAS issued
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1899-03-16
TAXES PAID BY
IOWA RAILROADS
For the Year Ending June 80, 1893,
They Have Contributed
Sl,3ee,Oeo.7e.
COMPARISON WITH OTHER STATES
Iowa Rate Per Mile Was $I08.ti.
Taxes Paid 10y the Individual
Roads..l;xccutivcC omM-
Gil Hearing.

Des Moincs, March 1.-THE rail-
roads OF Iowa paid Ike state. county
and municipal governments of this
state 81 ,3o9,090.79 i'm taxes during the
Year ending June 30. 1895. That was
at the rate of SiG6.1l per mile. These
figures arc compiled from the forth
coming report Of the Iowa railroad
commission.
OF the ST. ,39o,09079 pai, in taxes The
trunk lines of and running through
the state paid about Sl,eoo,ooo, lis fol-
lows; Burlington, Cedar ltapids aud
Northern, $i2s,2l3; 20" s174,49o;
Great Western, S7O,G41, Milwaukee and
st. Paul, S230,3'S; Rock Island S223,-
l2o; Northwcstern, S229,347; Illinois
Central, $9s,239; Iowa Central. $43, 9s7.
The railroads which touch Iowa al
hny point pay in all states which their
lines touch $G,G5l ,S53.53 in taxes. This
is at the rate of S20S.33 per mile. This
is about $40 higher per mile than the
taxes in Iowa alone. But the states in
clude Illinois. i'm which are located the
terminals of the principal Iowa roads,
worth millions, and taxed according
ly. In Illinois the rate is raised to
Sia4.64 per mile. Excluding Illinois.
the rate of taxation per mile in all the
other states, including Iowa, is slight
ly more thnn $l75. In Michigan. PIN
grce's state, the rate is Ss1.57 per mile:
in Missouri it is $l57.G5: In South Da-
kota, $ss.52: in Minnesota, $3.50. and in
Nebraska, Sl99.
Following is IL table showing the to.
tai taxes paid in all states which are
touched by the roads which touch
Iowa, the total miles of each road, the
taxes paid by each in each state per
mile, and the total taxes, mileage and
rate per mile for all in all states;
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1899-03-16
PERRIN FOR YALE's PRESIDENT
A Professor of Greek as successo,
of Timothy Dwight.

n Professor Oh Arcck US oWCCCSSOI
of Timothy Dwight.
New Haven, Conn.,. March 16.-It il
admitted by members of the Yale cor
poration that Prof. Bernadotte Perrin
since 1898 professor of Greek at Yale
will probably be chosen as successor
to President Timothy Dwight. Prof
Perrin was graduated from Yale il
1869 and has taught in Yale as tutor
and professor, Wesleyan university,
Middleton, Conn. as professor and in
the Hartford high school as assistant
principal.
lie spent six years in Europe in orig
inal research and is regarded as a high
authority OH classical philology, phil
osophy and the ancient languages. He
is author. of treatises OH Caesars Civil
War;" two series of Greek and Latin
authors and of several books of the
"Odyssey.'
Another private meeting of the cor
pnration will be held in about three
weeks and at that time the candidacy
of Prof. Perrin will be formally dis.
o,ccaI
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1899-03-16
MUSTER OUT OF VOLUNTEERS.
Al Except ImmMnes and Engineers
to Gone Home From Cuba.


Washington, March 16-The war de-
partment has determined to muster
out and bring home all the volunteers
in Cuba with the exception of the vol
unteer engineers and immunes. The
necessity for immediate action has
been brought to the attention of the
war department on account of the
quarantine regulations against Cuba,
which go into effect about the LIST of
May and which are especially strict at
all southern ports.
When the troops are brought to this
country they must, under the law, be
mustered out i'm United States camps
and they no doubt will be brought to
camps nearest their homes. 1t is de-
sired also to have them brought to
places where fumigating can be done
and it is possible that troops for north.
ern states may be brought to Montaull
and Camp Wyl<otf again be established,
although the present intention is to
have all northern troops sent to Camp
Meade in Pennsylvania.
The troops of North Carolina. South
Carolina, Louisiana and Georgia will
probably be brought to Savannah: the
Texas troops to Galveston and the Ten
nessee, Kentucky and Virginia troops
to Old Point Comfort, Va.
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1899-03-16

Beginning today the railroads of the
state will appear before the state ex-
ecutlve council i'm hearings relative to
the question of assessment. The total
assessment of the roads has been i'm
recent years about $45,OO0.OG0. The
total taxes paid on this assessment
were not generally known, as the
value per mile fixed by the council was
certified TO county auditors and the
property was subject to levies exclu-
siNely. 1t has always been estimated.
however. that the average rate of tax.
alton i'm the state is about 80 mills,
This would mean taxes of :, per cent.
or that the railroads would pay about
S1,350, 900 i'm taxes. The actual figures
show the amount is about Il tenth of a.
million larger. On another basis of
computation it is estimated that Iowa
railroads are worth about $25.O per
mile. There are sap miles. That
means Il value of about $2lO, SOC. 900.
This at p per cent OF the actual value
would make the assessment about
S52,000,000 which at 30 mills would
amount to S1,5i5,0OO i'm taNes. The
actual payment is S1,309,09O.
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1899-03-16
INDIGNATION IN HAVANA.
Attempt to Prevent Popular Demon
strations Anglers the People.

Attempt to Prevent Popular DeinON-
strations Anglers the People.
Havana. March l6.--ll II. m. The
action of Civil Governor Mora ordering
the police TO prevent yesterdays pop
ular manifestations in favor of Gen
.eral Gomez is strongly censured and
i'll feeling against the police runs high.
The people consider their rights aud
freedom have been attacked. The ac-
ton of Governor General Brooke i'm
restraining the Cuban authorities
frOm interfering pleased the people
and is favorably commented upon.
1t is rumored several officials OF the
police force, who formerly were in the
Cuban army. will resign. The occur
renee has done much to destroy the
popular efficiency of the new police
force.
General Gomez is receiving hun
dreds of kilograms from all parts of
the island expressing the peoples al
legiance and loyalty to him and Cuba
General Cecipedro. who defended Go
mez at Saturdays session of the mill.
tary assembly, has resigned his mem
bershjp in that BODY
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1899-03-16
ARMY INCREASE DENIED.
The Reicllstag Rejects the Govern.
mcnt's Measure.

ment's Measure.
Berlin, March 16.-During the dis
cussion of the second army bill in the
reichstag yesterday the minister of
war. General Won Gessler. said
the measure was factor in favor of
unity. adding that the defense of the
fatherland was no party question.
The bill, he continued, had been all
tered in committee, but he hoped the
reichstag would restore it to its orig
inal shape. The reduction OF the
peace effective by 1000 men. he added,
was of vital Importance, and he could
not accept the reduction, as the pres
ent state of the battalions was preju-
dicial to the efficiency of the army.
The war minister then appealed to
the patriotism of the reichstag, ask
ing that body to grant the govern
mcnt's demands in their entirety. The
leichsthg later, by vote OF 200 to l41,
reduced the army increase demanded
by the government. The government
committees proposal was also reject
ed. The center and friessinnige union
voted with the minority.
The rest of the army bill was adopt
ed without debate. It's third reading
will take place on Thursday. During
the discussion preceding the vote the
imperial chancellor. Prince lIohenlohe.
declared Emperor Williams guiding
principle was solicitude for the safety
of the empire.
The Official Naval Gazette publishes
an imperial order reorganizing the
higher administration of the navy.
Henceforth the emperor holds SUI
preme command, and the Office of com
mander-in-chief therefore lapses, and
the existing staff of the commander
in-chicf becomes Independent. under
the title of admiral's staff. The chief
of the navy becomes directly subordi-
nate to the emperor, and the admiral's
staff, besides it's ordinary duties, will
occupy itself with the political as
poets of the presence of German war
ships abroad.
The order also announces the APP
pointment of Admiral Koesler, COM
mander-in-chief of the Baltic fleet, as
inspector general of the navy.
Rear Admiral Bendermann has been
appointed chief of the new naval
honr ri
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1899-03-16
POPULAR IN GERMANY.

Be. lin. March 15.-Both Emperor Will
lam and Empress Augusta Victoria. Baron
Won Buelow, the foreign minister, and
other ministers with their wives. attended
the banquet given by Sir Frank Lascelles,
the British ambassador. to Cecil Rhodes
who appears to have personally impressed
everybody from the emperor downward
With the exception of the extreme
agrarian and conservative papers the
wholeipress praises him. The emperor is
said TO regard him as Just the sort of .
man that Germany wants.
II is understood the Rhodesian schemes
interpret that Germany will ultimately
possess Walltish bay on the coast of Da-
MARYLAND, South Africa.