davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-12-01
POISON PEN
LETTER VICTIM
Mrs. Schmidt, Who Killed
Herself and Son, Receiv-
ed Scandal Message
WAS MORTIFIED AT
THE FALSE STORY
Expert Convinced That the Scurrilous
Missive Which Have Caused Great
Great Trouble in New York Are the
Work of AN Insane Woman.

NEW YORK, Dec. William J.
Kinsley, the handwriting expert, who
is working with the postal authorities
to assistthem in running down the
writer of "poison penn letters, more
than a score of which have been re-
ceived by young married persons and
young women about to marry, since
April of last year, said yesterday the
writer probably caused the death of at
least one woman. Mr. Kinsley said he
referred to Mrs. Charles f. Schmidt,
who killed herself and her six-year-
old son, Carl Robert, by gas in room
in the Hotel Wellington on last Octo-
Der 5. 1t developed that Mrs. Schmidt
had received at Woodycrest farm,
Shohola, Penn, letter in a woman s
| handwriting containing statements
concerning her husband and unknown
| TO him, she had come here and killed
herself and son.
Mr.. Schmidt was Mortified when he
saw the letter, and declared, heart
! brokenly, that it contained only false
| hoods, each one of which he could
have exposed as such, had his wife
only consulted with him before taking
| her life and that of her son.
Mr.. Kinsley said he had recalled the
story telling of Mrs. Schmidt s death
after he had joined the government in
vestigation and had been struck by the
| fact that the letters submitted to him
had been written in September, short
ly before the receipt of the letter by
Mrs. Schmidt.
The handwriting expert said he had
tried to communicate with Mr..
Schmidt, intending to ask him for the
letter received by his wife, that he
might compare it with others in his
possession, but had learned that Mr.
Schmidt, soon after his wife's DEATH
had gone to South America and was
still there.
Mr.. Kinsley said yesterday he had
received three more letters in the
handwriting of all the others, and one
which seemed to be in a new hand
Mr.. KinsIey said he had nine letters
altogether now, eight of which had
been mailed from Goshen or Middle
town, and one from Long Island. The
State Homeopathic hospital for the in
| sane is in Middletown, and Mr.. Kins
ley elings to his theory that the WELD
er of the "poison PEN is an insane
woman.
He said letter posted in Goshen
which is only five or six miles from
MiddIetown, was handed to him yes
terday by young man whose fanc'
had received it Monday, and had turn
ed it over to him at once. It haC
been posted on Saturday, and was sim
liar to all the others in context ant
handwriting.
Mr. Kinsley said, regardless of thu
outcome of this case, he intended t.
have a moving picture slide made from
the story of Mrs. Schmidt's death t.
show the frightful results of anony
nous letter writing, and to have thi
exhibited throughout the United State
in connection with a lecture on thi
subject.
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-12-01
MILITIA TEACHER LEAVES.
War Department Transfers Capt J. L.
Bond to Plattsburg.

BURLINGTON, Dee. 1. = Orders
have been received from the war de-
partment relieving Capt. J. L.
Bond of the 30th Infantry, L. S. A..
from duty as nspector-instructor of the
Vermont National Guard and detailing
him for duty with his regiment which
IS now stationed at Plattsburgh, n Y
Capt. Bond, who has made his home
in Burlington since taking up his work
with the Vermont troops last July, act
ed as coach for the Vermont rifle team
at the national rifle tournament at
Jacksonville, Fla, in October He also
contributed largely to the success of the
state militia camp held last summer
on the state reservation.
In addition to his other work, Capt
Bond planned and carried out course
of instruction in the school for state
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-12-01
SAYS CHICAGO Is BROKE"
City Controller Hints Thousand En-
ployes May Be Laid Off.

CHICAGO, Dee 1.-The finances of
this city are in such woeful shape, ac-
cording to a statement made by Con
troller Pike, that unless the legislature
now in special session comes to the
rescue it will be necessary at the end
of the current month to lay off not
less than 1000 municipal employees
while many others must suffer a ma
terial reduction in salaries.
The city, according to Mr.. Pike, is
I" broke, and must be run next yeal
at saving of $3,OO0,OO0 in order t.
keep within its revenues.
We are making up the budget now
on the basis of a big economy next
YEAR said Controller Poke. ~ u
preme court decisions have affected
our revenues, the legislature without
providing extra revenue, has added
new duties for the city to perform a
its own expense, and now we must face
the music
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-12-01
GET FRESH WATER FROM SEA
Only Source of Supply Available TO
the Inhabitants of Island in
Persian Gulf.

Quite often one hears a foolish per-
son compared to Larab bees calf which
it is said swan the river to get a
drink. 1t is not always so, however,
for there is land where people dive
deep in the ocean to get water.
Sounds funny, doesn't it?
In the Persian gulf, about twenty
miles from the Arabian coast, is a
group of islands, the largest of which
is called Bahrein. This island, which
is 20 miles in length and 10 in width,
is low and sandy in most places, but
here ana there an oasis rich in date
palms dots the island with spots of
green. THE Mountain of the Mist"
IN the center rises to the height of 400
feet. The 5000 people who live in
Manameh, its largest town, are most
iy Arabs of the fanatical Wahabi sect.
Fish and seaweed are their chief food
and the only fresh water they have to
drink is brought from springs at the
bottom of the sea. The natives. with
goat-skin bags, dive to the bottom,
and holding the opening down upon
the bubbling spring, swim to the sur
face with their bags filled with sweet
water. The extensive pearl fisheries
for which the islands have always
been famous is their one great indus
try. The Dutch Reformed church has
long maintained a mission station
upon the island and that has been
possible because Bahrein is under Brit
ish protection.
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-12-01
Sporting NeuUs
NOTES.

Frederick p Wooley, tackle, has
been elected captain of the Trinity col
lege football eleven.
This amateur stuff has spread to
basketball. Two Penn players have
been declared ineligible to play that
game.
The annual six days bicycle race in
Madison Square garden, New York, will
begin at one minute after midnight
Sunday.
Another. "'white hop" - Gunboat
Smith-has "bit the dust He was
put out Monday night by Coffey, who
lost recently to Moran.
It is noticeable that more accurate
and prompt scores of soccer games in
England are cabled to this country than
are the scores of the bigger game along
the eastern front. :
"Chief' Bender is seeking to re-
cover 1866 from the Feds for breach
| of contract. He ought to have got
in = before they spent more than a
million in New York.
Pittsburg has challenged Cornell to
| a football game within two weeks on
neutral territory for the football cham
| pionship, the proceeds of the game tC
| go to charity. Here s hoping.
Lieut.. Charles DAILY, L. S. A, for tho
! last three seasons coach of the Army
! football team, has been ordered to join
his regiment on duty in Honolulu and
will sail Dec. ) from San Francisco.
/ Neyland, star end of the West Point
football team and star pitcher of the
baseball team. is still at the hotel Aston
in New York. He suffered conclusion
of the brain in the Navy game, but il
! showing Improvement.
Eddie Mahan not only denies that h,
has received any offers to play pro
fessional baseball after his graduation
in June but says that all reports tina
he win consider even such means o
) livelihood are "bosh.
An alibi for Cornell s poor shown;
} in the first period of the game witt
, Pennsylvania comes from Ithaca t,
the effect that Barrett was thrown $
hard early in the game he was uuabl
to call off his plays intelligently TO
the full period
Capt. Huston, part owner of the Van
KEGS, says that he could have bough
the site the Feds say they have take
for their ball park for 100000 a FEY
weeks ago and he does not conside
J them guilty of much business acume
, if they spent $1,25O,000 for it.
; Clinton r. Black, jr., Yale's strong
: est defensive lineman, was yesterda
elected captain of the football team Q
t 1916. Black, a former Exeter star, bea
J out Club - Sheldon, a former Andove
, star, for the honor. Black has playe
, in fewer games than any player VIII
ever captained Yale varsity footba
team
: The Federal league announces tn;
t its New York park will be betwee
f l45th and 142d streets, Fifth avenu
. and the Harlem river; that it covers Is
city lots, cost $1,25O,OOO for the Ian
and will be ready for the opening {
the season IN April. 1t will be ready
: seat $4,000 people on the opening da
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-12-01

and will have the largest enclosure of
any baseball park in the country.
1t seems that the Brown university
eleven is going to play the Washington
State college eleven on New Year s day
at Pasadena, Cal, instead of Washing
ton university, as first announced. The
last time a big game of this sort was
pulled off came in 1912, when Michi-
gan met the Stanford team. Washing
ton State is the undefeated Northwest
conference champion. "Lone Star
Dietz is the coach.
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-12-01
Work REQUIRES Skill,

One of the spectacular features of
the work on the modern steel build
ing which always attracts the inter
est OF the spectators is the adeptness
of the man at the forge, whose job
consists of heating the rivets to the
point of redness and then tossing the
glowing metal to a workman some
where in the vicinity. He catches it
and drives it into a hole awaiting its
reception. In its heated condition
the two ends are then clinched by a
few blows of the hammer. Occasion
ally these meteorlike missiles GO
astray, and are likely to do some dam
age. unless they are looked after. II
has been found that better way OF
accomplishing the practice is BY
means of a chute.
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-12-01
NO REVOLUTION IN GUATEMALA
State Department Informed That AL
Is Quiet There.

WASHINGTON, Dec. In view of
recent reports Of revolutionary activ-
tiles in Guatemala the state depart
ment yesterday issued this statment:
The department is in receipt of adj
vices from the legation at Guatemala
to the effect that although reports from
the United States have reached eau
temala that a revolution is taking
place in the latter country, the reports
appear to be false, Guatemala City is
absolutely quiet and has has been for
many months. =
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-12-01

militia officers which he has conduct
ed. Capt and Mrs. Bond expect to
leave for Plattsburgh in a few days.
1t is not known who will be the
next nspector-instructor for the Yer
mont militia, but it is understood that
there are several applications before
the war department.
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-12-01

to you every time you eat at The Al
bany. Our foods appeal to your sense
of taste and our prices to your common
sense. Somewhere there may be a bet
ter restaurant than The Albany, but
none of our many patrons have ever
found it, and the first meal you eat
here will convince you that your search
for the best eating place in town is at
an end
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-07-25
Little Comment
IN Berlin on Note
Papers Generally Reseruc Dis
cussion Until Full Text
Is Knoun.

BERLIN. July 2i.-Thc text of the
American note has not yet been pub
lished in Berlin. but the afternoon
papers print a fairly exhaustive au-
ihoritativc summary For the most
part. the papers reserve comment until
the full text Of the note is known.
The Lokal AnZciger, in an apparently
inspired article. asserts its confider &c
that Germany in utilizing its subma-
rincs in the future will cndeavor to
combine advantage for Germany with
the least possible detrimcnt 10 neutral
interests, and expresses the belief that
the American note will furnish ground
for further negotiations.
The Germania and Boers!n Zeitung
briefly discuss the note in similar
terms. The Germania assures its
readers that the recent inactivity was
due TO bad Gather and not to cesea-
tion of submarine warfare.
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-07-25
CERTAIN STATEMENTS
PLEASE BERSSTORFF

WASHINGTON. July 2i.--Count Won
Eernstorff. German ambassador. left
hero to-day to remain away from the
capital until instructions from his gov
crnment or new developments make it
necessary for him again to confer with
officials here.
1t was learned in German circles here
tonight that the German interpreta-
ton of the statement in the last Amcri-
can note that the lives of noncombat- L
ants may not be put in jeopardy unless
a vessel rcSists or seeks to escape was
expected to satisfy the German mill
tarv authorities of the fact that the
United states has not insisted on a
complete abandonment of submarine
warfare as such
Count Bernstorn viewed with salts
faction the statement In the note that
the United States would insist upon the
freedom of the seas from whatever
quarter violated" He hopes that this
VIII be accepted in Germany that the
Washington government intends 10 in
sist upon it's rights from Great Britain
as we'll rs elsewhere.
Information reached Washington to-
night that The orduna was not fred AT
by a torpeoo This was learned from
passengers on the Orduna, i, was said
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-07-25
GUARDS FOR BLISS PLANT
VIII he Placed brooklyn End of
Manhattan Bridge.

NEW YORK. July 24-Announce
mont was made to-day that two guards
will be placed on the Brooklyn end of
the Manhattan Bridge TO protect from
"cranks" and others the works OF the
+. w. Bliss Co, which is manufacturing
large quantities of war supplies for
Eur oNcan countries. For some time de-
tectives have been patrollng the
grounds OF tho plant. which is directly
under the bridge.
The first intination that the Bliss
Co. feared an attack came In n letter
10 Bridge Commissioner Krackc asking
permission for the placing OF guards
II. G. Seaman, secretary and treasurer
OF the company, explained that all en-
frances 70 the plant arc guarded, and
the only way damage cnuld be done to
the plant was by dropping bombs from
the bridge.
Mr.. Seaman would not admi, that
threatening letters had been received
by the company.
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-07-25
ANNAPOLIS INQUIRY ENDS
Whole "CribbinG" Matter VIII Tie Laid
Before President.

ANNAPOLIS. MD. July 24-Thc
court of inquiry which has been in
vestigating Irregularities in examina-
tons ut the Naval Academy since June
: completed its work and adjourned to-
day. Its findings and recommendations
to the Navy Department will be re-
viewed by the judge advocate general,
who will turn them over to the head
Of the Bureau of Navigation.
He will make his recommendations to
Secretary Daniels. who. in turn. will
lay the whole matter before President
Wilson.
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-07-25
CAR RETURNED TO DR.. SHAW
Friends of Suffrage Leader buy In
Machine Seized for Taxes.

MEDIA, PA. July 24.-Thc little
yellow car Eastern Victory" pre-
scnted to DIR. Anna Howard Shaw by
Now York supporters of the suffrage
leader and seized for nonpayment OF
taxes, was put up at constahle's sale
to-day and bought in for s230 by the
Woman's Suffrage Society of Delaware
county and returned to DR.. Shaw.
There were two other bidders.
The sale was not made until after
Judge Johnson. OF the Delaware County
Court, had refused to grant an injunc-
tion restraining the constable from
selling the car
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-07-25
FIRE ON BRITISH STEAMER
hcsHits From Explosion of Unknown
Origin. Causing Dig LOSS.

NEW YORK, July o4.-An explosion
OF unknown origin occurred in the for
ward hold of the British freight steamer
CraEside al her dock in the Hudson
River here to-day. and was follow ed
by fire. which. however. was speedily
checked. The Cragside. which was to
leave here tonight for an English port
with cargo of 100000 bags of sugar.
will be delayed Il few days
The fire and water damage to the
steamer was estimated at $1,000. while
the cargo of sugar. valued at sl44,0O0.
is believed TO be total loss
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-07-25
LONG ROWS OF BODIES
PILED IN BIC ARMORY
Heartrending Scenes as Thousands
Are Allowed to Enter Place
of Death.
POLICE FORCED TO USE CLUBS
Very Silence Of Assemblage as
Stricken People Walk in Files
Past Recovered Victims Empha-
sizes Awfulness of Tragedy.

CHICAGO. July 24.-Bodies, long
rows OF them. eighty-hve to the row,
made the scene at the Second Regiment
Armory something appalling to the
uninitiated. and even to officials hard
ened to such scenes the sight brought
! tears.
Ten long rows of blanketed victims
met the eyes Of the thousands who
were allowed to enter this place of
death shortly before 10 o'clock, and
then were enacted heartrending scenes.
surpassed only by the disaster Itself.
Preceding the admission Of those
seeking friends and relatives. the
bodies were brought In and check Ell
Off with systematic precision. each
numbered and laid in n particular row.
| Two dozen physicians and undertakers
woI king at improvised tables embalmed
the bodies. Carefully wrapped in
blankets. the victims presented n SINH
lar appearance until the crowd was
admitted, when the blankets were
turned back from .he faces. Thou
sands had stood outside the armory
There was no disorder. and the very
silence of the assemblage emphasized
the awful tragedy.
When the doors were thrown omen
the crowd was met by two lines Of
police officers and through this lane
the seekers were forced to wend their
way in single file. Squads of twenty
five were admitted Mt time.
! Shortly after the opening OF the
great morgue the first Identification
| took place. An elderly woman accom-
| panied by "A young man, dropped on
her knees. then fell moaning and vail
Inn .hof
of her daughter. Similar scenes fol-
| lowed fast.
ANNEX ACROSS STREET
TURNED INTO MORGTE
When the large armory showed signs
of becoming overcrowded. preparations
were made to convert the armory annex
| across the street into a second general
| morgue.
! Members OF the crowd waiting out
| side the armory stormed the doors late
| tonight, and the police were forced
to use their clubs to drive them back
Several persons were injured. 1t was
said.
! The first squads admitted to the
armory consisted mainly Of the curious
Coroner Hoffman through a megaphonc
cried out that he would arrest "in
the name OF decency." any one who
entered the armory without reason
other than the satisfaction of morbid
curiosity.
AS fast as the bodies were Identified
they were removed again to undertake
ing establishments to make room for
others waiting outside in ambulanccs.
AT o'clock tonight S31 bodies had
been removed to the Second Regiment
Armory They were laid In rows Of
righty-flve across the whole length Of
the armory.
Revised figures showed 1T6 bodies
had been identified. or ia partially
Identified bodies. A were men. IS were
women. boys and IL girls. The
armory. situated in a thickly settled
part of the West Side. was surrounded
this evening by n great throng. Most
OF the victims were residents of the
Wcqt Ci1a
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-07-25

CHICAGO July PA thousand persons lost their lives
the Chicago River to-day by the capsizing of the excursion
steamer astland while warping from it's wharf with
than 2400 employees of the Western Electric Company
their relatives and friends board bound for pleasure trip
Lake Michigan.
After working ceaselessly all day night
snd bodies sa2 victims Of the
taking into consideraon unrecovered bodies said
Eastand by marine architects to have been top-
heavy and halasted in uncertain inside
into E1e the river affo or them in its submerged hull
rownng %en wo@ep and children hi but
wan % Ges nS within the river Mothers
Other children died in the Of their
NE factory Of Western Electric
DrG nd d the day lay more than 700 bodies taken the
sides were with Flames divers.
shin fe per- taken alive from the cabins the
the 800 Others said be in the all dead
worked in the hull of the vessel remove the The
ey 0 the the of the hpH side like
CAUSE OF ACCIDENT NOT DETERMINED
@ the city pd had st nss
opea rom to % whether the
was s5 nsnssd s
% %a @ t9s s "sei
ss1S 'a'S @ CALAIS as ana wsrs @ a vs s
ss
9on 1 Lake Ss ssss ss4 %'s$ sa
from Rain ain 1ssss
s,se ss 1 we're wait
STEAMER TURNS SLOWLY
Then the
hum The Instead the
Vese leaned sdewise
S';s ' @ '5ss
Slowly but steadily toward its
mothers and sisters to keep
holes and the hawsers out the
Screams
the edge of the embankmnt looking
N'"o
it finally dved under
the swift
heoats
slipped
with crying of children sheks
nohe
HUNDREDS IN MAD SCRAMBLE SAFETY
entangod clothing
Those shore threw
life lines Employees OF commission
chicken other
Boats
snatched
the the but She and
Fathers
children
One a spike the wharf while
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-07-25
.SF HIP ROLLS ON SIDE
AS ABOUT TOLEAVE .
WHARF AT FHCAGO
Was Filled to Limit With $500 Relatives
and Friends Of Employees Of Western
Electric Company for Excursion
Across Lake Michigan.
MORE THAN 700 BODIES RECOVERED;
OTHERS SAID TO BE IN HULK ARE DEAD

Under Glare Of Searchlghts Scores of Men Work Dur
ing Night to Remove Corpses From Overturned Yes
sci, Which Lies on Bottom of River-Cause of Capsz-
ing Not Determined, but Federal, State and City Of
fcers Begin Investigations to Determine Respon-
siblity-Instances Of Herosm Almost as Numerous
as Number of Persons on Scene-Catastrophe Throws
Whole of City Into Mourning, Baseball Games and
Amusements Being Cancelled, While People Assem-
bic in Churches to Pray for Dead.
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-07-25
| 900 PEOPLE PERISH WHEN RIVER STEAMER
LOADED WITH WOMEN AND I'LL DREN SINKS
FURTHER BREACHES IN DEFENSES
OF WARSAW CLAIMED BY BERLIN

BmcIOw'S army hns dcfcntcd the
yam Russinm Army near Shn,ln.
Ten days continuous lighting and
marching resulted In the tcfent md
dispersal of the Russian forces. with
the capture of many cannon mud ma
chine gums, and great quantities OF
material, 1t liz claimed.
Only minor operations nrc re-
ported along the fronts I'm the west
from the scn tn the Vosges.
In the IsOnzO region the Italians
nrr continuing their ASSAULTS on
Gorizn. Unverificd reports hnvc
reached Milan that they hnyc cnp-
tured the city.
allied position on the Gnllipoii Pc
nlpsuln In the Dardnnclics WIS re-
pulsed nfter brief engagement.
London announced.
The Austrian government hns or
dered the connscntion of the 1918
vegetable crop ns mems of pre-
venting speculation In food prod
ucts and Keeping down prices. What
remains of the 1914 crop will he
seized after August L and sold IN
der ntRte-supervision.
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-07-25
WALTER S. JOHNSTON DEAD
His Tentimony Helped to AbsOlve II. =
Grant Following Failure Years Ago.

NEW YORK. July 24.-Waltcr s.
Johnston. banker and financicr. whose
testimony helped absolvc General T. S.
Grant In the criminal proceedings
which followed the Grant-Ward fail
ure years ago. died yesterday nj his
home In Garden City. l.. L., aged sew
enty-two years.
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-07-25
Continued on Fourth Page)

The Chesapeake Way to Baltimore.
Best ~nd foremost always, but especially
popular NOV. Cool and delightful sail these
and $50 round trip Cheap excursion fares
to Atlantic City and Niagara Falls lnuuire
York River Line, so7 East Main.