davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1914-01-20
CONFESSED THAT
HE KILLED HIS WIFE
Higgins Wanted to Be Free to Marry
His Step Daughter Only -
Years of Age.

NEW HENDERSON, H., Jan. %. =
Robert Higgins confessed yesterday
that he murdered his wife. Jan. ). so
that he would be free to marry his
stepdaughter, Julia Flake, 10. He was
arrested here late yesterday after the
girl told State 5 Attorney John NJ.
Wilson Of her infatuation for Higgins,
and that she ilnportuned him to dispose
OF her mother, who, she said, was the
only obstacle between her and happi.
ness.
The prosecutor .hesitated to believe
the girl 5 story of the extraordinary
pact which she entered into with her
stepfather, but she told how they had
sehenled for hours devising plan
which would make Mrs. Higgins :
death appear accidental. She said she
was in the next room when Higgins
fired the shotgun which brought i'm
slant death TO her mother She told
how Higgins raved and struggled with
neighbors for possession of the gun,
saying he would end his own life.
When the excitement subsidized some
what, she said, they explained that
! Higgins had been cleaning the gun and
it had been accidentally iseharged.
! Their story had been so convincing
that the coroner S jury returned YER
dict of accidental death. Later, G. ".
Ernest. maternal uncle of the girl,
took two letters written by Julia Flake
/ one to himself and one to his daugh-
ter, to State 5 Attorney Wilson. In
these letters the girl offers part of a
legacy of s. 900 which she is 70 receive
when she becomes of age provided they
would help her to kill her mother. Mr.
Wilson thought the letters were writer
in fit of anger, bu he INVESTIGATED
Saturday he called in State s Attorney
y. j. Boutelle of Knox county and
Sunday they went to see Julia, who
was at the home Of another uncle. 4
J. Ernst. at Hermon They were as
founded by her story.
higgins. who is 20 and several years
the Junior of the woman he killed. waE
/ questioned for several hours and mad5
many contradictions On the way t.
the county Jail at Aledo in an automo
bile he broke down. Il cant stand i
any longer, he moaned. Il III tell ev
erything The journey was interrupted
at Alexis, where Higgins was takel
into bank office and signed a type
written confession. He gave what b,
said were all the details of the murde
plot and asserted that his infatuatiol
for his stepdaughter was the cAuse O
it all. He said that Mrs Higgins be
came suspicious of his relations witt
her daughter and they planned to ee
rid of her. The girl, who is at the hon,
OF an aunt in Galesburg. ILL.,, beeam,
hysterical on learning of Higgins s con
| fession.
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1914-01-20
COMMISSION LOSES
IN SUPREME COURT
Rutland Railroads Appeal in Yer
gennes Station Hearing Remanded
for Trial Before Judge Martin.

In a decision of the United States
supreme court in Washington yesterday
the case OF the Vermont public service
commission against the Rutland Rail
road company was remanded for hear
ing before Judge j. l.. Martin. The
decision was defeat for the comms-
sion and victory for the railroad on
Il point of law, but il does not affect
the ultimate powers of the commission
further than that it allows appeals
from the. commission 5 orders to go to
The federal court instead of the state
supreme court.
The public service commission order
ed the railroad company 10 make im-
provements In the station at Nergennes,
whereupon the railroad appealed to the
district court for an order restraining
the enforcement of the order of the
commission. Fhe commission argued
that before filing bill in the district
court the appeal should have been
taken to the state supreme court, and
this question was argued for the com
mission by its chairman, r. G. Bacon
Of this town, before the United States
supreme court.
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1914-01-20

science and honor of the land. The
government and business men are
ready to meet each other half way in
"a common effort to square business
methods with both public opinion and
the law.
The chief points which the president
singled out as basis for Legislation
were:
1.-Effectual prohibition of the inter
locking of directorates of great cor
porations railroads, industrial,
commercial and public service bodies.
"A law to confer upon the inter
state commerce commission the power
to superintend and regulate the fnan
eial operations by which railroads are
heneeforrh to be supplied with the
money they need for their proper de
velopment and improved transportation
facilities. The president made it clear
that "the prosperity of the railroads
and the prosperity OF the country are
inseparabl. connected i'll this regard.
3-Defnition of the many hurtful
restraints of trade by explicit legis-
iation supplementary to the Sherman
law.
l.-The creation Of a commission to
aid the courts and to act as a clearing
house Of information in helping busi.
ness to conform with the law.
5-Provision of penalties and punish
ments to fall upon individuals respon-
sible for unlawful business practices.
6--Prohibition of holding companies
and a suggestion that the voting power
of individuals holding shares in numer-
Gus corporations might be restricted.
Giving to private individuals the
right to found suits for redress on
facts and judgments proven in govern
ment suits and providing that statute q
/ limitations should run only from the
date of conclusion of the government :
action.
Mrs. Wilson and other members OF
the President 5 family occupied the
gallery reserved for them The diplo
matte corps was well represented, am
the floor was crowded with various
government officials.
The joint committee met the Pres
idnt in Speaker Clark 5 office and con
Quoted him to the rostrum.
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1914-01-20
President Addressed Both
Branches of Congress for
the Fifth Time
PEACE THAT is HONOR,
FREEDOM, PROSPERITY
Now to Be Written, He Says-Seven
Chief Points Singled Out as a Basis
for Legislation-Commi to Help
Courts and Business.

WASHINGTON, January 20-Ex-
cept for a meeting on departmental
affairs President Wilson had before
him today but a single engagement,
perhaps the most important Of his ad
ministration-an address to Congress
on antitrust legislation.
For the fifth time since last April
Congress assembled in joint session to
hear read in person a message from the
nation 5 chief executive.
Every available seat in the galleries
of the House of Representatives was
occupied long before the hour for the
delivery Of the message.
The President personally laid before
the Joint session of Congress the fun
damental principles of the Democratic
administration 5 program for dealing
with trusts ami big business. The
president presented the ease, he said,
las It lies in the thought of the
country, raiterating that private
monopoly is indefcnsible and intolcr-
able. and declaring that conscientious
business men throughout the nation
would not be satisfied until practices
restraints of trade and commerce were
corrected.
Eve are now about to write the
additional articles of our constitution
of peace said the president, ''the
peace that is honor and freedom ana
prosperity.
Besides suggesting the scope of iegis-
lation the president made a personal
appeal for an atmosphere of friendli-
ness and cooperation in Congress whlie
| handling the problem.
''The antagonisrn, he said, : be
tween business and government is over
We are now about TO give expression
to the best judgment OF America, tC
what we know TO be the business con
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1914-01-20
Two of the Men Who Made
Daring Escape in Boston
Taken at Readville
WERE ARRESTED FOR
WALKING ON RAILROAD
Not Recognized Until They Were
Brought into Court-Dug Hole III
Bottom of Van While on Their Way
TO Prison.

BOSTON, Jan. 20.-George A. Ward,
2l, and Charles Roman, 20, the latter
eolored, two of the prisoners who
escaped yesterday by ripping a hole in
the bottom OF a prison van in this city.
were captured at Readville today.
They were hurrying along over the
railroad ties, headed toward Provi-
denee. They were arrested as track
walkers, and were not recognized until
they were taken into court.
Their escape was one of the most
daring ever accomplished in Boston.
Roman and Ward, with William II.
Jones, 2S. also colored, were arrested
in connection with recent Back BAY
barglaries When they were arraigped
in the city police court at Pember3 on
Square yesterday they were placed un-
der heavy bail. They were loaded into
the prison van TO be transferred TO the
Charles street Jail, and an armed guard
was on the outside of the conveyance.
Seven other prisoners were also in the
van.
When the officer lined up his squad
at the Jail lac was three short and an
investigation revealed ragged hole in
! the bottom of the van through which
/ the missing men had escaped.
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1914-01-20
TO RESUME COASTING
ON CANAL STREET
Friday Night Decided Upon for Tryout
of Policing Plan-Sport Depends
on Observance of Rules.

The village commissioners have noti-
fed certain residents of the Canal
street section of the village that gen
eral coasting upon that long hill is
allowable hAnceforth, on the pledge of
those residents that they will see that
the street is properly polieed and viii
hold themselves responsible for the
proper conduct of the sport
Those residents have decided to have
coasting on that hill Friday evening
from 80 to 10 clock Coasters from
all over the village are welcome pro-
viding they follow such instructions as
may be given TO them at the time and
place and which viii have to 10 only
with making the course safe, not only
for coasters, but for pedestrians and
teamsters.
If sufficient lumber take advan-
tage of the opportunity arrangements
VIII be made for other evenings ana
due publicity win be given
The success of the plan and the con
tinued consent of the commissioners
will depend entirely upon those who
participate in the sport 1t would only
require disregard of the rules of safety
by one person or group of persons TO
| put "A stop to the sport of all. That
| fact should be borne in mind.
At least one man will be stationed
to care for the curve in the street just
below the junction of Pine and Maple
streets with Canal street. He will be
equipped with a signal light and viii
watch for teams and electric cars,
warning coasters by signal when the
street is not clear and signalling then
to start whenever the> course Is open
The street just now is in excellent
condition for coasting, but certain
circumstances with regard to the prop
er policing of the street make IL ad
visabie to set the date for the frs
use of the street for coasting some
little time in advance-hence the de
cision to make it Friday evening. !
Due notice viii be given should i
become necessary for any other reasol
than the weather to change the date
In the event of storm on that even
ing The Reformer will make publ
the next available date.
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1914-01-20

Crosby block. This consists of several
rooms. and temporary furniture and
furnishings will be provided within a
few days and those quarters will be
used by members until such time as ar
rangemeuts can be made for permanent
rooms. The suite is at the north end
of the block on the third floor.
w. f. Goddard announced this morn
ing that he had secured temporary
quarters on the top floor of f. l.. Hill
dreth l. Co s quarters and that his
old telephone number, 174-M, would
reach him. As soon as the insurance
is adjusted and other details arranged
Mr.. Goddard will establish himself in
permanent quarters, after he can Sc
cure the necessary machinery.
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1914-01-20
vERMoNTERS IN BOSTON
viii Have Annual Banquet in Young's
Hotel, January 20.

BOSTON. Jan. 20.-Nermonters liV-
ing in Boston and vicinity and mem
bers of the. Vermont Veteran associa-
tion will have their annual banquet
and ladies night at Young's Hotel
Wednesday evening, Jan. %.
Fletcher, Senators Dillingham; and
Page Congressman Greene and Plum
ley, Department Commander Thomas
Harmon, G. A. r., and Hon. Kittredge
Haskins.
Other guests expected are Lieut..
Gov. Edward p. Barry, James NJ. Glea-
son, Boston; Department Commander
Thomas J. Ames, G. A. r.; Attorney
General Thomas j. Boynton, Everett !;
Rev. r. Perry Bush, Chelsea; Rev. f.
A. Horton, Boston.
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1914-01-20
new HOSE
AUTHORIZED.
Village Commissioners Take
Prompt Action to Improve
Fire Department
LESSONS FROM
GRANGE BLOCK FIRE
Wisdom of Commissioners Action
Shown by Experience of Firemen at
Sunday Nights Stubborn Blaze on
Elliot Street.

The village commissioners met
last evening and acted promptly.
They decided to order:
1000 feet Of hose.
Four Boston nozzles with Gala
han tips.
Twelve rubber fire coats
Twelve smoke protectors
One cellar pipe
This action by the commissioners,
taken so promptly after the need OF
these articles OF fire fighting equip
ment was shown, took place after
the following article was written,
but the article will tend TO show IN
a measure, at ;east, the necessity
Tor the purchase OF the additional
equipment.
The smoke protectors are small
devices with sponges that are fixed
over the nose ana mouth and are
not IN the nature OF a helmet.
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1914-01-20
AT MASONIC TEMPLE.

A regular convoeation of Bingham
chapter. No. 30, Order of Eastern Star,
will be held at Masonic temple Tuesday
evening, Jan 20, at 7.30 o clock. Busi-
ness: Initiation. Supper served at
clock.
stated conelave of Beauseant com
mandery, No. 7, Knights Tempiar. will
be held at Masonic temple Wednesday
evening, Jan. 81, at I.3o clock. Busi-
ness: Temple
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1914-01-20
MARRIAGE ANNOUNCED
AFTER SEVEN MONTHS
Newfane Couple Kept Wedding Secret,
Bride Living with Parents Until
Studies Were Completed.
Especial to The Reformcr.l
NEWFANE, Jan. 2f

After being married nearly eight
months AR and Mrs. Leonard b.
Brown of this town have just let the
fact become known to the public.
Mrs Brown, who was Miss Fray l..
Ballou, daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. w.
c. Ballou, graduated from the Brattle
boro high school in the class of 1912.
She and Mr.. Brown were married IN
Wiiliamsville May 81, by Rev. z. c.
Thatcher, but as the bride wished to
complete a course in commercial draw
ing they concluded to keep the fact
from the general public, Mrs. Brown
staying on with her parents. Having
completed her studies they are now
living at John Tibbetts 5, the bride
groom having a position in the mill
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1914-01-20
AT THE CENTRE CHURCH

Tonight, Tuesday, 7.30: William
Shaw, general secretary of the Christ
ian ndeavor society, will give an ad-
dress in the Baptist church. Our
society is invited. 1t is hoped that
everyone will attend. This also includes
the Bov Scouts.
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1914-01-20
BABY
DIED SUDDENLY
Daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. Guy Grout
of Newfane Hill, Born Jan. S, :.
Seemed Well Until the Last.
Especial to The Reformer.)

NEWFANE, Jan 20.
Florence Martha, the two-pound ba-
by born Jan. to Mr.. and Mrs. Guy
Grout on Newfane hill, died very sud
denly Sunday at midnight. The child
seemingly had been well from birth up
to the time of her death, when, after
few short gasps the little life went
out.
The funeral was held in the home
at clock today, Rev. f. NJ. Wis
wall officiating and burial took place
in the family lot in Woodlawn GENE
terry.
The death of this baby brings a
sense of sorrow to many more than
those who knew the family, as it was
the hope of all VINO knew of the birth
of the tiny child that she would sur
vive.
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1914-01-20
THE WEATHER.
Probably Heavy Snow Tonight and
Wednesday in Vermont

WASHINGTON, Jan. 90. - Snow to-
night and Wednesday, probably heavy
in New Hampshire and Vermont; cold
er tonight in northern Vermont; cold
er Wednesday except in eastern Maine;
brisk northerly winds.
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1914-01-20

Salt making by the evaporation of
sea water is. the principal industry Of
the Tuko aud Cacos Islands colony,
and is carried on at Grand Turk, Salt
Cay and Cockburn harbor, the latter
being the principal settlement in the
Cacos Islands
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1914-01-20
To Determine Losses From
Grange Block Fire
Sunday Night
NO PLANS YET MADE
BY BUILDINGS OWNER
Property Stood i'll the Name of Miss
Caroline Dutton Wheel Club Sc
cures Temporary Quarters in Crosby
Block

The first of the insurance adjusters
who will place the losses ON the Grange
store fire, will reach Brattleboro to-
morrow. They will he followed by 9th
ers and before the end of the week all
of the losses, il is expected, will have
been adjusted.
Miss Caroline Dutton. in whose name
the Grange building stands, has not
decided on the future of the property.
The east wall, which bulged badly, has
been braeed against the wooden build
ing, but arrangements have not yet
been made for clearing the ruins and
probably nothing in this regard will be
done until such time as the insurance
adjusters have finished their work.
Clock Striking in Ruins.
Firemen who were on duty with "a
line of nose last night were much sur
prised to hear Il clock that had been
i'm the store of w. J. Pentland. jr., toll
off the hours with regularity during the
night. 1t is buried somewhere in the
ruins, but is still keeping time
The water poured on the fire leaehed
through Elliot street and seeped into
.h' iuI thci puildlhe owned ny H. u.
Emerson on the lower floors and a lit
tie worked into the lower floors of the
new Emerson building, as yet not com
pleted. The damage to contents is not
material. Men were at work all day yes
terday and last night bailing out the
water or turning 1t in temporary chan
nels TO outlets that had been made in
the floors.
Wheel Club Secure Rooms,
The officers of the Vermont Wheel
club met last evening and voted to
equip temporary quarters at the earli-
est possible moment in suite 81 in the
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1914-01-20
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.

Tuesday, 80 p. m.-Chnstian En-
deavor meeting. William Shaw of Bos-
ton viii speak on Efficiency. Don t fail
tc hear him. Silver collection.
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1914-01-20

Heavy fire losses throughout the
country appear to be unavoidable. The
cities and towns equipped with mul
ticiplicity of the latest improved fire
fighting apparatus and men trained to
the minute in that most exactIng of
speclalties-tire tghting and life say
ing-are unable TO prevent, at times,
serious coniiagrations, and those in
stances are in spite of proper equip
mept. not through lack of it.
In the fire Which totally destroyed
the Grange building and its contents
Sunday night. in the opinion Of The
Reformer there is not a word of fault
to be found with the firemen or their
personal efforts. And this is said in
spite of earping critics, curbstone
chiefs and the brigade OF ''Itoldy you
SOS who gather on such occasions,
keep well out of reach of water and
grab cup of coffee intended for the
fire fighters if they can. In Brattle-
boro, as well as everywhere else, there
are such individuals but they always
90 home dry-outside.
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1914-01-20
Cellar Pipe Needed.

SSlldI ripe NeSueu
Some years ago there was cellar
fire in business block. At that time
because Of the fact that the partitions
III the interior Of the building were
solid, the fremen were able to pre-
vent such a loss as that suffered Sun
day night
Immediately after that fire a eel
lar pipe. a certain form Of nozzle used
in every properly equipped department
for cellar fires, was advocated, and
The Reformer is informed that one
was brought here, inspected and kept
for three weeks and then returned he
cause it cost some s75 and the village
could not afford it, or, it was consid-
cred a needless expense.
The fremen know where they are
handicapped. Here S an example:
One of The Reformer staff, who
chanccd to be in the immediate To-
cality at the time the alarm was
sounded and who had acquired, he
| thought. little knowledge of fire
| fighting in II years of continuous ser
vice in city, lent u hand in laying
/ one of the first lines of hose. As a
member of the department was at
/ taching a nozzle, The Reformer man
asked: = low about the cellar pipe, old
mans This is a good hole for it to
get in its work.
| Grunting rs he worked rapidly te
attach the nozzle, the fireman replied
What the hi do you think we are
New York;
The Reformer man did not. He ha:
lived in both places and, at times, Il
able to see the difference. But moth
ing he had previously heard in Brat
tleboro had given him the impression
that the village could not afford al
effective piece of fire fighting appara
tus that cost $75.
The times when it is needed are per
haps not numerous, but, like any
thing else, when it is needed it
needed badly.
Now The Reformer does not pre-
tend to say that the Grange build1n
would have been saved had the dc
partment had two cellar pipes, bu
there is not a member of the depart
ment who will deny that a cellar pip
would have enabled them to put waite
on the worst of the blaze in the celia
I when it was comparatively young an
: probably before it had time to wor
into the partitions through the ceilin
: of the cellar.
The cellar windows were so cor
structed with board shields hangin
!. down little distance inside the vii
: dows that the streams turned into I'll
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1914-01-20

FOR SALE-Cottage house. rooms.
electric lights, furnace, etc. Cottage
house, new, rooms, modern, hardwood
finish. Prices right. Win. G. Horton s
Agency. 265-eod75
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1914-01-20
Special Notices


CASH PAID for dry wood. F. A.
Larrow. 233-tf
800 down and sl00 weekly buys
high grade range for short time only.
Emerson. 4 Son. 22S-tf
SEWING Machine Needles and sup
plies for all makes of machines at J.
B. Dunton s. 10 Flat st.
HIGHEST cash prices paid for rags,
metals, hides, skins and bones.
Geo. GGss. % Flat s.. Tel Office 576M.
LOST-Blaek robe marked 'fGeorge
Clay Finder viii receive liberal re.
ward if returned to Mosher 5 Stable.
273-27s
S. ZAR, rs Elliot, buys rags, metals,
ubbers, papers, cash, trade Best prices.
Mail card; | will call. Tel. 209-W.
243-tf
Every woman doing her own dress
making should call and see the Acme
dress form, adjustable to 100 different
sizes. is Green st. 262-2Is'
LOST-Lady 5 black fur coat Thurs
dav night between Charles Harris S
and Allen s Stable. Finder please re-
turn to Reformer Office. 259,tf
CARE OF COMPLEXION & HAIR
Shampooing, scalp treatment, facial
massage, manicuring. Falling hair,
badness, dandruff, treated eifectually.
IA American Bldg, Flora NJ Kava-
naueh. Tel. 6o5-W or 366-W. 263-tf
/ WILL CLEAN and press Your suit
for 80 cents. Ladies and gentlemen s
garments repaired and altered at rea-
sonable prices. Call 236W and / will
come for and deliver your work. Carl
| Kohls. % Chestnut st. 212-2SI*
MOTORCYCLES REPAIRED am
prepared to overhaul and repair mo-
toreyeles of all makes. Have your
work done now and be ready for
spring. Satisfaction guaranteed B.
F. ober, Wilson 5 Garage, Flat ST.
26s-277s
MRS. E. p BAILEY s chiropods
and shampooing parlors for ladies and
gentlemen now open from to L anc
. to ) daily, Monday and Saturday
evenings. Toilet supplies, hair combs
pins, etc. III Main ST., one flight
Phone 606M. (Res. phone 3S3-M.
264-t
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1914-01-20

FOR SALE-Two horses. l worker
and driver. b. LARSON, Centre
vile. 269-274#
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1914-01-20

FOR SALE-Sleds and sleighs, top
sleighs; parIor and kitchen stoves; one
new fur Wombat overcoat, one second
hand fur coat SO; ono Franklin type
writer, good as new. Charles Miner.
S6o-tf