Youngstown News, 1902-03-21

              THE YOUNGSTOWN NEWS. VOL. XXII. yOUNGSTOWN, N. Y., FRIDAY. MARCH 21. 1902. JNO. 7. HREATENED BY KIDNAPERS Lives of the Children of a Pittsburg Millionaire Menaced. FLED TO ESCAPE CONSPIRATORS Tliey Threatened Murder Unless Paid $25,000— Steel Magnate's Wife Became 111 Over the Matter and Family liemoved From Pittsburg to New York City—A Mau Under Suspicion. Pittsburg, Pa. — Alexander R. Peacock, the steel millionaire, is the victim of a blackmailing plot. His wife and three children are now in New York City as a result. He is also in New York City with them for the present. About two months ago Mr. Peacock was absent from home. A letter was received at his house, in Lexington avenue, this city, which was opened by Mrs. Peacock. It contained a threat that unless Mr. Peacock placed $25,000 at a certain spot on North Highland avenue his three children would be abducted and kept in captivity until the amount was paid. Mrs. Peacock showed this to her husband on his arrival home. He called on Roger O'Mara, who until recently was Superintendent of Detectives of the city, but now has a private agency. O'Mara soon reported that he thought he had flie men located, but could not fasten the writing of the letter on them, and until they did something to warrant it he could not arrest them. Mr. Peacock was content to let time unravel the case, but in the meantime he received another letter. .This stated that the writer was aware Roger O'Mara had been taken into the case, tout this would not avail, and unless the money wras soon placed at the point indicated, the children would not only be kidnaped, but they would be murdered. This alarmed Mrs. Peacock, who became ill. To give his wife proper medical attention and quiet her nerves, Mr. Peacock removed his two sons, Grant Peacock, aged fourteen, and Alexander R., Jr., aged ten, from the Shady Side Academy, and, with their sister, Irene Margaret, aged two years, took them with their mother to New York City. He tried to keep the matter a secret, but it became known. Mr. Peacock is estimated to be worth between $7,000,000 and $9,000,000. He' has been prominent in financial circles, which probably led to the attempt at blackmail. Detectives here who are familiar with the Peacock kidnaping case believe that the letter to Mr. Peacock were written by the same man who at different times during the past two years has written similar letters to many prominent m'en in this section threatening kidnaping, assassination and other calamities to those who failed to leave money at designated places. It is generally understood that the man is merely a crank and his threats are empty ones. Mr. Peacock's private secretary, Mr. Eames, says he conducted the case in Mr. Peacock's absence. He says a letter came to the house in January last demanding that $1500 be deposited in a vacant lot near Mr. Peacock's residence.Mr. Eames took one of the children's! playing blocks, wrapped it in paper,' and placed it in the spot designated. Detectives were stationed near by to make arrests, but no blackmailer appeared, and the matter was dropped. No attention was paid to later threats. PRINCE HENRY INSANITY. An Oyster Opener ami » Silver Cleaner lu Chicago Develop It. Chicago.—Prince Henry's recent visit to Chicago was recalled in the court for the insane attheDetention Hospital when two patients declared that their mental troubles were indirectly caused by the brief stay of Emperor William's brother in the city. Both were employes of the Auditorium Hotel, which, Princo Henry and his suite made their headquarters. Albert Silverberg, an oyster opener in the cafe, told the court he was compelled to work day and night opening oysters while the Prince was at the hotel, and as a result his mind became unbalanced. John Coffey, a silver cleaner in the same hotel, said his friends believed him insane because he made the remark that he was just as good a man as Prince Henry. The patients were Bent to the Elgin asylum. POPULAR ELECTION OF SENATORS. Hoar Vigorously Opposes a Proposed Constitutional Amendment. Washington, D. C.—Senator Berry caused a flurry by asking what is to be done relative to the proposed constitutional amendment for the election of Senators by direct vote of the people. He said lie had received manyj letters seeking such information. Senator Burrows, Chairman of the Committee on Privileges and Elections, said a report would be made. Mr. Burrows favors such an amendment. Senator Hoar declared this proposition the most important brought before Congress since the Constitution, was adopted. He spoke with greatj feeling. ._ : "Hie solemn pledge," he said, was givel that the equality of the States! never would be destroyed without the oons Hit of every one of them." SACK HAD HUMAN CARGO Man Carried Three Days and a Half as Pctatoes. Machinist Traveled Nearly 700 Miles In Freight Car on a Wager—Without Water Most of the Time, Chicago.—Billed as a choice sack ot potatoes, a young man has arrived in Chicago from Kansas City tiecl up in a sack. For three days and a half ho had been confined in the sack, and during that time he had traveled close to 700 miles in a freight car. The sack which covered him was inclosed in an open fruit case. The traveler, who is Martin J. Ivansdigger, a machinist, of Kansas City, was nearly famished when he was cut from his prison at the Chicago and Northwestern freight house by a friend who had been waiting for a day and a half in the city for him to arrive. Kansdigger began his journey with only a quart of water and two pounds of crackers in the sack with him, this being a condition of the wager of $300 which caused him to make the perilous trip. When released, Kansdigger was nearly blinded by the dust which had crept into the sack, and his throat and mouth were so parched that lie could hardly speak, his little cask of water having been spilled after he had been on his journey only a day. For nearly three days he had been witho\it water, and he stated when he was able to talk that had it not rained one day he would certainly have died of thirst. During most of the storm the car in which he was packed was side-tracked out in some small country town, and the water came through a crack in the roof and fell on the sack. The burlap became quite wet, and he was thus enabled to suck from the cloth a few drops which allayed his thirst. BOERS RELEASE METHUEN. Irish M. P. Invite* the Government t«. Set Kritzingor Free. London.-Lieutenant-General Lord Methuen, who was captured by the Boer General Delarey, has been released. This announcement was made by General Kitchener in the following telegram: "General Methuen was brought to Klerksdorp to-day. He is doing well. Everything possible is being done for him." Prior to the receipt of this telegram the Government heard that Genera) Methuen would probably be l'eleased, and War Secretary Brodrick announced in the House of Commons that Methuen was due to arrive at Klerksdorp in the care of a British medical officer. Timothy M. Healy, Irish Nationalist, amid Nationalist cheers, invited the Government to show equal magnanimity and release * Commandant Kritzinger.Mr. Brodrick replied that the exchange of General Methuen for Commandant Kritzinger had not been contemplated. The trial of the Commandant had been postponed because consideration of the evidence to be presented had not been completed. GENEBAL DELAREY. (Door leader who captured and after TTArd released General Methuen.) INDICTED FOR BRIBERY. St. I.ouis Millionaire Accused With. Others of Selling Franchises. St. Louis, Mo.—The Grand Jury, which has been investigating for sis •weeks the subject of municipal corruption, indicted Colonel Edward Butler for bribery in connection with franchises and with the letting of contracts for reduction of city garbage. Butler "was arrested and gave bond, The Grand Jury has indicted othei prominent men for bribery and perjury, but the names will noc be disclosed until arrests have been made. The indictment is regarded as the culmination of the bribery investigation. Butler has for years been regarded in St. Louis as the chief of boodlers. He has openly boasted that he could pass through the Municipal Assembly any bill he desired to become a law; he has talked of fees for himself and has practically defied th« Grand Jury to indict him. Butler Is worth $5,000,000 or $G,000,- 000. He came to St. Louis without a pennjr in 1857. ALTGELD'S SUDDEN DEATH Stricken at the Conclusion of a Pro- Boer Speech. HAD BEEN AILING FOR SOMETIME His LlStlTords a Plea For Help For the Boer Families in the Concentration Camps—His Record as Governor of Illinois and in National Politics—He Pardoned the Chicago Anarchists. Jollet, 111.—Just after finishing an address at the Opera House in behalf of the Boer women and children in the South African concentration camps, former Governor John P. Altgeld was taken suddenly ill, and at 7.09 o'clock a. m. he died, having been unconscious for several hours. Mr. Altgeld had come to Joliet to fulfill his engagement as the principal speaker at the pro-Boer meeting arranged by the Chicago branch of the Transvaal League. He had complained of some stomach trouble on his arrival, but did not think of giving up his engagement. It was noted during the address that he threw an unusual' amount of energy and feeling into his words, and the collapse, the physicians think, resulted from overstraining his already weakened physical powers. Just at the close of his speech a sudden dizziness seized him, and he was assisted from the stage. The meeting proceeded, the audience not realizing what had happened. Mr. Altgeld was taken to the door of the theatre, where he had several vomiting spells. This continued for nearly an hour, and was so pronounced he could not be removed to the hotel. Physicians were hastily summoned and later Mr. Altgeld was carried to the hotel across the street. He retained consciousness and urged the newspaper men to keep the affair quiet for fear cf alarming his wife. Shortly before midnight he became unconscious.He remained in this condition until, at 3.41 a. m., it was thought he had died, but he revived, and from that time until shortly before the end he showed wonderful vitality, although he made no move. The cause of uSath is given as cerebral hemorrhages, there having been an apoplectic seizure of the brain. Clarence Darrow, the Chicago law partner of M~. Altgeld, came to Joliet and took charge of the body. The body was embalmed and taken to Chicago.Mrs. Altgeld, widow of the former Governor, was prostrated by the shock of the news from Joliet. Grave apprehension for her welfare is felt, as she has been in delicate health for two years. Mr. Altgeld left no children. John Peter Altgeld was born in Germany in December, 1847, and was brought to this country when an infant, his parents settling near Mansfield, Ohio. He was educated in the public schools, entered t'le Union Army as a private at the age of sixteen and fought as such until the close of the wax; taught school and studied law in Missouri, being admitted to the bar there in 1869. He was elected State's Attorney of Andrew County in 1874, an cffice he resigned in 1875 and moved to Chicago. He was an unsuccessful candidate f-r Congress from that city in 1884, was made judge of the Superior Court of Chicago in 18S6, and was Governor C," Illinois in 3893-97. He ran as independent candidate for Mayor of Chicago in 1899, and was defeated. He was the author of several books, among them "Our Penal Machinery and Its Victims" and "Live Questions." Altgeld was a Democrat, but not bound by party ties. He was a warm supporter of Mr. Bryan in 1900, and it was said during the campaign that in case of Mr. Bryan's election Altgeld was sure of a Cabinet position or a place on the United States Supreme Court if a vacancy occurred thereon. His most notable act as Governor, and which fixed the attention of the whole country, was his pardon of Fielding, Schwab and Neebe, the Anarchists whose sentence to death for the Haymarket square murder of pollicemen had been commuted by Governor Oglesby to imprisonment for life. Mr. Altgeld was at one time very wealthy, but he lost most of his property by unfortunate ihvestments. BANK TELLER A DEFAULTER. Granville W. Xie'ghton, of Portland, Me., Confesses a 843,000 Shortage. Portland, Me.—Granville W. Leighton. teller of the National Traders' Bank of this city, is under arrest, a self-confessed defaulter to the extent of $43,000. The bank officials announced that he had made over to the institution all his real estate and other and that this, with his bond, will make good the loss sustained by the bank. The detection of the defalcation was through the discovery of an apparent error in Leighton's books. When pressed for an explanation the teller broke down and made a complete confession.He was immediately arrested- It is said that Leighton's trouble is due to an unsuccessful business venture. Freighters' Strike in Boston Spreads. Strike leaders in Boston determined to call out all workers in the freight transportation business in that city. About 30,000 men are involved. Mayor Collins appealed to Senator Hanna to use bis efforts to effect a settlement. BLIZZARD IN THE WEST Business Stopped, Railroads Tied Up and Trains Stalled. High Winds Piled Up Snow In Mountain Drifts and Packed It in Solid Masses —Canadian Territory Snowbound. St. Paul, Minn.—North Dakota and the Canadian Northwest has experienced the worst snowstorm in many V(.ars, and railroad traffic was practi*Mly paralyzed. The Northern Pacific and Great Northern Roads were unable to move a wheel until the fury of the storm abated. The high wind piled the snow in mountainous drifts and packed it in solid masses, many deep cuts being entirely filled. The temperature fell below the zero mark. Not a transcontinental train arrived at St. Paul for several days. The Northern Pacific reported its west-bound coast trains, from St. Paul, tied up at Fargo, the road beyond there being blocked. Every effort was made by the road to keep its passengers, who were snowbound, warm and well fed. The Red River Valley Division of the Northern Pacific, between Frankfort and Winnipeg, was entirelj- abandoned. No trains attempted to run, and the exact conditions on this division were not known by the general offices here, as the telegraph wires were carried down by the burden of sleet that preceded the heavy snowfall. The situation on the Great Northern was equally as bad. The line was tied up entirely between Grand Forks and Wlliiston, N. D., a distance of about thirty-five miles, and all wires were lost beyond Fargo. Thirty miles of wire' were down between Fargo and Cassellton, N. D., and all comunication with Western Dakota and Montana points was lost. The branch of the Great Northern running to Winnipeg was also tied up. Winnipeg was reported entirely cut off from railroad communication with the outside world. The Canadian Pacific transcontinental trains were snowbound somewhere west of there. The storm was preceded by a light rainfall and accompanied by high winds. The rain soon turned to sleet and then to snow, and this fell without cessation for more than two days. Business of all kinds was at a standstill. So far as known there was no loss of life, but owing to <he demoralized condition of the wires little news was received from the remoter districts. The farmers, however, hailed the advent of the snow with delight, as the ground had been very dry and this abundance of moisture will put it in excellent shape for the spring seeding. A dispatcli from Devil's Lake, N. D., said a blizzard, the worst in ten years, had been raging. All railroad and other traffic was abandoned. The thermometer was at zero. At Aberdeen, S. D., the blizzard raged furiously. Trains were delayed and business was at a standstill. From Pierre, S. D., reports said that it was probable there had been heavy losses of cattle and 'sheep. Reports from Lacrosse, Wis., said that a high wind blew and small buildings and trees were wrecked in all parts of the city. Michigan Temperature's Sudden Drop. Detroit, Mich. — Between 5 o'clock p. m. and 10 o'clock p. m. the temperature here dropped twenty-six degrees, registering twenty-six above zero at the latter hour. High wind and flurries of snow accompanied the sudden fall, which was general throughout the State. In the extreme southwestern part of the State a VDrilacle blizzard prevailed. Cyclone Wrecks Town. Birmingham, Ala.—A cyclone struck the mining town of Piper, Bibb County, wrecking forty houses and damaging thirty-five others. Edward Turner, colored, \vas killed, and John Allen, ■his wife and three children were severely injured. SUSPENDS BOND PURCHASES. Secretary Shaw Announces That He Will Discontinue Buying. Washington, D. C—At a Cabinet meeting Secretary Shaw brought up the subject of his proposed order discontinuing bond purchases, and after returning to the Treasury Department he issued the following notice: "The Secretary of the Treasury announces that he will discontinue, for the present, the purchase of United States bonds of the five per cent, loan of 1904. the four per cent, funded loan of 1907, the three per cent, loan of 1908-18, and the four per cent, loan of 1925." Mr. Shaw held a conference with the President at which he received Mr. Roosevelt's approval of his contemplated action, and the bringing of the matter up at the Cabinet session was incidental to a statement by the Secretary of the general financial situation, which he described in detail. Mr. Shaw's chief reason for the action taken is that in his opinion the price of bonds is already too high and is artificially made so by the presence of the Government in the market. Calf Ate $2000 Note and Bills. John Ammundson, of Porter, Minn., was doing some work about his barn and placed his vest containing a $2000 note and $25 in bills on a nail, when a calf with keen appetite ate. the note and paper money. Upon the discovery of his loss the calf was killed, and enough of the money was found to prove that it went that way. No trace of the note could be discovered, however.THE STRIKE SETTLEMENT Mediation Favored by the Leaders of Boston's Labor Conflict. INFLUENCE OF GOVERNOR CRANE He Prevailed Upon the Strikers to Come' to Terms—About 40,000 Men, Direetly and Indirectly, Involved in the Strike —Teamster Who Shot Boy in a Mob Discharged in Court—Business Affected Boston, Mass.—The representatives of great mercantile bodies of the city, seconded by the chief executives of the city and State in conference with the recognized leaders of organized labor, have endeavored to end the great strike of freight handlers and kindred trades, represented in the Allied Freight Transportation Council. About 40,000 men were directly or indirectly involved in the strike. Mediation was decided upon at a conference in the office of Governor Crane. The decision was immediately reported to the Allied Freight Transportation Council at a special meeting and unanimously indorsed. The proposed settlement was the outcome of an expressed determination of Governor Crane and those representing the merchants of Boston to bring all possible pressure to bear upon the New York, New Haven and Hart* ford Railroad Company to adopt the rules in force upon the Boston and Maine Railroad, forbidding freight handlers to unload teams except at their own option and risk. The Brine Transportation Company, the loading and unloading of whose non-union teams precipitated the strike of the New York, New Haven and Hartford freight handlers, did nol figure at all in the proposed settlement of the present controversy, and as fai as that company is concerned the sentiment against it on the part of the labor unions is as bitter as ever. Undei the new arrangements, however, union men will not be required to load or unload its teams. It was found, however, that it was one thing for the Strikers' Committee to declare the strike off, but quite another thing to make the laboring men believe that the matter had been settled satisfactorily. The feeling thai they had been badly beaten was bitterly emphasized when upon reporting for work the men found that hardly seventy-five per cent, of the old men could get their jobs back. This wag especially the case with the freight handlers,' clerks and longshoremen. At the three big railroad yards an enormous amount of freight was handled, but on the docks practically nothing was done. As the day wore on things assumed a better look, and the longshoremen voted to return to work. The freight handlers formerly employed by the New York, New Haven and Hartford and the Boston and Albany Roads voted not to return to work unless they were taken back In a body. The wool handlers took similar action. The Expressmen's Union voted to go back. The freight handlers of the Boston and Maine Railroad voted to return, but inasmuch as the company already had a number of men at work in their places, many of the old employes did not succeed* in regaining their former positions. It is believed that eventually they all will regain their old positions.The teamsters had little trouble in getting their old places again and very little grumbling was heard from that quarter. The first bloodshed of the strike occurred when a Brine four-horse truck was going to the Boston and Maine yards, in Charlestown, followed by a crowd of 1000. Nearing City Square some boys threw stones at Driver Glancey. Glancey whipped out a revolver and fired point-blank into the crowd. The bullet struck Patrick Keefe, eighteen years old, in the fleshy part of the arm. Glancey was arrested. Altogether there was a much more vicious spirit shown by the strikers and fist fights and stone throwing were a common sight. In court Judge Bragg discharged Glancey, and said that people who participate in mobs must abide by the consequences. If a man is driven to an extremity it is not rurprising if he adopts the usual means of defense. During the strike the attempt to move freight of any kind was almost fruitless. The absence of coal „deliveries was keenly felt in many places, especially by hotels, which depend on daily deliveries. Miners' Wage Seale Maintained. Philadelphia, Pa.—This notice has been posted in the collieries of the anthracite coal region: "Rates of wages now in effect will be continued until April 1, 1903, and thereafter subject to sixty days' notice. Local differences will be adjusted as heretofore." The rate of wages now paid to mine workers in the anthracite region is the same as that granted them as the result of the great strike in the fall of 1900. Mr. Walsh's Title to Immortality. Michael Walsh, the man who sold the cow that kicked over Mrs. Leary's lighted lamp and started the great Chicago fire, died at Omaha, Neb. Nine New Ships For British Navy. The British Admiralty has contracted for the construction of five firstclass and two cruisers and two battleshir^ STATE NEWS. Anti-Anarchist Bill SignwT.- Governor Odell has signed the' Arrff- Anarchist bill, which was introduced by Assemblyman Weeks, amending the Penal Code, by providing that unsuccessful attempts to take the life of a> perscn shall be punishable by imprisonment for not more than twenty-five' years. The Governor also signed the following bills: Assemblyman Fisher's, providing that the treatment and maintenance of indigent patients in the State Consumptives' Hospital shall be a charge upon the city, town or village from whicli the patient was sent. Senator Hill's, authorizing the Buf falo Merchants' Exchange to create a gratuity fund for the benefit of widows and children of members. Senator McKinney's, making thg closed season for plover, rail and shore birds from May 1 to August 31, both inclusive. Country Estate Five Miles Square. Two years ago Andrew C. Zabriskie*, the New York millionaire, purchased the John Bard property, at Annandale, and has just completed on it a mansion at a cost of over half a million dollars. It has just become known that Mr. Zabriskie has been quietly buying farm lands lying around a bout his property, and that he is bent on establishing one of the finest country estates in America. It is believed that within a short time the beautiful little village of Annandale, where St. Stephen's Episcopal College is located, will have passed under his control. If he succeeds in closing all of the.dealsthatheis now negotiating Mr. Zabriskie will own a tract of land more than five miles square on one of the prettiest parts on the Hudson River. Dutchess County farmers are staggered at the prices paid by the millionaire for farm lands that he wants badly. May Cut State Timber. The Senate has passed Senatoi Brown's amendment to the constitution declaring that the Legislature "May authorize the sale and removal of hemlock, spruce, pine, balsam and other soft woods" of the State's forests "if more than ten inches in diameter three feet from the ground." The amendment also declares that "the proceeds of such sales shall be set apart in a separate fund known as the forest preserve fund, and shall be used only to care for and extend the forests of the State in the forest preserve. Roads may be built in the forest preserve, but franchises shall not be granted for railroads or street surface railroads upon or across any part of thg forest preserve, nor shall such railroads be maintained." New York Exhibit For St. Louis. The Ways and Means Committee of the Assembly decided to report favorably the bill introduced by Mr. Colby providing an appropriation for an exhibit by the State of New York at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition to be held in St. Louis in 1903. Mr. Colby's bill, in deference to the wish of Governor Odell, carried an appropriation of but $50,000. Since the bill was introduced the managers of the exposition have conferred with Governor Odell, and with his consent the amount of the appropriation was raised to $100,000. The bill also provides for a commission to take charge of the exhibit.Five Children Burned to Death. The live children of Mr. and Mrs* Thomas Scantor, of Shinhopple, Delaware County, were burned to a crisp in their home a few days ago. -The mother made a frantic attempt to res-9 cue the children. She was haul d out of the burning house by the husband with her clothes in flames, which burned her hair off, and she was oiher wise horribly burned. Girl of Fifteen a Suicide. Weary of life, Mary J. Marks, teen years of age, daughter of Robert Marks, a cattle buyer, living near Pine Bush, disappeared, leaving a note directed to her schoolmates, saying that she had drowned herself in the Shawangunk Kill. Search revealed her footprints to the water's edge. The body was found several miles below. Village Sues Railroad For $150,000. The village of Painted Post has brought a suit for damages of $50,000 against the Erie Railroad. The complaint alleges that the company, by building bridges across the Chemung and Cohocton Rivers, has caused the waters in flood times to overflow the town. Married Women May Sue. The State Senate has passed the bill introduced by Bainbridge Colby giving to married women the right to institute suits as individuals in action for wages, etc. Quarryman Blinded by a Blast. While preparing a blast in a stona quarry at Catskill, Charles Mott had one eye blown out by a premature explosion and his other eye was rendered sightless. Legislature to Adjourn March 27. The State Senate adopted the resolu>. tion reported by the Finance Committee for the adjournment of the Legislature on March 27, and the Assembly concurred. All Around the State. E. B. Moore, Rochester's best knowa, physician, is dead. At least 1000 acres of new vineyard will be set out in Chautauqua County this spring. F. W. Berry has been appointed postmaster at East Shelby, Orleans County, vice 11. E. Kilner. resigned. O O 'An Independent Be-J * pnblican Paper, t J a. OLIVER FRICK, - Eiitor. { 2 *> \ The Brightest ana' Sest \ J County Paper. ? f $1.00 Per Year in Advance, f Advertising Bates on Application. 1