davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-05-04
GEORGE SMITH GETS
 LIFE TERM N PRISON.
Jury Conuicts Prominent Alabama Farmer of Murder in First Degree
 for Staying Walter Roach.

ually the conviction was formed that too many men who had slain their fel- lowmen were walking free.
 More Respect for Law.
 Out of this feeling undoubtedly grew the verdict which sent Smith to the penitentiary for life. For. under old conditions, there were great possibil- had gone to the field of Smith and himself started the difficulty. The two had later renewed the fight in the road, with Smith the aggressor The unfortunate youth was armed with a stout oak rail while the older farmer had a heavy pine rail- In other days skillful lawyers could have built upon these circumstances a forceful defense before an Alabama jury. But now Smith. good farmer, citizen with past record for good and whose character is of the best, must go to the penitentiary for life because he slew Walter Roach with fence rail.
 It was not in evidence that Roach was an idiot The State tried to get this fact before the jury But there was no way they could frame 1t as evidence still, in the questions that were asked and refused by the judge, the jury could not fail to understand that Roach was mentally incompetent.
 Good Character Witnesses.
 Most of his neighbors stood by Smith manfully A most unusual sight was to see thirty of them lined up in the court room like an old fashioned sing ing class giving testimony in unison |. And one old man was so friendly to Smith that he made everybody in the court room understand 1t. When the class of witnesses in unison had de- clared that Smiths character in the neighborhood in which he lived was good. the old man would wait until all had answered and then say emphat- ically. Tt sho' is." at the same time neighbor in the prisoners box. Again when the class would answer the question as to whether Smith had a good character for peace and duietude, the old man would wait for silence and then say solemnly, "Qufetude. It sho' is."
 In his strong speech demanding mur- der in the first degree, Solicitor 10. II Hill devoted part of his argument to the disposition of this testimony. He compared it to the old man in the "ex- perience meeting" who confessed that he had lied, gotten drunk. fought. stole, slandered and done every kind Of dev- iiment, but who concluded his expe- rience by saying. But thank Goa brethren, I ain't never lost my re- ligion.''
 The solicitor drew comparison of this incident with the good character of the defendant. He might follow 2 man to the road take up heavy rail and crush his head like an egg shell and he and his friends could come into court and thank the Lord thai he still had his good character left.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-05-04
TAFT WILL BREAK SILENCE To Make Political Speech at Tulsa. MAY OUTLINE HIS ACTON Thinks Oklahoma Campaign of
 Greatest Import. visit To New State VIII simpI, Re In- cident In His Extended Trip
 Through the western
 Country.
MAY OUTLINE HIS ACTON

Washington. May 3-Secretary Taft, 1t is expected, win break his political silence for the first time since he has been regarded as a prospective candi- date for the Republican nomination for the Presidency In a speech which he probably will deliver at Tulsa, Okla, on June 6. on the occasion of the assem- bling of the first Republican State Con- vention.
 The Secretary has accepted an invi- tation to attend that convention. It is not specifically stated that he Is to make a speech then. but 1t is not doubt ed that he will do so, if requested, nor is it likely that the Republicans of the new State will fail to extend the nec- essary invitation.
 In Secretary Taft's opinion, the polit- ical campaign in Oklahoma will be a hot one. and probably will determine for number of years to come the po- litical complexion of the State
 The issues presented are expected to be national in character, and 1t may be possible that Secretary Taft can find much to say to the people of Oklahoma in convention assembled that will in- terest them in general Republican prin- ciples. without In any way bringing tho personal equation.
 This visit to Tulsa will be only an in- cident in a considerable Western trip which Secretary Taft is to take He probably will discuss economic subjects at the Millers' Convention at St. Louis, on the 30th Instant. which will involve an allusion to the effect of the com pietion of the Panama Canal on the important American flour trade to the Orient and the west coast of South America.
 After his Oklahoma visit, the secre- tary Is going to make an official tour if inspection of the great military posts so that he will be in position to rec new his efforts with Congress at the next session in behalf of creating great brigade posts and concentrating camps with a more comprehensive knowledge of the subject than he had when this project was first broached last year.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-05-04
RoTHwELL KNocKED OUT.
ssYoung Corbett, Badly Beaten fn Scrap
 With aIxtd guIIfvmn.v

1kt4 "fAIu BWkIEWMHs
 Baltimore. Md, May 3.-"'Kid Sullf- van" of Washington tonight knoc < ed out Young Corbett" of Denver in tho eleventh round.
 The match. which was before the Eureka Athletic Club, was scheduled to go fifteen rounds. Tn the rounds where there was any particular advant- age 1t was with Sullivan Corbett showed he was hurt fin the second round and in the fifth Sullivan knocked him through the ropes. Corbett was then In bad shape. but managed to last to the bell.
 Again in the seventh round Corbett was driven through the ropes.
 In the tenth he went to the floor for the count, just before the end of the round. Tn the eleventh Corbett was nearly exhausted. He was being beaten about the ring when Sullivan landed a good right on the jaw and again Corbett went through the ropes, this time fiat on his back, with his head to the audience, where he lay while Referee Jack McGuigan count ed him out Corbett was carried to his corner and was not revived for many minutes.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-05-04
BY WILL T. SIBERIAN.

Dothan, May 3.-(special) )-The jury called the killing of Walter Roach by George Smith murder in the first de- gree and decreed that George Smith should spend the rest of his natural life in prison The verdict was blow to Smith and a keen disappointment to his attornys.
 The verdict vas reached this morn ing at :30 o,e1ock after the twelve Jurymen had dyspent the night alternate ly doEing aTd arguing the case. In the early morpfng hours just as dawn was breakingya rap on the door notified Sheriff Butler that the verdict had been rsached and the fate of George Smith Twas settled. Judge Pearce was summoned and the attorneys for the State and defense were notified. Smith after a sleepless night and stll over wrought and under a great nervous strain. took his seat in the court room and glanced apprehensively about him. He feared the worst as he had feared 1t since the trial began. How much ne might have been at fault in the killing of Walter Roach, 1t was his first off, fence against the law and he lacks the nerve and boise of the hardened crfm- inal
 When the jury had filed in and lined up before, the Judges desk the clerk read slowly the finding of the twelve good men and true against George Smith, who was charged simply in the indictment of "murdering Walter Roach by striking him with fence rail"
 smith hears Verdict.
 When Smith caught the words Of the verdict he fully understood what they meant murder in the first degree, pun ishment at Imprisonment for lfe' he shook nervously a moment. his hands rubbed each other feverishly and his eyes filled with tears. The worst had come. His fears had been realized.
 Attorney Byrd Farmer arose in his place and asked the court for time to prepare an appeal. Smith was carried hack to his cell in the Houston County jail, broken and sorrowing man.
 Smiths attorneys were hoping for manslaughter verdict They were bas- ing the hope on the mans excellent character with his neighbors and upon the fact that the beginning of the fa- tai difficulty was the coming to Smiths field of Walter Roach. Under other conditions and in a different state of public feeling they might have hoped for verdict of acquittal. But Tn Houston County the opinion Is grow ing that there have been too many murders and that human life is held here entirely too cheap The growing feeling is common to nearly every sec ton of the county. It was not always this way. Tn Eovembgf a jury whicf freed a white man was given a scath- ing rebuke by Judge Pearce. for fiyins in the face of the evidence. And grad
The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-05-04
sTEEsDMAN SUICIDES.
Som of General Takes Life In Parissas
 Hotel

Paris. May 3.--Charles J. Steedman. of New York and Philadelphia. son of the late General Charles Steedman. committed suicide by shooting himself last night at the Hotel De Orient here.
 Mir. Steedman and his wife, who is a daughter of former Governor of Rhode Island. reached Paris from Italy accompanied by a child. They had been touring in an auto with Senator Aldrich of Rhode Island, and Mrs. Ald- rich. Since his arrival here MT. 6teed- man had become Respondent
 He was left temporarily alone in hia room last night and when the apart@ ment was re-entered he was found sit- ting bolt upright in chair with q revolver at his feet. He had shot him- self in the mouth, the bullet travers- ing the brain and passing out at the back of the skull. Death was instan- taneous. The body will be embalmed and shipped to the United States.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-05-04
OVER THOUSAND EXECUTED.
Statistics Finished of Deaths B
 Dhumhead CourtmartiaI.


 St. Petersburg. May 3.-Newspaper statistics published today give the number of sentences imposed under the drumhead court martial law which shortly expires
 From these figures 1t appears that 1,144 persons were executed. seventy nine were sent to the mines for life, ITO were condemned to minor terms of Imprisonment and seventy one were &C., quilted. In spite of Premier Stoly- pins order suspending the activity of the law after the convocatioi of par liament except in the gravest cases, thirty nine persons have been execut- ed since March 5.
 The statistics, however, are incom- plete as the sentences were subject to the confirmation of the governor generals only. who do not make any returns to St. Petersburg.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-05-04
DETROIT WITHOUT ICE.

Five Hundred Employees of Company
 GO On Strike.
 Detroit. Mich, May S.--A strike of the fee handlers of this city for an fn- crease in wages from &17.50 per week to s19.50 has resulted in Detroit being iceless today.
 No Ice was delivered anywhere. About 500 men are out. The employees of seven of the leading Ice companies struck last midnight to enforce their demand for a raise in wages and to- day the men claim the remaining firms locked out their employees, thus para lyzing tke industry.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-05-04
w,n Entertain Japs.

New York. May s-The visit to New York of the Japanese warships Tsu- kuba and Chitoso. under Vice Admiral G. IIuan about the middle of this month, will be marked by several pub He functions. Among these will be a reception and banquet to Viscount Acki the Japanese ambassador at Washington: General Baron Kuroki. Vice Admiral Ijuan and the officers of his shipS.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-05-04
AUDITORS REPORT.
state Paid Marvellous Sum For Fur
 nishing One Room.

State Paid Marvellous sum For Fur
 nishing One Room.
 Harrisburg, Pa. May 3.-According to the advance report of the auditors of the capitol investigation commit tee John H. Sanderson and Company oT PhIladelphia were paid S117,25S for the furnishing of the house caucus room of the new capital and $sS.242 for the furnishings of the senate eau GUS room.
 The most expensive furnishings in these rooms were the rostrums for which Sanderson was paid $9O.74S ana for which he paid s2,O6O to the sub contractors who supplied them. The profit of sanderson who supplied all the furnishings in these rooms are es- timated by the auditor at 1000 per cent
 The state paid $2S,57s for the chan deIiers in the senate caucus room and $21, ,000 for those m the house eau GUS room. The chairs in these two rooms cost the state over $29,000 and the sofas over $S,000.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-05-04
TWO AMERICANS ARRESTED.
,harged With COmpIieIty in Attempt
 nu preaIdRnf Cahera

Guatemala City. May 3--Among the persons arrested on suspicion of hay ing been connected with the attempt on the life of President Cabera. April 29. are two Americans, named Cooke and Wilkinson, railroad contractors.
 The latter occupied house adJoln- ing the scene of the explosive and other articles used in blasting. It is expected, however, that Wilkinson and his companion will soon be set at lib-
The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-05-04
wiu Watch Contractor.

Little Rock. Ark, May 3.-A legfs- !atlve committee which Is investigat ing tho erection of a million dollar state house reported today a recom- mendation that Caldwell and Drake, contractors be compelled to complete the building, except the dome and marble finishing and that the build ing commission elect a superintendent to be on the work continuously.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-05-04
DREDGING TRUST.
BAH to Break Combination Failed fn
 Cleveland Court.

Cleveland Court.
 Cleveland. May 3.-Louis P. Smith. of the l.. P. and J. A. Smith Company, Great Lake dredgers, filed a suit in the common Pleas Court here today. ask ing for the dissolution of a dredging trust which he says exists.
 It declares that the Great Lakes Dredging and Dock Company. which took over the l.. P. and J. A. Smith Company of this city, and the Lor- raine Dredge Company .are in an agree ment which is contrary to the valen- Eben H. Burne, Charles A. Post and Caleb E. Gowen and Thomas 1T. Will son. James A. Smith and George D. Crowley are named as defendants.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-05-04
Department without Advice..

Washington May 3.-Acting Secre- tary Newberry tonight said that the navy department had received no ad- vices regarding the alleged assault on General" Davis by Nicaraguan sol diers at Puerto Cortez. A message was received yesterday from Commander Fuldam of the gunboat Marietta, but the officials were unable to decipher and requested that 1t be repeated. No response has been received.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-05-04
Treaty is Ratified.

San Domingo. May 3.-The new treaty between the United States and Santo Domingo intended to replace the treaty which has been pending before the United StNtes Senate for twD years, was ratified by the Dominican Congress today.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-05-04

guards and no further attention is paid to local authorities.
 The government at Tegucigalpa re- quires the approval of General Estra- da on all telegrams and cables
 The commandant of San Pedro ar rived about one hour ago on a special
 No news from the interior.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-05-04
Steamers Grounded.

Kingston. Jam, May 3.-The Ham burg American steamer Prinz Auguste Wilhelm from New York April 27. grounded on a mud bank here last night. She is resting easily.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-05-04
scALPERs ARE ENJo1NE.
Norfolk Railroads Restrain Buying of
 NOn-Transferable Tickets.


 Norfolk. Va, May 3.--Judge PreR- ttess in the Norfolk City Circuit Court. today granted an injunction until May 30. restraining all ticket scalpers in Norfolk from buying or selling rail- road or other transportation non- transferable passenger tickets. A mos ton made for n permanent injunction was set for hearing on May 27.
 The action today against the scalp CTS was a concerted one by eleven railroads and transportation compa- his.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-05-04
swETTINHAM RETIREs.
an Who InsuIted Admiral Davis out

Man Who Insulted Admiral Davis out
 Of Service.
 Kingston. Jamaica. May 3-Sir Alex ander Swettenham retired from the governorship of Jamaica today.
 He has gone to his residence in the hills, where he will stay until he leaves the islands. Colonial Secretary Bourne has been installed as acting governor pending the arrival of Sydney Oliver, who sails from England tomorrow.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-05-04
N.yro Murdered unurrd.

Spartanburg. s. C.. May 2-John Shel- ton, a negro. was hanged here today for the murder of Ali Briggs. his fa- ther-in-law.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-05-04
ARRESTED FOR MURDER
 AFTER THIRTY YEARS,

Gainesville. Ga. May S.-Thirty ( years after being indicted for the { murder of William King In Madi- {
 , son County, Georgia. William { , Graham was today arrested in { , Hall County, where he has lived ( , since 1877.
 Graham is said to have beaten { , King so badly with stick that { } the latter died from his lnjur { } les.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-05-04
nETTING ON FIGHT.

odds Turn To O'BrIen and Interest
 Increases.
 Los Angeles. May 3-Betting on the twenty round fight Wednesday between Jack OBrien and Tommy Burns has shifted from even to to 10 on o'Brien. It Is expected that by the time the fight is on, the odds will be 10 to [. In- terest in the fight Is increasing. The auditorium has been enlarged and will now seat 6.500 persons. seats range tn price from sS to. SsQt
The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-05-04
MEATHER FORECAsT.

Washington. May 3--Alabama, show CTS and cooler sRturdayI Sunday fair, warmer, fresh to brisk north to north east WLndss
The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-05-04
snow Rt St. Joe.

St. Joseph. Mo, May 3.--A snow storm ragged hers this morning.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-05-04

(ContInued on Page Five1
New-York tribune., 1907-05-14
BURNS 20 BUILDINGS.
Serious Fire Visits Lincoln, n. H
Big Nils .SarCd.

Lincoln, " II. May 13-More than a score C
families were rendered homeless by fire which
swept through this village to-day and a total
loss estimated 500 900 was caused only i
fortunate subsistence of the wind which was
blowing a gale when the fire started saved the
great lumber mills Of ]. T. Henry & Sons The
large houses of George Henry and John Henry.
twenty-five cottages, a stable and store were
destroyed.
The cause Of the fire is not known. II started
in the stable OF the Henry company. The resi-
dents had nothing but buckets to in their
fight against the conhagration The cottages
occupied by employees Of the company and their
families were story and half dwellings. Most
of the occupants lost all their furniture and per
sonal belongings, and few Of them carried in
surance. The company's property well in
sured Not until apparatus and fremen arrived
from Concord were the flames brought under
control.
New-York tribune., 1907-05-14
MANY PORTRAITS STOLEN.
There's Enter Studio and Take
4. III. PeHnington's Pictures.

a report was received at the West 30th street
station last night that portraits valued at more
than $4,000 have been stolen from the loft OF the
studio of H. s. Jones. at Nos 40 and AZ West
92d street. The police have no clew TO ths
thieves, who entered the place some time be-
tween Friday morning and yesterday morning.
All of the portraits were the property Of Arthur
Il Pennington. who lives at the Hotel BrevoOrt,
Fifth avenue and Sth street.
Mr. Jones said he had locked the room above
his studio and knew that Friday all ths
pictures were there When he went there yes
-terday, he said. he discovered the loss and that
from all appearances the thieves worked, re-
alzing that they would not be disturbed.
\ landscape view. Wilton Meadows" was cut
from the frame The other pictures. however.
were taken away in the frames. They consisted
of a portrait of William Cooke one Of John Clap
ham, one of H. A. Taller, one of Josiah Penning-
ton one of John Carrere and another or
won
New-York tribune., 1907-05-14
G. 7. DEXTER ADRIFT IN BAY.
Insurance Official and Party Rescued from
Helpless Launch-Unpleasant Experience.

Word reached here yesterday Of an unpleas-
ant experience in Chesapeake Bay of George T.
Dexter. vice-president and superintendent of
agents OF the Mutual Life Insurance Company.
With Fred C. Dexter, his SON. the latter's wife
and sIster-in-aw. Mr.. Dexter was adrift in
helpless power launch for moro than six hours
on saturday. The party Gnally rescued by
"a steamer and taken TO Washington
Mr.. Dexter is a member of the New York
Athletic Club and an enthusiastic sportsman
lie and his party left here In the power launch
n week ago Monday, with the idea OF going to
the jamestown Exposition by the inside route.
Everything went well until the boat was. Off
Smiths Point Light In Chesapeake Bay; then
some trap nets fOucd the propeller and rudder,
putting them out Of commission.
New-York tribune., 1907-05-14
IRISH BILL MAY FAIL.
Gro7cing Belief That Dublin Con-
UentiOn VIII Reject Measure.

London, Nav 13-The opinion in the lobbies OF
the House of Parliament on the prospects of the
Irish Council bill, which is designed to meet the
demands for Irish Home Rule, took very pessi-
mistic turn tonight because of the growing belief
that the Nationalist convention. which is to be
held in Dublin on May q and %, will not ac-
cept the bill. In this case. in accordance with
an understanding between the Irish Secretary,
Mr. Birrell, and John f. Redmond, the National
ist leader. reached in the course of the negotla-
tions which preceded the drafting OF the bill the
government will make further attempt 70
proceed with the measure.
During the last few days Irish Catholic prel-
ates have come out strongly I'm denunciation Of
the project. The Bishop Of Limerick describes
II as "a grotesque measure" while Archbishop
Walsh saws The bill seems so bad all around
that ! will find difficulty in saying anything TO
induce the convention to approve it, 1t Is be
lieved that the effect of these utterances VIII he
that the convention, at the most. may give
qualified sanction, the conditions being that the
government consent to certain amendments. IL
Is said that Mr. Birrell is willing TO amend In
the direction Of modifying the Lord Lieutenants
mower Of veto and increasing the government
aIIovrance from So 100000 TO S50O00OO but II
is doubtful if even these concessions VIII satisfy
the convention.
New-York tribune., 1907-05-14
AUTO RUNS WILD ON FERRYB0AT.
Iriures Two Men ard Knocks Another Into
Water as Craft Rams Piling.

The jolt as the ferryhOat Babylon rammed ths
racks at her slip at 94th street from Long Island
city Yesterday started the mechanism of an auto
mobile The machine bucked through the boat.
ini,lrirg two men painfully and N1ocking a third
into the water. The automobile stuck when 1t waa
halr over the edge Of the boat and was pulled back
on board. ,-,,,
John j. Ryan. of YOnkers chauneur for William
B. Kauffmann. a druggist living at NO. ZlS WeSI
l22d street was held by the police without oall-
This was done after member of the legal depart.
rlent of the Long Island Railroad had lntornleo
MAGISTRATES Steinert that another had been
thrown into the water and drowned Ihe poIlce'
however could ind no evidence that this was true
AS usual. all the forward deck available was
crowded by the passengers. pressing asalhst tno
retaining chains across the gdngWay- Tne fnachlnS
was about feet behind the chain AS the oOsL
was about make her slip Ryan started 70 cTanA
up The tide running strong. ana ths oUe.
banged her nose against the rack, nearly knocklnS
the passengers OF their feet Something snappeu
and the machine started through the crowd JsInss
& Martin of BTenton. Long Island. ana Leon nun
teskv of Astoria were knocked to one side as tne
body of the shot under the chain Botn WeIe
injured John McCabe was hit squarely ana Wens
overheard. A deckhand pulled him out