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Wayne County Organ
of the
REPUBLICAN PARTY J
00(r( Jtl Jll Jtt J Jtl Jtjt
Wttk!y FewnIed,1844 2
s
,66th YEAR.
HONESDALE, WAYNE CO., PA., FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1909.
NO. 86
g
2
ITS
MURDERS
Mueller Says He Killed
Three Confiding Women.
ALL FOR THE SAKE OF MONEY
"Wife Says That After He Slew Anna
Luther He Tried to Murder
Her Because She Re
fused Him $300.
Isllp, N. Y Oct. 28 In the Jail here,
where he Is held ns the slayer of Anna
Luther, Otto Mueller, alias Gcbhardt,
admitted to Coroner Savage that he
has been guilty of three such crimes,
all against confiding women, for the
purpose of securing their money.
Mrs. Mueller, after visiting her hus
band, declared that on the night of the
Sunday he had taken her to the scene
dt Anna Luther's death, three weeks
prior to the discovery of his crime, and
attempted to murder her on return
ing to their home in Astoria because
she refused to give him her savings,
$300.
"I hope he goes to the electric chair,"
she almost shouted. "I hate him. Ho
can't be made to pay for his crimes
any too soon to suit me."
These are the crimes for which
Mueller is now believed by the police
to bo responsible:
The desertion of Minnie Itosenau,
whom he married as Otto Mueller in
Russia in 1805. lie secured all her
money, amounting to $400.
Desertion of Lena Wessncr, whom
he promised to marry under the name
of Fritz Scharferlein in 180(i. Con
victed of grand larceny on evidence
furnished by her and served in Sing
Sing until Aug. 18, 1905. The prisoner
confessed this charge. Secured from
the girl $310.
The murder of Mrs. Mnrie Katz of
Jamaica, N. Y., who was lured from
her home in January, 1005. ,Thc .wo
man died three ddys later, and Mueller
disappeared with $700 of her money.
In February, 1000, married Anna
Meinke, with whom ho was living as
Frederick Gcbhardt in Astoria, Long
Island City, at the time of his arrest
on last Sunday. Secured $800.
In February, 1008, married Anna
Luther in Newark, N. J. She is re
ported to have had about $1,000. He
admits he murdered her in the woods
near Isllp.
In February of the same year is
said to have married Katie Lanz, who
disappeared immediately thereafter.
Used the name of Mueller.
At the time of Mueller's nrrest in
180(5 it was discovered that he had a
wife living, although he was putting
advertisements in the matrimonial col
umn of n German newspaper.
These advertisements bore the head
ing, "After Cash Not a Wife." How
many young women he duped and rob
bed In these operations the authorities
are unable to ascertain. But two of
them combined to undo him and set
the trap which finally caused his so
journ in prison. It Is definitely known
that lie has boon married three times.
"Mueller is the most dangerous cus
tomer I ever handled," said Coroner
Savage. "I believe ho has made a
business of swindling women with his
promises of marriage."
WOMAN FLIES WITH WRIGHT.
Wife of Army Officer In the Passen
ger's Seat In Aeroplane.
College Pari:, Md., Oct. 28. Wilbur
Wright practically concluded his work
as dean of tho government school of
applied aeronautics here and took up
In his aeroplane Mrs. II. II. Van De
man, wife of a captain In the Twenty
first United States Infantry. Tho llight
lasted four minutes, tho aeroplane
making two circuits nrouud the track.
Mrs. Van Deman had the honor of
being tho first woman to make a llight
In a heavier than air machine in this
country. She is a close friend of Miss
Kathcrlno Wright, who made a flight
with Wilbur at Pau, France, and was
almost n dally visitor both at the Fort
Myer flights and those at College Park.
Mrs. A'an Deman later expressed
briefly some of her sensations.
"I know why the birds sing when
they can fly through tho air," she said.
"I know of no sensation to compare
with It. I was not afraid. Why should
I bo? It was too delicious to make one
afraid. I don't know how long I was
up, except It was too short a time."
Jail For Savings Bank Officials.
Albany, N. Y Oct. 28. Justice Ed
ward Bartlett of tho court of appeals
hns refused a certificate of reasonable
doubt in the case of Colonel Edward
E. Brltton and former Quarantine
Commissioner Fred' H. Schroeder,
whose conviction and sentence to jail
for misapplying funds of tho Eagle
Savings and Loan company was af
firmed by tha court of appeals.
ASTOR TESTIMONY ALL IN.
Referee Said to Have Decided In
Wife's Favor In Suit.
New York, Oct. 28. Charles H.
Young, referee in the suit for divorce
brought by Mrs. John Jacob Astor
against her husband, has completed
his taking of testimony and within
a day or so ho will make his report
to Justice Mills of the supreme court
It is said that ho has decided in favor
of the wife and will recommend that
a decree be given to her.
Further, It is said that a financial
agreement has beeu reached between
the attorneys for Mrs. Astor and those
representing the colonel and that there
will be a division of property In HcU
of alimony.
Mrs. Astor will not receive the As
tor mansion at Rhinebeck-on-the-Hud-
son nor the big house on Fifth ave
nue facing the park. Both these man
sions will be kept by Colonel Astor
for his young son, Vincent.
Certain other valuable properties,
however, will come into the possession
of Mrs. Astor.
Mrs. Astor has not been required to
give any testimony before Keferee
Young. All the testimony necessary
to prove the charge made against the
colonel was given by other persons.
NEW HAVEN II. It. STOCK ISSUE
New Shares to the Amount of $62,500,
000 Voted Unanimously.
New Haven, Conn., Oct. 28. At the
annual stockholders' meeting of the
New Haven road in this city It was
voted unanimously on motion of J. '
Plerpont Morgan to Issue 500,000
shares of new stock instead of 400,000, '
as had been originally planned.
This new stock will be issued to
stockholders at $125 per share, pay
able in four installments at intervals
of six months. The sale of this stock
will bring to the road $02,500,000.
It is provided that the directors are
to expend the funds obtained by this
Issue of new stock as follows:
"First. To pay all the iloating In
debtedness of the New Haven road.
"Second. To Invest the balance of
the proceeds in such manner as in
their judgment will be best adapted to
Insure the prosperity of the company
and enable the corporation to earn and
thereby maintain In the future the
same rate of dividend as is at present
paid to the stockholders."
TO IMPEACH EX-PREMIER.
New Danish Cabinet Accuses Three
Former Ministers.
Copenhagen, Oct. 28. The new cabi
net has resolved to impeach ex-Pre-mler
Christeuscn, ex-MInlster of the
Interior Berg and ex-Minister of Agri
culture Hansen for misusing their min
isterial powers.
The former ministers are accused of
protecting In the commission of frauds
P. A. Albert!, who was minister of
justice in the Christensen cabinet and
who resigned under pressure about a
year ago after it was discovered that
he was an embezzler to the amount of
several million dollars.
ROAD TO SPEND $85,000,000.
New York Central Says Its Traffic Is
Expanding Enormously.
New York, Oct. 2S. The New York
Central railway system has started on
a campaign of extraordinary expendi
tures for improving and extending its
lines in order to meet tho enormous
increase of traflic demands. President
W. C. Brown said:
"We have placed contracts during
the past few days for new equipment
to be delivered during 1010 Involving
an expenditure of about $25,000,000.
In addition, we shall spend about $00,
000,000 In reducing grades, straighten
ing curves and for new trackage. The
electrical and terminal improvements
in New York city have cost so far be
tween $-15,000,000 and $50,000,000. They
will be pushed rapidly to completion.
"These improvements are absolutely
necessary to meet the demands of
business. Tho expansion of traflic dur
ing the past few months has been sim
ply extraordinary."
M'CARREN'S ESTATE SMALL.
It Will Not Exceed $50,000, It Is
Thought Aged Mother to Get It.
New York, Oct. 28. The will of the
late Senator McCarren, which was
made in St. Catherine's hospital while
he was ill there, will be presented for
probate tomorrow.
The estate will bo much smaller
than was generally supposed, not ex
ceeding, It Is said by those familiar
with tho late senator's affairs, $50,
000. The aged mother of the testator is
the solo beneficiary. Tho senator's
holdings of bonds, stocks and securi
ties were considerable, but his liabili
ties were also large.
Will of Ward McAllister's Widow.
New York, Oct 28. The will of Sa
rah T. McAllister, widow of Ward
McAllister, leaves all her property to
her daughter, Louise, and her son,
Hayward Hall McAllister, .Tho value
of the estate is S200.000.
L
"Mr. and Mrs. Frank J."
Leave London For Paris.
DIVORCE ONLY RECENTLY GOT
Millionaire's Puzzled Friends Recall
the Suddenness of His Former
Marriage to Miss Helen
Kelly of New York.
London, Oct. 28. "Has Frank Jay
Gould secretly married again, follow
ing the divorce decree granted to his
wife only recently?"
This question Is puzzling Americans
in London after the announcement
from the Savoy hotel, where the young
American millionaire has been stop
plug for several days, and which reads
like the announcement of a marriage.
It was as follows:
"Mr. and Mrs. Frank 3. Gould and
suit left the Savoy hotel today for
Paris."
The announcement was issued after
the departure of Mr. Gould, and he
could not be located by telegrams to
I'arls. The hotel management says Mr.
Gould's marriage Is no secret and that
he was stopping at the hotel with Mrs.
Gould and their servants. They fall to
identify the woman they call the wife
of Mr. Gould except that she is Mrs.
Gould and a remarkably beautiful wo
man. Friends of the young millionaire in
Loudon declare they have no knowl
edge of Ids marriage or even his en
gagement and that the announcement
from the Hotel Savoy Is a great sur
prise to all of them. They do not
know whether a mistake has been
made by tho hotel or whether Mr.
Gould was married secretly and man
aged to conceal the facts from his
friends while lie was in London.
It is recalled here that Mr. Gould
showed himself ,to be Impulslvei-ln- hia
wooing on the occasion of his first
marriage to Miss Helen Kelly. They
made up their minds to get married on
a Sunday night. Mrs. Kelly told them
"all right," and a minister was called j
to the house next day. A few of the
Goulds and friends of the Kelly fam-1
ily were present, and they were mar-1
rled within twenty-four hours after '
they had made up their minds.
"Perhaps Mr. Gould has planned an
other surprise," said a friend who
lodged In tho same hotel.
Except for the custody of the chil
dren tho divorce of Frank Gould and
his wife was made absolute by the
decree of Justice Gerard and by the
payment by the young millionaire of a
lump sura to his wife in lieu of dowry.
It was rumored here when lie nr
rived that an understanding had been
reached by which his two little girls
wore to be placed almost entirely In
the hands of his sister, Miss Helen
Gould, who has been devoted to them.
The divorce decree left Gould free to
marry ngaln. It was provided, how
ever, that If his wife marries again
tho custody of tho children will rest
more with the father than with the
mother.
SNUB FOR W. J. BRYAN.
Shallenberger Refuses to Let Him
Write Nebraska's Next Platform.
Lincoln, Nob., Oct. 2S. Governor
Shallenberger and William J. Bryan
have had a tilt over who shall write
the next Democratic state platform in
Nebraska, and Shallenberger has not
only refused to get out of tho way of Mars, says these pheuomenn are un
Mr. Bryan, but has said that since the paralleled in past records. The ob
numbcr of votes cast for him exceed-1 literation of the markings on the sur
t'd those cast for Bryan in the last ' face of the planet by a gloomy yellow
election it is up to Bryan to stand
aslilo and let Shallenberger write the
platform.
O. W. Bryan, brother of William J.
Bryan, was the emissary between Bry
an and Shallenberger. He said to
Shallenberger that his brother desired
very much to run for senator in Ne
braska and also to write the platform
of the party.
Shallenberger refused and announc
ed that as a candidate for governor he
would write his own platform, and
Bryan could do ns he pleased about
the sena torshlp.
SIR THOMAS LIPT0N AMUSED.
Denies That He Will Build Challenger
For America's Cup In Canada.
Now York, Oct. 28. Sir Thomas Lip
ton Is very much amused with tho
statement that ho will build a yacht in
Canada and challengo through a Cana
dian club for a race for tho America's
cup. The report has been circulated in
all seriousness and has grown so that
he thinks It well to contradict it at
once.
He Is here to arrange a race If possi
ble through ono of his own clubs, the
Royal Ulster or tho Royal Irish Yacht
club, and not to boom some Canadian
club.
JOHNSON TO MEET JEFFRIES.
Negro Heavyweight Arrives In New
York Eager to Make Terms.
New York, Oct. 28. Jack Johnson ar
rived in town today from Chicago to
talk business with James J. Jeffries in
a personal interview. The negro heavy
weight champion said he was anxious
to agree upon terms for the light as
speedily as possible.
The mere fnct that Johnson and Jef
fries come together for n talk does not
necessarily mean that the fight is a
suro thing, because there are many
points that may cause a hitch. Before
a battle in the ring is a certainty the
pugilists must mutually concur on
these Important questions to Tie em
bodied in articles of agreement:
Time and place for the fight.
Amount of Bide bet and dates of posting
forfeits.
Selection of temporary and final stake
holder. Date for accepting largest purse offered
by a responsible promoter.
Division of said purse.
Number of rounds.
Rules to govern the contest.
Selection of a referee, timekeeper and
other officials.
Wearing of bandages on the hands.
Weight of the gloves.
'Even If articles containing these pro
visions are signed and sealed the light
can be blocked by either principal.
There can be a deadlock over the
purse or the selection of the referee or
stakeholder.
DICKINSON FOR SENATOR.
Secretary of War Becomes a Condi
tional Candidate In Tennessee.
Memphis, Tenn., Oct. 28. Condition
ally declaring himself a candidate to
succeed Senator James B. Frazier of
Tennessee, Secretary of War Jacob M.
Dickinson made the following state
ment: "If It should appear to mc, as has
been urged, that my candidacy would
bo the means of unifying present war-
JACOB M. DICKINSON,
ring fnctions In the Democratic party
I should consider it my duty to sink
personal inclinations and accept the
situation, though my present position
as secretary of war would prevent my
making any unseemly scramble for the
place."
Judge Dickinson declared himself
highly flattered and gratified by the
favorable comment of tho Tennessee
press and the personal opinions ex
pressed by men of high standing nil
over the state. His chnuces are con
sidered good.
CATACLYSM ON PLANET MARS.
All Life Likely to Be Destroyed-
-Sun-
spot Upheaval Perhaps.
London, Oct. 28. The journal of the
British Astronomical association, re-
furring to the changes observed in
veil indicates some catastrophe on a
gigantic scale, some cataclysm which
dwarfs the most violent tellurian
earthquake.
Perhaps (he abnurmal electrical con
ditions of tile sun, which, according to
Sir Oliver Lodge, the noted scientist,
caused the recent magnetic storms on
the earth, had a far nioro terrible in
fluence on Mars. They may have un
loosed forces which, if Professor Low
ell's theory concerning conditions on
Mars is correct, may have ended for
ever tho Martians' struggle for life.
DUELIST FORGETS TO FIRE.
Playwright, Facing Critic on Field of
Honor, Has Stage Fright.
Paris, Oct. 28. Henri Bernstein, tho
dramatist, and Francis Chevassu, a
dramatic critic, fought a duel with
pistols at Prince park. Neither was in
jured. M. Chevassu fired and missed, while
Bernstein did not discharge his weap
on. When ho was asked later why he
had not fired the dramatist replied, "I
forgot to."
The duel grew out of the publication
of an article written by Bernstein In
which bo attacked the critic. M. Che
vassu Issued the challenge.
CUSTOMS
FIIIS
Government Employees In
League With Importers.
COURT CRITICISES COLLECTOR
Judge Holt Says Loeb's Action In
y?eping Confessedly Dishonest
Weighers In Public Serv
ice Is Wrong.
New York, Oct. 28. Importers and
merchants who have been held up for
years by the grafting of custom hotise
Inspectors and weighers say that the
whole customs service In this city Is
rotten from tlie bottom upward.
Scores of merchants who deal in im
ported goods have been gouged for
years by the graft system in the cus
toms service. They submitted to it,
they say, because they had to get their
shipments into their warehouses, and
strict honesty was not possible with
many customs men.
The Muslca case came to an end in
the criminal branch of the United
States circuit court when young Philip
Muslca, an importer, who had pleaded
guilty of participation in cheese weigh-
lng frauds, was remanded for sentence
by Judge George C. Holt, who de
clared that Collector Loeb's action in
retaining self confessed thieves In the
I customs service was discreditable to
the government and an injustice to
honest men.
Judge Holt spoke very plainly from
the bench. Young Musica's guilt had
been settled by the testimony of three
men George Brehm, George Berge and
William Hutchinson, assistant weigh
ers on the docks all of whom have a
guarantee of immunity from prosecu
tion and were retained in their jobs.
They .testified coolly that they were
dishonest men when they gave evi
dence against the importer.
"At the end of this trial," Judge Holt
remarked, "I want to refer to the tes
timony of those three government wit
nesses to the effect that In addition to
their being promised immunity from
prosecution they were promised reten
tion in their oilices in the custom
house. 1 have never heard before of
such a practice as promising to con
tinue men in the public service after
they have confessed tho commission of
crimes in the ollice, and I desire to ex
press tho emphatic disapprobation of
this court of any such practice.
"In my opinion," continued the
judge, "It not only discredits the gov
ernment, but is unjust to tho honest
members of the public service in the
same class to compel them to continue
to act in the compauy of men who
have confessed that they have com
mitted crimes in the discharge of pub
lic duty."
William Loeb, Jr., collector of the
port, who granted immunity to the
three thieves, issued a statement de
fending his course on the score that
it was necessary to keep the three lar
cenists on his payroll because that was
the only way the whole system of
graft could be uprooted. He said:
"There was moral evidence before
me that a wholesale system of graft
and corruption had been in existence
for years, by which certain merchants
entered goods on false invoices, ac
cepted as correct, thus swindling the
government out of large amounts of
duties. Unfortunately moral evidence
is not always legal evidence.
"When the frauds wero discovered
ail the guilty parties agreed among
one another to 'stand tight.' If they
wero prosecuted either jointly or sev
erally tho weigher could cook up a
statement about ills tools being out
of order, his work being too rushed
for htm to give it proper attention, the
cases being in bad condition and all
sorts of lies calculated to throw dust
in tho eyes of tho jury. The importer
would make his testimony lit into this,
saying that the goods were consigned,
that ho never examined tho invoices,
etc. Tho government was getting no
where in its prosecutions, and the ras
cals were chuckling together over its
helplessness.
"Under these conditions it was deem
ed imperative to break into this com
bination to get the truth from some
body on tho inside who know; to get
in an euterlng wedge and break down
this system.
"Judgo Holt says that while it might
have been proper to grant Immunity
it was discreditable to the government
to retain these men in the service.
The nnswer is that without that their
testimony could not have been secur
ed. Tho weighers know perfectly well
that if thoy wero discharged from the
service and then testified in court to
taking bribes it would be practleally
Impossible for them to secure employ
ment elsewhere, and they and their
families might starve.
"It was not a question of choice
between baring all honest men In tho
govi a cut service and keopiug four
J3
mei M nlttcdly dishonest in the serv
ice, o the choice was between keep
ing f dishonest men in tho service
wh w:hey could be easily watched
or allowing a great many dishonest
men to remain in the service and have
them and all the corrupt merchants
who had bribed them escape punish
ment." CRUELTY CHARGES UPHELD.
Committee Asks Governor Hughes te
Clean Out Training School.
New York, Oct. 28. The state board
of charities committee of investigation
into charges of cruelty at the Brook
lyn Disciplinary Training School For
Boys has sent n report to Governor
Hughes recommending the "cleaning
out" of the institution by the dismissal
of the superintendent and other offi
cials. At the continuation of the inquiry
Patrick McCarren, supervising care
taker at the institution, testified that
upon tho order of the superintendent
ho had taken a boy inmate to tho li
brary, and stripped hlni for punish
ment. The superintendent beat tho
naked boy with a stick until the blood
flowed so that when the beating was
over McCarren, at the superintendent's
order, had to mop the blood up from
the floor.
Abraham N. Fauer, stenographer
and clerk, testified that the books o
the institution did not keep a record of:
fill of the corporal punishments Inflict
ed upon Inmates. He had seen the su
perintendent beat an inmate named
Charles Bachelor with his cane, gash
ing his scalp open until it bled freely.
Tho superintendent, he said, had In hia
ollice a bunch of bamboo sticks, and
when a boy was reported for an in
fraction of rules the superintendent
selected a stick according to the boy's
age.
"Is there not something printed on
tho rules about the rod and child?" ha
was asked.
" 'Spoil the rod and spare the child,' "
he replied, "and thoy spoil the rods all
right on the boys' backs." ,
ESTRADA TO ZELAYA BACKERS
Says Revolt Aims Only, to Depos
Nicaraguan President.
Blueflelds, Nicaragua, Oct. 28 (By
wireless to- Colon). General Juan Es
trada, the insurgent leader, has sent
the following dispatch to adherents
of President Zelaya, who condemned
his action in heading a revolution:
Wo are sure of victory. We fight not
against Nlcaraguans nor the Liberals.
Wo seek the sole solution of the deplora
ble situation prevailing In the country.
If Zelaya will resign power we will lay
down our arms at once. Not having hon
or or patriotism he will not do this, and
we will arrive at Managua and force him
from the presidency, which he so dis
credits, at the point of the bayonet.
He destroys society and menaces civ
ilization. Wo will fight against our broth
ers and fathers If tho welfare of the na
tion so requires. This Is our Irrevocable
decision.
A majority of the government troops
who were defeated in the engagements
at San Carlos have joiued General Cha
morro, ono of the rebel commanders,
who Is guarding the coast from attack
by way of the San Juan valley.
GEN. BOOTH PARTLY BLIND.
One Eye Sightless, the Other Weak.
Cheerful Public Address.
London, Oct. 2S. General William
Booth, head of the Salvntlon Army,
has resumed ills activities, appearing
for tho first time since he underwent
an operation on his eyes at a largely
attended meeting of Salvationists at
Clopton, which lie addressed with his
customary cheerful energy.
He has lost completely the use of
one oye, and the other is imperfect,
but his doctor has told him that it may
last for Ave years.
V
PIERCE WELCH DIES IN PARIS
New Haven Bank President Succumbs
to an Attack of Pneumonia.
Berlin, Oct. 2S.-Pierco M. Welch,
president of the First National bank
of Now Haven, Conn., died suddenly
at a hotel hero of pneumonia.
His wife and daughter, who were
with him, will take the body to Ameri
ca on board the steamship George
Washington, which sails from Bremen
next Tuesday.
BOY. BURIED IN CAVE-IN.
Subsidence Over Old Mine Engulfs
Youngster and May Cause Death.
Wilkesbarre, Pa., Oct. 28. One of
the many subsidences of the surface
over old mine workings which havo
beeu doing much damage at Edwards
vlllo engulfed ten-year-old Hugh
Hughes. A number of other children
had nnrrow escapes.
While ploying in Center street tho
youngsters felt the ground giving way
and ran. Young Hughes was swallow
ed up, however, only the heel of his
shoe showing. Some miners risked
their lives by Jumping Into the hole
and got the boy out alive, but uncon
scious. He was injured internally by
the weight of the earth which covered
him and is In a critical condition.