The Evening Chronicle from Charlotte, North Carolina • Page 1

TRAIN ROBBERS 11 SI mm MWHSMFE FROM SAFE THE SOUTHERN'S FAST MAIL IS HELD UP IN GEORGIA Moses Sparks, Feeble Minded Citizen Of High Pointms iwomail Almost Instantly And Young Man Dies In Hospital A Short Time 1 a Later Conductor Treats Matter As A Joke Before He Realizes Situation-Express Messenger Tells Of Robbery And Failure To Get Large Amount Special to The Chronicle. HIGH POINT Feb. 18. This morning about 6f o'clock Moses Speaks, a residlftt- of the Cloverdale KINST0NIAN KILLS HIMSELF IN A BALTIMORE HOTEL ByAssociatedxPress. Baltimore, Feb.

17. While a letter from home imploring his return to loved ones was speeding him. Herbert W. Cummlngs of Kinston, N. was his last in a gas-filled "room at a local boarding 'house.

Forty-five minutes before the postman reached the door' this morning the body of Cummlngs, stark and stiff, was found in bed. On the table lay a pathetic note, in which the deceased recited his grievances. Out of employment and disheartened because of separation from his wife and children, he iad come -to the conclusion that life was not worth the living, and had decided to end it all. Kinston, Feb. 17.

News of the suicide of Herbert Cummlngs came as a distinct shock Jio Kinston today. Cummlngs left here six months ago for Baltimore because of some little domestic difficulty. He was the son of B. Cummlngs, a prominent merchant, and was a popular young man Mr. Cummlngs, the father of the young mav yesterday him a letter urging him "to me- back, -Accept a position in "his establishment and a reconciliation with his wife.

Cummlngs was only 25 years old and had a -wife and four children. His wife was a Miss Smith, daughter of George J. Smith, an Atlantic Coast Line engineer. The remains are expected to arrive here Saturday morning, and the funeral will take place some time Sunday. LEM at the mile stone near White Sulphur, the small station just four miles this side of Gainesville.

could not understand what was the matter as No. 36 did not stop at this point, and so when the train canle to a stop he started out to investigate. The train was in a cut and it was very dark save for the lights of the cars. He started with his lantern to the front to find out the trouble and Just as he left the coach some one stepped in front of him and threw a big pistol, a No. 44, in his face and ordered him to throw up his hands.

Thought Was a. Joke. "I thought Is was a Joke declared Captain Mauney at the Southern station this morning on his arrival i'here. "I knew some of the fellows on Hhe train were of a funny frame of mind and so I threw up my arm and knocked the gun to one side, exclainiing: 'Cut out this foolishness. What is the matter that the train stopped.

What are you after anyway, throwing that pistol in my With this the man again pushed the ed evidently a countryman by-the way in which he deported himself, shouted back with an oath; Captain Mauney's Experience. 'If you don't throw up your hands and get on back into that cjar, will Mow your head cf." Still Captain Mauney did not com prehend what was going on. Persisted he: "Get out of the way and stop this foolishness. I've got to go up to the front of the train. Take that pistol out of the way.

With this the man agai npushed the gun closer into Captain Mauney's face and said: fool, get back into that car or I will' shoot you in your tracks." There were other oaths. And Still Capt. Mauney Demurred. "What are you doing up there and what are you after, anyway," he asked. And then the man told what was up.

"Wfe are holding up this train and are after what is in the safe in the baggage car. Get back in that car." And then Capt. Mauney, seeing that there was nothing else to do, the car being in a deep cut and there being no way of securing aid, returned to the coach. Looked Like Countryman. Talking of the man, Capt.

Mauney said that he looked like a countryman and acted like one. He believed that he was new to the business of safe cracking and so was told off to guard one side sf the train. Another robber was on the other side, acting in like manner. He heard the robbers calling to one another by numbers, there being seven in all although he only saw five. The train was flagged.

The hour was 3:15 o'clock in the morning. One of the men Capt. Mauney saw was a low chunky fellow, about five feet five inches in heighth and heavily built. He looked as if he would weigh 160 pounds. Capt.

Mauney said that he was not much taller than himself. Another one of the cracks-men was. about 6 feet In height and very stoop-shouldered. All, of course were masked and consequently their fears were unrecognizable. Red Leary and Slink Morgan.

According to the belief of those affiliated with the railroad, special agents and others, two of the men believed to be in the Party that rob- HI PROPERTY OWNERS WILL PAY FOR IMPROVEMENTS OF STREETS HEREAFTER bed the train were "Bed Leary and "Slink" Morgan two: well-known and notorious New York cracksmen. These two men were prpbably those that figuredin.the shooting in Greenville. S. "a 'day tor two ago and were attempting to' c.ret away. They doubtless needed-'ready cash and deemed this a good thanca to get some.

As is usually- the case, however, they missed their chance in that they cracked the safe: that had only $700 whereas the other safe contained a sum said to be in the neighborhood of In-View of the fact that the hold-up occurred neer Gainesville, the men in the gang who are experts, doubtless made 'for" Atlanta which- offers a much better hiding place than any other place nearby. is possible that the gang divided, some Oing across the. country" by the ws: of Tallulah Falls, to Itnoxville, or maybe to Charleston, S-C If there was a countryman in tT a crjng he doubtless had a hiding Place provided before the hold-up occurred. 3aybe Ed Wilson. Another crook that might have had a hand in the affair was Ed.

Wilson; of Pelzer, S. who only served out his time several weeks ago for safe cracking. The 3iews ot the hold-up reached Charlotte early this, morning and excited the livliest comment. The word quickly spread over the city and when No. 36 "arrived at the Southern passenger this morning at 1045 there was a great throng present.

The 'fact that Capt. Mauney, who has so many friends here, was in tKe affair, lent additional interest. When this popular conductor finished his work of assisting passengers from the, train, he was given quite a reception by his friends. There is no more' popular conductor running into Charlotte than Capt. Mauney.

That the railway and express officials got "trasy? at1 once was manifest by the numberless telegrams received at the various offices here. Major O. M. Sadler, superintehdent of the Southern Express? Company and one of Its directors, of the city I when, Ahe ffafrhaened. but he was 4- notified At encef arum ln the city On-No.

37 which was four hours late. His chief clerk Mr. A. McG. Mullings caught No.

36 and went up the line to meet him. WITH JUDGE BOYD IN FEDERAL COURT Order Issued for Sale otf Kandleman Bankrupt Mills Motion of Attachment Against Mi. O. P. Heath is Vacated Guilford Citizens Enthusiastic Over Roads.

Special to The Chronicle. GREENEBOno, Feb. 18. In United States di. i 1 court yesterday Judge Boyd i.

the sale by the trustees on March 2 8 of both the Randleman and Naomi Falls Cotton Mills, at Public auction on the premises, and the trustees will proceed to advertise and offer same or The two mills are located at Randleman, an are both good mills and valuable property. They were adjudged bankrupt about six months ago; the trustees have been operating them most of the time since the failures. In the circuit court Judge Boyd sustained a motion to vacate an attachment I nthe case of Carpenter, Baggott Co. vs. O.

P. Heath, pending at Charlotte. This is an action to recover $15,000 alleged to be due plaintiff from defendant on account of transactions on the New York Cotton Exchange. The plaintiff had garnishees served upon all of defendant's debtors. The court held that the affidavit on which the attachment was based was insufficient, and the same was vacated.

J. E. Johnson, of Warsaw, appeared for the plaintiff, and Judge FJ I. Osborne and J. W.

Keerans, of Charlotte, the defendant. A mass meeting of Guilford citizens is being held here to-day to discuss the subject of good roads and an additional bond issue for macadamizing more roads 'in the county. Mr. W. L.

Spoon made the principal address. This afternoon he will, give a practical demonstration of the use of the split-log drag, of which he is an enthusiastic champion. ing. The Avery county bill is made the special order for the Tuesday night. The House passed the bill to prohibit putting felons stripes on prisoners convicted of misdemeanors.

The Senate Passed a grea number of local bills, going, far as did the House, in clearing a congested calendar. The Cotton bill for the Tor-rens land title law came from judiciary committee with report "without prejudice" and It was made a special order for Wednesday noOn. Continued on Page 2 IN TRAIN PENNSYLVANIA ROAD and plunged dQWsi.ithe Incline. Samnel; Gfltner; engiifeer, fifty, years old, was caught under the locomotive crushed to death. His fireman was hot' injured nor were any of the? passengers, who were principally; men on their way i to When the engine left the, it toreloosefrom the tnderv-4The Mat ter "remained on the Board Of Aldermen Agrees Upon Radical And Progressive Amendment To The City Charter -Details Of BillBetter, Days Ahead For Carnegie Library.

COUNTY TEACHERS HOIiD INSTITUTES The teachers from Mallard Creek and Crab Orchard' townshipspartici-pated in an interesting teachers institute at Derita yesterday. It Is planned also' to hold a similar institute Monday at Eb'enezer for the teachers of Pineville and Sharon The best record thatj has been made in years in the way on the children's health, has been made since the first of the year, and Superintendent R. J. Cochran is very proud of the record. WILL INAUGURATE CRUSAIE AGAINST REAL ESTATE DEALERS By Associated Press.

NEW YORK. Feb. Brooklyn "ssodiation will-institute a crusade against the numerous suburban real "estate companies which escort parties of homeseekers to their properties on Sundays, making sales and trading inreal estate on the Sabbath Detectives for the association will visit some of the properties and if they can secure inadequate evidence of violation of the Sunday observance laws arrests will follow. city one-third and one-fourth, according to the streets tobe improved. By the new bill the boardof aldermen Is given authority to create Improvements districts and upon petition from a majority of the property-owners or rather owners of the majority of property abutting on said streets the aldermen will have authority to pass ordinances directing that permanent paving be laid, the right being retained to assess the cost equitably among the owners of the property especially improved except that the city shall pay the cost of paving the intersections, doing all the grading and laying the curbstones.

This law does not apply to a special district In" the heart of the city which the aldermen have the right to order improved and the cost assessed against the property owners without a petition from them, this section being as follows: Tryon street from the Seaboard Air Line Company's passenger station to Palmer street and Trade street from the Southern Railway Company's passenger depot to Its intersection with east Sugar creek (the said Trade street being called at certain points East avenue) and 1st, 2nd, 2rd. 6th and 7th streets between College and Church streets, West Fourth street between Church and Southern Railroad, North College between' 5th and S. A. L. depot, South College between 2nd and 3rd atreets.

South Church street between 1st and 4th streets, North Church between 5th and 7th streets. Poplar street between 4th I and 5th streets. Mint street between 3rd and Trade streets and Elizabeth avenue from East avenue to the bridge over Sugar creek. How the Property Owners Will Pay. The property owners will.be allowed 10 years during which to pay for the improvements on the streets in.

front of their property, the cityl( to take their bond -or securing a lien on their property to secure. the payments, Continued on page 8) section of High Point, murdered his wife with a large butcher- knife- and then went about blocks to the home of Will Miller, -Tils- son-in-law, and made an attempt to take Miller's life. Speaks is a about fifty years and while he' has for' several years been considered feeble mind-ed he Jwas never regarded dangerous. No reason is assigned for' the horrible deed other than that' the' man's mind is completely deranged. Mrs.

Speaks died a short time after the deed 'was Committed. Her body Was cut in number; oit places with the large knife. Miller Is In the hospital here and the physicians say; he has no chance for recovery as his lungs are perforated a number of times. Up to this hour. Speaks has hot been found but it is thought he will be located before Later.

Miller died at 12 o'clock. KNIGHTS WILL GATHER TUESDAY First Convention of Knights off Columbus of the i Consolidated District of the Carolinas Will Jbe Held Hero Noted Irish -Lecturer to Speak at O'Donoghue Hall Monday Evening. I On next Tuesday the five chapters of Knights of Columbus will send delegates to the 'first annual State-convention of the Conclave of the Looking to the entertain- ment of this large body of people, who will gather fromall parts of the 4 larger cities from North and South Carolina, all plans have been arranged. It was only recently that North -and South' Carolina were united into one district," and this will be the first meeting to be held "after- the two territorial have been consolidated. At present there are two territorial deputies or the two" States and at this meeting will be elected to carry on the work of the whale territory.

The North Carolina deputy is Mrr J. W. Con Way, and the South Carolina deputy Is Mr. Joseph R. Allen.

There "will "be two delegates and two alternates from each of the cities, trie four out-of-town councils being at Greensboro, 4 Wilmington, Charloeston' and Colum-: bla, A noted Irish speaker in he person of Mr. Seumas MacManus, will speak in O'Donoghue hall, MoncTay evening. hear this 'lecture the small sum of 2 5 cents will be charged, -but those -on charge of- affairs state that, that price will be' nothing -compared to tl good that would be obtained. MacManus for the past three -days has heen delivering these lectures at Converse College at Spartanburg, S. C.

1 On next Tuesday morning the con- verition will begln by solemn high and the meeting will be. called -to order at JO o'clock in the Knights of Columbus hall. The visitors in the afternoon-will be given an auto ride over the i city. At 7 o'clock in the evening a dinner will be serv- ed' at the Selwyn HoteL A teheater party will be given at 8 o'clock at the Academy: of Music. This will close the festivities for that and on Wednesday a to Belmont Abbey wil be taken in -NEWARK, N.

Feb. 18. -James Shakleton, retired twool expert who is said -to have framed the woolen schedule for the'MoKinley tariff is dead at: his home in Mill burn, He was burned to -desth in his bed following the explosion of student lamp, by which he was to read far into the nlrht, Set on first train, go to White folplrur, to join officers investigating order case last night. No. J5 iras held up by train robbers at jffMte Sulphur, Have Instructed fcurfc to join Southern Express special agent and to so to White Sul ptmik Get full detail from Superintendent Hangerford.

Stock Claim Agent Haney left Gainesville in automobile with sheriff, posse and fimli have reached White- Sulphur fcbeut la, Have been unable to feadt Sartee. Understand he is oh" Elberton branch. Better get him to Jeln yon at White Sulphur. Have asked our people to try cut off Communication and intercept anybody that may be trying: to get back to Atlanta. Conductor Mooney's report at Greenville indicates that the wven men who held up train and blew safe, were inexperienced men as they did not seem to know enough about matters to cut loose engine from train.

Get in touch with Hangerford and officers. Let me know what train you leave CharlotteJ. on." Above Is a message bringing the to a railway special agent here this morning' of the hold up of Southern train No. 36 at White Sulphur Springs, Georgia. GAINESVILLE, Feb.

express safe on Southern Rail-Way toin No. 36, north-bound, was blown open by 4 men at 3:15 o'clock thla morning at White Sulphur four miles from here and about $700 stolen. The men, covering the train crew with revolv- ordered it to start and then' disappeared in the darkness. According information given out at the Southern Railway offices, no one was W. Office; srs are in pursuit of the fobbers.

No. 3 6 of the Southern known as the United' States mail and runs from New Or-lea to N6W York. 'be rohhoM --wo uiuhb aown me aoor of the railroad station at White Suipn Ur boun3 the night aeent and signal for the, train to stop. locomotive slowed up one of tfa6 men en1red the cab and ordered 8m6ngineer to proceed to Lula, a station several miles away. stop Was made the other bandits xr, trai had boar5ed the entered the express car and "em the conductor and messenger at the point of a others blew the door of the Off v.

Uctor mney- i. Aiooney, of 700 CL- and the fire- Tt 7 Jh Fan, 400 Capitol avenue. TerreI1- of the Southern Ex- Jtarv, Pany dePuty United States Land ers. detective Haule. of the Southern Hallway, Deputy Sheriff Little and a posse with bloodhounds are on the trail of the men.

The train was delayed but half an hour. There is no clue to the identity of the men. Special Messenger William B. Miller, or the Southern Express Com-, pany, who had charge of the car entered this morning by the five train robbers and Captain W. T.

conductor of the train, arrived in the city at 10:45 o'clock this morning and gave graphic descriptions of the early morning occurrence. Mr.Jlersald; "My first Intimation the hold up, wase signal of a bad rail ahead. The engineer- immediately choake down the train and all of us looked" out the doors to see what the trouble was. As the train came to a standstill, shots were fired. All express car doors were slammed shut.

All but one. This door was left open in the excitement and it was' through it that the robbers entered the car. They placed a gun at my head and told me to. get out. I.

waited a second or two and when I heard shots being fired on the outside. I then left the car. On the outside, I was held up. My hands were in the air. I heard two explosions.

The- first was not so loud. The second was tremeadoua. I thought the whole car had been shatteded. Six of the windows were torn to pieces. The passengers rushed -to the windows and doors, but seeing armed men, huddled together the band.

Left $65,000 in Large Safe. "There were two safes of money in my express car. The large safe contained 65,000. The smaller safe, the one blown open, contained $1,000. I think that was all- Every cent of the money in it was taken.

The robbers attempted to -blow the larger safe open. Their efforts were futile. The big safe withstood the nitro-glycerine. "It was a terrible experience, although not a man was injured. The robbers didn't strike a blow.

At first we thought the men were inexperienced, but two were recognized and I could identify them if seen again. Guns Were Much in Evidence. "While I was being held up at the point of the pistol, the flagman and engineer were experiencing the same sensations. tAs soon as the money from the smalled safe was secured the two men, who were working inside the car came to the door and jumped. All of us were ordered to get back on the train.

The pistols were still on us. We were ordered to moye. As soon as the train started the men darted down the embamc-ment and were lost in the heavy woods. "Only two of the passengers on the train left the car, although all (p. them were aroused.

John Bruce, of New Orleans, and a man named Floyde, from Gainesville, were these two. They were held up as was the train crew. Bruce was fired atr The bullet passed within an inch of his face." In the last part of the conversation Mr. Miller stated that he was not postive about the amount of money in the smaller safe. "It may have been $700 Instead of $1,000.

At any rate ever cent of it was taken," he added. Passengers Held Up. Too. Mr. Bruce, who is on his way' to East Walker, was then seen.

His statement was practically the same as that given out -by Mr. Miller. He said the passengers on the train, especially the women, were in. a great state of excitement. "The train was pulled down within such a short space, that every one of us thought there had been a collission," said he.

"I rushed to the door and got out running by the cars up-towards the engine to see was happening. I soon saw. A man me. He made me throw up my hands. Just behind me the fellow Lloyde came.

The one man held us both. I was too- near the express car, which was teing pillaged, to enjoy the experience. I thought the wholeNtrain was shattered, when the second explosion j. i- i ptia flae-man and the en- gineer werecbeing held just a fewfeet farther up. I saw the men well, believe I could identify them.

Captain Mauney Talks. Capt. T. vW, Mauney, who is so well and favorably ftnown in Charlotte, was the conductor on the train. He-says that he felt his train coming to a halt LEGISLATURE IS WORKING HARD TO CLEAR UP CONGESTED CALENDAR The property owners of the city of Charlotte will hereafter bear the entire costof van street improvements, except for the engineering, grading; laying of curbing and paving of the intersections.

An amendment, to the charter of the city was agroed upon by the board of aldermen last night to this effect and the amendment will be made by the Legislature before the present session closes. The board held a special meeting last night for the purpose of taking definite action upon the several bills that the General Assembly will be asked to pass Relating to the government of Charlotte. But beyond agreeing upon the amendments regarding the improvement of streets, and two amendments relating to the maintenance and operation of the Carnegie Library noth ing was done, the board adjourning late until Monday night, when the rest of the several bills will be passed upon. The board had first discussed the bill to amend the city charter so that the abutting property owners shall required to pay the entire cost of paving streets in front of their respective properties at the meeting Monday night when a tentative bill was submitted by City. Attorney W.

C. Maxwell. The board was 'struck with- the idea then, but it was not ready "to act. Last night the bill was submitted, in definite shape, and the board with few dissenting votes, decided-to recommend Its passage by the Legislature. The bill endorsed is In the of an amendment to the city charter and its enactment by the Legislature will repeal "those sections of the present charter which relates, to the improve ment; of the streets, the present re- quiremenis mat -property-owners 'pay.

two-thirds or two fourths of the cost of Improvements aT3 the Chronicle Bureau, Express Building, Raleigh, Feb. 18. The House passed a great number of local bills on final reading to-day. At the suggestion of Chairman Doughtonof the finance committee, who is in charge of the the House mode the revenue bill the special order for Monday, the roll call of votes On separate days In each house, necessitating speedy consideration of the measure to get It through without undue haste during the two weeks of the session remain ENGINEER IS KDLLED WRECK ON TAMAQUA, Feb. 18.

A train wreck in whigh one man was killed roecurred eaarfy to-day" near Lofty Station- on the Philadelphia Reading Railway. According to' railroad officials an Investigation showed that some one had piaced an ob-struction in a switch, causing the locomotive of. Jocal passenger train to jump the track on an embankment; The engine ran along the ties a': distauc then toppled oy eronly one car was derailed..