The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume], December 06, 1917, Image 1

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

Image provided by: Connecticut State Library, Hartford, CT

                
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VOL. 53 NO. 288
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I l s 1 : i . 1
J i n to i ii s
IleHared
iwf lotS
Means Says at Trial For
Murder That He Dis
x covered and Reported
to ; American Govern
ment PJot to Restore
Haerta in Mexico.
Concord, N. d, Dec, 6 Testi
fying in his own 'defense today
at his trial for the murder of
Mrs. Maude A. King, Gaston B,
Means told the story of his ac
tivities as a "German , agent"
-nddxilared U was he who had
discovered and reported to the
government "the German plot
to restore Huerta to a dictator
ship In Mexico, bring on war
between Mexico and the United
States, and at the same time
start a peace propaganda.
That Information. Mean testified,
h gathered while working tor a pri
vate detective agency's , German
. clients bat under the express stipula
tion that ha would report any lnfor
, matlon ot Tata to the United Btatea
government. ' .
Means told bla story at the ba
glnning of' bla testimony, whlqh will
cover bla oonsaotlona leading up to
the ttana ho became a man of business
for Mr. King;.
doiioWheld
Oil CHARGE OF
MANSLAUGHTER
(Special to The Farmer.)
Stratford, Dae. I Jeaeph B. Dono
van, of Naojgatnck, eharged with man
slaughter, waa bound oyer to the Bu-
perlor court last . evening, by Deputy
Judge Frank EL B-lakeman in the
Stratford town court. Bonds, of $1,
S00 were fixed for hia release, fur
nished by Frank Clark of Namgatuck.
- Donovan is charged with having hit
and run over Anna Kreoowsky, aged
14 year, of 594 Pembroke street.
Bridgeport, in front of St. Michael's
cemetery, Sunday afternoon, Nov. 18,
The Injuries which she received re
sulted In her death a few hours later
at the Bridgeport hospital. The little
girl, according to witnesses, had just
alighted from the trolley car. The
machine In which Donovan was
driving passed the standing electric
. and ran over her. She was picked
up by Donovan and hurried to the
Bridgeport hospital. Cullinan & Cul
linan, counsellor Donovan, filed a de
murrer, at the hearing last evening,
which was overruled by the court.
FRENCH LOST 6
SHIPS BY SUBS
Paris,' WeVSnesday, Dec S. (Losses
txf French ships through submarine
attaaks in the week ended Dec 1
were:
More than 1,600 tons, two; less than
1,600 tons, two; fishing boats, two.
Two vessels were attacked but not
sunk.
HAVE REDUCED
LIVE STOCK RATE
Washington, Dec . "Redaction in
live stock rates from Missouri points
to East St. Louis and National Stock
Yards, 111., was ordered today by the
interstate commerce commission. The
new rates will be substantially the
same as Interstate rates applying In
Missouri, in order to prevent discrim
ination in favor of St. . Louis stock
yards. . ', .
HIE WEATHER.
Connecticut! Generally fair tonight
and Friday; fresh north to northeast
winds on the coast. .
11 e,. a ii ti ii vi ii ei mm a 11 a pi h ii a ii mym . m i ti t i a m t i -,7 i i
Husband Refuses to
Leave Sick Wife and
Pair Sink With Ship
London, Dec 0 Survivors of the
British steamer Apapa, sunk by a
submarine, say that the second
torpedo smashed a boat containing
a score of passengers. Several were
killed and the others, except three,
were drowned. Of the 14. women
on the Apapa eight were drown
ed. Mrs. Harrtgan, wife of the con
troller of customs In Accra.
Gold Coast, was severely sick with
fever and efforts were made to
remove her from her cabin. . She
asked that she be not removed be
cause aha felt too sick. There
upon her husband said:
"Very well, I. will stay with
you,"
They remained In the cabin to
gether and sank with the ship.
FIRE CHIEF TO
ISSUE LICENSES
FOR EXPLOSIVES
By the appointment of Fire Chief
Daniel H. Johnson as local Explosives
Licensing- Agent for the government,
the initial step in a move to ascer
tain Just how much dynamite, gun
cotton, gunpowder, fulminate, etc.,
are store 8sin this city, where they are
kept, by whom, and for what pur,,
poses, was taken today.
Chief Johnson's appointment comes
from the Bureau of Mines, Depart
ment of the Interior, and In accord
ance with the law passed on October
18, empowers him to -exercise sole
authority In the matter of Issuing li
censes to firms and Individuals whose
business includes the handling of ex
plosives. With the application for their li
censes, firms must tell how much of
each kind of explosive they have,
what they use It for, where it is kept.
etc., and must swear to these facts
before a notary. A fee of 25 cents la
charged for the license. .
Included among the firms In this
etty which must have licenses are the
photographers who use flash-light
powder; blasting firms, the Union
Metallic Cartridge Co.. and the lika
The Burns Company, contractors,
selling explosives, is the one firm of
its kind here to require a license.
Up to the present about 10 licenses
have been Issued in Bridgeport, and
it is estimated that about IB more
will need them. William Havlland,
clerk of the Superior Court, was first
appointed License Agent in this city,
but when Chief Johnson was appoint
ed, he turned his duties over.
BEING TRIED IN
CRIMINAL COURT
SUED If CIVIL
Being tried in the Criminal Super.
tor Court and sued for damages of
$5,000 in the civil court Is the unique
experience today of John Carrara of
Danbury. accused of assault with in
tent to murder Angrelo Charles Se
toro also of Danbury, October 26
last. In the criminal court the case
against Carrara was called shortly
before the noon recess, and the Jury
was called for its first work of the
December term.
The accusation against Carrara, a
fruit dealer of Danbury, is that on
the evening of October ,26 last he
came up behind Setoro, driver of the
bus for the Hotel Green, while the
latter was bending over his engine,
and placing a shotgun near his head,
fired it. He . did not -kill Setoro, but
the shot with which the gun was
loaded, penetrated his face, kntcked
out ten teeth, destroyed the sight of
his. left eye, and inflicted other injur
ies. Setoro has filed suit in the Civil
Superior Court for damages of $5,000,
setting out the claims of injuries as
above.
The trial In the criminal court was
more to establish the degree of guilt,
the main facts in the case not being
contested. Carfera is alleged to have
said that Setoro owed him money
which he could not collect, and that
was why he shot him.
' FOUR KILLED .
Rochester, N. T., Dec. Four men
were killed and two were seriously
injured last night when Erie train
58, bound for New York, ran into a
freight train in Susquehanna. Pa. The
dead and injured were all trainmen.
BRIDGEPORT,
ttEAT BATTLE
QN'rMlf
, STILL R
AIR RAIDERS
(WAR BULLETIN)
London, Dec. 6 About 25 aeroplanes raided Eng
land today, it is announced officially. Of these, six
reached London. , Two of the raiders were brought
down, the crew of three men on each machine being
captured.
Bombs dropped by the raiders caused a number
of fires in London but all of them were quickly
brought under control. The casualties are believed
te.be light.
Italian Army Headquarters in Northern Italy, Wednes
day, Dec. 5--The furious enemy attack on the Asiago pla
teau hay bean repulsed with he avy losses-except at the north
eastern sector around Monte Tondaerecar, where after a des
perate struggle, which lasted until this morning, the enemy
succeeded in occupying some of the advanced Italian lines
which were retired to more secure positions.
The fighting has been extremely heavy, with masses of
infantry engaged in hand to hand combat. The first attack on
the Italian left was met and repulsed by the 22nd Corps, with
large enemy casualties. Many prisoners were taken. The
main attack on the Italian right was contested 36 hours by
other corps, which inflicted heavy losses before yielding
ground. -
The enemy assaults began with intense artillery prepara
tion, followed by liquid gas and waves, of infantry. The fight
ing continued leaving the final outcome still open.
CONDITIONAL EXEMPTIONS
FROM DRAFT GRANTED FOR
LOCAL MEN EXPIRE DEC. 16
George L. Warren, . secretary of the
Charities Orgaiftzajtion society, (who
was given a conditional discharge
three months ago, will be among
Bridgeport's IS per cent, contingent
to leave within a few weeks. The
Third District Appellate board an
nounced today that Warren's condi
tional discharge would expire on De
cember 16. Others who had similar
discharges and who will m all prob
abilities be included in the 15 per cent,
contingent are: Thomas D. Ashley,
Carl Gr. Anderson, Earl S. Fenelon,
Hiram Gk Thorp, William B. Tugas,
David Lemmont, Antonio M, Lom-
SUPERIOR COURT
DISPOSES CASES
OF DELINQUENTS
Believing that the boy Is more un
fortunate than vicious Judge Greene
in the superior court suspended a Jail
sentence of one year Imposed on Fred
erick Sauners of Norwalk, 16 years,
who pleaded guilty to a burglary In
Westport. He was placed In care of
the Norwalk probation officer, and
will be allowed to live with his aunt.
Both of the boy's parents are dead,
and he drifted in with evil compan
ions. The burglary was in a cloth
ing store in Westport, and about $80
worth of clothes were taken.
William Sullivan of Danbury was
sentenced to five months in Jail for
theft of a robe. He was charged un
der the habitual criminal act, having
been convicted of other petty thefts
during the year, but the prosecutor
believed he is more unfortunate than
criminal, as all of his acts have been
petty, and in large measure due to
drink.
One year in Jail, suspended, and
placed under probation, was the sen
tence imposed- upon Russell Hummer,
charged with taking an automobile
without leave. '
CONN., THURSDAY, DEC.
AULS
AGING
CAPTURED
fbardl, Henry A. Hafliman, John Fifcs
inatrlck. Daniel Cashln. E. J. F." Mc-
Namara, Stanley Gfrzylala, P. J. Var
rilly, William J. McCarthy, Tony Al
fano. Maxwell L. Mann, Michael Gil
lespie, John Pinner, William C. Pe
ters, Raymond L. Morris, Jolen G.
tMackle and Lewis Wi Fuller.
The board also denied the depend
ency appeals of the following': 'Harry
F. Carr, Morris Hodosh, Isador Sil
verman, Charles Loskowltz, Arthur
Van Etten, Francis P. Lawler and
Willis S. Gorham. These industrial
claims were denied: Henry P. Ster
ling, Patrick Coleman anil Adam
Kzislesky.
LOCAL LABORERS
GOING TO FRANCE
TO WORK ON CAMP
Bridgeport is to be well represent
ed In France in the building of - the
camps for the American soldiers, five
employes of the Stewart Construction
Co. of this city having applied for
passports to go across to work on a
big contract awarded the company by
the United States government.
The Stewart Co.has a contract for
construction of permanent camps for
the soldiers from America involving
about $5,000,000, and many of their
workmen from Bridgeport wish to go
with them. Those who have applied
for passports are Richard Henry
Flanagan, of Bridgeport, John A.
Flanagan of Fairfield, George Smith
of Pierpont street, Robert Henry
Payne of Danbury, and Charles P.
Rhodes of Harborview avenue.
Others who have applied for pass
ports are Percy F. Orr of New Canaan,
who wishes to visit Morocco,' and
Mrs. Rose Burrlll of Fairfield, who
wishes to go to Jamaica.
General Kaledines, the Cossack
leader, is reported marching on Mos
cow with 100,000 men.
6, 1917
Herd Coal
Shortage
increases
No Shipments Received!
For Week Siemon
Goes to Hartford to
Confer With State
Coal Administrator
Shortage Acute.
The Bridgeport coal situa
tion has taken on a renewed
famine aspect and the bins of
the retail dealers are again
practically empty. Records of
the office of Harbormaster
William. A. Lamond show that
not a pound of hard-coal has
entered the harbor this week
and as far as is known no ship
ments have been receiveU by
rail. The . seriousness of the
situation moved Carl F.r Sie
mon, -chairman of the Bridge
port Fuel Committee, to Hart
ford this morning, where, it is
reported, he went into consul
tation with State Fuel Admin
istrator Russell.
The fuel card system which was re
lied upon to relieve the domestic sit
uation was successful as far as it went,
but it is reported only 100 families
were accommodated and these were
given only one-half a ton each. Per
sons continued to besiege the office
at Room 19, Strattleld building, today,
but Secretary Murray Caldwell was
unable to refer the applicants to deal
ers, because they have no coal to
distribute. .
' When asked for a - statement re
garding the situation the secrear?
said, "I have no authority to give out
any information. All information
for the public will be given by Mr.
Siemon. But if you observe anything
around here that is news, I suppose
you are at liberty to use it."
As Siemon is in Hartford there Is
no means of getting an official version
of the situation until he returns.
It is authentically learned that
there are hundreds of -families in
Bridigeport and Stratford, who are
absolutely without fuel. This is at
tested, by the numerous requests for
coal at the committee s office.
No Dissenting
Votes On War
Resolutions
Washington, Dec. 6 With
a formal report from the for
eign affair committee the reso
lution to declare war on Aus
tria-Hungary was brought into
the House to representatives
today.
There were no dissenting
votes in the committee and at
the request of Chairman Flood
the House gave its unanimous
consent to take up the resolu
tion tomorrow at the beginning
of the session and pass it be
fore tomorrow night.
Washington, Dec. 6 The
House foreign affair commit
tee's report on the war resolu
tion declares the United States
probably soon will sertd troops
to Italy.
The sale of sugar direct to buyerr
may be ordered by the government,
HALIFAX SWEPT BY FLAMES WHEN All
AMERICAN VESSEL BLOWS UP; ALL
FOOD SUPPLIES DESTROYED AND
STARVATION THREATENS CITY;
BUILDINGS ARE RAZED AND
HUNDREDS MEET DEATH
(BULLETIN.) '
TRURO, N. 0, DEC. 6 ADVICES FROM
HALIFAX EARLY THIS AFTERNOON GAVE
THE NUMBER OF DEAD FROM THE MUNITION :
SHIP EXPLOSION AT 300.
. Halifax, Dec. 6 Hundreds of persons were killed and
1,000 others injured and half
ruins as a result of an explosion on a munition ship in the
harbor today.
It is estimated that the
millions. The north end of
It is said positively here
ports in the harbor when the explosion occurred. Nothing
as to the fate of these was obtainable. Neither is it known
whether the transports were filled with troops or occupied
only by their crews. ' '
The whole northern section of the city is a mass of
wreckage and fires have broken out in a dozen parts' of
the city, according to reports received shortly after noon.
The area of destruction covers several miles. " The
Canadian government depot used by the Canadian Pacific
railroad is described as having entirely collapsed, while a
big government repair plant in Willow Park, in the north:
western section of the city, is wrecked.
The last word received regarding the explosion said
the military had taken charge of the Canadian Pacific
Telegraph Co. and had ordered all the telegraph operators
out of the building. . .
The vessels collided soon after 8:30 this morning and
it is presumed that the munition ship was hit in the stoke
hold. Instantly flames were seen to pour from her. The
crew appeared to' be making an effort to get the fire fight
ing apparatus to work when the explosion occurred.
According to reports the explosion occurred after the
collision of an American ammunition ship and another ves
sel at Rockingham. The explosion was so terrific that it de
stroyed the installation in the telegraph and telephone offices
for 30 miles around Halifax, while it was heard at Truro, 61 .
miles distant.
(Continued on page 9)
BRIDGEPORT PEOPLE FEAR
RELATIVES MAY HAVE BEEN
FATALLY HURT AT HALIFAX
Fear that relatives and friends may
have been among the hundreds killed
land injured drove scores of Bridge
port people into a near-panic, this
j morning, when news of the terrible
disaster at Halifax was received here.
Many local families, among them
that of IX J. Stokes, of 1,166 Park
avenue, have close connections in the
stricken city, and members hastened
to telegraph offices and other sources
of information, immediately after
learning of what had happened, to as
certain, if possible, whether their peo
ple were safe. Many became almost
frantic when they found that all
means of communication with Hali
fax had been cut off. and that they
would have to wait until these lines
were re-established before they could
get any news.
Grave anxiety is feit here for the
safety of Bridgeport soldiers who are
believed to have been on their way
to France, via Halifax, and who may
have been in that city n the ca
tastrophe fell, today.
Many local young men have enlisted
fer service In the Polish Army In
France, through the recruiting offices
here, and have bean sent to Canada
PRICE TWO
of the city of Halifax-is in .
property loss will run into the
the citv is in flames.
that there were several trans
:for training. Two battalions have al
ready left the training camp at Ni
agara and their safe arrival in France
hns 4)fen rotwirtojl Vi . .1
, wub vauoc uisu
left three weeks ago, " it is believed
that another detachment was o its
way at the time of the explosion.
Men from this city have also en
tered the Canadian service, and many
are thought to have been stationed at
Halifax, some on special assignment
and others awating departure for
Europe. Most of the Connecticut
troops that have already crossed the
Atlantic went by way of the Canadian
port The recent visit of the famous
'Black Watch resulted in several en
listments in .the Canadian army, and
it Is likely 'that these recruits may
have been in' Halifax.
D. J. Stokes, of 1,166 Park avenue,
has several brothers living In Hall
fax, all of whom are believed to hav
resided' in the section within a mile
ra'dlua of the railroad station, and for
'whom much anxiety Is expressed. One
brother. William Stokea, is in the 'liv
ery business in that city, and we'l
iknown.' Mrs.' PatrlofikKilfoy Is a sis
ter of Mr. etokes, and two other sis
ters, one of whom is married to a
physician, lire In that city.