The La Crosse Tribune from La Crosse, Wisconsin • 1

A i if BUSINESS IS GOOD THE BIG NEWS Hon. Gilbert Af. Woodward Diet Today After Lingering I lines At Age Of 78 VOLUME NUMBER 258. LA CROSSE, WISCONSIN, FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 1914. PRTCE TWO CENTS darkle tells of COL.

WOODWARD OH BATTLE FIELDS oid Comrade Grieved by the News and Pays Earnest Tribute to Friend and Veteran MINNESOTA TAX INCREASES FASTER THAN WISCONSINS Grow at Faster Ratio in the Gopher State During the Last Thirteen Years YOODYARD FOUND PAPERS SIGNED BY WASHINGTON Documents Bearing Signature of First President Recently Donated to Normal School LA CROSSE MOURNS FRIENDS DO NONOR TO COL. WOODWARD Splendid Qualities of Distinguished Citizen Discussed by Three Intimate with Him RUL10R A REVIVAL OF EMBARGO ON Alins TO MEXICO National Government of U. S. Impatient with Attitude Assumed by Gen-eral Carranza. A DEATH GOMES AT 6:35 OCLOCK AT GDOfALD HOME Pioneer Citizen Called Af- ter Illness of Year; Heart Failure Is Immediate Cause WAS FORMER MEMBER OF CONGRESS as Prominent in Democratic Politics and One Time Was Candidate for Governor BAR ASSOCIATION TO MEET TODAY Will Be in Session This Afternoon and Will Take Active Part in Funeral; Date to Be Set Eater BT EJL tt G.

M. oodward Soldier, Journalist, Lawyer sand Statesman, Who Died Today After Having Lived in La Crosse Since Before the Civil War. EXPLAINS WHY HE PAROLED FRENCH Judge Intimates that Had He Sat Upon Jury He Would Not Have Found Conductor Guilt7, RELEASED BECAUSE OF DAUGHTER Uses Clemency Not to Tarnish the Life of Innocent Girl Says the Opinion In delivering his opinion at the Harry French trial. Judge George Olementson at Lancaster yesterday intimated that had. he been a member of the jury that sat in the trial he would not have agreed to a verdict of gujlty.

Paroled French. Harry a Burlington conductor residing at 1515 Kane street, was tried for the murder of Pat Murphy, a tramp whom he was alleged to have kicked from a moving train causing his death. Judge Clem-entson suspended sentence, placing French under two year parole. Continuing, Judge' Clementson summed up the case by saying: The public good, does not demand Mr. French should be sentenced to state prison.

To do this would mar his life and cloud the future of an innocent girl. This would benefit no one. It-cannot justly be claimed that his incarceration in the state prison would be beneficial by example. The testimony was the man who came down from the top of the car swung his foot around and hit the man holding on in the head; that this man then took his feet out of the stirrup and hung by- his hands- witJ hs feet dragging upon; guiid. Esser a witness, says feet and then let go and fell.

It unfortunately happened that when he fell his head struck a bolt or spike that stood up In the end of a tie. This bolt or spike penetrated I the head just behind the ear and killed him. If he had hung on two seconds longer or had jumped when he was kicked, he would not have been killed. The act of the defendant amounted of itself to assault and battery only, but the unfortunate a 4 a that IS. SI 1 1 i 1 i 1 1 1 1 St I i vv Hon.

Gilbert Motier Woodward, aged 78 years, journalist, soldier, lawyer and statesman, for forty-four years a resident of La Crosse, died at the home of Mrs. D. A. MacDonald, 226 West avenue, north, at 6:35 oclock this morning. Although failing for nearly a year it was not until last three months that his condition became so bad that it forced him to give up his work and take to hi3 bed.

Heart failure is given as the immediate cause of death and was superinduced by hardening, of the arteries Colonel is survived by brother. Luther of Washington, D. a sister, Mrs. Linkins, of the same place, and a' brother, William of Chicago, 111. He also leaves several nephews and nieces, one of whom is Dr.

William C. Woodward, head of the medical department in the District of Columbia. Funeral arrangements have not been completed, owing to the time necessary to communicate with relatives. The funeral, however, will undoubtedly be in charge of the La Crosse County Bar association, of which the deceased was a member, and the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic. A meeting of the latter organization is to be held at o'clock this afternoon, when committees will be appointed to draft resolutions and memorials to the circuit and supreme courts.

Great Scholar -Mr. Woodward was recognized the state over as a scholar in languages, history, literature and the law and for the last thirty years has had big practice before the Wisconsin supreme court. His knowledge of civil war events and city, county and state historical matters was known the state over and was only recently, that tba state historical society petitioned him to write a description of the first days battle at Gettysburg to be used with other valuable information being gathered by the society. Mr. Woodward was active in politics up to 1896.

Always a gold democrat, his retirement from active part in the political world came about. the time of the free silver -is-sue. Known to but few, it is never the VILLA DELAYS CAMPAIGN START Vacillates About in Chihuahua, with No Definite Advance Toward Torreon OFFICER HELD FOR BENTON DEATH Rumored that Relative of Villa Has Been Arrested for Killing of British Subject MEXICO CITY, March 13. The Mexican foreign office today let it be known that it expects tomorrow a note from Secretary of State Bryan in regard to another embargo by the United States on the importation of arms into Mexico. Nelson OShaugh-ixessy, American charge affaires, refused to discuss the matter.

Foreign Minister Portillo Rajas declined to go into details. Tampico hospitals are filled to capacity with wounded federals, ac-erals, according to a reporc today from the beleaguered oil port. After Torreon News WASHINGTON, March 13. Renewed 3fforts to get details of the exact situation at Tampico and Torreon were made by the state depart- Huerta Seizes Citizens MEXICO CITY, March 13. General Huertas recruiting methods today were exemplified again, by wholesale, conscriptions in the suburbs.

Hundreds of men were seized in the streets and locked up until they could he provided with uniforms and rifles. They were then pronounced soldiers and sent to Curnavaca where Zapatistas were reported to be operating. Huerta also impressed 900 men from the Mexico City prisons. a ment today. There has been skirmishing in the vicinity of these towns for several days, but the department Is anxious to know whether the decisive combat has started.

It is understood to have been the plan of the constitutionalists to attack the two cities simultaneously in the belief that if these important places could be captured it would be a death blow to the Huerta cause and result in wholesale desertions from the dictators armies. Because of this fact the state department is following events very closely. Carranza Wants Compromise The state department was still without details of Carranzas reply to Secretary Bryans demand that he recognize the right of this government to make representations regarding the lives and property of all foreigners in northern Mexico. Unofficial! it is reported that Carranza wants to compromise. It is not believed that this government will accept any such suggestion from Carranza.

In fact it was reported there has already crept into the messages exchanged between Washington and the various constitutionalist headquarters through the United States consular representatives, a note of sharpness indicating actual impatience here with the various contentions of Carranza. Villa Vacillates CHIHUAHUA, Mexico, March 13. Although the bulk of General Francisco Villas Mexican constitutionalist army is already at Escalon or closer to Torreon, Villa himself still remains here today. When he will depart with the troops remaining here is problematical. Villa himself does not seem to have made up his mind.

Every night he warns his chief lieutenants and the newspaper correspondents that they may be called to the firing line before daylight, but beyond that statement he is silent. Today Villa kept 200 persons, including several generals and high officials, waiting in the ante-room of his office while he cleaned a rifle. Recently he was presented with a new high power rifle fitted with a Maxim silencer, and he has been acting like a child with a new toy ever since it came. The silencer is the first he ever saw and he has announced he will provide all his sharpshooters with these devices. Has 16,000 Troops When Villa moves south he will leave 4,000 troops distributed throughout the state of Chihuahua as garrisons for the cities.

Villa has a total of 16,000 troops in Chihuahua, 6,000 in Durango, and between and 6,000 in Coahuila and Nuevo Leon. Commission Does Nothing EL PASO, Texas, March 13. General Fraustro, president of the commission appointed by General (Continued on rage sixj PERSONAUTY MOST ATTRACTIVE Manly Attributes Transcended Even His Notable Ability as a Member of the Bar ALL WHO TALK ARE AFFECTED Strong Hold of Lawyer-Sol-, dier on Friends Evidenced by Feeling with Which They Speak of Him The death of Colonel G. M. Woodward occasioned deep regret throughout the city today and everywhere were heard expressions of esteem for the man who has held a substantial place in the affections of the people of his community.

The sentiment of the entire community was tersely and accurately expressed by L. C. Colman, who said: In the death of Colonel Woodward, there is to those who knew him well a great personal loss as he was a man of sentiment far beyond the average. To his personal friends this quality overshadowed the impressions made by his great ability as a lawyer and public spirited citizen. There was deep feeling in Judge E.

C. Higbees voice when, referring to the death of Colonel Woodward, he said: Even had I the time to prepare it would be difficult for me to adequately express my estimate of the character and life of Col. Woodward. He filled every position and relation in life in the fullest measure. Ho was a man of the highest honor-an 1 unswerving integrity, an able and accomplished lawyer greatly lovad by all who knew him.

A Lawyers View Appreciation of Colonel Woodward from the standpoint of his professional associates finds earnest expression in an interview by W. S. Burroughs, who, as one of the pioneer lawyers has practised at the bar with Colonel Woodward for many years. Mr. Burroughs says: As a lawyer Colonel Woodward was exceedingly able.

He was a close and careful student of his chosen profession, stood high at the bar, and has always been recognized a3 a man of special ability. Mr. Wpodward was reticent and not given to talking of himself, but was always pleasant and genial, kind and obliging. He was particularly sensitive in observing the ethics of his profession and in adhering to the straight line of duty to his client. He was one of the most able lawyers who practiced before the supreme court, and handled cases before that court with skill and.

ability that placed him in the foremast rank. After returning from the war Mr. Woodward practiced alone for a short time and later became a partner of the firm of Burton and Woodward. When Judge Samuel S. Burton retired from law practice, Mr.

Woodward practiced alone until the death of Senator Angus Cameron, when he formed a partnership with J. W. Losey, the remaining member of the firm. Later Mr. Andrew Lees became a member of the firm, known as Losey.

Woodward and Lees, until the death of Mr. Losey in 1901. Mr. Woodward and Mr. Lees have been associated ever since under the firm name of Woodward and Lees.

Hewasrirentleman. He stood for all that was high, noble and uu-! right in the conduct of his practice and was known throughout the state as a careful, conscientious, able and diligent lawyer. SHOT BY FRIEND NEW YORK, March 13. Caugnt In a cross fire of his own friends bullets, Jomes Foley, gangman, was shot to death early today in a battle in a saloon in Bridge street. In Brooklyn.

Foley and four other gunmen entered the saloon of James Mc-Menemann and demanded drinks. They threatened McMenemann, who drew an empty pistol. Instantly all five Gangsters produced their guns and firing, retreated through thra door. McMenemann was unblt but Foley sank on the doorstep with a bullet in his Teart. BOYS DROP MATCH IN GASOLINE TANK CHICAGO, March 13.

Two 12 year oil boys, John Bodian and Peter Koclenz, were fatally burned this afternoon when a crowd of youngsters threw lighted matches into a 250 gallon tank of gasoline at the west side brewrery. The explosion set off a second tank of 500 gallons, partially wrecked a building and gave firemen a half' hours fight to control the flames. 1 DISCOVERED ON OLD PLANTATION Was Reveling in Musty Collection When Interrupted by Battle; Snatched a Few WAS IN BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG Described First Day of the Three Day Contest; Was Wounded in First Brush with Johnnies To Colonel G. M. Woodward the La Crosse state normal school is Indebted for some of its most valuable historical documents.

They are leases, dated 1749, and signed by George Washington, then 17 years of age, as witness. The story connected with the old papers is an interesting as they are themselves and is best told as related to Prof. A. H. Sanford, professor of history, by Colonel Woodward.

It was during the Wilderness campaign, and. Woodwards company, of the Wisconsin light infantry, was encamped on an old Virginia plantation. He was then doing clerical work for the regiment and was occupied with reports. He was at work in an orchard near the house a typical southern plantation home. A brush with the rebels was momentarily expected and the regiment was laying in wait for orders.

While Mr. Woodward was at work upon his reports other members of the regiment were roaming about the plantation and through the old home long since deserted by the occupants when the. iyanks. took possession the territory. Find 'Old Papers Some of the soldiers meandered into the cellar of the home and discovered there boxes filled with papers.

They had been broken open and documents were strewn over the floor. They had evidently been ransacked in great haste. The soldiers gathered a few together and, because of their legal aspect, carried them to Mr. Woodward for his inspection. The latter at once realized that they were remark ably old and, always a collector of things of historical value, visited the cellar himself.

For some time, said Colonel Woodward, he revealed in the musty documents finding papers signed by men known to him only as figures in history. He found there old deeds and papers dealing with affairs long be fore his birth and. among them he found several of which bore the signature of Washington the first president. Battle Interrupts He was perusing them, the dates recalling events of pre-revolutionary date, when his dreaming was broken bv the low roar of distant cannon. Then came orders from officers near the house and Mr.

Woodward, snatch ing a handful of the mildewed documents, hastened outside to snatch his rifle, join his company and fight the Johnnies who had slyly crept to within shooting distance of the boys in blue. Colonel Woodward carried the papers throughout the civil war but when mustered out found that all had been lost except the two which he but recently donated to the historical library at the normal school. They are what he termed a lease and release and were between Meri-dith Edwards and wife of Stafford county, Virginia, and Samuel and Mary Seldon. They concerned certain lands in Stafford county. The witnesses to the transaction were John Fitzhugh, Anthony Strother and George Washington.

It was the theory of Mr. Woodward that the home was that of a Virginia lawyer, named Reid; that when deserted legal documents had been hastily packed 'in boxes and stored in the cellar and that after the desertion of the place by the family the -boxes had been torn open by slaves seeking valuables. Donates Old Maps Mr. Woodward also donated to the normal historical library a valuable set of books called Battles and Leaders of the Civil War. The set is in ten volumes.

He also presented the school with copies of the complete set of the Brady war photographs. They are the only authentic pictures of the war and were but recently discovered. Old maps of the city of La Crosse, one of them dated 1857, were also turned over by Mr. Woodward shortly before his death. To Prof.

Sanford Mr. Woodward described the first days of the three day battle of Gettysburg. The day, said Colonel Woodward, was one of the brightest I ever saw. The men in the ranks all knew that a big battle was coming and over the entire regiment there i Continued on Page Sixl COMPILES FIGURES FOR 13 YEARS Sister State Levy Grew from 14 to 43 Millions; Wisconsins from 19 to 41 Millions AVERAGE STATE TAX IS LESS In Minnesota It Is and in Wisconsin $2,621,809 for the Period MADISON, March 13. Total taxes are higher in Minnesota than in Wisconsin.

The total taxes, local, county and state, have increased at a taster ratio in Minnesota during the-past thirteen years than in Wisconsin. These are conclusions drawn from a table compiled by Prof. T. S. Adams of the state tax commission.

The total taxes have increased from in 1900 in Minnesota to $43,594,159 in 1913. In the same perior total taxes in Wisconsin increased from $19,376,478 to The figures used in making the comparisons are taken from the records of the state treasurer of Minnesota, but corrected so as to compare with those of Wisconsin. For the total taxes collected in Minnesota in 1913 according to the official records is $45,763,382. In Minnesota collections from the trust funds of the state are Included as state taxes. As this is not the custom In Wisconsin, these amounts have been transferred and placed on the same basis as used in -Wisconsin so as to make thq tables comparable.

The taxes for the thirteen years in Minnesota have been rearranged upon this basis. Otherwise would show a state tax out of all proportion to Wisconsin. Special assessments are omitted from the local taxes of both states. Minnesota has a population about 3,000,000 less than Wisconsin.but its population is more urban, owing to the two large cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul.

The average of state taxes collected in Minnesota for the past thirteen years is $3,201,528. The average state taxes collected in Wisconsin during the same period is $2,621,839. County taxes have Increased from $2,722,125 in 1900 in Minnesota to $7,724,614 in 1913. In Wisconsin county taxes have Increased from $3,542,290 to $8,116,518 in the same period. Local taxes in Minnesota have increased from $10,493,644 in 1900 to $28,972,991 in 1913, while Wisconsin local taxes increased from to $25,825,124 in the same time.

HOUSE UNROOFED BY CHIMNEY FIRE The home of Herman Peters, 23 30 Main street, was damaged by fire to the extent of $400 last night as the result of a defective chimney. The fire was discovered at 7:10, and with the assistance of several neighbors the furniture was nearly all removed within a few minutes. Whon the fire was extinguished a half hour later, the greater part of the roof and upper part of the bulid-ng had been burned away. The house was partly covered by Insurance. BETROTHAL MAY BE ANNOUNCED SOON WASHINGTON, March 13.

That an official announcement of the engagement of Miss Eleanor Randolph Wilson, youngest daughter of President and Mrs, Wilson, to Secretary of the Treasury William Gibbs Mc-Adoo, will be forthcoming within the next forty-eight hours, was the general opinion of friends of both here today. a SIAMESE TWINS HAVE ONE BRAIN CHICAGO, March 13. -Siamese twins girls with heads united and with a single brain were born today to Airs. Ellena Marsuilis, 24, at the Columbus Extension hospital. They died a few minutes after birth, but it is, believed the mother will recover.

News of the birth of the double child excited the Lithuanian colony near the stock yards, where the Marsuilis family lives. My God! My God! moaned the father, the devil has been born. WAS ALWAYS CNE OF HIS MEN Shoulder Stripe Made No Difference with Friendship of Soldier and Scholar WOUNDED; ONE NARROW ESCAPE Shell Burst Under Horse but Colonel Escaped Without a Scratch I am very sorry. Colonel Woodward was a true nobleman, said Emanuel Markle, when told of Col onel G. M.

Woodwards death over the telephone. teams were away, the train gone, and as no other means were available. The Tribune sent an automobile to bring Mr. Markle in from the farm, five miles out. lie arrived within an hour after learning of his comrades death.

Colonel Woodward was a born Mo Markle, but as he rose from the ranks he retained the love of his old comrades because he did not let his shoulder straps separate him from the boys. Asked to tell something of Colonel Woodwards war experiences, Mr. liarkle said: Ill tell you his record just as he used to tell it to me. It goes like this: Wounded once, horse killed under me by exploding shell scared to dedth'a' hnndrfed times. was just the colonels modest way of putting it, continued Mr.

Markle. I record is proof of his service. lie always obeyed orders, and was successful, and he went up strictly on his own merits. The old soldiers eyes brightened as he seemed to review the old campaigns in his' mind. Mr.

Markle was a non-commissioned officer at the close of the war. He is with one exception the oldest settler of Shelby, and is in his seventy-sixth year. With L. K. Lorkman, 631 South Eleventh this city, and Frank J.

Phelps of On-alaska, he has the distinction of being the only survivor of the company in which Colonel Woodward enlisted. Milo Pitkin, now of North Dakota. also survives. We went through Bull Run, Fredricksburg, Antietam.Chancellors-ville, South Mountain, Gettysburg and the series of battles in the Wilderness, in a way, together. But his promotion came early, and I saw less and less of him personally, especially after he went on General Wadsworths staff.

He was hit hard in the arm during the first day at Gettysburg. I had five bullets through my clothes, but got off with a hole in the hand and one in the heel. Milo Pitkin was at my right that day, and shot away like a marine gun. Ilis eyes were red, like fire. I couldn't have seen more of Mood ward in that battle, even had I not been captured, to be released three days later, for the colonel's ound kept him out of it.

The colonel used often to tell me about how General Merediths horse was shot near McPhersons Moods, and how his proverbial long legs caused him to be caught by the animal. The fire was heavy, and Colonel Woodward and another man forked under fire to release the gen-oral. He told it as a joke, but it was jtn act of bravery that was noted by nls superior. A Narrow Escape Colonel Woodward escaped miraculously in one of the fights in the wilderness. The shooting was terrible, and a shell exploded under his borse, but he escaped unhurt.

Genera! Warren of the Fifth corps," suggested that it was getting pretty bot. I could have told him that long before, said the colonel. Something of the perils of Colonel Woodwards war experience may guessed from the fact that out of fbe 1,000 men who left here with the regiment, but seventy-three return- ed at the close of the war. Of course, here were some desertions, and ex-Hration of enlistments counted, but most of them fell upon the field. A Warm Tribute I know Mr.

Woodward intimately, drew my will, and we discussed Miniate affairs very often. He wras a sentleman, kind of heart, always his friends up. Now he has musbered out, with an honorable discharge. It is a fine thing to "ave lived his noble life, and died as ff d'd. with a whole county, paying mtn respect.

POUK DIE IN FIRE March 13. pThree. men perished and a fourth a Probably fatally burned in a fire kh destroyed a six story tenement onse in the Italian district here ear-3 today. Yesterdays temperatures: High, 43. Low, 24.

Precipitation, 0. Forecast for La Crosse and vicinity: Fair tonight and probably Sat-result of it greatly increased the of-ur(1ay; warmer tonight, fense. Fr Wisconsin: Fair tonight and Speaks of Daughter. probably Saturday; warmer tonight; 'Mr. French is a man 45 years ofjm0(ierate winds, mostly southerly, age, a widower for six years.

He For Minnesota: Fair tonight with has one child, a daughter 14 years warmer south portion; Saturday in-old. He has been a railroad conduc- creasing cloudiness and somewhat tor for eighteen years. Hi3 record aspoider in afternoon or night; modar-a railroad man is untarnished as are to brisk variable winds, certificates of his superiors now in' For Iowa: Fair tonight and prob- less a fact that Col. Woodward in 1893 was. practically offered the democratic United States senatorial WE A THER ably Saturday; warmer tonight; moderate winds mostly southerly.

Weather Conditions Fair weather prevails this morning in all sections of the country and no precipitation of consequence has oq-curred during the past 24 hours. The temperature has moderated somewhat throughout the central and plains states but it continues unseasonably cold in the gulf states. The pressure Is highest over the lower Mississippi valley and lowest north of Montana and North my possession show. He has been a resident of the city of La Crosse for many years and there have been presented to me testimonials from a number of prominent men of that community showing that he is a good citizen, honest, upright and of clean conduct. Therefore it is, by the court, now satisfactorily found that Harry R.

French comes fully within the requirements of the probation statute and it is ordered that the judgment on the verdict in this case be suspended..