Evening star. [volume], December 04, 1909, Image 1

About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

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THE EVENING STAR
WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION.
Bulsws Office, 11th St. ud *?nn?y Irani* Areau#.
Th? Erening Star Newspaper Company,
Sinpou Office: 8 Kefent St., London. Eajlud.
Hew York Office: Tribnne Building.
Chioaffo Office: First National Bank Building.
Tho Evening Star, with th?? Sunday mornins
edition. is delivered by carriers within the city
at SO rents per month. Order* may be iwnt by
mail or telephone Main 2*40. Collection is made
l>y carrier at the end of pacta month.
Bt mal!. postage prepaid:
Pallr. Sunder included. one month. <** crnts.
PailV. Sunday <ir?.pti>d. ono month. .".0 cents.
Saturday Star, $1 year. Sunday Star. $1.50 year.
Weather
Fair and slightly warmer to
night. Sunday, partly cloudy.
No. 17,967
WASHINGTON, D. C., SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1909-THIRTY PAGES.
TWO CENTS.
LAWYER LIPSCOMB
CALLS BAKER LIAR
Uproar in Crowded Court
When Angry Attorneys
Leap at Each Other.
GIVEN, PEACEMAKER, HIT
BY ONLY BLOW STRUCK
Disputants Separated and Ag
gressor Fined $50.
APOLOGY FAILS TO MOLLIFY
Justice Gould Holds Counsel for
Collier in Contempt?Payment
Suspended Until Trial Is
Disposed Of.
"A ou're a liar,'* nhouteri Attorney An
drew A. Llpneomb at I'nlted State* At
torney Daniel IV. Raker In Criminal
Court No. 1 thl* morning.
Both men were on their feet at the
time. No sooner had the words been
spoken than they dashed at each other.
John W. Collier, on trial for the killing:
of Police Capt. Mathews, and who Is
represented by Mr. Lipscomb, sprang1 to
his feet, and, assisted by Police Capt.
Doyle, seized the attorney and forced him
into a chair.
Assistant United States Attorney Har
vey Given, who was seated at the counsel
table, between the combatants, in striving
to keep them apart, suffered the usual
fate of the peacemaker, and received the
only blow struck. He does not know
who hit him.
There was no abrasion over the eye
where the blow fell. For several minutes
after the excitement subsided, however,
Mr. Given tenderly rubbed the side of his
head.
Apology Does Not Save Fine.
Mr. Lipscomb a-pologlzed, 'but the apol
ogy was not accepted by the court, and
Mr. Lipscomb was fined $50. The pay
ment of the line was held In abeyance
until the conclusion of the trial.
"Since Mr. Lipscomb has that matter
before the Jury when the court ruled, he
?was not entitled to it. 1 will say that It
Is not true, and that Mr. Lipscomb knows
It is not true," said Attorney Baker dur
ing- the examination of Rev. E. M. Mott,
pastor of the Church of the Advent, the
first witness this morning, who had been
asked if Mr. Baker had not -written a
letter to Bishop Harding of the diocese
of Washington complaining of the pres
ence of the clergymen by the side of the
prisoner during the triaL
Then came Attorney Lipscomb's star
tling accusation.
Pandemonium in Court.
The courtroom was crowded to the
doors when the outburst occurred. For
the space of a few seconds pandemonium
reigned. Court criers thundered unavail
Ingly for order.
Above the roar of the excitement rose
the voice of Justice Gould reprimanding
Mr. IJpscomb.
"I adjudge you in contempt of court,
Mr. Lipscomb!" said the Judge in vehe
ment tones. "And I impose a fine of $50
for contempt of court."
Attorney Thomas C. Taylor, associate
counsel for the defense, attempted to sug
gest to the court that the judgment
should be withheld pending the conclusion
of the trial. The court impatiently
waved aside the suggestion. Thereupon
Mr. Lipsoomb offered an apology.
"I humbly apologize to your* honor,"
he said, "and hope I may be allowed by
this apology to purge myself of the con
tempt"
Fine Collectible After Trial.
Justice Gould declined to accept the
apology and told Mr. Lipscomb that the
fine wi'l stand. The collection of the $50
v ill await the completion of the trial.
The cause of the difficulty between
rounsel arose when Mr. Mott was asked if
Mr. Baker had not written a letter to
Bishop Harding demanding to know whv
Mr. Mott was allowed to be present at
the trial. The court, on objection by Mr.
Hiiker, declined to require an ans*i*er
rrom the witness. Mr. Mpscomb then
fciade a proffer for the record of what he
fc anted to ask.
" This is only another evidence of the
tovernment's attempt to intimidate wit
nesses." continued Mr. Lipscomb, "by
fornplalning to superior officers of the at
tendance of certain witnesses at this
trial."
No Parallel in Years.
The scene was one of the most dramatic
which has occurred in the local courts for
many years. lawyers frequently dis
agree and come close to passing the lie,
out generally adopt more parliamentary
language. Persons connected with the
rourts for many years could not recall
when the lie was passed in a courtroom
?o densely crowded as was Criminal Court
No. l this morning.
Both participants quickly recovered
their composure, although United States
Attorney Baker's voice quivered some
what as he examined the next witness.
Mr. Lipscomb had the interval of the ex
amination of the witness to compose him
self. and the trial proceeded.
No Explanation Gets to Jury.
Attorney Taylor of counsel for Collier
started off to make an apology to the
Jury for the action of counsel in the case.
He said they iiad become excited at
limes, but the jury must pay no attention
to them. . Accusations by the attorneys
for the prosecution. Mr. Taylor said, had
been made against the motives of the at
torneys for the defense, but they were
not true.
Mr. Turner objected to this line of talk.
Justice Gould upheld him.
"I hope. then, your honor," said Me.
Taylor, "that jou will in your instruc
tions tell the jury that the things the
prosecution said were not true."
"I shall say nothing whatever about
them." replied Justice Gould. "They have
nothing to do with the case and will not
enter Into it in any way."
Sues Company for Mule's Kick.
TBRRB HAl-TK. Ind., December 4.?
;?iis Meade, mule driver in a local mine,
jas sued the mining company for damages
>e< ause the mule, which had been trained
:o open trap doors with its rtose. failed
n one instance and kicked the dtiir?.r of
J?e car instead, injuring *?*'
I
Special Message on Nicara
gua Soon Forthcoming.
; NO ACTION AT PRESENT
|Question of Indemnity Is Still Held
in Abeyance.
AWAITING PROPER TIME
No Responsible Government Now
Against Which, to Lodge a Claim.
Assembling Our Forces.
There seems to be little dou'bt that the
President will lay before CongTess at an
early date the facts as to the Nicaraguan
situation, with a view to receiving: author
ity for any further steps he may see fit
I to take in the interest of Americans re
i siding in that country and with a view
to putting an end to the Interminable
strife in Central America.
The only communication that the State
I Department has received from Vice Con
sul Caldera at Managua came this morn
ing and related to matters of but com
paratively little importance.
The question of Indemnity for the kill
ing of the Americans, Cannon and Groce,
Is still held in abeyance, and there Is rea
son to believe that no demand will be
made until the issue between the Zelayan
government and the revolutionists has
been settled.
No Responsible Government.
In the view of the United States, there
is at present no responsible government
in Nicaragua.
The revolutionists hold the ?astern sec
tion with the entire Atlantic coast prov
inces, with the single exception of the
city of Greylown, while the western sec
tion is dominated by the Zelaya faction,
and It is the policy of the United States
to await the final outcome of the revolu
tion before making any demand in the
way of indemnity.
When the proper time comes, however,
it is stated, there will be no waste of time
in seeking reparation. Should the Zelaya
government prove successful there is no
doubt that the money demanded for the
killing of the Americans would far ex
ceed the amount required in case of the.
success of the revolutionists, who are in'
no way responsible for that outrage.
Our Forces Ample.
With the arrival at Corinto possibly to
day or tomorrow of the cruiser Albany
and the gunboat Torktown from Magda
lena Bay, the United States will be in a
position to take as aggressive steps as
any occasion may dertiand for the protec
tion of American interests along the Pa
cific coast of Nicaragua.
Together with the assistance of the
gunboat Vlcksburg, the three warships
will have a quota of fighting men of
about 600. The guns aboard the vessels
are considered large enough to subdue
any hostile demonstration against Ameri
cans in any of the seaport towns. In
event of trouble in the interior, the tiOO
men, with a supply of ammunition, are re
garded as a force sufficient to bring
fear to any force likely to present itself
In opposition.
No Landing at Present.
It is believed in Washington, however,
that the mere presence of the three ships
in the harbor of Corinto will be enough
to insure the safety of American citizens
and American property on the Pacific'
?Iope. Landing of bluejackets or the
shelling of seaports is not anticipated at
this time. Neither is the seizing of the
customs house at Corinto, once held by
the British after the Nicaraguan govern
ment refused to pay a debt, regarded as
likely at present. Only after a demand
for indemnity for the killing of Groce and
| Cannon and a refusal to pay that claim
1 might such steps be taken.
PRAIRIE STILL AGROUND.
Attempt to Pull Her Off Will Be
Made This Afternoon.
PHILADELPHIA, December 4.?The
: transport Prairie, carrying 700 marines
and a cargo of equipment to be used in
a possible campaitm in Nicaragua, is still
stuck in the mud at Pea Patch Island,
thirty-five miles from this city, where
the vessel grounded early Thursday night.
No attempt was made to pull the big
I ship out of the mud on the flood tide at !
5 a.m. today, but a herculean effort will !
, be made at 5 o'clock this afternoon. The >
lightering of the vessel's coal and stores |
i continues without interruption.
The ammunition is also being unloaded. I
[ and because of the dangerous character j
' of the contents of the ammunition boxes
, this work is proceeding slowly. The
| marines have not' yet been taken off,
] but they probably will have to be sent
! ashore.
The Prairie is almost a quarter of a
mile out of her course, rivermen de
| clare, and they say the entire cargo may
j have to be taken out before the tugs will
, be able to float her. The Prairie is so
hard aground that ft is expected she will
have to be brought back to the navy
> yard here for survey. So far as can
be learned no damage has yet been
t round.
The transport Dixie, now at the navy
yard, which may be called upon to take
I the place of the Prairie, is far from pre
i Pared for a sea voyage. The ship was
being made ready for sea when the
Prairie struck, but was not being hur
j ried. Since the mishap occurred to the
? other transport the work on the Dixie
I has been quickened.
?
BODIES WERE BURNED.
Zelaya's Attempt to Conceal Fact of
Killing of Americans.
NEW ORLEANS. December 4.-Tlie
bodies of Le Roy Cannon and Leonard
(Jrece, the two Americans executed by
* order of President Zelaya of Nicaragua,
j were burned, declared passengers arriv
ing here yesterday from Nicaraguan ports
on the steamer Dictator. It was reported
that incineration was resorted to to con
ceal the means of identification After
ward, it was said, Zelaya found it was
impossible to conceal the fact that the
Americans had been killed, and was
forced to make a report to this effect to
the State Department at Washington.
Passengers on the Dictator say that all
is quiet in the vicinity of Blueflelds. and
th?re was no indication at the time of
the Dictator's departure, six days ago. of
any advance being made on the Blueflelds
section by the forces of Zelaya.
CLERKS IN NO DANGER
AUDITOR CHANCE EXPLAINS
RUMOR OF DISMISSAL.
Says Story About Reduction Prob
ably Arose From Reference in
His Annual Report.
"I haven't any Idea of recommending
the dismissal of 110 of the clerks of my
office." Merritt O. Chance, auditor for
the Post Office Department, said today,
referring to a report to that effect,
"and so far as I know there is no un
easiness among them on that account.
If there is there is no good reason for it."
The rumor probably arose, Mr. Chance
explained, from the reference of the
auditor in his annual report, which was
rendered to the Secretary of the Treas
ury October 15, to a tentative plan he
had been considering for a more prompt
and efficient audit of postmasters' money
order statements and accompanying
vouchers at a considerable saving in :
time and coat by the use of electrical
tabulating machines. Comparing the
methods of the new plan with those at
present in use,' the auditor estimated a ;
saving of $100,000 and that a reduction
of llo clerks and employes might be ef
fected.
Since the feport was rendered, however,
Mr. Chance explained, it has been found
that by extending the use of adding ma
chines, thirty of which are already being
used, and using from DO to HJO in all, a
saving of about $55,UOO a year, and the
reduction in the force of about fifty
ei^ht employes could be effected. This
latter plan will be tried during the com
ing flBcal year, but it will not result in
any discharges of clerks.
No Removals Necessary.
By the time the appropriation for the
purchase of the additional adding ma
chines becomes available, July 1, Mr.
Chance said, the natural depletion of
the force by vacancies that are constantly
occurring will brin# about the necessary
reduction. If it does not the clerks will
be assigned to vacancies in other divi
sions of the office. No removals at all
will be necessary.
It is said the money-order audit here
tofore has been about nine months be
hind. The new plan will enable it to
be brought up to a point where it Is but
three or four months, at most, behind,
and that is said to be about the best the
department can hope to accomplish, but
it will mean greater accuracy in the audit
and a vast convenience both to the aud
itor's office and to the Post Office De
partment in enabling them to ascertain
the actual condition of affaire in the
service.
The details of the plan for using tabu
lating machines in the audit were set
forth in Auditor Chance's annual report,
which was Ions since made public. The
adoption of the plan, however, is not
feasible at this time. Should it become
so later on its introduction, the auditor
believes, can be accomplished without
causing any of his clerks the loss of
their positions, because, by the plan of
leaving the vacancies that occur unfilled
from time to time the reduction of the
force can be accomplished without hard
ship to any one.
PRINCESS WALDEMAR DIES.
Wife of Youngest Son of King Chris
tian of Denmark.
COPENHAGEN, December 4.?Princess
Waldemar died today. She has suffered
for some time with influenza, her illness
taking a critical turn Wednesday last.
The princess was the wife of the
youngest son of the late King Christian,
and before her marriage in 1885 was
Marie, Princess of Orleans.
Prince Waldemar and his three sons
are traveling in India.
MOB RAISES BLACK FLAG.
Deputy Sheriff, Who Pulls It Down,
Probably Fatally Shot.
PITTSBURG, Pa., December 4.?For
pulling down a black flag in defiance of
the edict of an infuriated mob of striking
foreign workmen near the plant of the i
Colonial Steel Company of Monaca, near
here, Deputy Sheriff Conway Crowley wa*I
shot yesterday and probably fatally
wounded.
Striking workmen at the steel plant,
after taking down the American flag,
placed a black flag on a pole and gath
ered about It, daring the police officers
to take It down. Fearing further violence,
the sheriff has placed deputies on duty
at the steel plant.
TEXT MADE PUBLIC.
Agreement Submitting Alsop Claim
to King Edward.
SANTIAGO, Chile, December 4?The
text of the protocols submitting to King
| Edward for mediation the Alsop claim
| dispute between the United States and
I Chile were published today.
BATTLE NOT GUILTY.
Former Cashier of Greensboro, N. C.,
Bank Acquitted.
GREENSBORO, N. C.. December 4?A
verdict declaring Lee H. Battle, former
cashier of the wrecked City National
Bank of this city, not guilty of abstrac
tion, false entries and misleading re
ports, for which he was indicted, was
ireturned this morning by the jury which
for the past two weeks listened to the
'evidence in the case before the United
States court here.
When the verdict was announced Bat
tle was overwhelmed by his friends, who
had stood steadfastly by him during the
trying ordeal. He gave way to his emo
tion when the pastor of his church, who
had sat with him throughout the entire
trial, embraced him in his joy at the
(outcome. Battle's mother, wife and
daughter, who had been in constant at
! tendance at the trial, were not present
: when the verdict was announced.
LEFT 20 DEAD AFTER CLASH.
Fanatical Moros and Sananos Fight
Philippines Constabulary.
MANILA, December 4.?Fanatical
Moros and Sananos forced a fight upon a
detachment of constabulary under Lieut.
Elarts, near Slount Malindang, Mindanao
Islands, last Sunday. Six members of the
constabulary', four porters and one police
man were killed and one of the con
stabulary was wounded. The aggressors
left twenty of their number dead when
they finally scattered.
Some four thousand fanatics gathered
in the vicinity of the mountain two weeks j
ago and Gov. Pershing anticipated dis- j
order. Constabulary reinforcements have
been sent to the scene of the fighting,
but no further trouble is expected, as (he
tribesmen are reported to be returning to
their homes.
Three Days' Advertising
?In?
The Evening Star
A record never before ap
proached*
Columns of Advertising
J908 1909
December I . . . * 90 119
December 2 . . . . 100 122
December 3 . . . 107 121
Total 297 362
297
I # # _____
Gain, 65
Washington merchants know
the value of The Star's great
family circulation.
GIVEN EIGHT OF WAY WHEN
CONGRESS MEETS.
Appropriation Measures Likely to Be
Passed Before Adjournment Is
Taken for the Holidays.
The District of Columbia appropriations
bill will be given right of way over ail
other legislation at the session of Con
gress which begins Monday. Speaker
Cannon and Representative Tawney of
Minnesota, chairman of the House ap
propriations, agreed today on this pro
gram.
The District subcommittee of the Houae
committee on appropriations, of which
Representative Gardner of Michigan is
chairman, has arranged to meet Tuesday,
the second day of the session, to take up
the District bill. It will keep right on the
Job until the measure has been gone over
from beginning- to end, and will then re
port It to the House, where its passage Is
confidently expected before adjournment
for the Christmas holidays.
The District estimates this year are
millions below last year's total, and as
the subcommittee will have much less
paring to do, it is believed that the hear
ings on the measure will not occupy
more than a week or ten days.
This Is the first time in many years
that the District bill has been the first
of all the annual money measures to be
taken up by the Houm.
BOY "DEAD DRUNK."
Incident in Chicago School Subject
of Investigation.
CHICAGO, December 4.?Peter Scoror.
twelve years old, was drunk in the Jones 1
School Thursday, and the occurrence will
be the subject of an investigation by Mrs.
Ella Fiagg Young, superintendent of
schools.
Attention was attracted to the lad's
condition when he fell over on the floor
"dead drunk." He was taken to St. Luke's
Hospital, where it took several hours to
sober him up. A subsequent inquiry by
Mrs. Dora \V. Zollman, principal of tne
school, brought to light the fact that the
boy had been given half a tumblerful of
whisky by his mother.
FIVE SAILORS SAVED.
Five Others Missing in War Ves
sel's Small Boat.
The Navy Department today received a
cablegram from Commander John H.
Shipley, commanding the gunboat Des
Moines, stating that the gig of the gun
boat Marietta, which has been missing
since November 26, had been recovered
^ritli the five men on board. He states,
however, that the whaleboat is still miss
ing, with the following men:
Robert D. Meyers, boatswain's mate,
second class; Roy E. Smith, boatswain's
mate, second class; Seamon P. T. Jack
son, David Tuckerman and J. D. Miler.
The Marietta and the Eagle, which are
en route for Colon, are searching for the
missing whaleboat and the department
hopes to hear of the early rescue of the j
unfortunate men.
Donates Park to City.
RJCHMOND, Va.. December 4.?The
family of the late Joseph Bryan, owner
and editor of the Richmond Times-Dis
patch, yesterday presented to the city a
tract of 2G2 acres, known as "Rosewood"
or Young's pond, northwest of the city,
as a public park. The tract has the'
largest artificial lake about the city and
a large area of woodland, which has been
a favorable resort for picnic parlies. It
cost about SoO.Ouft, and its presentation
was officially spoken of last night as "the
most generous gift to the city within this
generation." It will be named the Joseph
Bryan Parle.
WORK IS CRUISED
Dispensary Service Reviewed
by Board of Charities.
COMPLAINTS BY PATIENTS
Alleged That Competent Medical At
tention Is Not Always Given.
"PART PAYMENT" METHODS
Clearing: House for Emergency
Cases Suggested?Proposed Use
of Workhouse Buildings.
The board of charities has branded the
dispensary work in the District of Co
lumbia as very unsatisfactory-, viewed
from the standpoint of the medical profes
sion. the patients or the public at large.
The statement is made in the annual re
port of the board to the Commissioners,
presented today.
There are eighteen dispensaries in
Washington, the majority of them being
connected with hospitals. The service is
unsatisfactory to the doctors, accord
ing to the report, because the patients,
as a rule, have only vague ideas as to
carrying out the directions of the physi
cians. Under present arrangements the
physicians have no adequate method of
following the cases in the homes.
"The result is that many patients suffer
from their own carelessness and the medi
cal men lose interest in the clinics."
The charge Is made that the patients
say the dispensary service is unsatisfac
tory because they do not always recehe
attention from competent medical men.
The report takes it for granted that medi
cal men do not attend their clinics as
regularly as their position would demand,
and that frequently the work of clinics
is left to youths and subordinates.
"Patients complain," says the report,
?'that when they return to the dispensary
at an appointed time they do not And the
same physician who saw them on a for
mer visit. This of course discourages the
patient and tends to lessen his confidence
in the efficiency of the service. Careless
ness on the Jart of the physician begets
carelessness on the part of the patients.
Payment for Services.
In the third contention that the dis
pensary service is at a low stage of ef
flciency the matter of fees Is brought up.
The report holds that little or no atten
tion is given to the question of whether
or not persons presenting themselves for
treatment can pay anything
consequently physicians are deprived of
fees to which they are JustW entitled.
patients are pauperized and the com
munity is demoralised.'
A change in the "part payment meth
ods at hospitals is urged by the board.
It is suggested that private charity hos
pitals should look after patients who can
pay something, but not the entire amount
Sf hospital charges. The balance would
j be made up from the charity fund of the
The government now stands for the part
which the part-pay patient fails to paV
At Preedmen's Hospital no payment is
taken from any one. This ^ according
to law. and frequently causes embarrass
ment, because many a person wants to go
there who is able to make Payment- It
is the only hospital in the city w11)! a
staff of colored nurses and doctors. *ne
board recommends that inasmuch as
are free patients there now who pan and
would pay if they were permitted, a
charge should be made, so as to alio*
the institution to receive
ices from those who have it. ? ?s said
in the report that other cities follow the
practice of allowing public hospitals
accept pay from people who ofTer it.
A municipal emergency service is urged.
The board believes that now is the tlnje
to start one, as the block on which the
Emergency Hospital stands has been con
demned for government purposes.
Proposed Clearing House.
Also, the board suggests a clearing
house for all sorts of charity and emer
gency cases. It asks that the request of
last year be considered again, namely,
that In the center of the city there should
be a building or group of buildings for the
temporary lodging of drunks, sick PeoP'?"
lost children, homeless men an<*
and persons picked up on the street no
charged with a crime and who cannot
immediately be sent home. It is not the
idea that the clearing house should at
ford a permanent lodging P'fce for an>
one. The various cases would be inves
tigated as quickly as possible and dis
tributed according to their needs
The suggestion is made that as the
plans of the prison commission tovoUe
vacation of the workhouse building
sooner or later, some of these buildings
be used for an inebriate asylum and foi
accommodations for persons suffering
from "vice diseases." , .
The recommendation is also made tha
there should be better facilities for the
care of persons of good moral character
who are suffering from chronic diseases
Tild need permanent care. The only
provision at present is the Washington
Asylum. Although the service is re
ported as satisfactory, the respectable
poor are brought Into close contact v,lth
sick prisoners and objectionable persons,
many of whom are suffering from vile
and repulsive diseases. The board wants
a hospital erected for persons suffering
from acute nervous diseases, general
chronic d'eases, and for indigent ccon
valescents. Such a hospital could be
erected at Georsls avenue and 14th
SIST and the board wants *300.000 to
work with, one-third of which should be
available in the next fiscal year.
KAISER ON WATER WAGON.
Soldiers* Now Get Bottled Soda in
Place of "Schnaps."
CHICAGO, 111., December 4.?"Emperor
Wlliam of Germany is 'on the water
wagon* and the soldiers of his imperial
army can no longer look to their usual
ration of 'sch naps' for courage and sus
tenance, for in its place they now find
bottled lemon soda"
This statement was made yesterday by
G. Rowland Munroe of New Jersey, a
delegate to the thirteenth national con
vention of the Anti-Saloon League of
America, which opens in Chicago Mon
day. Mr. Munroe spoke before the su
perintendents' conference of the league,
giving his report on the twelfth inter
national congress on alcoholism, held
recently in London, England, to tlrhlch
he was appointed a delegate by the State
Department at Washington.
To lend encouragement to the members
of the Anti-Saloon League in their pro
posed campaign against the army can
teen, Mr. Munroe quoted from the state
ments made by the German delegates to
the London convention as to what bad
already been accomplished in the tem
perance cause with the ruler and army
of the most noted beer-drinking nation
on earth.
MET DEATH ALONE
IN SHOOTING BOX
l
i Richard Henry Lynn Drowned
While Duck Hunting in
Cecil County, Md.
' NEWS COMES AS SHOCK
TO HIS ASSOCIATES
Deceased Was President of Ameri
can National Bank of Washington.
BODY TAKEN TO LEESBUBG, VA.
Funeral Services to Be Held There
Tomorrow Afternoon?Many Ex
pressions of Sorrow.
Developments today fail to explain ex
actly how Richard Henry Lynn, presi
; dent of the American National Bank of
j this city, was drowned yesterday, while
duck shooting: on the Susquehanna flats.
near Turkey point. Cecil county. Md. His
friends believe it will never be known ex
actly how he met his death, but the ex
planation most generally accepted Is that
his shotgun was accidentally discharged
while he was lying in the bottom of a
sink box, knocking him unconscious by
the shock, and blowing a hole In the
box, which caused it to sink before Mr.
Lynn regained consciousness.
There were no marks on the bod),
which was found two hours later, about
130 yards from where the box sank. Sev -
eral of Mr. Lynn's friends were in a yacht
about 300 yards away from the sink box.
and they neither heard the discharge of
the gun nor noticed when the box dis
appeared from the surface of the water.
Believed to Have Been Unconscious.
As those nearby heard no outcry, and
as the water in which the craft went
down was relatively shallow, i> is thought
that Mr. Lynn must have been uncon
scious when the sink box tilled with
water. At one time he was seen to rise
in the' box, apparently to stretch him
self, and some of his friends believe that
he was feeling ill, and attempted to signal
for assistance, and that after sinking
back he intended to discharge his gun
to attract the attention of his com
panions in the yacht. The gun had a hair
triggfer, and may have gone otf as he was
(rying to lift it above the edge of the
box.
Mr. Lynn, with Griffin Halstead, a
Washington broker, went to Turkey point
Thursday evening from the home of Gen.
J. A. J. Creswell, at Elkton. They were
the guests of William Selby, cashier of
the American National Bank, who had
chartered the yacht Spray to take thS
party to the Hats. They began shooting
early in the morning. When they reach
ed the grounds Mr. Halstead and Mr.
Selby were taken separately In a row
; boat to the sink box. Neither was suc
cessful in getting ducks, and about 1"
: o'clock when Mr. Lynn was taken out,
i ha remarked, laughingly, "Let me show
j you fellows how to shoot ducks." As he
stepped from the rowboat Into the box
he remarked that it was damp, and that
; he did not care to remain <*it more than
| three-quarters of an hour.
Make Startling Discovery.
As Mr. Halstead returned to the yacht
j Mr. Lynn was seen to stand up, appar
ently to stretch himself. An hour later
they sent the launch crew to the sink
box to bring Mr. Lynn In. When they
reached the spot where the box was las:
?: seen one of them shouted that It had dis
appeared. The yacht came up quickly
; and, after a search, the sunken box was
; found and brought to the surface. The
gun which had been discharged was in It,
! and a large hole was found in one end
i of rhe box.
j The body of the banker could pot b"
j found until about an hour later, when it
? rose to the surface of the water about
! midway between where the box had been
and where the yacht was anchored.
There were absolutely no marks on the
body. It was taken aboard the Spray and
the party went back to Elkton. Coroner
J. Frank Frazer of Cecil county, after
discussing the affair with the hunting par
i ty, considered that an inquest was un
| necessary and gave a certificate of acci
dental drowning.
Body Taken to Leesburg.
The body passed through Washington
' today on Its way to Leesburg, Va., where
j the funeral services will be held tomor
row at St. James' Episcopal Church. Rev.
Richard H. Burkhart, rector of the
church, will oflMate. The Interment will
be in the old cemetery at Leesburg.
A special train will leave I'nion station
for Leesburg at 12:30 o'clock tomorrow
to accommodate the friends of Mr. Lynn
who desire to attend the funeral at
o'clock p.m.
The active pallbearers selected are 05.
B. Chlpmau, C. H. Livingstone, R. H.
Goldsborough, B. L. Duianey, Griffin
i Halstead. William Selby. S. B. Harrison
: and William E. Garrett.
The honorary pallbearers will be W. T.
i Galliher, W. B. Hibbs, E. G. Clapham,
Carroll Pierce, Thomas L. Hume, B. 8.
! Minor, J. Whit. Herron and C. A. Doug
lass.
, At a special meeting of the board of
directors of the American National Bank
I this afternoon arrangements were made
to attend the funeral In a body. Mr.
I Lvnn is survived by a widow, who was
' Miss Jeannette Harrison, and a daughter
eighteen months old.
The news of Mr. Lynn's death reached
Washington yesterday evening, flr?t
through a telephone message from Mr.
Halstead to Colin H. Livingstone, vie
president of the American National Bank.
Gradually it spread throughout the city,
and was a great shock to financiers and
business men of Washington.
Statment by Mr. Halstead.
Mr. Halstead, who went with Mr. Lynn
to the sink box, told the story of the
accident as follows:
"We began hunting just when day was
breaking. When I went Into the box.
which was anchored a sufficient distance
away from the launch so that the per
sons" on board woiild not interfere with ?
the man with the gun, I lay flat down
for probablv two hours. I did not bag
anything, and called to the two members
of the crew of the launch to come out
and get me. After I got aboard the
launch Mr. Lynn, who was not an ex
pert l.unter. jokingly remarked that he
would show Selby and me how to shoot
duckr.
"He was weighted down pretty heavily,
as he wore all the clothes he could get.
but still complained of being cold. He
and I rowed out to the sink box together,
and all the while he continued shoving
shells into the loops in Ills hunting coat.
a