davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-07-29
LORD TOLD HIM.
Louis w. BOnewitz Tries to
Strangle w. B. Henry.
Vision Informed Him Henry
Was a Devil
TRYING TO ROB HIM.
Directed at the Same Time to
Throttle Evil One.
Encounter During the Taking
of Dispositions.

A wild scene was enacted Monday
afternoon at o'clock in the little office
of James r. Wick. shorthand reporter,
on the third floor of the Columbian
building. The occupants of the offices
on that floor were startled by a series
of shrill undistinguishable shrieks and
the sounds of a scuffie. Rushing into the
hall they learned that w. B. Henry.
state agent of the German Insurance
company of F'reeport, was the victim
of an assault made upon him by Louis
w. Bonewitz, a religious fanatic whose
home is a mile east of the town OF
Meriden.
Bonewitz is 80 years of age. He is
patriarchal looking and claims to have
visions from the Lord 1t was vision
which he claim ed he received while sit
ting in his chair at Mr.. Wicks office
that was responsible for his attempt
upon the life of Mr.. Henry.
He is a devil, and is trying to rob
me-" were his first words and without
any further intimation Bonewitz sprang
from his chair and made a vicious
lunge for Mr.. Henry's throat AS he
reached for the throat with his left hand
he made a move as if to strike with his
right hand.
Realizing what was taking place,
Charles D. Welch, who was nearest the
before he had time to strike Bonewitz
wrenched his hand free and tried to
choke Mr.. Henry before r. B. Welch
and Mr.. Wick were able to pull him
The trouble arose over the attempts
of the insurance company to collect
81, 600, the amount of the bond which
Mr.. Bonewitz signed for his brother-in-
law, o. Chacey, who was appointed
agent of the insurance company at Me-
riden, and who, it is alleged, made use
of over $4,000 of the company's money.
After the insurance company dis
covered his loss, Mr.. w. B. Henry. state
agent for Kansas. paid Mr.. Bonewftz
visit at his home at Meriden to adjust
the matter. Bonewitz was without
| money to make good his bond and
after several days deliberation he was
persuaded to give mortgage on his
farm That was in September, 1899. A
suit Is now pending in the United States
F! circuit court for the collection of the
mortgage notes. and Mr.. and Mrs. Bone
witz were being examined by lawyers
in Mr.. Wick's Office for the purpose of
taking their dispositions in the case
| wheh the action that might have been
a tragedy occurred.
After his attempt on the life of Mr.
Henry yesterday afternoon. the three
men had much trouble in quieting him.
| 1t became necessary to hold him down
| on his back. He was taken by his at
| torney, r. B. Welch, to the latter's office
where he explained in detail how the
Lord appeared to him in a vision and
told him that Henry was a devil and
/ that he-was~ trying to rob him of his
| home and that he should choke him.
Mr.. Bonewitz's daughter Miss Jennie.
| sat between her father and Mr.. Henry
| and Mrs. Bonewitz whose testimony was
| being taken at the time, sat just beyond
! Mr.. Henry.
The taking of the dispositions was
postponed until 9 O'Clock today.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-07-29
1t Forces Firemen to Retreat
From Burning Building.
Dropped Their Hose and Fled
Pell Nell.
MEN BADLY SCORCHED.
Five Injured in Battle With
Flames at Pittsburg.
Loss Estimated at From $780,
900 to 100000.

Pittsburg, July 29-Two buildings in
flames, a prospect of a half million dol
lars damage and five injured firemen
was the situation that confronted the
Pittsburg fire department at daybreak
this morning The buildings in the fire
were those of Stewart Bros. & Co., the
Denoon Bros. Paint and Varnish COM
pany and S. Ewart & Co., all on Liberty
avenue.
The injured firemen are Lieut.. Dougal
Leech Buckley, Dalzell, Reese, and
Gallagher. None was seriously injured.
The fire originated on the first floor
of the eight-story building occupied by
the Denoon Bros. company.
In the cellar and lower floor were
stored large quantities of paints, warm
ishes, oils, etc An explosion in this ma
terial, while the f1remen were on the
fire escapes, sent a blast of fire out up
on the men, The flames struck them full
in the face. The men dropped the hose
and writhed and struggled to get out of
reach of the whitening heat. Some al
most fell down the fire escape; others
slid down the ratings and couple
hung by their hands until rescued by
companions. The injured men were ta-
ken to hospitals where their injuries
were pronounced not fatal.
At 2:3O o'clock the second explosion
occurred, even more terrific than the
first, although no one was injured by it.
The flames ate their way, after con-
suming the Denoon place, into the rub
Der SOOQS Ol otGWdIl
Bros. at 915 Liberty avenue, which was
also practically destroyed. S. Ewart Sl
Co., wholesale grocers at 921 Liberty
suffered heavily from water and smoke.
The furniture firm of Spear & Holler.
wholesale millinery, j. H. Porter &,
Co., on Pennsylvania avenue, separated
| by an alley from the burning buildings,
! will suffer heavily. The flames were
| confined to the buildings mentioned
! The fire was not gotten under con-
| troll until after o'clock this morning.
| The Denoon and Stewart buildings, both
| eight-story brownstone structures, were
| almost completely destroyed, only the
| walls remaining while the adjoining
| building at 923 Liberty avenue, occu-
pied by s. Ewart & Co., wholesale gro
GERS, was badly damaged The total
\ loss is variouSly eStima ted at from $780,
| 900 to 5000, 900, with insurance covering
probably two-thirds..
The firemen injured by explosions
! were reported doing well and all will
| recover The origin of the fire has not
| vet been determined.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-07-29
Office rest. just to see how loafing around
the county seat feels to an old man.
ID E. WINTERS

August will be "Craddock Day. up
at Seneca. Seneca is the county seat
of Mr.. Bailey's home county. and the
fusionists are preparing for big effort
to make it a great demonstration. 1t is
planned to be along the line of the old
time alliance picnics which were ex-
tremely successful a decade ago. when
all the farmers for 20 miles around met
at four or five designated points and
came into the county seat in long pro-
cessions from the four points of the
compass, with banners flying, and made
day of it. The same thing will be tried
al Seneca on August g. The fusionists
are now organizing their followers in
each township and central places for
meeting have been designated in each
part of Nemaha county. 1t will be in
teresting to see if the plan works as
well as it did ten years ago.
Here is a mean shot from Charley
Finch 1.-The Mail and Breeze sizes up
the senatorial situation. and decides
that Curtis is in the lead. with Stanley
second and Long third. Before accept
ing this as final. will Tom McNeal kind
ly inform his readers whether or not the
per cent method was used in arriving
at this cOncluSiOn?"
Charles A. Schnitzler, who was nomi-
mated for the legislature by the fusion
lists in Sedgwick county. has declined to
run.
Greenleaf Sentinel: Governor Stanley
got off the train yesterday long enough
to shake hands with those at the depot.
all the small boys included. He was
on his way to the Stockton jubilee.
Stanley would be our next United
States senator if the choice was left to
Washington county.
Pension Commissioner Ware will not
be able to be present at the political
meeting to be held at Kansas City,
Kan, Saturday, under the auspices of
the "Old Boys club Mr. Ware and
Senator Burton have been invited to
make the principal speeches at the
meeting, but Mr.. Ware has notified To-
peka friends that he does not expect to
get away from his work long enough to
come west during the summer. The
fact that Mr., Ware had been invited to
make speech led to the announcement
that he would be present at the meet
ing.
Arthur Capper, as chairman OF the
First district Republican congressional
committee. has called meeting of the
committee for next Thursday afternoon
at the Copeland to discuss the congress
SiOnal campaign in tine First district
Congressman Curtis will be present to
talk over matters with the committee,
but as Mr.. Curtis had nearly 5000 ma
| jority two years ago there will be no
| great amount of worrying done over the
| fear that he may be defeated this year.
! The members of the committee are w.
I. Biddle, Leavenworth county; Frank
| H. Roberts, Jefferson; D. Delaney, Don
| iphan; w. H. Jordan, Nemaha; E. c.
| Backenstoce, Brown; John NJ. Bacon.
| Jackson; John B. Kurth, Atchison, and
Arthur Capper, Shawnee
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-07-29
ROOSEVELT CAN'T COME.
Won't Be Present at Installa-
tion of Chancellor Strong.

lola, Kas.. July 29.-Representative Scott
has received a letter from George B. Cor
telyou, secretary to the president saying
that the president will be unable to be
present at the Inauguration of DR.. Strong
as chancellor of the University of Kansas
on October II. The president hopes to
make a brief stop in Lawrence. however,
on September 29, while en- route to To-
peka-
Secretary Cortelyou's letter is as follows:
I'm response to your letter of the 18th
instant regret to state that the presi-
dent will not be in the vicinity of Law
renee, Kansas, in October, but hopes to be
able to make a brief stop there, probably
on September %; though definite prom
ise cannot be made so far in advance.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-07-29
GRESHAM NAMED.
Chase County Man Fusion N0mi-
nee for Congress.

Burlington, Kan, July 29.-The Pop
ulists and Democratic delegates of the
Fourth congressional district named
Thomas H. Grisham, of Cottonwood
Falls for congress by acclamation this
afternoon Both conventions assembled
in one hall. DR.. Lawrence of Ell Dorado
presided over the Democratic conven-
tion and Phil Goodreau of Cottonwood
Falls acted as chairman of the Peoples
party convention.
John Madden of Emporia received
some votes but it was announced that
under no circumstances would he ac-
cept the nomination. ]. T. Butler Of
Cottonwood Falls also was voted for.
The resolutions endorsed the Kansas
City and Wichita platforms and de-
nounced the anti-fusion law.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-07-29
TAKES HIS OWN LIFE.
AM. .Rothschild, an Uncle of H.
A.Auerbach, Commits Suicide.

Chicago July pa. NJ. Rothschild.
until two months ago the head of the :
State street department store, firm of
A. M. Rothschild & Co. committed sui
eide at his home, Thirty-seventh Court
and Michigan avenue, by shooting nlm-
self in the head, causing almost instant
death. Acute insomnia, which probably
caused temporary insanity, is said to be
responsible for the deed. Mr.. Roths-
child returned from a six weeks outing
in Minnesota, the past week and seemed
improved physically At no time. II Is
said, was his mental condition such as
to cause any apprehension that he con-
templated self destruction.
Shortly after luncheon Mr. Rothschiid
entered the bath room of one OF the
upper floors of his home and almost inn
mediately the servants heard the report
of a revolver. Rushing to the bath
room, they found the merchant lying
on the floor. A bullet wound in the fore
head showed what had happened. Mr.
Rothschild was still breathing. phy-
sician was summoned. but could be OF
no service.
Mr.. Rothschild retired from the man
agement of the big department store at
State and Van Buren streets about two
months ago on account of Ill health.
constitution ordinarily robust. had been
shattered in building the business since
it's opening seven years ago. InterestGm
with him and the principal owner Of -
store was Nelson Morris. his father-in-
law
Mr.. Rothschild was born In the little
German village of Nordsteeten, 81 years
ago. When a child of five years he
came to America and while in his teens
went to Davenport, Iowa With his two
brothers he established a general store.
| In 1875 he came to Chicago, and inn
N ediately began making reputation
| for himself organizing in 1895 the de-
| partment store which now bears his
| name Mr.. Rothschild was director
| of the Worlds fair, former director
| of the National Bank of the Republic
| and a member of the Standard, Wash
| ington Park and Hamilton clubs. He
leaves a widow and one son.
A. NJ Rothschild, the Chicago million
/ aire, was an uncle to H. A. Auerbach
| of the Palace Clothing company of To-
peka. Mr.. Auerbachs mother was a
| Rotnschild. Mr.. Rothschild married the
daughter Of Nelson Morris, the packer
| and Mr. Auerbach is distantly related
by marriages in the Rothschild family
to the Schwabs, Swifts and Armours.
Mr. Auerbach has been in New YORK
and Michigan and was to have returned
to Topeka tomorrow. His return WIN
be delayed.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-07-29
Lynch's Case Closes.

London. July 2s-The case of the gov
ernment against Col Arthur Lynch, who
was elected to represent Galway city in
the house of commons and who was ac-
cused of high treason, ended in police court
today and Lynch was renanded to give
his counsel opportunity to review the evil
dence. Among the last witnesses called
to identify Col. Lynch were George Creig.
an American. who was caretaker of a mine
near Johannesburg, and another American
named Wortkinston- Both these witnesses
testified that they were arrested by Beers
near vereniging. charged with being Brit
ish spies and that Col Lynch was public
prosecutor at their trial.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-07-29
SALOON KEEPER HELD.
Responsible for Damages Caused
by Whiskey He Sold.

st. Louis No., July 29-According to a
decision of the United States circuit court
of appeals, which affirmed the Judgment
for plaintiffs of the federal court of Ne
braska, a saloon keeper may be held
responsible for the death of a patron of
his place in the event that death occurs
from accident resulting from the in
ebriated condition of the patron. The suit
was filed by the widow and daughter of
Charles Walker against John Moser and
others, who were engaged in the saloon
business at Ashland, Neb. Plaintiffs
charge that Charles Walker on Feb. Z,
1900. drank irtoxicants to excess at Mo.
ser's saloon and in consequence was
thrown from a buggy and killed. YER
dict giving the plaintiffs damages was ap-
pealed.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-07-29
EARTH DISTURBED.
Shocks Felt at Various Points
in Nebraska.

Omaha, Neb., July 29-Reports today
from points in northern and western
Nebraska indicate that yesterdays
earthquake was more general than at
first reported and quite severe in some
places. At Oakdale buildings were
shaken perceptibly. and at Battle Creek
the disturbance lasted half a minute
Tilden, Norfolk, Creighton, Plain View
and Niligh report shocks lasting 20 sec
onds, and at Elgin, three distinct
uuakes were felt. At none of these
towns. however, was there any serious
damage, the breaking of windows and
dishes, and cracking of plaster being the
extent of the destruction.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-07-29
LOOK FOR HOT WEATHER.
Mr. Jennings Is Acting Rather Mys-
teriously.

Observer Jennings busted off his palm
leaf fan this morning and placed it on
his desk at the weather bureau Office.
This may be tip that there is to be
some genuine hot weather The sun
seems to have been q little hotter during
the past few days and it may be start
ing in on an attempt to break the sea-
sons record The forecast sent out this
morning was generally fair tonight
ard Wednesday, The wind this morn
ing was from the southeast, blowing
eight miles an hour. The n inimum
temperature for today was 6S. The
hourly Temperatures recorded by the
governme MT thermometer today were as
foJJrv-S-
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-07-29
ANARCHIST THREAT.
Commissioner Ware Receives
OminOus Letter.

United States Commissioner of Pen
sions, Eugene F. Ware of Topeka, is
threatened with the same fate which
President Mckinley met at the hands of
anarchists. Commissioner Ware receives
many strange and amusing letters.
Some are from lunatics, some from
people who are burdened with the hall
lucination that they are doing the world
a great service, and others from pension
claimants who believe they are being
treated unjustly.
A letter which Mr.. Ware particularly
prizes, and one which he will keep as a.
relic now hangs in his law office at the
Central National Bank Building. 1t is
written, or rather printed with pencil
on brown paper and purports to come
from anarchists. 1t was mailed on the
Fourth of July at the city of New York.
The letter reads:
United States.
Anarchist.
place of Meeting.
New York.
commissioner: You have been our
subject of debate for long time and
we have decided you are not fit for the
office you hold. You are heartless. You
take advantage of poor claimants be-
cause of your little brief authority. You
are contemplate and will be cut off
from the face of the earth. as better
men have been; as Mckinley, Garfield,
Lincoln.
1T is very quickly settled to give Mrs.
Mckinley $4,000, she that has plenty
without it, but a poor soldier or his
widow you hate to give a poor little
pension to. You continue to call for
evidence as an excuse not to give it.
You do not not consider it costs them
money and they have so little. How
can you be so despiseable and heart
less? We have men all over the world.
If you do not show little more feel
ing you will not have long to live. Our
society are willing to lose one man to
rid the world of such an unjust man
as you. If you do not treat poor claim
ants better your time is short.
"A Public Benefactor,
ANARCHIST
Another letter which Mr.. Ware has sent
home a relic is from man confined
in an asylum. Across the top of the lettsy
was number. the number of his claim
against the department. The number was
about the only sensible and Ineligible thing
ramblings of a wandering mind. The let
| ter began by saying: 1.-The battle was on
| 1864, 1866 1866 and here followed in jum-
| bled succession confused mass of dates
from 1929 to 1899.
The letter was given to a clerk to inves-
tigate and sure enough 1t was found that
| great many years before the man haC
been allowed pension of $12 per month
| and that he had never begun drawing the
money. He had a considerable amount OF
back pension due him and arrangements
| were at once taken to allow him the ben
! eft of his pension.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-07-29
A Million From Nome.

Seattle, Wash, July 29.-One million dol
lars in treasure was brought by the steam
ship Roanoke, which arrived from Nome
and St. Michael This in the largest ship
ment from the Nome. diggings this sea-
son.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-07-29
LIVERY STABLE BURNED.
Not in Use But Stored Vehicles
We're Destroyed.

A large stable at Sixth and Western
avenue, owned by a California woman
named Mrs. r. c. Rich, was totally de-
stroyed by fire at midnight last night,
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-07-29
Temperature Of Large Cities.

Chicago, July 29.-7 a. m. tempera-
tures: New York, "A; Boston. "A; Phil
adelphia and Washington, IS; Chicago.
20: Minneapolis. s.; Cincinnati and ST.
Louis. Y.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-07-29
Weather Indications.

Chicago, July 29.-Forecast for Kan
sas: Generally faix tonight and Wed
nesday; southerly Minds.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-07-29
causing loss of several thousand dol

lars.
Besides the building, which was in
sured for s., 400 there were quite num-
Der of carriages destroyed. The Hun
toon estate lost two hacks and band
wagon, Chas. Knowles lost a carriage
and H. Schlegel lost another. There
were no horses kept in the barn.
The fire was no doubt of incendiary
origin, and it had a big start before it
was discovered. When the department
reached the place, the big barn was
mass of flames. A small dwelling occu-
pied by a colored man next next door
was damaged to the extent of about
5000. The total loss was probably not
ness than 81, 800. The original cost of the
barn was about $1,000. but it is quite
old.
Before this fire had been hardly ex-
tinguished, an alarm came In from 1916
West Eighth, where a carpenter shop
owned and occupied by A. L. Lewis had
been set afire. This alarm was verbal
and the loss was not large.
At o'clock this morning. there was
a fire at Gilrs restaurant at 609 East
Fifth avenue, opposite the Santa Fe
depot. 1t started from a range, and
the damage was about $3.50.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-07-29

Greenleaf Sentinel: Governor Stanley
got off the train yesterday long enough
to shake hands with those at the depot.
all the small boys included. He was
on his way to the Stockton jubilee.
Stanley would be our next United
States senator If the choice was left to
Washington county.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-07-29

Charles A. Schnitzler, who was nomi-
mated for the legislature by the fusion
lists in Sedgwick county. has declined to
run.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-02-13
SURPRISE AT PICKING.
The Agreement May Veto Signing of
the Manchurian Treaty.

PEKING, Feb. 12.-The news of the sign
ing of the Anglo-Japan treaty of alliance
became known to a few diplomats here to-
day and was an absolute surprise The
treaty is regarded as the most important
movement made in far Eastern politics in
recent years. The Japanese Minister
Uchida visited Prince Ching. president of
the Foreign Office, and gave him copy of
the treaty. 1t is not doubted among the
diplomats here that the new alliance will
effectually veto the signing of the Manchu-
ria treaty.
The British minister, Sir Ernest M. Sa-
tow, the Japanese minister, Uchida. and
the United States minister, Mr.. Conger,
have recently been pressing Prince Ching
to postpone signing the Manchurian treaty,
and obtained a promise to defer so doing
until fresh representations could be made
which representations were made to-day in
the form of a copy of the Anglo-Japanese
treaty.
The Chinese officials who were informed
of the signing of the treaty expressed the
greatest satisfaction. They said British
prestige in the far East had been given a
tremendous advancement.
The United States minister, Mr.. Conger,
has obtained official assurances safeguard
ing the rights of the American Canton
Nankow railroad syndicate, which were
threatened by similar concessions to Bel
gians. Prince Ching. president of the For
eign Office, says that the concessions
granted by the government will not grant
anything prejudiciug American rights.