Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1907-04-23
From Washington.
Correspondence ~ the Alexandria Gasette.l
WashjnOtOn. Aprll 70,

the Jury lnaI COhFiCteu tho aVCuseu vi
| first degree murder had been promised
"front seats at the hanging" as a re-
ward for conviction. The case Ia that
of William Spaugh. of Iron county,
| Mo-, who killed the sheriff. Attorneys
Tor Spaugh in arguing the case today
said that the new sheriff, man named
Jordan, exercised undue influence over
the jury that tried him, laying emphasis
on the affidavit OF Joseph A. Howard, a
preacher, that Albert Chi, one OF the
Jurors, told that Jordan not only promised
to let the jury witness the hanging but
gave the iurymen whisky during their
deliberations. Spaugh's attorney base
their appeal for now trial on the Caleb
Powers decision. They say: "Since the
late decision of the Federal Supreme
Court, in the case of Caleb Powers OF
Kentucky, there can be no question
raised by the State, or the appellee, as
| to the jurisdiction Of the Federal Supreme
Court to review the final decision of the
State court as to whether or not local
preiudics, undue influence. improper
act OF the sheriff and guards in change
of the jury and the use of liquor pre-
judiced the jury sgainst the appellant
or accused to such an extent as to deny
him fair and impartial trial"
al have so many important things on
my mind that have not time 10 think
much of politics." said Secretary OF
War TAFT today in response TO an In
quiry. "Tbe fact is | don't know any
politics and am not ready 10 talk on that
subject. am going out TO Ohio to ill
some engagements that | made some
time ago but in the speeches that shall
make [ shall not touch upon the pOliti-
cal situation" This was the Secre-
tary's statement before he went to the
Cabinet meeting aud prior to the
conference that it Is expected he
will have with the President today.
Whistler as result Of that conference
he will change his mind is yet to be
indicated. The Secretary further said;
Besides the questions in Panama
and Cuba which settled while there |
have brought back with me number of
| important matters which will have to be
decided later in consultation with the
President. Where they are of public
interest announcement will be made as
decisions are reached. The situation in
Panama ia very satisfactory and encour-
aging. The work on the canal has lost
that formless, discouraging aspect that il
had in the beginning. They have begun
TO excavate for the Gatum locks and
they have begun the building of the
great dam at that point. AS to labor
troubles, it would be surprising II,
among an army of 500 employees,
there would not be some who thought
they were not getting enough return in
for their labor. have made my report
on the subject but | understand that it
has not yet been acted upon by the Presi-
dent"
Senator Borah, OF Idaho, against whom
the grand jury at Boise is supposed to
have found an indictment for alleged
connection with certain timber law vio'
lations, called at the White House today
and had a long talk with the President.
After his interview he said that the
subject of his case had not been men
toned during the interview. 81 have
no information whatever about the al
legged indictment" said Senator Borah,
"aud do not know that one has been re-
turned. Senator Borah is special at
torney employed by the State to prose
cute Meyer and Haywood for the murder
of Governor Steunenberg.
Within the next twenty-four hours IL
will be determined whether the fighting
In Central America shall be resumed or
whether a peaceful settlement can be
reached. This statement was made to-
day by Senior Msjia, the Minister OF Sal
vador, who, In company with Ambasss-
dor Creel, of Mexico, called at the State
Department to discuss the situation with
Assistant Secretary of State Bacon. The
conference between The representatives
OF Salvador and Nicaragua, Mt Amapala,
is still in a deadlock over the demand
made by Nicaragua that Salvador should
bear some proportion of the expense of
the recent war in which Salvador as
sisted former President Bonilla oil Hon.
duras whom the Nicaraguan forces put
to flight and finally sent into exile. A
strong effort is being made to bring
about a compromise but Senior Meiia
says that the outlook is not bright. Sal
vador has an army of 20, 000 men guard
ing the frontier. In the event OF the
failure of the Amapals conference re-
newal OF the lighting within the next
few days is expected.
1t is stated this afternoon that
proposition is being seriously considered
By the Central American representatives
to have all negotiations at Amapals dis
continued aud to bring the whole matter
to Washington 10 be settled in general
C Inference with President Roosevelt az
arbitrator.
Party rate tickets for railroad trans
portatiOn cannot be limited to particular
classes of persons, but must be opened
to the general public, according to the
emphatic and final decision of the To-
terstate Commerce Commission, an
nounced today in an opinion by Com.
missioner PrOuly. In event the rail
roads do not accept this Interpretation,
the Commission will defend its position
in the courts. ave are unable to see,"
says the commission, "how the carriage
of ten persons belonging 10 an amnse-
ment company, rs a party, differs from
the carriage OF ten other persons, as
party, in the same train, at the same
time, and between the same points, and
we are therefore of the opinion that the