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I v-- llpS lamkrg foralb J Established 1891 BAMBERG, S. C., THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 1909. One Dollar a Yea!r COUNTRY NEWS LETTERS ?_____ < SOME INTERESTING HAPPENINGS * IN VARIOUS SECTIONS. ] News Items Gathered All Around the County and Elsewhere. Ehrhardt Etchings. Ehrhardt, April 5.?All*the children are looking forward to next % Sunday, when they will make nests < for the rabbits to lay eggs of all colors, ready boiled, for them to play 1 with and then eat. The children i usually gather flowers from the woods such as honey suckle, dog wood and the like, but think they 1 will find them somewhat scarce, as i the recent cold has made some of . - them very scarce. v I Mr. Henry Ehrhardt caught his ' watchman at his mill stealing his corn last week. Mrs. J. L. Copeland's sister came Saturday to see their invalid mother, who has been staying with her son, Dr. Jess. J. Farrell, for some time. < i k Some few strings of nice perch and trout fish were brought to town last week by the fishermen. Stephen Jones, colored farmer on the Murdaugh plantation, near town, lost a fine horse last week. Steve < worked the horse a part of the day i and when through with the work < tnmpd the horse loose in the lot un- < til time to feed. Soon his attention . was called to the fact that the horse was sick. In about four hours the horse was dead. Col. John F. Folk came to Ehrhardt Sunday afternoon, stayed about two hours, and then returned i to Bamberg. He says there is noth- ) f ing better for traveling the roads, than an auto. This is true until they take the studs?then one has to get an ox or mule team and pull i 9 them to town to get them worked j up. ] > The young folks enjoyed Sunday > afternoon's fine weather, judging by ! their promenades and their bright faces. , Some of the school girls are count- < * ing the weeks and days before they ] can come home. j ^ There will be a big Easter egg hunt at Mt. Pleasant church on next < Saturday afternoon for the enjoy- < ment of the children of the commu- , nity. Rev. D. B. Grovseclose will tiavA of the entertainment. i < News from Kearse. Kearse, April 5.?The Timrod Lit- < . ? erary Society held its regular meeting Friday night, April 2nd. We J were glad to see so many out That's right, keep the good work going. The following program was rendered: Current Events?W. H. Ritter. , Debate, Resolved, That South Carolina Should Have Compulsory Edu- 1 cation. Affirmative: Mr. Ennis Breland, Miss Leda Ritter. Negative: 1 Mr. Ernest Ritter and Miss Edna ' * Chitty. After a hot contest the negative won. 1 Story?Mr. Horace Kearse. Essay?Miss Elouise Brabham. 1 Recitation?Miss Cressie Breland. ' We have some very important bus- 5 iness next meeting and request all members to be present. Mr. Stacy Kearse was elected vice president to fill the vacancy of Miss 1 Auua v>uitbj. The farmers have been very busy for the last week planting corn and . ' getting their lands ready for planting cotton. '' We are glad to note that Mr. Ernest Ritter and Miss Leda Ritter, who have been on the sick list, are able to be out again. Mr. E. R. Collins, of Denmark, ' who has finished painting the residence of Mr. H. J. Ritter, has contracted to paint and decorate the home of Mr. A. W. Brabham. Some of our sportsmen have lots of fun hunting rabbits on rainy i days. Several went out last Friday afternoon and caught several. / / Mr. H. J. Ritter had the misfor tune of losing a tenant house by fire last Thursday afternoon. Origin of 1 fire unknown, but supposed to be a ^ defect in stove flue. Mrs. R. C. Johns gave a quilting 1 on Saturday. All who were present ? f ? report a good time. Mr. H. J. Ritter has a very fine field of oats. The field contains fifteen acres. The oats are now about 18 inches in height and promise to 1 yield 75 bushels per acre. Miss Cressida Breeland has gone > on an extended visit. She expects to spend several weeks with Mrs. Edgar Price, of Bamberg. > Prohibition Law Sustained. Montgomery, Ala., April 6.?The supreme court has declared the state prohibition law valid, all the judges concurring in the opinion. This is the second time the court has upheld the State-wide act of the past legislature. It was attacked on several constitutional grounds. The Alabama State-wide prohibition law went into effect January 1. At once an attack was made upon it in Birmingham, Mobile and Selma, the case from the last place being taken to the higher court. All the , judges agree that the law is valid. It is understood that the law officers will begin a campaign for enforcement of the act. Heretofore they have been very lax because of the doubt about its validity. The opinion was rendered by Justice An derson. .? S? ' BURGLAR- MET HIS MATC H. Converse Girl Bit His Finger and He Fled. Up in Spartanburg burglars are not very particular where tney comuiit tneir depredations, in fact one oi tnem attempted Saturday night to rob the room of one 01 the young tadies of the basketball team at Converse College. His efforts failed. To be sure they did. The story is as follows: A burglar, about 2 o'clock Sunday morning, managed ov means cu a nre escape, to get into the second floor of one 01 the dormitories at Converse. While rummaging around on the bureau in the sleeping apartment of one of the young lauie*, the burglar made some noise which waked her. The young lady thought it was some of her frienas and accosted her drowsily. The burglar thought the young lady was talking in her sleep, but presently she sat up in bed and again addressed the unknown visitor. Burglar tiptoes over to bed, places hand over young lady's mouth and threatens her with death if she should scream. Burglar is a little careless with his digits and one was soon gripped between the teeth of the muscular young woman of the basketball team! Curses and other such noises, all made by burglar. Soon the patter of many feet is heard, and the room is filled with young women in general dishabile who arrive just in time to Bee burelar's head disappearing over window ledge as he hies himself down the fire escape. The young lady declares that her unbidden visitor was a white man. In his exertions to get his finger out of the grip of her teeth, the burglar lost his hat, a very good felt hat purchased from a Charlotte house. The Spartanburg police were notified at once, but the man had got away. Colston Cullings. Colston, April 6.?We are having 3ome fine spring weather for the past few days. Mrs. D. P. Smith visited her sister last Thursday, Mrs. C. F. Padgett. Mrs. T. D. Beard and son, Jacob, 3pent a few days with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. G. H. Kearse, last week. Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Fender and laughter, Hilma, were the guests of Mrs. Ogretta Beard last Sunday. Mr. C. F. Padgett is all smiles. It is a girl. Messrs. J. H. McMillan and W. D. Caldwell visited friends and relatives jn Colston last Saturday and Sun lay. Mesr8. Brunce and Clyde Padgett visited their sister at Hydigger last Saturday and Sunday. Misses Banna Westbury and Maud Mathews visited Miss Minnie Fenier last Saturday and Sunday. Mrs. Joe Varn, from Bamberg, visited her mother, Mrs. W. C. Folk, last Sunday. Messrs. J. C. and G. L. Bishop went to Bamberg Monday. Mrs. Drusilla Bishop and granddaughter, Blanche Avant, visited Mr. and Mrs. C. F. Padgett last Saturday. Miss Pollie Walker is spending some time with friends and relatives an Colston. Mr. and Mrs. C. C. Fender went to Bamberg last Saturday. Mr. Willie Beard was happily marr ried last Sunday to Miss Julia Fennf T-ndp-p We wish the couple l4Vi ) V?, MWQV. w - _ _ i long and happy life. Mrs. B. D. Bishop and daughter, Cleo, visited her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Thos. Clayton, last Thursday. Little Katy Padgett spent last Saturday night with Annie Florence Fender. Mr. J. M. Grimes and daughter, Mary Lee, from Bamberg, visited Mr. and Mrs. C. F. Padgett last Sunday. A. L. B. Olar News. Olar, April 5.?The last program of the Simms Literary Society was voluntary, and was very interesting. Miss Pauline Bennett, who has been teaching school at Norway, returned home last week. Mrs. J. M. Connelly returned home last week, after spending some time with her daughter, Mrs. J. R. McCormack. The Sunday-school was reorganized at the Baptist church Sunday afternoon. Rev. E. A. Wilkes, the Methodist minister, delivered an interesting sermon to a large congregation Sunday evening. Miss Lucile Rizer, a student of Columbia College, returned home Friday night on account of sickness. Miss Ida Bessinger, who has been teaching school at Windsor, returned home Monday morning. Mr. and Mrs. E. L. Hanberry left "" ' ' ? rnVk^Tr will cnnr?H Friday aiternoou. ? uc; IT HI Oj^vuv* | some time at Denmark before leaving for Florida. Miss Kate Sadler, a teacher at Neeces, returned home last week. Mrs. G. J. Bessinger returned home Monday morning, after a pleasant stay with her sister at Langley. Mr. Able, of Leesville, is spending some time with his daughter, Mrs. W. M. Oxner. The editor of this newspaper has been decidedly "under the weather" this week, which accounts for any incompleteness of this issue. IN THE PALMETTO STATE SOME OCCURRENCES OF VARIOUS KINDS IN SOUTH CAROLINA. State News Boiled Down for Quick Reading?Paragraphs About Men and Happenings. The Georgetown city council has placed a prohibitive license tax on carnival shows. The cotton oil mill at St. George, which was destroyed by fire some time ago, will likely be rebuilt. Sovereign Lowe, who was convicted in Aiken on the charge of killing his wife, and sentenced to life imprisonment, has entered upon his sentence.' McCabe, Rodgers & Co., of Norfolk, Va., have purchased the wharves of the Charleston Gas Co., in Charleston, at a cost of $90,000.' The firm will do a cotton exporting business. The Argyle hotel property at Charleston has changed hands, the hotel passing out of the hands of the Argyle Hotel Company, of which Mr. Thomas Wilson is the president, and becoming the property of the New Argyle Hotel Company, of which Mr. W. R. Baldwin is president. Orders have been issued from Adjutant General Boyd's office for regi? -? ?rr\ P V* o t*1 Afl Lilt;iiLiti learns tu yi uulcu tu vuaniaton for five days' practice on the National Guard range, between May 10 and 15 inclusive. From these teams will be selected fifteen men to represent South Carolina at the national rifle competition matches. General M. C. Butler, of Edgefield, is slowly dying at a hospital in Columbia. He grows weaker day by day, and while he is making a brave fight, he cannot last much longer. He is afflicted with Bright's disease. .It will be remembered that General Butler recently left the Episcopal church, of which he had been a member practically all his life, and joined the Catholic church. The Liqnor Question. Editor The Bamberg Herald: At last 1 see a piece entitled "The Curse of Liquor" in your paper., This prob-j lem is the greatest one that confronts us at present, yet little notice has been taken of it so far. -If it is mentioned at all, the only plea brought up is the money consideration. Have our people fallen so low that they think money more precious than human souls? I for one believe they do not understand the situation. People who do not drink cannot realize what a fearful thing it is to be bound by the chains of King Alcohol. The victims, while they drink it so eagerly to satisfy this insatiable thirst, loathe it, and wish it was out of their reach; yet they are powerless to resist. Have you, my readers, ever seen a person or bird charmed by a snake? The snake keeps his eyes intently fastened upon the victim until he gets full control over him. Then the victim loses all power of resistant and walks right into the snake's clutches, unless some one comes in time, erasDS him. and pulls him aside. Im mediately the spell is broken, a look of relief replaces hfre horror depicted on the countenance of the victim. The serpent in the cup draws one just as surely as the other. The will power is first attacked. When that is gone, the drinker has no power of resistance. He is an easy prey. The rum-seller knows this and invests nickels in boys knowing that they will bring in dollars by and by. What will the consequence be? I shudder to think of it. We are prone to close our eyes to the disagreeable things in life, preferring the agreeable. I grant it is more pleasant; but our duty to our fellow man confronts us, face it we must. Did you ever notice how men who are addicted to this fearful habit vote at the elections? Always against whiskey. Why is this"/ rney know the danger; but, alas! they are powerless to resist. They do all they can to get it out of their reach. Their stronger brothers vote that we have whiskey, on account of the revenue, as if money is of more consequence than men. Granted that the revenue is great, the argument from a business viewpoint is a poor one. Take into consideration the fact that most of the crimes committed can be traced directly or indirectly to liquor, count up the expenses of the courts, loss of time, to say nothing of the untold misery caused; can you show me a credit on the whiskey side? I think not. In August we are to decide whether we shall have whiskey with its attendant horrors or peace and quietude. How will you vote? Remember you are not answering this question to me, but before God, to whom you will have to give an account. If you vote for whiskey, you are practically sealing the doom of your weaker brothers, and giving them a push into the serpent's mouth. Let every man who has a son or a conscience vote out this iniquitous traffic, then peace and plenty will take up their abode with ? 1 lonrl will blossom US, ttUU UU1 J.BU as the rose. PRO BONO PUBLICO. Signs Daylight Liqnor Bill. Lincoln, Neb., April 6.?Gov. Shallenberger to-day signed the daylight saloon liquor bill. The measure, -which becomes effective July 6, forbids the sale of liquor except between 7 a. m. and 8 p. m. See that line of fine box paper, from 10 to 50 cents at The Herald Book Store. . THREK MEN CONVICTED. I j One Sentenced to 30 Years, One to Ten and One to Two. Raleigh, N. C., April 4.?After being out all night the jury in the trial of three men for the murder of Dr. E. W. Smith, of Richmond, Va., this morning brought in a verdict of murder in the second degree against Earl Cotton, Tim Holderfield and E, A. Hopkins, otherwise known as "Red." Hopkins, young white men. With regard to Hopkins the jury recommended mercy. Judge Lyon, of the superior court, pAffAn f a Q A voorc in tho OUUtUULCU VJUHVU IV UV J vui W V**v penitentiary, the full limit, holding him as the leading spirit in the murder. Holderfleld, because he was in the employ of Cotton at his cafe and because of testimony that he^was of good character, was sentenced to only 10 years in the penitentiary. "Red" Hopkins was sentenced to two years. On the morning of November 15, 1908, the body of Dr. Smith was found at the edge of a rock quarry in the eastern suburbs of Raleigh. An investigation developed the fact that on the night of November 14 he had been apparently drunk in Cotton's cafe. Evidence produced by the State showed that Dr. Smith had been drugged to death with chloroform for the purpose of obtaining his watch, ring and diamond pin, later traced to Cotton's place, that Hopkins furnished the chloroform, that Cotton administered an overdose, which caused the victim's death, and that Holderfleld took the body in a hack to the rock quarry. The State's witnesses were Ed Chavis, a negro hack driver, and Richard Williams, a negro cook in the employ of Cotton. Hopkins was a stranger who landed here some time ago. Holderfleld was a cotton mill employe and Cotton is the son of a prominent Raleigh phy sician. Hit by Seaboard Train. The Savannah News of Sunday gives the following account of the accident to J. L. Harrison, of Atlanta: "Sitting on a tie alongside the Seaboard track near Scotia, S. C., forty miles north of Savannah, J. L. Harrison was struck by a southbound fast train yesterday morning and sustained serious injuries. "The train was stopped and the man picked up and brought to Savannah, where he was taken to the Park View Sanitarium. It was found that he had been hurt about the head and body by the force of the blow from the engine, but his injuries are not considered dangerous. Up to a Jate. hoa* j&e had not regained consciousness. From letters found on him it is thought that his home is in Atlanta, where he has a wife. "Engineer T. B. Cleary, of the fast train stated that he did not see the man until nearly on him, as he was, sitting beside the track with his head on his knees, apparently fast "asleep. """? I? moo tint Q-a-oro thflt the 1 lit; eugiucci nan UVI object was a human being until within a few feet of the man." Mr. Harrison is a traveling salesman, and a member of a well known Atlanta family. He is a brother to Mrs. S. T. Sparkman, of this city, and Mrs. Geo. H. Lewis, of Atlanta. City Treasurer J. 0. Lea, of Charleston, is his uncle. Mrs. Sparkman was advised of the accident yesterday by a telephone message from Charleston, but has not been able to secure any| information from Savannah, though she telegraphed there early yesterday afternoon. Mr. Harrison is well known in Columbia.?Columbia Record. Butlers Convicted of Criminal Libel. Winston-Salem, N. C., April 6.? Former United States Senator Marion Butler and his brother, Lester Butler, were convicted in Guilford superior court to-day of criminally libeling Republican State Chairman J S. B. Adams by the publication in I The Caucasian, a weekly newspaper! owned and operated by the Butlers, I of serious allegations against Adams' I integrity and honesty. Adams' acts as chief justice of the | Indian court in Oklahoma in 1905 were severely condemned by the pa per in its flgnt against Auams reelection as chairman of the Republican State executive committee. The trial lasted six days, was hard fought and created widespread interest. Judge Long imposed a fine of $500 upon Marion Buter and $250 upon Lester Butler. A motion for a new trial was overruled and notice of appeal to the supreme court was given, the defendants being released on bond in the sum of $1,000 each. Lovers Commit Suicide. Keokuk, Iowa, April 6.?Leaving notes telling of a suicide pact, Herman Bartlett and Belva Pugh joined hands and jumped into the Mississippi river at Alexandria, Mo., last night. The couple ended their lives after young Bartlett had paid a call at the home of his sweetheart. Two notes, one from each of them, were found by the girl's mother soon after midnight. The notes told exactly where the couple would jump into the river. Both left their jewelry and wraps on the table. Bartlett's hat and his money also were left. St. Louis Lost to Democrats. St. Louis, April 6.?Early returns indicate tnat 01. jjuuib wcm, can to-day, after eight years of Democratic rule. Returns from 144 out of 403 precincts give Frederick H. Kreismann, Republican mayoralty nominee, 19,000 votes, and William G. Woerner, Democratic nominee, 15,603. It is predicted the entire Republican city ticket, with possibly one exception, was elected. 1 GEORGE BARTON CAUGHT CONFEDERATE OF "TENNESSEE DUTCH" IN JAIL AGAIN. "Dutch" Wrenches Revolver From Deputy and Gets Away, Headed for Mountains. Asheville, N. C., April 5.?George Barton, alias "Chicago Army," noted yeggman, who with - Jake Moore, alias "Tennessee Dutch," broke from Greenville jail last night, was captured to-night after a severe fight with Deputy Sheriff Rogers, at Craggy, several miles from this city. "Tennessee Dutch," after wrenching a revolver from Rogers, made his escape, headed for the mountains near Marshall, Madison county. Barton, who has only one arm, was lodged in the county jail at Asheville. Warned by descriptions of the yeggmen, which had been scattered broadcast after the jail delivery at Greenville last nieht. DeDuty Sheriff Arthur Rogers had been keeping watch at Craggy, through which station it was thought the safe-blowers would pass. While walking the track i about half a mile west of the station, Rogers saw two men sitting on the bank, one of them having only one arm. Rogers drew his gun and advanced, but both men attacked him before he could fire. "Tennessee Dutch" knocked the officer down and wrenching his pistol from his grasp, made for the woods.. Barton essayed to follow his partner, but was thrown by Rogers, who caught the desperado's leg as he started to run. A severe fight, in which the officer's ear was almost bitten off, followed. Rogers held his prisoner until a freight crew, summoned by his calls for help, arrived on the scene. The police were called from Asheville and Barton was brought into this city in an automobile. A posse started in pursuit of "Tennessee Dutch," and is now in the mountains. May Investigate Escape. Greenville, April 5.?Postoffice Inspector Gregory, who came here early this morning and who is mak ing an Investigation of the manner, the two notorious yeggmen, Moore and Barton, escaped from the jail Saturday night, says that the federal grand jury next week will be asked to take some steps in the matter, it may be, according to information that is got from the government officials here, that an indictment toll be returned against either the guard or the jailer. Criminal negligence will be alleged. E. C. Carter, who was appointed by his brother-in-law, Sheriff Poole, to guard the prisoners, says that the men did not leave the jail while he was there. He claims that he left at i 6 o'clock Sunday morning. Thomas Lindsay, an alleged murderer under sentence of 15 years in the peniteu-! tiary, occupied at night a cell across I the corridor from the one from which the yeggmen escaped. He discovered their disappearance at 7 o'clock in the morning and notified the jailer. Lindsay was turned out of his cell at 7 o'clock. Henderson Not Surprised. Aiken, April 6.?Mr. C. K. Henderson, ofie of the receivers appointed by Judge Pritchard for the old State dispensary funds, was not surprised when informed of the action of the United States supreme court in reversing Judge Pritchard. When seen he talked freely of the matter and appeared to be much gratified to know that the old Palmetto State had been upheld. ?Jr. Henderson said that he fully explained his position in the matter at the time of onnAinfwant HID a|/pviUbUivuv? He said that when he was appointed he accepted because he had received experience in the affairs of the old State dispensary while he was one of the winding up commissioners, appointed by Governor Ansel. He believed at that time, and still believes that he would have been of service to the State, in looking after its interests, in the event of the State losing in this suit. On the other hand he has great confidence in the remaining members of the winding up commission, and believes that they can well care for the State's interests. He said that his State pride makes him feel gratified at the result of the decision, and he is pleased at the turn affairs have taken. Mr. Henderson said he had believed for some time that the outcome would be as it has proven. When asked about the appointment of a successor for his place vacated on the winding up commission, he said that he believed that the remaining members can well complete the work before them, without the appointment of other members, though that is a matter for the governor entirely. Mr. Henderson said that when he accepted the appointment he fully recognized that there was a chance I to win and a chance to lose. The financial part of the job did not concern him, as he is not dependent on a receivership for his livelihood. Union, April 6.?Receiver B. F. Arthur, when questioned with reference to the decision of the supreme court in the dispensary case, replied that he had no statement whatever to make. Prohibition Candidate Defeated. Little Rock, Ark., April 6.?Local prohibition forces were overwhelm-j ingly defeated here to-day in the| municipal election when Mayor W. j R. Dudley was re-elected mayor of Little Rock by a majority of 1,941 votes. The prohibition candidate received 530 votes. i . ...... gj .. .. . Kf-'- ^ ~ VICTIM OF ASSASSIJN. Attorney in Suit Killed in McRae, Georgia. McRae, Ga., April 5.?That Pope Hill, a prominent attorney, of Macon, who was found shot to death today, is the third victim of an assassin in the Dodge land case, is the belief of police officers. A coroner*! jury, after a careful examination, decided that Hill was murdered "parties unknown." Vvl Hill was found dead in the office of an attorney early to-day, a bullet in his brain, and a revolver, with one chamber discharged, grasped\in the right hand. The condition of the office indicated a desperate struggle. x The stove was upset, the coal scuttle -fiiM was crushed and the furniture wis broken. On the floor lav an unfln* iVvfiS ished court motion in the Dodge *V2|S? case, which Hill had drafted and brought to McRae to file. Hill arrived in McRae at noon >' -W!v. Sunday and went into a friend's law office to work on the case. Later ho ' went to the home of the proprietor of a hardware store and said he wanted a revolver, as he had recelv- '.JJfM ed threatening letters. He was ao insistent that the hardware msa\ opened the store and sold Hill the revolver that was found to-day clasped in his hand. When^ found Hill had been dean several hburs. The bullet had pierced ;i|8| the right eye and entered the brain. From bloodstains on the wall heprobably was shot while standing. Hill, who was 40 years old, was a member of the law firm of Harris 4 . - $? Harris. A widow and one child sai* vive him. His friends are employing v . ^j V detectives. V A note which Hill received at Ma* - 3;t?S| con yesterday was found on the 5" body. It is believed that this is the note Hill referred to when hebought the revolver on Sunday. It is written in childish scrawl and t ; "Pope Hill: The next time you ;:;S||ffi interfere with our settlement yon will be broke." S It is signed with a crudely drawn -;?g8f t skull and cross bones. The author!"- .a, lies are cunvmceu mat c.ue uuio nj? ' fers to the Dodge case, which was on the verge of settlement when the new and unknown claimant put in aa :-\N3g appearance. He was represented by Hill. The authorities are convinced v-lljra likewise that Hill was murdered. They point to the warning note, the . |?R lack of powder burns on the fact . and the fact that Hill was in the " midst of preparation of a motion in ;'|aH the case when he was killed. \||| The Dodge land case is one of the most famous in the State and three ? $ persons connected with it have met tragic and mysterious deaths. The list of deaths and narrow es- W capes in the Dodge land suit began in 18S1. In that year Capt. John C. ' \ Forsyth, representing the Norman W. Dodge estate, was murdered. After a six weeks' trial five men were sent to prison charged with the crime. Shortly afterward Capt F. L. Williams, one of the claimants in the $ case, was killed. For weeks after- "'jpgf ward the entire neighborhood, em- tvjEg bracing four counties, was in a fever ^ i of excitement. Besides these deaths there were -' ^ several encounters in which the par- . 4|? a ticipants received gunshot and knife \<j?|S The Dodge lands cover about 400, 000 acres. Since 1882 there has been almost continuous litigation over J&Jfg portions of the property. \'M Millionaire Kills Himself. Philadelphia, April 6.?Charles \3j* E. Ellis, president of the Citizens' Passenger Railway Company and one ViTirQn 1+Vi ?oo+ mon in PhllndaL - ral ^ phia, shot and killed himself to-day at his home in this city. He was discovered lying in a pool of blood in ; his bed room by his wife, who heard the report of the revolver while she was at breakfast. A physician who J was hastily summoned prononnced him dead. The dead man was 74 years old j and had been a sufferer from neural-. gia and rheumatism for some time. Mr. Ellis' wealth was reputed to be above $10,000,000. Lever Fighting Potash Duty. Washington, April 6.?Representative Lever has been devoting himself to-day to calls upon the Republican members of the ways and ; means committee, calling their attention to the duty of 20 per cent, on sulphate and muriate of potash. . -vp Prof. Harper, of Clemson College, has been writing to South Carolina members on the subject, calling at- |jl tention to the fact that potash is , largely used in fertilizers bought by c South Carolina farmers, and pointing ' out the effect of the duty in the Payne bill, where, while nominally on the free list, the maximum rate which is to apply is 20 per cent. One 5^1 prominent Republican on the committee told Mr. Lever that it was put in by mistake. Other members, , Mr. Lever says, assured him an amendment would be offered by the committee taking the duty off of potash because it is contrary to the intent of the bill to tax anything en- 'y M tering into fertilizers. Mr. Lever will to-morrow present a brief to the ways and means committee on this subject. Employers' Liability Unconstitutional. New Haven, Conn., April 6.?In sustaining a demurrer entered by ^ counsel for the defendants, the New York, New Haven & Hartford railroad, Judge Ralph Wheeler, of the superior court, has held that the employers' liability act, passed by congress in June, 1908, is unconstitu- v j tional. The plaintiff, Wm. H. Hoxle, sued to recover $50,000 for injuries received in coupling cars while in the employ of the, road.