davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-13
IRON JAW PROVES
ARMOR. IN HOLD.UP
Robbers Shoot at MichakaS, the
Sturdy, and Bullet Bounces
from His Face.

Men who have. stood at the bar OF
Peter Michakas have always remarked
on his iron jaw. once or twice obstrep-
erous persons have thrown bottles at
Michakas. Whenever he stopped the
missiles with his jaw the bottles broke.
The man with the iron Jaw faced n
more trying test last night, but again
his reputation was sustained. He was
returning with his wife and his son
George. 10 years old. from a visit 10
a neighbor Stopping near his house
Mlchakas went into a saloon, and had
n drink In paying he showed large
roll OF bills mostly yellow ones. When
Michakas left three men followed him
into the hallway OF his home at No.
Is Ainslie street, Williamsburg.
Throw up your hands, cried oRe OF
the robbers, but Michakas only thrust
forth his jaw. From a distance Of about
seven feet the man with the revolver
fired. The bartender did not finch. but
his wife cried out in pain. The bullet
had glanced off her husbands jaw, and
hit her In the hand Realizing that theiI
weapons were entirely inadequate foi
the task in hand, the robbers fled.
A doctor from the Williamsburg Hos
pital found that Michakas was suffering
from a slight cut on the chin. His VIII,
was not seriously injured.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-13
VERMONT BREAKS
MAIN SHAFT AT SEA
With Several Compartments
Flooded Battleship Is Steam
ing for Hampton Roads.
From The Tribune Bureau.1

Washington, Dec. 12-The battleship
Vermont. with a broken main shaft and
several Compartments flooded is slowly
steaming with her port engine for Hamp-
ton Roads from a point about 200 miles
from her destination and some 600 miles
from Bermuda The battleship Delaware
and the GOLFERS Orion and Jason are con-
voying the disabled ship and there Is ap-
narentlv no danger in the situation. The
Vermont, which is making only about
eight knots, should be at Hampton Roads
by the nth or 18th.
News of the accident came in radio
gram from Rear Admiral Badger, com
mander in chief of the Atlantic fleet
which is returning from the Mediter-
ranean cruise. He says there Is no cause
for anxiety. A diver examined the ship
aud found that the skin and the propeller
strut were apparently uninJured. Neither
the shafting nor the propeller was lost
The accident occurred yesterday after
noon.
The battleships Wyoming. Arkansas
Florida and Utah are continuing on TO
New York, where they are due next Mon
day. The Connecticut, the Kansas ana
the Ohio are en- route TO Guantanamo,
from where they will go to Mexican
waters TO relieve three battleships which
have been there since February.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-13
SONS SEE FATHER KILLED
Wealthy Italian Shot Dead from
Doorway Near His Home.

Joseph Cucclo. a retired boss plasterer'
slXty-five years old. or No. 3p East l0Ith
street. was shot and killed last night. a
few doors away from his home. The man
who did the shooting stepped from a
doorway and fired FIVE times AZ cuccio.
only one bullet hit its mark, but Killed
him almost al once.
The assassin disappeared and. although
tho police were soon securing the neigh
horhood no trace OF the slayer was
found II is said that Cuccio recently
received two threatening letters from
members Of the Black Hand. hut ignored
them.
Among the Italians OF Harlem's Little
Italy" Cuccio was rcputed 10 be rich.
Last week he received the first OF the
Black Hand letters. TWO or three days
ago a second letter came. demanding that
Cuccio give $500 to the senders or suffer
death
Louis and Charles Cuccio were standing
in the doorway OF their home when they
saw their father drop 10 the street. They
did not know il was their father until
they reached his side.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-13
LITTLE Rode" IS TRAPPED
Leader and Five of Gang Ar.
rested for Cafe Hold-Up.

Little Rode" to whom the police
credited the wholesale hold-up week
ago in Ignasio Freeds restaurant. No
225 East 18th street, fell victim 20 an old
police ruse last night. He and five fol-
lowers are in the 5th street station
charged with burglary.
Little Rode" and his gangsters the
police say, had been lying very low since
the raid on the restaurant, but stool
pigeons circulated the story yesterday
that Samuel Cronholtz, the chief victim
OF the hod-up. had gone back 10 his
home In Springfield. Mass, and that
everything was right"
AS a result. the police story goes. Lit
tie Rode and his party sailed out last
night to shoot up Joe, the Gressers'
ball at Progress Casino, i'm Avenue \
Lieutenant Hennessy and SIX men
swobped down on the party and arrested
them. They found three revolverS on sam
Reichbach sixteen years old. said to be
the "gun bearer for the crowd. All
were locked up charged with burglary
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-13
POO-BAH BANK is CLOSED
Man Held Too Many Jobs, SO
Commissioners Object.
fRv Telexraph TO The Tribune.

Greenwich, Conn, Dec. 12.-The Green
wich Savings Bank, the oldest local bank
ing institution, was closed to-day by or
ders of the State Bank Commissioners
There are more than thousand depos-
itors OF the bank, which has done business
until il has deposits of more than sl'""VVV
and a surplus Of $4,000
While the bank is officially closed i,s
front door has been open to the pupiio
all day. Those who have inquired nave
been assured by the treasurer Charles H.
Merritt. and by Bank Commissioners Lip
pIt and Holt that the depositors' funos
are intact and that an official audlt WAS III
progress In order to rectify dlscrepancS'
This discrepancy, II is said is about w.
900. and the general opinion Is mat poor
bookkeeping methods is the cause IL
seems that one man acted as cashier pay
ing teller, bookkceper, janitor and banker,
His name is William l.. Ferris. If he had
n snecial rush Charles +. Merritt, the
treasurer. would come In from MS shoe
store next door Willis Wilcox the press
dent. and possibly one of the thirteen di-
rectors might drop in occasionally.
Three weeks ago the bank commission
ers ordered an audit The audit ala not
satisfy the commissioners that the de-
positors' savings were being safeguardeu'
Public accountants were put to WORK on
the banks books, and irside of two weeks
il is expected they will have completed
the forty-four years audit
The commissioners do not cast Suspicion
on any person. Dishonesty Is not even
suspected by them or the depositors.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-13
appalling loss Of life because Of enforced

appalling loss of life because Of enforced
economies of operation"
IF the government were to regulate
the price of COAL" said Mr.. Hammond
80 as to admit of an increase OF not
more than 10 or % per cent, by SANCTION
ing an agreement between mine operators
as to the selling price, more than half OF
the coal now lost would be conserved Tor
future generations"
Samuel Gompers, president Of the Amer
lean Federation OF Labor, told OF the
prosecution of workmen in New Orleans
and other cities "for going on strike IN
sympathy with their fellow workers IN
other trades" . II the courts continued In
their present course, Mr.. Gompers said,
the people OF this country would ma
things pretty uncomfortable.
Other speakers were Professor j. w.
jerks, OF New York University; william
H. Ingersoll Of the American Fair Trade
League; Edward w. Boomlngdale, coun-
sci for the New York Retail Drygoods
Association; C. II. Moderwell, OF the
American Mining Congress; John NJ
Stahl. of the Farmers National Congress;
A. b. Garretson. president OF the Order
Of Railway Conductors: Hamilton Holt,
Gilbert H. Montague, Joseph j. OReiliy
and Solomon Hecht.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-13
ANGRY SENATORS
DELAY CURRENCY
Minority Resents Methods of Ma.
jority and Prevents an
Agreement to Vote.
[From The Tribune Bureau. I


Washington, Dec. Y. - Resentment
among Senators on the Republican side
against the attempt Of Senator Owen.
helmsman Of the administration currency
bill, to cast the Hitchcock amendment
into the discard by laying it on the table
resulted to-day in further delay Of the
vote on the bill Senator's Borah. Cum
Minis and others attacked the administra-
, ton measure, but no decisive action was
taken with reference to the Hitchcock
amendment, which has the support Of the
Republicans. and the day ended in futile
debate.
The aggressiveness of Senator owen
and the uncertainty as TO the course that
Senator La Toilette will follow stood as
obstacles in the way of an agreement to
vote finally on the bill. An attempt may
be made tomorrow or Monday to fix
date for the vote. but it seems rather
doubtful that any agreement may be
reached.
The currency situation in the Senate,
which has already been complicated by
the peremptory demands of Senator
owen that the minority be overriden. was
further complicated to-day by an attack
by Senator Stone on the National City
Bank, which he presented as the typif-
cation of Wall Street interests seeking u
discredit the Secretary OF the Treasury
and the administration and 10 prevent
the passage Of the currency bill. The
cry of conspiracy has been raised before
by the Democratic leaders, but it has so
far been of no avail in Fastening action
Oh the measure.
Senator Borah condemned the admins
tration bill on the ground that IT pro-
vided a system under bank control 1T
has been admitted by Democratic Sen
ators," he said. that if the proposed
system works ct all it will be in effect a
central bank / am not a fnancier, bur
# you examine the bill from a lawyers
standpoint TO see where the power lies
you will find that II lies with the pri-
vately owned banks of the country
through their ownership of the stock of
the regional reserve banks and the con
troll Of the boards directing them"
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-13
GOT 100000 IN STOCK
De Forest Deserved That from
Radio Phone, IT'S Said.

The trial of Lee De Forest, James Dun
lop Smith, Elmer II. Burlngame and
Samuel II. Darby. OF the Radio Wireless
Telephone Company. was continued yes
terday before Judge Hunt, In the Federal
District Court. with Darby on the Wit
ness stand. The defendants are charged
with using the mails to defraud
Darby testified that De Forest received
10000 OF the capital stock In the COM
pany because he deserved II" Stock
worth $4,000 which De Forest returned 10
Darby was "for services rendered he
said. A clipping from morning news
paper announcing that the British gov
eminent was under contract to III all war
vessels with the radio telephone Darby
considered "of interest to stockhold'
ers.' So far as he knew, he said, 1t was
not true. Darby said that he had no
money invested in the company.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-13
Mr.. Stone Tries to Empha.
size Personal Side of
Munsey Affair.
INQUIRY PROSPECT
ALARMS OFFICIALS
House Democrats Warned by
Leaders Not to Refer to The
Tribune's Exposures.
lFrom The Tribune Bureau

Washington, Dec. 12.-The scandal
attaching to the part played by the
Treasury Department in the absorption
of the United States Trust Company
by the Munsey Trust Company made
its first appearance in the Senate TO-
day, when Senator Stone injected into
the debate on the currency bill de-
nunciation of the alleged practice OF
Treasury officials entering the services
of banks after the completion of their
terms of service, and quoted a New
York paper on the current scandal.
Senator Stone, alarmed, as are the
other Democratic leaders, by the pros
pect of a demand for a Congressional
investigation of the conduct of AS
sistant Secretary John Shelton Will
Jams in the trust company aHalr'
sought To emphasize the alleged per-
sonal side of the scandal, reading into
the record the greater part Of recent
dispatch to The New York Worlo'
which contained the allegations the
Treasury officials have been trying 10
get into circulation and with when
they hope to avert an investigation or
10 mitigate the damaging effect of the
official publication of the facts IN the
case.
Mr.. Allies is now said to be the
washington representative Of the wall
Street bankers" said Senator stone
"He Is in close touch with Vanderlip
and men of that ilk. Vanderlip. Allies
ct id omne genus, stirred by sinister
motives and thirsting to satisfy their
resentment. have been striving TO dis
credit the administration Of the Treas
.urv and the President. According TO
The World article, which have reau'
the Secretary of the Treasury justly
indignant at the malicious attacks
made upon him, has sharply called Mr.
Glover. the president of the RIGGS
Bank, to account.
"Mr. President, l have said enough
on this head and will not pursue IT
further. although like evidences might
be multiplied to show that there Is
scheme, covert scheme. sinister and
selfish. TO defeat the wise measure OF
legislation the country needs and de-
mandS"
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-13

banks of Washington would cheerfully
have guaranteed a federal deposit CT
100000, or even Of $1,OOOOO0 II need
ed, with the United States Trust COM
pany. had the offer of ex-senator Scott
to resume the presidency OF that lnsti-
tuition and to furnish SJOO,OoO OF MS
own funds been accepted. THIS ar
rangement, it is asserted, would nave
saved the stockholders Of the United
States Trust Company from inevitable
loss and might have resulted'in making
their holdings worth their full face
value.
1t is also pointed out that had the
recommendation of the Controller OF
the Currency been supported instead
OF repudiated by Assistant Secretary
Williams-that the United States Trust
Company be closed and its assets
transferred to receiver appointed by
the government-there would have
been abundant opportunity to dispose
of the assets and goodwill Of the com
pany without haste and on the most
favorable terms. 1t is added that the
course of Mr.. Williams in refusing TO
permit the closing of the bank not only
menaced the interests of the smaller
depositors but deprived the stockhold-
ers of the opportunity to procure Tor
their interests the most advantageous
return
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-13
LORD MURRAY TELLS HOW
HE LOST HIS CONTRACTS
Colombian Affair Fell Through
Owing to Raising OF Elk
ternal Questions.

Panama. Dec. 12.--Lord Murray OF Eli
bank. partner Of Lord Cowdray In various
enterprises in the Republic OF Colombia
and other parts of South America. ar
rived at Panama to-day on his way to
New York.
When questioned as to the alleged
pressure brought by Washington to bear
on the Colombian government Lord MUIR
ray replied that the matter was deh-
cate one and that II would be improper
10 discuss 1t publicly at the present time
Lord Murray remarked, however, that ne
considered II Of the greatest interest 10
international commerce in the Caribbean
that the long standing difficulty between
the United States and Colombia should DC
settIed in accordance with the interests
and the honor of the two nations con-
cerned.
In regard to the policy OF obstruction
reported to have been used by Americans
Lord Murray admitted having met WIN
connection from powerful American IN
terests, but he thought this was only natu-
raj. He contradicted the report tnat the
Pearson concern was hostile to American
interests. on the contrary, he said, II was
friendly TO those interests.
Lord Murray said: II withdrew from
the contract with Colombia, owing 10 the
raising of external questions and 10 the
upprecedented state Of parties in the Co
lonbian Congress, although representa-
five committee Of the chamber had pre-
sented a unanimous report In Its FAVOR
and nublic opinion in Bogota likewise was
favorable to II.
Another reason for the withdrawal OF
the contract was the exceptional modih-
cations I introduced into the original con-
tract. which had prejudiced my negou-
atoms with other governments. nave
made II clear on behalf OF Lord Cowdray
and my other partners that the future OF
the contract depends solely on the init
alive Of the Colombian government ana
Congress and not upon ourselves
Asked whether ne had signed contracts
for Colombian ports, Lord Murray re-
piled: ,,-
Under contract with the COLOMBIAN
our engineers are now max
ing surveys at Buenaventura, and VIII
shortly proceed TO Cartagena. Barrah-
,uilIa and Tumaco are also under consid-
Grafton. but ! am not in position 10
say whether these port works VIII De
actually carried out"
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-13
Got Deposits for Nothing.

So far as the national bankers Of this
city can perceive. the only purpose
served by the action of Mr.. Williams
was to procure for the Munsey Trust
Company, OF which his brother. r. Ian
caster Williams, Is director, the
s6,OO0.0OO deposits of the United States
Trust Company without penny's COM
pensation.
incidentally, II is remarked that the
business Affiliations Of Frank A. Nun
sey with r. Lancaster Williams are
not confined to the fact that the latter
is a director of the Munsey Trust Com
pany, but that Munsey is also extern
sively interested financially in the firm
of Middendorf, Williams & Co, of Bal
timore, of which r. Lancaster Williams
is the chief partner.
Fear is expressed by the bankers
here that in selecting a successor to
T. p. Kane. now acting Controller OF
the Currency, a man who will be who'll
ly subservient TO John Shelton Will
Jams will be chosen, and ii Is for that
reason that they are particularly
anxious 20 see the currency bill so
amended as TO establish beyond per-
adventure the independence OF the
office of Controller.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-13
Sailors from a Sunken
Schooner Marooned Six
Months on Easter Island.
CAPTAIN SAILS $500
MILES IN LIFEBOAT
Makes a Voyage of Thirty-one
Days to Tahiti with Two
of His Crew.
tFrom The Tribune Bureau

Washington, Dec. IA Robinson Cru
soc story, with all the thrills OF the orig
iral tale, is unfolded in correspondence
received by the Secretary of the Treasury
regarding the plight Of the crew from the
schooner Eldorado, which was abandoned
in the Pacific Ocean last June, the captain
and ten other men making perilous
voyage in a lifeboat TO an island inhab-
tied only by two hundred uncivilized ma
tives and one white nan.
After living among the natives from
June "a to October the captain and two
OF his men set out in the lfeboat for civ
ilization, and after a 2,500-mile voyage In
the treacherous craft and suffering from
thirst and hunger arrived at Tahiti on
November 8. At Tahiti. which is on one
of the South Sea Islands. the three refu-
gees were sheltered by the American Con-
sui, who provided them with transporta-
ton 10 San Francisco where they arrived
December 3.
The correspondence has TO do with re-
quest made by the owners OF the derelict
Eldorado, Sanders & Kirchmann Onc), or
San Francisco, to the Department of
Commerce. asking that relief expedition
be sent to the eight men left on the ISL
and. which is known as Easter Island,
Chilian possession.
The request was referred TO Secretary
McAdoo by the Secretary of Commerce In
the hope that a revenue cutter might be
available for the expedition. but such was
not the case. and the correspondence was
forwarded to the Secretary Of State to-
day.
A report by Captain n. T. Bensen OF
the Eldorado gives many details OF the
experiences of the eleven men. lie states
that the schooner was abandoned on June
49, at latitude 81 degrees minutes south.
longitude l2l degrees 81 minutes west. and
that he and his crew were tossed about on
the ocean eleven days before they reached
the isolated island.
Only one sailing vessel a year touches
the island. according to Captain Benson.
as the sole pursuit OF the natives Is sheep
raising for the wool. The carcasses OF the
animals. are thrown into the sea, he says.
as the religion Of the inhabitants does not
permit them to eat meat one white maa
superintends ranch. but he was the only
civilized being found by the sailors. Cap
tain Bensen says the natives were irlehh-
". but he believed that II was possible
for him to reach civilization and send re-
lief to the stranded crew, 80 he and TWO
men braved the sea and underwent many
hardships for thlrty-one days before they
landed at Tahiti.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-13
WIFE "CLAWED" MANTELL
But Spouse of Actors Son Gets
Separation Decree.

Justice Lehman yesterday awarded de-
cree OF separation 10 Mrs. Helen r. Man.
tell from Jack" =. Mantell, son OF Rob
ert y Mantell. the actor on the ground
OF abandonment and non-support' a.
though the court held that charges OF
cruelty made by the wife were not sus-
tanned.
Mantell testified yesterday that Mrs.
Nantell flew" at him and "clawed" bin.
Justice Lehman did not consider this suf-
flclent ground for his abandoning his
wife. The justice said
There is no doubt that these litigants
are two pleasure loving young people who
have no adequate idea OF the marriage
obligation; and they tried very little TO
get any better idea
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-13
Would Bar Officials.

Discussing the provision Of the cur
rency bill that no Secretary OF the
Treasury. Assistant. Secretary OF the
Treasury or Controller of the Currency
shall be employed by bank within two
wears of the expiration Of his govern
ment service. Senator Stone said:
THE idea of having the Secretary OF
the Treasury and Assistant Secretary
of the Treasury or the Controller or the
Currency. to whom has been commit
ted the responsible duty and the high
trust of guarding the public interest in
that. in many respects, greatest Of all
departments. going to high position, re-
signing that Office to take lucrative
employment in the great banks Of New
York, Chicago and other cities, is TO
my mind a scandal that ought not 70
he permitted"
While there is little doubt that the
national bankers Of the country would
welcome such a provision as is pro-
posed bv Senator Stone, ii is even more
true that they would hail with delight
a provision which would make the Con
troller of the Currency wholly indie
pendent Of the political officers of the
Treasury and would prevent his accept"
ing office from any bank for two years.
From many sources it is learned that
the administration is alarmed at the
prospect that a Congressional investi-
CATION will disclose the part played by
Assistant Secretary John SHELTON Will
Jams in the merger of the United States
and Munsey Trust companies and the
usurpation by the Assistant Secretary
g the prerogatives of the Controller OF
the Currency.