Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-11-15
From WASHINGTON

second term. A fact not heretofore made
| public is that the recent operation under
gone by Mr.. Root was to remove the
| fifth csrbuncle from which he suffered,
each being little more virulent In
character than the preceding one. Mr..
Root admits that the work at the War
department is too hard for him and he
pss informed both the President and
the Cabinet that he will be compelled 10
reinauish his portfolio at the end Of
mis- present term. Attorney General
Grisrs has also decided to retire from
the Cabinet. He will return to bis
private practice after the 4,h of March
and has already Notified his colleagues
Of his Infection. With these two ex-
ceptlons President Mckinley has sue
oeeded 10 persusiing ali the members
Of his Cabinet TO remain with him dur
,ug his new term Of office.
President Mckinley today COMMITTED
10 life Imprisonment the sentence OF J.
N. Hansen, an Alaskan Iudisn, who
vas condemned to die for murder. The
story of the crime and the subsequent
behavior of Hansen make one OF the
most remarkable chap ers ever unfOlded
at the Department OF Justice. About
October 1, 1899, Burt and Florence
Horton, a young couple living at Sksg-
way, Alaska, started of III q boat Oh a
fishing, hunting and prospecting trip.
Tney were never seen again alive by
white men. 10 March of the present
wear. Jim Hansen, who had heretofore
been regarded as one OF the most reck-
less, dangerous and fearless Indians 10
Alask became converted to Cbristisni-
ty through the ministratioDs Of the
| Salvation Army at Skagway, aud soon
after told Capt. McGlll, the leader OF
the organization at that place,
that he, with some ten other,
| bad murdered q man and q
woman about thiriy-6ve miles below
Skagwsy, on Lynn canal, on the main
laud, some six months before. McGiil
advised him to 60 to the United States
Deputy Marshal. Mr.. Tanner, and
make his statement. This he did, and
accompanied Tanner with a posse TO
the place where the murder was COM
United, and although the snow was
some eight or nine feet deep at the
time, he located the spot where be
claimed this young couple had been
buried, within two feet OF where, upon
digging through the snow, the bodies
we're discovered. Without any sort Of
question, Hansen at the time he made
bis confession and gave the names oil
those who were implicated, had nO
other hope or expectation than that he
would be executed for his crime. He
frequently stated that he desired to
suffer death as an example to his people
with the hope that it might tend in the
| future to better their condition and pre-
vent them from committing similar
crimes. On the trial of the cause, it
was shown beyond any question that
40 agreement had been entered into by
all of the Indians Immediately after the
killing, that the person who should tell
of this to the white men should be
alone made to suffer for the crime, as
everyone would swear that he alone
committed the murders. HeDsen made
no effort to defend himself at the trial
The other indians raised large sum
for attorneys fees and exhausted every
technicality to escape punishment. 10
letter to the Attorney General, the
Judge who tried and sentenced the
converted murderer wrote: "His entire
conduct during the several trials of the
other individuals, as we'll as his own,
convinced me of the honesty OF bis con-
fession and the purity OF the motives
that induced it. Tnst ne was moved
and controlled by high religious feI-
vor there can be no doubt. The
last act 10 the, drama, when l reluct'
antly passed sentence OF death upon
him, in answer to the usual question
why sentence should not now be pro.
nounced, etc., be answered with un-
daunted heroism, a beDignaDt smile up
on his face: My brother, L have done
my duty, now you do yours Such
rare fortitude | have never before wit
messed. This man has done much for
the cause OF justice in Alaska. To hang
him would, in my opinion, be unwise.
l therefore gladly join 10 a recommend
alton to commute to a life sentence"
Attorney General Griggs strongly rec
commended the Communication, saying in
mis- report TO the President that Han
sens spiritual awakening and peni
teuce made one of the most remarkable
cases ever brought before his notice.
Two hundred delegates to the Ma.
tional Grange convention visited the
Waite House today, where President
Mex nley held an informal reception In
the East room.
Senator Martin OF Virginia before he
left here yesterday expressed the opip-
ION that no attempt will be made
At this session of Congress to reduce
the representation of the South. ave
have too mnch business on hand" he
said, ito leave any time for working
out party spite. The sentiment against
reduction is ss pronounced In the North
a. In the South"
Stocks OF all kinds, and also cotton,
wheat and corn were all quoted as
strong at the brok ers' offices here today,
ADD even pork was little higher than
1t was yesterday.
The members of Congress nave com
menced to s.raggle in here sinely, and
some of those wao trade on their votes,
tbs lobbyists, have also appeared on
the scene ready to commence opera.
tons at once.
Private letters received here from
Nsgasaki. dated Goth ultimo., report
Capt. Myers and Surgeon Lippitt, both |
wounded at Pekin, as almost well, and |
bound home.
Mr.. Yorkes, the republican candidate
Tor Governor of Kentucky, and Leslie |
combs, who was the manager of his |
campaign, accompanied by Ed. Greer, |
ene new Judge of the Kentucky court |
OF appeals, called ON Praaidant Maxim.