Wichita Falls Times du lieu suivant : Wichita Falls, Texas • 1

O'CLOCK EDITION EIGHT PAGES TODAY Wichita Daily Times. VOLUME WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS, TUESDAY, APRIL 16th 1912 NUMBER 289 DEFENSE WILL ATTACK MRS. TAYLOR'S TESTIMONY WILL ATTEMPT TO SHOW SHE ASSERTED CONVICTION OF PASTOR'S INNOCENCE AFTER MARCH THE NINTHMANY WITNESSES NOT EVEN A SCINTILLA OF EVIDENCE Ousley Told J. W. Spencer There was Nothing to Indicate that Norris Burned the Church and Very Little to Indicate he Wrote the Letters Special to The- Times.

Fort Worth, April prominent members of the First Baptist Church were sworn in the court room during the Norris' trial Tues- day morning as a step the defense to attack the testimony Mrs. K. K. of Taylor, former financial secretary of the church, a witness of the State against the pastor. An indication of the line to be taken was given when the first of the seven, Mrs.

A. F. Jones, was put on the stand and asked as to a statement of Mrs. Taylor on March 9th as to Dr. Norris' guilt or innocence.

The question was ruled inadmissible for lack of a predicate. Jordan Cummings insisted that the predicate had been laid in Mrs. Taylor's testimony and Judge Simmons again ordered that the question could not be answered at this time and Mrs. Jones was excused and the others were not called to the stand. Those sworn were Mrs.

J. W. Spencer, Miss Alice Brooker, Mrs. Julian Oppenheimer, Mrs. T.

L. Ray, Mrs. George Roselle aud L. L. Jackson.

Mrs. J. W. Spencer testified to foreman Ousley of the grand jury telling him that there was not a scintilla of evidence against Norris as to the fires or shooting, but that there were many. suspicious things about the anonymous letters and he ought to advise Norris to go before the grand Jury waving all rights.

0. C. Sawyer testified to the threats against the writers of the "Happy Con article by Charlie Dickinson and hig brother at the time they called on Franklin' to learn about the authorship. G. K.

Shearer, a reporter for the Star Telegram, testified to the finding of papers in Norris' coat and the turning over of these papers to the fire marshal who has testified to the torn paper that fits one of the anonymous letters being among these papers. B. Randle testified to being put in charge of the premises after the fire and to seeing the city fire marshal search Norris' trousers in the presence of the State fire marshal. He said that he spread the articles out and that there was a key. He desighated it as a small trunk key, Clarence Miller testified to the suppression of the X-Ray and the appearance of Dr.

Norris on the night of the first fire of the parsonage which he designated as one of the coldest nights there was on earth. He said Norris wag excited, broken down and sick, sitting wrapped in a blanket with his feet in water. Additional experts on handwriting who were expected were not put on the stand today. Probably the most sensational testimony of day was that of J. W.

Spencer, banker and member of the First Baptist Church who testified that Ousley told him "That there was very little evidence that Norris wrote the anonymous letters and not a scintilla of evidence that he fired the shots or burned the church or his home." Cross examined Mr. Spencer said Ousley told him this before the indictments were returned. W. W. Wilson one of the grand jurors was placed on the stand late yesterday.

He recalled that Dr. Norris was before the grand jury more than once. The first time, he said, the preacher was sworn. He was not sworn after that, in his opinion. He did not know how Dr.

Norris came before grand jury in connection with anonymous letters. He the thought J. W. Spencer called him. Asked if Clarence Ousley told Spencer to call him, the State objected.

The objection was sustained. The defense excepted. Mr. Lattimore When Norris came before the grand jury, was he told that he was suspected of having written the anonymous letters? The Witness--Not to my knowledge. The witness said that Mr.

Ousley and the county attorney did most of the questioning when Mr. Norris was before the jury. He did not recollect what were the first questions asked him when he took his seat. He said Mr. Ousley was on the west side of the table, Mr.

Norris was on the east side and Mr. Hosey was next to Mr. Ousley, on his right. Mr. Hosey asked Mr.

Norris to write or print something. This was after some questions about the letters. The witness said Dr. Norris was shown the envelopes in which the anonymous letters came. When the pastor wrote the name G.

H. Connell the first time, he came back and said he had got the impression the grand jury wanted him to write it as it appeared on the envelope; he then wanted to write it in his own handwriting. "Mr. Colvin," said the witness, "said, 'write like this; make an like From then on he tried to make it like that. I stood behind his chair." There was a copy of the X-Ray in the room at the time, but the witness did not remember whether or not it was shown to Dr.

Norris. He did not remember if Dr. Norris was asked if he had made certain notations on the paper. The witness didn't know if Dr. ris looked at the letters in the grand jury room.

He didn't see anyone show them to him. The letters were on the table between Norris, Ousley and the county attorney. Nobody asked him the pointed question if he wrote the letters. The witness said he heard Mr. Ousley make some remarks about the past life of Dr.

Norris. "Did he tell the incident of the Baptist convention at Houston year before last?" The witness answered in the affirmative, saying he thought he heard Ousley say he had caught Norris in a lie. He was just making the statement before the grand jury, said the witness; not as a witness before the grand jury. "Did you hear anything said as to the effect of the indictment?" "Just before taking the vote on the bill," said the witness, "someone asked if they had evidence enough to convict him. Mr.

Ousley said he did not believe they hadMr. Clendenen arose to object to the testimony. "but it would destroy his influence and follow him wherever he went." Mr. Lattimore-Was he saying that to warn the grand jury to go slow in making the indictment, or as an argument for the indictment? Mr. Clendenen objected.

Mr. Cummings, for the defense, said that Mr. Ousley admitted making the statement, saying it was as a warning, and the only way the manner in which it was said could be brought out was to let the witness answer the question. The court sustained the objection. Answering Mr.

Lattimore, the witness said the Norris indictment was the last returned at the second term of the grand jury. Mr. Lattimore -Had there been repeated efforts on the part of certain men, notably Bowles, Ousley and Yarbrough, to get an indictment? The court sustained an objection to the question as 'to the witnesses who had not yet been on the stand. Mr. aLttimore--Is it a fact or not that up the last- day the grand jury stood eight to four? The court sustained an objection.

Mr. Glendenen suggested a reprimand because of the question. Mr. Lattimore-Is it not a fact that on Friday, Clarence Ousley took the ninth juror and had him off all morning and when they came back he voted with him? Mr. Clendenen objected to the "outrageous procedure." The court the objection.

Mr. Lattimore excepted to the court's ruling, saying the defense would put in the 'bill of exceptions what the defense expected the witness would swear. Answering Mr. Lattimore, the witness said during the first session of the grand jury he did not see the torn piece of paper that is alleged to fit the anonymous letter Dr. Norris received.

He didn't see it until the second time the jury sat. On cross examination, Mr. Baskin asked: "You have understood all the time, haven't you, that that torn slip of paper came out of his pocket after the jury adjourned the first time?" "Yes." The witness recalled some talk about a letter Y. He did not think Dr. Norris said he couldn't make a capital Y.

It seemed that he wanted to know how the grand jury wanted the made. He didn't recall anyone's giving the clergyman a copy of the Fort Worth Record. He thought Mr. Hosey gave Mr. Norris some instructions.

He thought Hosey held up the enevlope the Connell letter and said, "like this." Then Hosey took his hand down. Mr. Baskin asked the witness if he were not hard of hearing. "Just a little bit; yes, sir." The witness said the "Happy Contrast" article came before the grand jury the first time. "Weren't you discussing the 'Happy Contrast' article," asked County Attorney Baskin, "when Ousley said you didn't have evidence enough to convict? Weren't you discussing libel?" "There was something said about libel." J.

0. East, son of Joel East, a grand juorr, was sworn and examined by Mr. Cummings, for the defense. He said he was in Fort Worth since the time Dr. Norris was assaulted.

He said he overheard the conversation of some parties near the Byers Opera House. The State objected unless the parties be named. The witness said he didn't know them, but he knew neither of them was Norris, and that he had seen persons later whom he thought to have been the same ones. They were at the church and sat near him. Asked as to the attitude of these per- song toward Dr.

Norris as shown by their conversation at church, the witness was stopped from answering by the State's objection on the ground of immateriality. Mr. Cummings said the defense desired to introduce evidence that would tend to show who assaulted Dr. Norris. The State objected, unless the third party involved could be shown to have some proximate connection with the case.

Mr. Cummings argued in favor of the admissibility of the testimony, saying the evidence would tend to show that the person who assaulted Dr. Norris was other than the party assumed by the State's theory of the case. The court sustained the State's objection. The witness was excused.

James A. Wright of the United States postal service was next sworn. He distributes mail requires ability to decipher addresses. In twenty-three years of service he has had frequent occasions to observe handwriting. Before getting further with his testimony the witness was interrupted by Mr.

Clendenen, who submitted to the court the proposition that the witness had not qualified an pert in handwriting as his only business was to decipher addresses and was not concerned with comparing handwriting. The court expressed the belief that the witness would have to show that he had been in the habit of comparing and observing handwriting to qualify. Mr. Odell said that there was no occupation in the world that gave better opportunity for comparing and observing handwriting than that of mail distributor. He said the most remarkable statement he had ever heard in a courtroom was that the only man qualified to give expert testimony on handwriting was a bank teller or a bank cashier, who by the nature of his business comes in contact only with signatures and does not come in contact with -hundredth part as much handwriting as does the distributor of- mail.

No law book in the world, he said, ever laid down the proposition that a bank clerk was better qualified as an expert than others who constantly pass upon handwriting. There are hundreds of men, he said, who write Spencerian hands who have signatures that no man can decipher unless he be familiar with them. Men with big bank accounts, he said, attach- peculiarities to their signatures that forgers do not perceive. The bank clerk knows these peculiarities and can detect the simulation of the real signature. The issue he said, is not as to signatures.

The law books allow a man to qualify as an expert not so much for what he says he knows as for the business he pursues and the opportunity he has to make observations and to acquire expertness. Mr. Clendenen said Mr. Odell had missed the gist of the proposition. It was that this witness bad had no experience in comparing handwriting, but merely in observing and deciphering addresses.

He said under Mr. Odell's theory he would make experts out of every one who had had large correspondence. (Continued on Page Five.) TO SEGURE MORE MEMBERS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AP. POINTS COMMITTEE TO PLAN CAMPAIGN FOR NEW MEMBERS. SUPPORT IS WITHDRAWN Chamber of Commerce Will Discontinue $50 Monthly to the Wichita State Band.

Plans for increasing the Chamber of Commerce membership were discussed at a meeting of the directors this morning and it was decided to take steps to enroll a larger number of business men and citizens in the organization. A committee consisting of Messrs. O'Reilly, Anderson and Brin was named to work out some plan for securing additional members. Several other matters received attention at this morning's session of the directors, among them being the election of Dr. J.

M. Bell as second vice president, the severing the present relations with the band and the taking of steps to have records of building activities kept. Dr. Bell presided at the meeting, he being elected vice president to succeed J. C.

Tandy, resigned. Following the approval of the minutes, Secretary Forrester reported that the glass factory bonus had been completed. The matter of securing more bers was brought up and the ques. tion of classifying the membership according to property values was discussed. Mr.

Noble pointed out this plan had been suggested at a previous meeting, but had been abandoned on account of vigorous opposition. After some discussion, Messrs. O'Reilly, Anderson and Brin' were constituted a membership committee to work out some plan of action. Secretary Forrester suggested that some action be taken toward having records of new building. This was indorsed, the city council being asked to take action if it could do so under the present laws.

A propositin from Gainesville parties for the placing of road bonus recently voted, was submited, the directors replying that they were not interested in the offer. A similar reply was given to a proposition to place an amusement park here for a $25,000 bonus. The directors authorized Secretary Forrester to attend the meeting of the Southern Commercial Secretaries at Houston next month, also to spend one day with the ad clubs at Dallas. The agreement with the band was discussed at some length by the directors, with the result that it was decided to discontinue the present relations with the organization. At present the Chamber of Commerce 'contributes $50 monthly to the support of the band.

A request from local parties for a contribution of about $50 to make up the aviation deficit was turned down by the directors, following which adjournment was taken. TRAINLOAD OF HOGS NEW TOWN Camargo, Only Few Months Old Sends Whole Train Load of Fat Porkers to Fort Worth. E. B. Carver, live stock agent of the Wichita Falls' Route, returned this morning from Camargo, Oklahoma, which is one of the recently organized towns along the Northwestern exten sion.

Mr. Carver has been in Camargo superintending the loading of a train load of hogs shipped by farmers near that place to Fort forth via the Northwestern railroad. The hogs passed through here about noon today, there being ten carloads of them, all apparently in good condition. Mr. Carver says that since the Northwestern railroad has been completed as far as Camargo in Dewey county, farmers and stock raisers are able to get their products to the markets in quick time.

This particular train load of hogs, said Mr. Carver, left Camargo last at seven o'clock and will arrive in Fort Worth just eighteen hours later, As soon as the railroad is completed as far as Woodward, much live stock by the train load will be shipped to Fort Worth, by way of the Northwestern. The owners of the hogs which passed through here this afternoon were as follows: Echardt Sanderson, two cars; B. P. Mayfield, two.

cars; N. D. Wililams, one car; E. Stockings, two cars; 0. L.

Mercer, one car; Diggs Wright, two cars. Most of the animals were fine large specimens, and the entire train load was valued at more than fifteen thousand dollars. Perry Funk of Burkburpett, passed through here this afternoon en route to Archer City on business. NEXT MONDAY CLEAN -UP DAY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE DESIGNATES DATE FOR ANNUAL CLEAN UP. B.

J. BEAN IN COMMAND Day a Legal Holiday and Many Business Houses Will Close--Civic League Will Join. Next Monday, April 22, has been selected by the Chamber of Commerce as the date for Wichita Falls' annual spring house cleaning and B. J. Bean has been appointed captain of the clean-up forces.

Plans are under way for a thorough and systematic campaign against dirt on the day mentioned and it is hoped to make the city a "spotless town" before the work ends. While April 25 had had been selected as clean-up day for the State at large, it was decided to select some other date here on account of the fact that on April 25 the baseball season will open. Judge Ramsey will be here and the Elks' minstreal show will be held. These counter-attractions were deemed too numerous for a clean-up campaign to compete with. Mr.

Bean who is to command the clean-up forces, occupied a similar position in 1910, when one of the most successful clean-up campaigns ever witnessed was held in the city. He has the promise of all the Chamber of Commerce directors that they will take part personally in the clean-up work, and the Chamber of Commerce has pledged him all possible moral support and assistance. Next Monday is a legal holiday and will be observed as San Jacinto day, which falls on next Sunday. Several of the business houses will be colsed and it is thought that a large number of workers can be enlisted. ANOTHER CONFEDERATE ANSWERS LAST ROLL CALL W.

C. Hill, a Confederate veteran and respected citizen of Wichita Falls, died at his home 304 Sixth street this morning after a week's illness from the grip. Mr. Hill was 65 years of age and is survived by a widow and three daughters and four sons. He came here about four years ago from Vernon.

He wag a native of Texas. The funeral will be held at 4 o'clock tomorrow afternoin and' will be conducted by Rev. Hamlin, pastor of the First Christian Church which the deceased was a member. Two daughters, Mrs. Davis of Tulsa, and Mrs.

John Loyd of Giles, Texas, are expected to arrive tonight. GEORGE AUSTIN PAINFULLY INJURED In Plucky Effort to Stop Team Cab Driver Fell Beneath Horse and Was Hurt. George Austin, a cab-driver, sustained painful injuries shortly after noon today while attempting to stop his team which was running away. The accident occurred near the corner of Twelfth and Lamar streets. The horses became frightened at something while a passenger was alighting near the corner of Tenth and Lamar, and started down Lamar at a rapid gait Austin managed to seize one of the animals by the bridle and clung firmly while the horses continued on their way.

Near the center of Twelfth street the horse swung across the car track and one of them stumbled and fell, carrying Austin down with it. It ap. peared to those looking on that one of the horses rolled over Austin's bod: and that a wheel also passed over his form. Dr. M.

M. Walker was summoned and found that the injuries consisted of a badly bruised hip and fracture of two bones in his left foot. There were some indications of internal injury. Austin was conveyed to his home at 1106 Indiana, where he was reported as resting easy this afternoon. O.

T. Cottrell, traveling representative of the International Correspondence Schools, after remaining here for several days on business, left this afternoon for Seymour. He will return here after a short stay. WEATHER FORECAST Tonight fair, colder and probably frost; Wednesday fair. MEN GO DOWN WITH SHIP WOMEN AND CHILDREN SAVED UNWRITTEN LAW OF SEA ENFORCED AND MEN STAY ON SINKING SHIP WHILE WOMEN AND CHILDREN TAKE LIFE BOATS TO SAFETY ALL HOPE FOR MORE SURVIVORS CONE 866 Saved By Caspatteia Only Survivors--Great Ship Went Down In Field of Ice and Mony Who Gained Life Boats Were Lost By Assoclated Press.

New York, April all hope was abandoned this morning that there were any survivors of the Titanic, the world's largest steamship which sank yesterday after a collision with an iceberg off Cape Race, excepting those aboard the Carpathia. These number 866. Steamers which hurried to the scene of the accident reported at ten o'clock this morning that they could find no other survivors of the ill-fated ship and it is believed that all have perished. Yesterday's report that all were saved was probably due to messages sent from the Titanic immediately after the collision while hope was still high that the ship would' be saved. Not until last night did any vessel with sufficiently powerful wireless apparatus to flash the news learn of the true extent of the disaster.

The vesel sank at 2:10 Monday morning about four hours after being hit by the iceberg. The loss of life at noon was estimated at about 1350. Searching steamers reported the weather 80 cold that even if they had clung to the bits of wreckage in open sea would have perished. This morning's wireless brought news apparently that all the wives and children of the famous men had been saved, but not one word to show that any notable man had escaped. Alfred G.

Vanderbilt reported terday on the Titanic was not aboard. The Carpathia arriving at daylight the first rescue vessel on the scene reports by wireless that a score of boats navigating perilously in a great field of ice and containing mostly women and children were all the traces of the Titanic that could be discovered. The meagre wireless description says that many of the passengers had retired just before the crash. Scores of them were hustled into life boats scantily clad. Huge quantities of ice made it almost impossible for life boat crews to prevent capsizing.

The separated the boats, giving the faint hope that the Carpathia may have found all. Spectators assert that the Titanic in her final plunge carried down hundreds. In New York society folk and famous people are besieging the steamship officers either in person or by phone seeking news from friends. The steamers Californian and Vir. ginian arriving later in the day where the Titanic sank, searched for survivors and there' was some hope that the Virginian may have some survivors aboard.

The money loss will be nearly twenty million, half on the ship and half on its cargo and passenger effects. Among the known survivirs on the Carpathia is the bride of John Jacob Astor, who was Miss Madaline Force, Bruce Ismay, president of the International Mercantile Marine which owns the Titanic is also among the survivors on the Carpathia. Captain E. J. Smith, commander of 'the Titanic went to a watery grave with the vessel.

That he and his crew rigidly enforced the unwritten law of sea--women and children first--is plainly indicated by the few names of men received in the list of the Carpathia's survivors being sent by wireless. Even the Carpathia's survivors are not all passengers as members of the crew had to man the life boats and this cuts down the possible list of the saved. The speed at which the Titanic was going when she shattered herself on the iceberg will probably not be known until the survivors reach the port. Shipbuilders today point out that no ship can plunge against a great iceberg without grave resluts. Such a shock might not only crumple the air compartment of the bow, but strip off the steel plates on the sides clear to the stern and open nearly all bulkheads.

The Carpathia won't reach New York before Thursday. In all marine tragedies the Titante is the first ship sunk on her maiden voyage. Heavy fogs were reported today off the New Foundiand banks with heavy thunderstorm which was traveling eastward last night. Such, weather conditions leave little hope for the rescue of any of the sur vivors still adrift on rafts or boats. The Carpathia wired New York this morning that she would select that port rather than some near harbor on account of the great quantities of ice.

The Carpathia was then in a field of ice twenty miles in diameter, containing several icebergs. The Parsian, one of the steamers on which rescue hopes were pinned reached the wireless communication this forenoon, reporting no survivors aboard. The Virginian which carried even higher hopes merely wired that "she arrived on the scene of the disaster too late to be of service," and that the Virginian is proceeding on her way to Liverpool. Statistical information of the lifeI saving apparatus of the Olympic, sister ship of the Titanic, was given out here this morning by the bureau of inspection of steam vessels. The figures for the Titanic are not available but as the two ships are almost identical in size and equipment it is not likely their life-saving equipment materially differs.

The Olympic has sixteen life boats and four rafts' intended to accommodate 1,171 persons. This means accommodation for about one-third of the total possible number of passengers and crew, all of which is 3,447. It was stated by the Dareau that no vessel is required to sufficient life boat room for all its passengers and crew. The Olympic has 3,455 life preservers and 48 life buoys, made in compliance with the regulations of the British board of trade. The United States bureau has no power to see that each steamship meets the requirements of its home government.

Among the notable passengers was Lady Duff-Gordon, who is known in Paris as Lucille, under which name she conducts a dress making business. She and her husband, Sir Cosmo Edmund Duff-Gordon were listed under the name of Mr. and Mrs. Morgan. It is not yet known whether they were saved.

Robert Bacon, United States Ambassador to France had planned to take the Titanic for America, but postponed his departure from Paris awaiting arrival of his successor, Myron T. Herrick. Millet, the famous painter, be among the saved. A name resembling his has been wired from the Carpathia. Untold wealth was represented among the passengers of the Titanjc, there being on board at least six men each of whose fortunes might be reckoned in tens of millions of dollars.

A rough estimate of the total wealth represented in the first-class passenger list would reach over 000,000. The wealthiest of the list is Col. John J. Astor, who is reputed to be worth $150,000,000. Mr.

Astor was returning from a tour of Egypt with his bride, who was Miss Madaline Force, to whom he was married in Providence on Sept. 9. 1911. Benjamin Guggenheim, probably next in financial importance, is the fifth of the seven song of Meyer Guggenheim, who founded the American Smelting and Refining Company and is a director of many corporations. His fortune is estimated at 000.

George D. Widener is the son of P. B. Widener, the Philadelphia "Traction King." whose fortune is estimated at $50,000,000. Isador Straus, one of New York's most notable prominent for dry his goods merchants and philanthropies, has a fortune also estimated to be worth $50.000,000.

J. Bruce Ismay, president and one of the founders of the International Mercantile Marine Company, who has always made it a custom to be (Continued on page 5).