Newspaper Page Text
HIGHLAND RECORDER VOL. xxn. MONTEREY, HIGHLAND COUNTY, VA., JANUARY 2fl, 1900. NO. 5. CHAITER XXXlT_(ConUmied.) Then he and Benjaman talked over their plana for a lcn>c time, and before the money-lender left a plan had been arranged ?whereby Stanmore, as we shall continue to designate him, hoped to at? tain the fruition of hie hope, and get Pratt and Weeks In his power. What Stanmore's plan was we shall presently seo. Meanwhile, on the evening which Wit? nessed the interview between Stanmore and Abraham Benjaman, when the latter told his friend of Pratt's proposition a'out th 3 marked money, Paxton re? ceived a note from the Chief of Police, requesting him to call at his office at on re. The detective hastened to comply with the request, and when he arrived at the chief's oTlce, he was informed by that official that he had just received notice that a man who was dying at a charity hospital desired to make a con? fession to him relating to the Oakburn murder. "I knew you would be deeply Inter? ested in anything promising information on this subject, and so I sent for you. Will you accompany me to the hospital? I am going at once," said the chief. Of course Paxton answered affirma? tively. The detective ami the chief repaired to the hospital without further delay. Upon their arrival there they were at once conducted to the ward in which lay the dying man who wished to make confession. Intensely interested and excited at the prospect of an immediate explana? tion of the mystery which had so long baffled him, Paxton listened to the con? fession made by the dying man, while a cieik of the hospital recorded it in writ leg. "I know Levi Kredge, who was the jf.nitor at the office of Jason Garrison, where John Oakburn, the old cashier, was murdered," began the man. Paxton started as he heard him men? tion the name of the janitor at the very outset. "On the night of the murder," con? tinued tho man who was making the confession, "at about 1 o'clock, I saw Levi Kredge get out of tho side window of Garrison's office. I had dodged into thp passage between the two buildings to escape the observation of a party whom I wished to avoid, when I saw Levi. I accosted Levi when he came out of the passage upon the street. I told him I had seer, him get out of the office, and he was terribly alarmed." The dying man paused, and after a few moments he continued: "Kredge begged me not to tell of his bning in the office, and he offered me a thousand dollars if I would swear to keep his secret, I agreed, for I am a poor man, and a thousand dollars seemed like a largo sum to me. Until now I have kept ray promise of secrecy, but I could not make up my mind to die without telling all this for I feared that young Harland might yet be convicted of the crime. It le my conviction that Levi Kre i^'o murdered John Oakburn." This WM 'he man's confos6ion, and when it had been read to him he was lifted up in his couch, and ho signed it. Of course Paxton was not in the least surprised to learn that Kredge was in Garrison's office on the night of the murder, for he had, as we know, long since concluded that the janitor made the tell-tale tracks under the office win? dow. It puzzled the detective t"> decide what part the man whom Pratt & Weeks called "Carnac" had in the crime. Whether he was principal or confederate he could not say. Paxton informed Stanmore and Stuart Harland of the confession, and their satisfaction at the news may be imagined. "1 had laiih to believe that my inno? cence would be proven," said Stuart. "Now should Judith Kredge accuse Marion publicly, her denunciation will bj harmless, since we may regard the proof aga'nst Kredge sufficient to con? vince any jury," said Stanmore, who th jught only of Marion's safety. "With tho confession of the man whom he bribed to secrecy in my pos? session, I shall visit Levi Kredge, and I think this time I shall be able to frighten him into a confession," said Paxton. The detoctive reasoned from what ho knew of the (hara-'ter of Levi Kredge, that, if he was not the principal in the vcrime of the broker's office, he would now see that there was no hope for him, and he would tiy to save himself by turning state's evidence. Paxton had the confession of the man who had seen Kredge leave the broker's offico through the window in his pocket, and he forthwith repaired to the Tombs, and was admitted to Kredge's cell. The janitor seemed surprised at Pax? ton's visit, and he scented danger. "Well, Levi, here I am again, you see, and I have- a little surprise for you," said the detective, cheerfully. "What now? Has not Judith's con? fession convinced you of my innocence of Oakburn'8 murder?" demanded Kredge. 'Til be frank with you, Levi. I don't for a moment think that Marion had anything to do with her father's murder," answed Paxton. "And you still suspect me?" "Certainly." Kredge made the transit of his cell Bcveral times, and finally he sa'd, in a fierce, desperate tone: "Well, what are you going to dc about it?" - "You can judge of that for yourself when you have heard the contents of this document which I have brought with me to read to you." Thus answered Paxton calmly, and he drew from his pocket the confession of the man whom Kredge had bribed to keep his secret. The prisoner watched him with an anxious expression on his evil face. Probably the wretch had a suspicion 1 ?J what was coming, __.. Tie staggered across tno cen, ana sann down upon an iron cot. Deliberately the detective unfolded the confession, and in a slow, distinct voice he read it through. Kredge did not interrupt him. When the detective concluded the reading of the confession, which vir? tually accused the janitor, the latter did not utter a word, but white and ghastly, he sat staring at the floor as though stricken dumb and motionless. "What do you say to that, Levi?" asked Paxton, presently. It was a moment before Kredge an? swered, CtlAi'Tttt XXXIIt. When at last Levi Kredge spoke1, he Baid, iii a fierce, sullen Way: "I won't talk. You can't make me. Leave me, you human bloodhound!" "So you want me to leave you, eh! You want time to reflect, I see. You aro afraid you will commit yourself. Quit' right, Levi. I will go, but before taking my departure. I warn you that your lest chance is gone." Thus Paxton answered. "You lie. You can't convict me of John Oakburn's murder. I defy you to do that. You have fooled yourself in this case. Everybody has been fooled. Smart as you aro. Smart as you are, Mr. Paxton, you have not once suspected the truth.. On_bT Marion Oakburn and myself know that. Permit me to say to you before you go, that I'll prove how completely you have followed a false scent, when 1 make up my mind to speak. I think I've given you a riddle to puzzle your brains. That's all I've got to say now," said Kredge. He then turned his back upon Paxton, nnd not another word could the detec? tive induco him to say, though he did his best to make him talk further. Paxton left the cell more discomfited than he would have liked to admit. There was something in the manner of Levi Kredge that caused him to think that the fellow really was holding back some startling evidence. "What can he mean? How could I possibly have been following a falso trail, as he hints?" muttered Paxton. But Levi Kredge was frightened, though he was keeping back some se? cret which he meant should serve as a trump card in the desperate game he was engaged in. His sister paid him a visit soon after Paxton left. Levi informed Judith of the detect? ive's visit, and he related all he had paid. "So you were in the office on the night of the murder, and you did enter through the window? You have kept this a se? cret from mo. Why did you not trust me? You are in a dangerous fix, Levi, and I fear they will hang you; but did you really take the money from Garri? son's safe?" said Judith, with an avar? icious light in her eyes, which Levi did not fail to notice. "No; I think I've told you that before. But you needn't worry about their hang? ing me. I'm as good as doomed to a long term of imprisonment, which is al? most as bad. The prospect terrifies me. I shall make a confession. I've been thinking the matter over since the in? fernal detective left me, and I've con? cluded that my only chance is in telling the whole truth. Can't you guess whv I didn't tell you all, Judith?" "No." "I'll tell you. Simply because I knew you would insist upon my dividing 8 nice little Bum of money with you." "Then you did get the money which John Oakburn received for the cheqw that day?" Kredge laughed strangely. Then he said: "I tell you again, no!" Judith vainly tried to win Levi's con? fidence, but finally she became angry and left tho prison very much piqued, at her brother's refusal to satisfy hei curiosity. After he was informed of Pratt's ap? plication to Abraham Benjaman, th* jewish money-lender, for a loan. Stan? more told Paxton, the detective, and ht went on at some length to reveal a plan which he had formed, whereby he meani to mako the swindlers reveal all they knew about the crime of John Oakburn's murder, and the marked money. Paxton approved of Stanmore's plan, and he remarked: "When they are in your power, those rascals will not refuse to speak. When lt is a revelation or prison, men are apl to open their lips." The detective hoped that in the state? ment to be wrung from Pratt and Week? he would find a clue to the real truth ol the mystery. Meanwhile Marion Oakburn was in the terrible delirium of brain fever, and much a^ she might have desired to ex? plain any mystery to which she hold the key, she was not able to do so. She raved incoherently, but the one subject that seemed to fill her chaotic brain was her father's murder. Paxton and Stanmore had instructed the nurse to note all sho said, in th? hope that some clue might be gathered from her ravings, but nothing could be learned, so wild and incoherent were al) tier statements, and so unreal and weird were the hallucinations which prompted aer utterance. If at this time a human life had de Dended upon Marion Oakburn's revela ion, that life would have been lo6t. Once in her delirium, Maldon shrieked: "It's a lie! Jt's a lie! My father was ai aonest man. You shall not traduce him. I will defend his memory at any cost!' CHAPTER XXXIV. The day following that upon whlcl stanmore received the information fha' Pratt had applied to Benjaman for t oan, the rascally broker made his ap >earanco at the office of the money< ender promptly to the hour of his lasi dsit. Mr. Benjaman was awaiting him After the civilities of the day wen ixchanged, Pratt said: "I hope you have the money ready ?r me?" "Yes. It is in the safe, yonder." Benjaman pointed to a safe in ont :orner of the office as he spoke. Pratt's eyes sparkled. He was anxious to have the gold is tis possession. There seemed to be no one but Ben- I jaman present in the private office, and the villainous broker said, without fear of being overheard: "I have brought the marked money with me. I want to close this transac? tion to-day, If possible." Then he produced a package from a small valise, and, opening it, disclosed several bundles of bank-notes. Benjaman watched them eagerly, and his eyes flamed with the light of tri? umph as Pratt proceeded to count the money upon the table. "You will find the amount all right, I think," he said, after running over the bills, and he pushed them to Benjaman. The aged Hebrew counted the money carefully. "Tho amount ls ccrrect. Seventy seven thousand dollars," he said. The reader will remember that one thousand dollars, according to Pratt's statement, had been paid to the mys? terious man called "Garnar." Benjaman, after counting the money, snatched it up, and placed it in his safe. Then, instead of taking out the gold to pay Pratt, he suddenly locked tho safe.awl -tawied away. Pratt's eyes were riveted upon him, and he did not understand the meaning of this. "I thought you said tho gold was in the safe yonder," he said. "So it is. But before paying it to you, I want you to sign this little document, merely "as a matter of business and self protection, in case anything unpleasant should happen," said Benjaman, and Fratt uttered an impatient oath, as the old money-lender placed a written paper before hlim "I have this day deposited with Ben? jaman <fe Son, seventy-seven thousand dollars in bills, marked with a red 'V' in the corner of each note. Said notes are delivered by me to Benjaman and Com? pany in pursuance of an agreement whereby Benjaman is to loan me thirty seven thousand fivo hundred dollars, and hold this money as security for tho same." Pratt read the paper carefully. Then he said: " Very well, I'll sign this for you;" and seizing the pen, he appended his signa? ture in a dashing hand. "Now, then, give me the gold." . "One moment, please." "What now?" demanded Tratt, with an impatient oath. "I want to introduce you to these gen? tlemen," said the money-lender. There was a screen across the office, and, pushing it aside, he added: "These are my witnesses 1" Pratt recoiled with a sudden exclama? tion, as he beheld another Benjaman, the exact counterpart of the man to w hom he had paid tho marked money, and fuur of Bonjaman's clerks, who had boen concealed behind the screen. Pratt glanced tn amazement from the man to whom he had paid tho marked money, to the other Benjaman. "What Infernal trickery is this? If you have betrayed me, I'll have your life!" turning to the Benjaman to whom he had given the marked money. "Who are you?" continued Pratt, ad? vancing threateningly. "Stand back!" shoutod the other. As he spoke he suddenly removed a beard and wig, which he had worn to impersonate Benjaman, and Paxton, the detective, stood revealed. At Stanmore's request the veteran had assumed the character of Benjaman the moneylender. "Paxton, the detective!" exclaimed Pratt; and a gray pallor supplemented the habitual flush of his red face. "Yes, I am Paxton; and at last I have found the money stolen by John Oak? burn's assassin. Daniel Pratt, you are in a situation of awful peril!" said tho detective solemnly. Involuntarily Pratt turned toward the door, and there was in his mind a haif formed resolution to make a dash to escape. But it was written that he should not evado the hand of justice this time. The door opened, disclos? ing Stanmore and two stalwart police officers. "There is no way of escape, Pratt. The game is up. Here is a gentleman who will hear your confession," said Paxton, indicating Stanmore. "And who ,are you?" demanded the broker. "I am Donald Wayburn. The man you ruined and drove into exile!" cried Stanmore. Thus speaking he removed the snow white beard and wig, which had given him a striking and venerable appear? ance, and a handsome man, in the very prime of life was revealed. Tratt staggered back until the wall supported him, and he cried: "Trapped! Betrayed!" "Yes. You are in my power. Ban ja? man ls but an agent of mine, and so are Marks ?v Bock, and Judson, Kirk & Co. All you owe them you really owe me," said Stanmore calmly. "Fiends and furies!" cried Pratt, In Impotent rage; and again he turned to? ward the door. "If you attempt to leave this room, you will be arrested by Mr. Paxton on the charge of receiving stolen goods, knowingly." Tho police officers were outside the door. Paxton had closed it after Stan more'6 entranco. and hs now stood with his back against it. "I did not know the money was stolen. I deny such knowdedge, positively." "You forget you signed a paper which stated the money was marked, and tho facts of the proposed transaction men? tioned in the same document clearly proves you knew it was not safe to uso tho money." "Overreached!" "Yes. Kut more than all this, I can prefer against you and sustain as well tho serious charge of forgery. Evl lence obtained from Sands, your for? mer clerk, who is now in the employ of Lawyer Saybrook, proves you altered Stuart Harland's note, raising it from ano to ten thousand dollars." Pratt dropped into a chair. He saw that he was indeed entangled n the toils which Stanmore had cast ibout him. Stanmore whispered to Benjaman, ind then the money lender and his 3lerks, wdio had been concealed behind die screen, withdrew. "Whatdo you mean to do?" Pratt sud lenly demanded. "It is in my power to send you to orison, as you wcli know. You had no nercy on me in days gone by, and now [ should be merciless toward you. But I have resolved to offer you certain enns," said Stanmore. "What are your conditions?" asked Pratt, sullenly. "If you will reveal how the stolen noney came into your hands and fur lish mo with a written confession that I was duped and swindled, and which rill clearly prove my innocence of all | :nowledge that the speculation by which i was ruined, and through which I uo-,' wittingly helped to ruin others, was a ^windle, I will spare you," said Stan? more. Pratt wai silent for a moment, while bitter reflection filled his plotting brain. "Come, your answer. Will you make terms or go to prison?" Just then Pratt heard a peculiar "clicking" sound, andfllurning to Paxton he saw the detective papping the catch of a pair of handcws which ho had taken from his pocket. The sight, of those manacles was very suggestive, and Pratt realized his situa? tion more keenly thad heretofore, He uttered a terrible oath, and then exclaimed bitterly: "The game ls up, I cave. You've got thc upper hand this time, and I'll do what you require." Stanmore's eyes Sparkled, for thia was a supreme moment of his life. The time of Ir's vlndicationjhad come at last. "iou are wise to scpecide," he said. "Very wise," remarked Paxton, sotto voce. And he returned the handcuffs to his pocket. Pratt was conquered. *"* ? "Now tell us how you came by the marked money?" demanded Stanmore. "That money was not stolen from John Oakburn. It was not taken from Garrison's safe, as everybody supposed. On tho contrary, lt was paid to us by John Oakburn on the evening of the day he drew it from the bank," said Pratt. "What! Do you mean to say John Oakburn embezzled the money? He was an honest man; you shall not tra? duce his reputation!" cried Stanmore, indignantly. "I have told you nothing but tho truth." "But John Oakburn did not owe you this money?" Pratt hesitated, Evidently it was hard for the scoun? drel to acknowledge his villainy. Paxton now anticipated the most sur? prising denoument, but at that moment there came a knock at the office door, and opening it the detective admitted one of his most expert agents. From the beginning of the investiga? tion of John Oakburn's murder, this man had devoted himself, under his principal's direction, exclusively to tho task of seeking the man who had ex? changed overcoats with Stuart Harland on the railway train. The [detective auxiliary whispered to his employer for a moment, and then Paxton cried: "I've great news. The suspected m in called 'Ganiar,' who exchanged coats with Stuart Harland, has been captured. This agent of mine secured him at Mother Kitt's house." "Garnar caught!" cried Pratt. "Ah, you know the supposed assassin!" said Stanmore, significantly. "Yes, and now I'll tell you in a very few words how we came by the marked money. The man called Garnar, which is merely an assumed cognomen, ls really named Reid Oakburn, and he is John Oakburn's son by a first wife. Marion is the child of a second marriage, and his half-sister. Reid is really much older than he looks. Yeats ago I knew him well in Kansas Cily, where he re? sided for a long time. There he forged a note, and for the job ho served a term of imprisonment. He came out of pris? on a desperate, reckless man, but he had resolved to live an honest life and bury the past, so he has told me. He then changed his name, assuming the alias William Hompsted, and he went to Denver. There he succeeded in work? ing himself into a situation in a bank, and finally he became cashlor." Pratt paused for a moment. Paxton had started when he men? tioned the name William Hempsted, for he knew that was the name of an ab? sconding Denver bank cashier, for whose capture there was a standing reward of $10,000. From a Denver detective agency Paxton had received a description of "Hempsted," but lt did not correspond with that of the suspected man. "When Reid Oakburn, or Hempsted, or Garnar?the latter his latest alias, became cashier of the bock, and he had the handling of the funds, he fled with a large sum which he squandered tn gam? bling. When he left Denver he assumed a clover disguise, and as he soon after received a severe cut across the eye? brow which left a severe scar, his dis? guise was perfect. "Fate directed Reid Oakburn to come to this city under the name of 'Garnar.' I met him on the street on the afternoon preceding the night of John Oakburn's death, and I recognized him, or fancied I did. I called him by name, and the result proved that I was not mistaken. "A reward of $5,000 had been offered for his capture, and I meant to have the money. Pretending friendship, I de? coyed Reid Oakburn to my office, where I made him a prisoner in the privato apartment, intending to turn him over to the officers of the law. "But while Weeks and myself were considering the matter there was an ar? rival at the office. Levi Kredge, who was acting as a 6py for us at Garrison's office, came in and reported that Oak? burn was going to cash a check at the bank for $78,000, and that the money was to bo paid to us in the morning. " Then a great idea occurred to me. I wanted to get Garrison in my power. That money would save him. I knew that old Oakburn loved his wayward first-born son better than his own life, and determined that the old cashier should ransom Reid, and that tho $78, 000 intended to save Garrison from ruin should be tho price of the fugitive cash? ier's liberation by us. "After office hours, Kredgo carried to John Oakburn a note which Reid had written, in which he told his father how he was situated, and Implored him to save him. So it happened that when Kredge delivered Reid's note to him, John Oakburn had not placed the money which he had just drawn frorn the bank in his safe. 11" The money was still in his pocket, and in the excitement, when ho read his son's letter, ho forgot all about lt, and when ho hastened to our office, as he immediately did, he quite unintentional? ly brought thc money with him. "There was a terrible scene between the aged parent and his scapegrace son. Reid fell upon his knees at his father's feet, and begged him to save him, to pay the sum we demanded or his release. " We demanded sevonty-eight thousand dollars, the exact amount Oakburn had drawn from the bank. "John Oakburn then discovered that he had the money with him, and at last he said: "' I will pay you the money that you demand; though it will make me a poor man in my old age, I cannot resist the prayer of my son.' " (TO BB CONTINCBD.| Making: a Record. " A St. Louis girl of 15 has recently married for thc second tipae, her first marriage having taken pto ce when she was only 13, _ - \?.-'?_< THE NEWS. A report comes from Chicago that as a result of the recent agreements of the trunk Ino officials, separate city ticket offices will 'jo-nbatidoued in Baltimore, Philadelphia ind other enies, aud joint offices will be substituted. Tile tobacco growers of North Corollua have agreed to sell none of their product to the American Tobacco Company for five years, A. S. Vaa Wick le A Co.. coal miners at Coleraine, Pa., have advanced tho wages of their men two per cent, It ls reported that bx ty thouaaud miner? in the anthracite region of Pennsylvania have decided to strike. Thomas McDowell, the first mayor of Sac? ramento, Cal., died at Suth River, N. J.. aged eighty-three. Henry Smith died in Rockbridge county, Va., aged eighty-nlao. Ile had 2G2 descen? dants. Captain Charles L. Steels, of the Eigh? teenth Infantry, died at Fort Bayard, New Mexico.^. Some Egyptian cotton was received Id South Carolina, the first ever sent to that state. Mr. Ryau made another move at Norfolk in the Seaboard Air Line'matter. Major J. C. Bryant died at Newport News, Va., of pneumonia. Francis P. Owing-', of Chicago, presented an indebtedness of over five and a-half mil? lions of dollars in Chicago, the largest sched? ule for liabilities for discharge ever known under the national bankruptcy act. Deputy Sheriff Alfred Henry, while feed? ing the prisoners iii the Howell county (Mo.) jail was dragged into a cell and killed. All the prisoners in the jail escaped. At Spruce Creek, Pa., Charles Robinson found John O'Neil in his house with his wife, and killed him instantly. Tho American Steel and Wire Company has advanced the wages of Its men at Crown Point, N. Y.. ten per cent. Three men were fatally scalded by the ex? plodion of a boiler on the yacht Caperon at Delaware City. Professor Enoch Howard Vickers, of West Virginia, was married at Toklo, Japan, De? cember 20. Miss Maud A. Cleary and Mr. Edward J. Brady, of Garrett Fark. Md., were married it Norfolk. The arm of Jacob Crumbling, a farmer living near Wrightsville, Pa., was blown off by dynamite. The Tygart Valley Bank, at Philippi, W. Va., was robbed of a largo sum by burglars. Five men of a section gang of nine were killed by a train near Oxford, N. J. Negotiations have been closed In Detroit which, lt ls contonded. will bethe beginning of tho end of the Independent telephone movement. Tho annual convention of the Virginia State Horticultural Convention wag held In Staunton. Captain 'J. W. Murphy, cashier of the Third National Bank of Columbus. Ga., shot and killed the toller, P. T. Shutze, and then killed himself, soon after tho bank opened. William Gurley, proprietor of the Iudlana House In Phoebus, Va., was arrested,charged with killing Joseph New, a soldier at Fort Monroe. Senator Morgan, of Alabama, has written a le'.ter to the Democratic committee of Mecklenburg county, N. C., on the race question. Fred SIbeley, of Taylorville, 111., was sen? tenced to prison for life for complicity In the murder of Mis. Jane Brunot. The old frigate Saratoga started out from Philadelphia with boys of the Pennsylvania Nautical School. The mnrino department of the Boston (.'bamber of Commerce identifies the stea? mer wrecked at St. Marys Bay. Newfound? land, as the Norwegian steamer Parran. which sailed from Baltimore January 5 for Sydney, C. B. Judge Waddill. of the United States Court in Norfolk, Va., denied the injunction asked for by Mr. Thomas F. Ryan to prevent the consolidation of the various lines of the Sea? board Railroad system. Two bids were made for constructing tho rapid transit road in New York, Mr. JohnT. McDonald's being for thirty-five millions. Nearly a hundred people at a wedding dinDer in Chicago were made violently ill by eating chicken cooked lu a copper kettle. James Welch made an attempt toaseass'n ate Judge William Lochren, of the United States Court at St. Paul. Minn. Negotiations are in progress for the con? solidation of Chicago tailors who work for the wholesale trade. Louis August, tho Fort Monroe soldier, convicted uf murder, committed suicide at Newport News. Va, Nick Gilligan, accused in Norfolk, Va., of murdering his sweetheart's father, surren? dered. The rod employes at the American Steel aud Wire Works at Cleveland went on a strike. The National Convention of the United Mine Workers was opened In Indianapolis. Rates on all trans-Atlantic lines have been raised ten per cent, or more. Boiler makers in Buffalo, N. Y., went on a strike. Joseph Leach, of Baltimore, a private In Company B, Fourth Artillery, was found guilty, at Topeka, Kans., of killing Corporal Thomas Finnell, tho verdict being ''Guilty, without capital punishment." The formal presentation by the women of South Carolina of a gold medal to Lieuten? ant Victor Blue was made on board the battle? ship Massachusetts. The remains of General Dabney H. Maury, after lying in state in Richmond, Va., were taken to Fredericksburg and there buried. N. K. Goss, a merchant of Edenburg, 0.. was killed in his store by burglars. Three tramps were subsequently captured by a posse. H. H. Tammer and Frederick 0. Bonfils, editors of the Denver Evening Post, were shot by W. W. Anderson, an attorney. James House, a lunatic, leaped from thc second-story window of a sanitarium at St. Louis and killed himself. The authorities of Mount Vernon, Y.. think they have found powdar stains on the night gown of Mrs. Alfred Morrison, who was shot by her husband. Frank Davis was sentenced to the peniten? tiary for forty-five years lu Carbondale, 111., for murder. Edward Haynes shot at his mother-in-law in St. Louis and killed his wife. Jacob Shudln killed his wife and com? mited suicide in Knoxville, Tenn. John Barrett, ex-United States minister te Siam, in a speech in Chicago, named Senatoi Hoar as the United Statos senator whose nnti-expanslon speech was cabled to Hong Kong and placed in the hands of the Filipi? nos for effect. Mrs. Ellen C. Cameron, died suddenly at the Carter House, in Charlestown, W. Va, BURIAL OF LAWTON. ALiking ArrangrinonU for a Fitting Funeral for the Gallant Soldier. Washington, (Special.)?According to ar? rangements already made by tho War De? partment, the remains of Major General Henry W. Lawton, U. S. V., who was killed at San Mateo, Luzon, December 1!) last, will be interred In the National Cemetery at Ar? lington with full military honors, the day after they reach this city. Previous to inter? ment, troops to compose the funeral escort, which will consist of ono regiment of infan? try, one regiment of foot artillery, a squad? ron of cavalry and two mounted batteries of artillery, will bo assembled in thhs city to escort the remains from the church, where the funeral religious services are held, to the cemetery. Major General Wesley Merritt, command? ing the Department of the East, has been charged with the execution of these orders. General .Merritt has been formally desig? nated to command the escort. The remains of General Lawton are on the troopship Thomas, aud are expected to ar? rive at San Francisco about the 1st of Feb? ruary. Mrs. Lawton is a passenger on that vessel, and the final arrangements for the funeral will not be made until the authori? ties at Washington havo ascertained hor wishes in the matter. It Is settled, however, that the remains will be brought to Wash? ington on a special train, in charge of Major General 8hafter, who will be accompanied by an aide. The itinerary of the train will not be determined until the wishes of Mrs. Lawton are known. It is probable that the trip will be made so as to permit the body to lie In state for a short time at Fort Wayne and Indianapolis. TRAPPED IN AMBUSH. First Mishap to the American Tvnops Tivo Men Killed. Washington, (Special.)?The first unto? ward happening lu the highly-successful campaigu now going on iu Luzon ls an? nounced from General Otis-. Manila.?A pack train of twenty ponies, transporting rations between Santo Tomas and San Pablo, Laguna province, escoitea by fifty men under Lieut. Ralston, Thirtieth Infantry, was ambushed Saturday. Two men were killed, five wounded, and nine are missing. Pack train lost. Lieut. Ralston and thirty-four men returned to Santo Tomas with the killed and wounded. The affair ls being investigated. Doret, with the Forty-Ilfth Infantry, struck the insurgents in Batanges Mountains pre? pared in ambush to meet them. He killed eight, wounded three, captured seventeen, Including one Spaniard, and six rifles. His casualties?two meu slightly wounded. (Signed.) Ons. CROP REPORT FOR 1890. Statistic* Showing the Acreage, Value of Wheat, Corn and Oat*. Washington, (Special.)?The statistician of the Department of Agriculture has made public his Anal estimates of the acreage, production and value of the crops of 1899. The values aro based on the average farm prices on December 1. The wheat acreage was 44,592,516. tho production d47,3'J3,846 bushels and the value 1319,545,259, the average yield per acre be? ing 12.3 bushels, and the average farm price per bushel on December 1, 58.4 cents. The corn acreage was 82,103,337, tho pro? duction 2.078,143,033 bushels, and the value f 629,210,110, the average yield per acre be? ing 25.3 bushels, and the average farm price per bushel on December 1, 3 .3 cents. The acreage in oats was 2?,341,380, the production 796,177,713 bushels, and the value fl98,lC7,'J75, the average yield per acre being 30.2 bushels, and the average farm price per bushel on December 1, 24.3 cents. The barley crop ls estimated at 73,331,56;} bushels, the rye crop at 23,961.741 bushels, the buckwheat crop at ll,t.94,473 bushels. the potato crop at 223,783,232 bushels and the hay crop at 56,653,756 tons. Rl'MORED NAVAL SCANDALS. Stories About Captain McGowan and Commander Very. Boston, Mas*., (Special.)-A letter re? ceived from a naval officer at Manila, dated December 12, says that two scandals in the United States squadron are causing general talk. One ls the shooting of a Filipino on board the Monaduock by Captain McGowan, becauso the man climbed over the side ol the vessel forward instead of aft, as de? manded by naval usage, lt is maintained that the captain intended to fire over the man and scare bim, but ho was hit in the hip, and died soon afterwards. The other subject of comment is the fad that Commander S. W. Very, of the Castine, up to the present time, has had every offlcei on the vessel, with one exception, under sus? pension, and one of them has objected. ANTI-LYNCHING MEASURE. Colored Congressman Proposes to Mnke It Treason to the United States. Washington, (Special.)?Representative White, of North Carolina, the colored rep? resentative in the House, introduced a bill "for the protection of all citizens of the Uni? ted States against mob violence." etc. It provides that all persons shall be protected from being murdered, tortured or burned to death by mobs known as "lynching bees," whether spontaneous or premeditated, and all parties participating, aiding or ebettlng In such affairs are mado guilty of treason against the United States government, and subject to prosecution in the United States courts. TWO YOUNG I.ADIFS DROWNED. Their Horse Stumbled Willie They Were Fording Cheat River. Parsons, W. Va., (Special.)- Two daugh? ters of Rev. G. N. Day were drowned in Safford Fork of Cheat River, six miles above here. They were about fifteen and eighteen years old, and were crossing the river on horseback. The animal fell down, throwdng them from his back. One clung to the bridle and the other by bis tail, and were being thus dragged out when the horse fell a second time. The father saw the accident, but his skiff sank before reaching his chil? dren. _ NICARAGUA WILL ARBITRATE. Ready Settlement of Any Trouble With the Canal Company. Washington, (Special.)-It was stated by officials authorized to speak that there is ab? solutely no basis for reports that the State Department has received assurances from Costo Rico and Nicaragua of a wlllingn?ss tc lease territory to the United States for a hun? dred years or more for the construction ol the Nicaraguan Canal. Nicaragua, it is learned, has practically admitted, in princi? ple at least, the doctrine of arbitration as the means of settlement of any trouble between it and tho M?r'Une ('anal Company. No. 083. Made in S4, 48, 42, 36 inch width!. $2.25 buys this brass-trimmed White Enameled Bedstead. Ia stock; la au widths; length, 75inched. Jt bas one inch pillars, two-inch brass ygses aod cape. This bed retails at lro?9 5 lo o dollars. Buy of the maker and save tho i.^d dleaiau's largo profits. Our Caja'r.guc* aro mailed for the asking. Complete lines of Furniture, Carpets. Drape?e6, Crockery, Pictures, Mirrors, fctovefl, Refrigerators, Baby Carriages, Lamps, Bedding, etc., aro contained in t-neso books. Our Lithographed Carpet Cata? logue showing sh* goods in hand-painted colors is also free; if Carpet Samples are' wanted mall us Sc. ki stamps. Drona postal at once to the money-saVera and remember tli?t wc p?y frelg-ht rhix month on |?itr#h)M*eH of Carnet*. I.nee Curtain^, 1'or tiers and lings junonuting to f0.00 and ovor. Julius Hines ft Son R.kLTINORE, MD. Please mention this Paper. THE OLD DOMINION. ATEST NEWS GLEANED PROM VARI? OUS PARTS OF VIRGINIA. 'RISONERS ARE RELEASED. )rganizing at Norfolk For the Abolition of Tollgates -Real Estate Men Leading Legislative Committee Have Agreed Upon a Substitute for "Land Grabbers'" Law Richard Carter Hanged. Sixteen prisoners were released from the "harlottesville jail Friday, as tho result ot a leclslon following an Investigation directed >y Judge Duke, of the Corporation Court, ind made by two attorneys of the Cbar ottcsvllle bar?Messrs. Daniel Harmon and Jryan Gordon. These gentlemen were di? rected to report on the legality of the con Inement of certain prisoners who had been ommitted by the Mayor, who, under the barter, has the same powers as a justice of he peace and is required to try police cases irising under the ordinances. In their re >ort these gentlemen say lt seems quite clear hat the City Council cannot, under thc, char er. prescribe confinements in jail as a pun shment for the violation of au ordinance; hat the only punishment allowed is a fine, ind confinement In jail may be allowed aaa penalty for nonpayment of the fine, but this :onflnement cannot exceed 30 days. A num ior of prisoners were found in jail who, inder this construction of the law, were leld without legal authority. The :ommitteo also deals with the matter )f proper and legal costs. Cases are de icribed in which the prisoner was charged nore than once for arrest, and the opinion s expressed that there can be but one charge vbere there has been but one arrest, and hat as the fee for arrest does not go to the )fflcer making the nrrest. the committee, ound no provision In the ordinances allow ng them, and they hold lt as more than loubtful if they can be taxed without special luthority. As the charter does not provide or fees to the Mayor, although it imposes ipon him the duty of Issuing and trying varrants, the committee suggests that the Mayor bas no legal right to claim themas iompensatlon; that If he has tho right to hem In any case he can claim only those :barged agalntt and collected from the de endant and those charged against the city vhen the warrant is dismissed. In tho cases u which the defendant is found guilty and s sent to jail in default of payment there 13 io authority for collecting from the city, rhe charter requires the Mayor to issue and ry police warrants as one of his official luties, and provides that for his services be shall receive a compensation to be fixed by he Council. It ls suggested that this com? pensation covers all duties performed by dm in this capacity. Against Tollgates. Norfolk's real estate men have taken the Initatory steps toward the abolition of toll bridges and roads with which Norfolk and Princess Anne counties are infested. Tho charters of the companies controlling these interests expire this year, aud thc present Legislature will have before it a bill or bills .o renew these franchises. There has long 4 existed here a sentiment against toll roads, md this has erystalized in a letter to the Uoard of Trade and Business Men's A ^soda Ion seeking its co-operation in the move nent to abolish the toll gates and thus re ieve the people of a tax which has long aeen considered as unjust. This letter sets forth that the real estate men aro handi? capped in their efforts to dispose of lauds ust outside the corporate limits, and in order :o reach them they must pay tribute to the ;oll magnates. These lauds are precisely :hose that are desired by manufacturing in :erests on account of lower rates of taxa ;ion. but if tho latter advantage is more ;han offset by tolls, as is frequently the case, :he site-seeker will not buy. "Land-Grabbers' " Law After moro than five weeks' consideration ot the subject, the Senate and House Finance Committees havo agreed upon a su'stltute for tho "land-grabbers" law. The bill which these committees havo agreed upon does not repeal the act, but amends it in many of the most Important details. All of the sub? stance of the old law remains uudlsturbed. One of the most significant changes made in thc bill is to require the person proposing to take up the laud of the delinquent taxpayer to pay up all of the taxes due the Common? wealth. It also requires the publication in some newspaper of the delinquency of the owner of the land. There aro many other and important changes. Britt*) Still Looking Up. Tho Virginia Iron, Coal and Coke Com? pany continues to add to its possessions in Bristol. One of Its latest purchases ls a 110-acre tract of land near the Virginia and Southwestern Railway shops. The price paid was $13,823. It is understood that thc company has In prospect some very Import? ant enterprises, the details of which will soon be made known. Bristol ls growing at a more rapid rate than at any time within its history.____ The Expansive Editor. Journalism in the Philippines ap? pears to be flourishing. The island* now have three dailies printed ii English, the latest candidate bein| the Insular Press.