davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-12-12
CORBLIS'S NOVEL PASTIME
Spent His Last Days Making
Wills and Now His Relatives
Have His Estate in Court.

According to the testimony of the cavea-
tors in a contested will case now pending
before Judge Blair in the Orphans Court,
John Corblis, who died at ST. Francis 5
Hospital on August 81 last, had a pen
chant for making wills and had drawn
and affixed his signature to at least a
dozen such documents before death in
terfered with his novel pastime..
Corblis had several thousand dollars in
bank and owned valuable piece of tene-
ment property. He was 73 years old at
the time of his death. married daugil-
ter, Mrs. John Quinlisk, and two grand
children survive him.
About three years ago Oorbl.s was
stricken with apop.exy and made a will
in which he left the bulk of his estate to
his daughter and the balance in trust for
his two grandchildren. AT this time Mrs.
Bridget Kellet, the testators half sister
and the principal beneficiary under his
latest will, which is being contested, came
to keep house for him. According to the
testimony thus far adduced, from this
time Corblis began to find fault with his
daughter and made one will after another,
in each reducing Mrs. Quinleak's share of
the estate below what she had been al
lowed in the preceding will.
Finally, in will made a week before
his death, Corbles practically disinherited
his daughter and left the bulk of his es-
tate to his half sister, with small be-
quests for relatives in Ireland who he had
never seen.
The taking of testimony in the case
will be resumed on Friday, when inter-
esting developments are expected.
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-12-12
COMING EVENTS.

Though the date is somewhat remote
the young people of the Hudson City sec
tion are already talking about the coming
ball of the Gustav 10th Association, OF
which Alderman 10th of the Twelfth
ward is the popular standard bearer.
Cards are out among the myriads of
other announcements of coming social
events in that section announcing that the
associations ball will take place on Feb
ruary q, on the eve of Washington's .
Birthday. Both the theatre and the big
music room of Central Hall have been
secured by the associat ton for that date.
Over two thousand people attended the
ball last February, and two thousand the
year before.
Tickets are still selling for the Mulligan
Guards ball to be held at Woods Hall on
December IS. The association is compos-
ed of we'll known Horseshoeites, and the
indications are that the Guards will have
every reason to feel proud of the demon
stration of their popularity.
The William Wiley Association, com-'
posed of over sixty popular members, has
decided to hold its annual ball at Ma
tional Hall, Brunswick street, near Sixth
street, on the evening of February Is
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-12-12
MURDER and SUICIDE.
Hoboken Anarchists Shoots
His Housekeeper and
Himself.

Franz Driesen a Hoboken upholsterer,
pleaded with his mistress, Mary Felig-
man, who had left him, to return and
live with him last night. When she re-
fused Driesen drew revolver and shot
her through the throat. He then fed
from his apar tments in the rear of his
shop, at No. 622 Bloomfield street, and
pressing the revolver against his right
temple spattered his brains on the door
step.
Driesen was forty years old. The Felig-
man woman lived with him up till two
weeks ago, when she left after a quarrel
and accepted a position as housekeeper
with family in New York. Driesen en-
ployed another woman named Annie Wal
ters to keep house for him, but kept writ
ing to his mistress to return.
Shortly after eight o'clock last night
she called at the shop and demanded her
trunk Dritsen was alone at the time.
He implored the woman to return and
live with him but she refused to be con-
ciliated and started to leave the place.
The upholsterer drew the revolver with
out warning and fired. The woman fell
and he rushed past her to the door. Ten
ants came running from the house when
they heard the second shot and found
Dresen dead on the sidewalk.
The woman was taken in an ambulance
to St. Mary's Hospital by Patrolman
Dougherty. The authorities were unable
to get a satisfactory statement from her
last night.
From the Walters woman it was learn
ed that the couple had been living to-
gether for about three years. They fire.
euently quarreled, she said, and they had
had many separations.
Driesen was regarded by his neighbors
as very strange man. 1t is said that
he was an anarchist. He had occupied
the little shop on Bloomfield street for
maPy years, but he was of a secretive
mature and little of his private life was
known. The body has been removed to
the morgue.
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-12-12
DOES THE LAW FOLLOW THE FLAG
Constitutional Question the Jersey
Courts Will Be Asked to Decide.

A damage suit in which international
questions are involved will be heard dur
ing the present term of the Supreme
Court The C ase in question is No. rs on
the list and bears the title of Francis
Garrity VS.. Edward jerks and Francis
Bowen. No oman and Zisgen represent the
plaintiff and Lawyer George Holmes the
de PENDANTS
The suit is the result of an accident that
occurred in Porto Rico during the erection
of a dock by the defendants firm. Ar
rangements had been made to take a
photograph of the work just as an i'm
mense pile was about to be driven. The
foreman motioned q crowd of onlookers
back and the men who were steadying the
pile mistaking the signal removed their
supports. This caused the pile to sway
and strike Garrity with such force that
his leg was broken, and has since been
amputated. His su it is for $4,000 dam
ages.
The defence will be that at the time of
the accident, which was since Porto Rico
came into the possession of the United
States, the laws governing Spanish colon
les were still in vogue there, and that
under those laws servant cannot recover
damages from master.
The contention Of the plaintiffs counsel
will be that from the time the American
flag was raised on the Island it was sub
ject to the laws of the United States.
The suit is brought in this county be-
cause the main office of the defendant
company is located here.
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-12-12
BAD COON IN TOWN.
Orange Hadn't Attractions
Enough, SO He Made
Things Here Fly.

A bad coon from Orange came to town
yesterday afternoon and did some shoot
ing. He punctured the left arm of his
host and ran. He must have run right
home, because two hours later the police
of his native town had him in charge.
He will come back here. When he does
he will face charge of attempted muir
der
This bad black man is William Richard
son. He is thirty-three years Old and
boasts he has carried a gun and, a
''razzer" ever since he learned how to
use them, which was when he was young
and handsome. Yesterday he started to
drink up all the liquor in Orange. Be-
coming tired of his job there he decided
to absorb all of this citys wet goods.
About four O'Clock in the afternoon he
was. as he said himself, call to the bad"
Then he visited William Sommers and
Pleasant Brown. of No. Al Maxwell place.
The party became very sociable over the
flowing bowl, except Richardson. He be-
came very drunk His emphatic remarks
were punctuated with threats and the
gleam of his bright revolver and razor.
About six o'clock Brown and Sommers
refused to allow Richardson to drink any
more whiskey.
Then the air became very blue and
Oranges representative made such hor-
rible threats that his hosts left him. They
hoped he would sleep. Not he. He was
determined to carry out his threats and
he went on a still hunt for Sommers and
Brown. He met them at the corner of
Wayne and Varick streets and tried to
get near enough to use his razor, but his
intended victims moved away Then he
opened fire. All the shots went wide ex-
cept one, and that one entered the left
arm of Sommers. He dropped and Rich
ardson ran.
Sommers was taken to the City Hospital
and his wound was dressed. Then he
went home.
The police telephoned to Orange and
Richardson was arrested at his home. He
viii face serious charges at Orange before
he is brought here. Brown was shot at
but escaped injury.
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-12-12
ORGANIZED AID.
Constitution Limits Associa-
ton to Jersey City, So
Hoboken Must Be
Left Out.

A meeting of the Executive Board of the
Organized Aid Association was held yes
terday afternoon in the Aid rooms, No%65
Montgomery street. In the absence of the
Chairman, Mr. Thomas Gopsil, the Rev.
E. L. Stoddard presided
There were the usual number Of reports,
Mrs. William D. Edwards gave very in-
teresting report, as Chairman of the Me-
elected Children's Committee. She re-
ported six new cases. three of which re-
quire radical treatment
Mr.. Heck reported that a collector had
been appointed to secure new subscriu-
tions for the association He also report
ed that there were q new cases for con-
sideration and help during the month VI
October, which fact showed that another
assistant was needed in the office.
In the absence of Mr.. Otto Grouse,
Chairman, Mr.. Robert Flemming repo rted
two cases referred to the Legal Aid Com
mittee for redress. Neither party, he said
had any real, merely a grievance which
Mr.. Otto Grouse had fully explained to
the applicants.
The Rev. Cornelius Brett, Chairman Of
the Cooperative Committee, reported
that the association was working nicely
with other charitable institutions, and
that the committee of the Fourth district
had taken in charge one case for con-
tinuous care.
A short time ago a number of the
prominent people of Hoboken submitted
to the Organized Aid plan whereby Ho-
boken might have an association of its
own with headquarters in the Jersey City
office 1t w ould also use the same inves-
togating committee as that used by the
Jersey City association during the winter
The Executive Board came to the conelu-
sion that this could not be done at pres
ent as it would not only necessitate the
enlarging of the office staff, but would
also necessitate the changing of the by
laws, which restricts the association to
the limits of Jersey City. The matter
however, was referred to the Finance
Committee. which will meet in few days
to consider the proposition and may find
some feasible means 0of cooperation
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-12-12
The ARMORY CAKEWALK.
1t Will Be Held Two Evenings
Next Week.

Final arrangements for the big colored
jubilee vaudeville and cake walk, to be
held at the Fourth Regiment Armory on
Friday and Saturday evenings of next
week, were made at meeting of the
committee last evening, at which Captain
Mortimer J. Gleason, the chairman, pre-
sided Reports of a most encouraging
character were received, as we'll as sew
eral applications for boxes for both evn-
ings.
Chairman Gleason announced that the
box office for the advance sale of seats
will be opened Saturday evening at the
Armory. Colonel Robert G. Smith will
have party of friends present both
evenings.
The list of expert cake walkers who
will contest for a handsome gold medal
and a gorgeous frosted cake includes
numerous ladies and gentlemen of sombre
hue who have won distinction on and off
the stage in New York, Boston, Phila-
delphia, Chicago and other large cities.
Among them are Pickaninny Hill and
Miss Florence Van Dyke of New York;
James Lipsey and Miss Blanche Dixon,
of New York; Harry Hill and Miss Jen-
ME Allen, of jersey City; Squeeze"
Barnes and Miss Lily Gibson, of Harlem
Charles Gibbs and Miss Maude Allen. of
Philadelphia; William Taylor and Miss
Mae Livingston, of Washington, D. G.,
and Mr.. and Mrs. Richard Payne of Bal
timore Md.
Prominent citizens of Jersey City, Ho-
boken and Bayonn will officiate as judges
of the championship walk.
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-12-12
GREENvILLE CIRCLES EUcHRE.
Companions of the Forest Had a
Good Tins Indoors.

The Greenville Circle No. 222 of Com
panions of the Forest held euchre at
Columbia Hall last night Ten games
were played, after which dancing was the
pastime. The crowd was not as large as
expected, but those who were there man
aged to have a good time.
The Committee of Arrangements was
Miss Alice Sotheren, Mrs. A. Harris, Mrs
j. Westerman, Mrs. s. Frazee, Mrs L.
Cosgrove Mrs. F. Kachlee, Mrs. M. Egan
Among the prize winners were Miss
Shutz, Miss M. McEvoy, E. Q. Belden,
Miss Muller, Miss Martha Ernst, N j.
Kellerman. J. Beaman, Mrs. Pitzer, Miss
K. Lawless ]. Westerman, Fred Dantz
Mrs. w. Foster c. Southern, Miss Lille
Coons, Thomas Lillis, Frank Millner, Au-
gust Muller, Mrs. Coons, Miss Martha
Henning, Mrs. Westerman, Miss Annie
Bielert, Mrs. E. Murray, j. Filoramo T.
Krupp. c. Boag. r. B. Gurney, c. Sutton
J. NJ. Nixon, Mrs. Kelley, Mrs, Gotthardt
Mrs. French, NJ. Coons, A. Christensen
Walter Ernst, Mrs. N. Egan, Mrs. Al
Brugel, Mrs. e. O. Belden, Mrs. r KEEP
pier, j. Ullmann, Mrs. J.. Madigan, Mrs
Louis H. Vultee, H. Priest, p. A. ONeill,
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-12-12
OUR DIRTY STREETS.
Chief Engineer Van Keuren
Advises Board Of Works
on the Cleaning
Problem.

From the Mayor down there have been
the streets and the officials concerned in
the matter have been roundly criticized
for not doing their duty. 1t will interest
the critics to read the following letter,
which was sent to the Street and Water
Commissioners today
ITO the Honorable the Board of Street
and Water Commissioners
'tGentlemen-Your attention is respect
fully called to the clause in street clean
ing specifications, wherein the Board of
Street and Water Commissioners shall
have the power to increase or decrease
the number ofm lies of streets to be
cleaned during the fiscal year.
"The street cleaning during the past
few days has not been properly perform
ed prebably owing, partially to the cold
weather, the dirt being frozen and the
men employed unable to gather the same.
'I would recommend that your Honor
able Board pass a resolution directing
Inspector Boyle to discontinue following
the schedule of streets to be cleaned, as
set forth in the specifications. at all times
when the temperature is below 35 degrees
Fahrenheit, except upon special written
order, signed by the Chairman of the
Committee on Streets and Sewers and
that the Chief Engineer be directed to
recognize no reports of sweeping which
may be done under the above conditions,
unless such reports are accompanied by
the written order of the Chairman above
referred to.
Respectfully yours.
s'(Signed) C. A. VAN KEUREN,
"Chief Engineer
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-12-12
TO CHANGE DEATH RECORD
Interesting Life Story Told in
Dispositions.

The story of a womans eventful life
was revealed through the application of
Lawyer T. s. Atwater, Jr.,. of New York.
to the County Board of Health to have
the record of death of Mrs. Elizabeth
Nelson, who died at No. ITS Pine street,
on February II last, changed to show that
it was Mrs. Elizabeth O'Brien Pollock
who had died and not Mrs. Nelson. After
a thorough inquiry into the matter the
Health Board granted the application.
Lawyer Atwater has been retained by
relatives of the dead woman in Ireland
to obtain proof of Mrs. Pollock's death
in order to settle an estate. The deposit
tions taken show that Mrs. Pollock had
a stormy lifetime.
Over dozen years ago Mrs. Pollock,
or Mrs. Nelson, as she was known by
her neighbors in Jersey City, was sepa-
rated from her husband. She was never
divorced, however.
Mrs. Pollock, the inquiry showed, lived
on pension of $50 month received from
her brother. the recently deceased Right
Hon. William t. O'Brien, Chief Justice of
Dublin After separating from her hus-
band she increased her income by writing
for newspapers and magazines under the
name of Nelson, which name she assum-
ed to hide her identity.
Police Captain Charles Cox of the Sew
enth precinct was the accredited agent
of Justice O'Brien, and all the money
sent here passed through his hands
Shortly after Mrs. Pollock's death, her
brother, the Chief Justice, also died, leav.
ing large estate. In order to settle this
estate it was necessary to prove the ex-
istence or death of all known heirs
In prosecuting his search for them
Lawyer Atwater was hampered by the
death records of this county bearing the
name of Nelson instead of Pollock A
transcript of the death of Mrs Nelson
was valueless and he was obliged to fake
depositfons to prove that the deceased
was really Mrs Pollock
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-12-12
DISREGARD PRECEDENTS
New Grand Jurors Dc Not
Intend to Let It Be
Known When They
Will Visit In
stitutions.

The December term Grand Jury, which
entered on the duties of office yesterday
afternoon, promises to be one of surprises.
Established precedents, according to Fore
man Jacob Ringle, will be set aside and
the Grand Jury will work on it's own lines.
1t has been customary for years for the
Grand Jury to make an inspection of the
county institutions, including the jail, dur
ing the last week of it's term The time
of these inspections was known in ad-
vance and Preparations were made ac-
cordlngiy by those in charge of the insti-
tutions. The resu 1t almost invariably was
presentment to the Court setting forth
the excellent condition of the different in
stitutions and the admirable management
of the same.
That this course of procedure will not
be followed by the new Grand Jury was
made apparent yesterday, when imme-
dlately after Justice Collins had delivered
MS charge the twenty-three Grand Jurors
walked to the County Jail and made a
thorough inspection Of the institution.
Their coming was not anticipated and no
preparations had been made to receive
them. Everything was in the condition
that it Is on any ordinary day. That the
Grand Jurors were surprised at what they
saw was shown when Foreman Ringle,
on behalf of his colleagues, warmly COM
plimented Sheriff Ruempler and Warden
Sullivan on ,Sse cleanly condition of the
institution. he said they had come with
out warning in order to see the jail as
the general public saw it, and admitted
that the Grand Jurors had not anticipated
finding the institution in such excellent
condition.
Immediately afterwards the Grand
Jurors returned to their room, where
Foreman Ringle addressed his colleagues
on the necessity of secrecy in connection
with all matters under discussion He
said he hoped that the business of the
Grand Jury would not reach the news
papers in advance of definite action, as
had been the case with previous similar
bodies. committee to draft rules, with
ex-Police Judge John J. Nevin as chair
man, was then appointed, after which the
Grand Jury adjourned until Friday after
noon.
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-12-12

he was turned down after having served
one year, to make a place for the late
Augustus s. Barber, and he thinks that
ne should be given the office. This argu-
ment is having a good deal Of weight with
some Of the Senators, but they viii not
openly declare themselves for Frey. It IS
believed that at the last minute Jesse R.
Salmon will be brought out by Major
Lentz as compromise candidate for the
office. The Major viii not commit himself
on this point, but a prominent State
ofncial who is very close to Lentz said
yesterday that it looked very much as IL
the contest would end that way. The
main objection to Edges candidacy is
that he is prosperous business man, and
has no need of the emoluments Of the
Office
The members of the upper house do not
take kindly 70 the proposition to take
Jesse r. Salmon out OF the Office Of su-
pervisor Of Senate Bills and make him
Secretary Of the Senate. They feel that
Salmon should be content to be reelected
Supervisor, aud that an attempt to pro-
mote him to better paying job might be
resented.
An attempt was made today to get
MAJOR Lentz to say whether or not he
favors the abolition Of spring elections
and what the prospect is for the introduce
ton of an an@i-spring election bill, but the
Major stubbornly shook his head and sim
Fly said: I'VE shall see what we shall
see"
While Senator McCarter has announced
that he is opposed to such a change be-
cause public sentiment in Essex county
does not favor it there is suspicion that
he would not strenuously oppose such q.
measure if it should appear in the Sen
ate.
There was some speculation as to who
would Introduce the Anti-Spring Election
bill, which is expected to come up early n
the session. 1T has been reported that bills
for this purpose are forthcoming from
both Passaic and Garden counties but
the prevailing opinion seems to be that The
measure will be introduced by an Essex
Assemblyman
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-12-12
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY.
Mr.. Joseph A. Dear Discusses
It's Limit Before the
Cosmos Club.

The Cosmos Club met last night in the
Hotel Washington to hear an address
from Mr.. Joseph A. Dear on the Limit of
Social Responsibility"
In the absence of President M Murray,
Vice-President c. R. Heike took the
chair. At the dinner were:-Mr. and Mrs.
John A. Walker, Mr. and Mrs. F. O..
Cole Mr.. and Mrs. j.. A. Dear, Mr.. and
Mrs. Walter Dear, Mr.. and Mrs. Chauncey
Holt and Miss Struthers, Mr.. and Mrs. c.
R. Heike and Mrs. Steeveman of Bay
onne, Messrs. w. G. Brown Major q. x
Pangborn and J. H. Hopken.
Mr.. Dear in the twenty minutes time
limit managed to cover the ground in a
thorough manner, summing up his topic
as follows:-
The weakest members of the State
justly demand its most earnest attention.
They should be educated and protected by
the State. They are entitled to all the
help the State can give, without repress-
ing the Individual ambition and effort and
desire for Improvement, which, finding
their best exercise in the struggle for ex-
istence, are the foundation Of all virtue
and strength of character. Direct State
help Though perhaps never fairly tried)
has hitherto always been a failure, as in
the case of the national ateliers of France
in 1887. The State may wisely encourage
the principle and practice of mutual as
sociatIon for the common benefit, with the
reservation that in doing this, the State
must take care that it does not create
privileged class of either paupers or capi-
talists.
Many of the problems that now trouble
US will disappear when, under the lead of
science, men shall have mere fully mas
tered the forces Of nature and when ma
ehinery and chemistry shall have rendered
products cheape~, labor more profitable
and life easier. The attempt of the State
to raise all its members to the higher
plane of living, which Socialists claim as
the right of all, especially the poor under
present condition. would involve an enor-
nous expense. leading to a burden Of
taxation that would be unbearable. But
when these agencies the result of increas-
ed knowledge, shall have been fully de-
veloped and produced, their natural effect
in the increase of wealth and the diminu-
tion of labor, then, we may reasonably
undertake the task of bringing the whole
community to this higher plane of living
In this economic millennium, all classes
will share equally.
The obligations of society will be more
fully recognized and discharged as the
growing spirit of democracy comes to a
juster appreciation of the true doctrine OF
equality and Christians live in the spirit of
the teaching, One is your Father and all
ye are brethren. y
In the discussion which followed all the
members took part.