davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-02-12
.SCIORTINO FREE,
FOUND NOT GUILTY
Barber Shown to Have Been
Acting in Self Defense in
Stabbing Chinese Laundry
man

Santo Sciortino, formerly fugitive
from justice after he had stabbed and
almost mortalIy wounded Leong Gin,
a Iaundry7man at 7S8 Broad street on
the afternoon of January 13, and over
whose capture a hue and cry was
raised which eliminated in a COM
plant being filed with the police com
n1issioners by States Attorney Stiles
Judson, is free.
He was found not guilty in the city
court this morning by Judge Carl
Foster upon the evidence of Sciortinos
friends who rallied in force to testify
that the accused had been attacked
in his own barber shop
According to the evidence, following g
a, fstic battle in the rear of the
laundry Gim was the aggressor and
attacked the accused with a hatchet
and hammer. although he was held
by a friend of his assaiIant while
three stab wounds We're inflicted in
his back by Sciortinio
Upon the ground that the laundry
man had received mere superficial
wounds, that they were not danger
GUS, and that he had attempted to
force his way upon another's property
and there attack him with weapons
more dangerous than that with which
the aggressor himself had been
wounded, :udge Foster found that
Scortinio had merely acted in self de-
fense and was consequently entitled
to be found not guilty.
Both Gin and the prisoner told how
insult to Sciortfnio's little five year old
girl, which ended in the Chinaman's
defeat. Sciortino said that he had
retreated to his barber shop adjoin-
ing and was in the act of closing
the door when the Iaundrynan ap-
peared and attempted to assault him
with the hatchet. The door was held
firmly shut while a cousin, Dorninick
Sciortino came to his rescue and
grabbed the weapons. The laundry
man then turned on Dominick and in
10
door and Santo plunged a pair of scis-
sors three times in his back. This
testimony was corroborated by Dorni-
nick who followed the. la.undryrnan
back to his shop and saw him throw
the hatchet under a bed. This i'm
piement was not found by the po-
lice.
Captain of Detectives George Arnold
in commenting upon the case later
asserted with veh emence that some of
the testimony offered in behalf of the
prisoner was contrary to the evidences
of battle which presented them selves
to him upon arrival at the scene of
the stabbing-
Represented by his Attorney
Frederick B. Fallon- Sciortino with
his little children left the court room
to consult over the pending civil
action which has already been fled
by CHM through his attorney George
Mara, to reover $500 damages for the
assault
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-02-12
Texas State Troops Held in Readiness to
Start at Moments Notice for the Scene
of Wholesale Destruction of Land
and Property
ONLY One HOUSE LEFT STANDING IN TOWN
WHERE MORE Than 700 AMERICANS LIVED

fantrymen a chance to pop at any
head that might be seen on a roof OF
at the windows of the buildings where
the federals and the Diaz revolution
lists have taken up their positions, the
bombardment of the arsenal and the
return fire of the reVolutionists kept
up all during the morning.
The shel1ing of the high buildings
where Madero's machine guns were
working continued with marked ef-
feet. Many roofs were cleared of fed
erals by the expert marksmen at
Diaz' guns.
Many of the high buildings in the
main business section of the city have
been hit by shells and heavy dam
age has been wrought. Shrapne1
which both sides were firing over the
center of the city, was doing much
damage.
1t is impossible at this time to OBJ
tain any authentic estimate of the
though it is known that many have
been killed.
During the fighting, today, a shell
struck the Mutual Life Insurance
building and exploded. The building
caught fire and it was. feared it would
be destroyed
The Mutual Life Insurance building
which is blazing from shell fired from
a. rebel field gun, is a four story, con-
crete structure situated at the corner
of Cinco Mayo and San Juan De Let
D1az are using heavier cannon than
yesterday and directing their fire to-
ward the national palace and the tall
er buildings in the business section on
which many federal machine guns are
mounted and sharpshooters posted. 1
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-02-12
HOLIDAY AFFECTS
ASSEMBLY'S GRlS7
(speciaI to - Earmer.l

Hartford, Feb. 12-Gov. BaIdVfn had
conference today with AftornEv
General Light, presumably on ne
chief executives charges against
Highway Commissioner MacDouzfd-
The nature Of the meeting wss not
disclosed.
The governor probably win send
other nominations 70 the senate.
City Engineer A H. Terry, Of Br5dEs-
port, one Of his nominees last year.
may be again named by the governor.
Little business was transacted in
either house today. and there wac a.
resentative Rice, Of West Hartford.
who was given a front seat IN ire
house because he wae chairman Of tha
insurance committee was allowed 70
retain that seat after he had made
vigorous protest Mr. Rice reBlEue1
as chairman Of the committee and -
front row seals are usually reserved
for chairman he was asked TO make
a change.
Senator Whitconb. OF BridgeporL
called from the table the resolution
paving the Senate employees for Their
sa larry and mileage for the first mon Oh
but after objections the matter vac
tabled because Senator Mcneil. who
introduced the resolution, was absent
For two weeks the Senate doorksaD-
ers attendants and messengers have
Vainly been endeaVOring to get thaG
resolution passed.
The bill providing that railroad com
panies shall furnish trausp porta ti1n 20
members of the General Assembly for
the amount of the mileage allowance
which each member would be entitled
to at the end of the term was dfscuas-
ed in the Senate.
At first the Senate referred IL to the
railroads committee but attention wac
called to the fact that the House haG
asked for a committee OF confererca
A lively debate followed after svfrfrrr
by a vote of "A to g. the request of. ths
House was granted The Senate u1eu-
bership of the committee fell to lh1
lot of Senator Perry.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-02-12
CITY ATTORNEY
FLAYS LAWYER
Says Atty. Greenstein
Failed to Close
Resorts
Attorney GreenStein Replies That
Former Prosecutor Pullman
Was Also Lax

Accusing former Liquor Prosecutor
Henry Greenstein of winking at vio-
Iation of the liquor laws, City At
torney Pullman made a scathing at
tack upon the lawyer this morning
during the hearing of Mayor Wilsol's s
emonstrance against Frederick H.
Steinert of SS State street The su-
perior courtroom wax crowded with
police officers and other spectators
who had come to testify either for or
against Steinert, who seeks a renewal
of his liquor license.
The city attorney did not relish At
torney Greenstefn's remarks that the
police and prosecutor were to blame
for allowing these Tenderloin resorts
to do business. Attorney Pullman
said, referring to Attorney Green
prosecutor up to the time conditions
changed for the better. Now he
bIames the authorities when he failed
Attorney Greenstein was highly in
dignant and lost no time in answer
ing the charges. He declared that
while he was liquor prosecutor he did
his duty without fear or favor. He
characterized the city attorneys at
tack as nasty and mean" During
the time Attorney Pullman was pros
ecutor he looked out and saw the laws
violated exclaimed Attorney Green
stein. t'As prosecutor it came within
his prGvinee to bs put these resorts 5dee out ut
the city court he did not exterminate
these places"
The city attorney interrupted to say
that he hadn't been judge Of the city
court for four years. In summing up
the case against steinert Attorney
Pullman mentioned that last July,
Stanley, who conducts the place for
Steinert had been convicted of run
ming disorderly house. The speaker
spoke scornfuI1y of Steinert's plea
that he would lose money by losing
his license
s'THhere are other things more i'm
portant than money he said I'VE
want a, cleaner and better Bridgeport
Let's divorce the saloon ET JfH the dis
orderly house, Referring to Steinert
who makes his home in Saybrook, the
| speaker said, He may be good
stone mason in Saybrvok but he's q
rotten saloonkeper in Bridgeport.
Policeman Hatch, -AIcGovern, HoI-
| brook Beneditti, Halpin, Bray and
G1ennon and Sergeants Hazel, Prout
and BIans6eId testified that the place
had a bad reputation. The commits
sioners reserved decision.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-02-12
WHITES $4,000
LITERARY EFFORT
WILL BE PRINTED
Committee of Audit Finds Way
to Use $445 Balance of
Appropriation of $40,
900

BibIiophHes are requested to assume
a sitting posture and give their un-
divided attention to the following i'm
portant literary announcement:
Peter Whites $4,000 masterpiece
whats the Matter with Bridgeport
and How it Can Be Cured is be-
ing printed.
Keep that crowd in line, officer, and
don't let them tear the print shop
asunder in their wild efforts to gain
one of the priced copies of the greatest
and most expensive municipal treatise
ever enanating from this, our fair
city Now if you Hterators will
listen one moment, the full import of
the announcement with all the har-
rowing details will be continued:
When Peter White was paid for his
last visit to this city Cat the rate of
S25 a day, hotel expenses, laundry
bills, etc., there remained a balance
of $445.65 unexpended of the $4,000
appropriated for his investigation
Who is responsible for this oversight
has not yet been determined, Mr..
White hasn't been here in some
weeks
The Committee of Audit has step
ped into the breach and ordered
printed copies of the vo1lr1ninous re-
port As the report covers hundreds
of typewriter pages, 1t is not. be
Iieved that the $445.65 will stand for
a general distribution of the work.
When the printed reports will be com
pIeted is not known.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-02-12

day.
He said he felt it incumbent on
him, in view of the widespread dis
cussion of the action of the Senate
to explain his position. Senator John
son voted not to confirm the Caldwell
appointment.
He said it was not that he was In
favor of the retention of James H.
Macdonald, but because he was op-
posed to the idea of replacing one in
competent man with another.
Raising his voice he declared with
emphasis that he had been accustom-
ed to voting according to his own con-
science, and his vote yesterday was
cast along that line. 1t was not, he
said bcause, Bryan Mahan wanted
something done or something not
done that he had cast his vote against
Caldwell His vote reflected his own
wishes, regardless of the views of
Mahan.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-02-12
SHELTON FAMILY
TWICE BEREAVED
Brother and Sister, Widely Sepa-
rated, Die Within Few
Hours

William H. Shelton, of BEAUFORT,
N. C.. and Miss Lucy May Shelton, of
this city, children of the late John 7.
Shelton, died almost within twenty
four hours of each other this week
Mr. She1ton's death occurred at his
BEAUFORT home late Sunday night. His
sister passed away at Bridgeport hos
pital shortly after midnight Tuesday
The double bereavement has been a
great blow to a brother, Hamilton S.
Shelton, and a sister, Mary B. Shelton,
who survive They are grief-stricken
at their home, 1864 Fairfield avenue.
Hamilton S. Shelton received news
the latter part of last week that his
brother, William, was seriously i'll. At
that time, his sister Miss Lucy, was
in a critical condition at Bridgeport
Hospital following an operation for
Sunday night, Mr.. Shelton received
the announcement of his brother S
death. Although almost prostrated
with grief, he remained at the bedside
of his sister until death claimed her
shortly after midnight Tuesday She
had not been told of her brothers de-
mise.
It is but a week since William Shell
ton buried his faith her-in-1aw at Beau
port. Mr.. Shelton attended the fu-
neral and was taken ill a few days
later Neither he nor Miss Lucy Shell
ton knew of the others critical Ill
william Shelton was So years old
He was the oldest son of the late John
T. Shelton, years ago cashier of the
Conn necticut National Bank, where a
son, Hamilton S. Shelton, is now vice
president The late John T. Shelton
was at one time treasurer of the New
York, New Haven & Hartford railroad
He had lived in Bridgeport up to
about eight years ago, when he mar
ried a southern girl and made his
home in BEAUFORT where he had a
large plantation. He had no children.
Miss Lucy Shelton was "A years and
IL months old. She was taken to
Bridgeport hospital last Wednesday
and was operated upon Thursday. She
sank rapidly after the operation.
Funeral services for Miss Shelton
will be held at the home, 1854 Fair
field avenue, tomorrow afternoon at 2
o'clock Rev. c. L. Gomph and Rev.
W. H. Lewis will officiate. Burial will
be in Mountain Grove cemetery
Mr.. Shelton's funeral was held in
BEAUFORT
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-02-12
SCOTS DEATH
FASTENED BY
HIS OWN MEN
Last Return Party May
Have Tapped the
Food and Fuel
More Light On Catastrophe
Comes by Wireless From
Relief Commander

London, Feb. 12.-Additiona1 de-
tails of the Antarctic tragedy in which
Captain Scott, second among mortaIs
to reach the south pole, and his in
trepid companions lost their lives, to-
day, filed Britishers with awe-in-
spired wonder.
The last return party sent back by
Scott consisted of six men. 1t is sug-
gested it's members might have tapped
the food and fuel cached for Captain
Scott and the awful thought in the
minds of the public was whether per-
haps the very men who were Drawing
the hardships and indescribable tor
lures of a south polar blizzard to aid
Captain Scott and his three conrad es
did not inadvertently hasten his death.
Further light on the catastrophe OF
the "farthest south was thrown, to-
day, in additional wireless dispatches
from Commander E. r. G. r. Evans,
expedition, by reason of the deaths of
his superiors. Commander Evans is
aboard the relief ship Terra Move with
the other survivors of the Scott ex-
pedition bound for Port Lyttleton,
from Omaru and his information
reached London by cable from Well
A gigantic memorial service for
Captain Scott and his comrades, SINH
Lar to that held for the British vic
TINS of the great Titanic disaster, viii
be held Friday in ST. PauPs cathedral
The Archbishop of Canterbury and
other dignitaries of the church of
England will officiate and the King
and Queen members of royalty, cabi-
net ministers and high government Of
ficiaIs will participate.
Further information from Com
mander Evans told how Captain Scott
on his final dash for the bottom Of
the world, sent back members of his
party, at intervals. Some of these sur
vivors especially one party of six, en-
countered great difficulties and mar
rovvIy made Terra Nova Bay alive. 1t
was the suggestion that these return
parties might have used the bIubber
and fuel in Captain Scott's supply
if Captain Scott's generosity and
thoughtfuIness for his comrades final
ly brought about his own death. Com
mander Evans also put out the suS-
eestion that it was possible that blub-
ber fuel cached by Captain Scott eva
porated.
Two newspapers have already start
ed subscription lists, one with $40, 900
and the other with $3.50 for those
dependent upon the dead explorers.
The widow of Petty Officer Evans
will receive an Admiralty annuity, as
will Captain Scotts wife, it being the
custom of the Admiralty to consider
that both the naval officers died in
action. A plan is already under con-
sideration for an expedition to bring
back the bodies of Captain Scott and
a trip will be financed by private sub
scrfption if the government does not
undertake the task. Experts say that
an expedition of this kind could go
and return in one year, at a cost of
$4,000.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-02-12
SENATOR SAYS
MAHAN DIDN'T
CONTROL HIM
Johnson of New London County
Finds 1t Necessary to Explain
Why He Voted Against
Caldwell
W Our staff cor-res.)

Hartford, Feb. 12-Ltt1e occurred to
break the serenity of Lincoln's birth
Lay in the House except an interest
Ing debate over the question as to
whether the Capitol is a public build
ing. Since no motion was made the
question was not finally passed upon
and it may be brought UP again. The
Democratic members of the House
maintained that the Capitol could not
be regarded a public building,
the Capitol was public building.
The question which arose was over
individual drinking cups The state
has passed a. law which empowers the
state board of health to provide in
dividua1 drinking cups in public
buildings, where drinking fountains
are maintained. There are no such
cups in the Capitol and when the
reason was asked, the reply was that
the Capitol was not public h541d-
ing
The House was marked by a good
attendance for the holiday. The
rhaplain's prayer was in keeping
with the day, and he Incorporated a
Flea that the Connecticut legislators
might emulate the grandeur and
nobility OF the great statesman s
character.
Something of a stir was created in
the Senate today when Senator F. A.
johnson of UncasviIIe arose to ex-
plain his vote on the question of the
confirmation of Governor BaIdwins
domination of William H Caldwell for
s<ate htghWay commissioner, yester-
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-02-12
NEW HAVEN ROAD
employees IN BAY
STATE MAY STRIKE

Taunton. Mass, Feb PIT became
known here. today, that as a result of
a quiet meeting held in this city on
Saturday there was possibility of a
strike of several thousand tradeSmen
including painters brick1ayers, masons
plumbers, steam filters. tins1niths,
roofers electricians and other crafts
employed by the New Haven Railroad
system. These crafts have been prac-
tically unorganized but during the
past week an organization has de-
veloped and delegates from the vaJri-
Gus orga anizations will meet in Bos-
ton, tomorrow, when a list of demands
including a Is per cent increase in
wages, time and a half for overtime,
railroad passes for all tradesnen,
nine hour day for benchmen and ex-
pense money weekly instead of
monthly, will be prepared to present
to the road. 1t it said that the or
ganizations expect to be affiliated with
the American Federation of Labor by
the latter part of next week
Over a hundred Taunton men are
Interested in the matter.
The entire eastern district covering
all the railroads east of New London
is concerned in the demand.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-02-12
NO sURRENDFR OATES.

London, Feb. 12-Of the five deaths
claimed by the relentless winds and
SHOWS that guard the southern pole
that of Captain Lawrence Edvyard
Grace Oates stands out, today. in dra-
matte relief from the tragiF story q
the Scott expedition. AS ~ G1rrsll-
der Oates he was known throuRho1t
liant reputation by giving I'D hig life
that he might no longer binder the
advance of his cOmrad des.
He came naturally by the spirit o.
adventure that led him TO Join the
polar expeditions. He Tvss Of an Old
Yorkshire family which now occupis8
Gestingthorpe, an historic mansion on
the border of Essex and Suffolk Both
his father, the late y. z Oates. sud
of the Royal Geographical Society and
noted travellers and explorers.
At the outbreak Of the EOer war
Oates Joined the InneskfI1sn DTa.-
goons He saw active service Of t1s
most strenuous sort ana early iu the
fighting earned the sobrtquet NO sur
render Oates" by a gallant bit -
work in repeI1ing Boer attack on
his position in a rfverDede
Oates was inva1ided home but A.
ter his wound from a bullet Gn tbe
hip, healed. he returned 70 the front
and fought through the war, rscefv-
ing the Queens medal for brHgVeFT.
Afterward ne entered EgTpf and IN
dfa with his regiment
Men who fought side by eide win
NO surrender Oates,'' ray nOfhiug
realized his frozen feet ana comse-
quent slow progress was delayfne fts
others than for him to relieve them ag
he did.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-02-12
NEExToAN SITUATION
AT A GLANCE TODAY

Battle between 1Tadero's forces and
rebels under General Felix Diaz re-
,zuuaed IN the heart of Mexico City,
both sides using effective machine
gums.
Diaz boznbarding center of the city
in am effort to silence guns OF federals
on top of high buildings.
Dead and wounded to the number
OF several hundred lying in the
streets.
Three thousand convicts liberated
from Belem prison, scattering over
the city, spreading anarchy.
Rebels under General Ynez Salazar
renew guerrilla warfare in northern
Mexico, burning villages occupied by
Americans and AGeHcans alike
Ascension, Sonora. destroyed by re-
be1s, municipal buildings wrecked and
prisoners in jazIs freed
United States army and navy ready
nor President Taft to give the word
naaa& Will send thousands OF regulars
int the republic of Mexico.
H Paso. Tex, Feb. 12-Moving from
fCasas Grandes to attack Jaurez, the
in4exican rebel army of Yne1 Satazar
rs laying waste the whole land, burn
ffne All towns and destroying prop
erty OF both 1Texicane and foreigners
leocording to today'e advices-
colonia Diaz. with normal popu-
HatIon OF TOO Americans, is in ruins.
only one house-the home Of E. v
misunderstanding Included were a
sIarre Mormon church and the colony
stores.
CoIonias Dub1an, also an American
town Is reported TO have been fired
while other colony towns are in dan
ger of destruction, refugees say. Mine
properties In Chihuahua and Sonora
states are also being wrecked AS an
excuse for the wholesale destruction
the rebels deRaare Mexdcans have TAX
an refuee in the towns to escape ser
yace In the rebel army and have to
be forced out.
Local rebel leaders declare they
have received private advices from
'Eferaco CITY that the government
forces were recruited in yesterday {
fehffng, that Madero guns were 81
fenced and that Diaz has proclaimed a
provisional government. There is no
confiEma ton.
Advices from Austin, Tex, say Tex
as state troops are being held in
readiness to start for the disordered
region at a moments notice and that
the state range force patrolltng the
border will be strengthened
All along the border there evil
dencss of widespread disorder.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-02-12
TWO o. S. DREADNAUGHTs

Badger, commanding the Atlantic fleet
at Guantanamo, wirelessed the navy
department, this afternoon, that he
had designated the dreadnaughts Yer
mont and Nebraska as the two war
ships which the department ordered
be dispatched at once to Vera Cruz.
Mex.
The Vermont is a $4,000 ton ship
of the first line and is the most pow
erfu1 vessel yet ordered to the Mexi-
can coast. The Nebraska is a sister
ship of the Georgia and Virginia, now
on their way across the Gulf OF
Mexico. She is also first class bat
tleship.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-02-12
BURGLARS In SLEIGH

North Grosvenordale, Feb 12-Bur-
glars visited this place, last night,
coming in a sleigh, and broke into the
express office of the railroad station
and the stores of Charles Johnson
and c. E. Stevens. At the Johnson
store jeweIry shoes and stockings
were taken: from the express office
small packages were lifted; and at
Stevens store chewing gum was the
pIunder carried away. The tracks of
the sleigh were followed into the coun-
try but were lost a mile or two out
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-02-12
BRIGADE OF $4,000

Washington, Feb 12-Orders were
issued by the war department, today,
for a provisional brigade of the army,
mum bering $4,000 men to hold itself
in readiness for instant service. The
brigade would be gathered from parts
as far north as Niagara and as far
west as the Presidfo CT San Francisco.
The Mexican situation Is so acute
that Secretary of War Stinson. who
had intended to go with the Presi-
dent and ca abinet to Philadelphia, this
afternoon, decided shortly before noon
to remain at his desk in Washington.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-02-12
AGED INVALID CARRIED
OUT FROM BURNING HOUSE

Stamford, Feb IA house owned by
Mrs. Jean MoulIet at Upper Noroton,
town of Darien, was burned, last
night, with its contents The loss,
about 81, 500 is insured
Mr.. Moullet, who while outside dis
covered flames In the upper part of
the building, incurred considerable
risk in carrying out Mrs. Thomas
Moran, an aged invalid. The origin
of the fire is unknown. Local fire
men saved neighhortnS buildings.