Herald and Review from Decatur, Illinois • Page 1

Brae ATOM JERAUD), WEATHER INDICATIONS. Washington. D. Jan. 13-Waathar indications for llinoia ante Clear and continued cold Tuaaday.

12 Pages TWENTY-SEVENTH YEAR. DECATUR, ILLINOIS. TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 1908. NUMBER 150. SCORES CREMATED SENATE HOLDS UP JUDGE COCHRAN A Millionaire Girl Friend A THEATER FIRE IJ III SHELL CASE Court Decides to T.t- Tillman Wants Committee to Inquire' IntoiCortel-you's Action.

Attorney Littleton Promises Explosion of Tank Is Followed By Stampede In Which Coal Oil Lamps Are Overturned And Building Set Afire to Spring a Few Surprises. ters Written to Old Millionaire. CRIMINAL LAW BILL UP TRAGEDY IIS DESCRIBED MONEY QUESTION THAWS DEFENSE viun th i mllu IU ifU I Democrats Take Vigorous Prosecutor Says Killing NO BEARING ON HIS SANITY VICTIMS MOSTLY WOMEN AND CHILDREN Every Home Within Radius of Half Dozen Blocks At Boyertown, Are Turned Into Temporary Hospitals Figured In the Snell Will Case. trampled and maimed In the mad rush to gain the street. Assistance was at onee asked from both Reading and Pottsdam and special trains carrying nurses and doctors were rushed to the scene of the disaster.

Every borne within a radius of half a dozen blocks of the opera house was made a temporary- hospital, where the wounded were rushed by carriages and other means of Boyertown is a borough with a population of about 2.600 and Is located about midway between Pottsdam and Reading. Parents Frantic With Grief. The fire Is' not yet under control, but It" is not thought that it will be communicated to other property as the opera house is on a plot of ground by itself. Hundreds of persons surround the burning apparently unconscious of the pending danger from falling walls. Many parents who had children In the opera house, are pacing to and fro almost maddened by theawful sight.

At o'clock a special train from Reading, bearing physicians and nurses, reached here, but there was little for them to do, as the injured who had dashed themselves to the pavement had been cared for. Many Die From Injuries. It is estimated that at least seventy-five persons were Injured by being trampled upon either on the stairway or by jumping from the windows of the burning structure. Of this number at least a score were fatally injured, at least half a dozen succumbed to their injuries after being hurried to one of the temporary hospitals. Three children, ranging in ages from 8 to" 12 years, and one -who were dragged from the building by persons who had rushed to the rescue, had been trampled -almost to a pulpr the skull of one of the unfortunate children having been crushed as though it were an egg shell.

The fire was under control shortly before 1 o'clock, but it will be absolutely impossible to attempt to make a search of the ruins before tomorrow. It is extremely doubtful If the remains of victims can be distinguished from the debris as many persons in the audience were covered with burning oil as the lamps "Premeditated, Deliberate Murder." "THAW IS GUILTV OP MUKUEH," SAYS GARVASF We contend- that the killing of Stanford White was premedi- tated. deliberate, cowardly mur- der; that Harry K. Thaw's re- sponsibility under the law is absolutely apparent; that he fir- -ed three times to make his das- tardly crime trebly sure; and when the evidence id all in we shall ask you for a verdict of murder in the first degree." Assistant District Attorney! Garvan's -address to the jury. New York, Jan.

-13. The Thaw trial moved with a rush today. After the state had presented its direct case and Assistant, Attorney- Gtirvah'had characterized the kniing Stanford White as "a premeditated, deliberate and cowardly, murder. "Martin W. Littleton, lor the defense, made the opening pl3a-fnr the prisoner.

His promise of nsw evidence was sensational and held supreme attention of all in the court room. District Attorney Jerome, seemirgly taken by surprise. seated himself in the witness chair, the better to hear the outline of the new defense. Mr. Littleton promised to "forge the chain of circumstances and to produce a line of testimony which will prove Harry undeniably insane at the time of the homicide.

Not Prodoccd. At Irst Trial. That evidence of her ditary insanity and of the strange, unusual actions of Thaw, were not even h.nted at during the first trial, was told of by Mr. Littleton, who said that fhysicians nurses who had attended Thaw were hurrying here from Euroce. that teachers of the defendant in childhood would be on hand to crive tl clr imwessions "the wideTeyacS' dlstan.bp.jt." conclusion Littleton challenged the district attornpv to produce a single reputable physician who would say that -Thaw was insane at the time he killed the hoofed -architect.

Mr. Littleton's speech- fairly bristled with surprises. -tied the court room by declaring thaf after Evelyn Nesbit had told him her story in Paris in 1903, Thaw, "drencned-himself with a poison" and would have died, but for the heroic-1 work of -hi ee physicians who labored over him all of one night. Mr. Jerome had his to offer, too; and when Mr.

Littleton started to launch into "the re'aMons of Stanford White with the gill whom Thaw married, the. district attorney was on his feet with an obiecion. Justice Dowllng sustained him- and the name' of. the architect was no linked again with that of the defendant's wife. Mr.

Littleton touched but lightly upon the girl's story as- she' told It to Thaw. but. careful as he was on" this, point, 'he again drew. An from "the prosecuting officer who said: Another Objection Sustained. "Mr.

Littleton is straying into a field "of -stuff which in my opinion wlil-'be excluded' Again Justice TJqwiing sustained the objection. It reported at the ber ginning of the trial' that Mr. Jerome would- fight this" year to. -exclude- the testimony of. young -Mrs.

-Thaw. Littleton neither Thaw nor. his family in his recital of the defendant's' life During his speech Tha-v. at wide-eyed and pallid, ldoking fixedly at counsel. Toward the close he 'Lseemed rather displeased 'with something tha-t was said leaning forward," scribbled off a Mr.

speech was somewhat dramatic ar.o impassioned at times and -was keenly followed. by the jury, despite the lather frequent objections from the state's attorney. Insanity Is Hereditary. Thaw's ancestry, marked by- deeid ed talntsv.of Insanity oh both his-fath-eir's mother's side, -according to his: chief counsel, was drawn with great care, and then the d-iltndant himself was pictured as irrational, erratic and insane as a boy, w-ho oscillating between' "starship and madness; between brilliance and darkn fought un-avallingly against the. tt-ver of insanity which "coursed in his blood at birth.

'T make no claims for this, defendant above those of th 3 average man as to morals of -virtues," declared Mr. "But I say his life history is enough to free him irom the charge that he was responsible for his act. Add to his history tha heart breaking episode of his love for the young woman who became his wife and of her recital to him a story, which flashed to the four quarters of the globe, made all the world that ieads stand still and wonder, and I shall have no hes-titancy in asking you if you have not a reasonable doubt as to whether he was sane the night of this deplorable tragedy. And upon that doubt I shall ask you -for a verdict cf 'not guilty." of Trip Abroad. Mr.

Littleton told of the trip abroad taken by Thaw in 1899. when lie was ill and insane at Bome, Monte Carlo, and London, being under the care of physicians and nurses at each place and declared he would produce these physicians and Tiurses as far as possible to tell their stories. Teachers, who kept diaries about the child who eat ifi their classes, also will come, he said, to tell the jury about the early life and tendencies of the defendant. Describing the, killing of White, Mr. Littleton said: ThaWs madness, born and bred in him, had been set on fire by the stories he had heard.

He had gone to the district attorney with them and Stand, But All to No Washington. Jan. 13. The recent issue ot bonds by the secretary of treasury for the purpose of relieving the financial stringency was to an animated debate in the Senate today. The discussion was precipated by an inquiry by Senator- Culberson and was participated in by Senators Aldrlch.

Tillman and Bailey. It resulted in an agreement to postpone further controversy until a staiement can be received from Secretary Cortelyou. When the subject was under discussion Mr. Tillman's directing the finance committee to Inquire Into of the treasury department, was referred with his consent to that committed Tillman's Resolution Passed. The senate passed Senator Tillman's resolution calling on the interstate commerce commission Jcr information concerning purchases by railroad companies of stocks of competing roads.

Unfinished business 'n the form of a bill to codify criminal laws of. the United States was plaied before the senate and reading of the bill was begun. At 5:22 p. adjourned until tomorrow. AS TO CRIMINAl, LAWS.

Republicans Stand Solid- and Vote On Party Lin i. Washington, Jan. 13. A vigorous defense of state rights in dealing violations of civil rights or with special state elections where troops have been called into sarvice, served to enliven the debate in the House of Representatives today in connection with consideration of the bill fc codify the penal laws of United States. A number of Democrats, mostly from southern states, strenuously sought by the amendment to reserve to the states themselves discretion as to qualifications of voters or "of persons to serve on juries, and to limit the power of federal judges in certain cases; but every attempt failed.

Republicans presented a -solid -front and the votes all wero on party lines. The bill was still under consideration when'' at. p. the House ADMIRftLEVAHSIS T001LLTQRECEIVE Cannot Attend Fetes Planned For Him at Rio -Janeiro. Rio de Janeiro', Jan.

13-Swinging lazily at -their anchors, the American battleships' this seemed -as though they are enjoying a well earn-' ed rest after their -run of. 3,000 -miles and "more from They-lay under the' green- hills Of the shadow of Mount that looks right down into the streets of the city and soon took on a live-' ly appearance, as thousands made their way down -by the edge of the water they, xould the ships and the launches dashing in and out. Entertainrrients -have arranged for almost every hour, 'of the day and some -of the hours -of the night as well, but the fact' that -Rear Admiral Evans, commander- of the fleet, is" ill, is the cause for deepest regret. Brazilian officials denltrre this more, as the'y -wished especially-to" make this; visit. an occasion for marked attentions to the Americans, but Admiral Evans is from rheumatism- and It Is- feared -he wall -be able to be pres-, ent at the.

fetes, and without hls'pres-ence' these -lose something of their character. Mulai Hafid Proclaimed Sul tan Makes Conditions Serious. Tangier, Jan. 12 There is much consternation among Moroccan officials at the sensational news, from Fez announcing the proclaiming of Mulai Hafid as sultan and conditions are now prevailing in the city. According to latest information from Fez, the TTlemas, or wise men, were forced to decree the overthrow of Abed El Aziz, scultan of record, and proclaim Mulai Hafi sultan in his place, by the altitude of the populaoe, who were greatly excited over the report that Abd El -Alz had sold country to France.

Stock Brokers Suspend. New York, Jan. 13. Suspension of Robert Maclay members of the New York Stock Exchange, was' announced today. Their liabilities are placed at $1,500,000, partly Things That Far-Ay Ma-belle Wrote Are Differ-- ent Matter.

Clinton Til Tan TTT nois society and church women who have been on the verge of hysteria, for several days for fear that Intimate and-. indiscreet correspondence they have naa w.lth the DeWItt county millionaire would be made public in the Enell will contest may breathe more frl now, for Judge W. G. Cochran has championed the cause. In a statement to the lawyers In the case today Judge Cochran declared that no personal correspondence that "1.

the Possession of Colonel. SneU at his death, with the exception of the letters from Mabelle Snell-McNamara, will bs allowed as evidence in the sensational suit that has threatened to disrupt both church and eoclety In DeWitt county. No Bearlaa; Ob Kirj Blind. 0hisbt Jud ntv ,1 he does not purpose to have the names of any more women draped into the case than re absolutely necessary, and that nothing, be proven by those thousands of letters from women admirers as to-the SneU "Ki1? the-case thoroughly." said Judge Cochran, who formerly was a Methodist circuit rider and went from the nnlnif about, twenty years 'ago. "and Iain convinced that third party letters are totally Irrelevant.

Mabelle McXamara letters will be allowed, because i the sult- The lette" from the Rev. Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton, and other persons will be excluded." Lawyers Take fTorneys fSnel elk, the, disinherlte he breaks the wJll a miH.on dollars, declare that they will inclusively thatThe ft TtlTa er3 Wel1 as hundreds fl frra a BC0r8 or more 'other women, are exceedingly pertinent to the case, and that eventually they will wmJ? evidene. The deposition to which fifteen of the Hamilton letters are attached has been filed with the circuit clerk, although it has not been admitted aa There are said to be more of the letters from the Hamiltons, not yet made public, which run the entire gamut of intenso passion and greed, and outraged common decency.

The question as to what letters win be allowed will not he argue.d -until the contestant begins presentation of-, testimony. will not be for at least two days yet Bitter Dlstmte. The now famous SneU letters precipitated a Vindictive -letrai hours' duration at the re-convening of KLLKrnuoo wnen Master-in- Chancery W. H. Booth, representing the unknown Snell heirs.

-demanded of the Judge that Richard Snell be ordered to produce- in court instantly correspondence, booka. checks and memoranda that he -has in- his posses- s.v..i uuw mm peiongea to at' the latter's death. The jury was 'excluded and for "two hours the lawyers wrangled over the "question as to who is -entitled -to the possession of 'the letters. Kichard Snell claimed -tbem by right of being the only living son; Executor' Lincoln. Weldon claimed them -because of "his official position.

Charges and counter charges of- dishonesty, and double dealing were Attorney J. J. Mor-rissey Bloomlngton. representing the executor, created consternation in the crowded court room pointing Richard Snell-out and dramatically exclaiming: Charges Son "Stole" Tbrm. "You are guilty robbery.

You entered your father's room before he was cold in his -grave and under the plea of searching for his will "stole these letters. You crack, the whip over the heads of your lawyers and change them into dishonorable men. We demand the Judge Cochran ruled that all checks. pass books and other data, with the possession of Colonel Snell at his death tnrnT. nvr trt rnnrf ot once, for the inspection of the other lawyers.

The letters need not be pro duced until the affidavit of Mabelle Snell McNamara declaring that she has given to her lawyer all of the letters from Colonel Snell she had in her possession, has been received By the court. So Power to Compel mabelle. But we want Mabelle to appear in court in person, your honor," insisted' Snell' lawyers. I have no more power- over Ma-, belle than over, the Sandwich Islands as long as. she remains In Kansas City," declared Judge Cochran, testily.

"If this were ner case i could soon fix her." continued the judge, glanc ing at her attorney. "I would throw the case out. 01 court Decause or tne way she has acted." A ttnrncv wa. a. 1,1.

fnot in an instant: "My client Is willing to come into court at any time, and would like to. but she cannot because the law wlll not permit her to testify in her own iContlaned mm 4) Jan. 13. Between fifty and seventy-five persons were burned" to death tonight In a fire which completely destroyed the Rhoads opera house in this place. The opera house was crowded with members of the St.

John's Lutheran Sunday school, who were attending a benefit given for that church. While the show was in progress a tank- exploded. The actors -endeavored to quiet the audience, but in their anxiety to make themselves heard and to avoid the awful stampede of women end children, coal oil lamps, which were used as footlights, were the place on fire. Flames, fed by. the oil, shot almost to the celling" and there was a wiH rush of 700 persons to escape from the burning building.

Scores of women and children were trampled upon and several, who escaped being burned to death, died after being dragged from the opera house. In many 'cases, it is stated, entire families have been wiped out. The scene which followed the explosion is Indescribable. Scores of persons, who were in the balcony at the time the explosion jumped from windows and sustained fractured limbs and To udd to the terrible disaster, the fire apparatus became disabled and the structure was left entirely to the mercy of the seething flames. It is almost certain not" a vestige of the bodies of the unfortunates who were overcome By the smoke and perished will eu -Dftfo 4 WHS town but before the fire apparatus from that city reached this place, the entire center the structure was a roaring furnace.

Might Have Been Averted. Had the women and children -heeded the warning of the cooler heads in the. audience; the horrible loss of life might have been averted, but there was the usual panic and stampede which invariably, -follows at such a catastrophe. The flames spread rapjdly and communicated to the 'other parts of the theater. Men, women and children rushed for the many exits and the weaker sex and children were UPRISING AT BERLIN HAS GOOD EFFECT Socialist- Disturbances "Will Bring Liberals to the Government "Berlin, "Jan.

13 The Associated Press is enabled by courtesy- of personage, who is in close relation with Prime Minister Von Buelow, to set -forth views of the government concerning the street demonstrations of last Friday and yesterday; which resulted from the demand in the Prussian Landtag for the. ahblition of the present plutocratic 'system of suffrage and the substitution therefor of manhood suffrage. "The socialist disturbances will result in the liberals drawing closer to the support of. the government," this official "The -liberals io Germany are largely of manufacturers, bankers, merchants and other property owning interests. These interests perceive that if they are to avoid being de- coiuiiQt3 thpv must vuurwu uj rf stand together for a- strong government.

Prince on" Buelow's- declaration was no more than the simple truth. The government will consent to no electoral changes which inccease the power of the socialists to agitate against the existing organization of society and all political parties, excepting the socialists, will make common cause with It. FORTY CHINESE -SAILORS MUTINY Disagree With Captain; Driven Back to Ship by Police. Philadelphia, Jan. 13.

More than forty Chinese sailors on board the British tank steamer lying at Point Breeze, mutinied today because of a disagreement with the captain of the ship. They were rounded up by police and driven back to the ship. An agreement, granting some of their demands, has been signed by the captain. Deneen a Grip Victim. Springfield.

111., Jan. 13. Governor Deneen has fallen a victim to the epidemic of grip which is prevalent in Springfield and the executive was compelled to remain at home today because of the attack. His illness, however, is not serious although attended with the usual unpleasant features of the disagreeable disease. 311ss Edna Hamilton, Who Has to Mr.

Comstock. They ran in his head staggering -among the chairs of' Madison Square Garden, yet not -drunk, his. eyes- burning like two great coals of fire, unable intelligently to answer questions put to him, maniacal in the last deg.ne, lost, lost as he was in Rome in M--nte Carlo and In London the blind confusion of insanity oyer came him and he The result was 'itu a raurder but the tact of a mad man-vis, afterwards, wild eyed and irrational, 't-iied out in his cell that he hea-d the voit.ii of little children calling, and proclaimed! that he had but acted as an agent of "One Biidse At" a After his speech Littleton was asked in "what nann.v he would, at-, tempt to prove Thaw sane at the present time if he-toffered ouch accumulation of evidence as to Progressive insanity, up to time of the killing. can only say that' I will cross'my bridges as I come to them. Man can't ride two horses going in opposite directions at the same -time," he replied.

The outHne of jthe defense was generally considered'as a reflecting determination on the, par; of Thaw's attorneys to prove him insane in 1906, regardless of all consequences. First evidence for the defense, prob ably of medical -character, will be taken tomorrow morrii.g. PREACHER IS GUILTY; SENTENCE SUSPENDED Brooklyn Minister Convict- ed On Charge of Con- tempt of Court. New York, Jan. 13.

Th.e Rev? Canon William Chase; -rhetor of Christ's Episcopal cnurch 'at. Brooklyn, was -to day found guilty of contempt of court by Justice Marean of the" "New York state supseme "court. The Justice an nounced, that in view ot that fact that the accused 'was a rector and as -the court had no desire to" humiliate him, sentence would be suspended. Canon Chase was. summoned- before the because of the publication of an interview with him'-in which hp questioned the legality of an injunction granted by justice Alarean re straining Brooklyn police, from illegal -interference with operations of mov ing picture -show on Sunday.

DROPPED DEAD AT HOUSEHOLD WORK Summons to An Arthur Woman Came Suddenly. v-. Arthur, Jan. 13. Mrs.

Emma Sells dropped dead as a result of heart failure, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Charles L7 De Hart, two miles northeast of Arthur. Mr. and Mrs. De Hart were in Urbana, where they, were called by the death of the latter's sister, Mrs.

Mattie Marshall, and Sells had remained at home to care for her Invalid daughter, Miss Golda Sells, who is suffering from consumption. Miss. Sells -able, by great effort, to -reach the telephone and call. neighbors, but her mother's life was extinct when help arrived. Mrs.

Sells was engaged In the performance of the household duties when stricken. An inquest was held Sunday after noon and the verdict of the coroner's jury was to the effect that Mrs. Sells died from heart failure. Mr. and Mrs.

De Hart. returned from Urbana on Sunday afternoon and' accompanied the body to Urbana, where the mother-and daughter were buried together. John Cooke Surrenders. Chicago, Jan. 13.

John A. Cooke, convicted' circuit clerk, wfiose appeal to the United States circuit court for a writ of supersedea setting aside the penitentiary- sentence imposed by the Cook county criminal court was refused last week, surrendered himself today to Deputy Sheriff Stelnert From -the sheriffs office Cooke was taken to the county jail. LEGISLATURE WILL MEET AGAIN TODAY Shurtleff Admonishes AH Members to Be Ready For Springfield, 111., 3sil3. An inter esting session of the is promised tomorrow, when'iJEifr bers will, hear a report on the canal investigation. Speaker Shurtleff has sent word that he expects every member, to be In his if the request is complied, with the two fac tions in the" house may battle over the majority and minority reports regarding the work of thfc canal commis sioners.

It is believed that the dee.dlock that exists in the investigation committee will be broken and many "-members are confident that two reports will be made: The democratic members favoi a report for the removal ot Commissioners Snively and Sackett. They are also expected to attempt to bring about action that will abrogate' the leases executed by the canal commission and" which held by the Economy! Light Power company. Senator Berry has given out tlie word that a primary bill will come from the present session, while a ma jority of "members of both branches at the matter in another light Governor "Deneen will call a special session, of the" legislature, should ad-, journment come before a primary bill has. been- enacted. If Governor Deneen has his own way about the matter, and it seems right now that-' the cards are' running -in his favor, primary law will be placed on the-statute books, of the' state of Illinois- before the present legislature adjourns.

The" governor has shown his Jifind'and wljl play it for aU it is worth, declaring -that the legislature must "tOQ and get together on a- bill before final adjournment. When the legislature ets Into session again, a-resolution probably be introduced whereby an- investigation -will be made of tjie treatment afforded the Gireau boy who fell against a steam, pipe' in the Lincoln asylum for the feeble minded and died as a result. It is understood that Representative John Hill of Chicago' is in favor of the' investigation. Inasmuch as Hill is a strong Deneen man, it may be taken from his support of the investigation that Governor Deneen. favors the looking up of the matter.

GREAT GOLD CAMP THREATENED Hotels nnd Bunlness Houses Are Reduced to Ashes. Mexico City, Jan. 13. According to a telegram just received in this city, the great gold mining camp gf Eloro, one of the largest in the re-, public, is being destroyed by fire. When the dispatch was.

filed, the principal hotels and more important business buildings of the camp had been reduced to ashes. Information declared the entire town was threatened. Since this dispatch, no word has been received from the camp, as communication is interrupted. No details are obtainable tonight. DENIAL IS MADE BY BRYAN'S SON-IN-LAW Says His Wife Is Not Contemplating Divorce Proceedings.

Paris, H. Leavitt. son-in-law of William J. BryanT today characterized aa absurd the reports that divorce proceedings by his wife were in contemplation. Mr.

Leavitt received a letter: today from his wife, who is- at Brlndisl, stating that Mrs. Leavitt and children, accompanied by Mrs. Bryan, are going to Cairo to spend the winter for he benefit of her children's health. They will return to Paris ana Join Mr. Lftvitt in April.

KILLS MOTHER TO BUI GIRL PRESEST Tears Money From Clothes and Goes "to Theater With Chums Toledo, Jan. 13. Harvey Hazel, IS years old, 'who had- "been driven, from home by his father because of bad conduct, returned yesterday -arid asked his mother for money. He said he-wanted' it -to buy his girl a present, as she was "sore" because he had not given her anything for Christmas The mother refused to give him money and lie kept teasing her for it. Both, were kneeling, on the floor at" the time, the woman painting a window screen -and the boy nailing It togth'er.

While her back. was turned and-immediately following her' emphatic refusal to give him-. money, -Hazel seized a hammer pounded her over the head. This done, "he tore the clothes from her body, hunting for and se-cured His. next act was to make the house appear, as If it had been entered by burglars.

AVithout showing the least concern he spent the afternoon with some -boy chums at a theater. "In the after buying some jewels, he went to his girl's home, where he was arrested. The murder" was discovered, by the father when he reached home in the evening. boy confessed. MAIL CARRIER WEDS HIS DEPUTY I.loyd noMctler nnd LIHIc Dawson of Lovington Married.

Lovington, 111., Jan. 13. Lloyd Hos-tetler and Miss Lillio Dawson were married Sunday morning at the home of Mr. and Mrs. George Elliott; who live east of Lovington.

The ceremony was performed by the Rev. J. W. Wright, pastor of the Christian church, and was witnessed by the immediate families of the couple. The.

bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. O. O. Dawson and is a graduate of the Lovington High school.

The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Hosteller and i3 mall cairier oh route No.

1, his bride being his deputy. Mr. and Mrs. Hostetler will live with the former's parents, east of town, until spring, when they expect to erect a new home..