davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1908-01-31
STARTS FOR SALTWATER
TO ASSUME PRISON GARB
Is Cheerful and Resigned to Sentence
Of Life Imprisonment. MUM
Makes Statement.

Merton S. Mum, whose sentence
of death for the killing of August
Franklin at Baudette last June was
recently commuted to life imprison-
ment, was taken from his cell in
the Beltrami county jail this morn
ing, and accompanied by Sheriff
Bailey and Deputy{Andrew Johnson,
started for Saltwater to begin the
life of a convict and to lose his iden-
tity among the many others who
have gone behind those grim walls
to do pennance for crime.
Mum was cheerful, laughed and
joked with, those about him, espec-
tally with Rev. S. E. P. White, the
local Presbyterian pastor, who has
been tower Of strength to Mum
during the trying ordeal through
which he passed while in sus-
.
pense awaiting the. final action of
the state pardoning board.
Life in the cell at the Bel
trami county Jail has had no bad
effect on Munn's health: in fact, he
is, physically as we'll as when he
entered the jailSprevious to his trial
last June. i
Mum wore a dark suit of clothes
and a dark brown hat, being
smooth-shaven.. His appearance
was that Of q man who was con-
signed to his fate and was going
to meetit like a man.
Prior ito. the departure of the
train from this city, Mum gave
Rev. White a sealed envelope, ad-
dressed to The Bemidji Pioneer"
with the request that the contents
be published in This paper:
The letter is herewith produced,
exactly as written by the man who
will seon be los&z to~vthe -world Tor
the balance of his earthly career.
I wish to thank the people of
Bemidji for what they have done for
unexpectedly Rev. SEP. White, Rev.
Samuel Blair, and Ensign Askin and
wife of the Salvation Army, the true
The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1908-01-31

souvenirs of the happy occasion,
if some one more decent protested,
and if the sheriff instead of inter-
fering, smiled complacedly and
said: "Oh, let the boys have their
fun'-none of these things could
lawfully be made public. And if
they were made public the sheriff
could go before the grand jury
and have the newspaper indicted
and fined.
Against the purpose of the John
Day Smith law, the Pioneer Press
has nothing to say. 1t is heartily
in accord with that purpose, and
even with the purpose of the clauses
prohibiting any but the barest
statement regarding hangings. The
less catering there is to the taste
that gloats over the sickening de-
tails of a public execution the
better. But the clauses as worded
not only 60 beyond their intention,
but as has been practically demon
strated, permit the rest of the law
or at least that portion of it intended
to prevent sheriffs from converting
hangings into a sort of private
vaudeville performance be vio-
lated with impunity.
1t is an admirable law for any
sheriff inclined to make a picnic of
a hanging. For it arms him with a
weapon with which to punish every
newspaper that exhibits his violation
of the law. But from the standpoint
of the public interest and of CON-
mon justice that portion of the law
which gags the press is menstrous.
So far from recurring that. the news
papers of the state shall, IN case the
law has been sic!ats-Gs, state what Is
untrue, that the execution took place
according to law" or say nothing at
all, the law should make it the posi-
The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1908-01-31
THE RESTRICTION PLACED
ON PAPERS is Gag LAW"
st. Paul Pioneer Press Comments Caustically on Some
Provisions Of Law Restricting Published Accounts
of Executions in Minnesota

Under the caption IAN Unwise
Gag Law" the Pioneer Press re.
Gently published the subjoined
article concerning the carrying out
Of the death penalty: .~- .
There is at least one comfort
about the Communication of the SEN
tence of Mum, the Beltrami county
murderer. No newspaper will be
fined for informing the public
whether he was executed accord
ing to law" or not. Had he been
hung and had the sheriff in charge
seen fit, as did a former sheriff
of Ramsey county, to violate the
law by making private orgy of
the occasion, and had any news
paper told the facts it would
have been liable to a fine. For
that is what happened to the Pho
neer Press when it gave the de-
tails of the hanging of Williams,
in this county, some two. years
ago. Nor are the courts to be criti-
cised for levying that fine. Tech
nioally, at least, they were CON-
PEELED to do so by the language
of the statue. For the statue
known as the John Day law'-re-
quires that any newspaper account
Of a hanging shall be confined
to the simple assertion that such
a convict at such q place and at
such a time was executed accord
ing to law
If he was not executed accord
ing to law, if the law was scanda-
lousy violated, if the sheriff invited
in a score or more of his morbidly
inclined friends, if he admitted q
newspaper reporter OF. two. if the
company braced themselves With
copious potions from pocket TASKS,
if when the execution was over
they fell upon the swinging corspe
like pack of hyenas to secure
The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1908-01-31
Finished Installing Plant.

J. ]. Doran returned this morning
from Kelliher, where he has spent
the past two weeks, installing a
steam-heating plant in the new Kelli-
her village hall. The contract price
of the plant is 500, and Doran
Bros. completed the plant yesterday,
when it was tested and pronounced
entirely satisfactory to the village
officials.
The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1908-01-31
Announcement to Candidates

+ The Pioneer will print the an
nouncements of candidates for the
forthcoming city election at the uni
form rate of 5 cents per line, each
insertion, with favors to none, and
payable strictly in advance. f.
The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1908-01-31
RUSSELL FOR MAYOR.
P j. RUSSELL Pioneer Attorney Announces His Candidacy
for Mayor of Bemidii.

desire the people of Bemidji to
know that I am candidate for
Mayor at the election Fee ruary 18th,
next.
l have decided to become a car
didate, after due deliberation, and at
the request of numerous progressive
business men. | fully realize that if
I am elected it means the loss of
much valuable time without direct
recompense.
The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1908-01-31

Bemidji is at the parting of the
ways. 1t cannot stand still. It
must advance in wealth and popula-
ton, or recede to the level of a
country village. l am, and every
good citizen should be, willing to
make some sacrifices for our mutual
good.
Am for Bemidij, Big, Bigger, Big.
gest. and Square Deal.
Respectfully.
P. J. Russell.
The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1908-01-31

Such announcements must be
entirely free from personalities of
any nature, as we reserve for our
selves the policy of this paper.
c. ]. Pryor,
Business Manager,
A. G. Rutledge,.
Managing Editor.
The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1908-01-31
Candidate for City Assessor.

Local news on last page
The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1908-01-31

1 hereby announce myself as
a candidate for alderman from the
Third ward in this city, at the forth
coming city election, to be held on
Tuesday, February 18th.
If elected to the office of alder
man, I will do all in my power to
further the best interests of the
city.
| believe in a conservative en-
forcement of all ordinances and
other laws within the Jurisdiction of
The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1908-01-31

The Warren basketball team,
claimants of the northern Minnesota
championship of last year, will play
two games in this city, one this
evening and one on Saturday
evening against the big Bemidg"
team of this city.
The members of the Warren team
arrived in the city last night, and
have been resting at a local hotel
The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1908-01-31
Bishop Morrison Here Feb. g.

Archdeacon Parshall, in charge
of the Episcopalian congregations in
this district, wishes the Pioneer to
announce that Bishop Morrison OF
Duluth will be in Bemidji February
9th, at 1890 a. M, and will preside
at services to be held at that hour.
Bishop Morrison will deliver a ser.
mon and oficiate at the communion.
Candidate for City Assessor.
I hereby announce myself as can,
didate for city assessor.
]. E. Cahill.
The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1908-01-31
Claimants of Northern Minnesota Basketball Champion
ship Will Line Up Against "Big Bemdg. "-Fosston
Teams Will Also Play
OFFICIAL LINEUP OF TEAMS:

0FFlCALSn order that there may be possibility Of disputes
and the the recent Duluth game the manage
ment Of the big Bemdg team has secured Mr. Sane of Grand Forks
D. member Of the law school at the University Of North Dakota to
referee both games.
The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1908-01-31

today. They are known as the
Warren Indians, and registered as
follows.
."Quick Eye Bussa, Quick Pass
Wahlen, Swift Foot Thomas, Speed.
away Satire, Afraid-ot-a-Bas e t
Boardman, Can't-Throw Nine"
They are a like]y-looking lot OF
players and will undoubtedly give
the local team a hard contest.
The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1908-01-31

the city, aid would lend my aid to
such enforcement. I also believe
that all measures calculated to ad-
vance the welfare of the city as a
whole should be adopted, that the
community may take it's place as the
leading city of Northern Minnesota.
solicit the support of the voters
of the third ward, and promise, if
elected, to serve their interests, to
the best of my ability.
j. BISIAR,
Evening star., 1908-01-12
Mems Brotherhood Meets.

There was a meeting of the Mems
Brotherhood of the Anacostia Baptist
Church last Tuesday evening In the edi-
flee. corner of Jefferson and Fillmore
streets. which was presided over by Rev.
James Edwards. the pastor of the church.
Devotional exercises. consisting of hymns,
prayer by Superintendent John Dent Of
the Sunday school and Scripture reading,
were held. The organization voted tc
extend its thanks to the ladies Of the
congregation for their aid in the New
Year eve entertainment in the church.
The library committee reported that the
preliminary steps had been taken looking
TO the establishment in the town of a
branch of the Public Library. Communi-
cation has been entered into with the
proper officials. it was stated. and efforts
are now being made to secure suitable
quarters in the town.
The building committee presented a let
ter asking the cooperation of the church
in the erection of Il building that Will
be used as a parsonage. a gymnasium and
Sunday school room. S. ]. T. Price
was elected as assistant secretary of the
brotherhood. 1t was decided to hold a
debate at the next meeting on a question
of general interest.
Evening star., 1908-01-12
NEW YORK CITY BONDS.
Morgan Syndicate May Increase Its
Purchases to sos, ,OOO, 900.

NEW YORK, January 11.-At special
meeting of the sinking fund commission
yesterday it was decided to increase the
option given to the ]. Pierpont Morgan
syndicate to purchase $2O.00o.00o worth
Of per cent special revenue bonds be-
fore February to s35.o00,oo0 and to
allow the syndicate until February Is to
take advantage, OF the option.
When the Morgan syndicate helped the
city out Of an embarrassing place some
time ago, when the municipality needed
cash. by buying S30.000.00O Of the rev.
enue bonds, the syndicate also obtained
an option for SEQ 200. 900 more. The in
creasing OF that option to s35.0oo.00 600 will
mean that the Morgan syndicate will
take a total Of $65.000.000 of this class
of bonds. which run for one. two and
three years. Controller Metz said yes
terday that the city was at the present
time in need Of at least $1,000,00O a day
to met the demands made upon the
treasury and that the only way the
money could be raised was by special
revenue bonds
The syndicate has already purchased
about $43, 900, 900 Of the revenue bonds,
having taken $30.000,000 in lump of the
original issue and from time to time
since $13.00O,000 Of the S20.000.O00 on
which the syndicate had an option. This
option it was said yesterday by
banker connected with the syndicate. has
been extended to the first week In
March.
Evening star., 1908-01-12
STUDY OF TUBERCULOSIS.
National Association Branch to Hold
Session in Washington.

Under the auspices Of the National
Association for the Study and Prevention
OF tuberculosis the international congress
on tuberculosis will meet In Washington
next September. Delegates will be present
from most Of the nations Of the world.
and a central committee has been formed
for each state OF the Union. The congress
will give great prominence to the non-
medical aspects of the var against the
disease. laying emphasis upon the social
and humanitarian elements of the prob
lem
The officers of the committee Of the
National Association which has the con-
gresS in charge are: Chairman, DR.. Law
renee f. Flick. Philadelphia; secretary
general, DIR. John 8. Fulton, Washington; !;
treasurer, Henry Phipps, New York. The
committee includes the following Wash
ingtonians: William II. Baldwin, Or.
George NJ. Kober. former Surgeon General
G. NJ. Sternberg and Surgeon General
Walter Wyman.
The central committee for the District
of Columbia is as follows: Dr. w C..
Woodward. DR.. 8. s. Adams, William H.
Baldwin. DR.. III. G. Boyer, DR.. B. Meade
Marion Dorset, Samuel Gompers, DR.. J..
]. Kinyoun. DR.. ]. w. Kerr. DR.. George
NJ. Kober. DR.. A. D. Melvin. DR.. John r.
Mohler. former Surgeon General r. NJ.
O'Reilly, Surgeon General p. M. Rixey,
Dr. NJ. J. Rosenau, DR.. z. c. Schroeder,
former Surgeon General George NJ. Stern
berg, DR.. c. w. Stiles, DR.. G. F. Vaughan,
c. +. Weller, DIR. c. L. Wilbur and Sur.
geon General Walter Wyman.
Evening star., 1908-01-12
Anacostia and Vicinity.

Daniel c. Smithson. who Is connected
with the Commercial National Bank of
Washington. is severely i'll at his resi-
dence on Lincoln street. Anacostia. Mr..
Smithson is suffering from pneumonia
His place as leader of the Anacostia
Methodist Episcopal Church choir has
been taken by Mr.. G. Watson Isaac Of
the local Methodist Episcopal Church.
Sergt. Charles A. Stevens of the Ana
costa police force is confined to his home
by illness and his place is being taken
by Mounted Officer NJ. K. Raedy, who is
acting sergeant.
The Ladies' Aid and the Missionary So
ciety of the Anacostia Baptist Church
held a meeting there Tuesday evening last
and disposed of a quantity of business
relating to their respective departments.
Mrs. I. D. Hudson of Village. Va, is
visiting her daughter. Mrs. John T. Dent,
1T Jefferson street. Anacostia.
Evening star., 1908-01-12
New York Mining Stocks.
DEBATING TRUST CONCERNS.
Banking Committee Considering
Membership With Clearing House.

PHILADELPHIA, January 11-Wheth-
er the trust companies of this city shall
join the Philadelphia Clearing House AS
sociatio will be considered officially when
a committee representing those banking
institutions meets within a few days Eff
fngham B. Morris. president of the Girard
Trust Company. is chairman of this COM
mittee, and he announced yesterday that
call for meeting will be sent out as
soon as definite action on the matter has
been taken by the trust companies of New
York whose officers have the proposition
under consideration.
There is strong sentiment among Of
ficers of trust companies in favor of mem
bershfp in the clearing house associa-
tion.
Philadelphia's trust companies and saw
ings fund institutions lost $25.444,S2S in
deposits during the recent financial strin-
gency according to a comparison of the
official statements of the seventy institu-
tions as made to the state commissioner
of banking December is last with the
previous statements made on May IS
1907.
Evening star., 1908-01-12
NEW YORK BANK STATEMENT.

NEW YORK, January 1.-THE state
ment of clearing house banks for the week
shows that the banks hold s6,Os4.0 .05O more
than the requirements of the % per cent
reserve rule. This is an increase of $11,-
o93 600 in the pfoportionate cash reserve
as compared with last week. when there
was a deficit of ST. 1JO9. $50. The statement
follows:
Loans, s1,117.14s,soO: decrease, :15.-
I22.2OO.
Deposits, s1,o51.s51. 500; increase. 3d.
1S5.200.
Circulation, s72.2o5ao; decrease. s2l,-
600.
Legal tenders, se2.264,soo; increase.
Specie, s2oG 49,. 800; increase, s14,e1l,-
500.
Reserve. sess ,sss.soo; increase, s1s.-
3S9,90o.
Reserve required. s262,s12.75O; increase.
S196.300.
Surplus, s6.oS4.Q5O; increase, s17,593,-
600
Ex-United States deposits, s24,371,225;
increase, l6,S03OI5.
Money on call nominal Time loans
firm: sixty days and ninety days, g; SIX
months, o.
Close: Prime mercantile paper. 6sa to
7la per cent. Sterling exchange steady,
with actual business in bankers bills at
49, 4Oa 4S5. 30 for demand and at 4S1 .2oa 4o 80
for sixty-day bills. Commercial bills. asia
a.
43s. Government bonds steady. Rail-
road bonds irregular.
The Financier will say:
The official statement of the New YORK
associated banks last week showed the
most gratifying and assuring exhibit of
reserve, disclosing surplus or S6.oS4o1o
on general deposits and a surplus OF
s24.377,225, as computed on such deposits
less those of public funds. The first de-
C -,f l,n
crisis of 1907 was 81 ,2:33 300 October 20.
This was later increased to $5i1o3.6W by
November %: from that maximum there
was a more or less gradual reduction In
this item to $11 .GO9,oJO January 4 TINS
year. and this deficiency was, as above
noted, changed to a substantial surplus
in the statement of last week. 1t was
interesting to note that in the crisis of
1893 the first deficiency was shown July
s: the banks indicated a surplus OF s2 .966
375 September .. SO that the visible
traces of the panic of that year continued
to be shown for nine weeks: such traces
have been observed in the present Crisis
fo- eleven weeks.
The exhibit of last week showed the sur
prising increase of $1S.3S9,OO in cash;
by the heavy remittances during the
week by interior correspondents of New
York banks to their reserve agencies.
probably for the reinforcement of their
previously greatly depleted reserves De
posits were augmented s5 200, and the
reserve requirements were increased sI96
300, deducting which sum from the gain
in cash left ST .593 800 as the increase
in reserve to s6.OS4,O5O. Computed upon
the basis of deposits less those of $l3,1
100 public funds, which. it may be OBJ
served. were reduced 81 100000 during the
week through recalls thereof by the Sec
retary of the Treasury, the surplus is
S24 81 225. Loans We're contracted S15-
IL, 900. probably rejecting retirements OF
clearing house loan certificates.
The detailed statement, showing the con-
dition of individual banks, was not is
sued. it being desirable to withhold such
statement until the loan certificates that
have been emitted shall be fully retired;
such retirement will most likely be ef-
fected during this week.
Evening star., 1908-01-12
THE FOREIGN MARKETS.

LONDON. January 11.-Business on the
stock exchange this week did not expand
to such an extent as had been hoped
The advent of cheaper money brought out
a number of new issues. which affected
existing securities adversely, and although
there was a fair amount of investment
buying of colonial and other trustee
stocks. the gilt-edged section Of the mar
ket closed fractionally lower than last
week.
American rails experienced some rather
sharp movements under professional OPP
erations. The business Of yesterday car
ried prices of the Pacific stocks. as we'll
as Reading and Baltimore and Ohio, sew
eral points above last Saturdays close.
but today another setback occurred and
quotations were left irregular. Compared
to last week Chicago. Milwaukee and st.
Paul was 5, Baltimore and Ohio. Reading
and Union Pacific each 3 points higher.
but Southern Pacific was and Southern
Pacific preferred 5 points lower. There
was little public buying In this section
during the week, in spite of the improved
monetary situation in the United States.
1t being generally thought that liquidation
will go on for some time yet. while ru-
mors regarding the financial condition of
the Southern railway and Erie create an
unfavOrable Impression.
Foreigners on the week moved generally
upward on good support from the conti-
nent, and the reduction in the rate of dis
count of the Bank Of France assisted in
the weekend cheerfulness.
Monetary conditions have improved con-
siderably, not only here, but on the other
markets. and this caused a sharp drop in
discount rates. which. followed by the
reduction made by the Bank of France.
created the firm belief that Germany will
follow suit Monday. and the Bank of
England next Thursday. The reserve of
the Bank of England. which is now over
twenty-four million pounds. probably will
be augmented by fresh gold arrivals and
cash return from the country. but in some
quarters 1t is considered imprudent
further to reduce the banks rate of dis
count pending formal announcement of
the resumption Of cash payments by the
American banks.
BERLIN, January 1.-THE tendency on
the bourse today was quieter. but prices
were maintained.
PARIS, January 11.-Prices on the
bourse today opened heavy on the news
from Morocco, but the closing was
strong.
Evening star., 1908-01-12
ALLEGATION OF PERJURY.
Charge Made Against Man Who Ac-
cused Policeman.

What is alleged to be perjured testimony
in the case of Policeman j. r. Stringfel-
low of the third precinct before the police
trial board yesterday afternoon, when he
was charged with not properly protecting
a prisoner from assault. may. it is said.
result in a warrant for the apprehension
of Ernest Holmes. colored, the prosecut-
ing witness in the case.
The specifications in the charges filed
against Stringfellow are that he failed to
protect Holmes. whom he had placed un-
DER arrest, from assaults at the hands OF
Joseph Leary October 10 last in the VI
cinity of NJ and 26th streets. The testi-
mony presented at the hearing showed
the assaults. was nowhere near the scene
Of the arrest and knew nothing about
Holmes. The report of this testimony
will be placed before the proper authori-
ties. it was said by members of the trial
board, with request that Holmes be
prosecuted. 1t is regarded as more than
probable that prosecutions will result.
Other cases heard before the board were
those Of Policeman w. T. HalloraE
charged with conduct unbecoming an Of
ficer and with ineff1ciency. preferred by
Police Surgeon Edmund Barry It was
alleged that Halloran. who was attached
to the fourth precinct, came into the sta
tion house November last at night in an
intoxicated condition. and during the
night became violent. as a result of which
he was sent TO his home and later to the
Emergency Hospital The defense Of the
accused is that he was suffering from
the effects of kidney trouble.
The second case-that OF Policeman
Brown. attached to the first precinct.
accused of conduct unbecon1ing TO an Of
ficer-was concluded. the report In the
case going to the superintendent OF police.
The cases of Lieut.. Shilling and Police
man Johnson of the seventh precinct,
charged with conduct unbecoming to an
officer. filed by John w. Mitchell of 32O6
P street. and growing out Of the arrest
OF several men about two weeks ago as
they were alighting from a street car,
and the additional charge of assault by
Policeman Johnson upon one Of the men.
was continued until Monday. owing to
the absence of witnesses for the prosecu-
tion.