Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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PUBLISHED TRI-WEEKO MANY ARE LOST Nearly Fmr Hoi died Ptiishc in a Des!rnch>, Raging Tomnt TOWNS ARE SWEPT AWAY Great Dam Breaks, Releasing Mighty Volume of Water, Which Rushes on Doomed Towns of Austin and Costello Before Inhabitants Have Time to Gain Safety. With a roar that could be heard for miles, the great dam of Jihe Bayless Pulp and Paper Company, Austin. Pa., went out at half-past two o'clock Saturday afternoon. The dam. which was five hundred and thirty feet long and forty-nine feet high, was thirty-two feet thick at the base and held back more than five hundred million gallons of wa ter. For the first time since its con struction, two years ago, the water was running over the top the night before, and many persons went out from Austin to see the unusual sight. They were horrified when a section about twenty feet wide gave way on the west side. A great volume of wa ter poured through the hole and the alarm was quickly sounded. People ran for their lives to the hills nearby, but some were caught in the flood and whirled down the valley. A mo ment later another break occurred, this time on the east side. It was much greater than the first, and per mitted the bulk of the water behind it to rush in a mighty volume toward the lowlands. Hundreds of women and chldren, the men were away at work, were caught in their homes and drowned or crushed before they knew what had happened. Houses went down before the mighty rush of water, and gas pipes bent and broken, released their dangerous fluid. Before the wa ter had passed on its terrible course through the town, a dozen fires were burning in as many places, and the cries of injured and imprisoned per sons joined in the terrific thunder of the flood. So sudden was the onslaught of water that many persons had no time to flee to the hills, but others re ceived the warning and hearing the fire bell, hastened to the center of the town, only to bo caught in the flood and swept away. The flood passed quickly, leaving desolation in its wake. Houses had been crushed and tossed about like toys, while hun dreds of bodies had been carried down on the crest of the surging torrent. With the passing of the water, those who had fled to the hills has tened to return to their ruined homes in search of - relatives and friends. Here and there bodies had been cast along the path of the torrent and about forty bodies were recovered in a short time. Many were caught by burning buildings, and it will be days before the real extent of the calamity will be known. It is be lieved that no less than 4 00 persons perished, and some estimates are run higher. In ten minutes after the break a dozen gas pipes had burst, and were spreading the deadly inflamnable fluid in the air. Men who had rushed forward in the hopes of doing some good were overcome and fell, while others were caught in the flames and incinerated.- The street became a glowing hell, and there was no sal vation for those who chanced to be near. Rapidly the flames swept from house to hons?, leaping streets and alleys and fed by the continual spray from gas mains, there was no staying their progress. Many persons crushed and helpless in the wrecks of .buildings only part ly destroyed by the water, were con sumed 'n the flames. Their shrieks cculd be heard by the helpless ones who endeavored to save a life where possible. They wore driven back by the deadly fumes of the gas or the heat of the flames. Down at the shops of the Buffalo and Susquehan na Railroad, the buildings were be low the ^anks of Freeman and were more substantial than most of the houses which had been swept away. It is estimated that a thousand buildings have been torn from their foundations and crushed in the flood or have been destroyed by fire. The water made its way through the bus iness sections of the town and left only four buildings standing. The valley of Freeman's Run Is narrow and the town was bull', along its banks. All the buildings in the lower part of the valley were sw-.pt clear off their foundations Dy th..- torrent and many of thor.-i which remained quickly fell a prey to the flamei. The scene in the village Saturday night was appalling. Here and there could be seen the light of some torch lantern, as a distracted father sear ches along the bank for some evi dence of his family and home. Scenes of indescribable sadness marked the village during the early nours of the night, many women, who had lost their children, wandering in the darkness crying their names in the vain hope they would answer. Many were burned in the ;3re and others ground to pieces by the masses of timber and stone swept down by the flood. The curtain of night, which was Tunning down on the Austin flood be fore its victims had all been claimed, and its surviving spectators fully real ized how great a tragedy, the ele ments of water and fire had enacted in the natural amphitheatre of the Allegheny mountains, was lifted by dawn Sunday, recalling a ghastly scene of death and devastation. Whole families have been wiped out, among them beirg spme of the leading residents of the town. The number of dead is placed at between four and five hundred, the popula tion of the town having been 3,200 before the disaster. Near the junc tion of Freeman Run with another small stream in the middle of the business section, the primary elec tion was in progress rind many men were in the vicinity. They did not hear the warning shout, and all of them are believed to have been car ried away. Not a trace of the build ing in which the election was being held can be seen. When the great mass of crushed and broken timbers came crashing down they lodged against the railway shops. Impact was so great that the buildings jshivered, and the walls were crushed in, but Lhe frame work stood and formed a carrier. Here, as elsewhere, the na'ural gas pipes burst and fire was quickly communi cated to the hetrogencus mass. Men were caught before they could leave their machines, floras of them were crushed to death without warning, but others were pinaed down and m.et a mcst horrible death in the rapidly kindled flames. Maddened by the sights about him one man, with tears streaming down his cheeks, cried for volunteers to save the lives of men whose cries for help were gradually growing fainter. Seizing a bucket this un known hero dashed into the stream, filled it with water, and calling for help, run towards a point where it appeared one man might be saved. Others followed his example but to no purpose?. Gas and heat combined to drive them back and they even tually gave up ihe battle. A little girl, about fifteen years old, was caught in the crush. The flames were approaching her with lightning rapidity. Pinned down un der a heavy timber, o..e leg crushed, it was impossible for her to free her self. Hearing her cries for help, an unknown man chopped at the timber to rescue her but his strength gave out. Meantime a crowd had gathered; when the volunteer showed signs of weakening another sprang forward, snatched the axe from his hands and attacked the timber with vigor. The heat drove him away as well as oth ers, a doctor saw at a glance the lire would be upon them before the tim ber could be forced to yield. With calm precision he lev-sled the axe at the leg of the helpless victim, a stroke or two and it was all over. The leg was severed, willing hands caught up the little khd and carried her to the hospital ok the hill. Her life may be saved. Reports from Costello and points further down the Sinnamohaning grew more encouraging as Sunday advanced. At Costello while there was heavy financial loss, it was said that, not more than three persons were dead. Beyond that point no fatalities had been reported. The survivors will not suffer from hunger or lack of care as the sup plies and medical assistance rushed to the scene seem ample. T. F. B'cknell. national director of the Na tional Red Cross, arrived Sunday, bringing with him $15,000 in cash for immediate aid to the flood vic tims. Tit" 1 omeless hn\ ? all t"-.en pro vided with shelter. Ou th-3 ou'.sk'rts of Austin are a number of houses which were vacated by workers in the Goodyear mill when that plant was dismantled. These houses have been filled with homeless people. i The residents of Keating Summit ! have taken in the others, several hundred in number. Provisions con tinue to arrive in large quantities and there will be no suffering for lack of food. KILLED HIS FATHER. The Man Was Pursuing His Wife With Loaded Rifle. Oscar Hall, aged 50, a well to doj farmer, was shot am: instantly kill-) ed by his son, Walter, aged IS years, I ! late Friday night a.C his home six! miles west of Anderson. The elder; I Hall was in a drunken condition and: j tried to force the younger Hall to I I drink some whiskey. The younger! j Hall was in bed suffering with a se vere attack of gastritis, and his! mother objected. Oscar Hall then hit the wife over the head with a broom, it is said. I She fled from the house. Enraged, her husband secured his rifle and ! followed, Mrs. Hall reenetered the I house through the back door and } secluded herself behind a door. (?'old in Craws of Geese. Thirty gold nuggets were taken] Saturday from the craw3 of sixi geese raised by Mrs. Siraol Alsohul at Santa Barbara, Cai. The news of the find started a small gold rush. Neighbors panned out several small nuggets in the sand, but were not so successfel in mining as the geese. Women Assassin's Victims. Miss Pearl Matlock was fatally shot and her mother killed by some one firing through their bedroom window, at their houie, sixteen miles from Paducha, Ky.. on Saturday morning. The divorced husband of the young woman is suspected of the crime. 0RANGE3URC Italy Begins Hastilitits A gainst Tork-y Orer Ftipdi Affair. TURKEY WANTS PEACE She Seeks to Have Other Powers In terfere in Her Behalf and Prevent Italy From Taking and Stripping Her Provinces and Seems Dispos ed to Non Restrictant Policy. A dispatch from London says af fairs developed Friday with extra ordinary rapidity. A state of war exists between Italy and Turkey, and hostilities have begun. No sooner had the itme limit fixed in the ultimatum expired than, ig noring Turkey's contradictory re quest for a period of delay,. Italy declared war. The Turkish repre sentatives in Italy were handed their passports. The Turkish commander at Tripoli was asked to surrender the town but declined, and the Ital ian forces immediately occupied Tiv oli and Benghazo. Turkey continues her efforts to se cure intervention by the powers. In the meantime Italy is actively pur suing hostilities. Italian battleships are reported to have appeared oc ?Smyrna and Saloniki. An Italian cruiser landed troops at Prevesa after destroying a Turkish torpedo boat destroyer, and the Ital ian fleet has blockaded the whole Tripolitan coast. There are unconfirmed reports that Turkey intends to send an ulti matum to Greece to abandon her claim on Crete and is massing troops on the Thessalian frontier. The greatest activity ensued in all the European chancelleries on the an nouncement that war had been de clared and notification of a blockade. It is expected that the various gov ernments will issue the customary neutrality diplomatic as far as pos sible to localizing hostilities to the combatant powers and especially to avoid complications in the Balkans. * TWO BARGES WERE SUNK. Turkish Cabinet Resigned When War Was Declared by Italy, A Constantinople dispatch says the Turkish war ministry according to the reports current there "Friday night, has received a dispatch from the late Turkish militady attache at Paris, who has assumed command of the forces at Tripoli, stating that the Italians began to disembark Friday afternoon, but the Turks succeeded in sinking the first two barges. The Turkish cabinet has resigned, Said Pasha assuming the office of grand vizer and Kismil Pasha that of foreign minister. Mohmoud Shef ket Pasha continues as minister of war. The Italian charge, Signor Di Mar tino, Friday afternoon handed the port a communication (intimating the intention of Italy to proceed with the measures foreshadowed in the ul timatum. This is tantamount to a declaration cf war, and as a state of war would give Italy greater freedom of action in Turkish waters, there is much ap prehension regarding the Turkish war vessels at present steaming in the direction of the Dardenelles, lest they be captured ,by the Italian squadron, which is believed to be watching the movements of Turkish ships. The British embassy at Constanti nople is concerned for the British officers with the Turkish squadron and is instructing the government for their recall. The question of the protection of Italian subjects In Tur key is engaging the attention of the Italian authorities. It is thought that a request will be made to Ger many to undertake the protection of the Italian escutcheons. The Italian emblems have been re moved from the embassy, the con sulate, the postoflice and the schools, with a view to preventing (any unto ward incidents. * Was Caused by a Pin. A boy at the Connie .Maxwell Or phanage at Greenwood was operated on for appendicitis, and when the ap pendix had been removed a pin was found imbedded therein. The boy has no recollection of ever swallow ing the pin so that no idea is had as to how long it had been in the appendix. The little fellow is get ting on very nicely. Saved Lives by .lumping. At Abbeville a two-story dwelling OCdipiJbd by Mfr. and Mrs. H. G. Smith and .Mr. and Mrs. McAHly, was totally destroyed by fire Saturday night at 12 o'clock. The house was falling in when the fire was discover ed. Mr. and Mrs. McAlily, who oc cupied the upstairs, were forced to jump from the roof of the front porch to escape the flames. Forty Nine Booze Sellers. At Wilmington, N. C, the grand jury returned true bills against 49 persons for selling whiskey in viola tion of the prohibition law, the larg est number to ,be indicted there at ony one time since the law went into effect. One member of the grand jury, H. T. Duls, is among those in dicted. J, S. C, TUESDAY, ?CTOBEE ITALY AND TURKEY THE RELATIVE FIGHTING CONDI TION' OF THE TWO. I Trouble Began Thirty Years Ago as Result of the Italians Longing for Tripoli. Trouble between Italy and Turkey, which culminated Friday afternoon in a. declaration of war at Rome, dates back to 1878, when, with the making of the treaty concluding the Russo-Turkish war, the powers are understood to have agreed to per mit Italy a "pacific peneratlon of Tripoli." Italy has colonized Tripoli until her interests in that African province are very great. She has asserted, however, that her subjects have been mistreated by the Ottoman authori ties and constantly discriminated against. At the same time Turkey was warned not to send soldiers or munitions of war to Tripoli. A Tur kish transport bearing a few men and arms and'ammunition arriving at Tripoli from Constantinople was not molested on the ground that she soiled before the Italian warning had been received. Italy, in the meantime, brought soldiers to the Italian coast, where they were placed on board ships, rea dy to proceed to Tripoli and other joints. A second squadron is design td for Salonika. Italy's declaration Of war on Tur key grew out of unsatisfied demands that the Ottoman government, domi nant in Tripoli for 300 years, shall surrender all economic and political rights to Italy. Tripoli is capable of tremendous development. The soil along the coast is fertile. Nor. so much can be said of the interior. The land fighting forces of Italy and Turkey compare favorably, al though Italy appears to have the ad vantage for war on foreign soil, be cause the Italian government has plenty of transport ships and a com petent navy to guard them en voy age, while Turkey has no transports and the fighting strength of her navy is nil. Italy's standing arm in 1911 num bered approximately 225,000 and 1 4,000 officers, buti a far greater number could be put in the field In case of necessity. The Italian navy consists in vessels' commissioned, built or building, 15 warships nil e armored cruisers, 17 unarmored cruisers and gun vessels, 3G destroy ers, an equal number of first-class torpedo boats and 20 submarines. In the naval force there approximately are 31,000 men. As a whole the Ital ian navy is generally ranked fifth among nations. The Italians are skilled seumen. They have constructed some remark able war vessels. The naval lists show that Turkey has a fighting strength of nine coast defense iron ciads, five protected cruisers, six tor pedo vessels, one gunboat, 21 torpedo boat destroyers, 27 torpedo boats and two submarines. The nominal strength of the Turk ish navy is 929 officers, 3,000 sailors, besides about 9,000 mariens. The empire is divided into seven army corps districts and there are two in dependent divisions at Medina and Tripoli, respectively. The total fight-J ing strength is close to 1,000,000 J men and by the existing recruiting I laws all Mussulmen are liable to mili tary service. * I URGES AMERICA TO ACT. E.\'-Minister Strauss Thinks the Situa tion Very Grave. Declaring that "the approaching clash of arms between Italy and Tur key far transcends the interests of the two powers involved," Oscar S. Strauss, former ambassador to Tur key, Friday wired from New York, P C. Knox, secretary of state, urg ing that the United States should ex ercise its right under the convention for the pacific settlement of interna tional disputes to prevent a possible slate of war between Muhammadan t.nd Christian nations of the world .Mr. Strauss declars Italy's precipi tate action can not but have the most serious results as a precedent for similar aggression by other pow ers. Mr. Strauss in his telegram continues: "The United States took the lead in freeing the Mediterranean from pirates and likewise has contributed foremost among the nations in the conclusion of the convention for the pacific settlement of international disputes. Our country is not only justified, but it is its duty to exercise i;s right under that convention to preserve the precedents for peace and prevent a possible state of war be tween the Muhammadan and Chris tian nations of the world. "We are fortunately free from al liances such as apparently tie the hands of European powers, who should and probably will welcome our exercising the right of medita tion. I am sure 1 am voicing the .?eace-loving sentiments, not only of Americans but of all nations in call ing upon our government to prompt ly offer its offices of meditation. "Whatever rights politically or otherwise Ittaly may justly lay claim to in Tripoli, certainly can be secur ed without bloodshed and with jus tice by submitting them to The Hague tribunal." * l 3, 1911. Cpuld flU Agree od a Velvet in tta Famous Dispensary Case WERE OUT A LONG TIME Hie Famous Label Case Ends in a .Mistrial, the Jury Failing to Agree on a Verdict \After Being Out About Forty Hours, and Were Dis charged. The case against L. W. Boykin, Jno. Bell Towill and W. O. Tatum, former dispensary officials, on a charge of conspiracy to defraud the State in the matter of the purchase of 21,000,000 labels for $35,677 went to the jury at 11.15 Saturday night and after being out all Sun day, reported a mistrial on Monday. Earley testified that he had advanc ed Boykins money while he was in Cincinnati buying the labels, for which he took no note, and that Boy kin returned some of it when the committee was exposing the 'graft' dn connection with the dispensary. Earley was asked by Mr. Lyon: "While you represented Fleisch mann &. Co. as a salesman here, and while Mr. Towill was on the board of directors did you make a present to Mr. Towill?" Answer: "Yes, sir, I gave him a diamond ring." "What was the value of that ring?" "Probably about four or five hun dred dollars." "Has Mr. Towill ever returned the ring to you?" "No, sir." "Did Mr. Towill ever express any admiration for this ring?" "Yes, sir." On cross-examination, the witness said that he would not believe Good man on oath, and when asked by At torney Nelson if Goodman was not looked upon as a low scoundrel, Ear ley answered: "In my opinion, he certainly is." Earley stated in answer to ques tions that of the $0,534 he had re ceived on the label deal, Boykin nor Towill nor Tatum had gotten a cent. The figures which Goodman told him he had paid the defendants were gone over; $3,000 was given to Boykin, ac cording to Goodman; $1,000 to To will, $300 to Tatum and $900 to Mc Cartha. "This $0,534 was one-third? Who got another third, Goodman?" "I suppose so," said the witness. "And who got the other?" Answer: "Weiskopf." "This agreement was made be tween you and Goodman and Weis kopf?" "Well, we were the three that made the agreement." Witness admitted that he had been under three indictments in this con nection, and that cases would be nol prossed against him, he understood, on condition of his testifying for the State in this and other cases. Earley also testified of a general knowledge that Weiskopf had to "pay $7,500 to get out," and that was placed in a trust company, and that when the case was concluded half was to go to the State and half to Felder. The witness also admitted to having been closely restricted in his movement's during his trip here on the occasion of a former trial. On redirect examination, by Solic itor Cobb, the witness was asked in connection with the agreement whereby he, Goodman and Weiskopf each got a third of certain funds from the deal; if Weiskopf had not told him that another $7,500 "ex pense money" had to be paid to the State dispensary board, before the division among the three could be made. Wciskopfs Testimony. After telling of his meeting in Cin cinnati Messrs. Boykin and Tatum, he stated thai these gentlemen visited his place of business and were stowti over it. Weiskopf then gave the following testimony: Q. Now, Mr. Weiskopf, when Mr. Boykin and Mr. Tatum and Mr. Good man and Mr. Earley visited your place of business, slate as nearly as you can recollect what happened on that occasion, and what was said and done? A. 1 was introduced to the gentle , men and the question o; labels came : up. J took either all of the gentle men or a part of them through the establishment, to show them our fa cilities for turning out the work, to show the way the lithograph work was handled. The poposition was drawn up and given to Mr. Boykin after seme argument as to prices. Prices on a portion of the labels were reduced, and Mr. Boykin signed a contract subject to the approval of Mr. Towill. Q. Mr. Weiskopf, after Mr. Good ( man and Mr. Boykin and Mr. Tatum and Mr. Earley visited your place of business on that date, state whether or not Mr. Goodman applied for any money? A. Next day he did. 0 How much money did you give him? A. Forty-one hundred dollars. Q For what purpose did Mi. Good man ask you to deliver him that money? A. For expenses. Mr. Lyon: For expense of what? A. Of securing the order. q. Mt. Weiskopf, after that trans action, state whether or not you re ceived any further comniunciation from L. W. Boykin? A. I did. Q. Have you that communcation in hand? A. I have. (Letter of Mr. Boykin accepting bid for labels offered in ev idence and read to jury by attorney general.) Q. Mr Weiskopf, after the payment of this $4,100, or the letter w?tten by Mr. Boykin, did you have any fur ther communication with M. A. Good man? A. I received a letter from him. 0. In consequence of receiving that letter, what did you do? A. I sent him a draft for $2,000. I Mr. Lyon: Did you receive pay [ for the labels set forth in this in voice ? A. I did Col. Nelson: We admit that he gor. the S35,000. Mr. Lyon: What did you do with the money or a part of it that you paid tor? A. I t.ave Mr. Earley a check for SO,534 and Mr. Goodman a check for $6,534, .Mr. Earley's being one check, Mr. Goodman getting a check on Oc tober 8 for $2,000 check and on Oct. 30 another check. Q. Let me ask it again. You paid Mr. Goodman $G,534? A. Yes, sir. Q. You paid Earley $6,534? A. Yes. Q And you retained for yourself S 0,53 4 ? A. Yes, sir. Q. Was the $n,t>o which you .e.: tified was used as a nexpenses for getting the business in addition to these three items? Mr. No-son: He has not said the expense was $0,100. He said it wa3 $4.100. Mr. Lyon: Did you testify that It took $0,100 to get this business? A. Yes, sir. Q. You did? A. Yes, sir. Q. And it was paid in two checks, wasn't it? A. Yes, sir; the $6,100 was addi tional to the other Q. What do you mean by the oth er? A. The $6,500 I gave Goodman and the $6,500 I gave Earley. Q And the $6,500 you gave your self? A. Yes, sir; for the firm. Q. Mr. Weiskopf, so that would make something over $25,000 all to gf ther, wouldn't it? A. Yes, sir. Q. That accounts for over $25,000 of this $35,677 that you received? A. Yes, sir. Q. That leaves somewhere betwce;. $9,000 and $10,000, does it not? A. It is over $10,000, I think. Q. Does it not leave less than $10, 000? A. I figured it roughly, general; I tlilnfc it was over $10,000. Q. Just figure it again ann see what it is. A. I make it $9,975. Q. Where did that money go, Mr. Weiskopf? A. To our firm; it went to our firm. Q. Mr. Weiskopf, state whether or not you have returned to the State of South Carolina $7,500 on account cf the overcharges on these labels? A. I have returned $7.500 to mv attorney; I think he has made some| arrangement for the return of the money paid. I gave it to him under! his advice. Weiskopf also gave Goodman a bad 1 name. He stated that he had known Goodman seven years and that his reputation for truth and veracity and i fair dealing is bad. Weiskopf would not believe Goodman on his oath. FALLS TO HIS DEATH. The Tragic Ending of a Well Known Young Man. The 'State says Mr. Heber S. Rey-' nolds, a well-konwn young man of Columbia, was killed at a late hour Friday night when he fell from the ninth lloor of the Loan and Exhange ; bank building to the alley way in the I rear of the building. He was employed by the South i Carolina Cotton Oil company, which has offices on the ninth floor, and was waiting for H. E. Wells, the manager of the company, who was 'due io arrive from the .Verth at 121 o'elo'. k. He had finished some work and it is supposed, was seated in the win dow when he fell. The body was found at midnight by R. E. North, an engineer, employed in the building, who was making his rounds as night watch ma u. Mr. North said that he heard some thing fall about 11.30 o'clock. It is supposed that the accident occur red at that time. A careful investiga tion was maib' by Coroner Walker. He came to the conclusion that the boy's death was the result of an ac cident. The body in falling struck an iron picket fence. One of the arms was torn from the body and left hanging on the ffi'.ce. The head was muti lated and the lower limbs broken. Heber Reynolds was a well Known and beloved young man and had many friends in Columbia. He was 21 years of age, the son of the late John S. Reynolds, supreme court li brarian, and a well known citizen of the State. He is survived by his mother, Mrs. John S. Reynolds, three sisters, Mrs. Henry L. Forbes, Miss Sarah E. Rey nolds, and Miss Virginia V. Reynolds,, and one brother, John S. Reynolds of The State. TWO CENTS PER COPY. KILL ONE WIFE The Avail Crisis of a Yjuog Caicig* Physician (o Aide a Crime. TFILS OF THE MURDER Body of the Young Woman Found Two Weeks After Fatal Quarrel.?* Motive for the Crime Prolwbly tO> Hide from First Wife Fact of His Dual Life. t Dr. Harry Elgin Webster, u Rusfa Med/oal College graduate, student and interne at the Polyclinic Hospi tal at Chicago in a remarkable con fession to the police Sunday, admit ted that he had murdered one of his two young wives, Bessie "Sent Web ster, of Chicago, in the woods ten miles from Dixon, 111., September 16*. The police say the motive f.?r the crime was Webster's desire to aide from his first wife, Zee Varney Web ster, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the fact that he was a bigamist. He had mar ried the two women within one week: last January. The accidental discovery of Bessie Kent'3. body Friday, almost two> weeks after she had been killed, was followed by identification Saturday and the arrest Sunday morning of Webster. Wih the arrival of wife No. 1 at the Chicago avenue police station, the structure of evasion and deceit that Webster had been erecting for months began to topple and twelve) hours after the doctor's arrest the police had stripped from him the story of the murder. Webster said he was married first to Zoe Varney at Cedar Rapids, iowa, January 4. He said he was great ly in love with his bride and ex pected to return to Cedar Rapids to practice medicine. "I married Bessie Kent under her promise that she would divorce me immediately after the wedding," said! Webster. "She then refused to get a divorce and that was the! beginning of all the trouble." Following this unsucccssfut at tempt to divorce his second wife* Webster related he met her on Sen* tem'ber 14t'h, and he spent that night with her at a North Side rooming" house. The next afternoon he start ed tor Dixon. Webster insisted that he believed until he reached Dixon that he was making the trip alone. Then, his confession relates, he discovered that Bessie Kent had made the trip oa the same train. He declares that she refused to return to Chicago and the two went to the Dixon Inn that night.. The next morning Webster hired a^ horse and buggy" and, with Mrs. Web ster No. 2, drove north of Dixon. Ort' this drive the two quarreled and the physician alleges that his wiic struck; him and then jumped from the bug gy, crying that she would see his parents and expose his life with her, "When my wife jumped from the buggy," said Webster, "I threw a suitcase at her and then jumped from the buggy and gave chase. I ran af ler her for several hundred yards, when she stumbled near a ravine and fell. "I pulled out my pocket knife and stabbed her four or five times in th? back of the neck as she lay on the ground. She died immediately after 1 had severed the jugular vein, f then rolled her body several yards into the ravine and covered it with leaves. "I den't remember whether I dis robed her or not. I was so excited that 1 almost lest my mind. But 1 know that I covered the body so care fully that no one passing would see it." After returning the horse and bug gy, Webster went to Chicago without going to t;ee his parents. He con ' tinned his work at the hospital, and! ' three or four days afterward report ed to the police that his wife was missing. lice made frequent inquiries $ghbfat During the next ten days he made rrequenl injuiries or the police and took up the matter of his wife's dis appearance with her rellatives. Throughout this period he remain ed unruffled, and the police did not suspect him until after the body had I been identified at Dixon. The Deadly Cotton Gin. ?Paul Timmons, the faithful and zealous old ginner for Messrs. J. C Lynch & Son, at Cowards, while at tempting to remove some cotton from between the ribs of one of the gins while the machinery was in motion, got his arm caught in the teeth of the saws r.nd it was cut to pieces. He died aLout an hour after the ac cident. Killed the Wrong Man. Mistaking Rob McCulIough, a ne gro, for another man with whom he had a fight earlier i'i the afternoon. West Met.ure. also a negro, Saturday night emptied the contents of a shot gun into McCulIough when they met on the public road; near Chester. Took Medicine for a Spell. Miss Ida Stone/ a young woman living near Batesburg died Saturday under peculiar circumstances. It is said that a white man living on the place that some one had put a "spell*? j on her and gave her some medicine^ 1 for which she paid him $7, and" afte^ . taking the concoction she died. j