Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

."._ _ r ."V'T.r"' T--j.:1 ' . jg T" ^.vjssg^rggjasjLtfip; _ , _..._"_ "DO THOU JA BERTY GREAT. T NS VT RE OUR SOU In? ANO MAKE, OPK ftlVES.I^ TRY POSSESSION HAPPY, OR OUR |>KATH^LO?10?}STN TH Y CA USE/^ VOL. X??C. BENNISTTSVIIXE,* S. C., FRIDAY, MAY 29, 1903. THIEVES FALL OUT. Ryan Became Sore and Made Conies sion to Authorities. HE WENT BACK ON HIS PALS. They Ruined Themselves hy itohig thc Man'? Bidding ..lil lie Now Turns Ilittcrly Upon Them. United States Marshal Henry C. Petit, at Rockville, Ind., notitied the department by telegraph of the arrest of Joseph M. Johns, the man eli. ged with conspiracy lu the alleged bribery of Daniel V. Miller, tlie assistant at torney of thc postoftlec department who was arrested Tuesday night. Johns will be tried witli Miller at Cin cinnati. Tlie cases will bc presented to the federal grand jury which meets there October (>. According to evidence in possession of the postal authorities .Johns re recclvcd S-l,f>00 as a result of tlie de cision of Acting Assistant General Christiancy that tlie Ryan Turi In vestment company was entitled to use the mails. Miller was an assis tant of Christiancy. Thc authorities here say that Johns was not an attor ney of the Ryan concern hut has been a life long friend and political associ ate of Miller. The exact division ol the $4,500 is not known. MILLEU UXOBU (MM)SS KIKE. Miller was at thc postolliee depart ment Friday in conference with Assis tant General Robbe, who closely ques tioned him regarding the case. Thc case of the Arnold company, turf in vestment concern, which was respon sible for the first charge:; against the anice of the assistant attorney general and which, despite tlie adverse report of postolliee inspectors secured a fa vorable decision from thc ollice, ls still under investigation. The cheeks which ligure in tlie al leged payments to Miller and Johns, which are in thc possession of thc de partment are (or $:i,400. They were supplemented with a cash payment ol' $1,100. Tlie checks arc signed by the Ryan concern and made out to-follos's order and endorsed by him. RYAN II AS PEACH EU. Ryan has agreed to be a witness for the government. Ho has furnished the department with all the informa tion in his possession, including Hie documents. While bite department c-.mot guarantee an immunity it will .put his service in giving state's evi .' dence in thc best light before the court. Miller had charge of thc in vestigation of the Ryan case and pre pared the 'etter which Aotiug Assis tant General Christiancy signed. This letter, which constituted tlie decision of the department, allowed the con cern to use the malls and was signed December 10. The decision in the Arnold caso which served as a prece dent and whose language it followed was signed by Assistant Attorney General Ty uer December 4. KYAN WAS SOUK. John J. Ryan, whose confessions caused the arrest of Miller and Johns, operated his "get-rich-quick" turf in vestment concern from Cincinnati. Ohio and from St. Louis, and ran win ter races at Newport, Ky. Other warrants have been issued as a result of the investigation of tlie postolliee inspectors. Ryan is lie rc now and admits that lie operated sometime at St. Louis before tlie inspectors got after him and later lie was called to Washington. Ryan says: 'T was sore because I heard others doing business like mine stood in with the postolliee department by giving up $25,000 and I felt that those who were standing in with the department were behind the investigation so as to get me out of their way." THE JOH 11A I) "TKIMMINGS." After returning from Washington to St. Louis last November Kyan says he got a telegram from Attorney Johns of Rockville, Ind., that Johns could'be of service to him with thc de partment at Washington and later Ryan and Johns met in Terre Haute. There, Ryan says. Johns explained now close he was to Miller and how ?iiilor had accepted a $2,ooo job in the postolliee department at Washing ton with the idea that the joh had certain "trimmings," such as Ryan says Johns explained Ryah would be able to furnish. Ryan declared Johns asked $5,000 to get from Miller a letter from thc attorney general's ollice showing Kyan was entitled to use the mails. Later Ryan says Johns came down to $2,500 and tile proposition was accepted. A proposition to pay $2,000 for litera ture so worded it would pass muster If it was ever taken up in Hie mails was later accepted. I'KKSKKYEO TIIH LITHKATU UK. Ryan asserts Johns delivered the letter and literature to him Decem ber nilli. Kyan says he gave Johns $1,100 cash and checks dated Decem ber 17, one for $-2,000 and one for $1,400. Then, Kyan says everything went along smoothly until the trouble February 0. A week later a fraud or der was issued against Ryan, and Ryan says an effort for another shake down was put on foot but he would nut stand for lt. He says he received more telegrams from Johns, Kyan says he preserved all the telegrams! and letters. JOHNS OIVKS UOND. Joseph II. Johns, who is charged with complicity in the Miller-Kyaii postal scandal, was arraigned before Commissioner Higgins and gave bond for $1,500 for his appearance before Federal Judge Anderson at Indian apolis June 25. 11 is bond was signed hy several citizens of Rockville, who accompanied him to this city. Here fuses to make any statement. The warrant tinder which he was arraigned charged conspiracy to receive personal compensation for services to divers per sons in which the United States was interested. The warrants for Miller at Wash ington, and Johns at Rockville, were drawn by United Slates Attorney Handy, and his assistants, on informa tion furnished by po-totlloe inspectors wbo bave a great mass of documen tary evidence, notably a letter to John J; Ryan, from George A. Chris tancy as acting assistant attorney gen eral for thc post?nico department, in forming Ryan that thc investigation satisfied the Washington officials or his right to usc the mails in his busi ness, lu one corner arc thc initials :4D. V. M." in Miller's handwriting indicating that Miller dictated the letter, and for that reason tile olllclals say there is no proceeding against Christiancy. This letter was not for warded to Ryan, but it came to him through Johns when they met in Cin cinnati. Dec. (i, i ?02, after Ilya ti paid Johns $1,100 cash and $3,400 iii St. Louis checks. These checks, indorsed by Johns, arc in evidence. STORIES OF RECENT FASTS. ?kin ny People liva tn rod t<> Health hy Len vi ii;: Uti'Une Neal. That many persons have gained health hy eliminating, or practically eliminating, (he morning breakfast, seems an established fact, writes Anna Woodward in Good Housekeeping. Those who arc more radical in their trials have begun by fasting entirely, for a period of from seven to thirty days. An experience which has at tracted much attention is that or the editor of one of the health magazines of New York. This man went through a thirty days' last, about two years ago, and from that time to thc present has usually had two very light meals each day. Never more than two, and sometimes but one. He weighed when beginning his fast, one hundred and ten pounds and has since told the writer that he had at that time much sickness: was, in fact an invalid. AL the present time he weighs one hun dred and sixty pounds, is robust in cyerj ..?.j uiiu ..-.\ i.,t,.i cmpimviciiiij that he is proof against any form of disease, whatsoever. He says that be fore the thirty days of fasting was over, his skin took on a clearer hue Uian lt had worn for years: his eyes grew brighter, his hair was in better condition, and his tea th, even, became noticeably whiter. Du thc twenty fourth day he took a prolonged moun tain walk with several companions, neither showing nor feeling more fatigue than they. A girl whose home is in Morganton, West Virginia, tells me that although up to last summer she had always been an omnivorous cater, she at that time became Coverted lo the modern theory, and began in a practical way taking in August two weeks' complete fast, (luring which time she swallow ed nothing but a little fruit juice. She then began to addopt an extreme ly light diet, to her advantage from the point of economy, since by prepar ing her own meals instead of boarding she effected a saving of from six to seven dollcrs a month. But the con sideration of primary importance was not thc pecuniary but thc physical gain. She at once began to enjoy health snell as she had not known for years. For several years previously her average weight was about one hun dred and twenty-four pounds. During thc two weeks' fast she lost liftcen pounds. Thc first week thereafter she regained ten pounds and after that she regained at the rate of three pounds a week, until she reached one hundred and thirty-nine pounds more than she ever weighed in her life before. This girl is engaged in tak ing a University course and there is living with her a friend who is a teacher in thc public schools, this friend living also on the same plan. They eat no breakfast, faking in thc early morning a glass of hot lemon ade. Lunch consists of two slices of brown bread and butler and a little fruit. The evening meal, though more substantial is very simply cooked. Soup and one other dish from thc] usual dinner. Thc second dish con sists some times of a baked potato or baked apples, some times of a cereal and milk. They take never more than those two simple dishes, in addition Lo brown bread and milk, celery and oc casionally onions. Thc main point is that thivy enjoy their ealing as they never did before, they have improved in general health, and incidentally there has been the saving td' time ?inri money. Hin Wheal Crop. The cereal outlook was never more promising at this time ol' year. Of the :i l,Olio,OOO acres of winter wheat sown last '. tho agricultural depart ment's canvass shows .'(.'I,OOO,000 acres standing in prime condition and ; promising a yield ol' ",20,000,000 bushels v illi normal success. If the spring wheat holds its own with aver age years, thc I* n i ted States will have ? 720.000,1)00 bushel.; ol' wheat in thc bin in thc autumn. Drowned in (In; Uiver. Henry Field. William Ferrell, Wal ter Parker and J), li. Craig were drowned in the Arkansas river at Tatuaba, 1. T., 'Wednesday. Field was thc mail contractor and Ferrell ranier. They were attempting to lake the mails across l lie swollen stream when their boat overturned. Two other occupants ol' the Skiff nar rowly escaped death. Foin Killet]. Four men killed and two badly limned by au explosion of gas in the mines of the Chartres Coal and Coke company at Federal, a mining town near Brldgcvllle on Hie Pittsburg, Uha rt rcs and Voughiogheny railroad Tuesday. The mine is bul slightly injured. Five Hohnes 1'nr?Hh. lt is now reported that in addition to the eight train hands who were killed in Southern railway freight, wreck al lilyan, Ala., Wednesday live tramps, four colored and one white, were killed Their bodies were burned. Malle a !>. D. it was announcement ol' thc Ken tucky Wesleyan college at Winchester, Fy., Wednesday that thc honorary degree of doctor of divinity had been conferred lip.Vn Kev. J. L. Stokes, pastor of thc Methodist church at Vorkvillc. TOWN SWEPT AAV AY. Many Persons Crushed to Death by a Tornado. AN INSANE ASYLUM STRUCK. Tho state ol' Iowa Swept Incessantly for Twenty-four Honrs hy Storms und Tornado. A tornado struck tho town of Elmo, Iowa Tuesday evening, destroying thc town. Six persons aro known to ba vc been killed and several others injured. The storm destroyed ;i threcstory Masonic temple, and nine persons iti thc temple ut thc time were killed outright. Six bodies have been removed from the ruins of thc building and ot.be rs are believed to be buried in thc debris. Tho names of thnse whose bodies were recovered: C. C. Calhoun. William Dolf, (Jus Dull", diaries Hell. T. Summers, I). L. Parker. The storm passed on through tiie town, leaving but a few buildings standing. Elmo is a small town on t.lie Wabash railroad branch, running from Omaha to brunswick, Mo., ?iud has about 200 inhabitants. BTOKM-SWKrT rou nouns. Iowa has been storm swept for thc past 2-1 hours. Three tornadoes, two Monday night and one Tuesday night, resulted in the loss of six lives, the fatal injury of three persons and the serious injury of a score of others, besides great injury and property loss. THU DI'*AD AT GLENWOOD. Maggie Hictncr, of Adasa, Iowa, aged 11 yea rs. Hazel Wright, of Adasa, Iowa, aged 10 years. Near 1 luxton: Georgia Muckley. Herbert Rhodes. At South Des Moines. Russell A. Knau if, aged .'IO years. Floyd Knau fi; his eight-months-old son. TUE IN JU UKO AT UL EX WOOD. Marv Eckert. Anna DeLaney. Myrtle Dickson. Etta Newton. Harrison Johnston. NEA lt HUXTON. Molicutius Rhodes, fatal. Mollie Rhodes, fatal. Eliza Blakely, fatal. Amphy and Minnie Blakely. Zward, Lucy, George and Addison Rhodes. Buddie Rhcasy. Mary Walker. AT SOUTH DESMOINBS. Mrs. Kunu ir, bruised and cut. Mrs. Margaret Boston, skull injured by falling brick. Charles Mc-Nutt, hurt by llying-tree' limbs. Mrs. John McCoy, breast and bead cut by Hying glass. SCHOOL EOU FEEBLE-MINDED. Thc victims at Glenwood were all inmates of the school for the feeble minded. The tornado struck the girls' dormitory. Tho roof wos torn olf and with a terrible crash fell back again upon the wrecked building. All the buildings of the group, including tiie hospital, dormitory, hoys' build lng, custodian's building, farm cot tages and the boiler room, were more or less damaged by the storm. The .superintendent estimates that thc loss will lie at least $70,000. There is no insurance. M AUK KOK FURIOUS WIND. Tiie buildings of the institution are situated on a slight risc and were a mark for the heavy wind which swept down on thc structure with terrible fury. Tiie boiler room, including some linc machinery lately installed, is wrecked. The eleven gi fis who were injured arc being cared for in the hospital which is intact. The tornado near Buxton struck before noon near what is known as No. 10 .lunceion, a mining settlement. All the victims were colored. COUUSE OT KTOT.M. The storm came from the southwest end the destructive wind seemed to descend suddenly from a great bank of clouds which was weeping toward the northwest. The houses occupied hy the Rhodes and Blakely families were smashed lo kindling wood. Tile tornado struck south Des Moines tit dark tonight, lt came from tho south, but after the greater part of Ibu destruction was wrought, veered to the northwest it approached the junction or the Des Moines and Rac coon rivers. IX SOUTH DESMOIXES. The property in South Des Moines and vicnity will reach *f?o.00o. Thc Knau IT home and the Christian church were wrecked and about forty other buildings were damaged. About the same time what was apparently anoth er storm struck the packing house sec tion of tile town, a mile to thc north west of the scene of the South Des Moines disaster. Many buildings were damaged. BASTKltN NEIU'.ASK A IIAKP MIT. Eastern Nebraska was visited by anoferscries of storms last night and Wednesday several of which develop ed into tornadoes. One visited Hast ings, nea.- tho scene of Sunday's heavy storms and blew several buildings to splinters. Another struck Herman, 2"> miles north of Omaha, and the scene of a tornado live weeks ago, killed a dozen people. The. home of D. R. Parish, demolished and Mr. Parish, his wife, and a child were seriously hurt. Accompanying thc severe wind in every instance, was a rain storm of unusual severity and as a result sever al towns in eastern Nebraska are Hood ed. The li nanda! loss has been heavy and estimates place lt at several hun dred thousand dollars. One of the most seven; storms was a Davey, a small town northwest of Lincoln which resulted in the injury of thirteen persons, none fatally. Several persons, however, sustained broken limbs. The report received from there states that every dwelling and outbuilding in the town was wrecked. The storm' Lincoln did great damage, thc loss on buildings being estimated at $100,000. A NSW SLAVERY A System ofl'ouiiucc Which Ohtnins In That Statu. At thc request of the department of justice, the United States service has undertaken tim work of investigating thc charge of peonage, or holding another in servitude to work out a debt, which lias been made against persons living in the vicinity of Mont gomery, Ala. Thc punishment pro vided by the statute for this crime is a (inc of notiess than $1,000 nor more than .*;">,OOO or imprisonment of not less tlian one year nor more than live. One man named Hobe rt N. Frank lin has already been indicted for keep ing a negro in servitude for at least a year. Information in the hands of Chief Wilkie tends to show that a regular system has been practiced for a long tone between cerf ai n magis trates and persons who want negro laborers. lt is said that the plan is to bring a poor negro before a magistrate tm a flimsy charge. Ile is convicted, and having no money to pay a tine, thc white man oilers to advance him 1 he money, provided thc negro will make a lalior contract with him fora length ol' time.sufficient lo reimburse bini for the money and t rouble he has taken to keep the negro out of jail. Ile. is thereupon taken away and be gins what is frequently a long term ol cruel servitude, being frequently whipped for failure to perform work to thc satisfaction ol' his employer. An agent of the secret service, who is now on the ground, will make ii. thorough investigation of the v. hole alleged system and turn over to the United States attorney for that dis trict all information he may secure with a view to the prosecution of of fenders. _ Hattie Witli Strikers. The li rsl serious outbreak since tlie late strike order was issued occurred at the big <? mines on Laurel creek not far from Thhrmand, W. V. For several days the strikers at that point have been making an ell'ort to induce the non-union men to join their ranks. Wednesday evening the strikers be gan marching in a body toward thc mines. Thc guards on duty, half a dozen in number, at sight of the marching body opened lire. Thc strikers quickly returned the tire, but as they were at long range thc shoot ing was not ellecti ve and only one per son, Marshall Hrown, and a guard, was killed in battle. Several received minor injuries. lirown was shot through the stomach, the bullet be ing from a Winchester and he lived but a short time. More than 100 shots were tired before the strikes re treated. More trouble is anticipated. More ICasca'ity. The i'hilippines are having their postal scandals as welf^is Washington. Two cases were reported .<^y,ji\H il _jtn: thc war department vv ednesday^ one is that of former Postmaster . Milne, at Tacloban, Ley te, who is accused not only of taking $2,001) current coin o? thc United States, but even thc -100 pound safe which is supposed to have contained the money. Postmaster ?vareIsen of Calamba, Luzon, is also under arrest. Some time ago ?2,000 disappeared from the mails between the hour it left his oftico and when it should have reached Manila. Treas urer Jones of the province of Tarlace, likewise reports robbery. Ile. says he has been losing from $25 to $500 a month. His hooks arc all right, but the balance in the cash drawer comes short regularly. Decapitated Him. A special from Newcastle, Wyo., says: W. C. Clifton, murderer of Mr. and Mrs. .lohn W. Church, lynelle'.', by a mob from Gillette Wednesday night. The mob battered down the jail door, holding up the sherill'and deputy the while, and hung Clifton to a bridge west of town. Clifton's head was cut oil' by the fall of 10 feet, .lohn W. Church and his wife, who lived ou a homestead claim 7f> miles southwest of Newcastle, were never seen alive after March 14 last. Clifton, whose ranch adjoined that of Church, was arrested tm suspicion and on April 17 he confessed that he had killed Mr. and Mrs. Church. Their bodies were lound at the place indicated hy him. Clifton claimed he had killed Hu; couple in self-defense. Immorality ol'Our Mich. Dr. ll. St. .Ioho Perry declared be fore the Slate Association of Physi cians at St. Pauls that in immorality and intemperance Americans of wealt h and apparent respect nhill y were worse, than African savages. "Christians look with abhorrence on Mohammedans who take plural wives lind arc true, to them," he said, "yet many of our Americans indulge lu thrice the wives of thc ignorant sav age and are untrue to all. Vice air! immorality arc rampant among ail classes. Physicians can bear willie s to this. To gauge the state of Ameri can manhood one has only lo count thc thousands of fallen women m every city.*' A Holli ."Mine. The tunnel disaster in New York was better than a gold mine for the widows ol' the men killed by lt. Thc Supreme Cour! has just atlirmcd the judgment of thc lower court giving *loo,ooo damages lo Mis. .lennie M. Leys for the death of her husband in the tunnel. Leys af the lime of his deal!) was receiving a salary at $12, 000 and fees which brought his in come up to $20,8(12 last year. On I hat. she hasscd her demand and asked for $2?0,000._ Killed hy Distuning. During a heavy rain and thunder storm Tuesday night on St. Helena island an electric holt entered the shanty of Posey Davis, an aged ne gress, and killed her while she was near an open window, lier bedding was also torn. A small girl who was asleep on another bed in the room re mained unconscious during the storm and was unhurt. On awakening Wed nesday uiorinng she? found the woman 1 dead Oh the door! Wealthy ?lah Kilted. D. W. Miller, general manager of the Aet na Coal company, was Instant ly killed Thursday at Aetna Teno. Ile was run over by live cars. Ile was very wealthy. WORSE AN]) WOESE. i Sensation Created ia Washington by Madlen's Arrest. REPUBLICANS ARE WORRIED. They Admit That It Is n Political Necessity Tliut thu KUHCHIH he Turned Out ol* tho Department. A dispatch from Washington says hy far the most sensational develop ment in thc pos toll Ice investigation up to this time occurred Wednesday when August W. Machen, the general superintendent of the free delivery service, was arrested ou a warrant is sued -dhoti the information of postuf lice inspectors charging him with having received "rake offs" from con tracts made with the local ti rm of Crolf . Jiros., for a patent postal box fastener. The warrant specifically charges him with receiving$18,HS 1.78 since-Aii|i. 8, 1!)00. lt is alleged, however, at thc department that this amount docs not represent all that Machen obtained in connection with l?tese contracts, it being charged that he has -prolited by them for several years prior to the date of the tirst con tract mentioned in thc warrant. Immediately after Mr. Machen was taken- into custody Wednesday the postmaster general issued an order removing him from oi?lcc. lie had been practically under suspension for a fortnight pending the investigation Into his bureau. Thc discovery of Madlen's alleged interests in the eon tracts was made quito accidentally by the inspectors some three weeks ago and since their energies had been di rected toward making out a case. Af ter the. authorities had become con vinced that they were in possession of the necessary evidence, Mr. Machen was notilied to appear at the depart ment ^Wednesday morning. Ile did so and was subjected to a ''sweating" process by the Inspectors and air. Itristow for three hours, but no ad missions that be had prolited by the contracts could be secured from him. He declined to answer many uuestinns on the ground that they related to his private business, but insisted to the end that he had not received a cent improperly. Nevertheless he was arrested on the warrant which had boen prepared and taken before a Unfited! States commissioner, where his attorney immediately demanded a full hearing. Assistant District Attorney Tag gart^ bo weypr, was not ready to pro ceed -"Mi the case and the Jxearlngj ipS '?> J? . .?. "''.. - ? jvri\ M a ched, ga VR ? i^J,6t'j/ .urnlSlied by a Phila delphia bonding company, for his ap pearance, declining tu accept the prof fer of friends to go un his bund. Af ter his release he declined tu make any strtement beyond the single dec laration that the whole thing was a grand stand play and would conic out till right. His attorneys declared that at thc proper time they would show conclusively that he had been guilty of no wrong in connection with the contracts and, on the contrary, they would be able to show that his ad ministration of thc free delivery ser vice had been characterized by ability and Integrity. The department of ticials claim that their evidence is con clusive. It is understood that id vii suit will be entered to recover from Machen thc amount he is alleged to have received on thc contracts. THE CIIAUGKS. Thc warrant for Madlen's arrest was drawn by Assistant United States District Attorney Taggart on a swum statement made by Walter S. Mayer, a postoftice inspector fruin the Chicago district, before United States Com missioner Anson S. Taylor. Inspec tor Meyer in thc several counts in the complaint alleges the receipt by Mr. Machen of'several specilied sums ag gregating $18,081.78 in connection with t he purchase for the use of the department of certain letter box fas-1 ten?is. Alter setting forth Mr. Madlen's Ofllcial position as superintendent of free delivery in the postolllce depart ment, the complaint says that as such superintendent Machen was charged with the duty and invested with the power, under the supervision and with the approval of thc first assis tant postmaster general of purchasing for the usc of the department certain tn t ides, among them "letter box fas teners." Inspector Mayer then states that one Samuel ll. tiroir and one piller H. (Jrolf are the owners of a patented in vention for such letter box fasteners and were rngaged in business as Croll" Urns. The statement then says that on July 2, 1000, Superintendent Machen procured the issuance ol* an order by the lirst assistant postmaster general for ii,000 complete and 2,087 half fasteners of the Gr?lt variety at the rate of $1.25 for one complete and $2.25 fur two half fasteners, and that as superintendent he recom mended ?uni the treasury paid $7, 5?1.83 lo the. Croll Pros., Tor the fas teners aforesaid. The statement, then proceeds: "Tho said order was procured by the said August W. Machen inion collusive understanding and agreement between him and the said Hiller H. Croll", that he, thc said August W. Machen, was to be paid a certain pro portion of the proceeds ol* any war rant to be issued in payment ol' thc article supplied under said order and tho promise of him, the said 131) 1er ll. (?rolf, t * ? pay such proportion; and on the sib day of August A. 1)., 1000, the said August W. Machen did ask, accept and receive of and was paid by the said biller P. G rolf pursuant to such collusive and agreement thc sum ol' $3,020.74." Then following a number of other counts alleging the receipt by Mr. Ma chen of the following specified sums In connection with sales of letter box fasteners to thc government: Sept. 20, 1000, $2,501; Dec. 17, 1000, Ssa,000; Aug. ai, 1001, $1,271; Sept. 0, 1901, $75:1.50: .Tali. 20, 1002, $2,500; April ?, 1002, $2?30?.5U; Aug. 22, 1002, $3,850. OFFICIAL STATEMENTS. Thc arrest created a profound sensa tion at the postotllce department. Tlie news spread rapidly and within a few minutes after thc arrest the fact was known generally. Postmaster General Payne lost no time in com municating thc news to the public, summoning the newspaper men and saying: "Mr. Maclicn is now under arrest in this budding. He has received a large sum of money from thc contrac tors who supply the government with certain articles. The amount he is charged with receiving is over $20, 000. The department will make a statement later in tlie day, as soon as it can be prepared." Subsequently Mr. Bristow gave ont tlie following statement: "A. W. Machen, general superin tendent free deli very system, was ar rested at 1 o'clock today. He is charged with receiving bribes amount ing in all to about $22,000 in connec tion with a-contract held by GrolT Rros., of Washington, I). C., fora pat ent fastener used on street letter boxes, known as the GrolT fastener. The posloflice depaitment in thc past ?ten years has used about Si lo.ono worth of these fasteners and lt is shown hy ample evidence that Tor the past three years, at least, Mr. Machen has been receiving 40 per cent, of thc amounts paid to thc Gruffs. Thc transaction of the business was con ducted by Diller lt. GrolT. who con trols thc patent of his brother, Samuel A., a policeman." YliUY SAD ANO HKUI?U8. Postmaster General Payne said that the evidence against Madlen was of the most conclusive character, "lt is ? Very sad a ira ir," Mr. Payne added, "lt is very serious business. The probabilities are that the end is not yet." The postmaster general said that the department was running all the. charges that have made con cerning postal administration, that many charges had been made which are not known to thc public, and that where a few were substantiated great numbers of tile allegations proved without foundation. Ile made the significant suggestion that there were many other charges of Irregularities in the free delivery of-? lice now being investigated. Com-1 menling on tho arrest of Daniel V.I Miller, the assistant attorney, which j proceeded by 4S hours that of Machen, Mr. Payne said that he had akscd As sistant Attorney General Robb whether the Ryan decision which Mr. Christiancy signed at the instance of Miller, was proper under the law and under the Tacts. Mr. Robb's answer has not been received. Mr. Payne was asked whether the department was keeping in touch with George W. Reavers, the former superintendent of the division of sala ries and allowanees.of the department who suddenly resigned some \y_eeks ago.. He, replied <atllrmatively. "I Jiav^nodQUlit,'' he Said,.''.that the.de parlinent is keeping-track Of hliri.'i Postmaster General Payne dismissed Mr. Machen in the following order: "A. W. Machen is this day remov ed from the position of general super iutendein of the free delivery service. His removal is made by reason of mal fca; ance on his part in the discharge of the duties of his olllce." G KOKK UllOS., UNDKIt A lt IL EST. Diller R. GrolT of the lirra of GrotT Rios., went to police headquarters and gave himself up, saying he had heard that a warrant had been issued for him and lie had come to headquarters to present himself. Mr. GrotT was taken before United States Commis sioner Taylor and gave $10,000 bail pending a hearing before, the commis sioner lomorrow. Mr. GrolT did not make any statement regardigg his connection witli thc charge against liim. The warrant served on him charges a violation of the section of thc revised statutes making bribery of officers of Hie government a criminal offense. Thc information upon which thc warrrant was issued was sworn to by Walter S. Mayer, a postotllce in spector. This information alleges thc payment by thc partners of various sums of money to August W. Machen in pursuance of the alleged agreement between them in connection with thc purchase of loiter box fasteners. Sam uel A. (?rolf, the other partner, was arrested tonight. Arrangement were Immediately made whereby he was re leased on tia,000 bail being given for his appearance before United States Commissioner Taylor when required. Kiylit Train men Killed. At Kirmingham, Ala., in a collision between two freight trains on the Southern railway, near lilyan, there were eight men killed. After the col lision tho wreck took tire and burned rapidly. The olllclals of tlie road haye not yet explained thc cause of thc accident, but it is alleged that an operator went lo sleep on duty and failed io deliver au order. Tl ic burn ing wreckage destroyed thc wires and cut off cutnmnnicatlon for some time. The dead ?ire: Henry Action, engineer; h. G. Chester, engineer; Johnson, engineer; Roland Madison, colored; tireman; Otto Wood, lireman; David Ingram, colored, lireman; Robert Han cock, tireman; .1. 1). Hill colored, brcakmah. A Columbia iiiliigihi;. Thc execution ol* Winter Canley in Columbia last Friday was very quietly done. Ile was hanged for murdering a 131 iza Ker-haw. Ile. made no out cry and mounted the .scaffold without any assistance, after having passed a morning and night with colored preachers calmly. He at e, as is tho practice of murderers sentenced to be hanged, a hearty breakfast, and pass ed a comparatively quiet morning. In Tact he seemed to be very nindi more at rest and peace than som? other prisoners in Hie Jail. Canley and his victim were both colored. Dropped Dead, At Pensacola, Kia., .lodge Frank P. Boni fay, after delivering an address in thc city campaign, dropped dead just as he was leaving the platform. The exertion and excitement caused his death. Hundreds of people had listen ed to thc speech. After thanking Hie audience for its attention he turned and fell to the ground. Thc meet ing was immediately adjourned. Judge Ronifay was one of the oldest and most respected citizens of Pensacola. He was tit? years old. GREAT DAMAGE BY FLOODS. over Two Thousand People Home less in Topeka, Koo. The State of Kansas Is suffering terribly from a great Hood. At 9.30 o'clock friday iright the water liad surrounded the whole of Nortti To peka and more than 2,000 people are' homeless. The river is rising fast and it is estimated that fully 10,000 will be homeless. The Union Pac!Qc rail road station ls flooded. Late Friday afternoon the Kansas river bridges at Maple Hill, Rossville, Silver Lake, Bellevue and St. George were washed out. Thc new steel bridge at "Willfrld is damaged beyond repair and at Topeka the street rail way is useless. Several hundred cat tle have been drowned. Fifteen inches of water in Abilene Friday night and more Saturday. Business houses are collapsing and the entire town is panic stricken. The police and lire departments in Topeka are endeavoring to rescue people from thc Hood on thc north side of the river. Tile conditions in ''Little Russia," thc Russian settlement in North To peka, are serious. The entire settle ment is under water and a current has started through the district. Sev eral houses already are twisted on their foundations and they probably will collapse. Every family has had its household good? damaged and some have lost everything. Thirteen Inches of water have fal len in Clark's creek valley in the past twelve hours. The whole valley is desolated. Many houses In Skiddy were wasiicd away, and crops are ruined. Two thousand feet of rail way tracks in this vicinity were washed out. So far as known, no lives were lost. Tlie loss by flood in Morris county is estimated at $1,000,000. Four per sons were drowned herc Friday night. ? Edward Clements perished while en- ? deavcring to save his daughter. Ralph Phillipps, while trying to rescue a Ut- ; tie girl named Woods, was drowned ; with her. A baby was found dead in j the Missouri Pacific yard. Slacking < lime set tire to thc M. R. Smith lum- i bcryard, which was burned together with thc F ir mers and Drovers bank and Robbin's drug store, the loss be ling 850,000. The big Main street bridge over the Mcosho river went dowu./ All the business houses were Hooded. Miles of Missouri Pacific and Missouri, Kansas and Texas tracks were washed out. More than 100 houses are under water and 20 have floated away. A Human Ladder. In the destruction by fire of a four story apartment house on Fulton .Street, Brooklyn, one policeman was fatally and two others seriously birrned whilejlainmates>.7ure rescued\ou\j by ' great effoft of tlie police and firemen. Policeman J. F. Havens reached the third floor and passed Mrs. Nellie Smith and her three children to po licemen McAuley and Cook to assist them down the stairway. The fire cut them off from the stairs, and Havens fell unconscious from smoke. Firemen finally reached them, and Mrs. Smith and the policeman were taken down the ladder i uto thc street. The fireman discovered a yuing child in the front part of the house, and there being no time to lose, they mounted on one another's shoulders, and, forming a human ladder, rescued it. Thc damage caused by the fire was about $50,000. A Girl's Tragic Death. At Rome, T?. Y., with a halter rope tied around her wrist and a frightened colt running at top speed. Rena ^Yebster, of Northwestern, was drag ged a half mile overa rough highway and killed. Miss Webster, who was 20 years of age, led the colt to allow it to eat in the highway. While the animal was feeding she sat down by the roadside and engaged in sewing. To prevent thc animal from getting away, she fastened the end of the long halter rope to her wrist. The colt suddenly became frightened and ran away. Miss Webster was dragged headlong into the roadway, and the horse ran into the village of North western, dragging the girl at end of the rope. To lie Ilrought Buck. After being out of the state six months, H. L. Lloyd, of Darlington, has been arrested in Texas and will be brought back to this state to stand trial for thc forgery of a promissory note to tlie amount of $102 on the People's bank of Darlington. Lloyd, it is alleged, on November 18, 1002, forged a note in the name of his brother, W. C. Lloyd, E. F. Story and other parties and thc bank cashier, knowing Lloyd, paid out the money at once. When it was found that thc note was a forgery, which was not until it became due, thirty days af terwards, Lloyd had left the state. Ile was localed in Texas and the au thorities in that state notitied to look out for him. A Coming Reform. The legislatures of twenty-one states have passed resolutions in favor ?'f thc election ot tinted States sena tors by the people. Unquestionably popular sentiment has grown very strongly in recent years in favor of re moving thc election or United States senators from the state legislatures.' The pu rebase of scnatorsliips by mil lionaires and thc deadlocks which have left states without representa tion in the senate, have created strong dissatisfaction with present methods. Named Slayers. Mrs. .1. D. Arlington, aged 50, and lier son, Robert Arlington: aged 21, were murdered Tuesday night at Solomon's Mills, 10 miles below Louis ville, Ala. Before she died Mrs. Arlington named a white man and a negro woman as thc murderers. Officers with bloodhounds have left for the scene of the tragedy. Robbery was the motive. Instantly Killed. G. C. Russell of Greenville was kill ed In Union hy tho explosion of a soda fountain in the drugstore of II. L. Seal fe & Son. Ile Iud gone to Union for thc L. L. Barre company to do some plumbing. MANY LIVES LOST And the Town of Malazherd, Totally Destroyed by Earthquake A MOST AWFUL OCCURRENCE. A Military Officer Becomes liiRanc Over the The Loss of His Family. Other Particulars of .the Disaster. A dispath from Washington says Vice-Consul OJalvo, at Erzrum, Tur key, reports to thc state department that an earthquake in the canton of Melazherd, district of Bltlis, on the. 29th ult., caused the death of 500 peo ple and left the city in ruins. Thc shock was strongly felt in Erzrum, a Journey of 38 hours, and threw the people into a panic. Many of them turned their Stahles, which arc huilt level with thc ground, into sleeping apartments for greater security. PLACED AT TWO THOUSAND. A dispatch from Constantinople says advices which reached there Wednes day from Asiatic Turkey show that a terrible earthquake occurred April 29 at Melazherd, in the vilayet or Van 80 miles southeast of Erzrum, on the Euphrates. The town was totally destroyed, with its entire populuioii, numbering 2,000 souls, including 700 Armenians, as well as the troops forming the garrison of Melazherd. lu addition over 400 Souzes in neighbor ing villages collapsed. A GABKI80N-WIPED OUT. A dispatch from London says the foreign office here received some de tails from the British consul at Arz rum regarding the recent carthqu ike at Melazherd, according to which a strong earthquake, lasting 30 seconds, was felt in the morning of April 29 throughout the entire district between ' Lake Van and the Russian frontier and as far west as Kharput. The town ?>f Melazherd, consisting of * 500 houses, was destroyed and touch havoc was wrought lu the surrounding vil lage. Col Khalil Bey,.commanding the garrison of Melazherd, with his whole family, three ofilcers and 80 sol diers, perished in the ruins. Lieut. Col, Tay bid Bey, whose family was lost, became insane. A telegraph operator who sent the news of the cat astrophe said himself was badly in jured and that his wife and sister had been killed. The foreign ofllce has ap pealed for subscriptions for tbe relief of the destitute Mohammedans and Christians of the Melazherd district. Jumped in a^himnpyV*; -y-} The, A tl anta": Joup ai ? paVs Xi? ; . B a -. - vis, about 35cy0?rs' o? Vage, " who ;iias- ? been working oh Kbv.1 ?. H. Smith's farm near Gainesville, Ga., fora num ber of years, was brought to this city aud lodged in Hall county jail for safe keeping. The negro is affected with a peculiar form of insanity, sup posed to have been produced by the extremely hot weather. Wednesday night lie was suffering from the de lusion that bloodhounds were on his trail, and began a wild race for life and liberty, which ended in one of the most remarkable captures on re cord. For a mile he ran, disrobing as ho ran and throwing articles of clothing along his path piece by piece, until he was entirely nude. He reached .the two-story dwelling of W. It. newington about 6 o'clock, after part of the family had retired for the night, ne scaled the chimney by climbing up the lightning rod and mounting the roof, jumped down thc chimney. The fall was a distance of 25 feet or more, and he landed on some boards which had been placed in the fireplace. With great difficulty he was extricated and drawn out the top of the Hue by means of a rope, and he was found to be terribly skinned and bruised, but calm and willing to be taken in charge. Tho Mystery Solved. City detectives claim to have un raveled the mystery of the 37,000 robbery of the union depot ticket office In Birmingham, Ala., which oc curred May 10. As a result two young men, one of them being the son of J. M. Bibb, superintendent bf . bridges and buildings of the Louis ville and Nashville railroad, have been arrested and are now in jail. No one will be allowed to see them and not even the name of the second man arrested can be ascertained. It is claimed that the robbery was ac complished by boring a hole through the ceiling over the ticket office from a vacant room on the second floor of the union depot, and through this hole the robbers looked with a magni fying glass and watched the employees of that office work the safe combina tion. It is said that on thc night of the robbery tiley entered the office while the night ticket seller was asleep and worked the safe combination. Two Captured a Company. A prominent feature around Mis sissippi headquarters, which were the liveliest in line, was Judge Harris of Memphis, Tenn., who was a Missis sippian prior to his removal to Ten nessee. Judge Harris told recently of the capture of an entire company of Yankees by ope man of his command, the Seventeenth Mississippi, who was aided by a negro. The man was J olin Lake. Thc negro who aided him was known as Sandy. Lake, who was in company F, sighted the soldiers, who were in camp. Instructed Sandy, and sending him to Hank them, he boldly walked up in front with drawn sword and demanded their surrender. The Yankees sprang for their arms, when he yelled out: "Shall we open fire captain?" Thinking that they were surrounded, tho Yankees laid down their arms and were marched off to the main body of the Confederates. New Orleans Picayune. Acquitted. Mrs. Effie L. Carson, who shot and killed Robert Rlgsby In Macon, Ga., some months ago for making slander ous remarks about her, has been ac quitted. When thc verdict of tho Jury was announced there was consid erable applause.