Herald and Review from Decatur, Illinois • Page 1

YOLIBIE 31. NO. 81. DECATUR. ILLINOIS, SATUEDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1911 FOURTEEN PAGES.

PRICE 2 CENTS. SENGEI 12 WRECKED AT KNIGHTS TRAM NO. WABASH i AS RUSSIA PLANS GOLD MUCH ow THE HERALD'S Summary of the News TRAIN SPEEDING AT 45 MILES AN HOUR HITS BROKEN POINT OF SWITCH, PILING CARS THREE HIGH Ploughs for Five Hundred, Feet Along Right of Way, Clearing Rails and Pushing Through Earth, Making Conglomerate Mass of Cars, Bended Iron and Kindlings C. J. Rapp Most Seriously Hurt, Pitched Head First against Side of Car.

ENGINE AND TWO WHEELS OF OTHER CAR ONLY REMAINING ON THE RAILS Wreck Happens at 1 O'clock and No Word Reaches City for Full Hour Relief Train Brings Passengers in and Extra is Made up to Go to Chicago Some of Sleeper are Shaken up Badly while Others "do, not Even Waken Up. 10 DE IN EVERYJETAIL W. Morgan Shuster, American Treasurer-General of Shah's Country Resigns as Result of Recession From Defiant Stand at First Taken by Government Whose Finances He Directed. MOST PAY INDEMNITY FOR COST OF TROOPS Fear of Public Sentiment Leads Government to Withhold Announcement of Action From the People Who Were Strongly in Favor of Upholding Man Named by United States to Guide Affairs. v.

SHUSTER RECEIVES NO COMMUNICATION TEHERAX, Dec. 22 W. Morgan Shnster, the- American treasurer-general of Persia, declared tonight that (he bad received no communication either from the commission appointed by the national council to deal with the Russian ultimatum or the cabinet regarding his position. He is still awaiting: action by. the national council or 111 duly '-authorized- successor.

According to semi-official information the Russian troops attacked and killed all the police at Resbt, bombarded the citadel at Tabriz, rushed the government offices there the governor's residence, the courts of justice and police headquarters. It id reported t'hat the Russian consul at Resbt has assumed the government of tbe town. LONDON, Dec. 22 Persia today yielded to the demand of the Russian ultimatum that W. Morgan Shuster, an American who holds the post of treasurer-general in the Persian gov ernment, be dismissed from the ser- PERSIA BOWS RUSSIAN Ml Chicago bound Wabash passenger train No.

12 left the track at Knights' station at 1 o'clock this morning, tearing up the roadway for 500 feet, piling rails and ties ten feet high. The baggage car was thrown diagonally across the track and the express car went up under it. The sleepers and day coaches behind lined up in a zigzag line, carrjing ties and rails ahead of them. The train was speeding at a rate of 45 miles an hour and the wreck is said to be due to a broken frog at the switch at Knights station. The only man seriously objured is C.

J. Repp, the express messenger, whose head was cut aid one finger nearly severed from his hand. The majority of the passengers were more or less bruised and the occupants of the sleeper were tumbled from their births and thrown from one side of the car to the other as the steel Pullman careered over the ties and broken rails. Engineer A. H.

Brennon was in charge of the train, with E. O. i "ram i in Tollrinr TT-to y-l unnAwf a that the train was moving about i5 miles an hour and that he thought that the wreck was due to the broken No warning of the wreck was given and the engineer had no chance to shut down his train Every ear left the track and there were but two wheels in the entire train remaining on the rails, with the exception of the engine which remained on the track. James T. Devlin of Chicago was the conductor.

Brennon and Chonev are Decatur men. Testimony of Witnesses in Famous Kimmel Case Not Borne Out by "Acid" Test. SAID THEY FOUND TWO Both Half Filled With Double Eagles But Experiment at Bank Disapproves Statement. ST. LOUIS.

Dec. 22 Attorneys for the New York Life Insurance company today applied the "acid" test to one of the details in the remarkable story of John B. Swinney. by whose testimony other attorneys are trying to show that George A. Kimmel.

the famous Nilcs. man'bf mystery, was murdered in an Oregon forest, while on a search for buried gold, in August, 1S98. Swinner. a rancher of Nara Visa, N. who says he killed the man who killed Kimmel, told in his deposition on cross-examination how he and "his comrades dug up two half gallon fruit jars, one containing 96 and the other 104 $20 gold pieces, a total of $4,000.

Each of the jars, he said, "was a little more than half full and he supposed two jars were used, because one would not quite hold the whole. John F. Green, one of the insurance company's lawyers, went to a bank with a half gallon glass fruit jar and found that 200 doublu eagles filled it hardly one third full. The deposition of Swinney is being taken in the ease of the receiver of the First National bank of Nlles, against the insurance company for insurance on Kimmel's life. Policies for $25,000 life insurance, held by Mrs.

Edna Bonnetette of Chicago. Kim mel's sister, depended on the outcome I of the case. DIAMOND THIEVES LAND BIG BOOTY Escape From Jewelry Store After Taking Wallet From Small Drawer. MINNEAPOLIS, Dec. 22 Diamonds valued at between $6,000.

and $7,000. enclosed in a jeweler's wallet, today were stolen from the diamond room of the jewelry firm of White and McNaught of this city. The thief escaped, but a man giving his name as W. WV Wells, is held at the police station as an accomplice. Two well dressed men entered the store late this afternoon and calling for C.

N. White, a member of the firm, asked to see an uncut diamond. After looking at the diamonds and agreeing upon the purchase of a stone, valued at $50. Wells, it Is said, asked to see a bracelet in the window. While Mr.

White was getlng It. It is supposed, the unknown man reached Into the drawer of the desk and obtained the diamonds. The men then left the diamond room and the one who has not been apprehended, excused himself to Wells, saying that he would meet him later. Shortly after, Mr. White looked Into the drawer and finding the diamonds gone, called others In the store to his aid and prevented Wells leaving the building.

When Wells was examined by police he refused to say anything which would incriminate himself, declaring that he came to Minneapolis Trom Fargo. N. today: that he only had met the man who escaped, at dinner today and that he did not know his name. President Shops in Cold Winter Rain Taft to Play Santa to Employes of White House Today, Civ-ing Turkeys. WASHINGTON.

Dec 22 President Taft continued his Christmas shopping tonight, visltingv several stores and making a few purchases. Washington was swept by a winter rain all the afternoon arid when the President ventured out it was in one of the White House automobiles. A car with Secret service men trailed close behind, but few people recognized the President's motor. The White House Christmas dinner the WThite House really begins, for more than 100 turkeys will be distributed for the President to all married men employed aroun-l the building. The White House Christams dinne will be served at 7:30 and there will be no guests.

During the day the President nrob ably will attend chureh. and if it is fali. will take a walk with some friend. GERMAN OFFICER SF.XTEXCED- SAN FRANCISCO. Dec 22.

Louis Merton, said to be the son of wealthy parents in Heldelburg. Germany, and an officer in the German army, wa sentenced to three years in prison to day for forgery. The name Merton Is believed to be assumed. ML JAR HOLD 10 ADD TARiFFDUTlES Bill Introduced in Duma by Controlling Party Also Doubles Gross Weight and Tonnage Taxes on all Goods Imported From Countries Not Giving Russia Most, Favored Nation Consideration. PREPARES FOR TIME TREATY IS ABROGATED Long Declaration Accompanying Measure Fully Outlines Attitude of Czar's Government Against Allowing United States to Gain Desired Admission of Jewish-Americans to That Country.

ST. PETERSBURG. Dec. 12 A legislative proposal to provide for tariff war schedules applicable to the States at the expiration of the Russo-American treaty of 1S32, has been introduced in the duma by former President Guchkoff and others representing the Octoberist and Nationalist parties, which control the duma. The bill proposes to raise existing Russian duties by 100 percent and also to impose a duty of 100 percent on articles- which are admitted from under the present Russian tariff, besides these Impositions the bill proposes also a levy double the gross weight tax established by the law of June II, 1301, on merchandise arriving by sea and to levy a double tonnage tax.

Should the present American tonnage tax be raised to the disfavor of Russian vessels then the Russian tonnage tax will be correspondingly increased. Applicable To Other. Tt is said that the schedules are to be applicable to all countries which do not grant to Russia the most favored nation, treatment in commerce arid navigation. Tn the long declaration accompanying the bill the signers deal fully with the Russo-Ainerican situation and recount the formal steps taken by the President of the United States. "The abrogation of the treaty be tween Russia and America lias a dl rect connection with the annual Rus sian agitation which has been ener getically conducted in America for the re-admission of American citizens of Jewish faith.

WoiiM Ward It Off. "The United States has enacted very strict regulations limiting the right of entry of foreigners, and there is no doubt that government would ward off any attempt to dispute the legality of these regulations from an International point of "If we take into consideration aso that the American law imposes a head tax on the whole line of foreigners seeking American shores. It becomes clear how stern are the restrictions to which Russians arriving in America are subjected. We do not question the right of the federal governmesA to apply any immigration laws whlcn are dictated by reasons of state but we must note for that very reason that the motive for the abrogation of the treaty of 1S32 adduced in the resolution of the house of representatives Is unfounded." SAYS BRIBERY CASES ARE TOO EMBARRASSING CROWN' POINT. Dec.

22 Alderman Walter B. Gibson of Gary today was sentenced to serve an indeterminate sentence of from two to fourteen years in the Indiana state penitentiary. He was convicted on charges of having accepted a bribe tor aiding passage of a heating franchise ordinance by the Gary common council for Thomas B. Dean of Louisville. who.

with a dictaphone, furnished the states evidence. Prosecutor Samuel Parker of South Bend, appointed by Governor Marshall to prosecute the Gary bribery of which a' number still remain to be tried today defended the governor's action. He promised a vigorous prosecution of all cases, and his appearance by a statement that "rottenness had become so general." the regular state's attorney would have ben in an embarrassing trying some of the defendants who might be his neighbors. SAYS TAFT WAS IN LEAGUE WITH INTERESTS MINNEAPOLIS. Dec.

22. James WIckersham. delegate to congress from Alaska, in an address here tonight, made an attack upon President Taft. declaring that he never suggested any legislation for Alaska that was fair. He also declared that former Secretary of Interior Ballinger while in fathered all measures that would favor the looting of Alaska by the Guggenheims.

"Taft knew we were strong American citizens." he said, "and for that reason would not give us a territorial legislative form of government for fear we would not give our resources to his friends, the Guggenheims. Th President recommended a commission form of government, the commission to consist of nine men appointed by him. Upon investigation it developed that members he intended to appoint on the proposed commission were all Guggenheim men." HEAVY SATCRDAV, DECEMBER 23, THE WE A THER Forecast for Illinois: Fair Saturday and Sunday i LOCAL WEATHER. Weather reading" for tlie 24 hoar beginning at 7 o'clock last night, an recorded by Prof. J.

H. Conradt, government observer, ore as follow: 7 o. 35; noon, 42; 7 p. 33; highest, 44; lo went, 35. ALMAXAC Snn rises at 7:23 a.

m.i snn sets at 4:40 p. m. Light automobile lamps at 4:40. "The Herald Want Ads. Will be found on page 8.

CJTV. City will restrict movement of traction engines 8 Gifts for poor taken to school Page 11 Jackson street school girls' club has Christmas tree Page 3 Boys, tell evils of cigarets in essays Page 14 Grocers report increased tradiage Most presents are delivered by wagons Page 11 RAILROADS. Lackawanna has plenty of. ties Page 3 NATIONAL. Russians prepare for tariff war Page 1 Persia bows to Russian demand Page 1 How much gold In jar, tested in Kimmel case Page 1 Swindlers let off with one year in penitentiary Page 1 ILLINOIS.

rTllinois farms grow in value 1 Premier refuses to give China Requbllc Page 1 SPORTING. Kinsella's contract likely to hasten sale of club Page 1 Springfield offered date for basketball game Page 4 Managers like Tankee pitchers 4 I Clinton defeated by Leroy on strange floor Page 4 SVBIRBAX. Montieello people give more than $239 for poor Page 5 Addition to Sullivan high school will be dedicated Jan. 2..... Page 1) Verdict for Swi-art in De county hay case 10 Program announced for Douglas County Farmers' Institute.

Verdict in Wallace divorce case a surprise 5 Prisoners Escapeby Going Through Safe Penetrate Two-Foot Wall Only to Find Themselves in Vault of Montana Treasurer. BOZEMAN. Dec. 22 After breaking Into and out of the "burglar proof vault of the county treasury, six prisoners escaped from the new county jail here today. The prisoners got out of the jail "cage" by prying" off a lock with -an iron bar and attacked what they supposed was the outer wall of the After tearing through two feet of masonry they found themselves in the treasurer's vault, but as there was no money there, they broke through another wall and were at liberty.

BELIEVE GREAT LOTTERY DISCLOSED KANSAS CITY. Dec. 22. Through the arrest of a woman shoplifter here today the police say they have learned of the extensive sale' o( Santo Domingo lottery tickets in Kansas City and throughout the middle West. Fremont Weeks, an "employe of an express company, is being held by federal authorities as tne Kansas City agent of the lottery.

Cash prizes of about $40,000 are said to have been, offered one 'company Involved In the disclosures made today. The same promoters, it i believed, are conducting several oth-r lotteries of equal proportion The disclosure came about through the arrest of a woman giving the name of Mrs. 011a Weeks for stealing gloves In a department The police, searching Mrs. Weeks' apartments, said they found hundreds of lottery tickets In a suitcase. The woman's husband.

Fremont Weeks, was then arrested. CACKLING GEESE CAUSE FIRE TO BE DISCOVERED saved the ancient city of Rome, flocks of geese. Dy tneir cacKimg lonignt, what mSffht linve been a disastrous fire in the town district to night. These geese were in crates in the kij flnr of a hniTdinc orcimipd hv a commission house. Fire started from an overheated iurnace ana naa spreaa to the woodwork in the room when the noisy birds attracted the attention of a watchman.

The fire was subdued with little damage. DEIIEEN TESTIFIES; DIDN know or UASJS itar. Governor trm.urir.i.u, Deneen today testified as a witness in i 1 election iudfires case hi 1 1 i are on trial for alleged violation of the general election law. Deneen said he knew nothing of the case. SWINDLERS GET OFFWTTH YEAR Burr Brothers of New-York City Plead Guilty to Use of Mails to Defraud.

STARTED MANY PROJECTS NEW YORK, Dec. 22. As punishment for carrying on a stock swindle by mail, alleged to have extended over a period of two years, arid to have netted millions in profit, four promoters of the firm of Burr Brothers, incorporated, were each sentenced to day to a imprisonment on Blackwells island. The prisoners are Shelton C. Burr, president of the corporation, his brother, Eugene who was secretary-treasurer; Charles H.

Tobey. vice president, and Edwin W. Preston. Un-expecte8ly they offered pleas, of guilty before Judge Holt, in the' criminal branch of the United States circuit court, late today. The Indictment upon which they; were called to face trial, specifically charged a swindle, involving $68,000 in connection with the sale of the stock jofTthe People's Association Oil com-I pany, but the government alleged that this was but one of a continuing series of frauds estimated to have in-! volved nearly with 000 profit to the promoters.

I Counsel fof the defendants declared that rather than involve the expense of summoning witnesses from distant points, it was decided to plead guilty to the specific indictment. A little over a year ago the four men were prospering, occupying expensive offices in a Broadway sky scraper. On November 20. 1910. federal agents raided their offices with connection with a general round up of mail stock swindlers ordered by Postmaster General Hitchcock.

Sold Gold Brick Stock. Their business had mainly been the sale of stocks and bonds and oil and gold mining enterprises. AmongJ their promotions were the Nevada Goldfield Mining. Milling and Smelting company, capitalized at British American Copper Mines and Smiting company, capitalized at $5--1 AAA AAA. U.I TT- n-t 000.000; Holcomb Automatic Engine company, capitalized at $5,000,000: To capitalized at Arizona Copper and -Gold Mines company, capitalized at $1,500,000: Long Beach, Mexico and Arizona Mining company, capitalized at $1,500,000, and about 20 other corporations with stock issues ranging from $400,000 to $1,000,000.

The government had other indictments pending, but none had been returned and it was agreed in open court that with pleas of guilty in the case at hand, further prosecution would be abandoned. FARMS GROW VALUE WASHINGTON. Dec. 22 While the extent of agricultural lands in Illinois Is slowly diminishing the value of farms in state has more than doubled in the last decade, according to a bulletin issued today by the census bureau. The population of the state increased 16.9 percent between 1900 and 1910, but there'Was a falling off of 12.279, or 4.6 per cent.

In the number of farms, and the total acreage decreased 271,791 acres, or 8-10 per cent. The average size of farms in the state is 129.1 acres, an Increase of about five acres since 1S80. The Increase in the value of Illinois farm property approaches this being made up chiefly of a rise of $1,576,000,000 in the value of the land. $180,914,000 in the value of buildings, and $143,793,000 in the value of equipment. The total value of farm property in 1910 was $3,900,000,000.

Farm Average In 1900 the average value of a farm was $7,600. while in 1910 it was The average value per acre rose from $46.17 in 1900 to $95.02 in 1910. The average value of land and buildings per farm is $14,000. live' stockr $1,226. and Implements $293.

There are 251.872 farms in Illinois, the counties in the central and northern parts of the state being over 90 per cent agricultural and the southern counties having between 80 and 90 per cent of their area in farm lands. Only twenty-two counties show increases of farm area. Of the total 25 867.520 acres of land in the state 3 522.937. or 90.7 per cent, are includ ed in farms. 28,048,323 acres being improved land.

It is significant," says the bulle tin." that the decrease of 12.279 in the total nuniber of arms during the last decade is due entirely to a decrease of 12.900 in the number of farms operated by owners and managers, the number of those operated by tenants having increased 681." I and that there were some funny remarks. Repp Intenrleived. C. J. Repp, the express messenger who was Injured, said: "I do not know how the wreck happened or what the cause was.

I was-busy in the express car getting the things which were billed lor Decatur ready to unload. The crash came of a sudden and I was thrown against the west door and the first thing that I knew I was lying at the side of th right-of-way clear of the pile of wreckage." Relief Train Seat. A relief train was sent ont from Decatur after the passengers on the wrecked train had laVd in Knights station almost an hour. All of the passengers were brought to the city 1 and another train was made up to carry them on to Chicago. One man whow as a passenger in the sleeping coach, said that It was a very fortunate thing that no one was killed in that car.

He said that the situation became comical when the passengers began to look for their clothes and get ready to change cars vice of the Persian government. Thejledo, Wabash and St. Louis railroad. Express is Light. Fortunately for Rapp, the injured express messenger, the express shipments for this run were light, with but about half as many pieces as are ordinarily billed for Decatur and other large cities.

As a usual thing the poultry shipments are heavy, but this class also was very light in this run. Had it been heavy, Rapp believes he would have been killed. As it was. when his car left the rails and with no wheels under it ploughed in the dirt of the road bed. he was thrown headlong against the west side door of the car and ricocheted out into space.

Woman Asks for Dog. Passengers on the train who got out of their places as soori as they couM extricate themselves from the debris, said ihat one of the peculiar incidents noticed in the excitement of bundling out. was that not one woman in the entire crowd of some hundred or more persons screamed or made great ado. One woman there was who attracted much attention because of her lamenting for a dog. Her first question was: 'Oh, is the baggage car alright?" WTien asked why she was so interested she said: "Why, have a darling; dog up there." "Damn your dog, there's human souls up was the startling exclamation of an irate listener.

The heavy steel sleepers carried forward by their weight and climbed over the great pile of cars in front and literally ground the baggage and express cars into the dirt of the road bed. Railroad men say this is the most remarkable wreck which has been heard of in years. Russian ultimatum also calls for tne payment of an indemnity, which is to reinburse Russia for money expended In sending an armed expedition Into Persia to enforce her demands. Mr. Shuster's administration of Persia's finances has been displeasing to Russia from the start and when he caused the seizure of property belonging to the brother of the former shah, over the protest of the Russian vice consul, Russian called for the dls-missaL of Mr.

Shuster. Tie Persian charge D'affaires at St. Petersburg called at the Russian foreign office late today to announce officially his government's' action to abide by the terms of the ulttmatum. Up to a late hour tonight however, no public announcement had been made at Teheran of the recession of Persia from the defiant stand she originally took against the demands of the Russian ministers, even In the face of threatened aggression. The delay in making public -the fact that she had yielded to the Russian demands probably was through fear of the consequences of public resentment.

Art aits Dismissal. Mr. Shuster still is without formal notice of his dismissal. He is resolute in declaring that he would have nothing to do -with the negotiations and would only recognize the right of the national council to dispense with his services. It is not probable that there will be a withdrawal of the Russian troops in -Persia while such as those at Tabriz are occurring.

There are only two hundred Russian troops encamped three miles outside Tabriz, from which guards dre sent to town daily for the consulate and banks. From conflicting Russian and Persian accounts of the trouble at Tabriz it is difficult to ascertain exactly what happened but reports published in St. Petersburg are to the effect that several Russian soldiers were killed in the fighting there. COLONEL LORD DIES SUDDENLY SPRINGFIELD. Dec.

22 Colonel John S. Lord dropped dead at his home in this city this evening of heart disease. He was 71 years old. served in the Federal army during the Civil war and rose to the rank of colonel. We was for epvpral i-ears secretary of the state bureau of "labor statistics of Illinois, later assistant supervisor oi the census of 1903, and for the past ten years has been chief deputy revenue collector of the eighth Illinois district.

received at the station. Several Decatur people who were waltling for relatives who were to arrive on the train becama alarmed when they heard of the wreck and gave up their relatives as dead. The relief train brought good news to many people. An old railroad man said that one of his following never feared for himself when he was In a wreck, but was always considerably worried when one of his fellows was in danger. Several engineers and about the station in groups for news from the wreck.

The engineer on the train was popular among railroad men in Decatur. Ambulances Called. Local ambulances were called to the station and physicians were routed out of bed to be sent with the relief train. The first report that came to tne station not say whether any one had been" killed or not. The first thought, when it was found that the train had a-one into the ditch, was that scores or people had lost their lives and as it was known that very few steel cars were included in the train, railroad men about the station feared that the wreck would be bad In its tool ot death.

was almost an hour after the wreck occurred that a substantial report, was REMARKABLE WRECK. With every car off the track, and two wheels of the entire train remaining on the rails, and no persons killed, it will make a record in railroad history. So quick was the ruin of the train accomplished that in the rush of events, no one is yet able to tell how he escaped. Many were shunted out of their seats into the aisles and under seats, but investigation among the sleeping car passengers showed that not all were shaken out of the berths and some there were who were not even awakened News Long: Delayed. The wreck occurred about 1 o'clock as the train is due into IVmhir ihnnt that time, but no word was sent to Decatur for about 'an hour after the wreck, as every effort was made to discover injured or flying persons who might accidentally have been in the debris of the cars which were reduced to kindling wood under the great weight of the.

sleepers, as they crashed forward, piling ties and cars up to a great height. Trains Detoured. In the 9th district all southbound passenger trains had to be detoured" bv way of Springfield until o'clock this morning, all freight traffic being held out. All manifest freights that needed moving were sent througtv north-and south. by way of Springfield, the same -as passenger traffic was handled.

No delay in handling of passenger business was experienced with the exception of the loss of time in detouring to At 4 o'clock this morning it was not expected that he right of way would be cleared and the tracto relaid for traffic before 7 o'clock..