davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-03-21
PRICE FIVE CENTS

ruption In San Francisco and the pro-
secution Of those "high up, who are
responsible for such conditions In the
city"
District Attorney Langdon said the
amazing ramifications Of the renark-
able organization involving milIonoi-
res and the better class Of citizens. will
appall not only this city but the en-
tire country.
Burns said This Is only the Begin
ming He added that the evidence on
which the indictments are based In
as perfect as the evidence in any case
OF investigation with wnich he has
ever been connected. Burns denied
that he had been ordered back to
washington, and said 1t might take
year to complete his work here.
Conformation seemed to reign in the
Ruef camp today. Following a long
conference with his attorneys this
morning Ruef decided that he pre-
ferred to remain In the custody of
elisor Biggy. and his attorneys ap-
peared before the Supreme Court ask
ing that the application for a writ
making Sheriff o'Neill custodian Of
the political boss be dismissed. This
was granted. Half an hour later his
attorneys appeared again before the
Supreme Court and sought to have
their former motion quasned and the
application for a writ reinstated.
The Court tok the amtter under con-
sideration until tomorrow.
The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-03-21
coLoRED WOMEN SHOT.

STAMPS, Ark, March 20.-Chargej
with having used a razor with prob
able fatal results on Morella Rhetton
a white woman, and her daughter, two
colored women were shot to death
at McKamie near here last night by a
mob.
According to the statement of Mrs.
Rhetton she and her child We're at
tackled by the negro women while
walking along the public road yester-
day, she and her daughter receiving
wounds which may prove fatal. The
women were arrested and placed un-
der guard at the station from which
place they were removed by the mob
last night and shot to death.
The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-03-21
COAL TESTING PLANT.
Government viii Establish Experiment
Station In Colorado.

DENVER, March 20.--Dr j, A
Holmes Of the United States Geologi-
cal survey last night completed nego-
.tiations for the land upon which the
first governemtn coal testing plant
win be constructed, The Chamber OF
Commerce of this city agrees to fur
nish the land and the plant will be
constructed In this city. Wor kon the
building will be begun as soon as final
arrangements are completed. Congress
has made an appropriation for carry
ing on this experimental work,
A completely equipped chemical lab
oratory, with special apparatus for the
treatment of coal and Its products,
will be bilt In connection with the
testing plant.
The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-03-21
Two Hundred Persons Driven
BY High Waters Into
| Tree Tops.
REsCuERs IN BOAT DROWNED
Southern Pacific Completely Blocked
--sante 70 Also Impsssable--Worst
Believed over--Heavy Losses
Throughout Northern California.

STOCKTON. March 20.--water Is
running through the streets OF the city
like a mill-rate. In some places II Is
six feet deep. while in others II is from
one to three feet. the latter being the
mean average. All business Ii sus-
pended as most OF the business houses
are flooded and the people In many
parts of the city are afraid to leave
their homes. No portion OF the town
has escaped The food started, on the
afternoon OF Tuesday and the highest
point was reached at midnight, since
wnen II has receded slightly and II Is
believed the worst Is over The tele-
phone system is out OF commission and
all news OF the surrounding country Is
cut off. Most OF the gas mains are full
Of water and the gas supply Is shut
of. The Southern Pacific tracks were
caught broadside on and the roadbed
and rails are twisted out Of shape by
the force of the food. The Santa Fe
Jared no better. II is feared that In
the southwestern part of the city.
which Is low and where the people Of
the laboring class live. that many Of
the poorer classes have been drowned.
The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-03-21

NEW YORK. March 2o.-'Thaw''
lawyers nave again changed iheir
minds and said last night they would
probably call Evelyn Nesbit Thaw to-
day.
To what she will testify they re-
fued TO say but her evidence will pro-
baby have 10 do with the Hummel
affidavit. 80 far M known that Will
close the iefene's case. There was
some talk last night that Il was pos
siblc that the defense might call David
NJ. carvalho. the expert in handwrit-
ing and photography to testify regard
Ing the genuineness OF the signature Of
Evelyn sesh!. anca the Hnmmel af-
ildavit, bit this report could not be con-
tirmcd
Another report was that District At
torney Jerems had surprise to offer
tomorrow and tha, this would delay
this summing up in the case until
Friday. Tho surprise It was stated
Continued on Page s.)
The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-03-21
BOMB FOR JUDGE.

OAKLAND, March 2O.--About 1880
last night bomb was exploded in
front Of Judge Ogden's house on AL
Ice Street The whole front of the
house was destroyed. but none of the
inmates were injured. The bomb had
10 feet of fuse attached SO that who
fired 1t had time to escape.
The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-03-21
New York in Days Of Tweed Ring
Was Not Robbed More
Systematically.
Truth WILL APPALL COUNTRY
Supervisors Took Bribes From Either
Standardization of Remarkable
Grating Political Machine Involves
MiIIionaires and Prominent Citizens.

SAN FRANCISCO, March 2o.-The
long looked for indictments In the
municipal graft cases were returned
tonight. Shortly before six o'clock the
grand jury filed with presiding Judge
| Coffey of the Superior Court rs in
dictements charging bribery, which
We're found on the evidence presented
to the grand jury after six months OF
probing into the municipal affairs Of
this city by Francis j. Heney and Sc
cret service agent Burns and which
reveal an amazing story Of alleged
graft >and corruption that surpasses
the Doodle cases of st. Louis; ranks
with the Minneapolis exposures and
are eclipsed only in the amount Of
money passed. but not in its ramifi-
cations and organization, by the fa-
nous Tweed ring of New York. OF
the indictments returned today 65 are
against Abe Ruef, charging him with
bribing the board of supervisors to
grant franchises to the United Rail-
roads, the Home Telephone Co., the
San Francisco Gas and Electric Co.,
and the so-called prize fight trust"
Ten are against I. v. Halsey, former
general agent of the Pacific States
Telephone and Telegraph Co.. who is
charged with haveng bribed the board
Of supervisors not to grant the fran
chise to the rival company. One in
dictment against Ruef and four more
against Halsey, which it is understood
were also returned today We're not filed
in open court. Several more indict-
ments the exact number and. against
what persons, Heney and Burns refuse
to divulge were returned by the grand
jury,
Judge Coffey fixed the bail at $4,000
on each indictment or total Of s650,000
for Ruef and 100000 for Halsey. The
latter is a brotehr in law Of the late
John I. Sabin, former president of the
Pacific States Telephone and Telegraph
Company and brotehr in law Of Louis
Glass, president of the Philippine Tele
phone Co. Halsey has been for some
time in Manila, installing a system in
the Islands. He has been under. sur
veillance for several days and extra
dition papers may be applied for as
soon as he has been taken into Gus
tody. Orders have been cabled for
his arrest.
In the overhead trolley deal, accord
ing to Burns, Ruef got $4S5.Oo0 and
distributed $4,000 among IA super
visors. IN the fight trust" $4,000 is
said to have been collected by Ruef
and $4,000 distributed among super
yisors. Ruef Is charged with having
divided $4,000 anon gthe city fathers
in connection with the Home tele-
phone franchise. In this connection
1t is noteworthy that IA supervisors
are alleged to have also taken $4,000
each from Halsey to prevent the grant
ing of the franchise to the Home COM
pany.
Heney states that today's indict-
ments are not the''beginning Of the end
of Ruef' but merely the beginning of
the work of exposing municipal cor
The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-03-21
Ne Declares Prisoner Incapable
Of Advising Ms
Counsel.
ALL BELIEVE HIM INSANE
No Formal Application For commis'
sion In Lunaoy Made But Judge Ftx.
gerald viii Decide Today II One 10
Needed.

NEW YORK. March 20.--The blow
which Harry Thaw has been In terror
OF ever since the murder Of iSanford
white fell today. District Attorney
Jerome did not make formal appli-
cation FOR the appointment OF iunncy
commission. but In an impassioned
speech appealed TO the conscience Of
the court, declaring that Ms Thaw sits
daily In court he is incapable OF ad-
vising HIS counsel and ia believed. BY
every one who has watched and comes
In contact with him. TO be insane.
Jerome asserted that his own alien
lists were convinced when they had
considered all the facts In connection
with if,e case. that Thaw IL of un-
sound mind. Jerome dramatically ac-
cused the counsel for the defense OF
concealing testimony which. II presen-
ted to the court would make the con-
ilnuance Of the trial II crime, SO earn
estly did Jerome plead that Justice
Fitzgerald dismissed the jury until
Friday morning and adjourned court
until o'clock tomorrow when he VIII
consider what evidence either side has
10 offer and to decide whether the
trial shall 20 on or whether the COM
missioners in lunacy viii be appointed
to pass on Thaw's mental condition NJ
present
The scenes attending the adjourn
mcnt OF the court shortly after one
o'clock were dramatic and exciting
Thaw's counsel seemed taken utterly
by surprise. Thaw, detected, pale and
dispirited. sat at his counsel table, he
luhel crimson as one by one his at
torneys left him to rally 10 the support
OF Delmas who was arguing with Jcr-
ONE and Judge Fitzgerald. Thaw bit
his nails, opened ana closed his hands
nervously and finally sank down In
his chair with an air of utter detection.
In the adjoining room, where one could
hear the excited and upllfted voices
of the oounel wrangling with one an-
other, stood MRS william Thaw. the
prisoners mother and Evelyn Thaw,
his wife who had barred the secrets of
her soul In the effort to save her nus
band from the electric chair and the
fate he declares he fears more, a mad
house.
The climax came while DR.. Hamil-
ton, an alienist. was testifying. He
had been called by the defense with
the intention OF interrogating him re-
gardng the four visits he had made
to Thaw In June and July. Jerome
promptly objected, saying that II Hum
ilton was allowed to testify he must
tell everything he knew about the case
including the defendants family his
tory. The argument became so per-
tinent as to the question Of the pre-
sent insanity of the defendant that
Judge Fitzgerald directed the jur yto
retire from the room. Jerome then
wen. on TO say that II the &acts were
known, he had no right to be here
trying Tnaw for his life. The know
ledge he has however is mostly here
say and cannot be put In legal form be.
fore the jury III could get the facts
The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-03-21

OROVILLE, Cal, March 20.-It is
estimated that the loss occasioned by
the flood In Oroville will not be less
tnan $3.50, 900. The water Is now fall
ing az far as Montgomery Street All
the business houses on this street are
under six feet of water and the indi-
viduai losses range all the way from
$4,000 to :25,ooo.
A telephone Office has been estab-
Iished In the second story Of the Union
Hotel and this Is the only method of
with the outside world.
A rescue party is taking out the 20
Chinese who were drowned In the
river yesterday.
The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-03-21

LOS ANGELES, March 20--The
coast line of the Southern Pacific has
been completely blocked by land
slide that has closed the Santa Mar
garlta tunnel, one Of the longest on
The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-03-21
TWENTY ONE PERISH.

LUBECK, Germany, March 20
The German steamer Horn has been
sunk in the North Sea with loss of
21 lives.
The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-03-21

STOCKTON. Cal. March 2o.--A re-
port from Venice island In the San
Joaquin river says that two persons
were drowned there last night. Mrs
Maud Menefee and George Eastman,
who were passengers on a launch, fell
from a small boat while making a
landing.
AT o'clock this morning the flood
nad reached Its highest position and
the water commenced to subside slow
ly In the city. but there Is still great
rush of water through the streets.
There is not dry spot in town unless
II Is some high garden terrace. Wa
ter is In most of the stores and the re-
claimed lands are In great danger,
though no levee has broken yet so far
Is Known. water In the streets In the
business section OF the city Is from
three to four feet deep, but is flow
ing fast westward.
The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-03-21

CHICO, Cal, March 19.--Flood con-
ditions are still serious. The village
Of Dreadful, near oroville, has been
entirely destroyed by the Feather riv-
er. over 200 men, women and chill
dren were driven to take refuge in
trees and tops of houses on which they
were exposed to the rain and cold for
As hours. Small boats rescued many
One boat engaged in rescue work was
capsized and seven drowned.
A relief train from Chico, witn boats,
clothing and provisions was dispatched
over the northern electric road,
reaching the scene after much diff
Guilty. Fifty people are yet on the is
land and there is much suffering
among the women and children.
The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-03-21

before you" sal" ,csN'' q. Attor-
ney The nsp0s q and horrify
tho conscL } me court and instan-
ly this casc would stop. 10 deeply
have ! been impressed with this that
havo served notice on the counsel
Of the defense that II, when this trial
" finished. ana they were In pos
sion OF the facts which bslieve To be
IN their possession. shalt call the mat
tor TO the attention OF the appellate
division Of the Supreme Court"
Z Jerome said he submitted 10 the
aiicniet summoned by the state oil
tho facts In his possession, and they
all informed him that the defendant
IL suffering from Parancia, the chief
characteristics Of which are insane de-
lusionn that while acting under ons
Of these deiusions he killed White.
but that within the legal definition OF
insanity no knew the nature and quail
ny OF his act and knew II was wrong.
The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-03-21

SAN JOSE. Cal, March 20.--- More
damage has been done by floods In
the creeks in the last "a hours than in
the past Is years. The washing out
Of bridges, notably the Southern Pa
cifc on the Almaden branch win stop
all traffic from San Jose to Los Gatos
by way OF Campbell for weeks. The
damage In the vicinity of the latter
town win reach many thousand dol
lars. Fruit farmers generally are of
the opinion that there win be light
crops this year, II some do not prove
utter failures. The rains are be-
lievcd to nave washed out much OF
the pollen which will prevent the
blooms maturing into fruit.
At San Martin, Harold Bole, the
five year old son OF well known
rancher. fell into the swollen Lagaa
creek and was drowned. At Santa
Clara several families were driven
from their homes by the overflow OF
the Guadaloupe creek.
The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-03-21

the division, located IN the mountains
north OF San Luis Obispo. Local
railroad officials are advised that the
line must remain closed to traffic for
at least four or five days.
The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-03-21
.PUT|ER TESTIFIEs
Is Important Witness in Trial Of
Binger Hermann.
GIVES RESIDENCE AS JAIL

Relates Again the Story of the Brib-
ing Of Senator Mitchell and the Ae.
tion Of Herman In Aiding in Land
Frauds.
The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1907-02-12

Conversations. similar to the above
can be heard over the wires at the
city hall in Grand Forks almost every
evening. Some times the complaints
are such as the one given, and then
there are a hundred and one other
matters brought to the attention of
the police between the hours of 6
and - o'clock p. m.
Few Grand Forks people realize
just what the police department does
and what some people expect it to do.
Queries of all kinds, asking the time
of the departure of certain trains, ad-
dresses of people, names of streets
and many others come to the police
department. The police are expected
to know everything, and, in fact, it
is very seldom that they are obliged
to answer. saying that they don't
know"
cit is remarkable" said Captain
Sullivan in speaking to Times re-
porter, "how many things there are
to look after" The captain was seat
ed at his desk in the city hall, with
both telephones handy. people call
up here at all hours of the night,
making complaints, and every time
We are obliged to send an officer.
The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1907-02-12
An1usen1ents

the Japanese and other effects, Mr..
Savage has imported new instrument
called the celeste, to be used for the
first time in America. This Is made by
Muestral, of London, and consists of a
series of bells in two octaves of the
chroVatic scale, tuned to normal pitch,
with keyboard similar to that of a
piano and played like 1t. Another new
instrument-purely Japanese-is a set
of gongs tuned to intone diminished
G. This Is used in the accumulated
passages Of the Buddhist marriage rite
and in the hari-kari scene. There is
also a double set of tympani in sets
of three tambours-quite unusual. A
Viola di gambia and viol d'amore was
employed not long ago by Charles
Loetfler, of Boston Symphony fame, in
his symphonic poem. The Death of
Tintagiles." He used it Is an obligato
with the orchestra. Both of these in
struments are obsolete as far as gen.
eral use is concerned. but Puccini has
reviewed them in order to catch Jap
anese flavor. There is said to be only
two viola d'amores in America. The
celeste is strictly modern. instrum-
ment and was used first in Tschai-
kowsky's Case Voisette" (The Nut
Cracker). series of six character
dances of old France. An orchestra of
sixty players is necessary for the
Madam Butterfly" performances.
The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1907-02-12
"SA[0ME', FAMOUS OPERATE CREATION
WILL COME TO ST. PAUL APRIL 1924

is good one. This has been proved
by the test given the building when
the great Northwestern Saengerfest
was held there last summer. At that
time with a canvas ceiling and tempo
rary fittings the acoustic properties
of the auditorium were fully tested
and found perfect. Since then the in
terror has been improved by the fin
ish and decoration all in white and
it will be a revelation. The building
will be dedicated about the middle of
April by Mardi Gras ball and con-
cert and the grand opera season will
practically be the opening of this
municipal enterprise.
There will be 5000 seats in the
auditorium, which Is as large as the
auditorium of the New York Hippo
drome. The latter has a second bal
cony. In the st. Paul Auditorium there
is but one balcony. The stage IS
twice as large as the Hippodrome
stage and will accommodate the larg-
est spectacular or operate production.
This stage may he dropped out of
sight by means of hydraulic lifts and
the whole space converted into ball
room or convention hall or may be
used for horse shows. The stage is
125 by 40 feet in size, floor space.
The proscenium arch is 40 feet high
and Sc feet wide.
The entire building is 1873 feet wide
by 300 feet long, or in other words,
it occupies two-thirds of city block,
between Washington street and Ex-
change and faces on Fourth and Fifth
streets thus extending across whole
city block in length, having entrances
on both streets. 1t is all built of
brick, concrete and steel, and there
Is not enough wood in the building
to make respectable bonfire. That
1t can be emptied of large crowd
quickly was witnessed at the time of
the Saengerfest when the immense
concourse of people in the audience
and the 1900 singers on the stage
went out of the building without any
noticeable crowding in a very few
minutes.
The completion of this great munich
pal enterprise which was made posi-
BILE by contributions of from $1,000 to
$4,000 by public spirited citizens of
st. Paul will now make it possible to
bring the large and most attractive
musical events to st. Paul and give
the people of the northwest chance
to see and hear things not seen out
side of New York and Chicago.
The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1907-02-12
POLICEMEN ARE EXPECTED TO Do
NEARLY EVERYTHING IN THIS CITY
Their Duties Are Manifold Stop the MIDNIGHT Seren
AIDES Of the Canine Famly-Many Calls Are Sent to
Department From Resident Districts
Hello, there she goes again."

Hello. there she goes again."
The telephone bell had started ring
ing. After the usual Hello. VINO is
this" ETC., the voice of a lady was
heard to say that dogs in the neigh
borhood had set up such an unearth-
~ howl that it was impossible for
her to sleep, and would the captain
please send an officer down to quen
the disturbance"
The telephone was again resorted
to. Captain Sullivan calling up a down
town business place that keeps open
late at night. An officer was located
there. and detailed to stop the noise
caused by the dogs. and if no other
method could be found. to stop the
racket by the use of flannel cloths
stuffed down the noisy CANNES mouth.
How did I know where the officer
was? Well, between o'clock and IL
O'Clock. midnight, the officers report
every half hour telling where they
will be for the next thirty minutes.
In this manner l can always get them
in a very short time. After midnight
they report every hour"
The conversation was again inter-
rupted, this time by call from one
Of the officers down town.
THE police are expected to take
care of everything" continued Mr..
Sullivan. after taking the officers re-
port. which the call proved to be.
when dogs begin to bark, the Off
GERS must stop them; when children
on the street corners become noisy
the police must take hand in the
game; when hubby arrives home and
starts to create disturbance after
having imbibed in the freely flowing
conversation water in East Grand
Forks, a call is sent in and an officer
Is detailed to quiet the row. and If
necessary bring the intoxicated hus-
band to Jail"