davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1907-03-31

~ NE Of the most original music
hall characters, known rs La
Pendu, or the man who used
- to hang himself, has just
died at SoIlies Point, near Toulon- His
real name is Simeon Aiguier. and he
was born at SOllies Vile IN 1851.
Unlike FregoH. who initiates various
persOnages by sudden changes of
clothes. he could, In a way, trans
form his body. and possessed, perhaps,
the most curious physical adaptabili-
ties ever known. When young man
he surprised and puzzled the army
doctors. AS he presented himself for
physical examination he appeared
thin. spare-ribbed fellow. almost
skeleton. and before the examination
was over he stood in the presence Of
the army doctor with an enormously
inflated abdomen. as II he had the
drOpsy-
While the physician was examining
this abnormal development the abdo-
men suddenly retreaJed. and a big,
bloated tumor suddenly grew on the
young mans throat as if he had an
immense sgoitre. He had apparently
transferred the swelling from the
lower part of his body to his throat.
When the examination was over he
stood there a skeleton-li6e young fell
low as before His gifts In bodily
transformation soon became known
all over his native district, and he
was soon induced TO show himself on
the music hail stage.
For a long time he was known as
the skeleton man His physical trans
formations did not stop here. He was
able to initiate the process of dying
and OF death to perfection. Scientists
and the members OF various medical
faculties often wished to examine his
strange methods, but he constantly re-
fused to divulge the secret of his
transformation When he initiated the
state OF a dead person he threw him
self into a perfect coma
His heart apparently ceased to beat.
and the most expert physicians are
sad to have been unable 10 detect
the slightest movement OF his pulse.
- o. n n
The Washington times., 1907-03-31

First for the alleged murder Of
her children and later for the
alleged murder Of her two board.
ers, the turies In the eOrOner's
court refused to bind her over for
trial on the charge of murder. In
each instance the coroner AFRO.
gated the power TO hold her.
The Washington times., 1907-03-31

being enacted IN the New York courts
can easily be found.
While the characters and surround
ings differ. the causes are similar in
that the disgrace of a woman forms
IN both Instances the fabric on which
The events leading up 10 the tragedy
were woven. but not even the genius
or Tolstoy could read into such depths
of the human soul as were disclosed
al the trial in New York.
The Washington times., 1907-03-31
stoutIy Denies Guilt.

Then the coroner heard Of the deaths
OF the Cooks and the husband and the
Erlnner IN -Elch they died They had
not died from sating candy. but all had
died from arsenic poisoning. The Of
aclaIs at once suspected Mrs Carey
and her arrest followed. She has
The Washington times., 1907-03-31
StateChargeS Wife
and MOthe1 With
Numbering HUS-
Standardization
in Cold Blood for
Insurance 0IOHeY

Bridget Carey, stand Up and face the juryI"
Why did you cOld-blOodedIy poison your two little
girls ~
Why did you murder aged brother and sister, who
boarded with you2"
why did you kn your husband by giving him pos
oned teaa"
IT. HESE the questions that will be hurled at a
frail little woman the widowed wife of miner
who is hardly past her thirtieth year. on certain
day in April yet to be named
She is accused by the great Commonwealth of Penn
syvana and the prosecuting attorney is convinced that
he has sufficient proof convict her of most atrocious
murders in the annals Of the State
SAY SHE DID INSURANCE MONEY
The State also hopes to prove that it was not hate
revenge or insanity that prompted her to take the
cent lives but cod-booded desire to secure the patrv
insurance the lives of her Victims which had been
made out IN her favor 1t will also attempt to prove that
she stood by, while her victims groveed in their death
throes, and urged them to hurry up and die.
The Washington times., 1907-03-31

In the neIghborhood OF the Carey
home Samples OF the candy were an
aIyzed and showed that they contained
nothing harmful. The shOpkeepers
swore that the children had secured
nothing frorn them that could not be
eaten without danger.
The Washington times., 1907-03-31
State Against Town.

Since August she has been confined
in the Moyamensing prison. and soon
the great battle for her life will be
commenced with the State on one side
and almost the entire population of
the large mining town, Centralia. on
The Washington times., 1907-03-31
By ALEXANDE.l KAHN.

)UNT LIEF TOLSTOY.
Russia's great writer. in
his novel Resurrection.
portrayed a court scene
wherein an analogy with
the ert5asor,a drama NOM
The Washington times., 1907-03-31
Sudden Deaths of Five.

The bodies Of the Cooks were ex-
humed months after burial, the stom-
achs removed, and searching analyses
The Washington times., 1907-03-31

sied, the people we're so enraged
when the coroner sent detectives
to examine the body in the hope
Of accusing the wife that they
drove the sleuths from the town.
No examination was made of the
remains, and none VIII be permit
ted. The people Of Centralia have
gone even further and have made
up q purse to employ the best
legal talent to defend their former
tOWnsWOman.
The Washington times., 1907-03-31

'BLIC opinion in Penn
sylvania is very evenly
divided on the subject
Of her guilt. In Contra
liza, where the husband
The Washington times., 1907-03-31
Doesn't Look Ike Murderess.

Doesn't Look Like Murderess.
In appearance she = sfuzozt ths last
person in the world one would take
for a mUrderess, = modern Luozotsa
Borgia She is q small, fESl woman
and her hands are marked win ms
toll Of her short life. Her Sos e
practically free from Ffnaz4 hs< 3se
black hair has no silver stren6S. and
her dark eyes are continually asWaeast
and her entire dsmsanor f. dsoi6sdiY
demurs.
During the three or foux hsaTfnEs
that she has had to SIT thFoEgh. she
has been almost a statue "a black
Her dress, hat. and heavy ven ara the
black Of the deepest mourning. she
sat with her hands folded IN her Lap.
but for the slight convulsive sobs that
shook her frame. she might well have
hen craven image
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-06-13
ORCHARD AND PEABODY MEET.
Prisoner Witness Tells the Governor
He Is Ashamed

Boise. June 13.-Former Governor
Peabody and Harry Orchard met face
to face in the office of J. H. Hawley a
few minutes after the recess was
taken at noon. Orchard, while plainly
nervous from the strain of the morn
ing's examination. had recovered his
equanimity and was speaking to one
of the men who had accompanied him
from the court house when the COVER
nor entered. Orchard recognized him
at once. AS Mr.. Peabody approach
ed the man who had hunted him for
a year seeking an opportunity to kill
him, Orchards face changed. He
shrank back and trembled. The for
mer governor smilingly held out his
hand, saying:
How are you. Orchard?'
Orchard broke down completely. He
said:
Il am ashamed to look at you, sir;
I am ashamed to speak to you"
The governor treasured him in a
few words and Orchard replied:
"I am thankful that 1 did not kill
you and am spared the thought of
that crime"
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-06-13
UNCLE SAM CASE DRAGS
The Trial Judge Reproves the Attor-
ncys for Wrangling.

LeavenwortI, Kan, June 13.-"The
main question we are interested IN is
only approached once an hour, was
the remark of Judge Amidon while
Attorney Wilson was examining VIII
ness in the Uncle Sam Oil company
case near the end of the second day
of the trial Wednesday afternoon
Only three of a long list of witnesses
have been examined SO far.
Edwin A. Krauthoff. of the law firm
of Karnes, New & krauthon, VINO
Tucker alleges are Standard OIL con-
spirators. was on the witness stand
most of the afternoon. Mr.. Krauthoff
swore that his firm had no connection
with the Standard Oil company.
Krauthoff said collecting department
in connection with the firm had re-
ceived a number of small accounts
from the Standard Oil company for
collection. The last one in May. 1905,
amounted to $11. In the life OF the
law partnership about $500 had been
collected, for which it was paid $50,
but after attorneys in other places
were paid they had received exactly
SIG from the Standard Oil company
in nine years.
from the Standard Oil company the
day before the bankruptcy suit was
filed to go ahead and put the Uncle
Sam company out of business?" asked
Mr.. Wilson.
Never received this or any other
instructions from the Standard Oil
company" replied Krauthoff.
Krauthoff told in detail of Tucker
meeting him and volunteering to make
out a deed of trust and of Tucker
sending bonds to Krauthoff's office to
be used for the bankruptcy suit in
order to secure the appointment of
receiver. He testified that Tucker was
strongly in favor of receiver until
Mr.. Morse was appointed then he
showed dissatisfaction.
At one point. when questioned as to
why he had insisted on pushing this case
against Tucker, he said:
mo man can make the allegations
against the firm of Karnes, New &
Krauthoff that Tucker and others have
and go unrebuked. I am after MI.
Tucker and will keep after him."
At one point where a squabble arose
between the lawyers Judge Amidon in
terfered and said:
Mr. Krauthoff admits he received
these bonds, $500 worth, and paid moth
ing for them, neither did he give re-
ceipt for them and admits he gave them
to other parties. 1t is for the court and
not yousIawyersA to deternainerEas to the
legality of this"
why did you get $4,000 in bonds when
$500 would have been plenty for your
purpose?" asked Wilson.
why. they just brought that much,
there is no particular reason
why did you not sign the petition to
have the proceedings stopped when
fucker SeNeToQ HIS ISldlAOAlS Will yOO
and Jones and asked to have this
done?"
Jones didn't ask this of me-"
Mr.. Alexander New, of the same firm,
when put on the stand. told practically
the same story as Krauthoff regarding
their relations to the Uncle Sam COM
pany.
He denied that his firm is in any way
or has ever been in the paid employ of
the Standard Oil company. He admit
ted the firm has taken Standard Oil ac-
counts for collection ar times, but as
they were working on commission and
fell down on the collections, they got
no money. Just before 6 o'clock the case
H1raS continued
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-06-13

they had sent me out for and I
thought I would wait until / got back
to Caldwell before asking them for
more. If hadn't got the money from
PauIson l would have wired them"
Orchard denied that he had de-
nounced Steunenberg to Paulson or
that he had complained that IL ne
hadn't been driven out of the Occur
D'Alenes by Steunenberg he would be
rich from his one-sixth interest in the
Hercules.
But you got from Paulson the
money on which you travelled to Cald-
well to kill Steunenberg ?"
Yes
Before he left Colorado, Orchard
admitted that he had written to Paul
son asking him for $4,000 to help start
an ice plant. Pettibone suggested this
as an easy way to get some money.
AS court adjourned for the day At
torney Richardson announced that he
would probably conclude his cross ex-
animation of Orchard today.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-06-13
New York Stock Market.

Wall St, New York, June 13-STOCKS-
The light opening dealings in stocks. re-
suited in a very sluggish movement of
nrices Not over a dozen issues were
deaIt in in the first minutes. A decline
of a roint in Minneapolis, st. Paul and
SAINT ste Marie was the only notable
sharp fall in the local fractions. was
t,a sed On talk of a proposed investigation
by state authorities. International Metro
poIitan fell 2 points and B. R. T. ia
points Pullman declined l point and
Chicago Great Western preferred A and
Mackay companies 1 point. The general
list drifted narrowly and atmlessly- 81
Bonds were steady.
Small selling orders were distributed on
the announcement of the failure of a
monument stock exchange broker Bull
operators were not inclined to support
the list Immediately and st. Paul, South
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-06-13
MISS FISH WEEDS.
Five Thousand Invitations Were Issued
for the Ceremony.

New York, June 13.-Miss Marian
Fish, only daughter of Mr.. and Mrs.
Stuyvesant Fish, and Albert q. Gray,
son of Judge John Clinton Gray, were
married yesterday afternoon at St
Bartholomew church. Nearly 5000
cards of invitation had been issued and
the wedding was one of the most no
ia BILE of the season.
Many society people returned from
their summer homes to be present at
the ceremony and reception and the
marriage of Mrs. Stuyvesant Fish
daughter rivaled in social Importance
the weddings of the younger smart
set who have married titles. Inc Ger
emony was performed by DR.. Morgan
Dix assisted by the Rev. DR.. Thomas
of Garrison, n. Y, and the full we'd
ding choral service was sung by the
choir Miss Fish's wedding gown was
of white satin, with old point lace. A
diamond buckle caught up the lace in
the back of the gown She wore an
expensive old point lace veil and car
ried a bouquet of pure white orchids.
There were no bridesmaids, and
Miss Fish was attended only by Miss
Janet Fish, daughter of Mr.. and Mrs.
Hamilton Fish. Miss Janet Fish wore
a white lace gown. with blue sash,
and a white Leghorn hat. She carried
a bouquet of lilies of the valley.
Austin Gray attended his brother as
best man and. the ushers were Stuyves-
ant Fish. jr., and Sidney Fish, brothers
of the bride, John Cllnton Gray, IT,
and Henry G. Gray. brothers of the
bridegroom, and Reginald c. Wander
biTt. Charles Oelrichs. Arthur Delano
Weeks, jr, Reginald Clark. F. P. Mar
vim. Kenneth T. Budd, Philip Liver
more. j. L. Lowering and S. Bartlett of
Boston.
In st. Bartholomew church were
great floral fambeaux set along each
side of the aisle from the door to the
chancel These fiowery torches were
made up of white and pink peonies,
while the altar was grouped with
palms, intermingled with peonies of
pink and white. Mrs. Stuyvesant Fish
directed that after the ceremony the
thousands of flowers be taken to the
patients in Bellevue hospital.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-06-13
QUESTION HIS SANITY.
Fred Laird Has Been Taken Into
Custody Again.

Fred Laird is in the county Jail
awaiting inquiry into his sanity by
commission. This inquiry will be made
in the probate court on Saturday
morning Laird was taken into Gus
tody by Sheriff Wilkerson and his
deputies Wednesday afternoon on the
complaint of neighbors of the Laird
family on Randolph street which were
to the effect that they feared for their
lives because of Laird's actions and
threats with a revolver.
A number of years ago Laird jump
ed into notoriety in this city by de-
manding $1,000 from Charles Woln,
the wealthy Topeka packer, under a
threat of kidnapping his son and KILL
ing him. This happened about the time
that the country was wrought up over
the kidnapping of the Cudahy boy by
Pat Grove.
Laird was arrested for his attempt
to blackmail Mr.. Wolff He was then
tried on an insanity charge and de-
clared to be insane. After passing
sometime in the asylum he was dis
charged as cured.
A couple of months ago an insanity
proceeding was brought against Laird
but his mother interceded SO hard
for him that the matter was not
pressed. She is satisfied now that her
sons mind is again unbalanced and
will not object to the present proceed
ings against him. In fact she has
been in such fear of him of late that
she has not been sleeping at home.
Laird was more violent yesterday
around the neighborhood than he has
been for some time. He went down
town early in the morning, exchanged
a fine pair of shoes for an old pair and
some money to boot and used this
money to buy revolver with. He
went home with the revolver and
threatened to shoot a half dozen per-
sons against whom he thought he had
grudges. Several of the persons
threatened called on the sheriff's office
for help and when Mr.. Wilkerson and
his deputies got out to the Laird home,
the man they were after was peace
fully seated on the front porch and
smoking a cigar. A few minutes be-
fore he had hidden his revolver in
the house. Laird is about 80 years
old He is married but his wife left
him five years ago.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-06-13
MARKETS TODAY.
Prices Of Wheat Weak at Open
ing But Later Firm.
Corn Is Especially Active in
September Options.
LIVE STOCK TRADE.
Cattle Are Steady = Native
Steers Bring $500 to $6.4O.
Hogs Are Quoted at Ten Cents
Lower.
LIVE STOCK TRADE.

Chicago,June 13.-WHEAT-Prices in the
wheat market were somewhat settled at
the opening today, ranging from 1zQ9sc
firm on good demand from shorts and
commission houses. The weakening 1nflu-
ences at the opening were lower prices
weather conditions in Kansas september
wheat opened 12q5sc. lower to 14q$sc high
er. at 92ssq93Ac, and then sold at 93ssc-
Minneapolis, Duluth and Chicago report
ed receipts of 316 cars.
At the end of the first hour prices broke
sharply on selling by prominent bulls i Ed In
place on reports of a good export demand.
September advanced to 941zc under this
above the low point of the day. The
close was strong, September 1ssc higher
al 9414@942sc.
CORN-The corn market was active, es-
pecially in the September option at the
opening. Prices were firm, but later
Weakened selling by elevator Interests es,1 :
highera at 5sass1Sce' e and sold at 52ssc1
The market broke in sympathy with
wheat, September declining to 51asc. The
close was steady with September 1sQ14c
lower, at 52szc.
OATsThe oats market opened firm
with an active trade. Shorts were eager
te snIsS opened ao sa9se Higher, at s51A@ssc
and for time held within that range.
PROVISIONS-The provisions market
TENDER pork opened 2iac lower, at SIS. IS,
and sold at $15.s5. Lard was unchanged to
$sf71z. Ribs were SC lower. at $S5714, and
WHEAT~Se red sso; ss7sas2e; Ne R.d red g
GSsc; No 1 northern. .$1.oOq1O1; No. 2
northern. 9Sc@S1.00; No: spring, 95q9Sc;
CORNING. 2, 5214@52a4c; No 8, 6214@
RYECash: s6@S7c.
BARLEY-Cash: 70d75c.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-06-13
Kansas City Produce Market.

Receipts today. 80 cars. Market un-
changed to 1c lower. July, S61sc: Sept,
sac; Dec S9Ac CASH No. , hard, SEQ
sic; No hard. S3Q90c; No. red, 91493c;
No. 8 red, SSG90c.
CORN-Market unchanged to lower.Sep-
TENDER and July, 477sc; Dec, 457sc. Cash:
No mixed, 4S1ac; No. mixed, 4S?A q4S1zc,
No white, 4S1ac: No white, 4S1ac:
OATS-Market lower. No. white, 44Hxc;
No 2 mixed, 4312c.
RYE-Market stead, Ta74c.
ST.. COAL. so; choice prairie. $11O0d11.75.
BUTTER-Market steady. Creamery,
EGeGSNMarket weak. Fresh, 11hc.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-06-13

ern Pacific and Canadian Pacific were
permitted to go down a point and the
Minnea polls. st Paul and Sault Ste Marie
stocks ~ points National Lead gained
l point.
A loss of Y point in Smelling failed to
arouse the market from it's lethargy.
Many stocks some of the important rail-
ways and specialties. had not been dealt
in UP to j o'clock. United Railway in
YeStment preferred sagged ia points, To-
wa Central preferred 215 points and IN
ternational Pump preferred 61z points.
Fluctuations of an eighth seemed to be
the limit CT the markets movement ex-
cept in special stocks i'm the afternoon
when transactions were purely nominal.
Federal Mining preferred advanced IA
points, Northwestern ~ points and New
York Air Brake 3ss points, L. s. Pipe de-
clined l point.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-06-13
steamer ohio Runs AGROUND.

Victoria, B. C.. June 13.-Private
advices from Nome state that the
steamer Ohio of the White Star line
ran aground at Cape Nome yesterday
and four persons were drowned as a
result of something going wrong with
the falls when the boats were being
lowered. 1t is believed that the steam
er struck ice and was damaged so that
she began to fill. making 1t necessary
to run her ashore.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-06-13
kansas City Live stock.

Kansas City. Mo-, June 1s.--CATTLESmoo
Receipts today, 1900 head, including Low
tive steers, s5.OOd6.40; southern steers
s.. S0@5. 80; southern cows. s. 5oq3. so; ma
tive cows and heifers, $2.50GS. 40; stockers
and feeders, $35O@5.O0; bulls, So. 1905 90;
calves. $4,000 %; western fed steers S4oo
as 10; western fed cows, $3.25Q4.60.
HOGS-Receipts today. 1900 head: Mar
ket 10c lower. Bulk of sales s. sO4o;0V
heavy, $5.S5G590 packers, $5.9046OO; light,
S.. $4,000; pigs, $5.50Q6.00
SHETP-Receipts today, 5000 head
Market steady. Muttons, $5.50q6 so; lambs,
81. 00QS. 80; range wethers, $5.0oQ6.75; fed
ewes. 81. 10000.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-06-13
MAIL WAS LIGHT.
Presidents First Vacation Day a
Quiet One.

Oyster Bay, L. L, June 13.-The
first day of President Roosevelt's va
cation was begun in accordance with
the announced plan for quiet. No
visitors were scheduled and the morn
ing mail which Secretary Loeb car
ried to Sycamore Hill was small.
The office force was thoroughly or
for the summer.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-06-13
New York Produce Market.

New York, June 13.-BUTTER-Mark
Irregular Western factory, common to
firsts. l7d191hc; western imitation cream
cry finest, 20Q21c.
CHEESE-Market easy. New state fun
best, 113zc.
EGGSMarket firmer. Western firsts,
POULTRY-Alive- easy. Spring chick
ems 21c; fowls, 141zc; turkeys, PC. Dressed
poultry weak. Western broilers, 24q26c;
turkeys, 10Q14c; fowls. 12Q15c.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-06-13
VIM Allen White Talks to Graduates

Norman, Okla, June 13.-William
Allen White, author. and editor of the
Emporia Gazette. delivered an address
today to the graduates at the fifteenth
annual commencement of the Univer-
sfty of Oklahoma. Governor Frank
Frantz also addressed the students.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-06-13
New york Money Nfartet.

New York, June 13.-MONEY-Money on
call steady. 2A@21z per cent; ruling rate
21s Per cent; closing bid per cents Offer
ed at pa per cent. Time loans dull and
strong. Sixty days, go per cent; 90 days,
4 per cent; months, per cent.
CLOSE: Prime mercantile paper, 5d5z
per cent; sterling exchange easier with
actual business in bankers bills al $4-SIp
4s705 for demand and at "a SS65a4 $50 for
60 day bills; posted rates. S4S4 and Sass;
commercial bills 81. S31&-
SILVER-Bar silver. 667sc; Mexican dol
BoNDS-Governmen bonds steady.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-06-13
Made Her DRINK Acid.

Indianapolis. Ind. June 13.-Robert
Jolly killed his daughter Gladys, aged
9 years here today by forcing car
boiic acid down her throat. He had
been drinking and when arrested later
talked incoherently. 1t is believed his
mind is affected.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-06-13
GreeIey,s old Secretary insane.

Allegan, Mich, June 13.-Don C.
Henderson, once private secretary of
Horace Greeley and for many years
publisher of the defunct Allegan Jour-
nal was yesterday taken to the insane
asylum at Kalamazoo by direction of
the probate court.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-06-13
Chicaco I,roduce Market.

Chicago, Ill, June 13-CHEESE-Mar-
ket easy. Daisies, 15c; Twins, 12c; Young
Americas, 1312c.
POULTRY-Alive poultry firm. Turkeys
lie; chickens. 111zc; springs, 2oq22c.
BUTTER-Market steady. Creamery, 10
023c; dairy, 17Q21c.
EGGS-Market steady. At mark, cases
included 131x@14c.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-06-13
bonds steady.
Sugar and Comce Market.

New York June 13.-SUGAR-Raw sugar
quiet Fair refining, 1896; centrifugal. So
test. 1881; molasses sugar. $SO6 Refined
sugar quiet. Crushed. $3.50; powdered.
IS 10; graduated, $500.
COFFEE-Marxet dull. No. Rio. Csc;
No 4 Santos, 73cc.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-06-13
Cotton Market.

Galveston, Tex, June 1s-COTTON-
Market lower, II 15-16c-
New York. June 13.-COTTON-Sales to-
day 100 bales. Spot cotton closed steady.