The Horry herald. (Conway, S.C.) 1886-1923, March 25, 1909, Image 5
*
} 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