davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-05
He Expected To Be Hanged by
Neck January IA.
HAD GIVEN Up ALL HOPE
Then Sentence Was COMMITTED
by President Wilson.
Convicted Murderer's Lawyer
Hopes to Free Him Yet.

The happiest man in Kansas today
is Willie White, negro, held IN the
Shawnee county Jail, whose Sequence
has been commuted from hanging TO
life Imprisonment. Word of the COM
mutation reached Topeka Thursday
night when o. T. Wood, United states
marshal, returned to Topeka from
Washington, D. {. kilograms follow
ed. One received today by the State
Journal from Senator w. Fl. Thomp-
son, reads:
''F'inally succeeded in getting Willie
White death sentence committed to
life Imprisonment"
White was informed of the COM
mutation Thursday night but he was
still happy over his narrow escape to-
day. His hanging was set for jan
uary IA at the federal penitentiary at
Leavenworth. Long ago White APP
parently gave up hope of commuta-
ton. He had resigned himself to
death on the scaffold. There might
have been a lingering hope in his
mind but he did not express it.
Ten days ago he said: They can
do anything with this body of mine
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-05
municipalities League Decides
on This at Meeting Today.
Cities Want Free Hand in Con-
Quoting Their Affairs.
PREPARE TWENTY-FOUR BILLS
All Will Be Introduced in the
Coming Session.
Wants Board of Appraisers
Abolished by SOlOns.

The Kansas League of Municipali-
ties will maintain a regular lobby in
Topeka during the legislative session.
The first and last consideration of the
lobby will be to get the legislature to
submit a constitutional amendment to
the people providing for home rule for
first, second and third class cities of
Kansas. Many other measures will be
urged by the lobby, principally be-
cause the lack of a home rule amend
ment makes it impossible for the cities
to get needed legislation without go
ing before the state legislature and in
volving endless expense and difficulty.
That a lobby would be maintained
was decided this morning at a meeting
of the legislative committee of the
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-05
Lewis Kills Self as Detectives
Arrive to Arrest Him.
Identified by Chauffeur as Man
He Took to Apartment.
BLOODY KERCHIEF IN POCKET
Left No Word COnfessing MUIR
der of Pretty Art Model.
Protested Innocence by Phone
Before He Shot Himself.

Philadelphia, Jan. 5.-Circumstan-
tial evidence which the police say con-
vinces them that Bernard w. Lewis,
son of wealthy retired Pittsburg coal
operator who ended his life in an
Atlantic City hotel last night, was the
slayer of Maize Colbert, the artist
model. was revealed early today by an
examination Of the young mans body
Lewis was identified by Elwood
Powell, the chauffeur who drove him
and the Misses Ethel and Mabel Kyle
to their home in Germantown last
Thursday night, as the man he later
took to Miss Colbert's apartment.
Philadelphia detectives who went to
Atlantic City last night say that Lew
ISIS hair matches that found clutched
in the dead girls hand and that Lewis
was found to be wearing a woman S
undershirt which corresponds to gar
ments worn by Miss Colbert. A blood
stained handkerchief was found in his
pocketbook Lewis left no written
statement, however, as far as could be
learned.
In view off, developments, the
authorities say they feel that the mys-
terry virtually has been solved. Sew
eral men who were friends of Miss
Continued on TwON
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-05
PAID 4 HUGE TAX
Kansans Turned in $35,7SS,-
531.96 for Year 1917.
OF This the State Alone Col
Iected S3,SSO,O11.O2.

Kansas taxes for 1916 amounted to
s35,7ss, 53196, according to a report
by the state tax commission. County
taxes are shown by the commission to
have been nearly nine million dollars,
while nearly eight million dollars was
spent in school district and third class
CITY taxes. School taxes for all cities
and rural districts amounted to more
than twelve million dollars during the
wear. The amount is independent of
the cost of maintenance of the big
state schools.
State taxes for the year amounted to
s3SSo, O11.02, while county taxes were
IS. 942. 1851. Township taxes were
4,4OS, 023.43. Taxes for cities, indie
pendent of taxes for school purposes.
amounted to s6,156, 957.61. School
xes-independent of the state schools
cost the following sums: Cities of
the first class. 2.153,327 .06; cities sec
ond class $2.024, S66.94 district and
third class city school taxes, $780,
S59O5; rural high schools, S15S.-
$685. Drainage district taxes amount
ed to Sf56.957.61.
In its biennial report, the state
board recommends an increase in the
tax on inheritances. Since the loss of
the Kimba1l Piano company suit the
state commission has sought new
sources of revenue that the state
might not be compelled to make alb
normal increases in the 1911! TAX ie -.
The commission now proposes exemp-
lions to the amount of $4,000 to the
widow and $1,000 to each child The
proposed tax is based on a graduated
scale and will be submitted to the leg
islature in a specia1 bill
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-05
BIC 4 CONFERENCE
$40 General Chairmen Sum-
moned to Meet in Chicago.
''Bring Railroads to Their
MiIk,' Says Paper.

Kansas City. No. Jan. 5.-That the
four railway brotherhoods will take
another vote whether or not to strike
in the event the eight-hour work day is
not granted by the railroads, is the
declaration of the American Railway
Employees Journal, the January issue
of which was published here today.
According to the Journal, the four
brotherhood chiefs have asked the $40
general chairmen of the trainmen's
organization to meet in Chicago Janu-
airy II. The Journal says:
1.-The meeting is for the purpose of
consulting the general chairmen and
decide on the line of action made nee
essary by the railroad managers re-
fusal to put into effect the eight-hour
work day as contemplated by the
Adamson law. The entire matter will
be placed before the rank and file for
their decision. The Journal has faith
that they will stand by their organi-
cations and bring the railroads to their
mi
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-05
KILLS IS CHILDREN
Tornado losses School House
With % Into Air..
Scatters Dead and Wounded;
Only 2 Escaped Injury.

Muskogee. Okla, Jan. sk--Four
more names were added. to The death
list of the Blocker tornado this morn
ing. Elsie Perry, aged IA. and Ray
mond Perry, aged 8. died in the hos
pital at McAIester, and Florence Rose,
aged Is, and Jessie Rose, aged s.
died last night at their home near
Vireton. This brings the total num-
Der of dead to fifteen and leaves the
number of seriously injured at eight
The twister dropped down on a
farming community near Quinton
and destroyed four farm houses.
Parkley Satterfield, a farmer. Mrs.
Val Stewart, and a child of Charles
Quinn were badly injured.
II Children Killed Outright.
McAlester, Okla, Jan. s. With
eleven school children dead, four far IL
ly injured and eight others suffering
iuries. the people of Pittsburg county
today rallied to the support of the
stricken district that was swept by a
tornado yesterday.
Ripping everything from roots and
foundation as the tornado swept along
a little Baptist Indian mission at Wire
ton. with twenty-eight within, was
picked up and tossed in the air, scat
tering its human debris as it was
dragged along. But two escaped in
jury. The dead:
Jessie Bristow, IT; Lilly Bristow, 4;
Bulge Brummett, 6; inertia Davis, g.;
Ollie Davis, Z; Albert Dickinson, s.;
Floyd McFa1I, 7: James Paddy, 49,;
Eta Pendleton, 1t; Alta Warren, 49,;
Verda Warren, IA.
Originating at Richville, the storm
gained momentum as it swung up the
-hof
taw Indian mission it had sufficient
force to tear that frail building from
its foundation. Further up the narrow
valley the tornado struck the N1neto1
school house and left nothing but three
boards to mark the spot where it
stood. 1t was nearly midnight before
all children had been accounted for.
A couple of miles farther on the storm
had spent itself.
Storm Takes Toll of Lives.
Memphis, Tenn, Jan From
eastern Oklahoma to middle Tennes-
see, east and west, and from central
Kentucky to north central Mississippi
, storms have been experienced Thurs
day afternoon and night With eleven
known dead in Oklahoma and uncon-
firmed reports of death in other sec
tions widely scattered, it is feared the
total death list resulting from the
storm may exceed 100.
Mempnl experienced terrible
storm. Street car traffic has been sus-
pended oven some suburban lines and
some damage was reported in the
I business district. No loss of life is
reported and at midnight the storm
I had passed eastward
/ From Lexington, Ky. comes reports
of a c1oudburst, which has caused
much damage with probable attendant
! loss of life in central Kentucky. The
DIX, Kentucky ( nd other streams are
ra ging torrents.
At Helena, Ark, a motion picture
show operator flashed a cyclone warn
/ ing on the screen. There was panic
4 in the audience, but no one was killed
1t is impossible to reach half a hun
dred towns of considerable popuIa.
ton owing to wire interruption caused
by the storm
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-05

Temperatures today averaged nine
degrees above normal. The wind is
blowing at the rate of eight miles an
hour from the west.
Clear snappy weather appeared this
morning following the clouds and rain
of Thursday, and the weather man
promises a continuance of the fine
variety at least until Saturday night.
The sky was clear over practically all
of Kansas and the fair weather ex-
tended north into Canada The rain
has passed to the east and rain, snow
and slush were general this morning
from the Mississippi river to the At
iantic coast Temperatures in Canada
were below zero last night and this is
expected to cause a slight drop here
tonight.
The forecast calls for fair weather
tonight and Saturday; colder tonight
in eastern Kansas; warmer Saturday.
The shippers forecast reads to protect
36-hour shipments north and west
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-05
PAROLES COME HIGH
Cappcr's Christmas Kindness Costs
State Several Hundred Dollars.

Governor Capper's Christmas pa
roles to fifteen convicts in the Lans-
ing state prison will cost the state sew
era1 hundred dollars. A requisition
was issued today on the governor of
Texas for the return of H. A. Schap-
per convict who went home for
Christmas and failed to come back
Schapper is editor of the prison pa
per He was among the fifteen men
who received ten days temporary pa
roles that they might spend Christmas
at their homes. Schapper went to
Texas. When the ten days expired, all
of the convicts except Schapper had
returned. requisition was issued to-
day and parole officer was sent to
Fort Worth. Tex, to bring the man to
Kansas Schapper was arrested by
Fort Worth police on instructions from
Kansas state officials
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-05
SMASH PAPER TRUST
SERIOUS Condition Exists and Law
Must Act at Oncec-Gregory.

Washington, Jan. 5=Attorney Gem
eral Gregory has in his hands today
the fruit of the federal trade commis-
sion's inquiry into the news print pa
per industry with tie intention of in
shutting civil and criminal actions IL
it is found a paper trust has been
formed.
II know, of course, from what has
already been brought out" wrote the
attorney general to the trade commis-
sion, referring to the commissions in
vestigation, that a serious condition
exists in this trade and that any rem
edy which the law may afford should
be applied at once"
Preside mt Wilson is said to be inter-
ested actively in the paper situation
The commission expects to report to
congress within a. few days the result
of its inquiry.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-05
SLAIN BY DOPE FIEND
Druggist Found Murdered-Fcared
Violence From Drug Users.

Chicago, Jan. 5.-Chicago police to-
day searched a West Side colony of
supposed drug users in the hope of
finding the murderer of Otto Winter
meyer a druggist whose body was
found yesterday with the skull crush
ed, in his store.
Friends of the dead man told the
police that Wintermeyer who was ar
rested for selling drugs two years ago,
feared violence at the hands of drug
users of the neighborhood. This coup
led with the fact that. nearly a hum
bred bottles of cocaine, morphine and
other drugs were found in secret draw
ers in the store, leads the police to be-
lieve they say, that a drug user fail
ing ito obtain drugs, murdered the
pharma ciSt.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-05
NAMES ARBITRATORS
Wilson Chooses Men for Workmen's
Compensation Board.

Washington. Jan. president Will
son today nominated the following
members of the workmen's compensa-
ton commission to administer the fed
eral employers liability law:
DR.. Riley Mcmillan Little of Swarth-
more. Pa, Republican, for a term of
six years
Mrs Frances G. AxteI of BeIling-
ham, Wash. a Progressive, for q term
of four years.
John j. Keegan of indianapolis, a
Democrat, for term Of two years.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-05

Kansas League of municipalities in
the office of w. J.. Porter, commits
sioner of parks and alleys, ard presi-
dent of the league. Commissioner
Porter will head the lobby. Other
members will be Homer Talbot of
Richard ]. Hopkins of Garden City,
former lieutenant governor, and vice
president of the league.
This lobby will keep in touch daily
with the wanderings of the league bills
thru committee rooms and will keep
constant touch with the work of the
legislators relative to the league s
bills. In addition it will keep local
newspapers informed as to the loca-
ton of bills and any action taken
against their passage by unfriendly
Hobbies The members of the legis-
lative committee are: w. L. Porter,
Topeka; Richard j. Hopkins, Garden
City; c. w. Green, mayor, Kansas
City, Kan; S. +. Coheen, mayor, Man
haitian; w. B. Hess, city attorney,
Pratt; John Bertenshaw, city attor-
ney, independence; L. A. Baldwin,
superintendent city water and light
plant, Coldwater; c. E. Banker, city
attorney, Salina; Homer Talbot, Law
renee.
Twenty-Threc Other Bills.
In addition to the home rule bill
there are twenty-three others that will
be drawn up by the league and pre-
scented to representatives and senators
for passa ge. AS a fair sample of the
lation, resulting from the non-exist-
ence of a home rule amendment, Mr.
Talbot stated this morning that if
home rule existed eighteen of these
bills would not be necessary as the
cities could decide for themselves
whether they wished them to be a
part of their charter. The bills roc
| commended by the Kansas League of
Municipalities follow:
A law permitting cities of the first
class to declare a street a business
street and improve same by resolution.
A law amending the present street
| assessment law to enable cities to as
sess 800 feet back in unplatted ground
/ regardless of ownership, for special
] improvements.
A law to abolish boards of apprais-
/ ers in cities of the first and second
/ classes, authorizing the use of county
assessors values of real estate for
making appraisements for special i'm
provements.
law to raise the limit under which
city can make improvements with
OUT advertising for bids
A law to permit cities to appropriate
/ money from the general fund to nav
] expenses of industrial commissions.
Z ASAN pei AiiltliiiS ClIlGS OF the first
! class to increase their levy for health
( and sanitation purposes
t A law permitting cities of the first
/ class with less than 10000 to levy a
fund for protection of life and nron.
/ erty.
A law permitting cities to Issue
bonds for construction of viaducts over
railroad property and levy a ta5
against the property of the raiIroa dis
to pay the bonds
A law permitting cities of the first
and second class to make a levy 10,
garbage collection and disposal
law providing for levying a tax fo1
/ streets and alleys
A law to authorize an increase in tax
levy for fire hydrants and street light
ing.
/. A law providing for complete re.
lcontinued on page Al
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-05
>OWINGS is INSANE
Skyscraper Founder Declared Mentally
Unbalanced Over Money Loss.

Chicago, Jan 5.-Francis P. Ow-
ings. builder of Chicago's first sky
scraper and originator of the ninety
Undergraduates system, was sent to the
state hospital for the insane at KAN
kakee today Brooding over business
affairs which caused him to be de-
clared a bankrupt with liabilities of
IS, ooe, 900, was believed to have caused
his condition. Owings has been work
ing as a clerk in real estate office.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-05
Rusiaes to Husbands Bedside

Chicago, Jan 5.-Julia NARROW,
wife of E. H. Sothern, noted Shakes
perian actor. who is ill here, and Dr.
Joseph B. Bissell, radium expert ar
rived from New York this morning
Sothern, who is said to be suffering
from gall stones, probably will be
taken to New York for an operation in
few days unless his condition be-
comes worse.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-05
GREECE CAN'T ACCEPT

London, Jan. 5.-The Greek gov
eminent acting in harmony with the
king. has decided to reject certain
clauses of the entente note demand
ing reparation in consequence of the
recent fighting at Athens, Reuters
correspondent at Athens telegraphs.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-05
DEATH IN WHISKY BOTTLE
One o. Party Dead: = HI-HoId Wife
of One and Roarder.

Chicago, Jan. 5.-PoIice are CAREFUL
ly preserving the whisky bottle by
which they hope to solve the mystery
surrounding the death early today of
Albert Mathison. 80, and the danger
Gus illness of his brother, William, 10.
and Bernard Busch, SIS.
Busch's wife and a boarder, Gus
Westlund, IS, are being held The
three became i'll suddenly last night
after drinking whisky.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-05
Fine Weather Is Promised for Re-
maindcr of the Week.

Hourly temperature readings fur
nished by the weather bureau:
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-05
Rates by Mail.

Owing to the less cost of the deliv-
cry of the paper by mail than by car
rier, the subscription rate by mail will
be advanced from 80 cents per month
to 40 cents by the year, or from $3.50
per year to $3.50 per year, as noted in
the table at the lead of the editorial
page. Mail subscriptions are payable
in advance and any mail subscriptions
either new or old-w1ll be taken at
the old price until January Is.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-05

EVERY mar is the builder of his
own fortune. but some mon are
hacking in The necessary requirements
Tor successful accomplishment.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-05

WEATHER FORECAST for Kansas:
W Fair tonight and Saturday; colder
in the east tonight; warmer saturday.
Bisbee daily review., 1917-09-30
COMMUNICATION OF
 INTEREST RECEIVED
 FROM CAMP FUNSTON

Paul Lorenzon yesterday received a letter from hit brother Albert, who is in Camp Funston. The letter is an in- teresting one. and it is herewith repro duced in part:
 We arrived here last Friday night, but not knowing just what organiza- tions We were to be stationed with and because of the resulting confusion have been unable to write"
 The communication then goes or 70 state that the men are being drilled ito a frazzle", but that the majority of them are looking at the bright side of the game. Albert Lorenzon then asked concerning his many friends in the district, and the final request was to tell them all he was getting along all right"
Bisbee daily review., 1917-09-30
ARMY SURGEON WILL
 ADDRESS DRAFT MEN
 AT ELKS HOME TODAY
Lieutenant H. T. Allison Will Speak On Army Features At Elks' Home Today. Ev- erybody is Invited.

Of great interest to the men who will leave next Tuesday for Douglas. from which point they will go to Camp Funston to begin training in the na- tional army, is the talk which will be given this afternoon at 3 o'clock, by Lieutenant H. T. Allison, surgeon at tached to the Thirty Fifth Infantry de- tachment at Lowell, at the Elks home
 Elks of the District have been in- strumental in arranging the lecture by Lieutenant Allison. Many Elks will leave Tuesday but the talk is open to all who wish to hear
 There are many features of the life, which the men are about to take up, that are unknown to most peopie. A few pointers. from someone who has been attached to the army, will aid ma terially in many respects. Lieutenant Allison expects to give a general talk Everyone is invited
Bisbee daily review., 1917-09-30
.Ol|N WOLF GUEST IF HONOR ID TWO
 DINNERS IN CITY
Popular Young Banker is Feted On Eve of His De. parture for Camp Funston and National Army.

Olin w. Wolf, assistant cashier of the Citizens Bank and Trust company, resident of Bisbee for many years and one of the most popular of the Warren districts business men, yes terday evening was the guest of hon or at, two dinners. The occasion of the affairs is the pending departure of Wolf for Camp Funston. Kan. where he will join the Cochise county contingent in the National army.
 The first dinner was given to Wolf by the Misses Guthrie, Desmond and Bauer at their home. 42 Oak street Those present. in addition to the guest of honor and the young women were Darcy Smith and H. W. Thorne.
 Wolf could not get away from Bis bee without being the recipient of some fete at the hands of his men friends. Those are legion in the city. but for years the young banker has been boon companion with a few. It was this crowd which feted him last evening
 The English Kitchen catered for the occasion and served delightful din ner to the seven men.
 Those present included Walter Lan- ford, Rastus Hatley. Joe Sparks. John Angius, George w. Ludwig, c. w. Boswell and D'Arcy Smith and the guest of honor.
Bisbee daily review., 1917-09-30
HIGH SCHOOL TRIMS COMPANY f ELEVEN
 BY \ LARGE SCORE

The Bisbee High schools football team met Company F's eleven yester- day and then proceeded to wallop the soldiers to the tune of 2S to O. It was a fairly good game from local stand point. Landrum being the particularly bright star. His open field running was really excellent. He also proved that his toe is receiving a good education by doing some splendid kicking-a drop-kick from the 45 yard line being the closing feature of the game.
 The whole High school team played together in good shape, however, and the line held strongly. The local com bination showed Co much better ad- vantage than they have in either of thei rtwo previous games.
Bisbee daily review., 1917-09-30
DOugLds' LedUe
 For Metropolis

MT. and Mrs. Walter Douglas leave this morning for their New York City home, after remaining in Arizona and California during the summer months.
 MT. Douglas is president of Phelps. Dodge & Co.,, parent company of the Phelps Dodge corporation and other organizations in the Southwest. His headquarters are in New York City, but has preferred to reside in Warren when his engagements permitted. Since the first part of the summer Mir. Douglas has been in Arizona.
 Mrs. Douglas has been in the War ren district and also at the Douglas home at Santa Barbara, Cal, since late spring.
Bisbee daily review., 1917-09-30
DISTURBING THE PEACE.

A charavari outfit Of young men and boys made the night hideous in the neighborhood of the home of Charles Randolph in Warren the other night. Randolph had recently return ed from his wedding trip. He was not at the house on the night in ques- tion and the tin pan boys proceeded to stone the house until driven away. The police are looking for these dis turbers of the peace. or all barbarous and silly and offensive customs, the charavari is the worst.