davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-11
HaskeII,s Statement.

Guthrie. Okla, May 10.-Gov. Charles N Haskell issued a statement today re- specting his connection with the so-called civil land suits and the action of Federal Judge Campbell, who at Muskogee. on Saturday last, overruled motion of the defenadnt
 The decision, the governor says, was in the cases brought by the government to recover additional moneys for town lots in Muskogee and several other Creek nation loans.
 Judge Campellls decision," says Gov ernor Haskell, merely overrules the de- fendants demurrer to the governments petition. which was principally ques- ton of the jurisdiction of the court 10 hear these suits at the instance of the interior department and after overrul- ing the demurrer, the court gave the de- fendants permission to answer, putting the facts alleged in the governments petition on issue for future trial.
 Tn the civil cases the government al- leges that there was a conspiracy be- tween the owners and schedulers of the lots, alsc that the Creek nation and the soyel 1ment officers had no Knowledge oF 
 of the criminal cases disclosed the fact that the United States officials not only had knowledge, but approved the plan and the decision has no bearing on the criminal prosecutions.
 The suits included other Creek Nation towns, as well as Muskogee. Three thou sand acres of Muskogee town site could not be involved. because the government town site only contained 2500 acres, total area of which fully four-fifths had been scheduled to the owners of Improvements thereon, and the government does not question such scheduling. Less than one fifth of the town plat was pasture lots and cultivated fields without improve ments and it is a part of this one-fifth only that the government now questions.
 The tota, valuation on all unimproved lands so plated by the government was less than $o0,000.
 ''The governments complaint does not extend over more than half of the unlm- proved plated land, and is to the effect that the whole valuation, Instead of one- half thereof, should have been realized by the government so that In no event does the government complain of the loss of more than $25,000.
 ''These complaints in the civil cases in- volve over 100 people in Muskogee alone, but the government has seen fit to seek indictments only against Governor Has, kell and six other associates.
 "The government claims that Governor Haskell is an official of corporation that secured small portion of the above un- improved lots, the government valuation of which was less than $3500, so that the real government complaint against the corporation that Governor Haskell was connected with, In dollars and cents, Is less S1750, and Governor Hasiell's s interest as a stockholder was claimed to be about 2 per cent.
 The above correction is the strongest statement that can be made against these defendants from the governments claim. based on its final records and the defendants allege they will be able to show that the government has no cause for complaint"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-11
JURY WILL SOON
 TAKE HANS CASE

Flushing, N Y. May 10.-One hour of summing up by the prosecution and after ward the courts charge-the case of Capt. Peter c. Hains, Jr., charged with the murder of William E. Annis, will pass into the hands of the jury. This, in brief, is the schedule the trial of the young army officer is expected to follow tomorrow.
 Today's session of court was marked by the final appeal by John F. Mcintyre. for the defense, and part of the final plea of George A. Gregg, for the prose cution. When adjournment was taken late this evening Justice Garretson an nounced that he would allow MT. Gregg lust an hour tomorrow in which to complete his remarks. The prevailing opinion of those who have followed the trial closely is that there may be weary wait before the verdict is reached.
 While Mir McIntyres address was basically an argument to show the in- sanity of his client, nevertheless, he neglected no opportunity to emphasize the dramatic and the pathetic, and to hint at the times when the "unwritten law" applied One of his melodramic declarations was that Annis met death by "an act of God" All references to the "unwritten law were promptly oo- jected to by the prosecution, and the objections were sustained by the court.
 MT. Gregg bitterly denounced the in- sanity plea of the defense, declaring that it was conceived and used by the defendants lawyers as last resort. He asked the jurors to discard the tes- timony of insanity experts on both sides. and to decide for themselves the guilt or innocence of the prisoner at the bar, an the strength of the testi- mony of lay witnesses,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-11
BaDtiS1S WiU Gafher
 M Greaf Contention
 m City Of Louisville

the country and the missionary work will attract men and women from foreign lands.
 The annual banquet of the members of the layfnen's movement will be held in the Galt House tomorrow evening, pre- vious to the meeting of that body on the following day. A. '. Ford or Louis vile will be master of ceremonies and the speakers will be Joshua Levering, "The Laymans Responsibility J. Camp bell White general secretary of the move ment. "The Layman's Ability; J. T. Henderson, Bristol. Va. Tenn, The Lay mans Opportunity"
 The first business session of the lay men will be held at 2:3O o'clock Wednes- day afternoon, when ex-Governor Northen of Georgia will preside These sessions will continue until Thursday afternoon and at each addresses, discussions and committee reports will be heard.
 The American Baptist Educational So- ciety is another auxiliary that will meet during the present week. The condition of the various colleges supported by Sap lists and the promotion of education and the enlargement of college endowments will be the feature of this convention.
 The Baptist Young Peoples Union will open its convention Wednesday afternoon at the armory President W. W. Hamil- ton of Atlanta will call the assembly to- gether.
 The work of the Baptist Young Peo- ple's Union Is a distinctive one and fills the gap between the Sunday school and the church itself. It's aim is to develop praying members, singing members, teachers, ushers, personal workers for souls. to organize people who shall ere ate hosptabe atmosphere in the churches.
 There will be about 600 women dele gates attending the Womans Missionary union. which Is also an auxiliary.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-11
RUSSIAN MINISTRY MAY
 RETAIN THEIR POSTS

St. Petersburg, May 1O-A solution of the cabinet crisis, whereby Premier Stoly- pin and his colleagues in the cabinet will retain their posts, was arranged at a con- ference between the premier and the Elm peror. which continued until l o'clock this morning. NJ. Stolypin returned to St. Petersburg from Tsarkoe-Selo an hour later bringing the text of ain imperial re- script, expressing the confidence of the monarch in the ministers and his grati- tude for their services and explaining the motives leading to the victory of the naval staff bill. The rescript will be pub lished in the official gazette today. The crisis was solved in a. manner peculiarly Russian. The Emperor refused to sign the bill providing for a naval staff be- cause he considered it an invasion of the prerogatives. and he declined also to &C., cept the resignations of the cabinet or dering the ministers to remain at their
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-11
INDEX OF TODAY's NEWS

Page |. Sultan of Turkey takes oath Baptists will meet at Louisville. Haskell will move to dismiss case. Turpentine trust Is found guilty. Life sentence for kidnaper. Russian ministry may be retained. Taft names democrat for office.
 Page 2. Erwin Pope trial begins at Anniston. Negro convicted at Ensley In prohi- bition violation case.
 Page 3. Mrs. James Ezell is now in jail Bob Poe is on trial for murder. The speakers at Horseshoe Bend.
 Page 4. Editorial comment.
 Page 5. Walker Percy elected president of the Country club. Clabaugh- -VanHoose case postponed to June IT. Brown Bros. & Go. to be dissolved. Brooks Lawrence may take up work in Kentucky. First meeting of new police commits sion will be held tonight. Bessemer man says he believes they will vote against bond issue unless Bessemer is recognized. Negro killed at ketona.
 Page 6. Bessemer officers watch ing for auto mobile speeders.
 Page 2. Birmin gham society. Aunt Dinah on the Servant Girl Ques- tion, by Dolly Dalrymple.
 Page 8. Wirz monument to be unveiled.
 Page g. Stock market in waiting mood Cotton advances a few points. Wheat declines under heavy selling.
 Page 10. Birmingham wins at Nashville.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-11
Turpentif1e Trust Is
 Found G1iIty By Jury
 On Conspiracy Count

Savannah. Ga, May 1o.-"Guilty' was the verdict brought in late tonight by the jury in the case of the so-called "turpentine trust" though the names of the two indicted corporations are omit ted and the verdict applies only to the five individual defendants, E. s. Nash, president of the American Naval Stores company; Spencer P. Shotter, chairman of its board of directors; George Meade Boardman of New York, It's treasurer; J. F. c. Myers. vice president of the company, and Carl Moeler of Jackson vile, Fla, manager of that company, and also Jacksonville manager of the National Transportation and Terminal company
 The sixth defendant. Charles J. De Loach, was found not guilty at the direction of the court.
 Unless deferd at the request of the de- fense, sentence will be passed tomor- row morning. A motion for new trial will be made.
 The verdict finds the five defendants guilty on the first and second counts of the indictment The third count was ordered stricken out in the early stages of the trial The first and second counts charge the defendants With conSplrlng to monopolze interstate trade.
 The jury does not mention either of the indicted corporations. the American Naval Stores company and the National Transportation and Terminal company.
 The surprise the verdict caused in the court room and in Savannah was com plete. It was generally believed that a verdict would favor the defense and that if it did not a recommendation to the 2 fl,1 .afa-tx h0 maximum sentence is a fine of $5000 and a term of one year in prison.
 After a day of argument in the so- called turpentine trust case, and after four weeks of legal battle, testimony and speeches, the hard-fought case was given into the hands of the jury Except TOT the charge of Judge Sheppard which was comprehensive, the day was given up to the argument of Assistant District Attorney Alex ASerman, who spoke first
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-11

for the prosecutions: Judge Samuel B. Adams and Gen. P W. Meldrlm, for the defense, and Attorney William Toomer of Jacksonville, who closed for the prose cution. Each side was allowed three hours.
 In the court room were the five indi- vidual defendants, E. S. Nash, s. P Shotter. J. E. c. Myers. George Meade Boardman and Carl Moeller.
 Assistant District Attorney Akerman defended the action of the government agents, himself and others against what he terms were insinuation and innuendos of the defenses counsel; asserted that the defense admitted Savannah fixes the price of naval stores and that enormous profits had been made by the alleged raising of rosin grades. He atttacked the testimony of MT. 5hotter, chain man of the board of directors of tf American Naval Stores-cvfnpan pany.s=aszsszs= A=ss
 Judge Adams line of defense was surprise. He asserted that all the v about which evidence had been r duced took place either in New Yorn Florida; that the government could not claim any of the acts had been commit ted in Georgia he declared the prosecu- tion was not bona flde, but was the result of personal and abusive yindietive- ness.
 He attacked the governments special agent. J. F. Martin, saying he had no moral. ethical or legal right to orphan sletters obtained in New Orleans, and continued:
 ''I do not mean to say that Senator Taliaferro was a party to stealing the letters. he was not there; but the fact remains that the letters eventually got into his hands,
 General Meldrim attacked the "eonspir- acv" charge, asserting no human eye had ever seen the five defendants together, and paid derisiVe tribute to "eircum- stntial evidence" in the case He as serted there had been no pretense or proving the charge that false warehouse receipts had been issude.
 MT Toomer closed the argument. Judge Sheppard at once began his charge and at the end of the days session the jury was given the case. Judge sheppard did not separate the defendants In his charge.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-11
PARIS SITUATION
 WITHOUT CHANGE

Paris. May 1O-The postal situation in Paris was unchanged tonight. The lead CTS in the movement for a general strike apparently wish to await the action of parliament tomorrow before taking any irrevocable step. The federal committee has plaoarded the city with a manifesto entitled "A Last Appeal to the Mem bers of Paliament'
 The manifesto claims that the govern ment has refused to recognize all at tenlpts al cancellation and is trying to force the postal employees into a war. It asks parliament to do it's duty.
 A mass meeting has been called for ternori ow night at which the question of striking will be discussed.
 Eleven more suspensions were an ncui eed. The places of the seven postal employees who were dismissed from the service on Saturday were filled today
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-11

posts. The latter, after reiterating their representations of the impossibility of rendering useful services under these conditions, decided that their duty, ac- cording to Russian precedents, was to continue in their present offices.
 The rejection of the staff bill was an nounced in the customary way by the sec retary of the empire at a session of the council of the empire last evening. "A law establishing a staff will be Issued later as the imperial ukase is without parlia- mentary sanction
 Under the new conditions the ministry cannot be considered stable, 1t being pointed out that the prerogative of the duma is merely to vote money and dis solution is expected at no distant date. Failing to secure the acceptance of his resignation, M Stolypln, it is understood. presented a request to the Emperor for an extension of his vacation, from which he only recently returned, ostensiby be- cause he had not fully recovered from his illness but actually to escape the embarrassment Of facing the duma.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-11

Washington. May 1o.-(Special)-The President today appointed H. G. Connor federal judge of the Eastern district or North Carolina. Judge Connor Is dem ocrat. The President raked the state Tn order to find a republican competent for the position but was unable to oo so. He therefore took up the list or democratic candidates and selected Judge Connor who is a member of the staee supreme court and first-class lawyer. The appointment is bitterly denounced bv North Carolina republicans, who say that they presented men to the Presi-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-11
SOCIETY ORGANIZED
Sons of Revolution Formed by
 Young Men of Jackson.

Jackson, Miss, May 10.-(Special.)-A score or more of the most prominent young men of the state met here tonight and organized the Mississippi Society of the Sons of the American Revolution with the following officers:
 President Judge Garland Lyell, Jack son; vice president, Judge William An derson Vicksburg: McGehee Porter of Aberdeen, and c. M. Williamson, Jack son; secretary and registrar, William PullenI Jackson; treasurer. Phillip s. Merrill, Jackson. Board of managers, Ar chibald Pepper, Lexington; G. E. Wood Jackson P. s. Merrill Jackson; George Wilson, Jr., Schlater and w. M Pullen, Jackson.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-11
Big Job for Army Court.

Washington, May 1O.-six thousand pages of testimony taken by the Sen ate committee in the Investigating of the shooting up" of Brownsville on the night of August 1S 1906. are to be con densed into a synopsis. comprising 800 pages This is to be the summers work of the court of army officers appointed by the President to pass upon the quail ifications of the 167 soldiers of the Twenty fifth infantry who were discharged with out honor, for re-enlistment. The court will endeavor to locate all the men dis charged and to ascertain their wishes with regard to re-enistment
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-11
TAFT NAMES DEMOCRAT
 FOR FEDERAL JUDGE

dent who were fully qualified for the judgeshp, and that in appointing a dem- ocrat he has destroyed all prospects in the state The situation, they claim, is not analogous to that in Alabama because North Carolina at the last cleo tion elected three republican members of Congress and hoped to increase this num- Der next year. In Alabama, 1t is pointed out the republican party has no chance to carry a single congressional district and vet in that state the President ap- pointed a man who has been affiliating with the republican party in the last seV- eral notional campaigns.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-11
NOTHING AGAINST
 JUDGE GRUBB

Washington, May lO.--(special. .)-Sen- ator Clark, chairman of the Senate Ju- dietary committee, today referred to a subcommittee, consisting of Senators De- new. Warner and Bacon, the nomination of William I. Grubb for the Northern Alabama district Senator Clark stated that he had received no word to the erect that charges would be filed against Judge Grubb. Senator Bankhead also discred- its the reports wired from Alabama that the judge would have any opposition. Sanafor Clark expects the subcommittee to report in favor of Judge Grubb's nom nation next Monday and confirmation will follow.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-11
Fast Work At Panama.

Washington. May 10.-The total excava- tion for April in the Panama canal was 8, ,454 649 cubic yards, according to ca blegram received today by the Isthmian canal commission from Chief Engineer Goethals. This amount Is less than the excavation in the previous month, but greater than the excavation in April, 1908. There were 25 working days in April as compared with 2 in March, and the rainfall for April was 4.36 inches, as compared with 10 for March.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-11
LAM ENFORCEMENT
 LEAGUE IS FOR MED

Meridian, May 10.-(Special.) )-Tonight at the conclusion of a wel-attended meeting of citizens at the Central Methodist church a Law Enforcement league was organ ized, with l.. P. Brown president, B. l.. Cranford secretary. J. G. Meadows treas rrer. committee was appointed to so- lcit members.
 The organization was precipitated as a result of an alleged violation of the Sun day law by the sale of soft drinks, cigars and ice cream. The Law Enforcement league, however, announces that the of ficers of the law are to be aided in ridding the city of other kinds of alleged violators.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-11
WILSON STICKS
 TO WHEAT THEORY

Chicago, May 1o.-Secretary Of Agricul- ture Wilson, who is in this city attend ing a meeting of the government meat inspectors, refused tonight to be drawn into any controversy with James A. Pat ten over the wheat situation.
 'Is the present price of wheat real or fictitious?" the Secretary was asked.
 "If farmers could be assured of $1 a bushel for wheat all the time," he said, "thousands of acres of pasture land in the middle west would be plowed up next year and sown to wheat"
 Could not the brokers have just as reliable a system of getting crop reports as your department?,
 q don't think so We have been per fecting our system of gathering reports for many years. I think ours is a better system"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-11
Failure of Trust Company.

Waterville, Me, May 10.-The failure of the Waterville Trust company to open its doors today because of an injunction is- sued at the request of the bank exam finer caused no excitement although it in- convenienced many business men who had accounts with the concern. The banks liabilities are placed at $1, 500, ,OO0 State Bank Examiner Skelton said today that the company had quite a block of paper on which a loss must be suffered. How much this loss will exceed the sur plus and undivided profits cannot yet be told
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-11
Prominent Panaman Dead.

Panama. May 10.-Jose Austin Arango leader of the independence movement in Panama. and secretary for foreign rela- tions in the present cabinet, died sud- denly here today from heart failure Senor Arango was the first president of the provisional government organized at the time of the declaration of Panaman in dependence. He was born in 1S41
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-11
EFFORTS MADE TO
 OBTAIN PARDON

Washington, May -(Special)-Strong efforts are being made to induce the President to pardon w. s. Harlan gen eral manager of the Jackson Lumber company, of Alabama. Harlan was con vfcted of peonage and the United States supreme court last week refused to grant a writ of certorari thus making the de- eision of the lower court stand. From all over the country appeals have come to the President in Harlan's behalf The Attorney General, at the request of the President, is now considering the case.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-11
Plea Is Made of No Jurisdic-
 ton in Land Gases
.s l! $ PAVEMENT IS ISSUED
3 Sernor Haskell and Other Defend ants Claim That They Will Show Government Has No Real
 Cause for Complaint.

Tulsa, Okla. May Ex-Governor Haskell and the six other Oklahomans, 1t Is said, will move that the federal grand Jury called to reinvestigate the Muskogee town be made when tine jury Is organized, which probably will be late tomorrow. The ground set up for dismissal will be that in the enabling act, whereby the territory and Oklahoma were permitted to become a state, there is no method pre- scribed by Congress for Investigating cases committed in the territories prior to statehood. and that the federal court has no jurisdiction over such cases.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-11
Whole Family Drowned.

Flu Claire Wis, May 10.-None being able to swim. George Hall. aged 2l, R. H. Sweet. 45. Sweets wife and four children. were drowned in the swollen waters of the Chippewa river here Sat urday night when Malls gasoline launch, which they were trying out for the first time. capslzed in midst of the stream upon striking some sunlSen bling.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-11
OFFICE BUILDING
 DAMAGED BY FIRE

Meridian, Miss, May 1O.-tSpecial. .)-For a while tonight fire threatened the com plete destruction of the six-story Miazza- Woods office building. When discovered the flames had eaten their way through the roof originating in the switch room opposite the elevator entrance on the sixth floor The firemen were forced to ascend to the roof by climbing the lad der fire escapes. The blaze was ex- tinguished after doing damage to the extent of probably $5000.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-11
Woman Found Dead.

Vincent, La. Nay 1O.-when J. J. Vim cent. with his little daughter, returned from church last night he found his wife lying dead on the back gallery of their home from the effects of a full charge from a shotgun, which was nearby While the coroner held an inquest, no verdict has thus far been returned. The family Is one of the wealthiest and most nromi- nant of this parish.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-11
One Way To Manage An Estate.

Frankfort Ky. May 10--Because the heirs of the late Miss Mary Crutcher, who lived on farm near this city. could not agree upon disposition of her property and estate. they locked the house and left it untenated. This was several months ago. Today 1t was found the house had been entered. Her trunk was broken open ad about $500 in gold cer- tificates taken The robbers left $523 on the floor which the heirs brought here and put in a bank.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-11
Abdul Hamid's Money In Danger.

Cologne, May 10-The Koelniche Zei- tung semi-officially announces that the German banks will not deliver up the former Sultan of Turkeys deposits unless he voluntarily renounces them or law court orders their delivery to representa- lives of the new Turkish government.