davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-01-10
NEW TUNNEL UNDER EAST RIVER
70 BROOKLYN is OPENED.
TRAFFIC NOT HEAVY
Absence OF Transfer FACILITIES In
Brooklyn flakes Comparatively Few
People Try New Route-BrIdse
Crush Continues as Before.

New York, Jan. 9.-Service in the
new tunnel, by which subway trains
were run to Brooklyn for the first
time, was more than ample to carry
the early morning rush Or passengers
from Brooklyn to the Offices and stores
In Manhattan.
Throughout the rush hours eighteen.
trains were run at intervals Of about
three minutes. Not a passenger was
compelled to stand in any Of the rush
hour trains, and generally the two or
three rear a r were practically
empty. Most Of the Brooklyn passen-
gers left the trains at the downtown
stations in Manhattan after a short
and fast trip.
Whether the diversion Of traffic by
this new line caused any considerable
lessening of the morning crush on the
Brooklyn bridge is doubtful. The usual
delays in reaching the city by that
method were experienced by passen-
gers this morning. One reason for the
absence of a crowd from the tunnel
service is the fact that the subway
trains run only a short distance into
the heart Of Brooklyn, and that there
IL no transfer arrangement between
the subway and Brooklyn surface and
elevated lines by which the passen.
gers from the residence districts in
the borough reached the center Of
and Manhattan.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-01-10
CHINESE EDUCATED IN This
COUNTRY FORGE AHEAD.
DISTANCE THE OTHERS
ceIestiaIs Trained II United States
Show Superiority BY Results Of Ex-
amInations In Pekin-our Consul at
Canton Reports the Facts.

Washington, Jan. 9.-Chinese stu
dents educated in America have TAX
en- precedence over those educated in
Europe and in Japan, according to adj
vices received at the state depart
ment from American Consul General
Bergholz at Canton, China.
Recently the Chinese government
conducted at Pekin IN examination to
test the ability Of the students who
had been sent abroad for education.
Mr.. Bergholz says that AZ students
were examined, "a Of whom had pur-
sued their studies in Japan, IA II the
United States and four IN Belgium.
Three from Japan failed and one from
America, but Of the SO passed, only
seven secured the Doctors degree and
five Of these were educated In Amer
lea.
OF the 16 highest In rank America
had 10, the west taking the h0nors
both in the numbers Of students and
IN the rank obtained in the examine
ton. Nine Of the 10 Americans were
educated on the Pacific coast. The
students who passed with the highest
honors 9 appointed to positions In
some Of the government boards in
Pekin.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-01-10
OUT OF 400 TALEsMEN CALLED I'M
THE THAW TRIAL.
JUST ONE YESTERDAY
Result Of Strenuous Labors Of Attor-
neysg Is Very pisappointlng-Hoped
70 Get Fu.l Panel Of Il Men ~
saturday-challenaes Frequent

New York, Jan. 9.-One new sworn
juror was added to the Thaw trial
panel today, making seven in all, Sc
lected from the 400 talesmen sum
moned since the beginning Of the sec
ond hearing. Another panel Of 100
will report tomorrow morning. Justice
Bowling has announced that he will
hold court on Saturday If necessary
to complete the jury.
At. the time Of the luncheon recess
today the box was filled with six
permanent jurors, but peremptory
challenges 0 swept all the provi-
sional men away. Just before 6
o'clock, when the days venire had
been exhausted, five temporary jurors
had again been selected to fill the
back row vacancies. But once more
the arbitrary challenges were brought
into play and all but one of the men
on probation were allowed to go. The
sole survivor Of the day, who took his
place as trial juror No. u. was William
+. Doolittle, chief clerk of the audit
ing department Of the New York Cen
trail railroad. The rate Of progress was
not gratifying either to the prosecu-
tion or defense. At the close Of to-
days work the prosecution had en-
IA of 80 challenges allowed by
law and the defense had expended 10.
The court, in its discretion, can in
crease the number Of challenges al
lowed either side, and last year, at the
first trial, Justice Fitzgerald did so.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-01-10
hELIcs u FORMER OPERATION
DISCOVERED in PATIENT.
AT RED LODGE, MONT.
Dr. Pltkanen Operates on Finnish Pa
tlent Who Formerly Had an Opera
ton IN New York-TWo Rubber
Tubes and safety Pin In Wound.

Red Lodge. Jan. DR.. Gust Pit.
kanen. q local physician and surgeon,
this week performed an operation on
! young finnish miner. who had suf-
fered severely since an operation had
been performed ii him five months be.
fore. II q New York hospital, for an
abscess Of the pleural cavity.
When Dr.. Pitkanen opened the
young fellows chest to ascertain what
the trouble was he was surprised to
md a rusty safety pin and two pieces
Of rubber tubing. nearly half an inch
thick and four and i've inches long,
respectively. which had been left IN
the wound after the New York sur
geons had operated. The foreign sub
stances were removed, the wound
cleansed. and the young man, whose
name is Joakinen, is doing nicely.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-01-10
ALLEGED TO HAVE COM.
MlTTED QuApRuPLE MURDER.
CUT UP THE CORPSEs
Tony Rovori, Alias Tony Neroni, in
Jail for Killing of Three Men and a
Woman, Whose Bodies Are Be
Iieved to Have Been Dismembered.

Florence, Colo, Jan. 9.-That Err
cole Buffet, Dominick Mfnicnelio, 10
seph Minichello and Mrs. Frank
Palmetto, who mysteriously disap
peared in this city were foully muir
dered and their bodies chopped to
pieces is. the positive opinion Of the
police. The disposition made of their
bodies is believed to have been partly
revealed, BY the finding Of human
lungs, q thorax and a piece Of tongue
in the Arkansas river.
It is believed that other CHASTITY re
mains are being scattered along the
bed of the river by the swift current
and towns below here have been. no
titled to watch for the appearance OF
any evidence Of murder that may
come to the surface.
Tony Bovori, who is in jail charged
with the murder Of the Minichello
brothers, is said by Chief Of Police
Furniss to have confessed that he
killed a man In Italy before coming
to America. In his house was found
a bunch of letters addressed to, Tony
Neroni, and this is believed to be his
real name.
The Motive.
One letter was from his father In
Italy, asking him to return to the old
country and participate in a fortune
the family had recently inherited.
The father offered to use every ef-
fort to clear the son Of the murder
charge in Italy II he would return.
Bovon was engaged in market gar
dening here in partnership with the
brothers and Is accused by
the police Of having murdered them
in order to obtain their money and
other property. He. had $3.50 when
arrested.
Buffetti was an old man employed
In the garden. The police believe he
was killed because Of his knowledge
Of the other alleged murders. His
name was added to the list Of miss
ing last night.
Mrs. Palmetto was a young di.
woman who disappeared two
months ago. She has kept house for
Bovori but repeatedly refused to mari.
~ him. All her clothes have been
found in Bovori's cabin.
Learning that mobs had been or.
ganized in the surrounding coal
camps OF storm the Florence Jail and
lynch Anton Bovori. Chief Of Police
late today spirited the pris-
to another city, where he was
in the county jail.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-01-10
MAD FROM WORRY
lie KILLS HIMSELF
-
COLLEGE LAD GOES INSANE AND
COMMITS SUICIDE.

Lawrence, Kas., Jan. s.-Urban Ang-
ney, captain Of last years football
team and an all around star at Kan
9 university, committed suicide here
today BY jumping from the top Of
Frazer hall ct the university. Angney
left the following note:
Dear Jesus: NY life is passed. NY
pleasure Is gone. No pleasure for me.
onknow the reason. I was called
Tor what I owe. II / only had done It
sooner. Do not hold me responsible.
Bood!bye. May you all live happy"
Angney's home was In Wellington,
Ks1s.. and he was % years Of age. He
- 70 have graduated In June. All
classes atSthe university were closed
today A. X result 81 the suicide.
Angney's mind Is believed 20 have
been affected by worry.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-01-10
YEAST CONVICTED
OF LAND FRAUD
coNsPIRED TO OBTAIN FEDERAL
LAND FRAUDuLENTLY.

Omaha, Jan. 9.-Perry A. Yeast. a
prominent cattle man. who has been
On trial il the United States court IA.
conspiracy to defraud the govern.
ment in land entries was today found
guilty and recommended to the cl.m,
ency Of the court by the jury.
Yeast had many thousands Of acres
Of the North Platte forest reserve un.
der illegal fence. However, the count
upon which he was found guilty was
Of conspiracy with old soldiers and
widows to obtain land fraudulently.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-01-10
AFFIDAVIT is FILED.

In Leonard-smith Breach Of Promise
Suit Yesterday.
"A motion and afhdavit in opposition
to the motion and aflday!s made by
the defendant in the SUIT in which
y,attie Leonard is suing N. B. Smith
for breach Of promise was fled in
district court yesterday.
The motion filed by the defendant
recently to compel Mrs. Leonard to
put up a bond Of $500 to secure the
costs in the case is opposed on the
ground that the plaintiff has been a
resident Of the state for more than
three years and still resides in Mon
tana.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-01-10
HOSPITAL FEES FROM MEN
AND REFUSE TO AID THEM.
COUNTY TAKES BURDEN
Will Soon Be Found by the
Sheridan Board OF Commissioners
Pathetic Cases Where Companies
Have Refused to Fulfill Obligations.

Sheridan, Jan. 9.-The matter of
handling the pauper sick Of Sheridan
county has grown to enormous pro-
portions during the past -nonth and
the county commissioners have for
two days been trying to make some
arrangement Of affairs that Will be
less expensive to the taxpayer.
The bills for pauper sick during the
month Of Defender showed an alarm
ing increase sof more than $500 over
any month OF the past year.
Investigations made show methods
adopted by certain corporations and
companies doing business in the coun-
ty to be very rank and, in direct viola
ton Of the law. Several corporations
who collect monthly a hospital fee
from their employees have sent sick
and disabled be%nef1ciaries to the state
institution as county charges and the
commissioners have been forced to
meet the obligation with! cash from
the taxpayers till.
Gross Neglect.
Several cases where the companies
have sought to evade their response
bility were brought before the body.
One in which a man who fell while on
his way home from a church service,
broke his leg and was taken to the
hospital. The company refused to.
meet the bill claiming that the injury
not sustained while actually fat
work. Another, an employees daugh-
ter, sustained q broken limb. The
company refused to pay the bill on the
ground that the girl was not in their
employ and therefore not entitled to-
any benefit, yet it was found out by
the commissioners that the man had
paid $1.50 per month as hospital fee
himself and family. Single men
the same company paid one dollar
per month
The commissioners will take the
matter up with other boards in this
Of the country and a plan will
be adopted whereby the evil will be
overcome.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-01-10
RAILROAD APPEALS
AFTER CONVICTION
WILL CARRY LIVESTOCK CASE TO
!, HIGHER COURTS.

Helena, Jan. "a writ Of error
has been sued out by the Montana
Central Railroad company and a bond
filed IN the federal court for the pur.
pose Of taking the 28-hour case to
the circuit court OF appeals at San
Francisco.
The railroad was charged by the
government with having violated the
28-hour law relative to livestock shin.
ments. "A general demurrer was In.
terposed and overruled by Judge
Hunt. The defendant elected to
stand on the demurrer and Judgment
was entered for the government.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-01-10
CARTER OPPOSES THE
new GRAZING BILL
ADMINISTRATION MEASURE NOT
LIKED ~ MoNTANAN.
Especial 70 The aazstte.)

Helena, Jan. 9.-senator Carter Of
Montana has notified oficials Of the
National Wool Growes' association,
which meets here next week, that he
will soon offer an amendment to SEN
ator Burkett's bill providing for the
control Of grazing upon the public
lands in the arid sections Of the coun-
try. . |. ii ~.,NNs4
Opposing the administrations wish,
as specified in Senator Burkett's bill,
that this matter shall be controlled by
the president and the secretary Of
agriculture. Senator Carter would
place the supervision Of this proposed
Legislation entirely in the hands OF the
general land otlce Of the department
OF the interior. 49,
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-01-10
fIREMEN HOLD THE
MONTHLY MEETING
CANDIDATE IS INITIATED INTO
MAVERICK HOSE COMPANY.

Maverick hose company held it's reg
ular monthly meeting at the fire hall
last night and initiated Onicer Sage
IS the police department into the
volunteer hose company. Mr.. Sage
survived the ordeal Of initiation safe
II. and the boys then gathered about
the table and had lunch.
The refreshments consisted OF sand
wtches and . key Of liquid amber from
the Billings brewery, and while the
boys made way with the viands the
story teliers got on their fayorites and
the testers Of the company exchanged
compliments and repartee.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-01-10
SHOWS ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF
BUSINESS DURING QUARTER.
MANY THOUSAND ACRES
Fees Alone Amount to Small Fortune.
Revenue Derived From Sale Of
Crow Coded Lands Moro Than $1o,.
ooo-Three Coal Entries.

From Thursdays Daily.
The report Of Register E. 3. Els
selstyn and Receiver G. G. Bever OF
the Billings land Office, which has
been complied by chief clerk in the
land office, shows that the receipts
of the land Office during the quarter
ending December 81, amounted to
|$~26,372.26. IN view of the fact that
the part Of the year from October to
December is usually dull In the land
Office, the report shows that an ex.
%ceptionally large amount OF business
has been done by the local once.
The sum Of s2.92s.ss was received
in fees by the once during the quar-
ter, and S10.s4Ssb1 was the revenue
derived from the sale Of Grow coded
lands and combinations. For the
lots in the Huntley townsite, the sum
OF $1,760 was received and the sum Of
$2,400.69 was received as purchase
price for lands reclaimed by the recla-
nation service on the Huntley pro-
ject. Fees for taking testimony and
furnishing transcripts and plats
amounted to $ss.53. Unearned fees
and other trust funds amounted to
$114.27.
Many Homestead Entries.
There were LAG homestead entries
during the quarter, as we'll as II final
proofs, six state selections, eight
committed homesteads. three coal en-
tries. four original desert land en-.
tries and four final desert land proofs.
The total number Of acres on which
entries Of various kinds were re-
ceived amounted to 1S,5s9.19 acres.
The detailed report Of the sales Of
the public land is as follows: There
was sold ss4.55 acres OF COMMITTED
homesteads at $50 per acre. 81
292.01; 1903 acres Of excuses at $3.50
per acre, 1888; 2SO.40 acres Of coal
lands at 500 per acre, 35,60s; 557.24
acres OF original desert land at %
cents per acre. $139.31; and 3os.2o
final payments on desert land at 81 4
per acre, $5o8.20; total, $7,554.10.
Fees Received.
Fees received on the homestead
entries made during the quarter
to $3.50: commissions on
the same. $1.177.05; commissions on
2.700.s7 acres Of final proofs, 32o2.67
final commissions on committed indian
lands, 364.so:; final commissions on
Grow Indian coded lands,
fees on 3,273.s2 acres Of state
selections, s42: fees on one soldiers
So: on three coal land
declarations, 50; fees. testimony,
transcript, plats. etc, 1882; total,
q s22ss. SO.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-01-10
SPLIT in MASSACHUSETTS il
VERY SERIOUS CLEAVAGE.
STATE COMMITTEE CUT
Not Half the Members Are Present
and Of Those Who Come 1 hree
Withdraw After "Unfalr Treat
mentF-situation Looks Hopeless.

Boston Jan. 9.-rhat the split in
the ranks Of the democratic party in
Massachusetts,. manifested in the
memorable state convention In Spring
field last October, is still wide open,
was shown today at a meeting in this
city Of ~ out OF the Sc members OF the
state committee.
Many members OF the committee re-
fused to attend the meeting and de-
clared that they would heed the cali
for what they considered the regular
meeting Of the committee tomorrow.
The call for today's meeting was ID
sued by William 8. McNary Of Bos-
ton, second vice chairman Of last
years state convention. The call for
tomorrow's meeting is by ]. p. Feeney
Of Woodburn, chairman Of the state
committee. II is expected that there
will be two state conventions this
spring and that the claims Of the two
sets Of democrats to the Denver con.
vention will have to be ad5udicated
by the democratic national committee.
Call to Al.
The call today was sent to the SO
members Of the committee who were
chosen at the district caucuses last
September and also to Is members at
large chosen at the Whitney conven-
ton IN Springfield, which was subse.
quently decided by the ballot law com
mission Of the state to have been the
regular democratic state convention.
The call for tomorrow's meeting has
been sent to the same district mem.
bers and also to the members at large
chosen by the Bartlett convention at
Springfield.
OF the ~ members who gathered at
the Quincy house this afternoon, three
members later withdrew on account Of
what they claimed was unfair treat
ment by the chairman" At the con.
clusion OF the meeting, which lasted
about two hours. Mr.. McNary an.
nounced that the democratic commit
tee Of the state had organized for the
year by the election Of officers and the
adoption Of q set Of rules, and by tax.
Ing preliminary steps toward the cali
Ing Of the spring election.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-01-10
TAFT SPEAKS TONIGHT
viii Address People Of New York
City on the Philippines at Cooper
Union Hai'-Busy With Prepare.
tons.

Washington, Jan. s.-secretary TAFT
will leave here at II o'clock tomor.
row morning for New York city,
where he is to make an address on
the general subject Of the Philippines
AZ Cooper Union tomorrow night.
Yesterday and today he remained
ct bis home engaged in the prepare.
ton Of q special report on the Phil.
tppine islands for submission to the
president, and also in the preparation
OF his New York address.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-01-10
OTCh.HACKENSCHmIDT
Wrest'ers Are to Meet Ia Kansas city.
or Chicago In May or April 81 This
Year.

Baltimore, Jan. s.-Frank A. aotch,
champion wrestler Of the United
States, announced today that he had
received q telegram indicating that
George Haceknschmidt had consented
TO meet him. The dispatch was an
inquiry as to whether a date for q
match between April i and May 1
would suit. Gotch said that It would
and that either Kansas City or Chi.
cago would be chosen as the scene OF
the contest.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-01-10

morning after the murder. It was
lying OF the bed and the hands and
feet were. badly burned. "A glass lamp
had been broken and the oil had been
spilled In the rooms and had caught
or been set on fire.
The trial will probably last the bal
ance Of this week.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-01-10
CARTER LOSES ms
FIGHT FOR LIBERTY
CONVICTED ARMY EMREzzLER
MUST 60 TO PRISON.

Chicago. Jan. s.-Judge Kohlsaat, in
the United States circuit court. en-
dered a decision this afternoon in Ia.
vor Of the government in the case
against Captain %. M. Carter, former
United States army engineer, charged
with having embezzled 100000 Of
government funds through conspiracy
with contractors Greene and Gaynor.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-01-10
Kansas City Livestock.

Kansas City, Jan. 9.-Cattle: Re
ceipts, 1000. Market, strong. Native
steers, $4@5.5o; native cows and heifI
ers, $2.75@5.00; stockers and feeders
s3@4.5o bulls, $2.75@4.oo; calves.
ss.75@6,75; western steers, $3.50
800; western cows, $2.75@4.10.
Hogs: Receipts, $4,000. Market
steady. Bulk Of sales, $4.25@4.4o;
heavy, $4.s0@4.45; packers, s4.25@
4.4o; pigs and lights, $3.85@4.3O.
Sheep: Receipts, 5000. Market,
strong Muttons, $4@5; lambs, 1925
@7.oo; range wethers, $4.25@5.s5; fed
ewes, $4@4.75.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-01-10
R%ouNDHousE is 4 N

Rlkhart, Ind, Jan. s.-The round
house Of the Lake Shore railroad. to-
gether with the machine shops and
oil house. were destroyed by dre TO-
day. william shamburger, In charge
Of the tool room, was burned to death.
Loss. $685.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-01-10
New York Money Market.

sNlZE EFL-l1E
New York, Jan. 9.-Prime mercar.
tile paper. z to 8 per cent.
Sterling exchange easy. with actual
business in bankers bills at $4.85.45
@4.s5.55 for demand and at 34.s1 for
60 day bills. Commercial bills at
$4.s0.76.
Bar silver, sc.
Mexican dollars. a.
Government and railroad bonds If.
regular.
Money on call steady. 4@5h per
cent; ruling rate. 6h; closing bid, s;
offered at 5h per cent.
Time loans easy. 60 days and 80
days. s per cent; six months, s per
cent.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-01-10
TAFT is ENDORSED.

Toledo, Jan. AT a meeting Of
the Ninth Congressional district re-
publican committee today, William
II. Taft was unanimously endorsed for
president.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-01-10
CONCERT COMPANY RESTS.

ess. Moore and Family Spending
Fsw Weeks Here.
4. 8. Moore and family. members Of
: travelling musical organization. are
the city taking = rest after a long
eenosrt hour through the northwest.
y nlle Mr.. Moore and the rest Of the
l@.leNleess q ~ family ars spending !
~ Neaes here. Mr.. Moore 10 visit.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-01-10
SECURE JURY 70 TRY GRIFFIN.
Witness TestIses to Finding Dead
Body Of G. D. Gillespie.

Spokane. Jan. 9.-The jury to try
Gertie Grimm at Ritzville for the, muir
der Of 9. D. Gillespie at Lind in June
last. was completed this forenoon.
The side Of the prosecution wal
presented to the court by ". Z. South
ard. The FIRST witness was Edward
Springer Of Lind. who testified to
the body o. Gillespie on the
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-01-10

ing friends and relatives in Nebraska,
and on her return the family will
start on another concert tour cover
ing points on the Burlington In north
ern Wyoming.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-01-10
MINISTER MEJlA GOES HOME.

Washington. Jan. s.-Minister Ne
jia Of Salvador will start for home
next Tuesday on . vacation Of several
months.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-01-10
BODIES Still IN pARR MINE.

Miners Claim That All Have Not
Been Found.
Jacobs Greek. Pa. Jan. s.-1t is
persistently declared by miners here
that there are Q hundred bodies yet
IN the Darr mine. One OF the min
.ers' organizations, 1t Is claimed, has
40 members missing or unaccounted
for.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-01-10
Vital Statistics.

Red Lodge, Jan. 9.-The vital statis-
tics report for December, for the dis
trict Of which Red Lodge is a part,
shows II deaths and II births for the
month. 81 j A !
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-01-10
PASTOR RESIGNS PLACE.

Goh9re9atI6haI DlVine May Go to the
Laurel Church.
Red Lodge. Jan. s.-The Rev. H. v.
Rominger, pastor OF. the Congrega-
tional church Of Red Lodge. alta bust
nes meeting Of the congregation ten.
dered his resignation, to take effect
February 4. The Rev. Mr.. Rominger
assumed the passionate Of the Red
Lodge church last spring. It is under
stood he has received a call to the
church at Laurel, but has not yet de-
cided whether to accept or not. He
is regarded as a very able preacher.