davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-05
SMOKE HID FIRE VICTIM.
Wido7c Lay Fe7o Feet from Man
Bent ON Rescue.

Mrs. Laura A Upton, sixty years old. a
wealthy widow, living at No. 124 West One
hundred-and-thir fatally burned
yesterday, dying in Harlem Hospital in the
evening. Mrs. Upton owned the five story fat
house in which she lived. and had considerable
property in the neighborhood- 1t had been her
habit to make repairs about the fiat. She lived
on the first floor with her niece, Miss Gilman.
Mrs. Upton went to fiat the fourth floor
in the morning to repair gas bracket. Miss
Gilman went to the cellar to turn off the gas.
After waiting some moments Mrs. Upton turned
on the gas and lighted match to see if the gas
had been turned off. The gas still turned
on. Ignited by the match, the flame which
leaped from the jet set fire to her hair.
Mrs Upton ran to a front window, and lean
ing out shouted Fire" AS her dress caught
fire. she ran back through the fiat, if to go
downstairs but fell exhausted in the hallway.
Mrs. George A Harker, who lives on the
fourth floor in the adjoining fiat, heard Mrs.
Uptons screams, and her husband ran over the
roof to ascertain the cause. Harker found the
fiat filed with smoke and the wainscoting burn
did not see Mrs. Upton lying on the floor He
put out the fire in the wainscoting with his coat,
and as he finished several men ran up the stairs,
shouting:
where's the woman"
Mrs. Upton was found on the floor, uncon-
scious only a few feet from where the vain
scoting had been burning.
from her body and her hair was entirely con-
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-05
CAPTAIN LENTZ EXONERATED.
Censured Only for Certifying to Coal
Voucher-Given Another Chance.

Albany, Dec 4.-Adjutant General Henry made
public tonight general order including the find
ings of the court of inquiry which investigated
charges made against Captain Charles 3. Lentz, Of
the 18th Separate Company. n. G. n. Y. Captain
Lentz was accused of converting to his Own use
certain articles in the company a,mory at Tona-
wanda. OF having coal sent to his own house at
State expense, and OF certifying local coal deal
ers bills for coal which had not been delivered at
the armory.
The court of inquiry, which consisted of Colonel
George c. Fox, 74th Regiment; Lieutenant Colonel
G. J. Haffa, 18th Regiment. and Judge Advocate
L. J. Babcock 4th Battalion. exonerates Captain
Lentz of the charge Of converting State property
10 his own and of receiving coal at State
pense but censures him for certifying the
truthful coal voucher The court expresses the
belief that Captain Lentz has had a lesson,
and that he should have an opportunity TO show
that he has profited by il. The order approves the
findings and dissolves the court.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-05
HEN BOARDS FAST EXPRESS TRAIN.
In Confusion AIghts on Platform and Rides
to Next Station.

East Orange n. j., Dec. 4 (SpeciaD.-A hen
had free ride on express train on the
Lackawanna Railroad this morning. boarding it
while it was running at the rate of about forty
miles an hour, and alighting at the next stop.
The train was moving west. and it passed
through East Orange the hen, after the manner
of her kind, became confused, hesitated and
then directly for the train, flying on TO the
platform between the last two cars. 1t aIghted
on the railing, its feathers very much ruffled
and its equanimity greatly upset. The train
sped on until Brick Church was reached. There
the hen hoped off and strutted with much
Cackling and ruffiing of feathers, down Ever
green Place, looking from side to side.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-05
TO STOP LAWS DELAY.
Commission Listens to TentatiUe
Measures-Justice Scott Objects.

The commission on laws delay met last night
at the Bar Association Justice Wheeler r.. Peck
ham presiding chairman Justice John j. Freed
man. OF the First Judicial District. quoted stats
tics TO support his contention that the great in
crease of commercial interests and population in
New-York had caused increase in lit
igation that could not be adequately handled by
the present number OF Supreme Court Justices. He
suggested that the trial be relieved OF all the
preliminary work that at present occupies much
time; that combinations adjournments for the
convenience of counsel be allowed; that appeals be
restricted and that techniealties be discouraged;
that frivolous and sham defences be speedily han
died with a view to getting Immediately to the evil
dence submitted. In regard TO appeals. Justice
Freedman stated that they might be regarded with
out the Of briefs. He characterized the prac-
tice of postponing the day of Judgment by delays
and the upsetting OF verdicts by exceptions as
reprehensible.
We need the cooperation of the justices to
make the reform success said he, and the
legislature should be persuaded to strengthen the
courts and to force speedy termination Of trials.
The tendency in New-York has been to
feeling less respect for the courts and feeling
of timidty the part OF the Judges themselves
j. Noble Hayes laid stress the statement
that on the jury trials calendar there were prac-
tcaIIy 10000 untried cases and the special trials
calendar 5000 cases. The first he asserted. had
capacity of 5000 cases year and the latter gu
cases.
The remedies proposed were then read to the
commission. They include the following
The approval OF the constitutional amendment To
increase the number of Supreme Court judges
A recommendation to increase the number or
Supreme Court justices from time to time. as
needed on a twO-thirds vote OF the legislature
A recommendation TO create a board or Supreme
Court commissioners a $4,000 salary to dispose
of trial cases, only when the parties TO the suit
agree to bring up the cases before that Judge
y recommendation to shorten the procedure In
of appeals.
Speedy disposal of sham defences by masters
through a special calendar.
ReversiOn Of small business from the Supreme TO
the city courts.
Addition of four judicial city courts
Amendment of the condemnation law the
bers of court to be appointed to handle these
cases.
Two more surrogate courts, making four in all,
to allow cases which are now placed before referees
to go before suTrOgates.
Establishment of a statistics bureau to publish
statistics annually.
Justice Scott, formerly Corporation Counsel of
New-Ycrk. spoke against increase in the
Der of justices in the Supreme Court. He declared
that when the calendar should be cleared and the
reforms instituted there would be nothing for any
extra judges to do.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-05
TO CONTINUE GAS FIGHT.
Board of Estimate ApproUes Report
Sustaining Colonel Monroe.

The report of committee consisting OF mayor
Low, Controller Grout and President Forhes was
presented yesterday at the meeting OF the boaru
of Estimate sustaining the decision or Coionel
Nfonroa that he should make no new contracts With
the Consolidated Gas Company. because Oh the hgh
rates charged by it, AS n result Oh thdt ae-
cison the gas company has been unable to collect
any of it's bills against the city for almost year.
but has continued 10 furnish the CITY Win gas DIT
the same price.
The report of the committee continuing to hold
up the gas bills approved by the board. and
further consideration of the subject was referred
to the Controller.
Harrison E. Cavity president of the Consol-
idated Gas Company. last night declined to com
ment the action of the Board of Estimate.
Their proceedings news to me- said he II
had not heard what they had done until now AS
to the future action Of the company, cannot
make any statement"
1t was learned from authoritative sources that
there is little probability of any immediate It'll
cation the part of the company With the APP
preaching change of administration, involving a
Tammany Commissioner of Water Supply Gas and
Electricity, in Commissioner Robert Grer Monroes
place the company believes that its bills will meet
with more favor. officials of the gas company re-
gard Commissioner Monroes attitude as Influenced
by his approval of a municipal lighting plant
which they declare to be impracticable.
The board tabled the plan for park on the site
of the Lung Block in Cherry-st, Controller
Grout saying that Borough President-elect Ahearn
opposed to the plan, and that if the present
board approved it, the Tammany administration
might refuse to approve the condemnation proceed
ings necessary to acquire the property:
MIR. Cantor succeeded in getting the board 10 ap-
pToprate 81 $50 90 for the completion of the eX-
tension of Riverside Drive from One-hundred-and
thirty-ffth-st. to One-hUEdred-a ty-hItn-SL
The board agreed to the New-Hork Centrals ac-
quirement of the orphan asylum property IN
Forty-ninth-st. for its improvements for $3OjVJ0,
of which the city is receive $4,000 and the asyI
lum $250000 The board also agreed to the proposed
overhead crossing at FOTdham Heights and the
grade crossing at Kingsbrdge inludlng new
drawbridge.
David Welsh, counsel for owners Of property
a hearing on a plan to have the board authorize
the opening of the ground now known as tne
American League Baseball Park At Mayor Low
suggestion it was decided and agreed to by Mr..
Welsh to let the SUBJECT go over to the Tamnany
administration. Mr.. Welsh expressed commences
that the plan would go through then
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-05
REPORT ABOUT MIR. STORER DOUBTED
Father Lavelle Disinclined to Believe That
He Acted in Cardinal Question.

Father Lavee is sceptical to yesterdays re-
port from Rome that Ambassador Storers con-
ference with the Pope either directly in
directly for the purpose of representing TO the
Holy See the advisability of nominating another
American cardinal
1T is improbable said Father Lavelle to a
Tribune reporter yesterday. that a man of Mr..
Storer's essentially non-partisan character if a
Catholic by faith, has been selected for such a
mission. Besides. President Roosevelt. when. on
former occasions asked 10 intercede in Catholic
questions. has rightly again and again declined to
interfere.
LAS to the that the Holy Father will
choose Archbishop Farley, I have really heard
nothing of it.
1T is eighteen years since Cardinal McClusky
appointed for the reason that New-YOrk was
the biggest Cardinal Gibbons appointed
because Baltimore was the oldest As TO the
motive that might dictate the creation of the
American cardinal, over here possess only
theoretical knowledge 1t is possible that the next
cardinal may be given for encourage TO a city
which has far received recognition It may
be that it viii be given in some city of the great
and growing West
'Of course it is possible that Mr. Storer men
toned the matter incidentally 10 the Holy Father
in the course of his visit. If MOnsignOr Farley is
TO be elected. have not beard of IL. however much
l might personally wish this fact
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-05
A FEW THINGS THE BRONX WANTS

The Twenty-third Ward Property Owners As
ISOLATION, at its regular meeting last night in
Protection Hall, One-hundred- and -ffty-second-st
and Courtand-ave., received and adopted the an
nual report Of its executive committee Of which
Charles Baxter is chairman. The report made
several recommendations looking to changes in
the Tenement House law. suggested that the con-
troll of street cleaning be given to the Borough
Presidents, asked that the Department of Water
Supply erect a pumping station in some part Of
the Borough Of The Bronx to provide for districts
which are suffering from lack of proper water
facilities and advocated amendment to the
charter in such way as TO provide for a per-
manent board of appraisers for condemnation pro
ceedingS in each borough, II also asks that the
Board Of Aldermen forbid the Fire Departrnart
or any other department. to issue permits TO any
railroad to store explosive oils other dangerOus
combuSti5les above ground. or in yards or any
where except in treproof buildings
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-05
BRINGS JOY TO TAMMANY.
Thirty Deputy Tao Commissioner
ships ont of Competitive Class.

Great 10y has been brought to Tammany Hall by
the decision of the Court of Appeals HANDED down
on Thursday which places out OF the protected
Civil Service class thirty deputy tax commissioner
ships in the five boroughs. All men holding such
places who are not properly accredited orsahlZd-
ton men are looking forward to the swift BLOW OF
the official axe the Mcclellan aolnihls-
tration gets firmly in the saddle.
The decision. which was signed by the ehtlre
bench of the Court OF Appeals, was In the case OF
Michael Ryan. a deputy tax commissioner VINO
was removed from the Brooklyn Tax Ofice because
of an alleged tri1ing error in his accounts Ryan,
who is a Democrat, applied for reinstatement on
the ground that he protected by Civil service
and was entitled to hearing. The court holds
that the place is strictly confidential one 1t
holds Appellate Division was not justified
in deciding that only such deputy tax commission
ers as bore confidential relations to the Tax Com
missioner could be placed in the category Of con-
hdential deputies of all kinds exempted from
the operation the Civil Service regulations The
court declares that Ryan not entitled to
hearing charges. and, therefore certiorari pro-
ceedings TO review his removal would not lie
There are thirteen deputy tax commissioners In
Manhattan ten in Brooklyn, seven in The Bronx
and four each in Richmond and Queens. Most OF
those In Brooklyn old time Democratic incum-
bents of the office but there several whose po-
ltical heads are likely to come off,
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-05
GAS REVEALS HER DEATH.
WOman artist Found Beside FILLED
Bathtub-Heater Leaked.

Miss Virginia l.. Thornton, artist, twenty
eight years old, who lived in nicely furnished
suite of rooms in an apartment house at No
90 East Sixteenth-st, was found dead in the
bathroom of her apartment shortly before mid
night by Ernest Philblatt tie jaritor.
Several of the other tenants of the house COM
planned to Philblatt of a smell of gas. and he
traced it to Miss ThorntOn's rooms. He received
no response to his knock and forced the door,
finding the woman the floor of the bathroom
dressed only in an undergarment. The gas
which had alarmed the others had escaped from
a heater, end of which was burning. The
bathtub, beside which the body was lying, was
full of water.
Policeman Bose. of the West Thirtieth-st. sta
ton, was called, and he sent an ambulance call TO
the New-York Hospital, which was answered by
Dr. Reid. The doctor said, after an examination,
that the girl had been dead only a few min
uteS.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-05
DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL TO WE'D.
William H Wood, of Albany, to Marry Law
Reporter Whom He Met in Court

The engagement was announced yesterday ot
Miss Harriette Milliman Johnson. a graduate OF
the woman's law class New-YOrk University. a.
to Deputy Attorney General William H Wood OF
Albany. Miss Johnson has been a law reporter.
with Offices at No. 20 Broadway. Her first meet
ing with Mr.. Wood occurred in courts. when he
was arguing case and she was reporting II.
Miss Johnson, it became known yesterday. has
been engaged to the Deputy Attorney General for
more than year. although the engagement
kept secret until day or two ago. when the
nouncement was preciPitated by persistent in
quiries TO the reason for her surrendering hsr
Broadway Office
Miss Johnson is daughter OF Rufus Willard
Johnson and Mary Matthews. and Is a descendant
of Sir William Johnson. Miss JOhnSOn's home -
still at Seneca Lake. where Sir William lived
The marriage will take place at Grace Church on
December 3. Dr. HuntingLOn Is 20 Oficiata.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-05
DOG ADOPTS MoTHERLEss KITTENS.
Mysteriously Appears When Cat Is Killed in
Jersey City.

When James Johnson, of No. 10 Jefferson-st.,
Jersey City, went to work yesterday he found
his pet cat, Tabby, lying dead in the street.
She had been run over by a milk wagon. He
was greatly concerned for the fate of six three
day-old kittens Tabby had left in the woodshed.
At noon, when he returned to dinner he told
his wife she had better take the kittens into the
house and feed them with a spoon but when
she went to the shed she was surprised to find
the kittens already provided with a foster
mother, a stray mongreI dog. The kittens did
not seem to know the difference between the
dog and their natural mother.
The strange part of the affair is that Mr..
Johnson not able TO learn where the dog
came from, could he learn the fate of the
puppies that she had apparently lost or aban-
doned. Mr. Johnson questioned all the boys
living in the neighborhOod, but none of them had
ever seen the dog before.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-05
SAYS REMEDY IS IN ENFORCING Law.
Gen. Greene Says Published Number Of
Deaths Caused by Traffic Is Incorrect.

Police Commissioner Greene yesterday gave out a
list of the deaths in the city streets in the year 1872
and said that the list published estimating the
number at 535 people was Incorrect. From the
ports of the Health Department the Commissioner
had found that only $50 people had been killed OF
these. 172 had been killed by surface Trucks
and wagons had been responsible for the deaths OF
146 automobiles for 3. bicycles for and runaway
horses for Z
He also gave out a list of the number OF people
arrested for exceeding the speed laws. with all
classes of vehicles, from May 1 10 November g.
There were 30 arrests of this sort One hundred
and two were discharged and IS were held OF the
1873 held the magistrates fined A. Special Sessions
justices fined "a. were freed suspended sen
fences and y cases are still pending. The fines
from the city magistrates aggregated S75. SO is
the maximum fine allowed. The Special Sessions
justices. who fine up to so. aggregated 81 30
in their fines making total CT S1.4SG
I deduce from these figures" said the Commits
siOner. the necessity of more rigid enforcement
of the speed laws, and that more adequate punish
Incnt should be given. If this were done Jhera
would be many fewer fatalities
The Commissioner said he had thought the grant
ing OF licenses for all classes of vehicles should Be
converted to the Police Department instead OF the
Mayors Marshal. He thought the appointment OF
a commissioner of street traffic would be unwiss.
An inspector OF police should be placed in charge
OF street traffic in his opinion
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-05
WANTS TWO MOTORMEN IN TRAINS
Jury Thinks Man Driving Train in Brooklyn
Accident Was Stricken Beforehand.

At the close of the Coroner's inquest into the
death of John Cahiu and John ]. CahiII motorman
and conductor of the Fifth-ave. elevator motor
train of the Brooklyn Rapid Transit COMPANY
which resulted from the collision of that train with
one preceding, at Fifth-ave. and Thirtieth-st, on
November 10. the jury last night brought in a YER
dict stating that they believed that Cahil. the
motorman. stricken before the collision and
recommended that in the future two men be in the
cabs OF all motor trains.
The inquest was held before Coroner FIaherty. in
the Borough Hail. All the witnesses were EMPLOYEES
of the railroad company. 1t was agreed that the
red tSil lights were properly burning on the first
train at the time Several employees testified and
the burden OF IT all seemed to point to the cOnclu-
sion reached by the Jury.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-05
BIG FIRE WORRIED SCHENECTADY.
No Water Except That Drawn from the
Canal with Two Engines.

Schenectady, y Y, Dec. 4-The freight house and
sheds OF the New-York Central Railroad Company
in this city were burned this morning. with
great quantity OF freight. The loss IS roughly es-
timated at $4,000 The only means the ere De
partment had Of fighting the fire was with Ws'er
obtained from the Erie Canal with two hTe eDslAes
The citv has been without d drop OF water II Us
mains since O'Clock yesterday morning on Ae
count of a breakdown at the pumplns s'>l-o 1.
which disabled both pumps and smut OF 'nS 0l''
supply. -.
The fire was first seen at 1850 CLOCK anu s'a -.
ed I'm a pile OF waste near stove n ne ss,s
shed Within fifteen minutes the ualiiSS - S,,fa-
through the shed. which Is between ne w." vs~a
ines where the Office force works me sL0 80. fonx
piled up high with merchandise as Wei a. 80 ,sy
platforms outside. Fifty cars were puI'0'' 49,
before they were damaged. ard
The Fire Department responded protnpsSi ,'id-
simply devoted its efforts 20 savins aG1ollSs
ings The flames swept across John-s1 anu 80 -. INN
ened a long line OF tenement houses aLS el-lOsrslv
Der yard OF y Van NoaSt & Son; % Isss@Sring
there was wind After two hours kafu ~sa 1ToySr
the flames had burned out sufficiently 20 -' On
the fremen 10 turn the two streams o. N@'0-
the fire, and IL under cOntroL s.-,.s
on August the city had similar eNES ~ 49,,
The water turned OF 70 make repairs ~ -
pumping station, and seven houses III E"
daSfF
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-05
CLEVELAND WOMAN OUT OF BELLEVUE
Sister Gets Release of Patient Who Gave
Name of Mrs. E. K. Stallo as Friend.

Miss Julia Kicks young woman Who was taken
to the psychopathic ward at Bellevue Hospital
on Sunday night from the Hotel Navarro, suffering
from hysteria. discharged yesterday on the re-
quest of her sister, Miss Alma Kicks, of Cleveland
who came on here when she heard of her sisters
difficulty, and who signed a contract assuming re-
sponsbility for her After Miss Kicks had left the
ward she made a disturbance in the hospital recep-
ton room, declaring that DR.. Stomach, who exam
ined her when she was brought to the hospital and
who diagnosed her hysteria, was responsible
for the '.notoriety" which had been given her.
Dr. Stomach had nothing whatever 10 do with the
reports of the case but Miss Kicks insisted that he
inspired the stories about her 1T is none of his
business she said, whether I'm worth 81 or
million" When record of her case was taken
upon her entrance to the hospital she gave as her
hest friend Mrs E X. StallO, the divorced wife OF
Dan r. Hanna. 1t is said that she is member of
a we'll known Cleveland family
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-05
GRAND JURY UpHoLDS VAN IDERsTINE
Sustains Him in Assertion That Sugar Com
pany Uses Unmetered Water.

In its presentment handed in yesterday the No
vernber grand jury. in Kings County, sustains
Deputy Water Commissioner Van Iderstine in his
assertion that in the last four hve years the
American Sugar Refining Company has been re-
ceiving through unmetered pipes about 800 900
gallons of water day The grand jury recon-
mends that the Law Department at once proceed
TO bring civil action against the company TO re-
cover the value OF the water estimated $525 COO
or such portion of 1t as is not covered by the
statute of limitations. The presentment included
a number OF maps and data that had been fur
nished by the Water Department and which the
grand jury found 10 be correct on examination
il is said that there is no law under which n
person may be indicted for dtvertine water from
the mains of municipality without paying for the
- N'-0