St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1909-01-27

cult court pending investigation of
reasonableness Of rates. Pennsylvania
two cent rate law was invalidated by
the state supreme court. On Nov. 81
the United States supreme court ruled
that the order Of the Virginia railroad
commission fixing two cent passen-
ger rate was subject to review and
must be tried before the highest state
court before seeking federal interven-
ton. In December the circuit court of
appeals enJoined the tobacco trust from
continuing interstate traffic.
Early In January the supreme court
knocked out the employers liability
law because 1t was not confined to in
terstate corporations. On Jan. 25 1t
ruled that membership in a union
might justify dismissal of interstate
railroad employees. On Feb. 3 in the
famous Danbury hatters' boycott case
1t decided unanimously that the boy
colt as u method of fighting capital is
illegal when declared against goods In
interstate traffic. President Gompers
and other A. f. Of L. officials were en-
Joined from publishing an unfair list"
On March 8 the California supreme
court vacated the conviction of former
Mayor Schmitz, and he was freed on
heavy bail covering other charges after
having been confined ten months.
When in November his pal Boss Ruef.
was brought to trial the desperation of
the graft forces showed itself In the
act of one discredited saloon man,
Haas, who shot Heney In court.
Though Heney was seriously injured.
he recovered TO continue the fight with
Increased public sympathy. Ruef was
convicted Dec. II and faced a prison
term. Four of Pennsylvania capitol
grafters were convicted In February
and sentenced Dec. IS to two years In
prison and $500 fine each.
On Nov. 6 at New York Charles w.
Morse. the millionaire whose Illegal
banking practices were believed to
nave started the financial panic of
1907. was brought to stern justice with
conviction and a fifteen year SEN
tence. At the same time sentence for
his banking associate, President Cur.
it's Of the Bank of North America.
was suspended.
rittsburg was shocked by series :
of banking explosions and defalca-
lions. two Of which stand out as col
lossa crimes On March % Henry
Reiber. teller and John Young. audi.
tor Of the Farmers Deposit National
bank, were arrested for the misuse Of
over q million Of the bank funds. In
June they were sentenced to ten Yeas
each. On May I William Montgom-
cry, cashier Of the Allegheny National
bank, was accused Of diversions, which
ultimately ran NJ to $3.50, 900. includ
ing some state runds. lie was SEN
fenced to fifteen years in prison.
Kentu ky's tobacco Night Riders
made additional raids in spite of the
troops sent out to check them. and on
~. ~ IL bduu VI hloPOoSCooCu squat
tiers on Reeifoot lake. Tennessee, kid
mapped Captain Rankin and Colonel
Taylor of Trenton. They hung the
former, but the latter escaped by
swimming the lake. Troops were call
ed out, and many arrests were made.
The most serious race riots of the
year occurred at Springfield, ILL.,, Aug.
ii and 10. when a wild mob killed
nine persons. injured eighty and burn
ed houses occupied by negroes Troops
were called out and the leaders
brought to justice.
The last Of the Idaho cases against
miners officials ended with the ac-
quittal of George y. Pettibone in Jan
uary. Harry Orchard. the confessed
murderer of Governor Steunenburg,
whose testimony implicated the min
ers, received death sentence, which
later was committed to life term.
Caleb Powers, four times tried in
eight years for the murder of Governor
Goebel. was pardoned by Governor
Wilson of Knntupkv