davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Norwich bulletin., 1909-12-04
Insurance Companies Doubt Identity of Woman
 Found Dead in Bath Tub
UPWARDS OF s3O,OOo INVOLVED
Aged Woman who Now Sits ObstinateIy Mute in Po-
 lice Cell is Believed to Know Something of the East
 Orange, N. J.. Mystery which is Puzzlins the Author
 ities-Hypnotism Apparently Played Its Part

New York, Dec. 9.-The three great companies in which Mrs. Ocey Ward law MaitIn Snead held life insurance for upwards of S30,000 announced to- day that they will refuse to honor their policies until 1t has been proved that the body of the half starved young woman found in the hathtub of an un- furnished house in East Orange N. J., last Monday, is that of Mrs. Snead. The policy for $24.000 on the life of her husband. Fletcher Snead, who is missing, is also unpaid, and no claim has been put in for the insurance.
 Views of Insurance Company Agent.
 A company agent detailed upon the case said today: We do not believe Snead is dead. We do not know that Mrs. Snead is dead. It seems incred- ible that any woman not hypnotized or drugged could be persuaded to eudure such ingenuities of mental suffering and bodily privations as this poor girl now in the morgue underwent, if she had any claim on the ties of blood and family devotion.
 we do know that three separate sets of policies in duplicate on the life of young Mrs. Snead were issued in favor of her aunt. Miss Virginia Ward law, now under arrest at East Orange. on the plea, in each instance. that the
 
 money borrowed on these duplicates? We do not know"
 Police Busy With Papers.
 The police today were busy with a bundle of papers and scattered mem oranda left by Miss Wardlaw in a drugstore and recently discovered. They contained thousands of words of a compilation on insurance policies and what could be borrowed on them, min gled irrelevantly with letters of rec ommendation from some of the fore- most educators of the country, and all testifying to the refinement of sensi- blIity and intellectually of the grim old woman who now sits obstinately mute in a cell. Such names are sign ed to them as those of Alice s. Free man. president of Wellesley college; Alexander T. Ormand, professor of medical science at Princeton universi-
Norwich bulletin., 1909-12-04
WASHINGTON BANKER
 MET DEATH WHILE pUcKINa.
It Is Believed That His Gun Was As4
 oidentalIy Discharged.

Baltimore, Dec. s.-It was learned here today that R. Henrv Lynn of the American National bank of Wash ington. D. C., met death while duck ing on the SusquehRnna flats. ten miles from Havre de Grace, today. Mir. Lynn reached the duoking grounds yesterday and expected to return to Washington tonight. He was occupy ing a sink box and complained te those in charge of the tender that it was leaking He was given direc- tons what to do and appeared to have carried them out. Some time after wards, however, men in e rowboat be- longing to the tender discovered that Mfr. Lynn was not in the sink box. In- vestigation showed that the box had a hole in the end, apparently made by gunshot. It is believed that Mir. Lynn's gun was accidentally discharg- ed. but owing to the hole in the sink box and that the recoil. received per- haps in his abdomen. made 1t impos- sible for him to call for help. which was within easy reach. There are no wounds upon his body and it is evi- dent that, probably insensible from the effects of the recoil, he drowned. as the weight of his body dragged tho sinkbox down and filled it with wa- ter. The body was recovered in Ave feet of water, about fifty feet from the sinkbox he occupied and was taken to EllSton.
Norwich bulletin., 1909-12-04
The Railroad commissioner.

Governor Weeks, after giving the subject serious consideration for a week and more, decided yesterday aft ernoon to appoint as railroad com missioner Edgar J. Doolittle of Meri- den. The selection will meet general approval MT. Doolittle Is one of the leading citizens of one of the most progressive cities of the state-a place that without natural advantages has grown to it's important position through the custom its people have of standing together; there is no doubt that. with director of the New York, New Haven & Hartford road and railroad commissioner both re- gently chosen from there, it's local pride will grow. and perhaps It's dreadful grade crossings will diminish.-Hart- ford Courant
Norwich bulletin., 1909-12-04
FIRE AT NEW LONDON.
Dairy Lunch Room Wiped Out by Blaze for Which General Alarm Was Sounded.

The Dairy Lunch, Golden street, New London, owned by Peter Jerome, Jr., was cleaned out by fire Friday morn ing. One side of the entire upper floors of the building were burned out. The lower floor, that occupied by the lunch room. vas seriously damaged by wa- ter, as was the kitchen on the same floor. The ladies' dining room was but slightly damaged, this being by smoke and water, while the sleeping apartments on the floors above escap- ed damage. The tailoring establish ment of Frank Sauerzopf was slightly damaged, including wearing apparel by smoke and water.
 The fire started shortly after 4.30 o'clock and was discovered in the pas- try kitchen on the second floor, over the lunch room. by one of the cooks.
 Proprietor Jerome estimates his loss at close to $5,000 and is covered by Insurance. The cause Of the blaze Is supposed to have been a defective chimney. A general alarm was sent in.
Norwich bulletin., 1909-12-04
To Washington in Attempt to Turn Aside the Governments Programme Regarding Nicaragua
KNOX'S ULTIMATUM UNHEEDED
Emssaries First Appeal State Department and hen to Directly Appeal to Members of Consress-The Department Watching Every Move of Zelaya's Agents of Whom there are wo at a Leading Hotel.

Washington, Dec. s.-President Ze- lava has not only refused to take off, cial cognizance of Secretary Knox's note, which was practically an ultima tum. but he is declared to have de- spatched special agents to Washington to erldeavor to have the state depart fnent's ultimatum set aside, hrst by appeals to that department and sec ondly by direct appeals to members of congress The state department is en- tdrely aware of tho presence and iden- tity of these emissaries. While they are being watched in a general way, the United States is maintaining over them nothing that could be construed as espionage.
 Warships to Prevent zeIaya's Escape.
 In addition to this 1t was reported today that any attempt that Zelaya may make to escape from the country will receive the direct and vigorous at tention of the American warshipS now lying off the coasts of Nicaragua. Sec- retary Knoxs note intimated in the plainest language that the state de- pertinent looks upon Zelaya as the man responsible for the torture and death of the two Americans, Groce and Can non.
 Arrival of Nicaraguan Emisaries.
 The plan to defect the United States government programme with reference to Nicaragua came to light this eevn- ing. Senor Fernando Sanchez and Dr. V. M. Roman. the former accompanied by his family, arrived here and reg istered in leading hotel. Neither Se- nor Sanchez nor pr. Roman would tlk. They gave their address as New York.
 Members of the Central American diplomatic corps, however, were in a hutter when they discovered the new arrivals. Senor Sanchez they declar- cd, as a partner of Zeiaya in many of the latter's business ventures in Near Agua. and he has managed to amass a fortune of betwen four and five million dollars in gold. Dr. Roman, the report continued, has long been Senor San- chez's business adviser, and he, also, is close friend and adherent of Zelaya-
 Telegraph Wires Kept Hot.
 During the afternoon and early even ing more than a score of telegrafns were despatched from Senor Sanchez's rooms. Almost an equally large num- bsF were received. This te1egraphic activity, the Central Americans insist, is aimed at members of congress, with a view of winning over enough of them to render the administrators present imperative, in event 1t is presented to congress.
Norwich bulletin., 1909-12-04

ty; Charles Young. professor or as- tronomy at Princeton; Thomas R. Price, professor of English literature at Columbia university, and others.
 Fortune of s1oo,ooo Disappeared.
 In addition the papers indicate that young Mrs. Snead was the daughter of Colonel Robert M. Martin, who once lived handsomely in New York and left her a fortune of s1O0.000, which has completely disappared. His widow. Mrs. Snead's mother has also disap- peared, as utterly as her son-in-law. Fletcher Snead. The mother and sis- ter of Miss Wardlaw. who are living in lodgings in New York, still refuse to go tu East Orange to Identify the body supposed to be Mrs. Snead's. and will not discuss their family affairs. The insurance companies, insist, how ever. that all these details must be thoroughly ventilated before the poli- cies are paid.
 What pr. Wachsman Told the Officers
 New York, Dec s.--Dr. Jacob wachs- man told the Brooklyn police tonight that on September 7th last he called on Mrs. Snead at the instance of Julian Carabba, the attorney who drew her third will. The young woman, he said. was apparently under hypnotic infu- ence. When he was able to shield her eyes from the glance of the others in the room she frightened perceptibly. He found her suffering from neuras- thenia, produced by hypnosis and sar- walton. There were stitches in her side remaining from an operation of some weeks previous He was astonished that they had been allowed to remain in the wound and suggested that they be taken out Miss Virginia Ward law then suggested" continued tho physician, that take the stitches out, and, to save the young woman from any pain. that use chloroform. I told Miss Waldlaw that ,hlofoform was unnecessary and that fin Mrs. Snead's weakened condition might cause death.
 Miss Wardlaw insisted that use chloroform. but refused. I left after day if my services were further re- quired. I never heard from her again"
Norwich bulletin., 1909-12-04
ARMY BALLOON, WITHsTooD
 SHOWER OF sHRAPNEL
Fired at It from Proving Grounds Near
 Sandy Hook.

New York, Dec. 3.-A big army bal- loon which was sent up at the United States army proving grounds near Fort Hancock at Sandy Hook, today. withstood for several hours a shower of shrapnel which was fired at it at intervals from the fort.
 Officers at Fort Hancock declined to discuss the test but spectators with glasses on the shore were able to see that the gas bag was not damaged. This was confirmed when the balloon was lowered to the proving grounds at dusk.
 Several days ago a balloon was hit by cannon shots from Fort Hancock and was seen to collapse and fall. The tests are being conducted as se- cretly as possible with view to per- fecting the army in the rudiments of aerial warfare
Norwich bulletin., 1909-12-04
CHANGE IN PERSONNEL
Follows Consolidation of Shore Line
 and New York Divisions.

New Haven, Dec 3.-Following the announcement of the consolidating of the Shore line and New York divis- ions of the New York, New Haven & Hartford railroad. the following changes in the personnel were an nounced late today, to go into effect on the 18th of the month: c. H. Mot sett ds appointed trainmaster with jurisdiction over the freight service between New Rochelle and Harlem river, including the Harlem river freight stations. piers 45 and 5o, and the floating equipment. The master of lighterage will be under Mir. Mot sett, whose headquarters will be at Harlem River.
 P. W. J. Smith. as passenger train master. will be in charge of passenger train service west of New Haven. with offices in the Grand Central sta ton. J. J. Snavley as trainmaster will be in charge of the service between New Haven and Woodlawn, and on the Danbury, Ridgeneld and New Ca naan branches. E. E. Began will act as assistant trainmaster Headuuar- ters will be in New Haven.
Norwich bulletin., 1909-12-04
MEETING OF STATE GOVERNORS
To Be Held in Washington January IS,
 t9 and 20.

Washington, Dec. 3.-President Taft will make the opening address at the convention of the National Civic fed eration to begin its important work in this city Jan. IT next.
 He accepted an invitation to be pres ent and make the address which was extended by Seth Low, president of the federation, who conferred with the chief executive for fifteen minutes. A meeting of tho governors of the states is to be held in Washington Jan. 1S. 1s and 20, and MT. Low said that an effort is making to have the two con ventions work in harmony in the dis cussion of the same subjects. The fed eration will take up uniform state laws specially dealing with divorce.
Norwich bulletin., 1909-12-04
$500 AWARDED
 TO NEW LONDON WOMAN
By U. 8. Circuit Court for Death sf
 Her Husband.

Boston, Dec. 3.-For the purpose of testing the constitutionality of the fed eral employers liability act Of october, 1908, counsel for the New York. New Haven and Hartford railroad an-- nounced their intention of bringing to the United States supreme court the case in which the widow of Daniel !. Walsh of New London. Conn. was awarded S5,500 by the United States circuit court today. Walsh was killed while acting as inspector for the rail- road.
 As a ground for their attack on its constitutionality counsel assert that the act assumes to control relations be- tween employer and employe, while under the constitution congress has the power merly to regulate traffic between states. They allege also that the act discriminates against railroads in favor of steamship companies and other com- mon carriers and that it assumes 10 regulate traffic within states.
Norwich bulletin., 1909-12-04
SON OF INVENTOR COLT
To Be Tried on Charge of Fraudulent F. Use of Mails.

Kansas City, Mo-, Dec. 3.-Olcott C.. Colt of New York, a son of the invent or, will be tried at the next term of the United States district court in this city on a charge of using the mails to de- fraud. He was indicted in May, 19es but was in Paris until recently. He appeared today before Judge Phillips, who fixed his bond at $500, which was provided by George G. Gaugh, Colts father-in-law, proprietor of a printing shop.
 The indictment charges that in 1907 Olcott Colt was operating a brokerage and loan business, with offices in Kan sas City and New York. It is alleged that after he received his fee for ob- taining loans he or his experts" in- variably procured no loan.
Norwich bulletin., 1909-12-04
SHORT SUGAR WEIGHT
 FRAUD INVESTIGATION
Witness Psrr Again Tells Story oi
 the Crooked Scales.

New York, Dec. 3-The sugar trial today continued to focus upon Rich ard Parr, the special agent of the treasury department. who was fore- most in discovering and exposing short weight frauds on the Williams burg docks of the American Sugar Refining company. Parr ref1earsed once more his story of how he caught Kehoe, a tally clerk manipulating the crooked scales; how Oliver Spitzer one of the six company employees now charged with conspiracy. offered to let him naTlie his own price for hush if1G the thing up: and how Brezlnsh Spitzer's partner, hooked him by the elbow and asked anxicusly: ' Dick this fellow says you're all right Does that gor'
 Nething goes with me" Parr re- rod with heat and great detail the narrative made visible effect. and counsel for the defense was quick to retort with an attack on Parrs cred ibility.
 You started to investigate without orders from any superior officer? he was asked
 "If yeu call President Roosevelt and his secretary (now Collector Loeb) su- peri0r officers. I was working under orders," replied Parr. but if. you mean the secretary of the treasury, then I was working without orders"
 Further inquiry along this line was dropped
 Questions designed to show that Parr once wrote sheets for pool and policy room keepers were barred by the court, but Parr insisted on an an- gry denial
 The wire with which, it was shown at a former trial. the scales were ma nipulated, was produced in court again today and was identified. A working model of the scales was exhibited for the benefit of the jury. Parr told how he first came upon Kehee crouching behind the scales. Adjournment was taken until Monday.
Norwich bulletin., 1909-12-04
Fifteen Hundred
 Strikebreakers
TO TAKE PLACES OF plssATis-
 FEED swITcHMEN.
TROUBLE IS ABOUT OVER
The Railroad Managers Assert, But the Strike Leaders Say the Difficulty is Only Just Begun.

St. Paul, Minn., Dec 3.-with 1,5Oe imported, men to replace the striking sWltcnmen who are members of the oWiucnmens union of North America ana those strikers who are members or the Brotherhood of Railway Train men returning to work, managers of the Great Northern and Northern Pa cinc railroads asserted tonight that the strike is about over.
 But notwithstanding the desertion of the trainmen. and the gradual re- sumption of traffic, the strike leaders asserted tonight that the strike had only begun. Freight congestion is not appreciably relieved.
 Movement to Effect Settlement.
 After a conference this afternoon with President Hawley of the Switch mems union and E. W. Decker of the clearing house, Governor Eberhardt announced that a well defined move ment had begun to effect a settlement of the strike.
 President L. W. Hill of the Great Northern said there could be no truth in any talk of settlement even with in- dividual railroads, because the general managers had decided that they would all stand together Mr. Hill said that the railroads could get men enough Tn the east to take the strikers places. but that they did not want to bring them all in now, preferring to give the old men a chance to return as indi- viduals.
Norwich bulletin., 1909-12-04
TEN PER CENT. INCREASE
To Be Demanded by Brotherhood of
 Railroad Trainnen.

New York, Dec. 3.-Oficers of the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen, who announced yesterday that they will demand general increase of ten per cent. in pay from thirty-two rail- roads east of the Mississippi. said to- night that the men positively will not go out in sympathy with the western switchmen.
 Murdock, "to present our demands on the 11th of this month, and that the wage conference will begin on the 18th. Although every effort will be made to avert a general strike. it is impossible to predict what the out come of the conference win be-"
Norwich bulletin., 1909-12-04
Travelling Distributor of Typhoid Fe.
 yer GerTns.

Norfolk, Va, Dec. s.-A German driver of milk wagon is held re- sponsibls for the epidemic of typhoid fever .n the fashionable Ghent sec ton.
 Health Commissioner Dupuy declares the man in question is veritable cul- ture for the germs, contauinating ev- erything he touches. Accordingly to- morrow MT. Dupuy will submit to the board of control report on the case wtth recommendations that the driver be quarantined until he is cured. The German was stricken several years ago with the fever. but he apparently ssnGpoos6 his nsum hsa2<h-
Norwich bulletin., 1909-12-04
Parliament Proreaued.

London, Dec. 3.-King Edwards second parliament, which appears des- tined to become a memorable one in the country's history, was prorogued today with the customary foramlities. It will soon be dissolved and writs will be issued for new elections to the house Jan. 13 and last until Jan. A, and the new parliament will assemble about the middle of February. The proceed ings today were brief and the attend ance slight.
Norwich bulletin., 1909-12-04
BODIES OF EXECUTED
 AMERICANS BURNED
To Conceal Means of Identification
 This by Order of ZeIaya.

New Orleans, La, Dec. 31The bod ies of Leroy Cannon and Leonard Groce, the two Americans executed by order of President Zelaya of Nica- ragua, were burned, according to pas- sengers who arrived here today from Nicaraguan ports or the steamer Dic- tator. It was reported that incinera- tion was resorted to to conceal the means of identification. Afterwards, 1t was said, zelaya found 1t was im- possible to conceal the fact that the Americans had been killed, and he was forced to make report to this effect to the state department at Washing ton v
 The passengers said that all was quiet in the vicinity of Bluefields and there was no indication at the. time of. the dictators departure six days ago, or of any advance being made on the Bluefelds region by the forces of Zelaya.
Norwich bulletin., 1909-12-04
TWO HOTEL GUESTS ELECTED.
 COST PROPRIETOR s1,2se
Had Occupied . Room Rendered by .
 Friend.

New York. Dec. a.-A hotel guest may give up his room to a friend or to a friend and the friends wife without entitling the hotel to subject them to the humiliation of ejectment.
 This is the decision handed down to- day by the appellate division of the supreme court in the case of Mir and Mrs Edwin R. Smith of Stamford. Conn, who were put out of one of New fork's large hotels late at night because they occupied a room that had been placed at their disposal by a friend.
 The court affirmed the decision of the lower court in awarding the Smiths $1,25O damages.
Norwich bulletin., 1909-12-04
DEPUTY SHERIFF SHOT
For Pulling Down Black Flag Hoist
 ed by Foreign Strikers.

Pittsburg. Dec. s.-For pulling down a black flag in defiance of the orders of an infuriated mob of striking for eign workmen near the plant of the Colonial Steel company of Monaca, near here, Deputy Sheriff Conway Crowley was shot today and probably fatally wounded.
 Striking workmen at the steel plant, after taking down the American flag, placed a black flag on a pole and gathered about it. daring the police officers to take it down. Fearing fur their violence, the sheriff has placed deputies on duty at the steel plant.
Norwich bulletin., 1909-12-04
FRIDAYS CABINET MEETING.
President Taft's Message Comes il
 for More Pruning.

Washington, Dec. 3. - President Taft's first message to congress came in for pruning again today when the cabinet met. Not content with tear ing 1t to pieces in special session yes terday, the nine members of the pres ident's official family went at the mu- tilated production once more. As "a result, patches were put on here and there in the shape of inserts between certain paragraphs and some other matter was added.
 Aside from discussion of the mes- sage. the meeting considered only routine business.
Norwich bulletin., 1909-12-04
, PRESIDENT TAFT AssAiLEp.
Unqualified to Speak on Negro Prob lem in the South"

New York, Dec. s-Prssident Taft was bitterly assailed as unqualified to speak on the negro problem in the south by Francis D. Winston, former governor of North Carolina, who ad- dressed the annual meeting of the North Carolina society of New York at it's banquet at the Hotel Astor tonight. The president, he said. had written with some heat' on the subject of the negro and the franchise, matter upon which as northern man Mir. Taft had no special right to debate.
Norwich bulletin., 1909-12-04
skiff Load of Nitro oiycerine Exploded

Sistersville. Va, Dec. s.-An employe of the Marietta Torpedo company was blown to atoms, steamboat was rock ed until it took water over Ns gum so that windows were shattered today when a skin load of nftro-giycerine being transported down the river ex- ploded. A panic occurred in A school house when windows were broken and splintsrsd.
Norwich bulletin., 1909-12-04
1os-Year- Old Schooner Polly Sold.

Rockland, Me, Dec. 3.-The 105- year-old schooner Polly, the oldest coaster in active commission in the United States, for the purchase of which Commander Robert E. Peary has been negotiating, on account of her historical associations, was sold today to J. H. Weldon of Dighton, Mass. As a privateer in the war of 1872, the Polly captured number of merchant men. The purpose of her new owner in regard to the vessel is unknown.
Norwich bulletin., 1909-12-04
British Bark Foundered at Sea.

Portland. Ore, Dec. 3.-Advices re- ceived by the United States weather bureau from Tatoosh island, Wash, say that the British mour- -masted bark Matterhorn foundered at sea Novem- Der 27, seventy miles off Umanilla reef. The first mate. steward, and four sailors were drowned. Twenty seven of the crew were saved.
Norwich bulletin., 1909-12-04
Syrian Declared a White Man.

Atlanta, Ga Dec. 3-By the decis- ion of Judge W. T.. Newman of the United States district court today, Costa George Najour, a Syrian. Is de- clared a white man and eligible to the privileges of citizenship in the United States. On the ground that he is a Mongolian. it is probable that the case will be appealed by the immi- grafton bureau