Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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E bueway its _ - __- --__ TNOL. Xl 11- MANNING. S. C.., WEDNESDAY, MARCIL 1I 87 O 6 TILLMMS PLAIN TALK .Wt44.. HE RECENTLY SAID OF SOME GREAT FRAUDS. Stie centractors Cheated the Gevorn mnenft FurnIshing Armor Plate-Strong a Strong Man. The Senate having under considera tion the bill (H. R. 10336) making ap propriations for the naval service for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1898, and for other purposes, Mr. Tillman said: Mr. President: From my brief ex perience in this body I sympathize verg .much with the feeling of help 'lsnessand ignorance which the dis li ished Senator from West Virgin *lIUr Zlkins) has confessed; and, nen: though I am a member of the Nval Committee and have devoted as much time as 1 could spare from my other duties here to the business rarizing inyself with the sub ject matter intrusted to my care, I do notelle.to give him all the light .Os4. ss for on this question cf irm=. But I do feelableto give him enough light, and to give the Senate IT b ight, to show that thereis to g connected with the recent history of this government-no ex pita -so reeking with fraud and r itto those who are re e.-go back and trace the history of this armor-plate manufacture we find that during Mr. Cleveland's first term, when Secretary Whitney began what is known as the construction of the new Navy, the manufacture of ar mor according to the most approved methods was an unknown thing in this country, and that there was no Olant capable of performing that work. !The largest stal plant in the country at that time, I believe, was at Bethle hem, and Congress wisely, perhaps (IshaH not pretend to sayit was not wise) entered not into a 'ontract, out *autiorized the Secretary of the Na 'y toenter into a contract with the Bethlehem Iron Works by which they 'were to construct a sufficient addition to their already large steel works to 4-this armor. The price fixed was away up yonder, some $600 or $700, I am-nt familiar with the exact amount 1ut itwaS$600 or $700 per ton, and it was generally understood in the de bates and in the newspapers that the senoriious price was given by reason .f the fact that an enormous expendi fr o ntree, four or five million dol as necessary, and the go7ern nment proposed by this large price to reimburse the Bethlehem Manufactu Sifg'Company in the contract which would then be let for its outlay. The rW is overwhelming in these reports .*-We testimony taken before the Na Coe Cammittee in the investigation last winte, that the plant -t Bethle hem, which was constructeu in addi tion to what they already had, ihas been paid for twice over by this gov - ernment absolutely, and that they have made a -present of it to the Beth lehem Company. Ica ear or two after !iie c!t-Ct was etered int~&t Beiehem. the new Seretary of the Navy, Mr. Tra cy, finding that the delivery of armor from Bethlehem did not keep pace with the needs of the Navy, or for some other. reason-that was the os tensible excuse-without authority afrmmCongress,entered into a contract of his own with the Carnegie Works atPittsburg, by which they were to receive the same price for the armor that Bethlehem 'was receiving, and he -theireby hoped, 'as he explained, to bring about competition in the price of armor, and have two plants instead -~ fonel and thereby enable the gov *0rnent to obtain all the armor it might want in the construction of the - -new'Navy at reduced prices after a -while. The construction of the new Navy has gone on. It is getting to be rather respectable. It has coat us- an enor mous sum. Last winter, when the Venezuela war scare was on, the pro position came from the house to in crease the Navy by four battleships. to (*o, but we compromised on three, Sas I foiretold would be the case,because - there are only three navy-yards in .thia country that can construct such L7 ships. Each one of them got a ship, and-they, in collusion, agreed as to the price they would bid on those ships, and no doubt we are to.uay pay Ing a million dollars bonus or a mil inand a ball dollars clear profil over and above a reasonable sum for their construction. But the question of armor to put ox these ships. was under investigatios by the Naval Committee, and all wi a'could do in this body as to the reduc . tion that should be nsd was to putil off and forbid any contract being 1l1 'utfor armor plate until an investi -iin by the Secretary of the Navy The Secretary of the Navy made thai investigation- It is bere. It is ful and complete. The Naval Committe< has had this matter under considera tion during the whole year; we hav< paid more attention to it than an: ad all else before us; and notwitfl standing our ignorance (and I con fess we are sti ignorant,) we havy learned enough to know that tilesi two companies, instead of comnpeting .with eacn other in the manufacturi 5- of armor, are to-day in collusion an< have formed a trust; that they fix the -price absolutely, without any regar to justice, without any regard to th - diberal manner in which the Govern ment has treated them in the past w ihout any regard to .the fact tha the price they have received, amount 'ing to about $15,000,000 for plate they have alreadly manufactured, ha paid them back~ fourlold for the es penditure they naid out, and that the; nave had large dividends on accoun ofthe inveasment besides. Tetheory aavanced in this bod; as we heard it discussed here iw regard to the monopolies in the District c Columbia ini the matter of electri lighting and gas is that Gongress cal - 'regulate monopolies here, hold ther - -down and make them put their price . at whatever we please; that we ca: control monopolies. I say ner that he evidence is over wheiming u this electric-light business and every thing else, that instead of Our controL ing monopolies, monopolies have th ente i1n their breeches pockets. 'Mr. President, I gro w so iudignar when I trace the history of this iniqui ons business that I am apt to say hars words, but God knows I believe ever uttterance I have made here is true. L wouldhate to believe or even to insimi ate that these people have their pai agents in this Onamber. I woul hate to suppose or suspect -Mr. Hawmey. Mr~r. President Senator form South Carolina -ield to the Senator from Connecticut? Mr. Hawley. Doet the Senator dare to say that, or even dare to insinuate it? The Presiding Officer. Does the Senator from South Carolina yield? Mr. Tillman. I dare say that as far as I can see and understand tbe situa tion here I can explain it upon no other ground except that there must be men here who are the agents of these trusts. Mr. Hawiey. I say ttat is a dis graceful slander, unworthy of any gentleman. The Presiding Officer. The Senator from South Carolina will proceed. Mr. Cullom. And in order. Mr. Tillman. I might say that none but the galled jade winces. Mr. Hawley. If the Senator applies that to me I have a very sufficient an swer. The Presiding Offier. The Senator from Connecticut must addlress the Chair and be recognized before he can interrupt a Senator on the floor. Mr. Hawley. I beg pardon of the Chair. The Presiding Officer. Does the Senator from S6uth Carolina yield to the Senator from Connecticut? Mr. Hawley. If the Senator ad dresses any language of that kind to me, I have a sufficient answer. The Presiaing Officer. The Senator must not proceed to speak until he is recognized by the Chair. Mr. Hawley. I accept the rebuke. Mr. Tillmau. I said I would feel ashamed to even insinuate that there were men here who are so lost to their duties to the men who sent them here and to the States they represent as to be guilty of this, but I am bound to put two together. I am compelled, as an honest man, to speak what I be lieve to be true, and so help me God, unless this be true, then I can not ex plain it upon any other hypothesis. Mr. President, to go on with the question as to the Governmeot going into business, who conducts this vast and complex machine of handling the mails, a business ramifying into the remotest corners of this country, cover ing every State and county and ham let, a monopoly created by the Govern ment and made self-sustaining almost in spite of the facts brought out here and notorious to everybody that every thing else has gone down in the last twenty years except the compensation of these corporations for transporting the mails? The cost of manufacturing steel rails is one-half what it was fif teen, years ago, when these contracts were begun, or ten years ago. E 7ery thing now, almost, is reduced by rea son of the shrinkage in the volume of money; yet the armor-plate trust, created by the money of the Govern ment, acknowledged by the Secretary of the Navy to be a trust, is to have its hands thrust deep into the coffers of the Treasury, into the pockets of the people, and when I get up here and try to expose their iniquities and pro claim my belief that there is dishones ty in it-fraud, peculation-I am twittod. I do not want to say anything harsh. God knows I have got enough vIt-.ri in r now, and I could ut a heap of it. I will try to go on with the question. On what do I base these charges? Here is the conclusion of the Secretary of the Navy, as to his belief that there is a trust in the manufacture of armor, wnich I will ask lhe Secretary to read. The Presiding Officer. The Secre tary will read as indicated. The Secretary read as followes: During the debate in the Senate upon the armor question at the last session of Congress, one question dis cussed was whether there was an un derstanding or agreement among ar mor manufaceurers throughout the world to keep up prices. This was one of the questions I inquired about upon my recent trip to England and France. If there be any such understanding it is of course impossible to prove it un less some one of those to whom the secret has been confided should betray his trust. My impression is that there is and has been for some time at the least a friendly understanding among armor contractors both in Europe and America as to the prices to be charged for armor. This impression I find prevails abroad, certainly among some of the persons who have inquired into the subject. Without undertaking in any man ner to justify such combinations, there are reasons that would natural ly mnduce armor contractors to -agree among themselves as to the prices to be charged to their own government, and also with armor makers abroad as to the prices at which armor is to be furnished to couantries which do not manufacture it. - Mr. Tillma. Hera. we have the representative of the Government in the control of the Navy Department, the man charged last winter by this Congress with the duty of sinvestigat. ing ihis question, and who has done i f ully and thoroughly, .proclaiming ins belief in a comoination, and yet he has acted so liberally that af1,er ar riving at such a conclusion he allc ws them' 50 per cent. profit in order to make the price $400. - -What other businessin this country, except that of those conducted by trusts and monopolies, now earns 50 per cent, or 30 per cent, or 20 per cent, or 10 per cent? Why are ihese mil lionaires to be given 50 per cent profit af ter we have created the factories and presented them to them? Why, I ask, unless, as I said, -i be because they have their "friends" in this Cnamnberi -But there is another phase~ of this armor business that is even blacker tnLan this. In 1894 a big compliment was made through the newspapers,s furore created as~ to frauds in armor plate. The charges were that the Carnegies were not complying with their contract even at the high price we were paying them, $650 a ton; that they were putting off on us spongy material,'rotten material, untempered material, as armor plate at that price. fThe Naval Committee at the other end of the Capitol got a resolution through that body instructing its committee tc investigate these questions. They sen1 for the manufacturers themselves. They did not go out in the highways ana oy ways and look up this informne2 1or that spy, and men who had beeci turned off ty the company; but they for the supermntendant ann the mana ger of the Carnegie Works and ine others connected with tae manufac ture of those plates and asked then: - qestions, took their own admissions h irought in no other testimony excep that which Carnegie's men themselve [ made; and what did they report L- Here are the charges made against th' company, which? were admitted by the agents of the company who ap peared as witnesses berore the comn mittee. I wa ,the eroeary to rear The Presiding Offcer. The Secre tary will read as requested. Mr. Tillman. Now, gentlemen, those of you who do not feel so thin skined, who know you are honest. who feel that you are the agent only of the State which you represent, please listen. The Secretary read as follows: THE CHARGES AGAINST THE COM-PANY. First. The plates did not receive the uniform treatment required by the specifications of the contracts. In manv cases the treatment was irregu lar and in other cases it was practical ly inefficient. The specifications of the contract of February 28, 1893, re qaired that each plate should be an uealed, oil tempered, and again an nealed, the last process being an an nealing one. Second. False reports of the treat ment of the plates were systematically made by the government inspectors. This was in violation of paragraph 95 of the circular concerning armor-plate appurtenances,dated January 16, 1893, which was made a -Dart of the con tract. Paragraph 95 says: "The contractor shall state for each article in writing the exact treatment it has received." , The specifications of the contract of November 20, 1890, paragraph 164, says: "A written statement of work and contractor's tests to be commenced and in progress each day must be furnished to the chief inspector." Third. No bolts received the double treatment provided for in the specifi cations of either contract. A. report of a double treatment, however, was made to the government inspectors. Fourth. Specimens taken from the plates both before and after treatment to ascertain the tensile strength of each plate were stretched without the knowledge of the government inspec tors, so as to increase their apparent tensile strength when actually tested. Fifth. False specimens taken from other plates were substituted for the specimens selected by the government inspectors. Sixth. The testing machine was re peatedly manipulated by order of the superintendent of the armor plate mill so as to increase the apparent tensile strength of the specimens. These specimens were juggled in measure ment so as to increase their apparent ductility. Seventh. Various specimens selected by the government inspectors were retreated without their knowledge be fore they were submitted to test. Eighth. Plates selected by the Gov ernment inspectors for ballistic test were re-treated with the intention of improving their ballistic resistance, without the knowledge of the Govern ment inspectors. In one case, at leas; the conclusion is almost irresistible that the bottom of another plate was substituted for the top half of plate A 619 after it had been selected by the Government and while awaiting ship ment to Indian Head. Upon this bal listic test a group of plates containing 348 tons, valued at about $180,000,were to be accepted or rejected. In three c ases, at least, the plates selected by the overnment inspectors were re-treat edin this manner without their knowl edge. Those ballistic plates represent ed 779 tons of armor, valued at over $41,000. The groups represented by. these three plates had all been sub mitted for premium of $30 per ton if they passed a more severe test than required for acceptance. Ninth In violation of the specin cations of the contract, pipes or shrink ing cavities, erroneously catled blow holes, in the plates wer3 plugged by the contractors and the defects con cealed from the Government inspect ors. These cavities, in some cases, di mmished the resistance and value of Teth The inspector's stamp was either duplicated or stolen, and used without the knowledge of the Govern ment inspectors. Eleventh. The Government in spector in inspecting bolts was de ceived by means of false templets or gauges. Mr. Tillman. Mr. President, those were the charges, and the testimony is there to show that every word of them was admitted and coafessed be fre a committee of the House of Rep esentatives, and that House. without a division-because even the Republi cans over there dared not face their ~onstituents for reelection and fight ta'e investigation-passed a resolution to have certain plates taken off the vessls of the Navy and have them put through the necessary test to show the frauds and -prove them. Mr. Car neige was fined by the Secregry of the Navy and, by some hokus-pokus, this glorious President of ours, who, God be thanked, goes out of power in two days from now, remitted that fine. The thieves were caught; they con fessed that they had robbed the Gov ernment; the House of Representa tives sent to you a resolution to have certain plates tested upon your new avy to prove the frauds which had been practiced upon the Government. That resoultion came ovar here and went to sleep and died without action, and Mr. Carneige sports his steam yacht and floats back .to Scotland tc his game preserve, an'd writes gold bug literature to tell, the American people how they ought to behave themselves. He can come to Con gress and come to the President, arnd get such recognition as he has had. Why should he not sport steam yachts and live in palaces? Why note He can conduct private business; yes; oh, yes; bra we can not. We can no: compete with him, because there is too much red tape here, too much~ eight-hour law, too much this. too much t'other egeated here by olitical influences to 'stop the wheels of an honest Administration and to rob the people and make miLlionaires at the expense of the paupers, who are gro w ig more and more numerous every day. Then, when I get up here and bring these facts to the attention of the Senate and ask the Senators if they do not propose to convict them selves in the eyes of the people of be ing in collusion with these men, o0 being only their greedy and paid agents, a Senator gets up here with his thin skin and undertakes to twil me with being insulting and slander ous I -Why was not that resolution passed here and tnose plates taken off ? Why Why? Here is a list of the ships o our new Navy-our boasted nev Navy, the one we love so, and tha1 we pet so. This is only a partial lisi of tae ships the plates on wnech were confessed to have been piugged up, oi not tempered, or some otner thums which would weaken tnem and makt -them worthless, and not according t< contrart. memrNCel ON PAGE FuUR.J SOME NEW LAWS. CUT THEM OUT AND KEEP THEM FOR REFERENCE. tome More of the Acts of General Interest Paesed at the Late Session of the Geiral Astsembly. An Act to authorize the deposit of money in proceedings in the Courts of this State as security in lieu of bonds an d undertakings. Be it enaeted by the General Assem bly of the State of South Carolina: 'Section 1. That whenever iu any civil or criminal proceedings in any of the Courts of this State a bond, re cognizance or undertaking is author ized or required to be given, it shall and may be lawful for the party or parties authorized or required to give the same to depost in lieu thereof a sum of money, in lawful money of the United States of America equal in amount to the bond, recognizince or undertaking so required or aut'orized to be given; and such-.suna of money, when denosited as in thir Act pro'id ed, shall be held and taken as equiva lent in all respects to the giving of such bond, recognizance or undertak Section 2. Whenever such bond, re cognizance or undertaking is requi-red orautiorized to be given in any civil or criminal proceedings in the Courts of Common Pleas or General Sessions of this State, the said sum of money deposited in lieu thereof shall be paid to the clerk of the Court of Common Pleas and General Sessions in wnich said prcceeding is pending; and whenever such bond, recognizance or undertak ing is authorized or required to be giv en in the Supreme Court of this State, the said suni of money shall be paid to the clerk of the Supreme Court, and whenever such bond, recognizance of undertaking is authorized or required to be given in any civil proceed ings in the Probate Courts of this State, the said sum cf money shall be paid to the Judge of the Court of Probate for the county in which the said proceed ing is pending; and whenever such bond, recognizance or undertaking is authorized or required to be given in any civil or criminal proceeding in a Magistrate's Court or other Court cf inferior jurisdiction, such sum of money shall be paid to the clerk of the Court of Common Pleas and Gen eral sessions for the county in which such Magistrate's Court or other Court of inferior jurisdiction shall be. Section 3. Whenever any sum of money is so deposited in lieu of a bond, recognizance or undertaking the par ty depositing the same shall be entitled to a receipt therefor, stating that the same has ben deposited, and is held for the same purpose as would have been specified and conditioned in the bond. recognizance or undertaking in lieu whereof the the sum of money is so deposited. Section 4. The party or parties so depagiting a sum of money in lieu of a bond, recognizance or undertaking, shall be entitled upon application to the respective Courts wherein such deposits have been made, and subject to the order of which such funds are held, to receive back the same when ever the purpose for which the same have been received and deposited have been accomplished and the parties are entitled to repayment thereof. Section 5. l actsand parts of acts inconsistent herewith or contradictory hereof are hereby repealed. Approved the 17th day of February, A. D. 1897. An act to prohibit trusts and combi nation and provide penalties. Be it enacted by the General Assem bly of the State of South Carolina: Section 1. That from and after the passage of this act, all arrangements, contracts, agreements, trust or combi nations between two or more persons as individuals, firms or corporations. made with a view to lesson, or which tends tolesson, full and free comnpeti tion in the importation or sale of arti cles imported into this State, or in The manufacture or sale of articles cf do mestic growth or of domestic raw ma terial, and all arrangements, contracts agreements,trusts or combinations be tween persons or corporations design ed or which ten'd to advance, reduce or control the price or the cost to the producer or to the consumer of any such product or article, are hereby declared to be against public policy, unlawful and void. Section 2. Whenever complaint is made upon sutlicient affidavit or afli davits showing a prima facie case of violation of the provisions of the first section of this act by any corporation, domestic or foreign, it shall be the duty of the Attorney General to begin an action against such domestic cor oration to forfeitits charter, and in case such violation shall be establish ed the court shall ad judge the charter of such corporation to- be forfeited, and such corporation shall be dissolv ed, and its charter shall cease and de termine~and in the case of such show ing as to a foreign corporation an ac tion shall be begun by the Attorney General in said court .'against such corporation to determine the truth of such charge; and nh case such charg$ shall be considered established, the effect of fthe judgment of the Court shall be to deny to such corporation te recognition of its corporate exist ence in any court of law or equity in this State. Bat nothing in tis wc tion shall be construed to effect any rght of action theigexisting against such corporation. 4 Section 3. Amy violation of h pro vision of this Ac:, shall be deemed and is here1ty.declarea to be iestective of full and free c,>mpetition and a con spiracy against trade, -and any person or persons who may engage in any such conspiracy,or who shall, as prin cipal, manager, director or agent, or in any other capacity, knowingly car ry out any of thg stipulations, pur poses, prices, rates or orders inade in urtherance of such conspiracy, shal. on conviction be punished by a fine of not less than one hnndred dollars or more than lve thousmnd dollars, and by imprisonment in the Peniten iary not less than six months or more than ten years, or in the judgmnent of the Court by either such rine or sutic imrisonment. fiction 4. Tnat any person or per sons or cop:r n mat may oe in jured or damaged by any such arrange ment, co ntrbe:, agreement, trust or combination described la Sc:.ion 1 o this Act, may sue for and recover, ir -any Court of competent parisaiction the full consideratton or sum paid b: .him or them for any goods, wares mercandise or articles the sale o which is controlled by such combina . tion or ir ust. Sectin 5. Tht any and all person may be compellable to testify in any action or prosecution under this Act: Prov!. that such testimony shall not be used in any other action or prosecution against such witness or witnes', and such witness or wit nesses shall forever be exempt from any prosecution for the act or acts concerning which he or they testify. Section 6. Nothing contained in this Act shall be taken or construed to ap ply to any person or persons acting in the discharge of official duties under the laws of this State. Seelon 7. All Acts in conflict with this Act be, and the same are hereby, veptaled. Approved the 25th F-bruary, A. D. 1897. An Act to require all common carri ers to pay all loss of or damages for loss, damage and breakerage of any artides shipped over their lines or to refuse to do so within a certain Itimn' Be it enacted by the General Assem bly o the State of South Carolina: Sec: on 1. That from and after the apr-- al of this Act all common car riers kfeing business in the State shall be required to pay for or refuse to pay for alloss, oreakage er damage from breakge, damage or loss of. articles shipped over the lines of said com mon carriers within sixty days from the time the claim for the said articles so lost, broken or damaged shall be made. SEction 3. That in case the said common carrier shall not pay or re fuse to pay said claim for said loss, breakhgez or damage as set out in Sec tion 1 ef this Act within the sixty days thera:n. provided for, then the said com::)n carrier shall be liable for the the sum of fifty dollars for each cf fence as penalty, in addition to the amount of said loss or damage, to be collected by the claimant in any Conrt having jurisdiction of the same. Section 4. All acts or parts of acts inconsistent with this Act be, and the same are hereby, repealed. Approved the 25th day of February, A. D., 1897. An A- to facilitate the settlement of estates of tesators. Ba it enacted by the General Assem bly of the State of South Carolina: Sec'ion 1. If after the expiration of two years from the time when any legacy.becomes due and payable under any will or testament it shall be made to appear, to the satisfaction of the Judge of the Court of Probate by whom letters testamentary were grant edthat the executor or executors ofsuch will or testament is or are unable to ascertain the whereabouts of any le - atee under such legament, or to ascer tain whether such legatee or devisee be dead br not, it shall be la wful for the ex-utor or executors to pay over to the Judge of Probate the amount of the legacy'of such legatee and any interest that may be legally due there on, and such payment of the amount of such legacy to the Judge of said Probie Court shall be a full and co m plete~disctiarge to the executor or ex ecutms. The said amount so paid t6 Vhe Vdge of the.said Court of Probate shall be protected by his official bond and shall be held by such Court of Probate for such legatee, subject to the order of such Probate Court or of any other Court of competent juris diction. Anproved the 25th day of February, 1897. Five Children Barned. DES &toBS, IA., March 25.-Five children of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Pen rod at Laddsdale, a mining town on the Wapello and Davis county line, were burned to death last night. Three were cremated and two died a few hours later. They are: Harry, aged 10; John, aged 8; Minerva, aged 6; Ross, aged 4; Blaine, aed 3. The parents of the children took- the oldest child of the family, a son aged 12, and a baby in the arms of its mother, and went to a religious meeting, having first put the other five children to bed. About 9 o'clock an alarm of fire was given and Penrod Rushed out with the other occupants of the school house, to find his house in flames. It was impossible to enter the house, as it was crumbling when Penrod reached it. Tne childrea's beds were by the. window, however, and Penrod burst the window open and succeeded in pulling the 8 year and 4 year old ooys out, horribly burning himself in the attempt- The t wo never regained consciousness and died in a shor t time. The others were burned until only a few bones were Sound in the debris of the house. The coroner's inquest threw no light on the origin of the fire. Free silver Epuhu~cans. LINw0LN, Neb., March 25.-A new political party was launched in Ne braska today. It is composed of inem bers who have heretofore affiliated with the Republicans but last Novem bet voted for W. J. Bryan for Presi dent on the currency question alone. Te convention which met in Lincain tis af ternoon was not lagely attended. Charles W ooster, a member o~f -the ower house of the legislature, was made chairman. Tne present name Free Silver Republicans of Nebraska was retained. Judge D. D. Gregory of. Omaha was made the Nebraska member of the national committee and a State organization was effected. S3ix congressional. district committeemen were also selected and arrangements perfected for carrying on an active campaign. Contrary to expectatiohse Mr. Bryan was not present. .g - Wreck Near Augusta. AcacSTA, March za.--Jo45E wing, fireman o.: the poc.: train on the South Carolina -And Georgia railroad, was killed in a collision across the rver from Augusta this afternoon. E ing was hrirean on the incoming passenger train. A shifting engine was standing on the siding at Ram barg. The s witch was opea'and the pasenger engine-dashed in. E wing attempted to jump, but was caugnt as the tsvo engines clashed. E sing's legs were wiased'' off and he was brught to the hospital nere, but died -at 7 o'clock. Tne accident happenec to the 4:30 local train bet ween Aiken and Augusta. W. P. Pelzer, og narieston, and H. Madden, o. Auusta, passengers were badly bruised, and Brakeman R-eeves was slightly injared.-State. J ournaliste Visit the Fresident. WismsarTos, March 23.-President McKinley to-day gave a reception tc the newspaper correspondents station ed in Washington and tne representa tves of the local preis. Altuough 11 was a busy day in Congrees, at leas1 150~z representatives ot the leading ne wspapurs of the country were pres MURPH Y WONT 11ANG. HIS SENTENCE COMMUTED TO IM PRISONMENT FOR LIFE. The Governor Claims to .Have Grave Doubts of the M-urderers Guilt and Com mutes His Sentncei--N D:ubt a Pardon Will Follow Later. COLUMBIX, S. C.. March 25-City Attorney Carroll of Augusta, by his energetic work done in the last 20 days, ha- succeeded in saving the life of Daniel C. Murphy, and that unfor- I tunate man will not have to pay the death penalty upon the gallows. This will be read by many before Murphy knows, however, whether he must die today or not. He -s not told last night. the prison gates having been locked for the night before any one knew the result. His aged, greyhaired father will doubtless be the first to give bim the news at 6 o'clock or short ly thereafter this morning. As the case now stands, Murphy's sentence has been commuted to life imprsion ment in the State penitentiray. On the streets every man one could meet approved this action upon the part of the chief executive. Governor Ellerbe has given the case the greatest amount of careful and painstaking condsideration. Since his last interview with the prisoner, he has been convinced of his guilt, and Murphy would surely have died on the gallows today, but for the earn est work of Mr. Carroll in securing the testimony of that Augusta minis ter, whose character had been sohigh ly endorsel. Yesterday morning, in response to the request of Governor Ell ' , So licitor Jervey and H. H. Isn, Esq., who prosecuted Murphy, came to Columbia, and during the day the governor had them in consulation with him. The stenographic report of the evidence taken in the case the preceding day was read to them. What they had to say to the governor is not known. Bath attorneys had been previously convincedl of the man's guiit, but neither of them were men who wished an innocent men executed if it could be shown that he was inno cent. Governor Ellerbe thought the case over for some time after these gentle men had left the city; then abzut 6:30 o'clcck he announced he had com muted the sentence to life ifaprison ment in the State penitentiary, Gover nor Ellerbe said that the testimony that had been presented to him by Mr. Carroll was of such a character as to create in his mind the gravest doubts of the man's guilt; consequent ly he could not permit him to be hanged. This was all the governor said. His position seems to be about as follows: While the integrity of the Augusta minister was not to be doubted under the certificates of charac ter furnished, there was a bare possi bility that he was mistaken as to the days he swears Murphy was at his house, and for this reason the gover nor could not grant -the e1- pardon.. If it ever be proven, by additional wit nesses that the minister's statement is absolutely correct the status of the case is now such that he can be par doned forthwith. The case has been one of the most intense interest since Mr. Carroll introduced the testimony, a summary of which was giyen yes terday. Governor Ellerbe's position in having to deal with such a case, in volving the life of a human being, was, to say the least, most unenviable. He has done what he considered the only proper thing to do and thus this case ends for the preent. Mr. Carroll was about the execu tive office often during the day await ing to hear the result of the case. He and Murphy's brother will return to Augusta this morning. The latter and the prisoner's aged father heard the news of the commutation from The State representative. The old man flad hoped and expected that a full prrdon would be granted. He has been devotion itself during these few weeks and they have told upon his strength.- He met Captain West field of the penitentiary guard on the street and said in a broken voice: "Well captain, we will have to leave my poor boy with you.". He talked pleasantly with the captain for awhile and then left to sleep, after obtaining nermission to see his son at the prison t 6 o'clock this morning, before leav ing for his home in Orangebarg. The facts upon which the Governor based his action in the case are inter esting. They were peesented by a lawyer by the name of Carroll of Au gusta, Ga. Mr.- Carroll came before Governor Ellerbe on Wednesday morning with all his in formation in proper snape. He brought along most of his witnesses and everythmg he wanted to present wa~s in the shape of s worn affidavits. He lef t no point un guarded and presented a case th?.t was of intense interest. Assistant Attor ney General Townsend was present and cross-examined the witnesses.- Tne governor himself fre quently asked them questions. The examination of the wir~nesses occupied all the nrrn ing. Ini the afternoon Governor El lerbe heard Mr. Carroll present the case. Mr. Carroll made a splendid speech. He arrangea his evidence in logical order and dissected tha v dene produced at the trial in a mas terly manner. He laid psrticuiar stress upon the fact that the chief State witness, Clem Bar-rs, had already ap peared befo. e the governor and con fessed that she was paid to lie. Gov erno'r Ellerbe listened intently to everything that was said._ He stated that ne godl~d announce his decision in the evening. At 8 o'clcck he an nounced that ne had wired .tor Soi tor Jervey and Attorney Brunson, who had represented the State upon the trial, as nie wished to confer with them tais morning. The nirst witness of any conseqience called was the Rev. E. E. Murphy, a retired Baptist minister of Augusta, Ga., who no q works in the King Cot ton mill in that city.- Though he Dears the same namne as the prisoner, ne is not related to him. Knowing what he did and hearing that Murpuy was about to be hung tor a crime commit ted about the time of the Copes mur der, he wrote to Mr-. Browning, he says, and called his atteation to his Itestimony. He testiaed that ona Thursday night in October about mid Inight Dan Murphy came to his house Iin Augusta and remained to the 101 lowing Sauiday. He taen left, carry ing with him a shotgun wnich he had lett with him the preceding January. -He paid no attenuon to tne circum stances at the time, and he did noi know that Dan Murphy was to bi hung until one of the operatives at the - mill asked him if Murphy who was tc beh as r elated to him. At tirs he could not recall sifficiently to be exact as to the dates of Murpby's arriv al and departure from his home. After thinking ue matter over, he remem bered that about that time he had married three couples and had jotted the date down ia a b -ok of skeleton sermons he kept. He hunted this book up and found that he had made a note of having married one of these couples-a runawav couple in Ham burg-on Ozto ee 21st. The murder was committed on October 20. Mur phy had spent the 21st at his house and left that evening. His wife and daughter were examined and corrob orated his testimony in every respect except that they could not be certain as to the dates. Strong affidavits as to the character of the Rev. Mr. Murphy were present ed, signed by Sheriff Patrick J. O'Connor, Tax Collector C. S. Bohler, Ordinary W. R. Wallr and Joel Smith, superintendent of the King Cottn mills. Dr. Lansing Burrows, the pistor of the First Baptist church in Augusta, one of the most promi nent divines in the south. certified that he had been present at Mr. Murphy's ordination to the ministry. Mr. Murphy's testimony also de clared t hat the gun with whica the killing of Treasurer Copes was alleged to have been done was in his hous. at the time of the killing. Mr. Carroll then showed by John Morgan and James Morgan, his broth er, that Dan Murphy in 1893 kept store at Beech Island, below Augusta, and that when he broke up storekeep ing in January, 1894, Murphy bought from John Morgan a gun which they described, and one of them stated that he had cut four letters on it-two "J's" and two "H's"-on the stock. The gun sent up from Oiangeburg was shown them and was testified by both as being the same gun. The gun exhibited to them was the same that was used in the evidence and present ed during the trial. Then the affidavits of Mrs. Mere dith and others as to the soldering of a gun for Dan Murphy in January, 1894, were presented. This was the same gun. Messrs. Jesse and Thomas Butler testified that Dan Murphy kept store at Beech island, and corroborated the reasons as to that statement and also that Murphy sold out in January, 1894. Policeman Dave Murphy of Augus ta, a brother of the cnvicted man, was then examined. He told about his visit to his brother. Dan had re fused to talk to Governor Ellerbe and to Mr. Carroll. He had said that he had been treated so that he was afraid to talk to anybody but his brother or father. He had been given, he said, no showing at all to have his side of the case presented and he could not make any one believe him. The pris oner had told him all about his gun. He had traced the gun about and as shown by the affidavits and evidence the condemaed man's story had been borne out in every respect. This was the gun that witnesses had sworn at the trial had been bought by Murphy in Orangeburg.' Mr. Carroll when called Murphy's aged father in and the latter brought with him the gun that had been bought in Orangeburg. It was found at Ul mer's, S. C., just where the prisoner said it would be found; there were ac companying affidayits. An Augusta man sent an affidavit that Holland, the detective who had worked up the case against Murphy, had told him,:speaking of Clem Barrs, that they had got the woman all right; they had kept fler in a good humor with whiskey until she got upon the stand and "you bet she knew what to say." The deponent asked Holland if he meant to say he had been getting testimony by foul means and Holland quickly turned it off, beginning to talk about something else. The other testimony presented was just as strong. When Mr. Barrett presented the case to the governor he commanded the close attention of all in the execu tive chamber. He took the testimony adduced at the trial and showed that aside from everything else, omitting Clem Barrs' testimony, there was no physical fact whatever to connect M hurphy wi1.h the crime. There was nothing to put him in the vicinity of the scene of the crime. He then held that he had produced evidence which his client was debarred from present ing heretofore, which fixed his where about and there was nothing that could move him from the place in which he had been located by the min ister. He dealt fully with the matter of the gun, declaring it to be fully disposed of b-y the testimony of the minister and that of the parties from whom Murphy had obtained it. He paid his respects to Evans' order in regard to refusing the prhoner the constitutional right to see and consult with his counsel. An Assassin Hanged.' CETnE CinY, Minn., March 23. At 1 o'clock this morning George Kel ly was hanged in the county jail for complicity in the murder of Edward Paul and Jacob Hayes. Kelly's neck was broken and he swas dead in 10 minutes.. Nine months ago Ediward Paul and Jacob Hayes, youths just entering manhood, were shot by one or two men who attempted to hold up Dr. Burnside Foster of St. Paul, who arrived after midnight. The t wo men were G-eorge Kelly and Rbert Wil son. Wilson was killed by a pursu ing posse of citizens the follo wing day. Kelly was tried in October, found guilty and sentenced to be hanged. Didn't Become Law. T~he Railroad Commission has re ce ved numerous inquiries as to what bo ~me of the law requiring all pas se ager trains to stop at stations where ri gular agents are kept. As a matter ok fac: the bill was s- amended or emasculated as to defeat the very pur pose for which it was intended and when it came back to the house from the Senate it was so changed by amendments that its author, Mr. Wal. ling, of Fairfield, didn't know his o avz ~bill and said he would rather hav4 none than that one as it stood.Hnc it was never pushed and didn't beecmn lw. ________ Died From Hydrophobia. ATL. Din, Ga., Marcha 2.-A specia to the Journal from Savannah says Miss Jennie Clastigny. 37 years of agt died here this morning from a pro nounced case of rabbies. Dr. Georgi H. Stoue, her attending physician say: tnat there is no0 doubt but that he: death was caused by hydrophobia Last December, Miss Glatigny wa: bitten on the hand by a strange dog iJ tae street near her house. She wa guise a dog fancier and attached so lit ue importance to the theory of hydrc phobia that the wound gave her little aIcncern. A SHOCKING TRAGEDY. - SOLiCITOR THURMOND SHOOTS MR. W. G. HARRIS. Ore Di adly Bullet-The Wen-Known Sales man of the Murray Druz Company-Bat Oae Eye Witness. EDGEFIELD, March 24.-A sad sind unfortunate homicide occurred here at 6 o'clock this afternoon. Solicitor Thurmond shot and killed W. G. Har ris, a drummer for The Murray Drug company of Columbia, S. C. Mr. Harris is a nephew of Collector of In ternal Revenue Townes and son of W. G. Harris, a prominent citizen of Edgefield county. The trouble, it seems, arose out of the fact that while Mr. Thurmond was a member of the State legislature he recommended that Governor-Evans appoint a gentleman named Glover as magistrate instead of Harris, the old incumbent and father of the deceased. Since Mr. Taurmond has been solici tor he has !,ad nothing whatever to do with recommending applicants for positions of magistrates, but under Governor Ellerbe's administration Mr. Harris, senior. was again an sp plicant, but Glover, who was appoint ed by Governor Evans, was reappoint ed by Ellerbe, Mr. W. G. Harris deceased, seemed to think that Solici tor Thurmoad was instrumental in having it done and about it he accost ed Solicitor Thurmond this afternoon at about 5 o'clock in the drug store of W. E. Lynch. Mr. Harris, it is said, had been drinking and used very hot language. Thurmond, to avoid difficulty, left the Lynch store and went to his of fice. He was there engaged at work when Mr. Harris passed by on the way to his hotel, in company with Capt. DuBose, the proprietor. On reaching the doorway to Thurmond's cffice Harris stopped. Ca t. DuBose walked ona few steps. The subject of former discussion wasagain brought up by Harris, the latter finally saying to Thurmond that he (Thurmond) has acted like a "G-d d-d dog and scoundrel," and threw his hand to his pocket as if to draw his pistol and placed his foot on Thurmond's door step. Thereupon Thurmond fired rozm where he was sitting. Harris staggered backwards and fell upon the sidewalk. He got up and walked a few psces, when he fell dead. The ball entered from the front just below the shirt stud and passed into the cav ity of the heart. A jury of inquest bts beensummon ed, and, after viewing the body ad journed until tomorrow. Great re gret is felt here over the occurrence. Solicitor Thurmond was never known. to have had any trouble before and is regarded by everybody as a peaceful and law-abiding citizen. He surren dered himself and is now in jail. He is completely overcome by his misfor tune. He has retained Messrs. Croft & Tillman and N. G. Evans to defend him.-State. VERmcrT oF THE mJURY. EDGEFIELD, March25.-At the coro ner's inquest today, Capt. D. S. Du Bose, the only eye-witness to the kill ing, testified that when Will Harris. who was on the street denounced Thurmond as a dirty scoundrel, Thur mond, from his office door, shot Har ris, wao never spoke, but died in five minutes. The jury of inquest found that Will Harris came to his death by a gunshot wound at the hands of J. William Thurmond. Capt. DuBose, who was only a few feet from Harris, testified that Harris was not armed. seven Handred Were Massacred. CONSTANTINOPLE, March 25.-Fur ther and probably more accurate de tails of the recent massacres of Ar menians at Tokat in the Sivas district of Anatolia have been received at the Armenian patriarchate here. 'The first repor t of the affair was issued by the government. This declared that 15 Armenians and three Mussunans had been killed. Little reliance was placed in the report, for the officials have always made it a rule to under stand the number of persons killed in the various massacres. Later informa tion was received at the embassies showing that fully 100 defencless Ar menians had fallen victims to the fury of the Moslems at Tokat and this num ber it was thought was probably cor rect. The news received today at the patriarchate shows that both state ments were incorrect and that the numn ber of victims was fully 700. It was stated today that these figures were obtained from reliable persons and that the number of victims is with out doubt correct. *Wood to Burn. CowsmIBL, S. C., March 2.-A spark from an engine on the Colum bia and Greenville railroad set fire on Sunday afternoon last to 400 cords of wood belonging to Mr. J.- Caldwel] Robertson. It was stacked near the track in rear of El~mwood cemetery and was ready for shipment. The wood had been s'plit for sometime and was dry-and inflammable. The spark quickly ignited it and the fire burned steadily until the last vestige of fuel was consumed. The remoteness of the place kept the flames from being discovered and likewise from doing any greater damage. There was liter ally nothing else to burn. Mr. Rob ertson had sometime before sold the wood to the penitentiary and it had been left t~ere until a convement time to remove it- A claim for the loss will, of course, be filed :.gainst the railroad by the penitentis.-y au thorities-State. Sharp Earthquake. IMALoNE, N. Y., March 23.-At about 6i:05 this evening there was a Iheavy earth'-laake snock here, start ing with a sudden boomr like an explo sion, and rever berating with a grind ing motion for some seconds. It seemied to travel from southeast to Inorthwest.~ People were alarmed for a moment but no damage was done. Moa:real, March 23-A heavy shock of earthquake shook the centre of this city this evenicg and caused great consternation. Large buildings shook like reeds and there was a gen eral rush of the inmates for the doors. So far no damage has oeen reported. Dispatches from various points in this province and from eastern Ontario re Sport similar shocks, but without any damage of consequence. Chested the Gallows. i HIoUSroN. Tex., March 24.-Joseph s Blanther, the alleged murderer of - Mrs. Langfeldt. died last night in the -Meridiaa jail from the effects of pois on swallowed Saturday with suicidal