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| Li Hung Chang. |
Cortland Evening Standard, Thursday, April 18, 1901.
SAMPLE OF DUPLICITY.
China's Promise to Punish and Failure to Execute.
MILITARY OPERATIONS REOPEN.
Feared That General Liu Kuan Ting Will Begin to Pillage Towns and Kill Christians When He Learns of Expedition Against Him. Ma Rampant.
PEKIN, April 18.—A missionary named Killie (probably Rev. Mr. Kelly, Presbyterian missionary) has returned from San Mo, where Christians were burned to death in December. Mr. Killie reports to General Chaffee that some time ago several of his converts were killed. He had the guilty parties tried in the Chinese courts, where they were convicted and sentenced to death subject to Li Hung Chang's signature. Mr. Killie came to Pekin and saw Li Hung Chang, who said the men should be executed immediately.
Upon going to San Ho three weeks later the missionary found the men alive. He spoke to a judge of the Chinese courts on the matter, who thereupon showed him a letter from Li Hung Chang giving explicit instructions that the men must not be executed as they had only been convicted on the testimony of Christians, consequently the evidence was untrustworthy. Mr. Kellie has a copy of this letter.
In the meantime the French had proved the same men guilty of incendiarism and other outrages and demanded their execution, whereupon the judge again showed his orders from Li Hung Chang. The French authorities replied that if the men were not executed within eight days they would take the law into their own hands and punish the Chinese officials likewise.
The ministers of the foreign powers view with alarm the expedition against General Liu Kuan Ting, as they think he will retreat, probably laying waste the villages he traverses and killing native Christians, and that such action will be used as an excuse by the military for further aggression which would probably be the taking of Tai Yuan Fu, the capitol of Shan Si province.
Captain Reeves, attached to the American legation here, accompanies the expedition to observe the happenings on behalf of the United States.
At yesterday's meeting of the foreign ministers the question of indemnities was considered. It is now estimated that £70,000,000 will cover all claims.
General Ma to Reopen Hostilities.
LONDON, April 18.—The Standard publishes the following dispatch from Tien Tsin: "The report is confirmed that the Chinese have destroyed a portion of the railway beyond Pao Ting Fu.
"The Chinese assert that General Ma has resolved to recommence hostilities under the impression that the allied commanders are preparing to send an expedition against Sian Fu from the south."
PAGE FOUR—EDITORIAL.
The Coal Deposits of China.
Much information about the valuable coal deposits in China, which are, in large part under the control of a British syndicate, are to be found in General James H. Wilson's book on that country. How important he regards them may be gathered from a summary of the results of his investigations. "In view of the fact," he says, "that the coal measures of the United Kingdom are becoming exhausted, and the cost of coal is increasing to such an extent that the supremacy of England in the metal trades has already passed to the United States, and that in turn the time will doubtless come, within a hundred years at most when the American coal measures will also become exhausted, we cannot well avoid the inference that the supremacy in the metal trades will pass on to China, the coal measures and iron deposits of which are commonly believed to be the most extensive and the most enduring in the world,"
Taking up the subject in detail, General Wilson says that coal deposits are found in nearly all the provinces of China, and their extent and richness cannot be equalled in any country in the world. There is both anthracite and bituminous, and the mineral ranges from the poorest lignite to the best anthracite. The deposits have been worked only to a slight extent. Some of them near Pekin in the province of Shansi and in the interior have been opened. The most notable mine is in Kaiping about eighty miles northeast of Tien Tsin. It has an excellent plant and is connected by railroads with Tien Tsin, Peking and Shanhaikwan and Newchwang. While the operations are conducted in a wasteful manner, the company is said to pay handsome dividends. Another mine opened several years ago at Hankow [and] produces coal of an excellent quality, which is used in the furnaces and steel mills of the city.
The finest deposits yet opened are in southern Shansi. The coal is anthracite and lies in thick beds. The methods of production and transportation are primitive and expensive. Wheelbarrows are used to take the coal to the Hoang-ho and to the various places of consumption in the surrounding country. Each barrow, which carries from 350 to 400 pounds, is guided by a man between the handles and drawn by one or two donkeys. Naturally such methods of transportation place an embargo upon the use of coal by poor people, and the rich people use it sparingly. From the mines along the banks of the Yang-tse-kiang, boats are used to distribute the mineral and they affect a material reduction in its price. But until modern methods of production and transportation are introduced, coal must remain a luxury in China and can be used only to a limited degree in industrial enterprises.
CORONER'S INQUEST.
INVESTIGATION REGARDING DEATH OF GEORGE GORDINIER.
Different Witnesses Tell How They Found Him and His Condition—Trying to Learn His Whereabouts Saturday Night and All the Time up to the Hour When Found.
The inquest as to the death of George E. Gordinier, who was found in a dying condition on the Lehigh Valley railroad tracks near the forging shops last Sunday morning, was begun this morning at 9 o'clock at the grand jury room at the courthouse by Coroner E. M. Santee.
SIDNEY I. BUCK.
Sidney I. Buck was the first witness sworn. He said he resided at 39 Cleveland-st. At about 6 o'clock Sunday morning, April 14, he noticed a man on the Lehigh Valley railroad track about ten rods from his house. He went up where he was and spoke to him, but received no reply. He looked to see if any one was near by [sic]. Saw a man at the end of the railroad bridge, apparently stepping up onto the bridge from the west side. That man walked along a few steps, continued the witness, and I then proceeded to attend to the man I had first seen so did not notice where the other one went. I took hold of the arm of the man lying on the track, partially lifted him, and pushed over the foot that lay between the rails, and laid him on the grass outside the track. When I found him he lay on his left side with his head to the north, his face toward the east rail. His right foot was on the outside of the rail. His clothes were wet and there was steam arising from them. I went back to the house and telephoned to police headquarters. I then went up past where the man lay. He seemed about the same as when I had left him. Noticed a colored man near the River-st. crossing. Later I went with the coroner and chief of police to where the body had laid. We noticed tracks that indicated that some one had stumbled along to the spot where the man was found by me. Around where the man was found there were numerous tracks and stains of the wet clothes on the ties. We followed the tracks to the river bridge and saw tracks leading down to the water's edge. We saw holes in the mud in the bottom of the river, which indicated that they had recently been made. The water was about twenty inches to two feet deep.
MRS. GORDINIER.
Mrs. Gordinier, the mother of George Gordinier, who resided with him, was next witness sworn. She said her son left the house about 7 o'clock Saturday morning. He did not return to the house again. Did not know what amount of money he had with him. He was in the habit of staying at home a good deal. He told her the night before that some time Saturday he intended to go and pay his taxes, which amounted to $7.42, and which amount is unpaid. He was a man that was in the habit of taking care of his money.
THOMAS SMITH.
Thomas Smith, an employee of the chair factory, was next to give evidence. Saw George Gordinier Saturday morning about 8 o'clock. They had conversation and witness asked him if he had collected the money for shoveling the walks. He said he had been to Mrs. Keator's and got what she owed him, something over $2. He had not been to collect some that was still due him. He did not say anything more about the amount of money that he had with him that day, but the day before he said he had $5 with him. He also spoke of what he had to collect, which he said would bring it up to $8 and he intended to pay his taxes with it. He was in the habit of staying at home. About three weeks ago he said he had not been on Main-st. for about two months. Witness said it was about 10 o'clock when Gordinier left the shop on Saturday morning.
JAMES SHERIDAN.
James Sheridan was then called and said: At 6 o'clock Sunday morning he was at the Elm-st. crossing in company with C. F. Brainard. They met Officer Fellows. They went as far as the forging shop, but saw no one. They turned around and went to the crossing and saw Gordinier. He was lying upon his face The officer raised him. He could not speak. Officer Smith arrived and the placed him upon the wheel and took him away. His eyes were glassy and the pupils dilated. His clothing was wet and steam arose from his clothing. His arms were in constant motion. Did not smell liquor upon him. Noticed a colored man going up the track with a fish pole. Did not pay any attention to the surroundings.
DOMINICK CARTY.
Dominick Carty was the fifth witness. He said he had known Gordinier a few years. Saturday evening at about 8 o'clock he was at the Lehigh Valley depot in company with Mr. Mosher and Mr. Kelley. They saw Gordinier sitting in a street car that had just come down from Homer. He left the car and started across the track towards Wickwire's shop. Saw man upon the track with a bundle on his back, but could give no description of him. Thought Gordinier had been drinking.
F. E. FELLOWS.
F. E. Fellows was called and said: Last Sunday, April 14, I was on duty as a police officer in this city. Had a telephone call to come to the forging shop, as there was a man on the track who was intoxicated or crazy. I met two men, Sheridan and Brainard, and they went up the track. I found Gordinier upon his face and turned him over. I tried to wake him up but could not. Officer Smith then came along and we raised him up. We also noticed that he was intoxicated. Clothing was wet with the exception of hat, which was dry. Steam arose from the clothing. We placed him upon a wheel and took him to the station house. Laid him on a cot and Chief Smith telephoned for Dr. Carpenter. The man died about 15 minutes after we arrived at the engine house. Soon after a man named Crippen identified him as George Gordinier. His body was removed to the undertaker's.
Twenty-six witnesses in all were sworn to-day, but press of other matter forbids our getting more of the testimony in type for to-day. It will be published to-morrow. At about 3:30 the inquest was adjourned till to-morrow morning when the case will be completed with the swearing of three more witnesses.
Fifteen Days in Jail.
Harvey Whitmore was arrested last night by Officer Day Baker, charged with public intoxication. This morning he appeared in city court and the case was adjourned till 2 o'clock P. M., at which time he was sentenced to fifteen days in the county jail. Whitmore was arrested about two months ago and given a suspended sentence.
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| John Truck. |
THE TRUCK CASE.
The Legal Printing to be Done in Cortland County.
A motion was argued in the appellate division of the supreme court in Brooklyn Tuesday before Judge Sewell in the matter of the printing in the appeal in the Truck murder case.
John Truck was convicted in March, 1900, by a jury in Cortland county of the murder of Frank W. Miller of Virgil just one year before. The trial of the case occupied about twenty-three days and both sides were represented by able counsel and the defendant had what was conceded on all sides to be a fair and impartial trial. He was sentenced to electrocution in Auburn state prison. Before the day of execution arrived notice of appeal was served and the case has since been hanging around. Meanwhile Truck has been in the condemned cells at Auburn.
In order for the appeal it was necessary to go over the great mass of testimony taken upon the trial to reduce the evidence to narrative form, thus eliminating questions and answers. All the testimony had first to be typewritten by the court stenographer. The attorney for the defendant is John H. McCrahon of Syracuse. He and District Attorney T. H. Dowd then prepared the case, and exceptions, and before Judge Sewell on Tuesday it was stipulated by both parties that [both] case and exemptions should be the evidence to be printed and submitted to the court of appeals.
The law provides that the county clerk shall
have charge of the printing of a case of this kind and shall award the
contract. County Clerk Patrick arranged with the Cortland Standard to print the
case, but just before the copy was delivered to the printer District Attorney
Dowd was served with a notice by Mr. McCrahon that he would on March 14 make a
motion before Judge Sewell in Brooklyn to have the case printed in Syracuse.
Judge Sewell is the supreme court justice before whom the case was originally tried.
The attorney for the defendant alleged in his notice that it was discovered
upon the trial of the case that all the jurors were more or less familiar with
the case when they were selected; that the case had proved to be sensational;
that two murders had been committed prior to this one and the murderers had
never been discovered; that the night express on the Lackawanna railroad had
been wrecked at Preble and that the responsibility for this had never been
fixed and that some people thought that Truck was connected with all of these
matters. He further alleged that there was a sentiment in Cortland county that
Truck was guilty of the Miller murder and perhaps of the others and that he
ought to be executed and that it was an outrage to subject the taxpayers of
Cortland county to additional expense. He also alleged that he didn't care to
assume the responsibility of having the case printed in a county where there
was such a sentiment against the defendant and that he did want it in Syracuse
where he could have easy access to proofs.
The argument was postponed several
times by request of the defendant's attorney, till it finally occurred on
Tuesday. District Attorney Dowd appeared for the county clerk. He made answer
that the defendant had a fair trial and that his case was conducted by able
counsel; that the county clerk by law had the awarding of the contract for the
printing and that there was no contention that he would exceed or abuse his
authority; if there was any objection to the awarding of the contract the
action should be brought against him and the fact should be so stated; that the
taxpayers of Cortland county had got to pay for this printing and that the
money should be expended within Cortland county; that the district attorney
desired to follow the proofs of this case as well as the attorney for the
defendant, and that it would add to the expense of the county if he had to go
to Syracuse constantly to read them. He also claimed that the printer was
responsible for the fact that he printed the case exactly like the copy and
expressed his surprise at the suggestion being made that a printer should do
anything else than follow copy. He stated that the law provides that after the
case is printed the county clerk is obliged to certify that the printed case is
a true and correct copy of the case. He cited the case of The People vs.
Conroy, 151st. N. Y., page 543, in which the court of appeals held that they
would require the county clerk in all cases of this kind to prepare and file
with them an exact copy of the case and exceptions which was filed with the
county clerk. In the face of this decision it would be impossible for any
prejudice or disadvantage to injure Defendant Truck.
Judge Sewell heard the argument and denied the motion, thus justifying the district attorney's position and contentions and the case will be printed in Cortland. The district attorney has asserted from the outset that the motion of the defendant's counsel was ridiculous as it didn't allege anything that would be material in securing a decision on such a motion. It simply made additional expense to the county to have to answer such a motion. It may also be added that it is ridiculous to think that a printer would think of doing anything else in such a matter than to follow copy. He is responsible for his acts and if he made errors he would have to do the work over again and at his own expense. For his own reputation as a printer, to say nothing of his pocketbook, he couldn't afford to depart from the copy as submitted to him. The proofs of course will be sent to Mr. McCrahon for examination, but it is just as easy to send them up from Cortland to him as it would be to send them down from Syracuse to Mr. Dowd to examine.
NEW APPORTIONMENT BILL.
Cortland to be Joined with Broome, Chenango, Tioga and Tompkins Counties.
The congressional reapportionment committee yesterday reported its bill. Some changes are made in New York City and Kings county, but the only change up in the state is to separate Cortland from Onondaga county, as was first proposed and to join it with Broome, Chenango, Tioga and Tompkins counties to form the Thirtieth district. Madison county is put back with Onondaga county, as it has been for some years past.
SCARLET FEVER IN NORWICH, N. Y.
The Contagion Seems to Proceed from Milk Sold from On Dairy.
Norwich is having an epidemic of scarlet fever and has forty cases. The board of health found that thirty of these cases were in families who secured their milk of a single milkman. They questioned the milkman as to the health of his family and he admitted that some of the children had measles. Two physicians went to his house and found five children convalescent from scarlet fever and just in the peeling state. The skin was coming off in large patches. Certain glands in the throat of some of them were swollen, considered an unmistakable symptom. The board of health then forbade this milkman to deliver any more milk in the place, and the house was quarantined. It is believed that the fever will now be checked in Norwich.
The milkman contends that his family has not had scarlet fever and purposes to contest the decision of the health board.
BREVITIES.
—New display advertisements to-day are—J. D. Cudworth, Eye glasses, page 7.
—A joint meeting of the Woman's Foreign and Home Missionary societies of the Presbyterian church will be held in the chapel to-morrow afternoon at 3:30 o'clock. Mrs. E. P. McKinney of Binghamton will be present and speak. All the ladies of the church are urged to be present.
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