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VOL.11, NO. 17, SEML-WEEKLY. LANCASTER, S. C. FRIDAY, DECEMRERil. 1915. *1 -n a A',,.,. HAMBURG-AMERICANS ! CONVICTED BY JURY Four Officials of German Line Found Guilty of Criminal Conspiracy. WILL TAKE AN APPEAL, j Defendants ('harmed Witli i'lottiiig to Deceive Federal Government in Sending Relief Ships. New York, Dec. 2.?Three high officials and a subordinate officer of the Hamburg-American line were found guilty tonight in federal court here of having violated the laws of the United States in sending coal and other supplies to German cruisers in the south Atlantic in the first few months of the war. The jury returned a verdict of guilty on each of two indictments. The specific charge against the de (endants was conspiracy to deceive and defraud the United StateB. The maximum penalty for each indictment is two years' imprisonment and $10,000 fine. A date for passing sentence will be designated tomorrow. Tho Jury is reported to have taken one ballot after several hours of discussion of the evidence. The jury was given the case at 2:40 o'clock this afternoon. Its foreman, George W. Palmer, announced tho verdict seven and one-half hours later. An appeal, it seemed certain tonight, will be made to tho federal court of appeals and in case the verdict Is upheld to the supreme court of the United States. In the mean-' time the defendants probably will re-1 main at liberty under $5,000 bail! each. THE FOUR CONVICTED. The four defendants affected by the verdict are I)r. Karl Btienz, managing director of the HamburgAmerican line in New York city, former German consul general here, former German minister to Mexico and German commissioner in * the Venezuelan arbitration proceedings before The Hague tribunal; George i Kotter, general superintendent of the line; Adolph Haehmeister, general purchasing agent, and Joseph Poppinghaus, a* former officer in thcj German navy and at present a second officer in the Hamburg- \n?- rican line. A fifth defendant. Felix Seffuer. su-' percargo on one of tlie neutral steam- j ers sent to supply the German fleet, was not 'brought to trial. He was captured by the British while on ids! errand of relief and is a prisoner in Canada. The four defendants took the verdict ealntly. After the jury had filed out Dr. Buenz turned to Kotter, sitting at his left, and rising, shook hands. "Auf wiederseen!" be said and Kotter echoed the words. Ilaoli-j meister sat silent. Poppinghaus, tall.' athletic, youngest of the four, rose i to his full height and smiled. "I do not care," he said in broke? ' Hnglish. "This is not the last word.' | Defendants' counsel was sib nt as to the verdict. FORD'S PI/AN NOT KNDOR.SKD. American Government Divuvmvn Any i Connection. Washington, Dec. 2.-?Several Ku-j ropean nations, neutral as well asj hellieerents. have Innnirod of the United States concerning; the status of the peace party to rail in vessels chartered by Henry Ford. To each Secretary Lansing has replied that the American government not only has r.o connection with the expedition, hut assumed no responsibilityj for any activities or negotiations of I those engaged In the movement. The fact th-t Mr. Ford had conferred with President Wilson before starting his movement to end the Kuropean war gave some ambassadors and ministers here the Impression that the ' Washington government might have some connection with It. Ilryan on the Way. Jacksonville, Via., Dec. 2. En route to New York, where he will confer with Henry Ford regarding the proposed peace mission to Europe, William Jennings Hryan passed through Jacksonville this morning from Miami, his winter home. Two British .ships Sunk. London, Dec. 2.?Two more British steamers, the Colenso and %ho Orange Prince, have been sunk, pre- i sunmbly bv German submarines. I CONFERENCE OPENS IN CHARLESTON Ailiiress Before Historical Society ol' South Carolina Methodists Oellvcrcil by Rev. A. I). Itctts. Charleston Special to Columbia Record, Dee. 1.?The historical society of the South Carolina Methodist conference held its annual session last night In Trinity church, j Tho Rev. H. B. Browne of Kingstree.J president of the society, conducted devotional exercises introductory to the program for the evening. Prayer was made by the Rev. J. B. Wilson I >f Sumter. The feature of the session was the I annual address of the Rev. Albert D.I Betts of Clio. Mr. Betts is a young! minister or marked scholarly attainments, with a decided bent towards historical research, and his address I also was historical, "South Carolina, Methodism and Missions." It was an exhaustive story of tethodist missionary activity and is a very valuable contribution to Methodist history. On motion of the liev. Charles H. Smith of Camden it was ordered that the address be published in pamphlet form. Following the address President Browne announced that an arrange- j ment had been effected by which, in the future the same orator will ad- i dress both the Upper South Carolina . onferenee and the Lower South! Carolina, the conferences alter ' nnting in the selection of orators. For 1!>1G t lie orator will bo Dr. I). I). Wallace of Wofford College, the selection of the Upper conference. It was also arranged that the two conference will have the same curator. Dr. Wallace, who will keep all records in Wofford College library. The Kev. W. II. Hodges of Lake i City was selected vice president of the society. A number of new members were elected. A number of historical relics, books, etc., were presented by members of the conference and others. DUKES PURCHASING I,AND IN FAIRFIELD Largest Ileal Kstato Deal in the Ilistoi* ?>f *ln? County, Says Itcport. VVinnsboro Special to Charleston News and Courier, Dec, 2. Tie* largest real estate deal in the hi : of Cairiield, and one that v ill m i terially s. f'.V t the prosperity of th< county in various ways, was consummated today, according to authoritative reports, by the Dukes of Durham, N. ('. Vim big tobacco magnates arc re- . ported to have purchased great tracts of land reaching front Great Falls, along the Wateree river, to a point below Lnngtown. being in close proximity to the water rights already occupied by the company in which the Dukes are said to be interested. A colonization sc heme will be undertaken by the promoters along with the contemplated erection of several factories. The property will be divided into parcels and sulci to white settlers with modern farm houses erected thereon. N'o definite date was given out as to when tlm actual development of the* enterprise wouicl begin. MO.VTKNMiltlNS KAI.Ij ItACK. Admit !' rv*':?/* ltcf;?r?- Austro* (.'ortiiaii Annies. Paris. Dec. 2.?Enforced retreat of the Montenegrin troops in their efforts to defend Ulevlle against the! reinforced Austro-Oerman armies, is admitted In an offleial statement by the Montenegrin war office received j at the Montenegrin eonsnlate here today. The statement says: "The enemy having received heavy ro!nforceinents, directed his attacks upon Prlbos and Plevlje on November 30. Our troops were obliged to retire upon their rear positions to defend Plevje. We took thirty prisoners." ; <> ~t::r::k.*73nt wixtiikop. Miss lionise MrCown Meml?or of Ford Peace Party. Itock Hill Special to Charleston News and Courier, Dec. 2.?Respond-1 ing to Henry Ford's Invitation, I'res!-j dent Johnson today appointed Miss Eouiso McCown as Winthrop's representative in the Ford peace party, wliicb will rail from New York Saiuralv for The Hague. Mies McCowa, who is a member of tho senior class. Is in every way hlted to represent hir college. In company with her father. S rotary of State McCown, she left for New York this evening. NOT MUCH FIGHTING ON BATTLE FRONTS Montenegro and Ison/.o See Principal Engagements in War of Nations. ROUMANIA IS UNCERTAIN. Much Confusion us to Political !><* vclopnmnts?Austrian ('ahinct Sutlers Shiik<Mi|?. ].oil.loll, Dec. 1.?Eninppor Wil. Mam's visit to Vi ana, which coincides with the resignation of three Austrian cabinet ministers, is the cause of much speculation. The two events are variously assumed to be connected with the reported effort of Germany to force Austria into a German solverein, a desire of Emperor Francis Joseph to secure a separte peace through intervention of Pope Benedict, and a rumored dispute between Austria and Bulgaria over division of Servian territory. There is no authoritative basis for any of these reports beyond statements in the German newspapers that Emperor William's visit was of the highest importance. Meantime operations in the Balkans and the movements of the armies of lite central powers continue with unabated energy. Like Germany, Bulgaria announced that with the capture of Prisrend her campaign in Servia has ended, which seems to support tlio suggestion that to avoid a dispute with Greece, King Ferdinand of Bulgaria lias decided against the occupation of Monastir, the only town of any importance remaining in Servian hands. Monastir was still in the hands of Servians until late Monday night and no official news that there has been any change there has been received since. ATTACK I NO MONTEN EG It INS. Austria, with the assistance of some German troops, continues her operations against Montenegro, the frontier of which lias been crossed but not without cnnalilorol.l.i tion from the Montengrins, who have heen joined by some portions of the Servian armies. Rattles are now being fought in that part of the Sanjac of N'ovipazar whieh was taken by Montenegro after he r.alkan war. The Austro-Germans are advancing soutlt from Sol n ica and across the frontier from Pripolje. In tlie north tlie Montenegrins claim to have defeated the Austrians in the region of Foteha, Rosnia. It is expected, however, that the Austro-Germans have provid? d suflicient forces to make sure of a sucoersful campaign as they did in the case of Servia. SNOW STOPS ARMIKS. In southeastern Servia, where the Brit'sh, French and Servians hold strong positions, the snow still prevents any movements of importance. No news has been received of the Austrians and Germans who proceeded to Hustichuk, on the Danube river, to co-operate with the Bulgarians and Turks to oppose a possiblo Russian invasion through Rouman'a The attitude of Rouman'a is st'll uncertain. The latest reports sav that she, like Greece, is trying to remain neutral. Greece, in her reply to the latent noto <>f the Entente allies, insists upon neutrality, and a final settlement of the points at issue between Greece and the Entente powers is not yet in sight. Greece objects, according to \thrns dispatches, to the evacuation of Saloniki by lier troops, the handing over of the railways to the Entente allies and the policing by the navies of tho Entente powers of her coastal waters to circumvent the activities of German submarines The Italians continue their offt nsive alonr the Tsonzo river. On the other fronts comparative calm prevails. dig deserve For Oconee County. Greenville, S. C., Dec. I.?The federal government today began proceedings here to condemn 20,000 acres of mountain land In Oconee county to be reserved ns a national forest. More tlinn 8.500 notices will he served on persons in all parts of tho United State s and Canada. Some of the dec ds, daf'ng hack to 1780, Involved por.iom of tho original estate of John ('. Calhoun. Attorneys from .. York ; nd Phllndelphia are io >king after cistern interests. NEW SHIPPING BILL TO !( AID MERCHANT MARINE Plan to Create Hoard Similar t] to Interstate Commerce , b Commission. ' c p WILL ASK FOR $50,000,000. u SI I! Drnl't of Mi'iimiit Submitted to llop- ti n-sciitiitivc AlruiiMlcr, t'liuii- u uiiin of IIiiim' Committee. e w samngion. Dec. 1.? Creation of u 1 V a federal board with jurisdiction * over deep water traffic. similar to i 1 ' tliat exercised over railroads by the , a interstate commerce commission, and K T appropriation by Congress of $50,000,000 for construction of merchant ships, designed for use as naval aux- 8 iliaries, are proposed in a new ship- ^ ping bill drafted after conferences v between Secretaries MeAdoo and ' ltedfleld and submitted to day to Representative Alexander, chairman of the house merchant marine com- ' mittee. " From this draft will be developed ' the administration shipping measure 1 ! to take the place of the one which j failed of passage at the last session ; ? j of Congress. The old bill contemplated a ship- j | ping board with powers limited to 1 control of a vessel-owning corpora- ? 1 tlon, r,l per cent of the capital stock j of which the government was to j ^ I hold. The new one provides for gov ! eminent ownership of stock only in 11 the even* private subscriptions are v | lacking. 11 With the $5Q,000,OOii it is propos- a j ed that the government have built in : American yards if possible, vessels having aggregate gross tonnage of J , 400,000 or 500,00(1 to be leased or ' sold to corporations the entire stock | ; of which would be offered for popu- j lar subscription. All contracts would ' contain provision for making tho vessels available for naval use in time of emergency. I v Solicitor Thurmau of the depart-! t nu nt of commerce, wlm put the draft \ into legal shape, explained today c however, that the naval feature had t d? on made secondary in importance. :i "The bill aims." lie raid, " to pro I >i<!> merchant marine and auxil o ::\ry, not a naval n serve." The shipping board would be giv- [ 1 :i powers wide enough to rctjuir t regular and reliable service at rates i r passengers and freight ami to j prevent discrimination in favor of v s looted shippers. It would be authorf-'.cd to act in conjunction with the , ' terstato commerce commission in , arranging for through bills of lad- -] ling between rail lines and * amaiiip s inos under the American Hag. After th.e new loll has been c *n- < sidered and revised by ndmlniatra-j < , t on leaders in and out of Congress,! ; it will go to President Wilson for; r i final approval before it in Introduced 1 in the house and senate. , i MANY l'l'T TO llhlATH, ^ > Two Villn Generals Among lla.f j Hundred Shot. 1 hoe Angeles. Cal., Dec. 1.?Two 1 Villa general.;, Orestes Pereyra and j t , 10. Jiminez, with r?U officers of the j command, captured after a battle on < ! t.Jie Fucrte river in Sonora. w? ro f court-martialed and shot, according to a telegram received today from ;| ! General Obrrgon at Nogales. by Artttro Gonzales, Carranza car.im z-| i < ;>1 agent hero. ! Villa's power now lias been com- ^ pletely broken, Obregon steted in his j rf isage. At Barlxi, north of lleriiiosillo, r w' ere General Manuel Dieguex fin- j % ally scattered his main body. Villa j ( destroyed all of his artillery, the re- f port said. ! . A part of his forces defeated on the ! Fuerte river escaped, proceeding ap- H parently toward Lower California, 1 | i th the expectation of joining Gov , ernor Esteban at Mexican, opposite! v Calexico, Gal. ' , Obregon also stated that among ' , the numerous prisoners who sur-' i rendered to General Calles was'., Alejandro Ceresola, former com- | t uiander of the Mexican navy under j Iluerta. I Kouinania \bout Heady. London. Dec. 1.?Houmania will 1 deliver an ultimatum t< Austria as t soon as the l'ntcnte allies eoneen- 1 trate H00.000 men i:i the Balkans, it t is reported in Bucharest, sayc : t Contral News dispatch front that city.'t 2AUSE OF DISASTER R MAINS UNKNOWN light Investigation at Dui'out I*u\\? tier l'!ant l-'ails to Discover Origin of Explosion. Wilmington, Del., Dec. 1.?Alliougli a searching investigation into lie cause of tlie disaster was started y officials of the Dul'ont Powder ompany immediately after the exloslon which caused the death of 2> 1 orkmen and the serious injury of ix others in the company's upper lagler yards yesterday, nothing of a tngibie nature had been discovered p to an early hour today. Every mploye who was near tlie building estroyed was examined thoroughly, lot one of the 26 men who were in lie Pellet Packing house escaped lid there is only a big hole in the round where the building stood, lie investigators admit that there is ilv little possibility of the respotiibility ever being placed and cotn&ny officials stated that they were rithout a thread on which to hang heir hopes that its origin ever will e ascertained. Charles K. Landis, an official of the hi Pont company, gave out a statelent in which he said that every preaution had been taken to protect lie plants and that these precautions ad been redoubled with the receipt f war orders. "Our policing system," he added, is under the direction of Major t chard W. Sylvester, former chief f police of Washington, and he is in harge of the company's secret serice. "The whole thing is an absolute ivstery. Not a man is living who cas in or even near the packing muse when the accident occurred lid we seem to be without the means 1 even starting an investigation." VilSTIUAL IN CASE AGAINST TOM WATSON nry Alter Thirty Hours ol' Deliberation Deported Hopeless Deadlock and Was Discharged. Augusta, (la.. Dec. 1- V mistrial (as ordered in federal < > iff hor< ( iTlit in the use of Thomas K Va'son, the 7hunson. Ca., c.litor harged with s?ud'iig obscc e matt" lirough the mails. The jury, after !h hours' deliberation, reported a mpelcss deadlock and was dischav,t According :<< jurors, the vote 8t??vl '? for acquittal ai : two foi couvieion on 'cv< ry hu'.'ot. Judg^ ! atnbdn the juts nto court tonight after a tonne; citb counsel for both sides in vhie' ( was agreed that sltouM a widicl tot l)o reached tonight a mislr'a houhl he taken. ('. K. IIrow it o! Pennille. (Ja., foreman of the jury tated that it was "impossible" lot a?" jury to agree and on th<> judge's li*t aliening ot her jurors, J. A 'raw ford of Martinez, (la., declared: "Your honor, this jury might re hi in lure SO years and it wonl. tever ri acll a verdict." Jutige Lamhdin then ordered ; n'atrial and court was adjourned iVatso'.i returned to Thorn.--on hefort he jt:rv was tailed in. The indictment was r? turn- 1 t IftlJI. after a previous indictnn nt hat t i ti quashed on a technicality ant liter one federal grand jury had re used to indict Watson on similni hargfs. The articles were publish d In lhII and lit 12. There was no indication tonigh iv to whether or not the district at rney would pr^ss for another trial OBJECT ol KAISER'S VISIT. io stop liisfriaii Efforts to Olitnii Sf*|Nirnt<* IN'uco, Home, via Paris, Dor. 1 ?"Th< cal object of Emperor Williams isit to Vienna was to put a stop t( fforts Austria is making, by meant >f negotiations through Madrid witl he Vatican, to obtain a separate teaco with the quadruple Entente," ays the Tribuna. "Vienna and Her In disagree on the question of peace lerliti desires to treat separate!} v ItD each of the allies so as to brcaV ip the qiiadruple (Entente and ther 0 crush England, but Vienna desirei 1 real and lasting peace to end th? elision which rapidly is becomlr.> oo great for Austria to hear." rlm'pjo and Ills l,HM> Men Sur render. Nogalcs, Ariz., Dee. 1.?fienern Trbalejo, Villa's Yaqui Indian chief ain, with h'9 entire command o 1,400 men, surrendered today t< 'arr.in/a army officers at Corbo, 20i piles sot*tli of here, said a repor hat reached here late today. <f>.it\j l\ I I!j2Y I \ . Tight will be made j on senator clarke Pomerene of Ohio Candidate for | Executive Presiding Officer of Senate. A LIVELY CONTEST LIKELY. I Opposition to Sonntor Clarke lla* llorn Smouldering S:nce Democratic ContVrciice Monday. Washington, Dec. 1.?Senator Pomerene of Ohio becamo a candidate tonight for president pro tempore of the senate in opposition to Senator lames I'. Clarke of Arkansas, who ^eeks re-election. The can| didacy of the Ohio senator announced after a session of the senate Democratic caucus, assures a lively contest which will be settled next FrlI day. Opposition to Senator Clarke had | been smouldering since the DemoI eratic conference began Monday be1 cause of his antagonism to the ship purchase bill at the last session. AU. ministration leaders had sought, however, to allay this opposition for the sake of party harmony and it was not until tonight that an open ; ' ?ht developed. Tomorrow the Democratic conference will act on the report of the special committee on rules proposing limitation of debate to prevent flili imstering. The committee tonight agreed upon a cloture rule, which would provide means for forcing a measure to a vote whenever fiilibus' ring tactics became apparent. It would provide that when a senator arises and asserts the opinion that an attempt ?s being made to ob. struct a measure and claims the right of the senate to proceed to a ute, the chair shall submit to tho 'I senate without debate on the question: > ( "Is it the sense of the senate that on attempt is being made to obstruct, binder or delay a vote?" If the ques' ( t O.i, i.- .1.. .1.1?? , ...... .- .... mk u hi iiu* amrmailvo, it wnulil ho in order for any senator , to move to ti\ a time for taking a vote on the pending measure and all amendments, such motion to lie deled without debate. The time to lie lived, would he at least two calendar days alter the making of such i a motion. Demooratie senators who oppose loture predicted tonight that the ' proposed rule would lu* vigorously 1 1 e.'irhl in the conference. 1 ; The caucus today elected Senator '. 11!on of West Virginia. \ ice chairman of the conference and Senator tjowis of Illinois was re-elected as party wh'p. (jh the steering committee, Senator Kern named Senators Martin. Owen, Chamberlain, Thomas, o'Cornia. . W'lllr.ms. .lames I . i I m I. Senate ^ u IToni >' <: Snf'i 'i"orgiri. a*.I Clarke of Arkansas retired from tho committee. The new committee will J ntaki up committee assignments for 'tin new senate. Scnato* Simoons, , clia'rntan of the finance committee, I it was learned, lia - proposed that h's I committee be enlarged so that Senator ITulerwood of Alabama, former r majority loader of the house, may . I he gi vi n a place. Democrat* of the house ways and t ne his committee continued work on commitire \ slgnmonts. which prob; ih'iy will he completed tomorrow. House Republicans will caucus tomorrow to consider the lllling of minority places on the committees. 1 Speaker Clarke reached Washington today prepared, he said, for a session, lasting "until the dog days." > i liOincs to .loin Cord Party. Columbia, Dee. 1.?Andrew J. , ltethea, lieutenant governor, who last night accepted the offer of Henry Ford to visit European countries as a j member of a peace commission, will .1 leave Columbia today for New York. t The peace party will sail from New ( York Saturday morning. Governor ^ Manning several days ago refused ;,'the invitation because of official r business. enator Smith Ask" Action on Potash Problem. Washington, Dec. 2.?Senator 1 Smith of South Carolina asked Pres ident Wilson today to have the govf rnment a-sist in getting potash from "? Germany for Southern cotton plant' ^'o for ?c in fertilizer. The Preal- * ent 11 that Hi. state department^, J, vo,!u do everything p..