St. Louis Post-Dispatch from St. Louis, Missouri • Page 1

5' I. O' Clock Edition -H O'CLOCK POST- PATCH I EDITION 2 PAGES TODAY -HE ONLY ST. LOUIS NEWSPAPER WITH THE ASSOCIATED PRESS DAY DISPATCHES. COMPLETE MARKET REPORTS, ST. LOUIS, 14, 1903.

Ontalde PRESIDENT FRANCIS AS HE WILL LOOK ON THE MOORISH HORSE WHICH HE IS SOON TO RECEIVE AS A PRESENT MURDER, OR A CLUMSY FRAUD? 1 SCHVVEICKARDT THE H0BS, HAS CONFESSED i Slm I four bones at a gift fwa-tke Saltan ef VOL 55, NO. 266. SNAKE PLAGUE III AJASEMEHT Tracks in Ashes Show Reptiles' Presence at Heard Home. FAMILY ASKS RECIPE FOR RELIEF FROM BURDEN Poison, Traps and Othlr Expedients Have Been Suggested for Making Lower Part of House Again Habitable: At 8:30 o'clock on the morning of May 2 last Mrs. Mary Martin, the domestic of the family of S.

W. Heard, 4328 West Belle phice, was busy washing clothes in the basement. Suddenly her attention was attracted by peculiar marks on the cement Bool-. Ashes from the furnace had formed a film over the floor, which showed the tracings of sinuous movements. The lines and contours were in the form of curves, as though the intruders had wound their way around the basement repeatedly.

In deep alarm the servant called Mrs. Heard, and the two sought an explanation of the mystery. "These are snake tracks!" exclaimed Mrs. Hoard. The women looked about, fearing to see a hooded crest appear from some opening in the wall or from beneath the furnace, and retreated from the dangerous locality.

The washing was completed in the back yard. Family Council Verdict "Snakes." There was a family council that night when Mr. Heard entered his home. Another visit to the basement was made, and a minute examination of the traces followed. "Snakes!" was the verdict of the head of the household.

To still further prove, the presence of the reptiles, a more complete test was made. A heavy coating of ashes was spread over the basement floor. The next day the first conclusion was demonstrated as correct without a doubt. The hissing visitors had evidently held high revel during the night. Starting from beneath the furnace, the tracks wound around the room.

In a perfect labyrinth. From appearances a doien or more might have disported themselves In the soft bed. At one place there was the plainest impression of a snake's head, completing the proof. "I'll never enter that basement declared the servant, "until those snakes are killed, or driven She has been with the family 10 years and her loss would be a calamity. Her declaration carried force.

To add to her fears, she was bitten by a snake years ago, and ever since the sight or suspicion of the presence of one drives her into hysterics. Fresh Ashes Show New Tracks. It was decided to wait a few days in hopes that the unwelcome guests would betake themselves to other quarters. The basement was a tabooed portion of the house. Fortunately, warm weather supplanted the use of the furnace, and there was no occasion to go into the basement while Mr.

Heard was downtown at business. Each night fresh ashes were laid to learn whether deliverance had come. In vain. Each succeeding morning the marks of the nocturnal evolutions were evident. They seemed to increase if anything, as though the brood was increasing.

The inmates of the house were veritably In a state of seige, and the lower portion is virtually abandoned. That is the condition of affairs at present. Information is now being sought as to the best method of securing relief. Can snakes'be poisoned? If so, how? Can they be trapped? What other modes will prove effectual in ridding the place of the pests? This problem Is agitating the family at 132S West Belle place to the exclusion of everything else at present. MRS.

NESENHENER VINDICATED. Her Statement as to Cause of Baby's Poisoning "Will Be Accepted. Pppcl.il to the rost-D'rnnfch. HANNIBAL, May 14. Coroner Clayton will not resume today the inquest began Sunday in the case of Baby Nesen-hener.

here are no eyewitnesses to the accident, and all testimony, so far. bears out the mother's statement that the child drank carbolic acid that had been carelessly left within its reach, which caused its death. Missouri Dental Examiners. JEFFRSON CITY. May 14.

The state board of dental examiners In session here decided this morning to hold the next meeting of -the hoard in 8t. Louis in October. Officers for the ensuing year were elected as follows: Dr. B. L.

Thome of Kansas City, president; Dr. S. C. A. Rubrl of Clinton, secretary: delegate to national association.

Dr. H. S. Vaughan of Kansas City. The board has eight applicants before it for certificates to practice dentistry and the successful applicants will be announced this afternoon.

The next meeting I VirM in I rn the nrrond Tues- I day in October. to is at he be Convict's Knowledge of Miss-? ing Valentine Eckert Is in Doubt, ADMITS PRETENDING THAT HE WAS LOST BROTHER Assertion That He Knew of Case Through Advertisement to Be Tested by Chicago Man and Officials. 1 Michael Selben, a Wealthy Chicago brewer. Is nowi renewing with extraordinary vigor the search he has been conducting lor 25 years, for his half-brother, Valentine Eckert, who disappeared from St. Louis In 1878.

Mr. Selben's renewed efforts were due to the claims put forth to any property that his brother might fee heir to by Conrad Bierman, a convict in the Chester, 111., penitentiary. Blerman's claims faded as soon as he was confronted by Mr. Selben. the half-brother the man he represented himself to be, a they were as unlike as two men could be.

Eckert, the man who has been missing for 26 years, was short, blonde, corpulent and very bald, and spoke German with a distinctive dialect. Bierman is of medium height, rather slender, and dark, with heavy black hair, and speaks German with an entirely different dialect Bierman possessed some Information about the missing Eckert. and, thinking that the source of this information might tell of the fate of his half-brother, Mr. Selben placed the matter in the hands of the Furlong Detective Agency of St. Louis.

Last Letter "Was From St. Louis. Eckert came to America with his half brother in lSCi. He roamed about the country and finally settled in Sherman. where he failed in the brewery business.

He went to Central America and then to South America. He failed to make a living, and frequently appealed to his more successful brother in Chicago, who sent him funds. In 1S78 ho returned to Chicago, and for a few months made his home there. Then he decided to go to Sherman, and visit his old friends. He reached St.

Louis and wrote to his brother from this city. From that time nothing has been heard from him. He carried with hlu the passports that ho had used when he- came to America, and also those he had used on his South American travels. When Bierman presented his claim to the estate and seemed to have Information Mr. Seiben thought he had gained it from the passports.

When confronted by Seiben, Bierman dropped his claim. But he refused to tell where ho had gained the Information about Eckert. Seiben pleaded with him that all he wanted was to know the fate of his brother, but Bierman would tell nothing. Thomas Furlong took up the search for Eckert and the record of Bierman. Nothing was heard of Eckert and no trace of him was found in St.

Louis beyond the letter he wrote Selben. Bierman proved to be an old 'offender. Furlong says that he has served two terms in the Jefferson City penitentiary, and is now serving his second term In Chester, following one term in the St. Louis workhouse and one term In Joliet. Bierman admits these sentences, with the exception of that in Joliet.

Convict Was Married Hera. Blerman's right name Is John Zlnk, but he has been known in St. Louis as John W. Miller, and was married under that name In Clayton before he was convicted of any of his crimes. Before he commenced forging checks, he was a teamster, and at th time of the disappearance cf Eckert was working for the old Vulcan steel works.

Persons now living in Carondelet remember him. All of his convictions have been for forgery. He dresses as a workingman and forges small checks, the largest amount traced to him having been $20. After ihe admitted the failure of his plan to get the estate of Valentine Eckert, he aid that the information concerning the missing man was given him by a convict In the Cheater prison, but he had forgotten the name and number of the convict. only knew that he had been released from the penitentiary.

As to the term In Joliet. he dpnlee com-nletelv that he was ever In that prison. Furlong's theory Is that Biermnn must have been asoclated with some convict In the Joliet rrlson who gave him the lnfor matlon about Eckert. cr that he learned of It at the time or HicKert disappearance. Must Have Seen the Passports.

The Information held by Bierman. when confronted by Selben. was that which could have been gained only from the missing man's passports. Seiben says his parents were very poor and that whn they died he made no claim for the small part of the estate that might have come to him. and he supcacs that It wan nettled long ago.

When Selben's appearance at Chester ex ploded the claims of Bierman, the latter threatened him with personal injury after he was released from prison. In order that Bierman may held in the penitentiary and forced to tell what he Knows about Eckert, Furlong has caused six charges of using the Vnited States malls to promote a scheme to defraud to be placed against him. When his term is up at Chester this month he will be arrested by the federal CONTINUED ON PAGE TWO. THURSDAY EVENING, MAY PRES. FRANCIS IS A HORSEMAN He Expects to Eide Blooded Barbary Steed Without Trouble.

President David R. Francis of the Exposition has no misgivings about his ability to ride the spirited Barbary horse, brought from Morocco as a present to him from World's Fair Commissioner Langerman. He was once a farmer's boy, and could ride bareback with a rope halter In place of a bridle. Many a mile he rodo across the hills and over dusty roads, clinging to the broad back of a horse that would have been more at home before the plow. On horsoback he drove the cows and went to town, and often ran exciting races with neighbor boys.

Although he has not been in the saddle for many years, he has not forgotten the tracks of his boyhood days, and will put them Into use again when the last of the Mamelukes' strain arrives. When the gift was announced one of Gov. Francis' friends who hod never seen him on horseback, asked him what he would do with the animal. 'Ride it," the governor is said to have replied. "I used to ride when I was a boy.

There wasn't anything on the farm that I was afraid of. and I used to think I was quite a cowboy or broncho buster, I don't remember which." The Barbary horse will not. according to horsemen, be as hard to sit as many an old farm horse with a trace of ginger in him. The Barbary Is the descendant of scores of the finest saddle horses In the world, and he is born to the place. He Is spirited, bu his prohcing Is like the rocking of a swing.

There is non of the Jolt that goes with every step of a trotting farm horse. The Barbary is also easy to control, and the Exposition president will not need to "lay back on the reins'" the way he did in his boyhood days when his horae took a notion to It has ben suggested that President Francis may ride the Barbary often between his home and the offices of the World's Fair jounds. making the trip in as little time. If not In less, than oa the car or In a carriage. The famcue horse It now on a farm in New Jersey recovering from seasickness.

Hit three ttablemate died at sea. He will be ahlpped to St Louie as toon a he rets well enough to trave', WTSl sWj3i fc'-lNitf fcMjpvi fetl'fea 81 St. Loala. Tna Ceata. BALMY SUMMER SEEMS NEAR But Sky Will Not Get Clear Before Friday, Weather Man Bowie Declares.

Summer is coming again, and will stay several days. The sky will not clear up. however, ixetfore Friday. "Partly cloudy tonight and Friday. Warmer Friday, northerly winds, becoming variable." is "Weather Man" Bowie's forecast Thursday morning.

He adds that la warming up rapidly throughout the West and Northwest. There Is still cool weather In the 9.1 I I i i upper Mississippi and lake regions, and frosts aro reported from Colorado and Wyoming. Rain continues general throughout the South and the Mississippi valley as far north as Iowa. Oklahoma and Kansas are still in the midst of a drenching. AND FLA ITER Profession, Do Not Fall of Either, Is Miss Advice.

are victims of the cocktails aa often as professional women. "But," she declared, "the society woman has not a career to ruin. She may rest at home and recuperate, while the professional woman has to continue with her work, no matter how unfit her mind Is for It." Miss Noble declared that success to the professional woman entailed greater privation, longer study and more suffering and disappointment than to the professional man. TO SOIT OF CHARLES AW Wife Files Counter Petition Against Former St. Louis Man.

Dispatches from New Tork state that Mrs. Euphronia Jeanette Thaw has brought counter suit for divorce against Harper Thaw of St. Louis, who several months ago brought an action for divorce the Supreme Court there. la her petition Mrs. Thaw accuses her husband of Ir.fidoUty and names co-respondents.

In his bill Thaw also made similar accusations against hit wife, naming William Newton Morrison as rne of them. The dispatches ay Morrison Is a Chi-caroan. The New Tork dispatches also say that Thaw Is a cousin of Mist Alice Thaw Pittsburg, who recently the Earl of Yarmouth, and that he inh-1td a large fortune from his father, who died recently. "Charlie" Thaw well knov-n In Su He was born here and resided In St. I-ou! until about tlx years father.

Charles Thaw jn.urancet man. He went to New Tork to enter tipon stage career. It it said that he haa re- cently been a tnerob-r of the "Liberty Belles" company In New York. The young woman whom he also on the stage. She la know ces Rush, and one of the Anna Hel' mpanjr.

i Morocco and from tie few chose one as a Pieent t. Present Francis The other EJJ three died at. Wi Preheat Francis bone Is said to he fljlwra MHil the la of the Mameluke, errata and the finest Barhary horse erer brought to Aaw- lOVf lot. It It a dapple bay. with heavy mane E'Bsir1 and tall.

IU body 1. and graceful IStt i 'Jl and its neck ttroag. with a slight t'fpH 1 It carries Its bead high and every move. kIHWI ment is llsbt and rail of spirit. JWCWfflifl -WV HAROLD MILLSJRRESTED Man Who Deserted St.

Louis Wife Is Charged With Bigamy. HICAG0 YOUNG WOMAN IS HIS LATEST ACCUSER Plausible Photo Enlarger Took Koat of His St. Louis Wife's Honey With Him When Ha Disappeared From St. Louis. Harold C.

Mills, who deserted his wife In St. Louis in September, taking most of her money with him. It under arrest la Chicago and confronted by another wife. who says he deserted her when he disappeared from there last New Year's day. Mills is also charged there with luring Miss Laura Stickler into the Newport Hotel, where she fell from a third-story window In an attempt to escape from him.

He gave his name when arrested as Harold C. "But he Is Harold C. Mills," said the wife who confronted him there. "We were married Oct. 26 last.

I suspect he Is a big amist and I want him triei on that charge." Mills is a handsome man with all the polish that comes from education and good soclety.He Is feet tall and hat fine features, large blue eye, a high forehad and heavy brown hair. He Is a fascinating talker His apearance and hve helped him in his escapades. At the time of his disappearance from Chicago last New Tear's he waa president of the Guarantee Home Security and a thousand stockholders have had detectives on his track ever since. He says he left Chicago to negotiate a loan in Buffalo. The wife, who has appeared In Chicago, says he told her he waa the son of Horace Mills, a millionaire lumber Merchant of Buffalo, and also related 'to the Jewetta of that city.

She says she hns lettors Indicating that he haa ben married In De troit, Pittsburg and Et-. LouU. In St. Louis Mills represented himself as the son of Charles' Edgar Mills, attorney, with offices at 113 Broadway, Brooklyn, N. Y.

He said he was also a nephew of Ogden Mills. St, Louis Wife Paid the Bills. He engaged In the business of enlarging photographs In St. Louis, opening an office in the Benolst building. This, however, was not until after he had married Mrs.

Sophie Headley, widow of a well-to-do merchant of Collinsvllle, 111. Her money enabled him to engage in the business, which he said he had previously followed In Cleveland and Columbus, O. Mrs. Headley had Just moved to St. Louis to educate her son when she met Mills early In June, 1S99.

He began an ardent courtship and finally w6n Mrs. Head-ley. She was captivated with his fine manners and aristocratic appearance. He berged her to write to his father-and uncle, Ogden Mills, and investigate his antecedents, but she trusted him and did, not write. After their marriage they lived, at 3701 Cote Brilllante avenue.

Mtlla wrote to hla father of the marralge, but he never received any answer. He told his bride he couldn't underrtand why It was. unless his father was ar.gry. He was sure he would hear before long, and receive a substantial gift in money. He said he was heir to large wealth, and his bride believed him.

husband had left her 16000 In cash, and considerable real estate. She supported herself and Mills out of this while he waited for newt from his father. She furnished the money for the photo-enlarging business, and gave Mills money to buy a home for them on Lincoln avenue. They were married July 1899, and lived happily until September. Then Mllle met a capitalist friend who wanted him to to Joplin to open a photo-enlarging establishment there.

This was what he told his wife, and she urged him to go, furnishing him with $3000. He went and never returned. Hla wife closed up the business. The most that Mrs. Mills of St.

Louis ever found cut about the man was that had been known In Cleveland and Colura- bus at C. B. McCoy, and that he had been in the photo-enlarging business. He was reported teen in Cleveland after heleft Louis. STRIKERS ENJOINED BY FEDERAL COURT Fpx-Ul to the rtt-Iilrpt-b.

SPRINGFIELD, 111.. May It-Jr Humphrey of the United States dlt court, on the application of Mobile aV O) Railroad has issued aa injunctfc agaJnst the strikers. The defendants are' enjoined from la an) way. interfering with the operation of the trains and all other property of the com pany; from aaeauHlng. harassing or Interfering with the employes of the eompanyj from picketing or patrolling the depots, yardt, and from gathering about such p'tacet for the purpose of deterring the employes of the company from the performance of their dirties.

FIEST PJi.CE AT FAUX QEOTTNDS. FIRST RACE Dortce Crtt, Durbar pnd. Quart ee third. Time. BEST7LTS AT MOIiaiS PARK.

tv rt iirtt'B. x.cr-rrra rink- fast. rar. Kir.t tace. Eclitma e-t a.

iwnirl is it 1 ITT ur by one Ungth; St. JuJe Ifc Burnt), 4 toj" ond; Oen. Prig (Ma: thews), tt hlro. Time. fteoond race-Mlmos Erst, Ayisteeyaey Jocund third.

HANDSOM WOMEN, BE WARE OF MEN, Former Senator Tells of Distributing Money at Jefferson City. Former State Senator Charles Schweick-ardt of St. Loula has made a complete confession to Circuit Atorney Folk of his connection with boodle deals of the Fortieth General Asembly. It is said that Schwieckardt involves sev-al other senators. He has told specifically of distributing large amounts of money.

In one case It Is reported that he went Jefferson City with a fund of JGOOO to defeat the passage of the Nesbit law. This sum was left In care of the Madison Hotel, and when Scbweickardt and his friends found the bill could not be beaten they returned the money to the subscribers. Sdhweickardt was before the grandjury two hours Thursday. While in the Jury room he was confronted by ex-Senator Fred Busche, also of St. Louis.

The two faced the Jury for several minutes, and it supposed that each confronted the other with damaging testimony. At 1:30 o'clock Schwelckardt emerged, trembling visibly and with flushed face. The Jury took a recess until 3:30 o'clock, which house Schwelckardt and Busche were ordered to report to the circuit attorney. The moment Busche left the grandjury room he asked for Schwelckardt. When told that Schwelckardt had left several minutes before he appeared ruffled and hurrying down the steps remarked, "I'll find him." Alum Vender Hade Alum Law.

When Former "Senator Lyons appears before Circuit Attorney Folk Friday, will be aeked to reconcile his explanation of how he came to introduce the "pure food" bill with the fact that he himself was a manufacturer of alum baking powder, the sale of which Is now prohibited. It appears that Lyons conducted an Independent factory for several years, and sold out some time before going to the State Senate. Lyons refused to answer two questions whether he had received boodle, and will cited before Judge Ryan to answer to the charge of contempt. Charles Schwelckardt has told an Interesting story to Circuit Attorney Folk rela tive to boodle deals negotiated during the 1SU9 session, when lie was a member of the oenaic. Schweikardt says he was handed an envelope containing 10no.

The bearer waa a messenger, and he insists he aoes not know who the donor was. tolJJ the monoy," said Schwelckardt. 2 ol it among four senators, giving each S260. I did not keep any of it my- "Filipino" an Important Witness. Representative Con P.

Dolan of Kansas City was among the Important witnesses before the grandjury today. Mr. Dolan was one ot tno 'Filipinos'' at the recent eslon. having bolted the regular Democratic Me voted againit ihri bill to create a new school book comm'selon. the measure favored by the administration.

it Is thought he way know something of the means used to bring about the defeat of school book legislation. i Former Senator schwelckardt was before the grandjury minuter. Me admits hav-mg been a member of the Senate combine. nd he controlled four votes. He dia not regard boodle at In any im unusual, and told Circuit Attorney Folk that It waa a common in Jeiferson City during the 1S9T session of ihe general assembly.

Former Senator Busche and Joseph Shannon of Kansas City were expected today, but they hd not appeared when the grandjury adjovrned. Shannon is the personal lieutenant of CoL Phelps and it believed that he a throw Ufibt ob legislative methods. COCKTAILS If You Would Succeed in Under the Influence Grace Noble CHICAGO, May 4. "Cocktails men and flattery are the three evils that the professional woman must shun Just as completely as the ambitions man must turn his back against, 'wine, women and "She is susceptible to them all, and each Is a barrier to success." This declaration has been made by Miss Grace Noble, who is to manage a New York playhouse next year, at a meeting of the Hull House Woman's Club. Miss Noble declared that society women TOO MUCH MONEY MARTINIQUE Charles Parsons Receives $3000, Which Will Be Returned to Contributors.

Charles Parsons, president of the State National Bank cf St. Louis, received Thursday morning a check for $2000 from Cornelius N. Bliss, secretary of the national relief committee for the vlcl'nu of the Mar. disaster. jjr.

Parsons was the chairman of three St. Loulsans appointed by President Roosevelt to secure contributions in St. Louis for the relief of the sufferers at Martlnlnque and Pierre last summer. Robert S. Brookings and Adolphus Burch were the other two members.

The committee ra'aed Jll.330.Si Before all of this had been collected Mr. Parsons sent V00 to Mr. Bliss. Soon after he ro ceived word that the fund was sufficiently large, and that it would not be necessary to forward additional contributions. Thereupon Mr.

Parsons prorated the balance in the local fund. $3330.33. among the contributors, paying each 4i per cent and a fraction of thtlr total subscription. In the letter received Thursday morning Mr. Bliss Informs Mr.

Parson only half of 'the VO0 was found necessary by the national committee, and be inclosed a check for the balance. Mr. Parsons stated to the Post-Dlapatch Thursday fiat he would at once distribute the MQiA to the St. Louis ube Ibers to the fund. This will Lot eao- contrrb' FOR a a in a SECOND EDITION NOW READY! Bo extraordinary has been the demand for the twentieth anniversary number Of the New York World (irsue of May 10), thot a second edition has been printed.

Persons desiring copies may obtain them at the rate of 5 cents each by remitting in itamps to The World, 'New York or Iby purchase at the Fot-D1patch office. I The World's twent'eth anniversary number Is the most remarkable newspaper ever printed. It consist cf 136 pages, or lfoSS columns. Sixteen pKes In colors and half-tone. -depict the glories of the Sc.

Loujs Exposition. Twelve pages are da voted to a review by famous writers of human achievements in the last 20 years. Other stew ins contain a library of interesting tnf.trra.itUn on up-to-date topics. Among the contributors to this edition are( Orover Cleveland. A.

J. Balfour, prime mlpUter of England; WfUlara J. Bryar members of President Roosevelt's cabinet, and scores of men of international i ute..