davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Topeka state journal., 1914-02-20
IS GUILTY
Negro Gets First Degree Muir
der Verdict.
Third Murder Case in Topeka
in Three Weeks.

Three murder convictions in three
weeks. That is the new record made
tablished today when Robert Bryant
was convicted by jury in the first d.
vision OF murder in the first degree.
Bryant was charged with the wtlfui
murder of James Roach, whose frozen
body was found in a hole under the
by Ida Bryant. divorced wife Of For
ty," on Christmas day.
Having slept at the court house all
night, the jury returned verdict at
10 o'clock this morning. I'VE. the jury
impaneled and sworn in the above en-
titled case, do, upon our oath. find the
defendant. Robert Bryant. guilty of
murder in the first degree. as charged
in the information and as defined by
section Of the crimes act"
Forty" Bryant. hearing words that
meant hard labor at the penitentiary
a muscle. Then he rose. stuck tooth
pick in one corner of his mouth. pulled
his fur cap over his forehead, and left
the court room with his brother. his
attorney, and a deputy sheriff.
For the first time in a week, the
court room, which has been packed to
the limit with a motley crowd, was
emptied. The bailiff, who had guarded
the Jurors since their dismissal last
night at o'clock. went home to
sleep.
Bryant was convicted solely on cir
cumstantial evidence. Until today John
Collins was the only man in the coun-
ty who had been convicted on evidence
purely circumstantial. No one saw
Forty Bryant strike "Jim'' Roach
with the bloody hatchet exhibited in
court this week.
A mass of evidence had been piled
up by Sheriff Kiene and County Attor-
ney Atchison. They worked untiringly,
night and day. for weeks. They per-
sonally interviewed all Forty" Bry-
ants friends, and all his enemies. An
answer was ready for each statement
made by the defense. AS soon as Ida
Bryant made her hysterical report OF
the finding of the corpse, Sheriff Kiene
took the case in hand and, accom-
panied by Mr.. Atchison, sifted 1t to the
bottom. And the jury convicted the
man although no one saw the crime.
Week before last Mark Williams
charged with the murder of James Hay
den, was convicted of manslaughter in
the fourth degree. Last week Charles
Whine. who pleaded not guilty to the
shooting Of Anna Austin, was found
guilty Of murder in the first degree.
Unless Bryant's attorneys file motion
for new trial-they intend doing so
the big negro will be sentenced a week
from tomorrow.
the eyes of the state, was the de-
fense's withdrawal Of their evidence
tending to show that Roach was seen
alive after Bryant had left town. The
body was found on Thursday. Bryant
went to Oskalocsa on Wednesday. 81
Mrs. Rough" Ready swore she had
seen Roach walking through the snow
on Wednesday. Frosty Flora, the To-
cal weather man. was hastily SUBJ
poenaed to testify that it showed hard
er on Monday, December %. Mrs. Ready
guessed she'd seen Roach on Monday
Another witness fell down on the cross
examination, and this portion Of the
defense was withdrawn.
The Topeka state journal., 1914-02-20
And Last Legislature Peti'
toned on 100 Other Matters.
WHITE lUDS THE PUuM0ToR
Chapman Announces for Con.
gress in First District.
There Is Talk Of Billiard, but He
Himself Is Silent.

Among the hundreds of petitions sent
to the state legislature by thousands
Of men and women during the session
of 1909-11-13. not one request was made
for the passage of a resolution calling
for an initiative and referendum
amendment to the state constitution.
according to Republican leaders who
oppose the Incorporation Of the I. and
r. planks in the party platform this
year.
Petitions to the recent legislatures
embodied scores Of subjects. They
dealt with pending and proposed enact
ments and were both favorable to and
in opposition of agitated legislation.
The initiative and referendum was in
the state platforms of the Republicans,
Democrats and Socialists two years
ago and was found in the national plat
form of the Progressives. But not one
petition regarding this proposed con-
stitutional amendment found its way
to the legislature
Nearly 100000 people petitioned the
state legislature in 1911 regarding bill
prohibiting SSunday baseball. Yet Sum-
day baseball was not party issue.
Hundreds of merchants telegraphed
their representatives in the two houses
and signed petitions expressing an
opinion on the bulk sales bill in 1911
and the IS per cent. garnishment bill
in 1913 brought petitions from every
section Of the state. The full crew bill
the white slavery act, proposed mini
attention and every member It the
state legislature heard from his con-
stituents regarding these bills
During two sessions Of the legislature
the fight over the passage Of the ini-
tiative and referendum was given the
The Topeka state journal., 1914-02-20
In One Measure Is Being For
mulated in Congress.
TO STREl6THEN SHERMAN Law
And Give More Power Into
Hands Of tho 1. C. G.
Emb0dies Strict Control Of the
Issuance Of Securities.

washington, Feb. 10.-Work Of fram.
ing the administration autf~frust and
commerce regulation bills went forward
on the house side Of the capitol to-
day. A conference Of the house judici-
airy subcommittee on trusts, comprising
Representatives Clayton, Carlin and
Floyd. was arranged to put the finish
ing touches on the bill proposing to
prohibit holding companies from own
ing competing concerns. Chairman
Covington. of the house interstate
commerce subcommittee, on. the inter-
state trade commission bill. was pre-
pared today to go ahead with the ex-
ecutive conferences to frame the meas
ure in the light Of hearings and within
the limitations OF President Wilson's 3
suggestion to avoid any provisions that
might impair the efficiency of the Sher-
man law.
The indications tod J were that the
bills relating to holding companies.
trade relations, interlc cking directorates
and defining trade restraints would be
presented finally to the house as q sim
gle consolidated plan to strengthen the
antitrust law. Conferences between
Chairman Sims and other members of
the railway capitalization subcommit-
tee with tie I. C.. c. indicated that the
following propositions in all probability
would be embodied in the first draft
of the proposed railway capitalization
law:
Prohibition against ar railroad cor
poration issuing stock. bonds or other
Indebtedness, except for actual neces-
sary railroad property purposes, 80 az
to add to the railroads value and the
issue then only to be upon approval
OF the 1. c. C. Personal guilt and re-
sponsibility Of directors and other on
GERS, including imprisonment penalties
for violation of the proposed law.
Reasonable Restrictions.
Reasonable restrictions on the
amounts of stock and bond issues.
Guarantee by applying railroad as a
condition precedent to approval of stock
or bond issues that the proceeds will
apply to the railroad upkeep. extension
or other legitimate ascertained use. Re-
-strictions to make Impossible the dis
position of stock or bond issues ax-
cept for bona fde value in open mar
ket and to prevent passing them
around to friends. ION the inside" at
advantageous prices. Public hearings
upon applications Of railroads and 9TH
er common carriers to issue stock and
bonds, upon notice to the particular
railroad and to the department of jus
tice and, possibly to the railroad COM
mission Of the state or states affected.
Regulation Of purchases Of railroad
supplies to prevent officers selling to
themselves through double corporation
connections.
Avoidance Of finality or guarantee ef-
feet OF the I. c. G. o. K. on stock and
bond issues in case Of subsequent court
or other proceedings Authority to
competent courts to enjoin all issues
contrary to this proposed law, upon suit
OF the United States or any officer OF
stockholder Of the offending railroad.
The Topeka state journal., 1914-02-20
CASE OF MCCLURE.
Daniels Will Investigate Dismissal
Kansas Midshipman

Washington, D. c.. Feb. 2O.-Secre-
tary Daniels of the navy will soon
make a final decision as to the future
of Midshipman Vinton I. Mcclure of
lola, Kan, recommended for dismissal
on a charge of 'gouging," or endeav-
Oring to cheat at the recent semi
annual examinations at Annapolis
naval academy.
Midshipmen w. D. Bungert and
Charles A. MCGOWAN are also recon-
mended for dismissal on a charge of
giving false testimony at the investi-
cation of Midshipman McClure's con-
duct. The three middies are in WASH
ington accompanied by their attor-
neys, who will be permitted to review
the merits of the defense.
1t is alleged that notes of q marine
engineering examination were found
under a pad on McClure's desk in the
examination room.
This Is the first serious case with
which the new superintendent Of the
academy, Captain Fullam. has had to
deal. When the charges were made,
Captain Fullam ordered an investi-
CATION and appointed board which,
the accused be dismissed from the
naval service. Capt. Fu1lam approved
the finding and forwarded his report
to the navy department.
"Gouging" consists of using unfair
means in an examination. Each mid
mate who practice it. When midship-
men are detected "gouging'' a report
is made to the officer in charge Of
the examination. This officer reports
to the superintendent, who confers
with a secret committee of the ac-
cused midshipman's class. Frequently
in the past these secret class commit
tees have eliminated a public investi-
CATION, by requesting the resignation
Of the accused.
The Mcclure case is the first Of its
kind in q number OF years. The young
Kansan stoutly asserts his innocence.
Mcclure was appointed on the re-
commendation of Congressman Joe
Taggart of Kansas.
Congressman Neeley Of Kansas has
introduced a bill in the house provid-
ing for the purchase of site and the
erection of a postoffice building at
Dodge City.
Mr. Neeley presented q petition of
members of the Pentecostal church Of
Nazarene, Kan, favoring the passage
Of a special bill granting an increased
pension to Sarah A. Winans of that
place. He also presented a petition
Of citizens of Kendall. Kan. protesting
|against the enactment Of the Columbus
The Topeka state journal., 1914-02-20
GRAY TO FRISCO.


st. Louis, Mo-. Feb. z0.-Carl r.
Gray. president of the Great Northern
railway, will resign that position
March 1 and will become president Of
the St Louis and San Francisco
(Frisco) system, when the Frisco is
taken out Of the hands of receivers
probably not more than six months
hence. This was announced today
from an Official source. Gray has
been conferring with the reorganixa-
don committee In New York. which
The Topeka state journal., 1914-02-20
old LANDMARK TO GO.
Victoria Hotel to Make Way for q
Skyscraper.

New York. Feb. 20.-The Victoria
hotel at Broadway and 37th street.
popular for many years as headQuar-
ters of army officers visiting New
York and more recently of labor Lead
ers, is to make way for q 24-story
Office and loft building to cost $1,000
oOO The hotel will be closed. next
week. 1t was erected in 1871.
The Topeka state journal., 1914-02-20
reported to me. Personally 1 may have
my hopes or doubts will say moth
Ing more,' he said.

my hopes or doubts. / will say moth
Ing more" he said.
CA0 for q Meeting.
Call for q mass meeting of protest
was posted this afternoon. It IL to be
held at a O'Clock tonight in Cleveland
square and resolutions Of protest pro-
bably will be adopted.
Former Governor Curry Of New Mex
leo will address the meeting. He IL In
veetigating the Benton execution ON
behalf Of the citizens.
Villa refused 70 deliver Benton's body
to Consul Edwards but the latter ex-
acted q promise that the grave
should be marked.
Bryan Is Notified.
Warrington. Feb. 2O.-Secretary
Bryan was advised today OF the death
u w. 8. Benton. an English ranch
owner, In Mexico, recently reported In
the hands Of the rebels No details
were given.
Secretary Bryan announced the
news Of Benton's death az he went
into q cabinet meeting ut the White
House. He declared he had absolute
" no details. An official dispatch
from Consul Edwards merely an
nounced the death Of the Englishman-
Sir Cecil Spring Rice. the British am
baeeador, who called upon Secretary
Bryan to ask for information of Ben
ton. also was told the news.
Arrested In Juarez.
Benton was arrested in JuArex last
Tuesday and had not been heard from
(Continued on PAGE Sixl
The Topeka state journal., 1914-02-20
Looted Bank WIN Pay Hall

Memphis, Feb. 20.-Despite Q
shortage Of $1,os1.75o. creditors Of
the closed Mercantile bank will re-
ceive about fifty cents on the dollar.
according to report made public to-
day by J. L. Hutton. state superin-
tendent Of banks The bank closed
its doors Feb. 3. The president.
Hunter Raine, IL in Jail charged with
Wrecking the institution
The Topeka state journal., 1914-02-20

washington. Feb. 20.-Increases rang
ing from to 16 cents a hundred
pounds in class and commodity freight
rates, proposed by the st. Louis and
San Francisco railway between Kansas
City. Mo-. and Missouri river points.
generally, were suspended today by the
I. c. C. until June - for invegtigatton.
The Topeka state journal., 1914-02-20

CONTINUED on Page Six,
The Anderson daily intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1915, 1914-12-27
SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED

II the story told I'm the Greenville
Piedmont under date line from Wall
halla and over the signature of ~. s.
81" be ture the recent killings and
race riot near Fair Play, and in Hart
county, Ga, are outrageous and those
guilty OF the crimes committed should
be brought TO Justice, and given the
full penalty of the law. There has been
entirely too many homicides in this
section of the State recently, and II is
time for a halt to be called. Never a
week passes but there is some horrible
murder committed. or some other
crime committed almost as bad.
According to this story of the Kill
ling of these two negroes, there seems
to have been absolutely no justihca-
tfon for the deed. Whiskey and the
passions aroused by the drinking and
carousing OF some white men, seem to
have caused the killing of two neg
roes and the serious ", ..pping of an
other.
Let the authorities ferret out the
truth Of this matter, and bring the
guilty parties to Judgment. The re-
sponsibility for t%hiB'double killing and
It's attendant shooting should be fixed,
and those who have taken the law in
to their own hands taught that there
is some respect for law and order
left, and that human life cannot be
taken with impunity. II the white men
Who were engaged in this affair arc
not guilty as this article states, they
should demand an investigation anil
clear their community Of the stain
that has been placed upon It by the
reports going out about this affair. at
any rate an investigation should be
made.
The Anderson daily intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1915, 1914-12-27
Mr.. Cfem MCGEE of Anderson 10 here
for the holidays with his mother, Mrs.

Mr.. Glenn MCGEE Of Anderson 70 here
for the holidays with his mother, Mrs.
Jaho McGee.
Mr.. Carter Watt of Anderson IL
spending the week with his parents,
Mr.. and Mrs. B. A. Watt. .
Miss Minnie Galley, who teaches
near Honea Path, 10 here for the holi-
days with her parents.
Master David Smith has gone to
Hodges to spend q few days with rela-
tives.
Mr.. Charlie Townsend Of Anderson
is here for a few days stay with his
mother. Mrs. A. G. Townsend.
Messrs. Walter and Lester Sadier OF
Anderson are on O visit to their par
ents. Mr.. and Mrs. ID. r. Sadler.
Mr. Glenn Baskin Of Chester IL here
for q few days with his parents, MI.
nd Mrs. J.. L.. Baslin.
Rev. J.H. Brown, who has charge
OF the textile school in SpartanburR,
is here for a short while whit rela-
tives.
DR.. c. D. Evans and wife LEFT today
for e short stay with relatives fla
Abbeyille.
Miss Mary Grace Wilson OF Watts
and Miss Alice Cooley of Lowrdesville
are guests this week OF Misses Mar
garet and Annie Wilson.
The Anderson daily intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1915, 1914-12-27
o o o o o o o o o o o o o O o o @
IVA NEWS

o o o o o o o O O o o o o o o o o o o
The Iva high school teachers left
Wednesday for their respective homes
for the holidays;. Miss Maggie Thomp-
son, Seneca; Miss Nellie Wyatt, Eas-
leay; Miss Kate Eampey, Hodges;
Miss Carrie Howell, Greer's: Miss
Sudie L. Wright, Hartsville, and Miss
Nancy Pearson, Woodruff.
Mr.. Wesley Hnckafee and little son,
John, OF LowndesyilIe, were here for
ia few days last week.
Mr.. Holccmbe Harper OF GREGG
Shoals was o business visitor here
Wednesday.
Misses Mamie Seabright, Clara Cook
and Mabel Reid, students OF winthrop
College, are spending the holidays
here with their parents.
Mr.. 8. e. Anderson left Wednesday
for Spartanburg where he goes to
Join his family.
Ar. g, W. McA6ans has returned
from q business trip to Columbia.
Mr.. and Mrs. Reid H. SheFard and
family OF Bolton DIRE spending the
holidays with the formers mother,
Mrs. v. c.. Sherard.
On next Tuesday, afternoon at 3
O'Clock the Priscillas will be enter
tanned at the home OF Miss Georgia
Belle Baskin IN Church street.
Miss Pearl Beatty, IN of the teach
ers In the lancaster high school, is
at home for the holidays. &
Prof. CHI D. Coleman and wife left
Wednesday FOR Lebanon where, they
go to- spend Ine holidays.
Mrs. Sudie i. Wright was called to
Hartsville q lew days ago to the bed
side OF her mother who is quite i'll.
Mr. 7. c. jackson, Jr., has returned
from O business trip To Anderson.
Mr.. and Mrs. Rosamond Seabright
Eof Anderson are here for the holidays
| with trefatfveak
The Anderson daily intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1915, 1914-12-27
EHE RIGHT SPIRIT

Evidently there are others thinking
as do The Intelligencer and the lady
who discussed the matter of employ
ers holding on to their employees
during ethe time of this temporary
dull times. 1t is obviously right and
proper that hose who have been
faithful and have helped a business
man build up his fortunes, should be
given some consideration when the
winds of adversely begin to blow. and
not be cast aside as so many pieces
of machinery. Then, this depression
Is sure to prove only temporary.
while business fs adjusting itself 10
the new and changed conditions. AL
ready there are many signs of return
Ing prosperity. and our prediction Is
that very soon we shall wonder why
we were ever SO pessimistfc as to
question the ability of our conditions
to adjust themselves and the
best interests of the country.
The Charleston News and Courier
has the following to say on this very
live subject:
The story is being told in the
streets that Is worth putting into prinI.
The head OF a large concern IL Char
lesion recently called his employees
together" Men, he sail, ""I'ic been
making money for eight years and
now I'm ready to stand A bai year. Ill
keep all Of you on for a year longer.
II the war isn't over by that time and
II business hasn't imp:O yed, we'll have
to consider what wall do.
That Is pluck; that is fair dealing.
IL there were more employers like
this me-, there would be Ia 1ui.ely less
sunering In this country on account
OF the war. There are many, OF course.
who have done what this one has
done, but there are also many who
have done the reverse and let num-
bers Of their employees go because
the war has injured business. Most
OF b big men can stand the strain,
but many of Tie little men cannot
stand 1t unless the big men help. Most
OF the big men can afford to carry
their emploees for another year. To
do go may cost them some money, but
1t will not ruin them. We hear a lot
about the generosity of the American
people to stricken Belgium. What
about the generosity or lack OF gen.
erosity Of the American business man
towards his clerk
In many cases, of course, retrench-
ment through reduction of the num-
Der OF employees is absolutely neces-
sary. But 1t ia safe to say that many
efficient men are,being thrown out of
employment simply because their en-
ployers have not the pluck and the
sense OF fair play shown by the Char
lesion man who felt that his faithful
helpers during eight prosperous years
ought not to be pitched overheard in
the first bad year that comes along.
The Anderson daily intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1915, 1914-12-27
Does the War Provo Christianity n
Faifnrea ,

In the January Woman's Home
Companion Charles e. Jefferson, pas
tor OF Broadway Tabernacle, New
York City, writes an interesting war
article In which he comments as fol-
lows On the question as TO whether
this war proves Christianity q fail
'ure:
IF someone says that the claims OF
the Church have all been shattered,
the reply Is that the Church. makes
no claim except on conditions that
must be met. It promises no VIC
tories except to hearts that surren-
der. 1t predicts 40 paradises. until
men have in them the mind OF Jesus.
Christianity Is an invitation. 10 the
invitation Is not accepted, Ii can do
no mighty works. Christianity is q
revelation OF the heart OF God. II
men refuse to become like him, the
world remains in darkness. There Is
no failure then in the Christian f6ii9.
ion. The failure Hes with the men
who refuse to feceivs it. iIf Europe
had been Christian this war would
never have been. The agony OF Eu-
rope gives new point to the question:
How shall we escape IL we neglect
so great salvation r. 1T illustrates
the meaning Of Christ,s figure 4of the
man who was foolish enough ia build
upon the sand. II ponrs q blazing
light around the Apostles great de-
claration-"There ts mono other name
under heaven given afnong men,
whereby we must be aaved."
The Anderson daily intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1915, 1914-12-27
ALFRED HENRY LEWIS

The untimely death of Alfred Henry
Lewis, in the midst of a very busy
career, removes m OF the most pic
turesque Of the newspaper writer's of
the day. Mr.. Lewis was only Hfty-ive
and had eason to hope and expect at
least twenty years more of active life.
Had he been spared 80 long, there Is
every likelihood that he would have adj
ded materially to the very large ac-
complishments that were his during
the comparatively brief period Of his
literary life.
At n time MIR. Lewis was a door,
keeper in the House OF Representa-
tiyes at Washington, though he was
doing some newspaper work on the
side. He was also gaining some expert
ence and acquaintance with public
men that served him In good stead
later on. He was noted for his plain
language at all times, and 1t was not
unheard Of for him TO play the role of
the Irish servant girl, by informing
visitors who asked for members Of the
House that the members said, "Tell
EN- I say I'm not in"
Mr.. Lewis's ability as a writer is
well known, and as a story teller ne
was famous. 1t Ia said that on &C.
casion he had the honor of keeping
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle entertained
far into the night with his inimitable
stories. Some Of these he committed
to print, though they lost much of
the charm of his dialect. His Wolf
vile" stories are among the Western
sketches that will probably live.
Unfortunately, Mr. Lewis allowed
himself to be dragged into the mire
and mud Of partisan journalism. He
was for some time at the head Of the
Washington bureau Of The New York
Evening Journal. Some Of the matter
that he produced at this time perhaps
did some good. but no doubt his adj
mirers, now he is dead, would be glad
IL they could pass over some of the
partisan writing that he turned out.
But 1t wi%be forgotten. as practical
ly all daily journalism is forgotten.
Mr.. Lewis's fame will rest upon his
stories, eighteen volumes Of which he
produced II fifteen years, nearly all
OF them good.