The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume], May 12, 1914, Image 1

About The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917

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THE WEATHER:
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Showery ; Fair Wednes day
VOL. 50 NO. 113
BRIDGEPORT, CONN., TUESDAY, MAY 12, 1914
price tvo cextt;:
110 WORK FOR
$500 SAID TO HAVE
BEEN PAID TO SOME
ONE REPRESENTING
FEDERALS FLEE.
FROM SAN BLAS
TO THE CAPITOL
FINE SPIRIT OF
STATE K. OF C.
HIGHLY PRAISED
MURDER GAR
DRIVER AND
ROSE TESTIFY
N
- - TTTT
LOCAL MASONS
-).'-' : , .-.-":.,..- ... f .. - - ....
ent.. Cash :To . -Beat
DE MARTINO WIDOW
Sp
OH THIS JOB
i
Bigfc School Contractors
Import Help From Out
side, Is Charge ,
INFERIOR STONE
III FOUNDATIONS
Superintendent Explains
That "Workmen'! Get
Bad Piece Occasionally
That stone of a decidedly Inferior
character is being' used on the foun
; .dation of the new " High school build
ing is the contention, of the local
stonemasons, who nave been .watching
-with interest the work of the con
tractors. (.
"When the STarmer represenfative In
quired of Mr. H. F. Haas, superinten
dent of the work, he was told that the
etone used . in the foundation was the
best that, is being blasted out of the
pit. The bad Is thrown to the , side
and will all be. carted away, accord
ing to the superintendent. He pointed
"out stone of a blueish color and stated
-that it. was the only kind allowed to
,:o into the foundation.
This stone lis of a fairly good char
acter, according to the local stonemasons,-tout
not the proper stuff to be
-used in such a large and costly build
ing. However, ranged behind tihe
etone masons were piles of stone, in
which stone . much worse than the
fclue-stone was mixed. , '
In many places the contractor has
plastered, up the foundation with ce
iment, so- that it is impossible to see
the nature of the stone used. The
-reporter .was told that -this wall was
'composed of the better grade of stone.
This - cement was " still wet, evidently i
placed upon" the wall this morning
after the account of the meeting of
the Board of Education . appeared in
the morning papers. Mr. Haus declar
ed himself in utter ignorance oii the
- matters taken up at the meeting ana
treated Mr. Arnold's complaint to, the
iboard of inferior material being used
-. ws a joke. . 4 vi
' Whe the cement was. scraped away 1
with a naiL stones of even worse char-, i
sfccter than those declared by the sjcon- :
xnasons as not being the best for foun
dation work was exposed to view- Mr.
' liana explained that the stonemasons
Lt times would get an inferior piece
An the wall. - .
".A great many of . pieces of stone ,
that are ranged along the wall for the
use of the stone masons is of 'the
inferior grade of material- Some of
this stone is very poor being in many
cases "rotten" and scaly Very little
-force is necessary f to reduce it to a
inst
ffhCe "Mr. Arnold complained of
.the poor quality of concrete used, this
-according" to the stone , masons is not
-as bad as it might be. . However they
all ' agree that if this concrete ; had
been tamped it would have given a
"better appearance, and would have
ftoeen considerably stronger. 1
- Mr. Arnold has made daily visits
J to the grounds since the breaking of
the ground, and declares that he had
never seen a tamp- used, and that the
concrete was merely raked ovei:
.-, Stone masons declare that, 4t would
, have required a stronger form to hold
.the concrete, and would have been
necessary to hire at least three men
o do the tamping properly.
The excavating contractors, Xtich
ardson and Devona are three, weeks
- "behind in the work of blasting out the
-.excavation according to Mr. Haus.
"Someone, although Mr. Haus would
not say just who had complained to
the bonding company about this. Aa
"Mr. Haus was conversing with the
.Farmer representative, Charles O'Sea
; foreman for the excavating company
came up and declared in loud tones:
"Anyone who says that I'm laying
.down on the Job is a liar, and I
v!ant the public to know It.
He walked off declaring that the
work was progressing as fast as pbs
sible as the character of - the ground
; would permit. Mr Haus declared
that he. was unacquainted ' with, :the
; person who made the. complaint
v t-?t-hich resulted in the Jacking up . of.
ijtr. O'Sea by the bonding company.
I That the contractors who have the
contract for , putting up the foUndf.
rtion walls broxight stone masons from
HMTew York and that up till this after-,
aioon, no local stone masons were em
ployed on the building, The Farmer is
able to say on reliable authority
i -Local etone masons believing ; that
:5t -was not fair to erect a public "bund
ling and employ all outsiders appealed
to the contractors for a share of tho
"" ork. ,Fhe contractors agreed -to hire
."half local and half of their own force
im-hich they brought with them.
' This morning Mr. Haus "laid off" a
errorve mason from Bristol who had
Ibeen woi"kIng for the last couple of
" "days and this afternon "two local men
istarted - to work on the foundation.
"However, none of the old force, which
-Ss composed of Italians, were laid. off.
iThese men were declared to be mem
fibers' the Stone Masoas' union.
' The local stone masons are skeptical
ins to whether the contractors will
jive T to the agreement by hiring
.tie required number" of Bridgeport
'men. They' also insinuated that al
though these Xew York stone masons
"inay be union men,- it was doubtful
1 whether they are receiving the stipu
lated 60 cents per hour, as is required
tin the rules of - the - Stone Masons'
lmiion.4 "
BREAKS ARM IN FALU
Mrs. Anna Brown, 50 years old, is at
Bridgeport hospital with a compound
fracture of the left forearm and a
-probable fracture of the right fore
'.Bsm as a result of falling down stairs
.e.t her home, 199 Gilbert street, t yes
;terday afternoon. She was taken to
Ptbe hospital in the emergency a m'o u-
. Interest in the Siemon confession
and the killing' of John De Martina,
the barber's supply salesman on Octo
foer 29, . 1910, today centered in the
significant silence of all concerned to
divulge details of the affair. . - '
Coroner John J. , Phelan, before
whom the preliminary steps will be
taken was unable to' divulge the date
of the hearing (which will probably be
the first of next week and which will
be open to the public. He again re
fused to make public at this time any
evidence which the state- has procured
in, the form of affidavits-or to dis
close the. names of those in the car
with Siemon at the time.. .-
Judge Frank L. Wilder, whose name
has been mentioned as one of those
who visited the widow at Stamford tor
day refused to either affirm or deny
the statements, replying .that he de
clined to be interviewed at this time.
Antonio Abriola, the- deputy sheriff
who- acted as 'intermediary, is ready
to appear- before Coroner Fhelan and
tell all that he knows of the case. It
is stated upon good authority that he
was given .$500 to deliver to Mrs. De
Martino. and' that -this amount was
paid to. someone representing her.
Though Mrs. De Martino persists in
her statements, that she has never" re
ceived a penny, it is alleged that settle
ment of a small amount was effected
and payments made to her representa
tive with the understanding that she
remain absolutely silent. , ?.
"Mayor Clifford Wilson when asked
today by a reporter f or ' the Farmer
what he knew about the case, merely
pointed to his -finding several months
after the accident-and .said.' that-as far
as he was concerned that had -closed
the incident with him.- ,
The arrival of President George S.
Hill of the : Police Board, official
spokesman for that body is eagerly
awaited forit is reported that he may
publicly disclose why the police dd
not act in the case. It is generally un
derstood that the police have had the
seal of silence impressed upon them,
and .it is known that they are crafing
at the criticism which has been di
rected at them; and resent keenly the
implication that, they were unable, to
trace , a, crime so close to their pre-cinct.-.
f . ' . -
Fresh Air Ass'h.
ReBlects .Marion
1 DeForest Head
Prominent New Yorkers At
' tend Meeting at South
-' Church .
Miss Marion DeForesfwas re-elected
president of the Bridgeport Fresh
Air Association at its annual meeting
this morning at the South Congrega
tional, church. Mrs xC B. " Read was
chosen first vice-president, Mrs.
George XV Edwards;- second vice-tpres-idenT;,
Mrs. ' Henry W. Lyon,'-treasurer.
Miss Anna Fish, corresponding secre
tary and Mrs. JD.V Mi ' Treeartain, re
cording secretary..;- - ,;-v; ' '-..--'",,;--.-.-?-j
a .'An advisory board of six prominent
men ; was ' named. - . These included
Henry A. Bishop, George C. Eldwards,
"Henry S. Stevenson, B,.il. Pierce, Jr.,
DeVer H". Warner, - and W.;, E. Burn
ham. ;,'.''-.':" ". '.".."''; -a
Mrs. Henry I. Cobbe and Mrs. Butler
Duncan, who are members of the so
cial welfare, committee ; of Bellevue
hospital, ' in connection with Dr. Wil
cox of that hospital, were present at
the meeting., .,. r -' - -r .:-:?-
The . object of the association - and
Fresh A1r home which they maintain
in Fairfield during the summer
months is to-brlng the poor, little con
valescents from the Bellevue Hospital
in New York" to a place where they
can see the green grass and the trees
and flowers and recuperate in the pure
country a4r. Many pf the children-are
heart patients and -.are- unable to walk
about or to take any exercise and it is
for them that the "wagonette is wanted.-
The Bridgeport Fresh Air Associa
tion furnishes the house and its equip
ment while Dr., Wilcox 'finances it. A
nurse has charge, of the home, taking
care of the children, looking after the
garden. This garden is a very useful
accessory- sls' it . provides fresh vege
tables, to the home. The, association
allows a certain sum . each year for its
maintenance.:
-v Dr. Wilcox is very particular, about
the patients whom he sends and al
lows no child from" whom, there is any
danger of contagion to enter the home.
According to him this home fills a
tnree-told need. , 1 J!Trsi mere is1 no
other place so. near New York where
convalescent children may come to
recuperate; second, there is no time
limit to their stay at the home, and
third, they receive here; the care of a
doctor who knows their needs.
The doctors who attend " them bi.
weekly, come from Bellevue and ac
cording have known the children dur
ing their stay at the hospital and un
derstand their illnesses.
Dr. Wilcox and the committee some
times find it quite hard to get the
poor, ignortant mothers of these chil
dren to allow the sick little ones to
go so far away from home, arid to
convince them that it is for the best.
The; doctor's representatives also re-.
ported that he had found- that some
of those who had a-ecuperated at the
home had since showed a great im
provement and had kept healthy , dur
ing the winter. - ; t " ; ,,: ..
The treasurer's report showed a bal
anceiOf $119.50. with .'which to, begin
the year. " " . .
: Miss Har tman, who was in charge
of the home last year and who'' ac
complished so much there did sot
come back and in her place a Miss
Nyland has been secured.
The association" is very hopeful-of
accomplishing a great deal of good a:
the home this year. .
Huerta Orders , Withdrawal
of West Coast Troops to
Mexico .City
On Board U. S.' S. , Calif ornia, Ma
zatlan, Mex., May 11, By Wireless to
San Diego, Col.,' May 12 Mexican
federal troops defending San Bias, a
seaport half way . between- Mazatlan
and JManzanillo, have . evacuated the
town. It is understood they were or
dered by Huerta to proceed to Mexico-J
City to strengthen the force there, lt
is believed . troops at other points on
the west coast will be ordered to the
capital. - 1 1 .
Americans in the Taqui valley, re
assured by the cordial attitude. of the
constitutionalists, have decided to re
main on their ranches. General Obre
gon is said' to have-guaranteed pro
tection. ' .." '
Walter Neil, an ; American, wound
ed by federals recently near El Favor
Mine, - is now safe with his family
aboard, the cruiser Maryland at 34an
zanillo, according to a wireless nies
nage received today from that vessel.
President Expects . i
Mediation Will Bring
Peace for Mexico
Washington, May ' 12 Members of
the Cabinet, after a prolonged confer-'
ence with President "Wilson today on
the Mexican situation, declared the
President maintained confidence that
mediation-would succeed and that fur
ther serious consequences . in Mexico
would' be averted. . : ' -;"
Most of the discussion in the cabi
net meeting, itw as said, related , to
mediation and the views to be pre
sented on behalf of this government
by . Justice' Lamar and Frederick W.
Lebmani when the South American
envoys seek views of the United States
and Huerta's representatives at the
Niagara Falls conference, ,
JLOBOS ISIjASTD ISTCroEBiT.
The Lobos island Incident was- taken
up by - Seorearjr : Daniels 'today. He
had before him this wport irom iwajr
Admiral Mayo at Tampifl:
"Lobos Island bas not been, occu
pied. The . Dixie and aome destroy
era- ararhored thei u "and other vestsels
have coaled there-' Jfrohm a.,' collier. The
keeper of Lobos Island ' Light desert
ed it and the oixie 19 now -maintaining
it tor the- benefit . of navigation;
I understand that the destroyers have
had; ;.occasional -. swimming parties
ashore.". .... .....-, .- .-
, General- belief was' that - this explah
ation would - amply answer -Huerta's
protest that, the United '. States, by
seizing . the island had violated the
armistice and would make it plain that
the Dixie's commander acted only to
insure protection to shipping by main
tenance of the Lobos lightt.
Disposition of the cases of the -South
Americans arrested at Vera Cru had
been halted pending - word- from the
ministerfs -of their, respjeative ooun-.
tries. - When it- became .known ' that
General Fuhstoii proposed to; try the
men "before a military vcouTtmartial,
the Brazilian minister in Mexico City
appealed for them.i r Secretary Garri
son decided to postpone action on that,
pointing out that, ; properly, it should
have ; been made by - states of which
the prisoners are citizens. " .
U ANXIOUS ABOUT TASTMOO
Word anxiously was awaited today of
tiie result of . fighting at Tampico,
where rebels and , federals were, in - a
death .grapple- for; territory in which
millions of American and British dol
lars are invested. : ' General Zaragoza,
commanding at Tampieo, reported to
Huerta early today that the constitu
tionalists had , been, defeated - Satur
day with "heavy losses. ; - It was beliv
ed there hadtbet heavy fighting since
then and that the federal reports were
hot necessarily conclusive.
The rebels. -were planning to renew
their - campaign - again : in the north
and Carranza's " agents asserted the
constitutionalist chief expected to con
quer the federal garrison at . Saltillo
and establish his capitol there pend
ing the final campaign against Mexico
City.'..: . . : ,-:."
Sixteen Rebels Killed
By Mexican Federals
-Washington, " May 12 Admiral
Howard, commanding the American
fleet off the west coast of Mexico .to
day reported a battle between Mexi
can federals and Zapata revolutionists
twenty miles, from Acapulco, in which
16 Zapatistas were killed.
The fighting at Mazatlan continued,
the report said. t
WALSON ARRESTED
FOR AN ALLEGED
DIRECTORY FRAUD
In the arrest of Thomas Walson,
Brooklyn, N. Y., on a charge of at
tempting" to defraud, the authorities
believe that they have, one member
of a clever combination of get-rich-quick
men- for whose apprehension the
directory publishers have been seek
ing. . Arrested yesterday by Detec
tive - Sergeant Edward Cronan at ' the
plant of the Spring ; Perch i Co., 232
John street, Walson was arraigned at
today's city : court session. , In order
to allow-a more thorough investiga
tion by the police,.: the hearing 'was
continued untile Stauraay. Judge
Coughlin fixing bonds at $2,500. ; '
Walson's arrest - followed his presen
tation of what seemed to be a genuine
contract for an advertisement -to be
inserted in a business directory to be
published by The New England Bus
iness Directory Company. Officers of
the local concern failed to . remember
j having signed such a contract. -: - .
Credit Given Supreme Offi
cers for Limiting Attacks
On Church'
STATE URGED TO PAY
UP ASSESSMENT
Consolidation of Councils
Earnestly Advocated In
Talk to Delegates
Greenwich, May 12 The state coun
cil. Knights of Columbus, met in an
nual session here today, received re
ports -of the year's' work and chose
officers for the coming year.' ' Before
the session opened the delegates and
visitors to the council . attended high
mass at St, Mary's church and listen
ed to a sermon by the pastor, Rev.
F. J. Murphy. Immediately after this
servicethe council was called to or
der at the town hall by State Deputy
William J. Mulligan or Thompsonville.
In presenting his report the state depr-.
uty said - that , the work of the past
year was the most productive of many
years."..
"Notwithstanding1 . the fact , that , the
opportunities for ' establishing :; new
councils in , Connecticut for -the pres
ent at least are few," he said, "we can
point to a spirit existing among mem
bers which 'is not surpassed by any.
state or country possessing a Knights
of Columbus council. - Your ptate offi
cers entered upon this year's work
with a - determination to make every
member feel the importance of being
an active one. : How f well the state
officers ' have succeeded is indicated
by their large net increase in member-
ship.-
- I'B.OrTECTION' OF COHUBCBL
"Xifet me remind ' you of the watch
fulness -and wisdom displayed by our
supreme .officers in their- effort to nave
excluded - from the mails the scurril
ous sheets vWhiCh, not only libel our
church and our order but seek .t.
tear ' down the- very - principles upon
which our government was -founded.
How well they -nave Undertaken the
arduous task . of. combating an evil
which, if it gained headway, would
threaten . the civilized . world, is, known
to uc all.'.
"The accomplishments of the 'fast
year -vwill be, remembered but perhaps
the one achievement surpassing all
others, was the presenting; of the 5500,
000 to ;ie- Catholic - ''University at
Washington. "' Connecticut 'did remark
ably well in contributing toward this
fund but it must be remembered, that
the expense incident . to the collecting
of this money must 'be paid. . .
"Several councils in Connecticut
have as yet failed -to take favorable
action on the matter and as the
amount still due from Connecticut is
$1,171.25, I earnestly request that such
councils aa. are in arrears will see that
their" proportion is sent to the supreme
secretary not later than' JulylS. . The
total amount paid toy Connecticut to
ward this fund on April 15, was $11,
450.98." . ;
FATHER KEEEE PRAISED."
; Reference was made to the work of
the. lecture bureau and to the lecturer.
Rev. William A. Keefe, pastor of St.
John's Church, Plainfield.i whos the
state deputy said, as ; lecturer of the
Connecticut 4th. degree' district, ("has
been untiring in his . work; of further
advancing the cause of our orderV and
also to the $1,000 given toy the Knights
to the St. Agnes fund which Bishop
Nil an is raising to establish a chil
dren's home. .
Taking up the question of consoli
dation of councils, the state ' deputy
said that the - idea of consolidating
councils in cities possessing more than
one council has gained considerable
headway during the past year. - ."
. '"New Haven and' Merfden," he said,
"have taken, the lead in. this move
ment, for in both, places: actual amal
gamation to a very- large extent has
taken place. Consolidation of councils
cannot be too urgently pressed and he
earlier the councils In the cities de
cide to consolidate the better it will
be for ,the order. s
10,000 MEMBERS W STATE. .
The present membership of the or
der in the state, the deputy said, in
round numbers,: is 10,000. During the
year, 860 had been received "as mem
bers, making a total.net gain of 607,
which, is 316 more, than last year. On
the matter of districts, the deputy Baiti
that Connecticut is oiviaeit m il, witn
a total of 70 councils, tout that the
new rule 'recently established toy the
board of directors to the effect that
each district should be comprised of'
not less than four councils will neces
sitate a few changes in the district
lines: This matter, he said, will no
doubt ibe adjusted as speedily as pos
sible and to the satisfaction of most
members.
ENGLISH COURT SAYS
SHEPHERD IS DEAD
(Special to ' the Farmer.) .
London, May 12 The probate court
day :, presumed the death of Char lew
anepnero, or Ansonia, jonn., , wno dis
appeared . in December, 1900.
The" Ansonia court last year adjudg
ed Shepherd legally dead and appoint
ed his daughter Frances, of Bridge
port,. Conn.,: administratrix r of his es
tate. : Shepherd became entitled to a
large English estate left by a relative
s,ince his disappearance.
The English court decision is now
necessary for the disposal of this prop
erty among the family ' residing in
America. -
Miss Frances Shepherd is a clerk
and boards at 111 Bell street in this
city, v :: r . .. ...
Atlanta was crowded "with nobles of
the Mystic Shrine, attending the for
tieth annual meeting; of tHe imperial
council of the order.:. -
Shapiro Declares Gunman
Said "Becker Has
Fixed 'Em"
HE CONTRADICTS
STORIES OF JAILERS
"Bald Jack" Eyes Becker
Composedly As He An
swers Questions
New York, May 12 When 'the trial
of Charles Becker for the murder of
Herman Rosenthal was resumed today.
District Attorney Whitman called Dr.
Dennis Taylor to. the witness stand
as . the iast of several witnesses to
establish the death of Rosenthal. Dr.
Taylor, at the time of the murder,
was an ambulance, surgeon and -this
testimony - was , necessary because it
was he who pronounced the gambler
dead. . v ' - .! :, 4
Following " Taylor ifche td'irftjrlct at
torney was prepared to call his two
star witnesses, "Jack" Rose and Wil
lie Shapiro, the chauffeur of the car
in which the gunmen-'' are . said to have
escaped from the scene of the mur
der .:.:.' ' . ;
-Cross-examination -of some of the
witnesses for the prosecution by Mar
tin T. Manton seemed to show the line
the defense will follow. ' It was evident
that Becker's new counsel- intends to
Tun close to the old defense at the
first trial and try .to show that the
murder of Rosenthal was the result
of a gamblers' feud, without' the guid
ing hand of the defendant. . ,
Shipiro followed Dr. Taylor on the
stand. He told of receiving a call
at his stand: in., front of - the cafe
Boulevard late at night on July. 15. He
then' went to Tom Sharkey's saloon
where he picked up -Rose, Harry. Val
lon and Sam Schepps. ,t
PICKED UP GPXMEX.
We went to 42nd street and Broad
way, ' then- :to ' Bridgie - Webber's poker
room at 42nd street and Sixth avenue,"
said,, the - witness. - "At ; 145th- street
and Seventh avenue we pickad up an
other, man and-.returned to Webbeu's
poker rooms where "-the -occupants .'of
the .car -fljot out. Fifteen minutes later,
Dago ; Frank; Gyp the B16od, ' Whitey
Iewis and Lefty Louis eame out and
I- was ordered to - go to the Metropole
Hotel. '.
"At the Metropole, Dago Frank or
dered- me to turn -the car around . So
it would face toward Sixth avenue."
; Becker's counsel objected to the line
of questioning and was overruled. '.
1 turned the sear around, Shapiro
went on, ."and the four men got out
and went 'to the other side of the
street. I remained on the box of mv
machine. In 15. minutes I heard a
shot and. then four more. I looked
toward the . Metropole and saw a man
fall. I 'started my machine. I was
going to get-away from there. : I had
gone about fifty feet -when the four
men cajight up with me and jumped
on the machine." ' '
"BEOKEB--HA9EIXED ,'EM." J ;
"I heard - Whitey: say," continued
Shapiro. " 'Make the chauffeur turn
around and wait. The cops are all
fixed. -Everything is all right- Then
he said,-'Becker has fixed 'em. V
'After the murder, 1 took the four'
men to 126th street arid Lenox avenue.
where they left me. : I then drove back
to the Cafe Boulevard."
"Where were you last night?'' asked
the district attorney. 1 :
"In your house," answered Shapiro.
"How much- money have you- re
ceived from nary office ?" . . -
"Fifty dollars." :..'..
On cross-examination,' Shapiro said
the $60 had been used to pay his ex-'
penses out of the city.
Mr, Manton read a copy of the testi
mony Shapiro offered at the trial of
rh "gunmen.. In that Shapiro said
Frank eaid everything is all right:
Becker told me so." -
Shapiro said he could not remember
just what -he had testified , to at the
first triaL He insisted that the sub
stance of the testimony was the same,
to -by a Keeper in the Tombs quoting
to toy a keep In the Tombs quoting
Shapiro as having told the keeper that
Harry Vallon, and Bridgie Webber had
just jumped into the murder oar In
front of the Metropole and threatened
to "Blow his roof off" unless he drove
away from the place.: Shapiro denied
having made such a statement.' He
denied further that while in the
Tomtos he had said that "Vallon had
hit him with a gun'.. He said an at
tempt had toeen made to' get him to
swear that Webber and Vallon were1
in the car but he had refused.
JACK HOSE TAKES STAN1.
Jack Rose took the stand. He gave
his occupation as a lecturer " and
writer. Under questioning by the dis
trict attorney he told how he first met
Becker When he was head of the
"strong arm squaoU" He appeared en
tirely composed and spoke without
hesitation, even letting his eyes rest
directly on Becker. , Neither man
changed expression. .. -
WILSON TO SPEAK
AT VEST END SHOPS
NOOtl TOMORROW
Representative Lynn W. Wilson .will
discuss the arguments against a heavy
municipal debt, -at Railroad avenue,
between Howard and Hancock ave
nues, at 12:30 (noon) tomorrow.
He will ' attempt . to show that the
bonding election of recent memory,
was not illegal because of "technicali
ties," but because of gross violations
of the civil and criminal law, for
which heavy penalties are imposed.
Testimony Of lyrnes Discloses P&y
ments To Keep Canal Open Tc
"Railroad Owned Ships Spent
$400,000 To Mould Public Opin
ion, But Kept No Books ;
. Washington, , May 12 Indi
cations today were thaL the in
quiry being conducted by the
interstate commerce commisT
sion into; the financial opera
tions of the New Haven rail
rond and the Billiard company
soon would run its course. .;
"This is a case fop the crim
inal courts," suggested one of
ficial of : the commission, "not
for a civil proceeding. .It ap
pears doubtful whether, in a
proceeding of this kind the
facts can be- developed." '
. It is known that the depart
ment of justice is inclined not
to approve of putting ' on the
witness stand Former Presi
dent Charles S. Mellen and the
subpoenaed directors N' of ' the
New Haven Lewis Cass Led
yardTr William Rockefeller,
George F. Baker and George
McGulloch Miller and som? of
the members of the commis
sion, it is said, doubt the feasi
bility, of examining them at
this timer", """"".'- '
- It is not unlikely, however,
that" Mr. Mellen may, be Called
as a witness, possibly today,
although no time for his ap-:
pearance yet has been fixed.
He is in the city under ' sub
poena. .,;"'
William B. (Lawrence, of Bos
ton, one of the largest individ
ual shareholders in the Boston
& "Maine' railroad whos,e hold
ings are said to have depreci
ated nearly E a million 1 dollars
through the iransactions of the
last several years, ajso is likely
to Cell his story to the commis
sion;i.t: i .'w v--;Vv'-'-.'v y '.X '';
' The New Tork, New Haven & Hart
ford railroad wae connected with . lob
bying against the provisiqn 'Of the
Panama Canal act ; -prohibiting rail
road : owned ' ships , f rom ' passing
through the canal, -according" to testi
mony at the hearing today into the
New Haven's affairs by the interstate
commerce -cornmisoion. ,
Timothy B. Byrnes, former, vice
president of the New Haven, testified
that $1,000 paid -to -Clarence W. De
Knight, a Washington lawyer, by for
mer Bear Admiral F. T. Bowies', pres
ident of the Fore River Shipbuilding
company,' for services in connection
with the Panama legislation in reality
came from , the New Haven treasury.
The Stenate lobby investigating com
mittee . recently: :, had IeKnight and
Bowles-before it with relation to -the
transaction,: but the New Haven's
campaign was not then -brought out.
Mr. Byrnes, who resumed the stand
today; ."was shown a voucher for the
transaction and was , questioned by
Chief Counsel Folk in regard to it.
He said he approved the voucher at
the personal direction of President
Mellen and that he learned: later that
Mr. Bowles ha;d asked ;Mr.' Mellen for
the money to retain counsel in the
Panama ""'Canal legialationy the New
Haven being interested on account of
Its Long Island ' Stound lines. .Mr.
Byrnes was on, ' the - stand two hours
and again was questioned as to pay
ments made, through, hie office to vari
ous persons for service - to ' the, New
Haven and particularly as to the work
of Assistant Attorney (Russell, of the
Boston office: . :. ; ;
Mr. Byrnes resented-what he called
"insinuations" "in the queries as to
legislative work. He also said many
slurs had been oast in other quarters.
The task -of collecting and sending
to Washington the mass of- vouchers
calded for toy the commission, it was
stated today,-called for the services of
S00 clerks in the New Haven's main
office and the papers were brought" to
Washington irom New Haven in sev
en trunks on a special oar. ,
Upon resumption of the hearing to
day Timothy E. Byrnes, a former vice
president of . the New Haven, was recalled-to
the stand.
"Did Mr. Mellen ever- turn over to
you - money to ; toe disbursed without
vouchers?" 'inquired Chief Counsel
Folk. "No," replied- the witness,,- "at
no time." -
Mr. Folk, submitted a voucher for
$381.90 in favor of Sylvester Baxter,
"for 15,000 prayers."- - ;:
."Prayers," - mused Mr. Folk. "What
did the .New Haven want with 15,000
prayers?". -
"It; probably needed more than
that," smiled Mr. Byrnes. "This pur
ports to be "prayers from the hills,' "
suggested Mr. Folk. "Why were the ap
peals of the people being paid for by
the New Haven."
"I don't - know ' about - that," Mr.
Byrnes replied. -"The bill was 'r.-'-ii
by the New Haven. People weru
praying then, Just as they are pray
ing : now, for a rest."
"Did you pay the Hill Town As
sociation $3,000?" "I did not."
"The Hill Town Association, " con
tinued Mr. Folk, "I will say for-your
information, purported to be an asso
ciation of people and it was uis--efi
toy the New Haven road."
"That might' have been," ea.Ul t:..
witness. , t .
"What do you know about trs t -ttvitles
of Innis and Turtle?" "Ii . ,
and Thrtle received anywhere trr
$12,000 .to $15,000 for work they did
among various associations of - r.yTs
in, Massachusetts and elsewhere."
."Did they make a report of t-"-
work?" , '. - .'
"I know they did report but S' V n t
the character of - the report I kituw
nothing." . ,
"Were any Itemized bills pre.-?.,' I
by Innis and Turtle?" 'I think Tt
Their , work' aa I recall It,' was of a
general character among civic .r,- . ?
which had manifested interest in t -
railroad, situation."
, "Did they act as attorneys foi tf
road?" "Not in the sense tha.t oih--;
acted," said Mr. Byrnes. "The:r w?i .
was along different lines
. Coattnued on Page 12.)
.".: i .
nn
liVALESC!
FRESH At Pi
lib,
"heed vago;
4m e it .
Annnal Meeting of Bridgeport I'rr i
y Air Association Brinps Kavo.-i ' ''
Reports of Good Aocinp!i.--ifcl ; !
- Fresh Air Home In Fairfield.
, Many of the little convalescent pati
ents who come to the Fresh Air Home
In Fairfield from the Bellevue hosj. : -, i
are unable ' to walk about or take any
kind i of exercise.' These' poor little
boys and girls, . most of (Whose homes
are in the slums of New Tork city ca n
only -sit about the verandas watch ii '
the frolics of those of their , compan
ions who have progressed more rapid
ly'ori the road to health.
'.Some ."kind hearted person in this
city :has been touched by the pitiful
sight " and has' given the 'Bridgeport
Fresh Air .Association, which main
tains the home, a pony, which Is large
and strong enough to carry a substan
tial load of children'.
The one thing; necessary now to
their - happiness - is a ; wagonette in
which 'several may be seated. This 1
will enable them to take drives along
the country roads and enjoy the beau
ties of -nature, 'things 'which , would
otherwise toe impossible, L'.
, Another? thing -which : the ladies
would t like very much to have is a
chest of drawers' for use In the home.
Anyone who has either a wagonette
or a chest of drawers which they care
to donate to ' this' very - worthy causa
will find Miss Marlon DeForest, of 64 9
Clinton avenue, telephone, 21 5 3, who
IS president of the - association very1
pleased to communicate with theij,.
MUCH SMOKE BUT
ONLY SMALL Flu
HOTEL IS VACAi!
Waterbury, May 12 Heavy clouda
of black smoke issuing from the four
story brick building No. 21 Harrison
avenue at noon today, gave the down
town section a-mild fire' scare. While
the fire had a threatening appearance
for half an. hour it was controlled by
use of practically all the fire apparatus.'':.''"-
-'.''
The ' building was owned by F. J.
McEvey and adjoined the Kingsbury
Hotel,. 'Smoke compelled occupants
of rooms in the hotel and most of tho
guests to vacate in a hurry but the
structure itself escaped material dam
age. The fire in the building owned
by Mr. 5vfcEvey caught on a lower
floor and spread to an air shaft and
thence to the third and fourth floors
which had been occupied by the "Wa
terbury Enamelling Compauy and
which went into bankruptcy a few
days ago. The spread of tha Waze on
these floors caused the dense smoke.
, The building is directly opposite the
police station. .
G-as Explosion Victim
- ' , In Critical Condition
Hartford, May 12. It was learn J
here today, that Carl Nelson, the nirs-t
severely injured of the quartet burned
in an explosion at the gas work late
Monday afternoon, was In a critic', I
condition witSi the outcome in flou,
The skin hung from his face and a
n sheets.