davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The independent., 1905-08-03
LITTLE CRIMINALS IN ENGLAND

In the United States the big criminal to
,ften goes unwhipped of justice, while the littl
criminal frequently suffers severe penalty. Tha
conditions are not altogether dissimilar in Ed
and is evidenced by the following comment i
2eynoldss Newspaper of London
It is surprising that the conduct of the
practicing barrister, Sir Ralph Littler, who
presides at the Middlesex Sessions, has not
before now been made the subject of debate
in the house of commons. The sentences
passed by this person at the last sessions
few days ago. are simply incredible. Littler,
who makes some G15000 a year at the bar,
is apparently horrified at the notion of any
body appropriating few pence worth of
others goods. Thus, for pound of bacon,
valued at Id, man got five years penal
servitude, followed by five years police SUI
pervisiOn His colleague, Mr.. Montague
Sharp sentenced painter to penal servi-
tude for three years for receiving two planes,
which had been stolen. Sharp said he con-
sidered the prisoner useless fellow, where
upon the prisoner replied, Il class myself as
good as you." 1t is not case in which we
are called upon to give an opinion one way
or the other. Another man who had stolen
five fowls received five years. penal servi-
tude, and plumber 62 years of age was
sentenced to fourteen years penal servitude
for stealing articles Of the value of Is. For
half a crow three years penal servitude
were given, and three years for 12s. Now,
in our opinion, man who gives such afro
cious sentences is absolutely unfit to be on
the judicial bench. 1t is true that these per-
sons had been previously convicted but in
most cases for very trivial offenses We
would recommend to Littler the saying of the
great German, Goethe, that he "looked into
his own heart, and found there was no crime
he might not have committed" But really
the persons most nearly responsible are the
Tory Middlesex magistrates, who go on elect
ing Littler, year by year, as their chairman.
The independent., 1905-08-03
DISASTER TO THE BENNINGTON

The disaster to the light cruiser Bennington,
which cost the lives of eighty American sea-
men and marines, has brought to light the fact
that the vessels boilers were known by the navy
department to be in wretched condition Secre-
tary Bonaparte promises thorough investiga-
tion and declares that there snail be neither
whitewash nor a scapegoat. The New York
World says:
1t also appears that the Bennington, un-
der the system established after the war
with Spain had only one officer on engineer
ing duty, an ensign assigned to the work
six months ago. Officials in the navy de-
partment must also have known that he had
The independent., 1905-08-03
sPEcIous RAILWAY PRETENsE

The Record, of Osceola, Neb., after pointin
Dut the hypocritical pretenses of the railway off
cials with regard to free transportation, has thi
% say:
Anybody with ordinary reasonable power
will readily see that if the pass grab, which
the alleged lobby makes on the railroads. is
odious to the companies, those companies are
in position to turn down the applications and
stop the whole business. They need not per-
petuate the system for a single day unless
they wish and they would not permit it's ex-
istence If they did not believe that it re-
bounds to their interest. But instead of cur
failing the pass business, the companies are
permitting its extension and the placing Of
free transportation in the hands OF every man
who can be of service to them 1t is not need
full that the railroad issue passes to public
servants. The state pays their way where
1t authorizes them to go and the pass is not
factor in the case. The pass is a contami-
mating usurper whose baneful mission is to
stand between the people and their govern
ment and it is doing it. Senator" Soren-
son is entirely out of tune with the people Of
Nebraska if he imagines that proposition to
further enlarge the already bioated power of
the pass will grow very luxuriantly in the
soil Of this old state. Better take in a little
sail, senator"
The independent., 1905-08-03

The Omaha World-Herald, however, thinks
that dishonest legislators frequently demand
passes under threats of blackmail:
In a nutshell, the railroads. having first
used the pass as 'persuader" to secure
legislation they wanted, have next found 1t
necessary to use it to prevent legislation
they did not want. In other words, the de-
mand for pass may be sort of polite black
mail just as the voluntary bestOwal of a
pass may be intended as polite bribe.
It is probable that many passes are given
in payment of what virtually amounts to
blackmail are given freely and as an act
OF mere courtesy.
This argument has always been relied upon
by the railways to defeat antipass legislation.
The fact that the railways are eager to retain
q system by which they can circulate passes
among public officials for purposes of bribery
makes it clear that there is little OF nothing to
the blackmail argument If IS is demanded
under threat of hostile legislation it is such evil
dent blackmail and so easily be proved and
punished that the lobbyist turns down" the
infrequent blackmailing pass-beggar without hes
tation or fear. Adverse legislation intended to
blackmail is usually introduced for the purpose
securing much larger prize than pass. Such
legislation is not an open, but rather, a secret
demand for blackmail and has nothing in COM
mon with pass-giving or pass-taking, nor are
those who introduce such legislation ever bought
OF with pass. Generally such legislation is in
troduced to secure some concessions from the
railways. Blackmail is never, while bribery is
almost always, polite" Therefore passes are
used in bribery and are infrequently demanded
by blackmaiers, and if they are ever demanded
are rarely given
If law against soliciting free Transports
tion passed individual would dare to
risk asking railway official for a pass under
threat of adverse legislation. The railway off,
cials would have the blackmaier behind
the bars. On the other hand the railway COM
panies would undertake to discredit or even to
defy the anti-pass law. Such is the difference
between the big criminal and the little criminal
In Wisconsin the railways are now seeking to dis
credit the law by refusing to give passes to those
who permitted by the law to receive passes,
and are threatening to defy the law by giving to
The independent., 1905-08-03
YELLOW FEVER AT NEW ORLEANS

The appearance of yellow fever at New Or
leans unexpected. Science is coping with
the dread disease as never before, and hopes are
entertained that the epidemic may be held in
check and soon destroyed:
The people Of New Orleans have acted
wisely in raising fund of over $4,000 to
fight the sporadic outbreak of yellow fever in
the CITY, With this fund and the vigorous
action taken by the authorities it ought to
be possible to confine the disease within it's
present bounds and stamp it out for this sea-
son. But while doing this it would be well
for New Orleans to take steps to insure the
city's safety from this disease for many years,
if not for all time. Stamp it out entirely by
making the conditions unfavorable for it's
propagation and spread-St. Louis Post
Dispatch.
The independent., 1905-08-03

There is great deal of mosquito breed
ing territory in and around New Orleans, and
the campaign against the pests will be an
arduous one. A recent report of the agricul-
tural department detailing the losses of far
mers through insects speaks discouragingly
of the prospect of gaining a victory over
them. Man can exterminate elephants, lions,
or buffaloes, if he set his mind to it,
but the tiny creatures of earth which repro
duce their kind in enormous numbers are apt
to be too much for him. The battle in New
Orleans between man and the mosquito will
be followed with interest by Americans,
whether they live within or without the yel-
low fever belt. All hope that man may
win.-Chicago Tribune.
1t has been impossible in the past to in
terest our people in this petty, troublesome
and dangerous insect For nearly three years
Dr. Kohnke has preached on this subject, but
he proved a Cassandra. The Times-Demo-
crat equally failed to arouse the popular in
terest by dozen or more articles and even
the several womens clubs, which pledged
their assistance to carry on campaign of
education and arouse the people to the i'm
portance of getting rid of this danger met
with comparatively little success. The great
mass of the people refused to believe re-
fused to investigate or even to listen to
discussion of the question. The council re-
jected an ordinance which proposed to pro-
tect New Orleans from ito swarms Of mos
Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1905-07-20
AN AWFUL DISASTER,
Explosion in a Welsh Mine Kills Over
100 Men-Sixty- Eight Bodies
Recovered

Cardiff, Wales, July IAN explo-
sion Of fire damp in No. pit of the Unit
ed National Colliery company at Watts
town, in the Rhondda valley the CEN
ter of the great Welsh coal fields, Tues
day morning, is believed to have re-
suited in the loss of at least 120 lives.
Sixty-eight bodies have been recovered
The explosion was followed Immediate
ly by the belching of clouds of smoke
and dust from the pit shaft, in which
$50 men were working. The force of the
explosion wrecked the machinery at the
mouth of the pit. All communication
with the doomed men in this direction
is completely cut off, No shaft, ad-
joining, has ordinarily afforded COM
sunication with No2. The 800 men in
No. l and the few who escaped from No.
2, were drawn up. A rescue party de-
scended, but it's work was seriously i'm
peded by the foul air and the falling
masses Of earth dislodged by the explo-
sion. Heroic efforts have been made
for hours to reach the entombed men,
but the absence of all sound from the
interior Of the mine told the tale of the
worst disaster that has taken place in
South Wales since 1894.
Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1905-07-20
"JOINTS" BLOWN UP.
Three Liquor Dealers Put Out of Busi-
ness by Dynamite at
lola, Kan. ~

lola, Kan, July 1.-With tremen-
dous explosions that shook the coun-
try for miles around, three liquor
"joints' that had been run openly in
violation of the Kansas prohibition
law we're blown up Monday in this
town. The immense charges Of dyna-
mite used to destroy the whisky dens
damaged several other places Of bust
ness, causing altogether a loss of
100000. J. e. Thorpe, owner of one
of the wrecked 'joints,'' was injured
in the explosions The Joint" keepers
blame the temperance reformers for
the wrecking of their places of bust
ness, but have no tangible evidence yet
on which to base their assertions. Not
since the days of Carrie Nations
smashing expeditions have the people
of Kansas been so wrought up over the
violations of the prohibition law as at
present. The three Joints" that were
blown up in lola had been running for
a long time and Gov. Hoch had been
petitioned to close them.
Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1905-07-20
OHIO BANK FAILS.
Action Causes Great Excitement as
Practically All of Towns
Funds Are Tied Up.

Springfield, O., July 14.-The Citi-
zens' bank of Yellow Springs, a private
institution, failed to open its doors
Thursday morning. There had not been
the slightest intimation that the bank
was in trouble. The bank was private
institution, and, in the absence Of any
statement, is thought to owe depos-
itors between $40 900 and $50, 900. 1t has
always been regarded as safe institu-
ton. Its president, J. F. Stewart, S. S.
Pickett, the cashier, and the latter's
wife, Mrs. L. W. Pickett, are the own
ers. 1t had the village and school board
funds, practically all the lodge and
church money and nearly all the indi-
vidual deposits in the village. Business
has practically been suspended in the
town and there is great excitement. It
is thought that the notice was put up
about midnight.
Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1905-07-20
DUE TO OPEN SWITCH.
Trains Collide Near Steger, ILL.,
Two Lives Lost-Disaster
in Iowa.

Chicago, July 15.-Three persons are
known to be dead and II or more in
jured as the result of wreck on the
Chicago & Eastern Illinois railroad. A
special train crashed into a suburban
train at Steiger, ILL.,, early Friday. The
accident was caused by facing
SWITCH" one similar to that which
caused the wreck of the Lake Shore &
Michigan Southern train near Cleveland
recently. The switch was open, either
through accident or design. The dead
are: James Lyke. Chicago, engineer Of
suburban train; George Epstein, Chi
cago Heights; Charles Horn, Crete,
clerk employed in Chicago post Office.
Both trains neared the station at
Steiger at the same time. The special
was running 80 miles an hour, while
the other. was just drawing up to the
station Suddenly the engine Of the
st. Louis train left the north-bound
track and dashed across switch and
into the suburban train on the palallel
rails. Two of the heavy cars on the
St. Louis train left the tracks.
Marshalltown. a., July 15.-Three men
were killed and two probably IA
tally injured Friday in a freight wreck
on the Iowa Central railroad, near
Richland, a. The dead are: Jesse
Long, engineer; William West. fireman,
Samuel Woolsey, brakeman. The in
jured Engineer c. H. Williams and
w. L. Mcmahon, fireman. A car of oil
took fire, the tank exploded and burned
the bodies of the killed to crisp.
Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1905-07-20
HEAVY FAILURE.
Cotton Oil Company in South Caro-
lima Bankrupt with Liabil-
tiles Of $500, 900. -

Charleston, S. c., July 13-Represen-
tatives of the bankrupt Independent
Cotton Oil company met In Charleston
Wednesday and appointed July 16 at
Darlington for q meeting Of creditors.
1t is now estimated that liabilities will
reach $500, 900, and the principal assets
are a number of mills and ginneries
which might not bring one-third of
that amount on the block. Charleston
is said to have lost about $685. 900 in
the failure. 1t is fully expected that
the entire stock issue Of 81, 900, 900 will
ing and banks have been hard hit in
many eastern and well as southern
cities. ....... .ss s.a... .sts
Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1905-07-20
CONGRESS TO MEET.
Session Are Settled by the
President.

Chicago, July 14.-Walter Wellman,
in a special to the Record Herald, dat
ed Oyster Bay, says: Congress is to be
called to meet in extraordinary session
November 10 next to take up railway
rate legislation. The decision of Pres
ident Roosevelt to this effect is fixed
and final. Various reports concerning
his intentions have been in circulation
for several months, ranging all the way
from special congressional session
early in October to no special session
at all and with every rate legislation
plan put over to the regular session of
December. But now the matter is set
tled-the national legislature is to be
summoned to assemble month before
the ordinary date of it's converting.
Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1905-07-20
Cant Fix the Blame.

Cleveland, o., July 15.-All hope of
discovering the cause OF the recent
wreck on the Lake Shore railroad at
Mentor, in which 81 lives were lost,
has been given up by Coroner Siegel-
stein and the other officials who have
been assisting at the inquest Coroner
York, of Lake county. adjoining this
county, in which the wreck occurred,
has not yet returned any finding. Both
coroners expect to call q few more wit
nesses, but have only few hopes Of
discovering any further facts.
Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1905-07-20
TO PROBE MORE CHARGES.
Statement That Tobacco Statistics
Had Been Manipulated Causes
Investigation.

Washington, July 15.-Through the
receipt of numerous communications
from the south and statements ap-
pearing in the press at various times
that the statistics of the department
of agriculture on tobacco were being
manipulated in the interests of the So
called tobacco trust, Secretary Wilson
has begun an inquiry into the subject.
Pending the investigation the publica-
ton of the tobacco statistics of the
several districts will be held up.
Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1905-07-20
Died at Ripe Old Age.

Boston, July 15.-Benjamin Webb
Williams, who generation ago was q
pioneer in conducting lecturing tours
in the United States, died at his home
in Dorchester Thursday. He was 81
years old. Among those who appeared
under Mr.. Williams management were
Henry Ward Beecher, Horace Greeley,
John B. Cough, Ralph Waldo Emerson,
Wendell Phillips and George William
Curtis
Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1905-07-20
Death Of a Veteran.

Portage, Wis, July 13.-Maj. S. S.
lockwood, aged 81 years, died at his
home in this city Wednesday. He
served with Gen. Custer in the Texas
campaign and was mustered out in
1865. Maj. lockwood was prominent
in educational circles He was chief
clerk in the department of agriculture
under Secretary jeremiah Rusk. For
the past ten years he was secretary of
the board of regents of normal schools
in Wisconsin.
Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1905-07-20
Disaster on the Hudson,

New York, July 13.-Three lives were
lost by the sinking of the steam yacht
Normandie, which was run down Tues
day night in the Hudson river of Dobbs
Ferry, by the Norwegian tramp steam
er Volund. Those who persisted were
Miss Gladys Dodge, of New York, guest
aboard the yacht; the captain, William
Storm, of Hyde Park, N. Y, and the en-
gineer, Graeme Oracle, of Brooklyn.
Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1905-07-20
Ex-Goy Yates Robbed.

Springfield, ILL.,, July 15.-Etorts Of
the police to locate paroled negro con-
vict named Arthur Grooves, alias Henry
Williams, has brought to light the fact
that Groves recently stole 5000 worth
of jewelry from the residence Of former
Gov. Richard Yates Groves had been
paroled from the Pontiac reformatory
through the influence Of the former ex-
,ecutive, and was employed as servant
in the home Of his benefaotor, when he
made away with the jewelry.
Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1905-07-20
AsSAsSINATEc.
Prefect of Police Slain in Moscow
While Receiving Pet1tion-As-
sassin Arrested.

Moscow, July 12:-Maj. Gen. Count
Shouvaloff, project of police here, and
formerly attached to the ministry OF
the interior, was assassinated Tuesday
morning while receiving petitions. One
of the petitioners drew revolver
and fired five times at the project
who fell dead The assassin was al.
rested.
st. Petersburg, July pa few de-
tails of the assassination of Chief of
Police Shouvaloff, of Moscow, have
reached this city. They show that the
murder was carried out in the boldest
manner. Itappears that numerous COM
plants had been made against the
harsh measures adopted after the assas-
sination in Moscow Of Grand Duke Ser
gus, and Gen. Shouvaloff set day on
which to receive Populations and petit
lions for the mitigation of seventies.
A crowd assembled at the time appoint
ed for presenting these petitions. 1t was
formed in line and passed by the project,
each petitioner handing him his written
pea or making an oral appeal. The as
s32sslfi Presented his petition, and then
in an instant drew his revolver and
fired. The shots caused a panic, but the
detectives seized the murderer and hur7
ried him to dungeon. So far little in
formation has been CLEANED concerning
him. 1t is believed he is an agent ofahe
revolutionary party.
Tho 60 L., l.
purely political crime, as the count
was not yet 40 years old, and was re-
garded as being of the best type of the
Russian official. He came from one of
the most famous families in Russia
Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1905-07-20
Prosecution Nav Follow.

Washington. July 12.-Secretary Will
son Tuesday turned over to the attorney
general all the papers in connection
with the cotton leak investigation. 1t
is intimated that this is done with the
expectation that prosecution Of the sew
eral persons mentioned in the report OF
the secret service officers will follow.
Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1905-07-20
Miners Will Be Paid.

Topeka, Kan, July 14.-From infor-
nation received here by Cyrus Leland,
receiver in bankruptcy for c. j. Dew
lin, it is understood Walter Reeves, of
Streator, ILL.,, will be appointed by the
proper court as the receiver of the Illi-
nois creditors Under this arrange
ment the pay roll Of the miners in Illi-
nois will be taken care of by Chicago
banks
Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1905-07-20
!. Witte Appointed;

Inc emperor mas nlled the vacancy Wy
appointing as head OF the commission
NJ White, president of the committee of
ministers. The appointment clothes M.
Witte with plenary powers. Official no.
LITIGATION Of the designation of M. White
to head the mission was forwarded to
Washington Thursday morning. M.
White will take passage on the North
German Lloyd steamer Kaiser Wilhelm
Der Crosse. which sails from Cher
bourg July 26.
Peace Prospect Improved.
Washington, July 14--The appoint
ment of M White is we'll received in
Japanese circles, though the hope is eX-
pressed that there will be no more
changes in the Russian selections. I'm
officially the designation of M. Witte
rs regarded in Washington as most pro-
pitious 1t is believed that this ap-
pointment is an assurance that peace
in the far east is now in sight.
China Expects Peace.
Yokohama, July 14.-Dr. Morrison,
correspondent Of the London Times
at Picking, who is here on his way
to Washington, says that China con-
fidently expects that peace will be made
between Japan and Russia, relying on
Japan's selection Of plenipotentiaries
to cause a cessation of hostilities. Re-
garding China's representation at the
peace conference, Dr. Morrison said that
a certain section of China wanted rep
resentatiOn in the proceedings, but as
the conference will not be of an inter-
national character, these Chinese had
been urged not to prosecute their de-
sires. Wiser councils had vetoed the
idea, being willing to trust to Japan
ese equity Viceroy Yuan Shin Kai, the
most influential man in China, is quite
confident that Japan will act in good
faith. DR.. Morrison thought that the
Rnti-American sentiment among the
Chinese is subsiding. and that it had
never been as widespread as had been
represented He did not think the Chi
nese would boycott for any great length
of time goods that they had found prof
itabel to handle
Portsmouth Selected.
VdoAAASIOA, July <aooA0CoAC OCC-
rotary Pierce onday announced that
the plenipotentiaries of Russia and
Japan had agreed upon Portsmouth,
N. H., as the meeting place for the ses-
sions Of the peace conference to be held
outside of Washington. The sessions,
will be held in the government navy
yard at Portsmouth in the new build
ing just completed there. Third AS
sistant Secretary Of State Pierce has
been specially commissioned by the
president to make all arrangements
for the meeting of the plenipotentiaries
at Portsmouth, and is preparing to
leave for that place to confer with the
cOmmandant of the navy yard. The
meeting will be held in the general
storehouse.