davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-05-21
"ADAM GOD" ON TRIAL.
Sharp and His Wife Will Be Tried
Separately.

= Kansas City, Mo, May 21-James
Sharp. who calls himself adam
God" was placed on trial here today
for the killing of Patrolman Michael
Mullane, who was one of the five per-
sons who lost their lives in a re-
ligious riot here on December s.
last. It was first intended to try
Sharp and his Wife, Melissa. jointly
but separate trials were asked for and
granted today.
Holding his Bible in his hand and
frequently referring to it for guild
ance, Sharp announced that contrary
to his previous intentions, he would
not testify in his own behalf.
Il am at peace with God now" he
said, land there is nothing L could
say. but if God tells me to testify be-
fore my trial ends, 1 will. 1t is all
with God l have nothing to do with
it. for even if I spoke in my own be-
half, God would be working in me
and the things I said would be
merely the words of God passing
through me-
The state placed in evidence the
wea pons taken from the adam God"
band found after the street fight The
exhibit included several revolvers. a
number of knives of various sizes and
shot gun.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-05-21
Rogers Long Kept Secret His Aid for
the Unfortunate. Girl.

New York, May 21.-One of the
least known and most touching Of Mr..
Rogers many charitable deeds was his
care of Helen Keller, the deaf. dumb
and blind girl, whose prodigies of
learning have astonished the world.
Mr.. Rogers had his attention called
to Miss Keller when the girl had hard
ly reached her teens. Her case, a
.pitiful one, at once touched his heart.
Secretly and though agents he inter-
ested himself in the girl and provided
funds for the early attempts to bring
the light of knowledge to the then
darkened mind.
Miss Keller showed such aptitude
for learning that Mr.. Rogers continued
his benefactions and saw that the
most experienced and skillfuI teach
ers in the land were provided. As she
advanced beyond the scope of the
average instructors of those afflicted
as she was,e Mr.. Rogers searched about
and found mentors for the girl who
have been able to make her, without
doubt one of the brightest and most
charming personalities In the world
today, even when pitted against per-
sons whose faculties are in no way
impaired.
For more than a quarter of CEN
tury Mr.. Rogers as with all his deeds
of charity, kept the secret of his in
terest in Helen Keller. The fact that
one of the wealthieSt men in the
the girls foster father was not even
known to many who were Helen Kel-
ler's associates.
The story did not come out until
Mark Twain, long one of Mr.. Rogers
most intimate friends. revealed 1t
when the Virginia railway was
opened a short time ago.. On that oc-
casion Mark Twain. in, an address at
Norfolk. Va, related the then un-
known story Of Mr.. Rogers benefac-
tions to the girl who, through an at
tack of scarlet fever. had been de-
prived of sight, speech and hearing.
and who, had it not been for the mil
lionaire, would undoubtedly have
been forced to endure the pitiful
existence which is the lot of many
not so grievously afflicted.
Mr. Rogers. Mark Twain said, had
by this unheralded philanthropy pro-
vided the girl with accom- plishments
which are comparable only with
those of Joan of Arc
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-05-21
PEAvY CASE DECISION.
Commission Extends Time for the
Enforcement to January 4, 1910.

Washington. May 21.-An important
order was issued today by the inter-
state commerce commissioners is what
is popularity known as the Peavy Ele-
the matter of allowances to elevators
by the Union Pacific railroad. 1t is di-
rected that the original order shall not
become effective until January 1. 1910,
the time being extended six months.
A similar order was issued in the
cases of the traffic bureau, merchants
exchange of st. Louis, against the
Missouri Pacific the Chicago, Burling-
ton & Quincy, the Rock Island, the st.
Louis & San Francisco, and the Mis-
souri,, Kansas & Texas, the effective
date of the order in those cases being
extended to January l, 1910.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-05-21
KILLER CONVICTED.
Rogers Found Guilty of Sec
ond Degree Murder.

Lawrence. Kan. May 21-After
being out for a little more than six
hours, the jury in the Charley Rogers
case brought in a verdict of second
degree murder. Rogers, who sat hud-
died up in his chair for hours, wait
ing the verdict, Strengthened up as the
jury came into the room and looked
appealingly to the twelve men.
Then the foreman rose and read
the verdict: I'VE, your jury in the
case against Charles Rogers, find him
guilty of murder in the second de-
gree
Rogers sank back in his chair with
a dull groan. and then Strengthened
up and took the remainder of the
court proceedings like a man.
This means under the indetermin-
ate sentence law, term of from 10
to 90 years in the state penitentiary
for Rogers.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-05-21
Goes Immediately to White
House and to Work.
MRS. TAFT is BETTER
But Bad Weather Causes Him
to Cancel a Date.
LIS Greatly Pleased With His
Trip Into the South.

Washington, May 21.-President Taft
returning from Charlotte, N. G.. reach
ed Washington at 10:40 a. m. TODAY
ana entering one of the executive auto
mobiles was driven through a. heavy
rain direct to the White House. It had
neen supposed by the members of his
oinclai family that the president would
De LOO faugued to hold a cabinet meet
ing today, but Mr.. Taft was much re-
1reshed by long nights rest on the
tram and when he arrived at the ex-
ecutlve offices, gave directions that the
caDlnet be assembled for it's usual Fri
Gay morning sitting. The president
round Mrs. Taft much improved in
health
The president recently was chosen as
trustee of the Hampton institute at
Hampton, Va, and has accepted an in
vltat1on to speak there on Sunday
afternoon.
He stated on the train. however thar
unless Mrs Taft was able to make the
trip he would postpone his visit to the
famed Virginia institution On ac-
count of the bad weather the presi-
cent decided after reaching the White
House that it would not be wise to un-
dertake the trip at this time and he
telegraphed cancelling the engagement
The president will visit Hampton prob
ably before he leaves Washington. for
the summer.
Rain pursued the president all the
way from Charlotte, where on yester-
day he was in the center of a verit-
able cloudburst. Nearly four inches of
rain fell in the North Carolina city,
while the president was there and he
arrived in a drenching downpour
The presidents. first trip into the
south since his inauguration was re-
plete with incident. He spent three
nights on the train and his days were
crowded with addresses receptions,
luncheons and dinners. In Charlotte
last night the president held a public
reception during which he shook hands
seemingly with the entire population.
The president enjoyed meeting the peo-
pie thoroughly and was especially
/ pleased with the. congratula tions he re-
ceived at Charlotte on the speech he
| made there, The speech was mention-
ed by nearly everyone with whom he
shook hands.
Mr.. Taft enjoyed the two days at
Petersburg and Charlotte in every re-
spect he. declared today. He declared
nothing could convince him that the
reception he was accorded was not one
of greatest enthusiasm. The president t
was urged to visit the south again and
said he would be more than glad to do
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-05-21
HEATON TRIAL IS ON.
Defendant Shot Her Husband to Death
as He Called for Help.

lola, Kan. May 1.-Interest in the
Heaton murder case which is now on
trial in the Allen county district court
lis intense and the court room is filed
to overflowing every day. Mrs. Ar1ie
NJ. Heaton shot and killed her divorced
husband, Clinton NJ. Heaton. at his
place of business. in lola July 5, 1908,
as he was attempting to call the police
to cause her arrest
A jury has been secured and the trial
of the case will probably consume the
greater part of next week. Mrs. Hea-
ton is represented by F. ]. Oyler, who
defended S. ]. Whitlow. who was ac-
quilted of the muder of May Sapp.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-05-21
TOPEKA MAN Is KILLED.
William Philbin, Employed on Kansas
City Southern, Loses His Life.

William Philbin, who formerly was
employed as a Santa Fe brakeman
here, was killed Thursday morning
while switching cars in the yards of
the Kansas City Southern road at
Kansas City. Philbin at the time of
his death lived in Kansas City, Kan.
Mrs. Philbin and her youngest daugh-
ter were visiting in Silver Lake at the
time of the accident Lena Philbin,
the oldest daughter was visiting her
uncle and aunt, Mr.. and Mrs. o. c.
Neiswender of 1927 Buchanan street.
Mr.. Neiswender and Miss Philbin went
to Kansas City last night to take
charge of the remains. The funeral
services will probably be held at ST.
Marys. although nothing definite will
be decided upon until a. brother from
Denver arrives. Mr.. Philbin's mother
is hurled at st. Marys.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-05-21

which invited the representatives of the
interchurch conference to confer with
1t, encourage us to believe that the
movement has made great progress and
to hope that reforms will be accom-
p1ished which will in time, wipe out
much of the dishonor and disgrace that
makes Christian America conspicuous
in permitting a laxity that makes our
record our shame.
There is a strong sentiment yet
against the enactment of national law
regulating marriage and divorce, owing
to the jealousy of states to preserve
their rights. But the states should seek
the closest possible uniformity and Sc
cure the least possible perplexity and
best results for the purity of our peo-
pie, and for the peace and prosperity
OF our Christian nation.
1--WE submit the following statistics:
In 1877 the total number of di-
vorces granted was 27,91S; and in
1906, 72,062. The total number
granted in 20 years was 945,625. Ger
follows: Pennsylvania in 1887, 1,097
divorces and in 1906, 3,027; New
York in 1887, 1,042 divorces and in
1906, 2,069; North Dakota. in 1887,
81 divorces and in 1906, $50; Ohio in
1887, 2,003 divorces and in 1906, A.
and in 1906, 1850; Illinois in 1887,
1853 divorces and in 1906, 5,943;
Massachusetts in 1887, 752 divorces
and in 1906, 1.540, and Virginia in
1887. 305 divorces and in 1905, 1,074-
surely this surprising and alarm
vorces granted should call a halt and
impress all who care for their coun-
try and love Righteousness with the
necessity of discovering, if possible
the causes of such condition and
the possible cure for such
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-05-21

Dear Friends
If 1 fail to show up within a weak
something has hapend to me. I am go
ing to try dangerous but honest means
of getting some money. I give you my
word of honor that 1 am an honest
man.
LSignedl WILLIAM SHELLSMITH.
The letter was dated the 18th of
April. Not much is known of young
Shellsmiths family connections, al
though he is known to have friends
in Dubuque, Iowa. In January he
came from Seneca without funds, and
at this time the Y. M. c. A. took him
in. giving him the job of setting up
pins. and doing any little things that
happened to come up. He soon got
job as printers 8 deVil' with a news
paper, and later, from January Z to
/ 9, served as errand boy at the State
Journal office. He lost his position on
account of his apparent inability to
hustle, and at this juncture DIR. L. v.
Sans took pity on him and took him
in for three weeks. This was during
the latter part of February. He Sc
cured a job washing dishes at j. w.
Wilson's restaurant at 524 Kansas
avenue. But soon contracting a cold
on account of the kitchen steam, he
was unable to continue with the work
It was at this time that he was heard
to remark that if he did not secure a
position soon he would jump into the
river. He was successful, however, in
obtaining work driving a wagon at
which he was working until the date
of his disappearance.
Left in his room were two suit cases
containing a motley collection of per-
sonal belongings. including an old hat,
a shirt, a broken telegraph instru-
ment with batteries, and a few books,
but nothing of any great value.
Shellsmith was a big boy, probably
about 19 or 20 years of age. Those
who came in contact with him say
that there seemed to be nothing wrong
with him morally but he seemed to
be utterly devoid of ambition, and had
the look of one who is half asleep. No
clue has been discovered to the rnys-
terry but the police department has
been notified of the case and are at
work trying to solve the problem as
to the young mans whereabouts.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-05-21
INTE2MOUNTAlN RACE.
Marathon Runners Are Gathering in
Denver.

Denver. May 21-The contestants for
the intermountain Marathon champion
ship which will be run at Union Park,
May 80 have already begun to arrive
in Denver.
Sidney Hatch of Chicago, holder Of
the indoor Marathon record of hours
and A minutes, arrived yesterday and
started his training in this altitude by
running miles in So minutes 1 second.
Joe F-oreshaw of st. Louis, who fin
ished third in the Olympic games
Marathon in London, will arrive today.
He will run under the colors of the
Missouri Athletic club, and will be ac-
companied by George Dunning of the
Kansas City Athletic club.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-05-21
INTO The SCRAP HEAP.
Sir Thomas Lipton's Shamrock HI
to Be Sold for Junk.

New York, May 21.-Shamrock III,
Sir Thomas Lipton's cutter which
carried the hopes of Great Britain in
the international yacht races and was
defeated by the Reliance in 1903.
has been condemned and will be sold
for junk.
After being defeated by the Re-
lance, the Shamrock III was taken
out of the water at Erie basin and
has been high and dry for six years.
Word has reached New York that Sir
Thomas has sold the famous racer
and that it's new owners will break IT
up for the materials it contains.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-05-21
TAKES ANOTHER STEP.
State of Missouri Trying to Prevent
Restoration of Three Cent Rate.

Kansas City, Mo. May H.-Another
step was taken by the state to restrain
the railways of Missouri from restoring
the three cent passenger fare when
Seebert Jones. circuit attorney of ST.
Louis, today fled in the federal court
here an appeal from the recent decis-
ion of Federal Judge Smith Mcpherson
continuing in force a temporary in
Junction restraining the circuit attorney
from prosecuting an injunction suit
against the railroad.
Judge Mcpherson in March last de-
cided that the two cent passenger law
of Missouri was unconstitutiona and
confiscatory. and he wants the state
courts to keep out of the litigation un-
til the supreme court passes upon his
decision.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-05-21
REULBACH FOR M'iNTYRE

Boston, May 21.-Big Ed Reulbacll
for Mcintyre of the Brooklyns is the
latest rumor in the line of trades now
circulating through the camp of the
worlds champions. President Murphy
is named as the official behind the deal
which may send the celebrated wild
man across the Brooklyn bridge in ex-
change for Lumley's mighty right
handler Reulbach has been unable to
acquire anything like ordinary control
thus far in the season, and Chance Is
said to be strongly in favor of the pro-
posed change Murphy and Ebbetts
have the matter under advisement-
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-05-21
WEATHER Is PLEASANT.
River Is Falling and Is Only Little
Above Normal.

The weather observer says the Kaw
river will fall steadily now. as there
are no rains to the westward to keep
it up. At noon today the standard
gauge on the Melan bridge registered
1872 feet, which is six-tenths lower
than it was at 4 o'clock last evening
The normal stage is 8 feet The
weather prediction for showers failed.
The wind is blowing 10 miles per
hour from the northeast, and the sky
is clear The crop bulletin shows no
rainfall for the past "a hours except
at Dodge City, where 60-100 were re-
corded
The local temperature readings to-
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-05-21
DESTROY PROPERTY.
Paris Strikers Beginning to Make
Trouble for Police.

Paris, May 21.-The strikers in
Paris made several attempts today to
invade the factories and buildings
where the men had refused to work.
Minor riots and a number of arrests
resulted. Following the advice of their
leaders, the strikers are beginning to
destroy property.
The government today published re-
assuring statistics showing that out of
the nine million workmen in France
only 100000 are unionists and that
less than one-t11ird of these belongs to
unions affiliated with the general
federation of labor.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-05-21
BAG TWO BUFFALOES.
The Roosevelts Continue Their Hunt
ing on the NairObi.

Nairobi, British East Africa, May
21.-Theodore Roosevelt and his son
Kermit are continuing their hunting
excursions from their camp on the
Nairobi river. Two bull buffaloes
have fallen before their guns. One,
the bigger of the two, was brought
down by Mr.. Roosevelt alone, while
the other was bagged by Mr.. Roose-
velt and Kermit together.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-05-21
VIM. Shellsmith Disappears
Leaving a Mysterious Note.
Try Dangerous But Honest
Means of Getting Money.
HAD ACTED QUEERLY.
RoOmed at the Y. NJ. G. A.
Building.
Supposed to Have No Relatives
in Kansas.

William Shellsmith. employed by Il
local newspaper to drive d wagon. and
who roomed at the Y M. c. A. build
ing, has mysteriously disappeared AL
though he had not been seen since May
10. nothing much was thought of his
absence. and it was suggested that
possibly he had gone back to Seneca
for a few days where he was staying
before he came to this city. This morn
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-05-21

Tank wagons. acting under instruc-
tions promptly at 8 O'Clock halted
wherever they happened to be and
did not move on until the hour had
passed. .a'
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-05-21
TAFT IS BACK.
But Too Late for a Cabinet Meeting
Today.

Washington, May 21.-President
Taft and party returned from Char
lotte, n. C. today. The train carry
ing his party aboard the private car
Olympia, arrived at the Union sta
ton here at 10:4O a. m. The presi-
dent was driven direct to the White
House.
Owing to his late arrival President
Taft postponed the regular Friday
cabinet meeting to II o'clock Satur-
day morning.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-05-21
N. H. De YOUNG INVESTS
Owner of San Francisco Chronicle
Spends a Million.

New York. May 21-M H. De
Young, owner of the San Francisco
Chronicle, has purchased the eleven
story loft and office building at 236
and 23S Fifth avenue. The property
was valued at considerably more than
$1.0O0.000. The purchase was made
as a permanent investment.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-05-21
Lynching Is Expected.

Muskogee, Okla, May 21.-The negro
who assaulted Mrs. Cole a 17-year-old
bride. at her home near Sharp, Okla,
Wednesday was captured at WelIetka.
Okla. today, and placed in jail. Ex-
.citement since Wednesday has been in
tense and it is expected that threats
to lynch the negro will be carried out
tonight.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-05-21
WHEAT PASSES S1.31
: One and Quarter Higher Than Best
Previous Price for the Crop.

Chicago, May 21.-Strong foreign
wheat markets were influential today
in sending wheat on the board of trade
to $1.31A, IA cents higher than the besr
previous price for the crop
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-05-21
Weather Indications.

Chicago. May 21.-Forecast for KAN
sas: Partly cloudy in east probably
showers in west portion tonight or Sat
urday; warmer in west portions to-
night.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-05-21

ing, however, the following letter was
discovered in the top drawer of his
dresser. evidently written some time be-
fore his final disappearance:
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-05-21
Rain at Philadelphia
wei Grounds at Brookl.

Philadelphia. May 21.-National: st
Louis Philadelphia postponed, rain.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-05-21

Brooklyn, N Y, May 21.-Cincnnati-
Brooklyn postponed. wet grounds.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-05-21
Vast Machinery StiIled.

Chicago, May 21.-Between the
hours of and 10 o'clock this morn
ing. while the funeral of H. H. Rogers
was being held at New York, the vast
machinery of the Standard Oil com
pany in this city and at Whiting. Ind,
ceased to move. Hundreds of en-
Omaha daily bee., 1909-06-09

immigration to the island, mostly from
Spain, Is widening the numerical gap
between the races Cuba's area lie
about the same as the state Of Ohio
and its population about half as large.
ITS immense agricultural and mineral
resources are easily capable Of sup
porting four times the present popula-
ton. The real American invasion is
the invasion Of American ideas and
American money revolutionizing in
dustry. Good roads have opened up
transportation and Americas need for
the sugar and tobacco, which we're not
supplied under the old regime, has
stimulated investment. With a few
years OF political rest the transforma-
ton from the old, lethargic Cuba to
productive activity will be complete.
How great this transformation can not
be measured by comparison because
the census iIst taken is the first. but
the exports and imports have vastly
increased, more land is cultivated, less
wasteful methods prevail and labor is
more consistently employed.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-06-09
Revival in. Iron Trade.

Steel manufacturers at Pittsburg,
the heart OF the industry, are even
predicting that the capacity of the
mills will be unequal to supplying the
demand and that by October l the
ioodtide will be reached. II this con-
dition should materialize it would
mark the greatest industrial revival In
the history OF the country. It is true
that previous to the panic Of 1907 the
mills we're overburdened with orders,
but since that time the largest steel
plant in the world, at Gary, Ind, has
been completed and put In operation.
There appears to be good ground
for these predictions. Orders are com
ing in at a rapid rate and inquiries
for future delivery are still greater.
Mills which have been on short time
are many Of them running full force
and double shift and idle works are
resuming operation. This revival in
the steel industry of itself means work
for thousands and consequent increase
in consuming power. The industry is
so intimately related to others that 1t
cannot prosper while they languish.
Activity in the steel mills is the con-
centrated evidence OF activity in all
fines throughout the country, the key
note and not the sum of industrial
progress.
The west can we'll pride itself on
playing a leading part in the restora-
tion Of trade activity. 1t refused to
be stampeded in 1907 and halted only
because the east locked up its money.
The west carried its own burden with
It's own u and has contributed
both initiative and money to eneour-
age the timid east to catch step in the
orWard move.