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* } STILL NO TRACE V Of The Boy That Was Stolen | From Sharon Pa, "^VERAL DAYS AGO . fori. KiduapiHHl Lad Goes on Increasing Vigor, but, so f SVithout Any Shade of SucI cess?Mr. Whitlu Deposited Money 3R?/ J Deiuanded but Cops WatSJied S|K>t. V Cleveland, Ohio, March 2^.?After 'failing in an attempt to negotiate a <' settlement for the return of his kid- ! Mapped son, Willie, in a park at! t Ashtabula today. J. P. Whitla has returned to his home in Sharon. Whltla was Instructed In a letter from the kidnappers to leave $10,\000 in Platlron Park Saturday night. Jf no detectives were about, the kidnappers promised they would deliver the boy safely to the father in a hotel at Ashtabula at 3 o'clock this /morning. Whltla deposited the money as required, but the-Ashtabula police learned of the plans to pay the ranson and went to the park. The kidnappers are supposed to have seen them, for at 3 o'clock the . money was intact and not a man had . appeared on the spot. Whitela would not agre to this, effect a settlement with him last t.) night will frighten the kidnappers and they will not communicate with him again. t lThe police of Ashtabula are unwilling to believe that the kidnap pe'rs have left that section oi tno (country. The letter from the captors of ?hWillie Whitla came to the boy's par>'/?hts In Sharon Friday afternoon, jr'; Upon receipt of the letter, Whitla * called in private detectives and askJ ed their advice. They were anxious J to capture the kidnappers, and plead1 ed with him to permit them to place * a decoy package of hills at the des* lgnated spot and let ofllcers lie In wait and capture the men who came after the money. Whltolnw wnnlrl nnt nirree to this. life finally consented to permit the detectives to accompany him to this f 1, city and await at his summons to start a search for the kidnappers. Promptly at 10 o'clock Wliitla lefc f f f i nick ape of l)ills in the park. He ; went to "The designated spot alone ^ r'feeling certain that his compliance / with the request of the kidnappers & 'forould prove the means of dellverhis hoy hack to him. V'J Three policemen who had been Vqent out from the Ashtabula centra1 Citation saw Whitla leave the money the park. They apprised Chief jft^askey of their discovery and receivinc-Jfunflnna fn rnrtmln r?n fl 11 f v ^11 A liOl/1 MVtlVllu vv v * ??< ? v*? ?? -- ? j >iuid capture the kidnappers should Iliey appear. ; In the meantime Whitla returned jj'to the city and communicated with jhis detectives in Cleveland. They adlJvised him not to go to the hotel for jhis lx>y o minuto before the time set. LIKE MOSES OF OLI>. ^ Preacher Called 011 the Lord for Vengeance. i , Like Moses of old calling down Judgments on the land of Pharoah, the Itev. Charles Ford publicly called down a plague on Bokhonia, Okla., in the form of a drought. The reiharkable prayer was made by the Rev. Mr. Ford when he was denied & sum of money he claimed as back pay from the 'Frisco iJfcuber Company. During the drc^gnt business was at a standstill and the company lost heavily. Mr. Ford's congregation at Rokhopia was small and to earn a little ex^fa money he worked on the sawmilf, Last September he announced tSiat he would pray for a drought. ? fr/im Hin ilnto Vila unliiif mm i'?Hl MWII. v?*v, Vtwvv V, l I' w.l'.v ????' alleajtion no rain fell and for four ioitchs there was drough in the land, hough all sections within GO miles ad,plenty of water. Then the Rev. Mr. Fo*rd declare^ he would call for relief that mill might opefate for one week. It rained and for 8 days the mill did operate. Two months more passed without rain and then the Rev. Mr. Ford declared he would leave the com* haunity, and when he reached another county would pray that rain came down in tor-ents. Last week ho left Bowhoma and the next morning the rain descended in torrents f >r i six hQujrs and the c.-ought is now R rhro1<en. * Murderer Lynched. Elkin, W. Va., March 19.?Joseph Brown, said to have been an exconvict, shot and seriously wounded Chief of Police Scott White at Whitmer, near here, was taken from the jail by a crowg of men early this morning and inched. ~ SUBS( ki '-v-. , m % COTTON REPORTS SHOWS BUMPER CHOP FOR THE LAST YEAH. Over Two Million Hales More Made East Year Than Was Made the Year Before. Washington, March 20.?Running hales of cotton numbering 13,40$,811, of the average gross weight oT 506.8 pounds, all equivalent to 13,563,94 2 500-pound bales, with 27.5 87 ginneries operating, was the final report of the census today on the cotton crop grown in 1 908. The report includes 3 14,970 linters and counts round hales as half bales. The final 1907 crop repor*. was 11,325,882 round bales, equivalent to 11,375,401 500-pound bales, with 27,592 ginneries operating. Included in 1908 fig-ires are 93,085 bales, which ginners estimated they would turn out. after time of , March canvass. Hound bales Included in today's reports are 242,3 05 for 1908 and 198,549 for 1 907. Sea island bales Included are 93,34 8 for 1908 and 86,895 for 1907. The crop by States in running bales, Including liuters, follows: Alabama?1,358,339 bales. Arkansas? 1,0 1 8,708 bales. Florida?71,4 11 bales. ueorgia?z,uzif,s;:s naies. Kansas, Kentucky and New Mexico (including linters of establishnionts in Illinois and Virginia)?5,05 4 bales. Louisiana?4 8 1,084 bales. Mississippi?1.605,085 bales. Missouri?60,009 bales. North Carolina?099,507 bales. Oklahoma?703,862 bales. South Carolina?1,239,200 bales. Tennessee?348,582 bales. Texas?3,719,189 bales. Virginia?13,103 bales. * SHAItt* NOT (il lLTV. Hut (lie Jury Can't Agiee as to the Two Coopers. Nashville, March 19.?Judge Hart, sent the sheriff to ask the jury at 12 minutes after noon, if it wished to report. Promptly the word came back that uo agreement had been reached. The court considered a moment, and said: "I will bring in the jury, anyhow. Bring in the dofend ants." There was a hustle and scurrying f deputies through the corridors and (ho defendants entered. The court room was nearly empty by this time, the throng disappearing gradually as it seemed that there would be 110 report. Mrs. Burch and Mrs. Wilson, pale and wan, were with Cooper, and faithful Mrs. Sharp was, as always, at her husband's aide. The jury was polled and Judge Hart said: "Have you reached a verdict, gentlemen.?" "We are hopelessly tied as to the Cooper," said Foreman Burke, "but we find John Sharp not guilty." "You will retire, gentlemen, and reconsider further as to the other defendants. Is there any reason, General McCarn, why John Sharp should not be discharged?" "None, your honor." "Mr. Sharp, you are discharged from custody, acquitted," said the court with a smile. * "SAW AWAY," SAYS WATCHORX. Gives Iiion Tamer at Kills Island " Means of Kscapo." New York, March 18.?Francis Louis Bessanade, a lion tamer, who escaped from the detention pen at Ellis Island in August, 1 007, was arrested recently in San Francisco and returned to the Island, with a prospect of deportation. He told Commissioner Watchorn that he escaped by cutting the bars of his cage with a saw made of three butchers' knives. Mr. Watchorn, who suspects collusion by some Ellis Island employe, has given Boissanade three more kitchen knives, with these instructions: "If you can saw your way out, I'll do what I can to save you from deportation." Louis is now raising blisters on his hands. THREE WERE KILLED. Coast Line Train Leaves Track at Pikeviile, N. C. Charlotte, N. C., March 17.?A fast passenger train on the Atlantic Coast Line jumped the track at Pike ville, a flag station between Golds horo and Wtlmtnerton after midniehi killing the engineer and fireman and Brakeman Off<?rt. Conductoi W. H. Newell and several pasengen were seriously injured. Details o ' the accident could not be obtained a , this h )ur. ;ribe nc FOUND GUILTY Of Murder in the Second Degree in Cooper Case IS VERDICT OF JURY The Jury Fixes the Punishment of the Two Men at Twenty Years Fach in the Penitentiary at Hard l<alH?r?Will Argue This Week for j New Trial. Nashville, Tenn., March 20.? Guilty of murder in the second degree?punishment of 20 years' imprisonment?was the unexpected verdict render'd bv the inrv nn-ninut Col. Duncan R. Cooper and Robin J. Cooper when court opened today. The jury yesterday acquitted John I). Sharp, indicted with the Coopers for tlie slaying of Former United States Senator 10. W. Cannaek. Everything moved swiftly from the moment the verdict was rendered. Immediately the defense moved to set it aside because of the verdict of disagreement of yesterday and asked the court to declare it a mistrial. Judge Hart said he would listen to arguments on this motion, probably next week. He then fixed the defendants' bonds at $25,000 each. Aitnougn Judge Hart fixed the bond at $25,000, there was a rush to sign it on the part of wealthy citizens of Xashville, which fairly swamped the clerk of the criminal court. In vain he protested over and over again that more than enough sureties has signed, but the invariable answer was, 'We want to put our name on that bond, too." It seemed sis though every friend of the Coopers considered it incumbent upon him to sign the bond. When there was no more room for names at the foot of the document, the new bondsmen indorsed it across the face until it was difficult to decipher the signatures. When filed the bond totaled nearly $1,500,000. The Coopers returned to the jail this afternoon late and removed their personal effects. For the present J Col. Cooper will make his home with Mrs. Burch and Robin will return to his old quarters with his uncle, John C. Bradford. Tonight the father and son retired to the home of Judge J. C. Bradford and discussed the next move in the case. T>ui'g;o Crowd Present. Various and insistent rumors that the jury hud agreed were responsible for a crowded court room this morning and for the presence of attorneys on both sides long before the usual hour for convening. As soon as Judge Mart entered court and after he removed his coat, he ordered the defendants and the jury brought into court. "I understand they have agreed," he remarked to the press table, "and am sending to see." In almost a moment, at 9:25, to bo exact, the 12 men entered the room and took the same seats they have occupied for nearly nine weeks. "Have you agreed upon a verdict, gentlemen?" said Judge Hart. "We have," replied Foreman 10. M. Burke hoarsely. "Advance, Mr. Foreman, and read the verdict." "We, the jury, find the defendants, Duncan Ft. Cooper and Robin J. Cooper, guilty of murder in the second degree, and assess their punishment at confinement in the State pen! itentiary for a period of 20 years." i "So say you all, gentlemen?" "So say we all," in chorus. "I thank you, gentlemen," said the court, "for your patience and devoi tion to the State and dismiss you to 1 your homes and to your personal erubployment." . At the conclusion of this remark the entire 1 2 sprang from their seats , as one man and hurridly left the oourt room. The verdict, coming as it did upt on the heels of Foreman Burk's declaration yesterday "that we are kAnnln.^1.. ~ tl, ? /~1 ? I iiu|iuiconi j iJt'u 111# an IU nit; v^uup^i n, was decided surprise. The defendants took it cooly?almost without emotion. In a second after Judge Hart ceased dismissed the jury, Judge Andert son of the defense was on his feet exclaiming: Held ft a Mistrial. L "Your honor, we believe that the ; case should be declared a mistrial - because of verdict; we contend that - yesterday's verdict was the only one, i and that it acquitted John Sharp, , but declared a disagreement on the r other defendants. We also ask that n the defendants be admitted to bond i at once." t I "The verdict of the Jury makes It ' a bailable case," was the court's reIW TO tort, "hence I will fix the bond of each at $25,000 unless there he some objection. In that event I will hear argument.*' "It Is satisfactory to us," said Attorney General McCarn. "And to us," retorted Judge Anderson. "There seems to be nothing left but for the court to pass sontence," added Judge Hart. "I do not think that necessary," said Judge Anderson. "Wo move that judgment be suspended and that we be given a new trial. We will be prepared to argue the motion later? probably next week." "All right, Judge," remarked the court. "I know you will not delay unnecessarily and will take it up at your own convenience." The jurors were not inclined to talk, but one of them said: "On the first ballot we acquitted John Sharp and disregarded the con spiracy theory. On this same ballot wo stood six for guilty of murder in the first degree, with mitigating circumstances, five for murder in the second degree with 2 0 years, the maximum penalty, and one for acquittal. The ballots all day Wednesday and Thursday showed the same result. Yesterday the man who voted for acquittal came over to murder in the second degree hut demanded that only 10 years bo assessed. The rest of us did not deem 10 years as anything like adequate, so we disagreed again. Of course, all this refers to the Coopers, not Sharp, whom we had acquitted. Early this morning the man who was holding out for 10 years agreed i ,X OA ? .% .1 *??? wi i.\t .iv-ain iiim lilt; six WHO were voting for a llrst degree verdict agreed to this verdict." While the Jurors would not say who the man was who hold out for acquittal, it is known front remarks overheard hy t lie deputies that he was S. J. Hyde. * m.wy perished at ska. Casualties for the North Atlantic Are Reckoned. Vloston, March 21.?Two hundred and twenty-one persons perished hy shipvreck and eighty-nine vessels met with disaster off the New England and Rritish North American coasts, or while engaged in the Now England oceanic trade during t he fall and winter season of 1908-09, which ended tonight. Of the 89 vessels cast ashore or lost at sea, six steamers and 50 sailing craft were totally wrecked. The financial loss exceeds $3,000,000. The most thrilling disaster of the season was the collision between the White Star Line steamer Republic, and tho Italian steamer Florida. In (he series of storms which prevailed from November 17 to December 5, one hundred and sixtyfive persons were drowned and four steamers and 35 sailing craft lost. The greatest disaster of last fall was the destruction of the American steamer Soo City, which foundered off the southwest coast of New Foundland, with all on board?28 men. jl'dce price paralyzed. Attacked Sunday Morning at Ills Home in Anderson. Anderson, March 21.?While dressing for breakfast at 8:30 o'clock this morning Judge George E. Price, Judge of the Tenth circuit, was stricken with paralysis which has affected his entire right side. His condition tonight is considered quite serious by the physicians, but they are not able yet to give out any opinion as to the outcome of the stroke. Judge Price has been circuit Judge for one term and was elected at the recent General Assembly for another term. He is 5 4 years of age, and up to this time has been in excellent health. He was out yesterday, and did not complain. Tonight Judge Price is able to articulate slightly and is able to move slightly his right arm and right leg. GILTEI) GIltL STHICKEN DUMB. Falls Into Coma on Hearing Her Fiance Has Married. Syracuse*, N. Y., March 18.? Stricken dumb when she learned on Friday that her fiance had married another, Miss Belle Raum, of No. 4 2 4 Harrison street, 17 years old, has not been able to speak a word since. Dr. J. S. Ileiman attributes her loss of speech to hysteria. Until this morning she was in a state of coma. This morning the physic1 ian questioned her, and although she ; was unable to speak, she could write I answers. The man who jilted her is William Meyer, of Liverpool. On Thursday he and Miss Ann King were marreid in Bufialo. * THE HO MONSTER FAILURE THAT IS WHAT SKNATOIt TILLMAN SAYS OF TEI>1>Y. lliul Collected Great Deal of Fvldencc to Show That Roosevelt Had Xo Regard for the Truth. Augusta, Ga.t March 20.?Senator B. It. Tillman, in an interview mado public here today, commenting upon Mr. Koosovelt, the present situation in the hotise and upon the new administration, said: "Koosovelt narrowly escaped being a great man, but his want of sincerity and earnestness made him really one of the greatest failures that has ever occupied the White House. As I the time approached for congress to I adjourn and the opportunity to show Roosevelt in his trim colors approached I began to seriously consider whether it was worth while." Senator Tillman said that the action of the house of representatives and the senate committee on appropriations both charged Roosevelt with falshehood, and that lie himself "had much evidence collected" to prove that he (Mr. Roosevelt) had no regard for the truth. "When 1 could have produced the evidence," Mr. Tillman continued, "I knew a lot of people would charge me with being actuated by malice and desire for revenge, and therefore my attitude would be discredited. So I 11 na 11 y decided to leave him alone." Speaking of the "insurgents" movement in the house, Mr. Tillman said: "1 was surprised to learn of the bolters' venality anil cowardice. What is needed is discipline. What they ought to do is to behead these men at tho noxt. election." Of tho Taft administration Mr. Tillman said: "Mr. Taft's administration is goiii^ to bo liko a calm aftor a storm, llo is a patriotic, just-mindod, bighearted man. Ho will be popular in every section of the country. He will bring about an era of good fooling." * Til III l.lil N(? llKSCt:KS. Seven IVople Are Taken From llurning House. Now York. March, 19.?Tho fire whicli swept through the seven-story apartment house in West Fifty-ninth street, near the Hotel Plaza last night was not under control until 1 o'clock this morning. Two persons are missing. The fire was spectacular and renb-te with sensational rescues. A groat crowd blockaded the firemen intholr ' work. Ton persons, includIn their work. Ten persons, includSeven tenants were carried down extension ladders from the burning building after sustaining burns which were painful but not necessarily fatal. The building was practically destroyed. Those who were not taken to the hospital were cared for by physicians from the Plaza, which became a place of refuge. KILLED ma PVTIIOX. Mexican Thrown by Horse Into Snake's Coils. i;oatzacoteos, Mexico, March is.? Miguel Espinosa, a plantation overseer, while down In the Tuzla district inspecting sonio lands, met a horrible death in the embrace of a huge snake. Coining suddenly upon an immense python, which the rancher did not see, his horse stopped suddenly and threw Espinosa over his head. The unfortunate man, who was galloping in the lead of the party, fell into the coils of the immense serpent, and was crushed to death before Pancho Oritz, the next man in the party, could come up and shoot the snake. The python was 15 feet. 7 inches in length. STOCK IlUItXKD TO DKATIf. ???? i Herd of Cows, llorses, Mules and Hogs Perish in Fire. Amerlcus, Ga., March 20.?Forty head of live stock, including a herd of Jersey cows, a pair of fine horses, ten mules and a drove of hogs were burned to death together with the barns, corn cribs and other out In.uses of the Itay Gagley Orchard Company, near here, early this morning in a fire that has all the ear mark? of being incendiary. The property loss outside the live stock will probably not he more than $1 0,000. Ef forts aro being; made to determine who caused the blaze, If the suaplci Ion that It was Incendiary Is cor j rect. * iRRY HEI PAYS FOR CRIME Benjamin Gilbert is Electrocuted at Richmond, Va. KILLED YOUNG LADY Ik'caiiHfl She 1 {ejected Him us m liovcr?The Murder Committed on n llridge at Norfolk, While the Young (lirl wits With Friends for a Little Outing. Richmond, March 10.?For killing Ids former sweetheart In a moment of Jealous rage, Benjamin Gilbert today was electrocuted in the State penitentiary here, where all criminals in this State are now put to death. Because she had spurned him for the attentions of other young men, Gilbert shot down pretty Amanda B. Morse on Cam post el la bridge In Norfolk on July 23 last. The girl lingered for twenty-four hours, her death occurring at St. Vincent's hospital to which institution she had been removed immediately following the shooting. Hearing that Gilbert had threatened to kill his daughter, T. (). Morse, father of the girl, went to look for Gilbert, and reason with him. Going the wrong way, Morse missed Gilbert, and twenty minutes later, while still in search of the youth, was told that he had shot his daughter. The father rushed to the scene and the fact that he could Hud no one to furnish him with a pistol was all that prevented a double tragedy. On the hot summer night Miss Morse and several young friends went to Compogtella bridge for a breath of air from across the water. They wore conversing on the bridge when young Gilbert approached. Miss Morse's escort, \V. G. Mitchell, noticed Gilbert acting peculiarly. Gilbert asked the girl to see him privately. She replied that if he had anything to say to her ho could say it then and there. flllhnrt nif? 1/5 n?r ?- 1? * v...... . u lunnlllfS III! I t'pi.V, .MISS Morse turned from him and took the a. m of Mitchell to walk further on the bridge. Just as she did so Gilbert drew his pistol and fired three times at. her. Two of the ballots entered the girl's hack. The third grazed the coast of Mitchell. Gilbert would have been mobbed but for the early arrival of the police. lie claimed to have been engaged to the girl and declared that their wedding was scheduled for an early date when she spurned him. Gilbert's defense was general depravity and mental irresponsibility, it being sought at his trial to prove hereditary insanity. After tho trial eight members of the jury petitioned Governor Swanson to commute f!i1lu>rt'u linn) ti uniili.M/." *" lie? i ? V ? uvmil avuicllto III lilt! I III * prisonment in the State penitentiary. The jury in rendering it? verdict recommended the prisoner to the mercy of the court. Judge Ilancke) submitted this recommendation to the Governor, who declared that if lie should commute Gilbert, he could not permit another man to be executed for murder, so long as ho occupied tlio gubernatorial chair. The Supremo Court was then upappealed to, among the grounds being that Gilbert had become insane since bis conviction and that the act of the Legislature changing the mode of inflicting the death penalty In Virginia from hanging to electrocution was "strange and unusual." and, therefore, In conflict with the < Constitution of the State. The Supreme Court denied a writ of error on Gilbert's appeal, and Governoi Swanson, who had granted numerous respites to permit court action, refused to interfere further. Gilbert's parents spent their a*l in an effort to save his life, even mortgaging their beds to raise money with which to carry the flglit to the higher courts. Daniel Coleman, Jr., the lawyer who defended Gilbert, not only received no compensation, but had to supplement from his own pocket the money raised by Gilbert's parents to carry on the fight for the condemned boy. Gilbert after being carried to the penitentiary repented and had his spiritual advisor write to the parents of his victim asking forgiveness, the youth saying that he could dio easier , if ho had his forgiveness. Killed by lla/.ing. Indianapolis, Ind., March 21.?OfI fleers today began an investigation ' of the death by hazing of Charles ' Stinson, a pupil of the White School, In White County. Stlnson, it Is al leged, was strung up by the ankles > to a sapling near the school and left hanging go long that ho (lied a few hours after he was taken 1 down. uuT