The San Francisco call., 1903-12-02
HOLDS
HUMAN FINGER
Grim Joke Perpetrated
Upon General Bell
Of Colorado.
Officer Will Attemps to
Bring Humorists to
Justice.

AEAAuA lAC Tic AOAAOH ll6 lClAClg NldPpCN
around a human finger:
General Believe send you the
finger OF. a man who disappeared from
Telluride some time ago. His ears will
follow and then his head. If his friends
want 10 see him again in any other
way but the way we send him you
have got to do the right thing. We
only want you to withdraw the troops
from Telluride at once. If you don't
you viii receive his ears in few days.
Don't try 10 find US, for it isn't in the
power of a tin soldier to do 1t.
"(Signed) S. N"
physician who examined the finger
pronounced it the ring finger from the
right hand and said it was evidently
cut off shortly before the letter was
mailed. as the bloodstains on the let
ter bore evidences of being. fresh and
the blood on the finger was hardly dry.
1t developed tonight that. the finger
came from the Office of local surgeon
and 1t is charged that 1t was sent. to
General Bell as a joke by certain news
paper reporters. Bell tonight issued a
statement in which he declared that he
had placed the matter in the hands of
the postal authorities and that no ef
fort would be spared to secure the ap-
prehension and punishment Of the per-
sons responsible for the hoax.
WILL APPEAL TO COURTS.
The executive board Of the Western
Federation Of Miners, in session in this
city to-day, sent the following telegram
TO Guy E. Miller, president of the Tellu-
ride CColo) Miners Union:
Advise all men who were ordered to
leave town as result OF alleged va
grancy trials TO remain in: Telluride.
The Justice of the Peace nor any other
Official Of county or State can compel
persons to leave any place where they
choose TO live, The constitution OF the
United States concerning Givil rights
makes it unlawful for officers to deny
those rights. Howe. Rutan and others
are subject TO the United States courts.
and the law win be duly invoked. You
are assured Of the hearty support Of the
Western Federation of Miners"
John Mitchell, president Of the United
Mine Workers of America, Will be in
Trinidad tomorrow to confer with the
district union officials. It is believed
that he will renew the attempt to OBJ
tain a personal conference with the
managers Of the Colorado Fuel and
Iron and the Victor Fuel companies,
which have repeatedly refused to meet
any representative of the union.
The price Of northern coal in Den
yer has been raised from 81 % to $5
per ton. The mine owners explain
that the advance is made necessary
by conceding the eight-hour day to
the miners.
NOT INCENDLARY LETTERS.
Governor Peabody has decided. af-
ter perusing the letters written by
Secretary Haywood of the Western
Federation Of Miners. which Ad1u-
tant General Sherman NJ. Bell declar-
ed to be "incendiary and incriminat-
ing" that there is nothing in them to
cause any alarm. The letters are as
follows:
Denver. Nov 20, 1903. %: NJ. Car
penter, Telluride, Colo: 4 see that
the Citizens Alliance in Telluride is
doing everything that 1t possibly can
to urge the Governor to send troops
TO that locality. 1t is reported that he
has appealed to President Roosevelt
for the regulars, but has been turned
down. I hope that this is SO, because
If we must have troops there at all
IL would be much better for us to have
the tin soldiers. They are not used
to a hard campaign and it will have
an equal result. In disrupting the
State militia.
II think 1t would be well to forward
statement you mention. with itemized
bills; so that the same can be present
ed to the executive board at the next
meeting; also summary Of the num-
Der of men that are on strike, the
number that are drawing relief and
any other information that you be-
lieye will be of interest. Advise a few
days ahead when you need funds.
Yours fraternally,
WILLIAM D. HAYWOOD,
Secretary Treasurer"
20. NJ. Carpenter, Telluride. Colo:
BY the time this reaches you the
troops will be with you. Any one
prominent in the troubles of 1901 had
better leave town, for the Citizens AL
lance, backed by the executive, will
carry things with high hand.
sFWTIIAM D. HAYWOOD