davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1908-01-23
REPEATS HER STORY
Evelyn Nesbit Thaw Relates Ex-
periences in New York City.
SPOlLS SOME OF ITS EFFECT
District Attorney Jerome Skaters Her
Narrative by Frequent and Per-
sistent Objections.

New York, Jan. 20.-Over the objec-
tion of District Attorney jerome, who
declared the recital three years be-
fore the tragedy could have had no
effect upon the defendants mental
condition at the time he killed Stan
ford White, Mrs. Evelyn Nesbit Thaw
took the witness stand at the trial of
Harry K. Thaw, her husband, and told
again the story of her alleged ex-
periences as a girl of sixteen in New
York, Of her meeting with Stanford
White, of the house of the velvet
swing and the mirrored room; all, she
declared, exactly as she told it to
Thaw in Paris in June, 1903, when he
had asked her to become his wife.
The story was told to a filled court
room, Justice Bowling overruling the
motion of District Attorney Jerome to
CLOSE the doors to all persons not Off
oially connected with the case. Mr..
Littleton. for the defense, refused to
join in the motion, saying he pre-
ferred to leave the matter entirely to
the discretion of the court.
Young Mrs. Thaw's voice broke at
one time during her recital and the
defendant also wept; but the electric
effect of the testimony as given last
year Was missing. This was largely
due to the curse of the district attor-
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1908-01-23
DAKOTA NEWS
Items of a Week From Various
Parts of the State.
DEATH OF MARTIN BURKE
Opinions Differ as to Whether 1t Was
the Result of Accident or a
Case of Murder.

Coroner Lohrbauer and members of
the coroner's jury returned to Lakota
from Tolna, where an inquest was
held on the remains of Martin Burke,
who died as a result Of a severe and
mysterious beating received on the
night of Nov. z, while returning to
his home from Tolna.
Many persons are inclined to the
belief that Burke was murdered, while
others are as equally certain that his
injuries were received accidentally.
While Burke was n scious most of
the time after being injured, he was
unable to cast any light upon the man
ner in which he was hurt. He was
driving home from Tolna on the night
in question, and had gone about two
and one.half miles when the supposed
assault took place. He fell out of the
buggy unconscious, but revived short
ly and made his way to his home.
The evidence of DR.. Simon of Toll
ma and other physicians was to the
effect that the injuries could not have
been accidentally inflicted, but that
they were the result of blows, ap-
parently of some blunt instrument.
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1908-01-23
ALDRlCH BILL is SCORED.
Bankers Call 1t Step Backward tc
Days of Wildcat Currency.

Chicago, Jan. 20.-The resolutions
committee of the currency commits
sion of the American Bankers asso-
citation has issued a full report of the
meeting of the commission at which
the various asset currency plans now
before congress were discussed and
rejected.
The report summarizes the commits
sion's objections to the Aldrich bill
and the present Fowler bill and then
presents a bill in thirteen sections,
which the commission, with the back
ing of the association, will recommend
to congress-.
The Aldrich bill is declared to be
"impractica5le, unwise and financially
unsound." The Fowler bill, according
to the report, Introduces schemes so
farreaching in their scope and touch
ing so many collateral interests not
germane to the real solution of Our
currency difficulties that we believe
its passage would unsettle rather than
improve financial conditions"
The proposed Aldrich law is called
a step backwards to the conditions
which gave rise to the wildcat cur
rency before the Civil war"
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1908-01-23
JOHN R. WALSH CONVICTED
Chicago Banker Guilty Of Mis-.
appropriating Funds.

Chicago, Jan. 1S.-John r. Walsh,
president of the defunct Chicago Ma
tional bank, has been found guilty on
ffty-four counts of the Indictment
charging misrepresentation of the funds
of that institution. The jury was out
forty-three hours.
The penalty under the law for the
crime of which Walsh was convicted
is impris onment for a period of not
less thar five years. 1t does not per-
init of the substitution of a fine for
the prison term.
The charge against Walsh grew out
Of the closing in 1905 of the Chicago
National bank, of which Walsh was
president, and it's allied institutions,
the Home Savings bank and the
Equitable Trust company. Walsh was
accused of having loaned funds of
these institutions, aggregating some
$4,000, 900, on fictitious and INSULT
GENTLY secured notes to nearly a score
of struggling enterprises which he
himself had founded and practically
owned. Many Of the notes, it devel-
oped at the trial, were signed, without
authority, in the names of various en-
ployes of Walsh.
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1908-01-23
COMES BY Way OF PARIS
Rumors Of Plot to Blow Up
American Warships.

Paris, Jan. 21.-The reports cabled
from Rio Janeiro that the Brazilian
authorities we're warned from Paris
of a possible attempt to blow up the
American battleship fleet while in the
harbor there are true.
Some time ago certain suspicious
indicating the existence of a plot to
destroy the whole or a portion of the
fleet, either at Rio Janeiro or in the
Straits of Magellan, were aroused here
and naturally were communicated to
Rio and Washington. A chartered
steamer was reported to have con
veyed explosives for the use of the
conspirators to Rio Janiero, arriving
there about the middle of December,
and John Fedher, whose name is men
toned in the Rio dispatches, was one
of the men whose name was revealed
here as being implicated in the con
spiracy. The alleged plot is supposed
to have some rather startling ramifi-
cations, but the evidence along this
line is far from conclusive and rests
chiefly upon the statement of an indi-
vidual whose record was subsequently
proved to be anything but creditable.
Consequently the whole affair is re-
garded with much skepticism and in
deed the presumption has been raised
that it may have been a deliberately
concocted scare. In any event, it is
now believed here that if the plot
actually did exist the timely warning
and precautions taken have complete
ly frustrated the plans of the con
%spirators at Rio Janeiro and com
PEELED them to transfer their opera
lions further south, if not to abandon
them entirely. The latter hypothesis
is considered here to be the most
probable,
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1908-01-23
SOME ARE EXCEPTED.
Court Decides Hartman Must Answer
Certain Questions.

New York, Jan. 17.-Judge Hough
of the United States circuit court has
handed down an opinion directing OF
to Kahn, a member of the banking
firm of Kuhn, Loeb & Co., to answer
all questions propounded to him by
the interstate commerce commission.
e. ii. Hartman was directed to an
swer all questions except those relat-
ing to the purchase of Union and
Southern Pacific stock in connection
with the dividend of August, 1906.
While the exceptions were regard
ed as important questions by the gov
eminent lawyers who were Investigate
ing the Chicago and Alton railroad
reorganization, they constituted only
a small proportion of those that Harri-
man refused to answer.
The clash between the witness and
the commission occurred on Feb. 25
of last year. For several days the
Investigators had been epieavoring to
get at the bottom of Mp: Harriman's
railway manipulations connected with
the Chicago and Alton. The question
that marked the beginning of the con-
troversy was this:
"Did you OWL any of the Chicago
and Alton preferred stock sold by the
syndicate to the Union Pacific?"
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1908-01-23
WILL COST s3oo,ooo,ooo.
Secretary Taft Says Canal Should Be
Finished in Six Years.

Washington, Jan. 16.-Secretary
Taft appeared before the senate COM
mittee on interoceanic canals and
gave information concerning the
project and offered suggestions for
legislation. He expressed the opinion
that the canal should be completed
within six years from next July and
that it's ultimate cost will be approx
mately $500. 100000 including the
purchase price.
The proposed widening of the locks
was carefully explained by Secretary
Taft. He asserted that with the locks
widened to 40 feet a steamer of 1OS-
feet beam could easily pass through.
The largest ship this government is
planning to build will have a beam of
but IS feet. The increased cost of
the locks Mr.. Taft estimated would be
about 5000, 600.
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1908-01-23
STATE LAW IS VOID
Judge Smith Mcpherson Knocks
Out Missouri Statute.
RAILROADS GET INJUNCTION
Charters Of Foreign Corporations Can
not Be Forfeited for Transferring
Suits to Federal Courts.

Kansas City, Jan. 20.-Judge Smith
Mcpherson, in the United States dis
trict court here, declared void and un-
constitutional the statute passed by
the Missouri legislature in 1907 for
bidding foreign corporations from
transferring suits brought against
them from the state to the federal
courts upon pain of forfeiture OF their
charter. The application of the Rock
Island, the Santa Fe, the st. Louis,
Kansas City and Colorado, the Mil
waukee and st. Paul and the Chicago
and Alton Railway companies for an
injunction to prevent John E. Swan
ger, secretary Of state, from enforcing
the law was granted by the court.
Judge Mcpherson, in his decision,
goes into the law of the case at great
length and quotes freely from previ-
Gus decisions to sustain his position.
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1908-01-23
Constable Has Close Call.

Five shots through the constable's
hat testify to the excellent aim of
Frank and Zeb Smith, two boys at
Stanley, who were taken to Minot on
the charge of resisting an officer and
shooting with intent to kill. The boys
were engaged in playing a game of
seven-up in a pool hall at Stanley
when a dispute started. The boys
left, but fired back into the room. The
constable was summoned and took
after the boys, who told him to stop
or they would shoot. They shot, five
of the bullets passing through Con-
stable Miley's hat.
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1908-01-23
BLAIsDELL MAY NOT RUN.
Secretary of State Reported Out Of
Congressional Race.


Congressional Race.
1t is predicted that Secretary of
State Alfred Blaisdell will not be a
candidate for congress, but will be a
candidate for re -election as secretary
Of the state. Congressman Gronna's
definite decision to stand for re-elec-
ton and not as a candidate for the
United States senate, it is claimed,
has determined MI. Blaisdell's action.
Had Mr.. Gronna decided to make
the run for the United States senate,
as was originally intended, there is
little doubt that Mr.. Blaisdell would
have been a formidable candidate and
would have received the favorable
consideration of the Republican Or
ganization, as he probably will two
years hence, when the new congress
sional districts are created. If this
is successfully brought about it will
clear the political atmosphere consid-
erably.
Mr.. Blaisdell has the distinction of
being the youngest secretary of state
ever elected.
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1908-01-23
EVELYN NESBIT THAW.

ney, who l~nterpoSed an almost con.
tlnuou string of objections and was
nearly always on his feet, standing
PENDANT.
The attitude of the prosecutor
aWoke a tone of defiance in the wit
ness voice and this did not aid the
story; but the jury and courtroom
listened %intently.
There was no variance in the recital
from last years narrative, but it was
shorter, at the instance both of the
court and of the district attorney. Mr..
Llttleton resented Mr.. Jerome's man
ner several times and once protested
against the prosecutor attempting to
lecture the witness.
But one new feature appeared in
the testimony of the witness. This
was When she told about Thaw swal-
lowing the contents of a bottle of
laudanum at Monte Carlo in 1904 in
an attempt to end his life. Previously
to this, at the Grand hotel in New
York, Thaw had talked of suicide, his
wife declared, and had suggested that
she also should take poison, as both
their lives had been ruined. Mrs.
Thaw said she humored Thaw at the
time and diverted his mind. She was
out of the room when he finally took
the poison in Europe.
why didn't you tell us about this
at the first trial?" demanded Mr.. Je-
rome
because MIR. Delmas said it might
make Harry out too crazy" the wit.
ness retorted before the district attor.
ney could stop her.
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1908-01-23
.NCENDIARY PLOT ALLEGED
Two Men Placed Under Arrest at
Devils Lake.

Two Men Placed Under Arrest at
Devils Lake.
Chris Dahl, one of the owners of the
! x l. clothing store at Devils Lake,
and Ed Thompson, a painter, are u n
der arrest on a charge of plotting to
destroy the 100000 store building by
&re after increasing the insurance on
the clothing to $4,000. A disastrous
conflagration, which might have cost
human lives, was thwarted, according
to the police, and the arrest of the
conspirators brought about as a re-
suit of accidental hearing of the al
legged plot by a plumber named John
Houghton. The accused men deny
the charge.
The plumber entered the basement
of the place to ascertain if the plumb
ing was in good condition. A thin
partition was between H%oughton and
the clothing store basement. He
heard whispering and peered through
a crack in the partition. Houghton
says he saw Chris Dahl in %conversa-
ton with Thompson. Houghton says
Dahl was telling Thompson how to
smear gasoline all over the basement,
and says he heard Dahl tell Thompson
to be sure to place the books within
easy access of rescue.
Houghton informed Edward Flynn,
proprietor of the building, and war
rants were sworn out, charging them
with attempted arson. Dahl gave bail,
but Thompson is still at the county
Jail.
Under the laws of this state the Of
Tense with which the men are charged
Is a misdemeanor, punishable by fine
or one year in the county Jail.
The entire second floor of the Flynn
building is occupied by the Hotel Van
derhoof. which is crowded with guests.
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1908-01-23
WEALTHY WOMAN SUICIDES
Jumps From Thirteenth Story of New
York Hotel.

New York, Jan. 17.-Mrs. Herbert
M. Sears, member of a wealthy Boston
family and a guest at the Hotel st.
Regis, committed suicide by jumping
from a thirteenth story window.
Mrs. Sears had been a frequent Wis
itor at the st. Regis for several years.
She always came to the hotel accom-
panied only by a maid and frequently
remained there several days. Her ac-
lions were described by the hotel peo-
pie as erratic and the maid always
maintained a close watch over her
mistress.
The body of Mrs. Sears fell on the
roof of a four-story building adjoining
the st. Regis and the fall was heard
by the residents of that building.
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1908-01-23
GRAIN GROWERS MEET.
Prominent Speakers Address North
Dakota Farmers.

The Tri-State convention at Fargo
has ended. The forenoon and after
noon sessions of the last day were de-
incidental features, and the evening
was given over somewhat to the
ladies on home-making and domestic
economy lines.
Professor 3. G. Parker of the Min
nesota Agricultural college spoke on
the future wheat supply of the United
States. He was followed by Professor
Thomas Shaw on the annual loss of
soil fertility. The feasibility of teach
ing elementary agriculture in the COM
mon schools was the subject dis
cussed by D. J. Crosby of the agri-
cultural department at Washington.
Professor Fl. L.. Bolley of the North
Dakota Agricultural college spoke on
the results of his efforts in the eradi-
cation of weeds by the spraying tests.
A feature address of the afternoon
was by DR.. Ladd, state food commits
sioner and president of the national
pure food congress, on the milling and
bread-making qualities of durum
wheat. There was a general discus
sion of the durum wheat proposition,
and following the addresses the cleo
ton of officers occurred.
The officers for next year are: Pres
ident, ]. H. Worst, Fargo; vice presi-
dent, T. A. Voverstad, Dennison,
Mimi; secretary-treasurer, j. D. Ben
ton, Fargo.
Miss Childs of the department of
domestic economy at the North Dako-
ia Agricultural college spoke on the
relation of domestic science to the
average girls life work. Mrs. Clark
w. Kelly of Devils Lake spoke on
making a farm home beautiful, and
this was followed by an illustrated adj
dress on teaching farm agriculture by
d. ]. Crosby, an expert from Washing
ton.
The convention was a huge success,
not only from the point of attendance,
but because of enthusiasm and the in
terest shown in the proceedings.
1t was decided to add a new feature
to the next Tri-State convention in the
shape of a North Dakota corn exhibit.
The interest in the cultivation and
growth of corn in this state has de-
yeloped to such an extent that fine
yields are had and the exhibit next
year should be a big attraction.
The next session will be held in
Fargo in January, 1909.
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1908-01-23
FRENCH AND MooRs CLASH
Terrific Engagement Occurs in VII
cinity Of Settat.

Tangier. Jan. 17.-News has reached
here of a terrific ten-hour engagement
in q ravine near Settat between a
French column under the command of
General nAmade, and a column COM
manded by Mulai Rachid, one of the
chiefs of Mulai Haflid's forces. The
French succeeded in dispensing the
enemy and occupying Settat. Twenty
of the French soldiers were wounded,
but many Of the Arabs were killed.
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1908-01-23
TAFT CERTAIN OF OHIO.
Has Already Secured Majority in the
State Convention,

Columbus, o., Jan. 17.-With just
half the counties of the state heard
from the management of the canvass
for William H. Taft for the Repub-
lican presidential nomination asserted
that more than 500 delegates in the
state convention, or far more than
the control, have already been chosen
in favor of Taft. In the majority of
the cases resolutions have been passed
endorsing Taft and in all but three
the state call has been followed with
out question.
In only one place, Lake county, was
open opposition to the Taft primary
ticket reported.
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1908-01-23
Railroad Man Injured.

Edward Busch, foreman of a
switching crew of the Great Northern,
was probably fatally injured when his
chest was crushed at a Northern Pa
cific crossing at Grand Forks by a
box car on the side of which he was
riding. Only a few inches was left
between the box car and the gates,
and in this space Busch was caught.
He had been employed for twenty
years as sWitchman and had never be-
fore met with a serious accident.
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1908-01-23
WORK OF CONGRESS
Wednesday, Jan. Is.

House-So persistent have been the
efforts made to amend the bill codify-
ing the penal laws of the United
States that the committee on the re-
vision of the laws consented to let
down the bars and as a result the
measure was changed in some impor-
tant particulars.
Senate-Joint resolution passed re-
ducing from 1924, 900, 900 to 81, 600. 900
the wal indemnity of the United
States from China. Penal code bill
taken up for consideration.
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1908-01-23
Damage Suit Against Politician.

B. s. Brynjolfson, former state chair
man of the Democratic central com.
mittee Of North Dakota and a promi-
nent real estate dealer of Grand
Forks, has been made the defendant
in a sensational damage suit for $780,
900 brought by Saunders s. Reid, a
Great Northern conductor, who al.
lsges that Brynjolfson has alienated
the affections Of Mrs. Reid.
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1908-01-23
Entire Train Jumps the Track.

Flying along at the rate of forty
miles an hour, the Great Northern
%westbound passenger train No. 3
jumped the rails at a point about one
mile east of Ross, all the cars and the
engine leaving the track. No one was
hurt outside a few minor bumps and
bruises. 1t appears that the rails
spread Immediately under the drivers
of the engine, the forward trucks still
being on the track.
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1908-01-23
North Dakota Man Killed.

]. B. Graham, said to be a well-to-
do rancher from near Dickinson, N.
D., is dead at Butte, Mont, from the
effects of being drugged and beaten.
Graham was found in an unconscious
condition near the railroad tracks, his
pockets rifed and a bad wound on his
head,
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1908-01-23
ORDER AGAIN CHANGED.
Troops to Remain in Nevada a Short
Time Longer.

Washington, Jan. 17.-President
Roosevelt has informed Governor
Sparks of Nevada by telegram that he
would permit the troops to remain in
Nevada for such reasonable length of
time as would give the legislature op-
p%ortunity to organize a force to per.
form the police functions of the state.
This information was in response to a
communication from the governor to
the effect that the legislature was per.
fecting legislation to the end stated.
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1908-01-23
EmbezzIement Charged.

R. Aney, the Great Northern sta
ton agent at Niobe, was arrested at
Kenaston on a warrant charging en-
bezzlement of the company's money.
Aney was arrested at the town hall,
where a prize fight was to be pulled
off, being one of the participants. A
large crowd had already assembled.
Aney will have a hearing at Minot.
No disclosures have been made as to
the alleged shortage.
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1908-01-23
Duluth Wheat and Flax.

Duluth, Jan. 20.-Wheat-To arrive
and on track-No. 1 hard, $1.09%;
No. l Northern, $1.08A; No. 2 North
ern, $l.05%; May, $1.10A July, ST.
1885,. In store-No. 1 Northern, ST.
OTIS; No. 2 Northern, $1.04M. Flax
To arrive and on track, $1.16A;
May, $1.19h; July, $1.21A.
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1908-01-23
Charles Emory Smith Dead,

Philadelphia, Jan. 2O.-Charles EN-
DRY Smith, aged sixty-five, editor of
the Press, former minister to Russia
and postmaster general, died suddenly
at his home in this city. Death was
caused by heart trouble. For about a
month MI. Smith had been in poor
health. but his condition had not been
regarded as serious.
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1908-01-23
THREE GIRLS KILLED.
Ten Others Seriously Injured at a
Fire in Scranton, Pa.

Scranton, Pa, Jan. 1S.-Three girls
We're killed, ten seriously injured and
a score OF more slightly hurt at a
fire in the Imperial Knitting COM
pany's mill in Dix court, in the cen
trail part of the city.
Eighty-tive girls were at work on
the third floor when a fire broke out
on the ground floor, where some men
were vanishing furniture in a ware
house. 1t quickly assembled the eleva-
tor shaft and drove the panic stricken
girls to the window opening on the
fire escape. The girls on the upper
part of the fire escape crowded those
in front. With the flames enveloping
them half of them jumped from the
third floor before the firemen ar
rived.
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1908-01-23
St. Paul Union Stock Yards.

st. Paul, Jan. 2O.-Cattle-Good to
choice steers, $5.50@5.75; fair to good,
$3.25@4.75; good to choice COWS and
heifers, $3.00@3.75; veals, $3.75@5.5O.
Hogs-$4.15@4.30. Sheep-Wethers,
$4.75@5.z5: good to choice lambs,
$6.25Q6.65.
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1908-01-23
Killed in Automobile Accident.

Baltimore, Jan. 18.-George L. Bill
lups, proprietor of Billups' hotel, and
his wife were instantly killed by be-
ing thrown from an automobile at
Park Heights avenue and the Pimlico
road entrance to Druid Hill park.
Leo H. Shaad of Elk Ridge, Howard
county, the owner and driver of the
machine, was hurt internally, but not
fatallY.
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1908-01-23
ROBBERS ARE CAPTURED.
Box Car Thefts at Minot Solved at
LAST,

The Great Northern box car rob-
berries at Minot have been solved at
last. Two employees named Burns and
Daley were captured after a robbery
in which a large amount of merchan-
disc was stolen. Several hundred
dollars worth of silks were discov-
cred and later $500 worth of cigars
were found. The robberies have been
going on for some time and detec-
tives have been on the trail of the Of
tenders.