davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-11-16
Mrs. Sells ssBIue Eyed BOy''
Tells His Story.
Said He Wrote the Ardent Love
Letters to Defendant.
HISSED BY THE CROWD
People Evidently Did Not Ap-
prove of His Admissions.
Women Are Refused Admittance
to the Trial.

Retaliation rather than defense will be
the tactics of the defendants attorneys
in the Sells divorce case, says a COlum-
bus dispatch. A faint line was secured
on the probable intentions of the counsel
for Mrs. Mary A Sells by their treat
ment Of Harris D. Lyons. one Of the CO
respondents in the case. Lyons was the
author of % letters which were read in
court yesterday. in which he referred to
himself as the .'blue-eyed. darling boy, "
of his sweet, sad-faced queen" He
was placed on the stand
He made no attempt to protect the
reputation Of the woman whom he loved
so madly a few years ago. He vowed
himself the author of the letters. said
they were written to Mrs Sells under
a name assumed for protection, and de-
clared that he was the recipient of nu-
merous letters from Mrs. Sells. IN which
her affection for him was told in quite
as tropical terms as he had used to her.
Only once did he show signs of anger
at the close questioning. and that was
when the court room broke into a shout
of laughter at his being made to identify
himself as the blue-eyed boy"
His ross-examinatiOn was conducted
by Cyrus Huling who is one of the most
savage cross examiners at the local bar.
But Mr.. Huling did not realize the ex-
pectations OF the crowd. He was as
mild as a dove His efforts were con-
fined to showing that Peter Sells, the
plaintiff in the case, had been in the
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-11-16

the forefront of fashion, and appears just
what he is, a reliable business man.
Attorney George Peters, of counsel for
the plaintiff, conducted the examina-
ton in chief After the usual prelim-
mary questions Mr.. Peters picked up
the bunch of 28 letters, reeking with
sloppy sentiment, which Lyons sent to
his ''angel queen" during her visit to
Australia. Lyons shrunk within himself
He doubtless remembered his protesta-
tions of undying affection, and his
declaration that without her death
would be a positive relief to his super
heated heart
Mrs. Sells looked at him with some in
terest at the beginning of his testimony,
which clearly changed to contempt for
the recreant lover as he proceeded with
his talking process. Lyons related that
he had lived in Columbus about Il years;
was a clerk in the motive power depart
ment of the P, C., c. and St. l. rail-
way. His, employment was the same in
1892, at which time the letters to Mrs.
Sells were written. He had known Mrs.
Sells about 10 or II years; knew her
husband and her parents and brother;
had visited the latter in Logan, Ohio.
He met her parents after he became
acquainted with Mrs Sells
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-11-16
TOPEKA GIRL RETURNS
Miss Mabelle Crawford Pleases a To-
pska Audience With Her Singing.

pSkG Audience With Her Singing.
The musical recital given at the Audi
torium last evening by Miss Mabelle
Crawford Of Chicago, assisted by the
''Ad Astra" quartet of Topeka, drew a
good sized crowd. though not large
enough to fill the building in which it
was given.
The interest manifested in this enter
tainment for the past several weeks was
due partly to Miss Crawford's well
known reputation as a singer, also to
the fact that she is former Topeka
girl and lastly to the cause for which
the entertainment was given. It was
given under the auspices of the prin-
cipal and teachers of Clay school for
the benefit of the picture fund, and net
ted a handsome sum-
When living in Topeka a number of
years ago Miss Crawford attended Clay
school, and is still much interested in
its progress, and came from Chicago for
the express purpose of giving this en-
tertain1nent She expressed her willing
ness to sing for half her regular charges,
and would have done so had not her
manager refused to permit her.
When Miss Crawford walked upon the
stage to sing the first number she was
enthusiastically applauded, but she was
so calm, self possessed and charmingly
gowned, that one would scarcely have
believed that she had met with any
difficulties prior to her appearance. She
arrived in the afternoon and found to
her chagrin that her trunk had gone
astray, and it was only when she was
preparing to go to the Auditorium that
it arrived. During the evening Miss
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-11-16
WEYLER COMES OUT.
Fires Some Hot Shot at the
British in Africa.

New York, Nov. 16.-A dispatch to the
Herald from Paris says:
General Weyler has emerged from his
shell and fires some hot shot at Anglo
Saxons in general. in an interview given
to the Figaro's correspondent He said:
1T has required the events in the Trans
vaal and the stories of the real cruel les
committed upon the Beers by Lord Rob-
erts ana the English for European MILL
tary writer's to acknowledge that never
conducted myself in Cuba as the British
have done in South Africa People are
OF the matter is that carried on the war
in Cuba with the rigor which war re-
quires.
a strong conservative party after the
death of Canovas, I should have pre-
the Spanish troops, which We're then in
the islands, 1 should have driven the
Americans into the sea- The hasty levies
of Americans would never have been able
to cope with the Spaniards. I should never
have asked for a fleet to be sent to me.
Ny resources down there Qn Cuba) were
''But it IS too late now. What's the
good of crying over split milk? Politics
can attach to the army All that 1t did
was TO obey orders. It was in no wise
responsible for our disasters.
To-day, if it be necessary for the good
Of Spain for me to give my assistance and
my personal support to a political party,
I will certainly do so. If the Liberal party
campaign in conformity with the tradt-
uons of liberty and progress, will give
my help to the Liberal party, but will
consent to be a politician for six or eight
months only. Immediately afterward 1
will once more become a soldier-that and
nothing more
TT is my opinion that if Marshal Mar
tinez CampOs had remained purely and
simply soldier his fame would have been
all the greater.
So far as the CarIist movement is con-
cerned, General Ne5ler says it is doomed
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-11-16
CONE FOR GOOD.
A French Paper Says Gen.
POrter's Departure
From Paris Is Final Taking
of Leave.
NAMES HIS SUCCESSOR
Says Minister Leishman viii
Get the Place.
That Gun Secret Declared to
NAMES HIS SUCCESSOR
That Gun Secret Declared tt
Have Caused the Change.

New York, Nov 16-A Herald dis
patch from Paris says:
The following extraordinary state
ment is given prominence in La Presse:
"A parsonage who claims to be thor
oughly acquainted with what is going
on behind the scenes in the matter Of
the divulgence of the secrets of the
latest French field gun to the United
States, makes the following statement:
8 This affair is connected with the
sudden departure for Gibraltar OF an
officer of the United States navy who
the exhibit, after having fulfilled his
functions as naval attache at the en-
baSSy. The field gun incident was also
the cause Of the sudden handing over
of the affairs of the embassy to the first
secretary by General Horace Porter and
his departure for Spain.
- The former naval attache in queS-
tion, who was born of British parents
and devoted above all to the embassy
in the Faubourg Saint Honore, acted
almost openly as spy for several
powers
THE departure Of General Horace
Porter, which is given out as tempo
rary, is really final, and he will be re-
placed in Paris by Mr.. John Ieishmans
United States minister to Berne, a dip
1omatist of the highest character, whose
independence viS-a-Vis the English en-
baSsy can be counted upon for main
tenance of good relations between the
French republic and the United States +
STORY RIDICULED AT WASHING
TON
Washington, Nov. 16.-It is said at the
navy department that the effort made
in some of the French newspapers to
connect Lieut.. Sims, late naval attache
at Paris, with the disclosure relative to
the French gun are based upon misap-
prehension of the facts. Lieut. Sims
was slated for sea duty many months
ago and in fact the department named
and sent over a successor to him in the
capacity of naval attache to the United
States embassy in the person of Com
ma.nder Giles 3. Harber. Lieut.. Sims
was detained in Paris for some months
by the department at the request of the
Pollak heirs, having been charged with
the distribution of the munificeDt prizes
bestowed by them upon the inventors of
devices for saving life at sea- However,
this work was wound up some time ago
and Lieut.. Sims was ordered from Paris
to Gibraltar solely for the purpose of
joining there the battleship Kentucky
which is making her way out to Manila,
via Suez. He boarded the Kentucky and
began his work, long before the first
publication relative to the disclosure Of
the secret of the French gun. The Off
cials have ridicule the story that Gen.
Porter, ambassador to Paris, is in any
way involved in this scandal. In fact
they contend nobody connected with the
embassy has been smirched and assert
that the French government has not
made even the smallest inquiry, which
would indicate lack of confidence.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-11-16
HOPE IS CONE.
Mayor Says City Can Never
Agree With Water Company.
Report of Expert Received To-
day Makes it Impossible.

The report of Waterworlzs Expert Cole
who represented the water company in
the appraisement of the Topeka water
plant, was received today after a long
delay. While the city officials will not
give out the price fixed by Mr.. Cole, it
is evident that the figures are so high
as to cause Mayor Drew to despair of a
satisfactory basis for the purchase of
the plant being ever agreed upon
Mayor Drew said today: ''Since seeing
Mr. Coles report am satisfied that the
city and the water company can never
agree upon a price for the old plant.
am satisfied that all the work has been
wasted and we are no nearer a settle
ment than we were before
''The two engineers have agreed upon
the structural value or what it would
cost to duplicate the present plant, but
they are far apart on other questions.
l do not know exactly what is meant
by the going value of the plant, but
that is what is making all the trouble.
I have been given to understand that
it meant the value for the use of the
plant while a new one is under cOnStruc-
ton, but it looks to me as if it was
really a value placed upon the franchise
7 have simply been paralyzed by Mr..
Coles figures and they are entirely out
of reason. see no good that could be
accomplished by calling in a third man
when the difference is so great. It looks
to me as if he figured that the franchise
is worth 5000, 900 or $500, 900, and every
one knows that the city could not pay
any such sum. We haven't the money
to pay such price if we wanted to
do so.
''I can not make Mr. Coles figures
public until they are submitted to the
council, but they make it look very
gloomy for the settlement of the water
company controversy except by the
building of a new plant
Mayor Drew says that Mr.. Follett, the
engineer employed by the city, and Mr..
Cole agreed only on a single point-what
it would cost to duplicate the present
water plant. They were far apart on
the depreciation and the "going value"
The point agreed upon as the cost for
the duplication of the present water
plant is in the neighborhoOd of $3.50, 900,
which is approximately what Mr.. Fol-
lett found that the plant should be sold
for. But Mr.. Coles total figures which
so startled Mayor Drew are in the neigh
borhood of $500, 900. If the city is ex-
pected to buy the old plant for $700, 600,
it is easy to see why Mayor Drew
should conclude that it is unnecessary
to continue the negotiations for the pur-
chase of the plant.
The city voted $40 900 for a new water
plant, and the price can not be much
in excess of that sum. The premium
that will be paid for the bonds when
they are sold will help out some, but
the total that will be realized from the
sale of the bonds will be less than $780,,
OO0
The whole question will come before
the city council at the meeting next
Tuesday evening.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-11-16
ABOVE THE AVERAGE.
Condition of Corn Crop as Reported
by Agricultural Department.

Condition OF Corn Crop as Reported
by Agricultural Department.
Washington, Nov. 16-The preliminary
estimate of the average yield per acre
in corn in 190O as published in the forth
coming monthly report of the statistician
of the department of agriculture is 25-3
bushels, as compared with an average
yield of 25.31 bushels in 1899, of 24.76
bushels in 1898 and ten year average of
PAL bushels. The indicated yield per
acre in Ohio is 81 bushels, in Indiana
and Iowa 38, in Illinois 81, in Missouri
2S, in Kansas 19 and in Nebraska 26
bushels.
The average as to quality is 855 per
cent, as compared with 87.2 per cent last
year and S2.7 per cent in November,
1898.
1t is estimated that A per cent of the
corn crop of 1899 was still in the hands
of farmers on May 1, 1900, as compared
with So per cent of the crop of 1898 in
farmers hands on Nov. I, 1892, and 7.25
per cent of that of 1897 in hand on Nov
l. 1898.
The preliminary estimate of the aver.
age yield per acre of potatoes is S0.3
bushels against an average yield of 8S. So
bushels in 1899, 1913 bushels in 1898 and
a ten year average of 1855 bushels. The
average as to quality is SS1 per cent
against s14 per cent in November last
and SAT per cent in November, 1898.
The preliminary estimate of the aver
age yield per acre of hay is 1.28 tons
against an average yield of 1.35 tons
in 1899 1 55 tons in 1898 and a ten year
average of 128 tons. The average as to
quality is 89.7 per cent against 93.S per
cent in November last and 95.3 per cent
in November, 1898.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-11-16
TO BE HANGED
WITH DECORUM
Fate That Awaits John Porter
at LlmOn, Col.
Whenever He Shall Return to
That Locality.
ORGANIZATION MADE
For the AvOWed Purpose Of
Lynching the Negro.
Others of His Color Warned to
Leave the Country.

Limon, Colo, Nov. 16.-Noticcs were
posted today warning negroes OF bad
character to leave Lincoln and Elbert
counties. and declaring that II they DO
not go they will be escorted across the
border. officials of the Union Pacific
and the Rock Island railroads have also
been petitioned to remove from these
counties all the imported colored section
men. This action is taken in pursuance
Of resolutions adopted at the mass meet
ing Of citizens at which an organization
was effected for the purpose OF lynching
John Porter, the coiored boy, who has
Frost 1t was unanimously agreed by
the meeting that Porter shall be hanged
with all the decorum Of a legal eXecu-
ton whenever he is brought to this
county, and that no brutality VIII be
tolerated. 1t has been announced that
Porter viii not be brought back for ten
days.
GONE TO HIS DOOM
Denver. Col. Nov. 16.-John Porter,
the young negro who has confessed that
he murdered Louise Frost at Limon,
was taken from the county jail here to-
day by Sherif Freeman Of Lincoln
county and driven rapidly out Of the
city in a closed carriage. 1t IS under
stood the party will board the afternoon
Union Pacific train at some point OUT
side the city and IL Is expected that
when LimOn is reached a mob will seize
and hang the prisoner.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-11-16
ALOOK AHEAD.
Secretary Gage Peeps Into the Coun-
try's Financial Future.

Washington, Nov. 16.-Secretary Gage
last night delivered an academic lecture
before the Columbia university law
school on the topic "Some Further
Thoughts on Banking and Currency"
He said:
rs any change in our currency system
at all probable. or even possible, no mat
ter how much to be desired2 No imme-
diate change is at all probable, but look
ing forward to the period of your own
business future, some change in our sys-
tenn seems to be inevitable. In the first
place. the absence of extraordinary ex-
penditures for war, the present outstand-
ing public debt ought to be largely re-
duced or wholly paid. AS this eventu-
ates the now required form Of security
for bank note issues viii be lacking, and
notifications in our present law VIII be
necessary. Again, if I may express that
direct opinion it viii come to be impera-
tive as time passes that the government
is not and can not be well prepared to
deal with a large mass of floating debt
payable on demand. The obligation to
maintain parity between our nearly
5000 900, 900 of silver money and gold adds
to the complication, and the law max
ers representing the people will be glad
to diminish the present great response
bility."
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-11-16
TRACED TO CHINESE.
Discovery of America Dates Back
1900 Years.

Monterey. Mexico, Nov. 16.-The report
that American officers have unearthcd
ancient records in pelin, showing that
the Chinese discovered America I. SEQ
years ago and erected temples in Mex
leo, has aroused the greatest Interest
among the scientific men Of Monterey
and throughout this country. The Chi
nese temples alluded to are in the state
of Sonora, on the Pacific coast. The
ruin of one of the temples was discov-
cred near the town Of Urez in that state
about two years ago.
One OF the large stone tablets found
in the ruins was covered with carved
Chinese characters. which we're partly
deciphered by a learned Chinaman who
visited the ruins at the request OF the
Mexican government This Chinaman
made the assertion at the time that the
ruins were those Of a temple which had
been erected many centuries ago by
Chinese, but his statement was not re-
ceived with credence.
1t has long been claimed that the In
dams Of the state Of Sonora are de-
scendants Of these early Chinese set
tiers. They possess many traditions and
characteristics Of the Chinese. lf the
report of the finding Of these records In
Pelxin IS verified. an expedition VIII 90
from here to explore further the an
cient temples Of Sonora
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-11-16

Crawford was aware that at any min
ute the doors might be closed as it was
feared that an injunction would be
served, and though surprised at such
a possibility she did not let it deter her
from acquitting herself in a creditable
manner.
Miss Crawford has a contralto voice,
remarkable for its strength, depth and
sweetness and she had no difficulty in
being heard in all parts of the building.
Her voice is capable of expressing ex-
treme pathos as Wei as various other
shades of feeling, and she is of such a
pleasing personality that her hearers
never lose interest. The first two num-
bers were of four parts each and after
both she was heartily encored, respond
ing in a gracious manner to each The
first number of the second part consist
ed of four little German songs which
were well received though few in the
audience understood the words Probably
the finest number on the programme
Weary from the opera Nadeshda by
Weary" from the Opera Nadeshda by
Goring Thomas.
The "Ad Astra'' quartet scarcely needs
has long had an enviable reputation
1t is composed of Hampton L Shirer.
first tenor; William H. Shaver, second
tenor; James Moore, first bass; David
Bowie, second bass. The quartet was on
for two numbers and both were encored.
While in Topeka Miss Crawford was
the guest of Mrs. Clement Smith on
Polk street and this afternoon she held
an informal reception in order that she
might have an opportunity to meet her
friends before returning to Chicago.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-11-16
LAYING KEELS BEGINS.
For the Big Ships TO Be Used in
Transpacific Trade.


New London. Conn, Nov. 16.-Actual
work began this week on the laying OF
the keels to the mammoth iron steam
ships to be built at the works OF the
Eastern Ship Building company at Cro-
ton. opposite New London. and from
this date the work OF putting together
the hulls OF the ships viii go rapidly on
There was issued from the office n
the company today an authoritative
statement regarding the sizes 81 the
ships. which shows them to be larger
than any vessels in the world now build
ing or planned. The new vessels VIII be
of 2O.0 900 tons register and 1000 tons dis
placement, or just 10000 tons more dis
placement than the new Atlantic grey
hound Deutschland. The new steamers,
which are being built primarily for cargo
carriers, are not so long as many At
lantic liners. but are much wider and
deeper. The following are the principal
dimensions OF the vessels:
Length. $50 feet; beam. 72 feet depth.
56 feet. They have each five coutinu-
GUS decks extending the whole length ut
the ship. with three additional partial
decks amidships.
Passengers as well as freight VIII be
carried. and accommodations are pro-
vided for nearly 1000 passengers in
three classes.
The vessels viii have a speed Of "a
knots an hour, and win carry over 1000
tons OF coal I'm bunlSers. They are de-
signed to carry cattle, chilled or frozen
meats in refrigerator chambers. fruit, or
any kind Of cargo that may appear Tor
transportation. 1t Is estimated that
when completed the steamships viii cost
fully s.. 900. .OO0 and they are intended 20
run from the Pacific coast to Oriental
ports in connection with the Great
Northern railway.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-11-16
HAWAIIAN ELECTION.
Roy yalist Candidate Defeats Both
Democrat and Republican.

San Francisco, Nov. 16-Robert w.
Wilcox, the imperial royalist candidate,
has been elected Hawaiian delegate to
congress, by a small majority over Sam
uel Parker, the Republican candidate
His strong vote among the natives from
the outside districts carried the day
against the whites and the intelligent
native voters of the cities.
The result of the election produced
much depression among all whites, as
Wilcox was strongly opposed by Repub-
hcans and Democrats alike. His cam
paign was an anti-white canvass, with
promises on the part of some of his
campaign workers that if he were elect
ed Queen 1ilioukalani would be replaced
on the throne. The result of the vote
shows the native bitterness over an
nexation to be still alive
The Republicans carried Honolulu and
the island of Oahu for Samuel Parker by
219 plurality. the Democratic candidate
Prince David Kawanana.kOa received
only about one-third as many votes as
Parker Today it is reported that ex-
Queen Lilioukalani secretly threw her
influence to Wilcox. There is much bit
terness against her among the Demo-
Gratis who hoped that even if they did
not elect their man. they would at least
SO divide the native vote that Wilcox
would be behind Parker
The Independent native party has car
ried the house of representatives by a
large majority. They will have IA mem
bers Of the house, with Republicans
and independents and Democrats In
the senate there viii be Republicans.
independents and 1 Democrat With
the independents in control lively ses-
sion is expected, as they are against the
ruling regime
1t is likely, as a result of the election,
that congress will be asked to estab-
lish some limitations upon the voting
privilege Many Of the whites want a
property qualification for the voters 1t
is argued that in voting upon a simple
color line, many Of the natives have
shown themselves unfit for universal
suffrage.