New-York tribune. [volume], January 27, 1907, Image 1

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— — — — — — — — __ — ——______ ~ _ fCopyrtsht 1907. by Th» TrttaM Anoeiation. 1
V°'» I XVI... N* 21.987.
DOCTOR SHOT IN BED.
ATTACKED IN HIS HOME.
Conceals Name of Foe — Revenge.
May Be Motive — Dies In Hospital.
Dr. Charles WUmot Towns? nd, one of the best
known physicians and surgeons on Staten Island,
who was shot while In bed beside his wife in
his home, at Xo. 5 Weslervelt avenue. New
Brighton. Staten Island, early yesterday morn
ing, kept the identity of his assailant a secret,
though he believed his death near, according to
Coroner M. F. CahilL of Richmond Borough.
The coroner learned last night that the shooting
T.-as the result of a grievance, and not an at
tempt at burglary, as the family of the surgeon
first asserted.
Dr. Townsend died In the S. R. Smith Infirm
ary. Staten Island, at 1 o'clock this morning.
The shooting is shrouded in mystery similar
to that which at first enveloped the death last
April of Charles L. Spier, confidential man of
H. H. Rogers. Spier, mho lived not far from
Dr. Townsend. was later shown to be in financial
difficulty, and the coroner's Jury decided ho was
*hot by a revolver in his own hand.
According to a statement made to Police Cap
tain Gallagher and Coroner CahiU by Dr .Town
send after he was removed to the S. It. Smith
Infirmary, the shooting was done by a man thor
oughly familiar with the surgeon's home. The
assailant did rot disturb any of the expensive
Jewelry or large sums of money which were
•within easy reach when he stepped into the bed
room where Dr. and Mrs. Townsend were asleep.
HOW THE SHOOTING OCCURRED.
It was soon after 4 o'clock when Dr. Townsend
was awakened by a man who stood before him
holding a revolver over his head. Then the man
quickly fired two shots. One. perforated the
victim's abdomen and lodged In his spine. The
second passed through the doctor's thigh and
bedded Itself In the mattress. As the first shot
was fired Mrs. Townsend was awakened. She
paw the man turn and leave the room, but she
was unable to give an accurate description, as
the was distracted by the groans of her hus
bisfl.
The bedroom is on the second floor of the sur
geon's house. Four other bedrooms are on the
same floor. They were occupied by Dr. Townsend's
mother and bis five children. The eldest. Louisa,
fourteen years old. Bald that »<he was awake
when the assailant turned on the electric light
en the floor above, and she is positive that three
shots were fired, although Mrs. Townsend said
she heard only two. The girl also told the police
that she saw what she thought was a man run
downstairs after the 6bootlng.
On the third floor three servants were asleep,
but with the exception of Mary Flynn, a nurse.
they did not hear the ehootlng. Miss Flynn was
the first to come to the aid of Mrs. Townsend,
whose first action was to bandage the doctor's
wounds. When she realized that her husband
was seriously Injured she immediately rushed to
the telephone in the dining room on the lower
floor. The trlres bad been cut. and it was use-
I«M. Then she ran to the surgeons office and
*-all*-d William Crablree, a neighbor.
TVTO ARRESTS MADE.
• A call was also tent to the Smith Infirmary
for as ambulance, and Dr.. ..Townsend was pre
pared for 'removal"" For a time he was uncon
rclous. Hut while in the ambulance be revived
and answered a question asked by Joseph Hayes.
his chauffeur, who accompanied him to the hos
pital. . .'
"I think that Ellverman shot me," said the
•urgeon. and then he relapsed into semi-eon-
BcJoucaess. The chauffeur reported these words
to Inspector Sehmittberger. who took charge of
the c-as». Detectives were ordered to find Morris
Silverman, whom they placed under arrest a
f»w hoars later. • . .
Silvcnnan said that he had been treated by
Dr. Townsend eight months ago. He lived at
No. 9 Broad street. Stapleton.
The police also arrested Isaac Bnyder, a
brr>ther-!n-!£w of Silvern. an. who Is a merchant
with a place of business at Brook and Thomp
son FTr*«-t<=. Both men were taken to the bed
side of the surgeon, but he was unable positive
ly to identify either as his assailant.
The arrest of the men is not expected to throw
any light on the shooting, as Inspector Schmltt
berger believed that some one of prominence
committed the crime. The men were, however,
held on a charge of being: suspicious persons,
and will be arraigned to-day.
Coroner Cabin and Inspector Schmittberg«r
would not say whether the wounds could have
Wen self-inflicted, yet they both intimated that
the shooting could have been done by some one
who was in the house when the family retired.
SO TRACE OF ASSAILANT.
Xotiiii showed that any of the windows l.ad
been forced, but It would have been an easy
thing for a man to enter the dining room win
dow, 1 which is usually left open. This window
waa found In the cam* position as it lia«l i."«-n
left by the servants before they retired. '
N<: footprints-were visible in the snow, which
was frozen hard, and was not yet covered with
the fall of yesterday. Hoars of search failed
to reveal any other clews which could show
bow '!,<- man entered the hous^.
The poll* 1 © oalled the attention of Mrs. Town
»*"nd to tbe fact that huu-in of dollars' worth
of silverware and valuable Jttielry were on the
lower floor of the house. None of these things
were disarranged. Inspector Schmitiberger hail
scores of .detectives vi«lt every person who hud
been a patient of the surgeon during the last
three yearn. In this way he expects to delve
into the post -life of the surgeon.
Up in & late hour these detectives had no
rjew. Dr. Townsend's own revolver was found
intact in the drawer where It was placed some
time ago.
Dr. Townsend was vice-president of the Rich
mond County Medical Society, and was a mem
ber of the State Medical Society. He was a
graduate of Yale, and was for two years house
lurgeon of th* S. R. Smith Infirmary, where he
was one of the chief crating surgeons. He
was forty years old. His wife Is the daughter of
Hie late Dr. Theodore Walter, and a sister of
Dr. William C. Walser. She in also a member of
the medical profession, and nan practised.
A few years ago Mrs. Townsend became es
tranged from her husband for several weeks, and
returned to him only after mutual friends
brought about a reconciliation. Then she said
♦hat she would live with Dr. Townsend for the
•Mike of her children.
Since the shooting Mrs. Townsend has been at
'he bedside of her husband .almost all of the
t!:u«». Dr.'Xnillam C Walser and Dr. William
Bryan have, been In attendance since the surgeon
was taken to fbe hospital.
A somewhat similar mystery to the shooting
of Dr. Townsend was the murder of Albert C.
lAtlmer. who was shot In his home In Brook
lyn early In the morning of July 2. 11)92. and
died in the hospital eight days after. Mr. and
Mrs. Latlmer were awakened by a noise in their
•••droom. They Rot up and made a search for
what they supposed to be a burglar. They
'[>ened the door of a closet | beside the bed, and
at that moment there) was a loud report of a
I'ivtol and Latimer staggered back, shot. A man
•-prang on T^a timer, and the two fought for a
few moment*, till another bullet stretched Latl
*ner on the floor. Latimer never recovered con
»<loiieriesK to toll who shot him. On October 30
of that year a man known as WU!lam#Q. John
son, but who said his real name was Ralph
Dougherty, of Derby. Conn., gave himself up
and said h* killed Latimer. He turned out to b»
a t-rank and was discharged.
PINEHURST— CAMDEN— PALM BEACH,
itstieard Ha. Ltd. <Juirk«Nit Florida train.. Sea
"'o«rd d.TJc Jlfl 3d Try. or I*. R. R. otflees.-^-Afivt.
Te-dar fair and colder.
To-morrow, fairs northeast winds,
DVYDEN ASKS HEARING.
Senator Wants Opportunity to De
fend Himself and His Record.
tFrom Tii<» Tribune Bureau.!
Washington. Jan. 'X.— Senator Dryden. who says
ho has no thought of abandoning his tight for re
election, on his return to Washington after the
first week's battle at Trenton, wrote to the Repub
lican leaders of the New Jersey Senate and House
asking for a public bearing and for an opportunity
to discuss openly with bis opponents their objec
tions to him.
Following is the letter:
Could it be arranged so that a day might be set
aside and a time appointed for me to appear at
Trenton before the Republican members of the
Legislature at a public meeting?
I request this because l understand that certain
Republican members feel that they cannot vote
for me and comply with the wishes of their con
stituents. 1 believe that the opposition Is based
upon a misapprehension of my record as a Senator
and my position upon public matters. I also be
lieve that if my record and position were clearly
understood, this opposition would no longer exist.
I therefore desire the opportunity of publicly pre
senting reasons why I believe that I am entitled
to re 'election and of defining my position upon the
problems now before us.
I have written personally to those members who
refused to enter the Republican caucus if my name
were considered, requesting them to be present
at the meeting, if held, prepared to make any
statement of their constituents' objections or to
auk any question which they think they would like
to have answered.
"The Senator is a good letter writer, but in his
latest effort, as in many others, he has omitted a
n'ost salient feature," said a Dryden opponent in
Newark yesterday. "In this case he failed to mak»
known what course he would pursue after the con
ference, but the only inference Is that IT sufficient
evidence la brought before him to show that he
should retire from the race be will do so. But the
Inference does not tally with the sentiments ex
pressed by Colonel Anthony L. Kuser. Mr. Dryden's
son-in-law, and other Dryden supporters. They
have said that the Senator will fight to the last
ditch."
Among the antl-Dp-den men the suggestion of a
public conference is taken as a political move to
offset what his opponents call a wholesale deser
tion of legislators who went into the Republican
caucus and agreed to vote for Dryden on two bal
lots.
On good authority it was learned yesterday in
Newark that nine of the legislators who had voted
for Dryden last Tuesday because be was the cau
cus nominee would charge, their vote, on the next
ballot. It was not stated, however, who was
likely to receive the votes, but more than one of
those anti-Dryden men said they regarded Gov
ernor Stokes as a possible candidate.
Rumors of bribery continue. Yesterday, one, more
definite than omul, had it that Guy L. Fake, of
Rutherford, an anU-Dryden Assemblyman, had re
ceived an off'T of money for his vote. Even the
amount was named. Mr. Fake, at his home last
night, denied the story. He refused, however, to
discuss another report that a retainer as counsel to
the. Public Service Corporation had been unsuccess
fully offered him pome weeks ago.
NEGRO TILS UP THE "L.-
He Was Drunk, and It Took Re
serves and Clubs to Gel Him in Cell
It took a dozen policemen to drag John Casey,
a big drunken Negro, from a southbound ele
vated train at Cortlandt street yesterday after
noon to the Church street police station. Casey
had to be beaten almost senseless before he was
lodged in a cell. He cot on at an uptown sta
tion, and. according to the passengers, was in
sulting every person in sight. The car was
crowded, most of the passengers b^lng women.
Patrolman Bishop, of the Church street fetation.
who was In plain clothes, took a seat near Casey
and advised him to keep quiet, showing him his
shield.
He defied the patrolman to lock him up. and
Bishop took hold of him. As he did so the
Negro rained blow after blow on his face, but
was overpowered by Bishop, who held him un
til Cortlandt Street was reached. Here the
Negro fought like a maniac, and Bishop whistled
for help. The reserves from th« Church street
station rushed up, and then the Negro fought
still more furiously. He was dragged to the
station and clubbed. The train was delayed
twenty minutes at Cort!.tndt Htreef.
WILL OPEX EXPOSITION.
President Roosevelt to Push Button
at Jamestown.
■ Bj Telegraph to The TrlTmiw. J
Norfolk, Va.. Jan. — President Roosevelt will
touch a button to set the machinery at the
Jamestown Exposition In motion on April 26,
formally opening Die exposition. He will then
make a speech and review the national and for
eign military forces.
The programme "i the opening day exerclsos
wa.s made pui/ii.- to-day. Th>- ceremonies will
take place in the open, the principal gu<>^t.s ;m
si-m»>llnt; on the him balcony ><f the Auditorium.
Bishop Randolph of Virginia will make the
opening prayer, aftei wliirh Harry Bt. Georfce
Tuck*;, president of th<> exposition, will make
t!i»; address of welcome and Introduce the Presi
dent.
SANE AFTER 12 YEARS.
Man Must Note Stand Trial for
Crime Committed in 1895.
la the Supreme (*<»uit at White Plains yes
terday a Jury declared <_Tiarles L.. Wasserhach,
an iumato of the Matteawan State. Asylum for
the Criminal Insane for eleven years, to li* of
t-oup.d mind. When hn beard the verdict of the
jury Wasssrbacfa said. "Thank <'{od, I am sane
once more."
Wasserbaoh on March 0, ISJH», was Indicted
for burglary In Albany and later declared in
sane by a commission. He has been taken back
to Albany to stand trial for the crime alleged
to have been committed twelve years ago.
According to affidavit*, while at the asylum
Wasserbach had .1 mania for cats and kittens',
and when asked what became of them he said
they suddenly disappeared. On the witness
stand he declared that he was not insane, and
the Jury believed him.
BRETONS PREPARE TO RESIST.
Great Excitement at — People Mass
ing at Ploermel.
Vannes, Department of Morbihan, Jan. 26. —
The Catholic population of this city still is
greatly excited as a result of the colllElon yes
terday between five hundred soldiers and the
populace at the eviction at St. Anne d'Auruy.
The people are now massing at Ploermel, twen
ty-flve miles away, whither a battalion of In
fantry and a company of engineers have been
went to take posisp«>ion of the seminary.
THE RIGHT WAY TO FLORIDA.
12"10 p. m. Southern* Palm Uinile.l dally, except
-unilny. .Southern Ry. high claim train to St.
\iigut<tine: •also carrying Pullman drawing room
-ir.'-iln-.; cars to Aiken * Augusta; Sjunmerville &
Cha»i,>U>n- V. Y. O*p<es gn 4c iMu B'wai'.— Advt.
NEW- YORK SUNDAY. JANUARY 27. 1907.-5 PARTS-FIFTY-EKJIT PAGES
THAW MAY BE PARETIC.
SO REPORTED IX TOMBS.
Counsel Won't Discuss Matter —
May Affect Defence.
That Harry Kendall Thaw has incipient pare
sis, it was reported yesterday, is the belief of
those who for several months have been looking
out for his cere and comfort. When this story
was called to the attention of Clifford W. Harl
rldge, his counsel, he refused to discuss it. He
would say only: "All we are trying to do is to
hurry the trial to get him out of Jail." .
If. as is generally believed, the defence will try
to show that the killing of Stanford White was
done while Thaw was in a slate verging on tem
porary insanity testimony that he had recently
shown symptoms of paresis. It was pointed out,
could be used to show that his mind might give
way under stress of great emotion.
Various siories have been told tending to show
that Thaw nursed a hitter enmity for the archi
tect. . It was suggested that if his mind was at
all abnormal last June something that seemed
to him an additional cause of hatred might have
made him Incapable of understanding the quality
of his act. thus bringing him within the excep
tion allowed by the law.
ln examining: talesmen District Attorney
Jerome defined tho condition of mind that would
exempt him from the consequences of his deed
as one ln which he did not know the nature or
quality of the ad committed or that it was
wrong.
It Is understood that the defence wlli make
every effort to hasten tin- trial before Thaw
shows any evidence of mental weakness. The.
long rest which lie- has had and tho abstenenro
from dissipation have allowed him to reach nn
even balance mentally, but the strain of a long
trial. It is believed, might cause him to again
.'•how eigiis of his affliction.
JEROME HAS ALIENIST IN* COURT.
The presence of alienists employed by the
prosecution in court during the entire sessions
Is taken as showing that the District Attorney
is preparing tor any move that the defence may
make on an insanity plea. Its. Austin Flint,
Carlos F. Macdonald and William Mabon are al
lowed to sit within the lnclosure near the Dis
trict Attorney. Dr. Flint has made many notes,
and all three experts have studied the defendant
very closely. According to the District At
torney, and Thaw's counsel have not denied if,
the defence has four alienists In Its pay. They
are Dr. Allan McLane Hamilton and Pr«. Evans,
Wagner and Dana.
The misunderstanding or coolness which was
so apparent in court on Friday between Mrs.
Evelyn Thaw and Mrs. William Thaw. It Is
understood, has been entirely eliminated. The
two women are said to have quarrelled over
Miss May Mackenzie. Miss Mackenzie for
months has been Mrs. Evelyn Thaw's closest
friend, with the full knew ledge of the Thaw
family. But tho presence at every session of
the court of the form chorus girl, dressed In
brilliant purple, has Jarred their nerves, and It
'is said that they have insisted that Miss Mac
kenzie stay away In future. Whether your.*
Mrs. Thaw has consented to be separated from
her friend remains to be proved. Miss Mac
kenzie will be a witness for the prosecution. It
is understood; M l*«st."sho i.» daily served with
a 6ubp<vna by the District Attorney's office, it
has been decided that all witnesses, except the
one testifying, will be kept from the courtroom
during the trial.
Miss Mackenzie, both sides acknowledge,
knows as much about the relations of Evelyn
Nesbit. White and Thaw as any one
MIDNIGHT VISIT TO MISS MACKENZIE.
It was learned yesterday that on the night of
the shooting Mrs Evelyn Thaw was taken In a
hansom to Fifth avenue and 40th street, where
Miss Mackenzie had a house, next to Cambridge
Court. Mrs. Thaw left the hansom at the corner
and walked to the house. She talked with Miss
Mackenzie for some time, and about 1 o'clock In
the morning went to her" own apartments at the
Hotel Lorraine. She returned to Miss Mac
kenzie's house about an hour later, carrying a
large bundle of letters, which have since been In
Miss Mackenzie's possession. Whether these
letters were written by White or by Thaw is
not known. It 1b believed that the defence can
use them If desired.
The probability that Howard Nesbtt, brother
of Mrs. Evelyn Thaw, will testify for the prose
cution on the rebuttal does nut worry tha da
fence at all. Thaw's counsel contend that he Is
so far removed from the real rase that his testi
mony Is of no Importance As to th« likeli
hood of Mr. Jerome calling Miss Mackenzie, Mr.
Hartridge said:
"Do you think for 1 moment that th*> District
Attorney will ever place her on the witness
stand."
Mr. Hartridge expressed himself as much
pleased with the jurois already tr.vorn.
"What we want." be said, "is to get strong
men -men who can stand the trial without
breaking down and causing a mistrial." #
Mrs. Evelyn Thaw, Mrs. William Thaw and
Joaiah Thaw conferred with the prisoner for
three hours yesterday Mr. Peabody alßo talked
with him for some time. The conference which
had been planned between Mrs. Thaw and Del
phla M. D»lmas did not take place, as Mr. Del
mas was ill all day. He remained at the home of
Mr. McPlke, his partner. He. will be able to bo In
court on Monday, however. Mr. Peabody denied
yesterday the published stories that Mr. Delmas
bad threatened to throw up the case, that the
Countess of Yarmouth would return to England
by the first steamer and other yarns of less Im
portance.
CHOoenra a jury in California.
The method of obtaining a Jury In New Tork
State Is so entirely different from that of Cali
fornia that both Mr. Delmas and Mr. McPlke are
not at all sur« of the routine. In California, Mr.
McPlke said yesterday, there, are Superior courts
in sacfa county. In San Francisco there are
twelve Superior Court judges. In January of
each year each Judge selects three hundred tales
men, making ihitty-six hundred in all. Their
names are put in a box and when a jury Is re
quired three hundred names are drawn out and
placed In a smaller box. From this twelve names
are drawn, and these men are seated in the jury
box nnd sworn at once. Before this, however,
all of the prospective talesmen have been exam
ined by the judges on tho constitutional ques
tions, just as the special panel ln the Thaw
trial have, qualified before the Commissioner of
Jurors.
Another difference Is that In California the
prosecution has only ten peremptory challenges,
while the defence has twenty. Here each side
has thirty. Should a Juror become 111 or dis
abled before the jury box Is filled a new Juror Is
selected. That has the effect of wiping out all
the peremptory challenges that have gone be
fore. During the trial, if a juror becomes ill a
new Juror is substituted, without a mistrial, and
Cunt taued on •ecoad page,
□ EWEY'S PURE GRAPE JUICE.
Absolutely free from any preservatives.
11. T. Dowey * Sons Co., US Pulton St., New York.
— Advt . ■■ . ■ '■■ - •■ ■ ■■ • .-.; . • .. ■ ■
PANAMACANALDILEMMA
OLIVER NOT TO BID AGAIN.
No Decision Reached at White
House Conference.
tFrom The Tribune Bureau.
Washington. Jan. 26.— White House con
ferenco on the Panama Canal contract this
afternoon resulted In no decision, and it was
announced late to-day that the subject would
go over until Monday. In the course of the day
William J. Oliver informed Secretary Taft that
he would not bid again on the contract should
new bids be called for. He said that Mr.
Stevens, whom Governor Hughes has appointed
Commissioner of Public Works for New York,
would back him financially, and presented a let
ter from Mr. Stevens in support of the state
ment. This may result in the government de
ciding to accept the bid of Oliver & Bangs,
with Bangs withdrawn from the partnership.
McArthur A Gillespie also informed the Sec
retary of War that if new bids were called for
they would merely renew their* bid at l-!i per
cent, as consultation had led them to decide
that they could not profitably undertake the
work for less. This decision of the New York
contractors is assumed to have resulted from
the announcement in the press that the admin
istration would not accept Bang* as a con
tractor.
The Information gathered by Secretary Taft
to-day leaves the administration tho alternative
of accepting Mr. Oliver's offer to construct the
canal for 6.73 per cent, even though it does not
come from an association of contractors, or of
rejecting it. with the practical certainty that it
will have to accept the contract of Mac Arthur
& Gillespie at a figure not less than 12 l per
cent. Under these circumstances It has been
•Iccided to devote some further time and thought
to the consideration of Mr. Oliver's offer.
Secretary Tuft la not ready to make any an
nouncement respecting the award of the con
tract. He made this statement after the con
ference at the Whit* House. He declined to
discuss the question in detail or to indicate in
any way what might be the decision of tha
President and his advisers. In addition to the
President and Secretary Taft. Secretary Root.
Postmaster General Cortelyou. Assistant Sec
retary Bacon and James R. Garneld, Commis
sioner of Corporations, were present, and for a
portion of, the time Chairman Knapp of the
Interstate Commerce Commission.
John It. Mac Arthur. of the combination of con
tractors known as Mac Arthur & G'.llesple, who
submitted the second lowest bid for the construc
tion of the Panama Canal, said yesterday that the
firm stands on its bid as presented to the War De
partment to do th* work for 12 ; i per cent of the
total cost of construction. It was reported from
Washington last night that William J. Oliver, whose
bid under the firm name of Oliver & Bangs has been
he-id up, would endeavor to make an arrangement
with Mac Arthur & O!l>eple.
"Certain overtures have been made to us." s?-id
Mr. Mac Arthur. "but we have never thought of
considering them. The bid which we and cur as
sociates submitted to the War Department was as
low as we felt business prudence would allow, and
we stand on it. We feel that we have offered to
the governnunt as strong a combination of con*
tractors as ' an be found In this country, and we
have Invited the ci..«cat scrutiny as to -.v.- past
records and our ability actually to dig th« car.aL
In considering: the proposition offered oy the gov
ernment, we hesitated for a long time at 15 per
cent, and it was only after the most deliberate
thought and searching inquiry that we scaled toe
bid to I2*i p»r e»n». Thai, we felt. Is not only a
normal and reasonable bid. but as low a bid as the
exigencies of th* work will permit."
The firm of Mac Arthur & GtP.esple !s really a.
romJ-'lnatlon of four concerns. They are th« Mac-
Arthur Brothers company, with otne#s In New York
and Chicago; the T. A. Qlllesple company, of Sew
York and Pittsburs; the Atlantic. Gulf and Paclfle
Dressing Company and the J. Q. Whit* company.
of New York, with branches In London and
Canada.
DENOUNCES BBAYTON.
Goo. Higgins of B. I. Calls Him
Lobbyist and Nuisance.
I'rovidenr*. Jan. "The preaence of General
Brayton in the Sheriff's office at the Stato House
as a paid lobbyist Is a public scandal to the state.
Ho has degenerated Into .l common nuisance, and
the men. women and children who. come to visit the
State House ought not to be subjected to the scan
dalous spectacle presented to them In room 207."
With ,the above declaration Governor lUjrstina
officially laid the matter of the us«» of the Sheriffs
office at the State House by General Charles It.
Bnyton beforo the State House Commission to
day, and asked that tli> commission take steps to
Cut a stop to the use of offices in the State Capitol
tullding for lobbying purposes. Th*> members •>{
the commission took no formal action on the mat
ter after listening to the Governor's statement.
Governor Htgginn gave: as the reasons for his ob
jection to tbe presence of General Brayton In the
Slit riff's oftico that h«s was admitted to be a paid
lobbyist, anil that as witch he should not be per
mitted to make his headquarters in the office of any
state official.
HINT OF TROUBLE US MANCHTTRIA.
Russian Dccdiion to Withdraw Taken at Re
quest of Japan.
St. Petersburg. Jan. 20. -The WMOelated Prows
learns that the decision of the Russian govern
ment to withdraw its troops from Manchuria
Immediately, Instead of waiting until April 15,
the date fixed for this step in the Husso-Jnpan
eae Portsmouth Treaty, was made at a veiled
request of tha Japanese government, whioh
apparently foresees trouble In the matter of tho
Internal administration of certain provinces of
China.
LIMITED TRAIN HITS STREETCAR.
One Passenger Killed and Sixteen Seriously
Injured — Two Likely to Die.
Dayton. Ohio. Jnn. 26.- A mr<»«'t<'nr was struck at
the 3d street erosstog hen late to-day by an east
bound Big Four limited train. The car was car
ried nearly a blook. Miss Uilliuri Huber was killed
and sixteen other 'passengers wen seriously in
jured, two of whom will probably die,
HAS HYDROPHOBIA FROM OLD DOG BITE.
Morris Unger. forty-one years old. of No. "S;?<>
West 16th street. Coney Island, is said to be dying;
from hydrophobia In the Kings County Hospital.
He was bitten by a dog lnst August. The wound
was cauterized at the time and Rave him no trouble
until last Wednesday, when he became nervous.
Later violent pains developed In his stomach and
the sight of water caused him distress. He was
taken to the hospital, where a physician from the
Pasteur Institute pronounced his illness a clear
case of hydrophobia.
UNION BREAD FOR PATERSON JAIL.
Paterson. N. J., Jan. M (Special).— Hereafter pris
oners at tho county jail in Paterson trill eat only
union made bread. The Passaic County Trades and
League Council told the freeholders that the bread
supplied to the prisoners was not made. In union
shops, and argued that because a man erred and
was sent to Jail be should not be compelled to eat
bread that was not stamped with the union label.
This argument appealed to the freeholders.
SAVANNAH LINE TO FLORIDA.
Excursion rates to • all winter resorts South
Large, comfortable ship*. Telephone XX Bering.-.
Aav t ■
REFUGEES CARED FOR.
Denial* of 111 Treatment on Board
the Port Kingston.
Bridgetown. Barbadoes, B. W. 1.. Jan. 26.— The
steamer Port Kingston, with Sir Alfred Jones
and the members of his party on board, arrived
here to-da- on her way from Kingston to Eng
land. The correspondent of Tht; Associated
Press went on board the Port Kingston to see
her commander. Captain Parsons, and Sir Al
fred Jones regarding the complaint made by the
Americans who returned to New York from
Kingston by the Hamburg-American Line
steamer Prlnz Eitel Frledrich ln reeard to al
leged ill treatment accorded them in Kingston
between January 14 and 17 by certain officials,
and specifically Captain Parsons.
The correspondent was informed that* Ameri
cans as well as all other refugees had b«*u wel
comed the night of the earthquake. January 14.
on board the Kingston. The refugees were put
off the steamer the afternoon of the 13th. as she
was filled to her utmost capacity. Sir Alfred
Jones Inquired if any among the refugees were
destitute. He suggested that the American ref
ugees go over to Port Antonio or Mand< -ville, tha
railroad to these points being in openuiou.
At luncheon on board the sttaraer on Jan
uary 21 Sir Thomaa Hughes, riir Alfred Jones
and Captain Parsons gave emphatic denial to
the statements that Americans had been Ill
treated, and Viscount Mountmorrea also said
that these complaints were baseless. Christo
pher Boylan, of No. llti Lincoln Place. Brooklyn.
N. V,. and William J. Thompson, who is trav
elltn? ln the interests of an American packing
ho;i*.», both expressed satisfaction with the
treatment accorded Hum on beard the Port
Kingston. The incident is deeply regretted by
Sir Alfred Jones, Captain Parsons and the pas
senKers on thp steamer.
The Earl and Countess of Dudky and H. O.
ArnoM-Forster, who came in on the Port King
ston, will leave here for Trinidad next Tuesday.
TWELVE MIXERS KILLED.
Firedamp Overcomes Five Ameri
cans and Seven Italians.
Weston. W. Va., Jan. 26.— Five Americans and
seven Italians are known to be dead as the re
sult of an explosion of firedamp in the Pennsyl
vania company mine at Lorentz, W. Va., near
Buckhannon. W. Va., which occurred about
5:30 p. ss. to-day. The mine caved in and
nearly entombed one hundred miners. The
bodies of the dead have been recovered.
EXPLOSIOX KILLS KIKE.
Workmen at Dinner When Dyna
mite, Set Near Fire, Blows Up.
I By Telegraph to Th« Tribune. I
Richmond, Va.. Jan. 28.— A dispatch from
Pearlsburg. Va.. to-night tells of the loss of
nine lives In the construction gang of the Tide
water Railway near that place to-day from a
premature explosion of dynamite. It had been
placed In front of an open flre. in the works
of P. J. Mlllett. for th« purpose of thawing It
nw f .
One of the bodies was thrown nearly across
New River, lodging on a small Island. All the
men were killed Instantly. They were eating
dinner when the explosion occurred.
MB. BIGGINS NO WORSE.
The Puhe. Heart and Respiration
Improvement Continues.
Clean, N. V.. Jan. 2*'< — Dr. Hlbbard after hi"
morning visit to ex-Go\ernor Higgins announced
that his patient had passed a fairly good night
and had takfti a small amount of liquid nour-
Ishraf-r.t. The pulse, heart and respiration Im
provement continued.
It was said this afternoon that there had been
no ohunso in the condition of Mr. Hisfglns since
the niornlntj bulletin.
Dr. Hlbbard left Mr. Higgina at 10 p. m. He
said the patient spent a rather uncomfortable
day. No great change had developed In hi* con
dition. He had taken very little nourishment,
and his mind was clouded. Half the time was
spent in sleep. Dr. Hibbard said he did not ex
pect to be called during the night.
HELPLESS IX EXGIXE CAB
Machine on a Rampage, xcith the
Engineer Dying.
Fennlngton. Vt., Jan. 26. —After the locomotive
of a freight train had broken away to-day from
its cars, and then had backed and crashed Into
the forward ear of the train, the engineer. Dex
ter Famham, was found collapsed In his cab.
and a few minutes later he died. Th» train was
on the Benntngton branch of the Rutland Rail
road.
Fnrnlmni had I>e*n stricken with heart dis
ease. H*> had been In the employ of the Rut-
Sand road f'<r over forty years.
AFTER TAX DODGERS.
Jury Want* Valuation Increased
A ,0,000,000 and Assessors Arrested.
Wilkes-Barre. Perm.. Jan. 26.— The grand Jury
which for two weeks has been Investigating al
leged fraudulent tax assessments made a re
port to the Luzerne County Court to-day rec
ommending that the valuation of property In
the county, mostly coal lands, be Increased $40.-
Ot*t.O**>. that three assessors be arrested for mts
<ondu"t in office and that an agent of a coal
company be prosecuted for altering assessments
in the courthouse.
MBS. JACKSON REFUSES PENSION.
Widow of "Stonewall" Suggests That Money
Be Given to Destitute Widows of Soldiers.
Raleigh, X. C. Jan. X.— The Senate of North
Carolina received a letter to-day from Mrs. Jackson,
widow of "Stonewall" Jackson, declining to accept
a pension of $100 a month, provided under a reso
lution Introduced a few days ago.
"I most weteomtng'y appreciate this patriotic and
loyal tribute to the name of my hero-husband." she
says, "but I do not feel that I would be Justified
in accepting it. I am Informed the taws of North
Carolina limit all pensions to those who have not
$000 of personal property, and as I do not coins
under this law I respectfully request that the bill
be withdrawn."
Mrs. Jackson suggest* that the money proposed
in her behalf be appropriated for the relief of des
titute widows of Confederate veterans. In accord
ance with the desire of Mrs. Jackson the Mil call
ing for the pension was witndrawn from the calen
dar. &BWHMBSiI)HMBMUHaiBMMMIB9
FLORIDA INFORMATION BUREAU. j/.
. "15 roadway, . cor. 30th" 1 St. • .3 great trains -South.''
Atlantic Cuaat Un» Railroad.— <Ulvt *^HbM9BB
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
TRY TO STOP "SALOME."
OWNERS OF HOUSE ACT.
I Directors Ask Mr. Conned Not to
Repeat Strauss-Wilde Drama.
The directors of the Metropolitan Opera BSjfl
Real Estate Company, owner* of the Metropoli
! tan Opera House, have in effect ordered Mr.
• Conried not to give any more performances of
: "Salome" in the Metropolitan Opera House. Mr. .
r Conried after a meeting, hastily assembled, of
• the directors of his company, the Conried Metro
i politan Opera Company, the lessee of the bouse.
! decided not to abandon performances without
an effort ami asked for a conference between hts>
executive committee and that of the Metro
j politan Opera and Real Estate Company. Thi*
| will probably be held on Monday. But George O.
| Haven, president of the real estate company,
i said last night that there was no chance cf hits
J directors changing their minds. However, tlek
i ets were still on sale last night, and the ad
; vertisements were left in the papers.
The objection to the Strauss-Wilde open*
started in the family of one of the most Influ
! ential and powerful of the boxholders. who i«
j also a member of the executive committee nil.
( the real estate company. This objection waa so
I strong that it resulted in a meeting of tho board
; of directors, and the following letter was re- .
j ceived by Mr. Conried yesterday morning.
! The directors of the Metropolitan Opera anal
; Real Estate Company consider that the perform
ance of "Salome" is objectionable and detri
mental to the beat Interests of the Metropolitan*
Opera House. They therefore protest ■ glims*
any repetition of this opera.
To say that this letter was a bomb In th«
j Conrfed camp Is putting It mildly. The) honor*
is almost sold out for next Thursday's per
formance already; the work is tho climax of th»
'. season from Mr. Conried's point of view, and
! he has reheased it for six months, «M spans
j much money on the production. Finally. Sir*
; Conried Is under contract to Richard Strauss
I to play the opera ten times this season la
America. Not to do so means to forfeit maay
thousand dollars to the composer. If not to stand
a suit for damages, and to give back all fha
money taken la for next Thursday alone, weedsl
hurt.
CONRIED ISSUES A DEFENCE*
Accordingly, there- was wrath at tho ep;.^
! house, and the Conried directors met at hi •
■ home. No. «5 West 71st street, at 5 o'clock. Aites)
the meeting the following statement was sjlv««j
I out, dictated by Mr. Conried himself:
The letter from the secretary of the DCstlQ *
politan Opera and Real Estate Company has)
been received, ar.d the subject of the letter ii
now being discussed between the directors ox
! the Conried Metropolitan Opera Company and)
. also of the Metropolitan Opera and Real Estate*
j Company.
j Mr. Conried holds that the production of
I "Salome" is a great artistic achievement." baa-
I much as this music drama has been acknowt-*
! edged by the. musical world as one of tho most
[ important, if not the most Important musical •
production since Wagner, and has been' produced*
in many of the most important opera, houses In
Europe, Including the Royal opera houses ot
Dresden and Berlin, as well as La Scala inj
Milan and in Turin, in Italy, and Is now it»
preparation for production at the Imperial Opera*
House in Vienna and the Grand Opera House In
Paris. Mr. Conried said that It was his duty to -
the musical public of Near York to produce this
' work. He had spared no effort or expense to
' make the production in all respects a worthy
ore. There have been numbe*less acknowledg
ments of the greatness of the work, and the sue
! cess of the production, and but few hostile crit
i icisms. The only religious personage in the
! work. John the Baptist, is treated with the ut-
I most dignity and reverence. Mr. Conried hopes
1 that the directors of the Metropolitan Opera and!
Real Estate Company, upon full consideration
1 of the subject, will withdraw their objections
■ and will share his view that the musical publio
I is entitled to an opportunity to hear this mas
terwork adequately produced.
Although accompanying tho statement was
' a memorandum saying that "the directors'*
of the Metropolitan Opera Company had mat,
j It was unofficially said that only the executive)
1 committee had got together. The time was, too
short to get a full meeting of the board. MX
Oonrted has been confined to his homo for si*
i weeks, owing to a nervous breakdown follow*
j Ing the Caruso Incident, and it was necessary
j to hold tha meeting thero. Mr. Conriedl was
j propped up in bed.
ALFRED HERTZ SURPRISED*
Alfrad Hertz called on Mr. Courted as) soon %*
he heard of the protest against "Salome." ha
order to express his surprise that the produc
tion over which so much time had boon snsn>
had been the subject of official protest. Ma
Hertz left before 11. Rogers Wlnthrop and Otoa
H. Kahn. of the board of directors of the Courted)
company, arrived in an automobile with Ern«*t
Goerlltz. business representative of air. Con-*
lied, who has been acting as manager of th*
company during his chief's sbssPLO. Late*)
Paul D. Cravath. the lawyer, came, and thai
meeting was held at Mr. Conrted's bedildo.
Ex-Judge Dittenhoefer. Mr. Conried's regnlaa
counsel, when seen l^at night said he) had no
been consulted about the case and could «a ?
nothing about it. Regarding Mr. Cravath's vtsU
to Mr. Conried. he said that so far as he kiw<
Mr. Cravath had not been retained as counsel.
When Mr. Kahn and Mr. Wlnthrop earn*
downstairs they refused to talk about the rr.*-?:.
Ing. saying a statement would be given oat
later by Mr. Goerlitz. Mr. Winthrop was asfesd)
what he personally thought of "Salome.'"
"That is hardly a fair question." he replied,
"Did you see both performances of the opera f*
I he was asked.
Tea," was the answer.
"You would not have attended the eecond he 4
you not considered the play a perfectly props*
one?" was asked.
"Certainly not." Mr. Wlnthrop replied.
Mr. Wlnthrop denied absolutely the rumo»
that Mr. Conri d's management bad not bees) '
satisfactory and that he had been asked to re*
sign.
"We found Mr. Conried much better." said Mr.
Wlnthrop. "We expect he will be able to £«%
; out In time, and the opera season will go on as :
I planned."
ADVERTISEMENTS NOT WITHDRAWN.
When Mr. <:oer!itz came downstairs with th«
statement which had been, dictated by Mr. Con
lied he was asked if any change had b*-en mad*
[ m the plans for the next production of /"Salome.". >; l
which is scheduled for Thursday morning.
"Our advertisements have not been taken out
of the papers," he replied. '"and tickets an? si :
on sale."
This last was only a metaphor, however, as Uaf> j
tickets at the box office, have been sold out. al
though the speculators still have a good sup, /
of them.
Mr. Goerlitz would not discuss the terms at
the lease. He said he knew in a general way
what they were, but he had turned the lens*
over to the executive committee. Ho could rs^e
say whether or not under the lease the comply
owning the opera house would be able to dicta I |
THE 20TH CENTURY LIMITED.
TO CHICAGO IN 13 HOURS.
Leaves New York SCO P. M.."arriv>s Chicago !:Jf
next morntD?— a nUbt's . rl<i*. by the NEW'; TORK
CENT HA I> Cr.VES. ".Vmer!cH> Greatest Railroad.*
: A.dozi»n oth«»r fast, trains "to Chicago *ad St. Lok4B>
-AdTt. -;•,■;• . . ■■■■