5
VOL,. XLVIII. XO. 14,730.
.PORTLAND, OREGOX, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1908.
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
NATION
T
Merchants Buying and
x Paying Debts.
FACTORIES RESUMEOPERATION
push to Wholesale Houses to
Replenish Stocks. ;
FEW MEN UNEMPLOYED
Country Fast Recovering From Fi
nancial Flurry-- Stocks Are De
pleted and Buying Is Heavier
Than It Was Last Year.
CHICAGO, Feb. 12. (Special.) That
the Nation again is on the high road
to prosperity was shown today by re
ports from all sections of the country.
On every hand It is agreed that the de
pression following the financial flurry
of last Fall is a thing of the past, and
that the outlook is for a steadily in
creasing volume of business until nor
mal conditions have been reached, in
some branches of trade prosperity In
a full measure has been recorded, and
other lines show an improvement that
promises some satisfactory records at
the close of the year.
Following the end of the stlngency
In money comes an Improvement in
collections and a corresponding facility
of barter and sale. It also has been
demonstrated completely that the gen
eral public escaped the effects of the
flurry. The people have cash with
wjjlch to supply their needs, and their
needs are Just as great as ever.
Mills Keen me, Few Unemployed.
With more factories resuming oper
ations every day, the ryimber of the
unemployed 1b .decreasing,, and- it Is be
lieved that before long the. idle mill
will be the exception.
Chicago wholesalers report that the
country merchants are coming in with
their Spring orders In greater numbers
than a year ago. In almost every case
they say that their stocks are low and
must be replenished immediately to
care for the demands of their elastom
ers. The teel business, recognised as the
barometer of trade " In general, has
shown marked improvement within the
last few weeks. Such articles as wire
and nails, which get to the general
public Quicker than the other products,
are in great demand, and the railroads
are coming into the market for large
quantities of supplies.
Building Is Reviving.
Building material is In better de
mand, not only steel, but the other
commodities. The opening of the mills
calls for Increased sales of coal and
transactions in provisions indicate that
the public has not lose its appetite.
Even the luxuries of life, where busi
ness felt the depression the most, are
in great demand,' and those who pre
dicted a few weeks ago that the foun
dations of American prosperity were
too firm to feel the effects of a tem
porary shortage of money are priding
themselves on their acumen.
Reports received today from Chicago
merchants and other cities were all
characterized by the same hopeful
tone. The general belief is that all dan
ger of a period of hard times has dis
appeared. Merchants Buy Freely. '
"The outlook Is for bigger business,
both in quality and in quantity, than
last year." said Walter D. Moody, busi
ness manager of the Chicago Associa
tion of Commerce. "I have been around
the wholesale district a good deal late
ly, and I find it is optimistic over the
outlook for the Spring business. I
have had direct reports from many of
the large houses, and they all read the
same.
"There are many merchants In town,
and they are coming by every train.
They are flocking to the wholesale
houses, and in practically every case
they are buying freely.
"One of the biggest jobbers in the
city told me that he had his men out
on the road selling Fall goods, and
that their orders were better than last
year. The best part of it all is that
the merchants are optimistic. Their
stocks are light and they must buy
freely to care for their customers."
IDIE MEX TO DEMAXD WORK
Will March in. Body to Pittsburg
City Hall.
PITTSBURG, Feb. 12. Unemployed
workmen of the Woods Run District of
the North Side, formerly Allegheny, at a
mass meeting today organized as the
'Employment Seekers of the North Side."
and decided to march to the City Hall,
the seat of government of Greater Pitts
burg tomorrow morning and demand em
ployment. A fife and drum corps will head the
procession. Banners with suitable In
scriptions have been secured, two of
them reading as follows: "We Must Have
Work so That We May Feed Our Starving
Families" and "Idle Workman Are Wel
come in Our Army."
Implement Firm Fails.
CINCINNATI. Feb. 12, P. P. Mast &
Co.. agricultural -Implement manufactur-
RAVELS
PROSPERITY
ROAD
ers of 6prlngf1eld, were today thrown Into
the hands of Howard D. Maize, president
of the company and Samuel F. McGrew as
receivers. The receivers were directed to
continue the business, but wind It up as
speedily as possible.
The assets are elven as approximately
Jl.000.000 and the indebtedness as 4OO,O0O.
The financial stringency is given as the
reason for the receivership.
SMALIi . BANK GOES TO WAIL
San Francisco Institution Will Prob
ably Pay Out. . -
SAN FRANCISCO. Feb. 12. The State
Bank Commissioners took charge today
.of the Bank of Greater San Francisco, a
small institution on Market street, near
Seventh, of which C. H. Pool is president
and manager. The Commissioners say
that the Institution has ample resources
to pay all of its indebtedness, but it was
thought best to close up its affairs at
this time.
The capital stock of the institution is
T.OOO. It has deposits to the amount of
$22,420. The Commissioners believe they
can cullect J13.0UO on the bank's securities
at once and It has $7000 cash on hand.
The total Indebtedness against the bank,
Including deposits, amounts to but $23,870.
ORDERED TO SHOW SOIVEXCY
Independent Telephone Company Is
Attacked by Stockholder.
NEWARK. N. J., Feb. 12. The United
States Independent Telephone Company
Judge Jami Hargts, of Breathitt
County, Kentucky. Who Main
tained Political Control by Mur
der and Was Finally Murdered by
His Son.
was ordered by Vice-Chancellor Howell
today to show cause on February 18 why
it should not be adjudged insolvent. Coun
sel for James M.. O'Grady, of Chester, N.
Y., a creditor and stockholder, applied
for the order and declared that the com
pany is insolvent.
The company was described by Mr.
0.'Gradys counsel as a holding corpora
tion, with an authorized rapital stock of
J50.000.000. of which $42,576,000 has been
issued.
STEALS A- CHIHESE: WOBJIJUI
CHARLES F. LORD, OF PORT
IiAXD, ARRESTED IX SEATTLE.
About to Board Train for Portland
AVith Woman Whole Affair
Is a Mystery.
SEATTLE, Wash., Feb. 12. (Special.)
Charles F. Lord, who says he is a Port
land lawyer,, was arrested here tonight
while trying to run away with a Chinese
woman. He spent an hour or bo in Jail
and was then turned loose.
The entire affair is one of mystery and
none of the parties thereto will shed any
light on it. The woman is the wife of
a well-known Chinese, who goes by. the
name of Jimmle Goon Gan. and he called
at the police station and took her home.
Lord admits that he Intended taking the
woman to Portland, but further than
that will say nothing. The husband la
equally reticent and appeared satisfied to
get his wife back. He would prefer no
charge against Lord.
The police are of the opinion that the
affair is a part of a highbinder scheme
to steal the woman, but their knowledge
extends no further than conjecture. Lord
acted In such a manner as to create the
belief that he was 'either drunk or crazy.
The arrest was made at the King-street
passenger station Just before the depart
ure of the Portland train.
RENEWS' HER DAMAGE SUIT
St. Louis Woman With Wounded Af.
fections Claims Man's Cash.
ST. LOUIS. Mo., Feb. 12.-SpecIal.)
Edward P. Frederick, superintendent.
temporarily, at Seattle, Wash., of a rope
factory in St. Louis, who was sued for
$20,000 for alleged breach of promise by
Miss Stella Dailey. daughter of ex-Police
Judge Thomas Dailey, waived service
and entered an appearance.
Dawson & Garvin, attorneys for Fred
erick, say that Miss Dailey first filed her
suit for damages In Seattle, where he
was living temporarily. They say
marked copies of the Seattle newspapers
containing reports of the suit were sent
to Frederick's friends. They say he beat
the suit there. His attorneys deny all
Miss Dailey's allegations.
Would Dredge Coos Bay.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 12. Senator Ful
ton Introduced a Joint resolution authoriz
ing the Secretary of War to expend the
balance of the appropriation made for
the Improvement of Coos Bay amounting
to $25,225 in operating a dredge now build
ing for use in the harbors of Oregon and
Washington, in dredging Coos Bay
channel.
t jrC$ C "s. i I
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TUFT DEFENDS -
ISLAND POLICY
Speaks at Banquet of
Lincoln Club.
DUTY TO THE PHILIPPINES
Rapid Strides Made Since the
Americans Took Control.
COAL IS SELF-GOVERNMENT
Secretary Also Praises Roosevelt's
Fight Ag-ainst Corruption and Is
Loudly Cheered at Din
ner in Grand Rapids.
GRAND 'RAPIDS, Mich., b. 12. The
Lincoln Club banquet hero tonight " -warn
a brilliant affair, with a galaxy of speak
ers never equaled In Michigan political
banquets. More than 2000 persons occu
pied seats at the tables. The hall was
elaborately decorated, and as a compli
ment to . Ambassador Jusserand, of
Prance, French colors were mingled with
the American.
The speakers were Ambassador Jusser
and. Congressman George Edmund Foss,
Secretary of -War Taft, Governor Curtis
Guild, Jr., of M as sachu setts, and Direc
tor John Barrett, of the Bureau of South
American Republics.
Although all of the speakers were
greeted with enthusiasm' It was Secretary
Taft who received the greatest outburst
of applause. It continued for several
minutes before he could begin his address.
Interrupted frequently by applause, he
spoke in part as follows: .
The Philippine Islands came to us with
out our design. The destruction of the
Spanish fleet put the Philippine Island at
our mercy. We had no troops. However, and
as a reasonable war measure we Invoked the
assistance of AsuinaldG tuid his fellow-ln-aur
rectos aeaint the power of Spain, to as
sist us In establishing calm In the Islands
until our Army could traverse the .7hK
miles between our ports and the Philippine
Islands. With the assistance of AguinaLdo's
army we took the City of Manila and then
the peace came. The question was what
course lay open to us.
Could Not Turn Back.'
Should we turn our Island allies back to
the government of Spain and the oppression
against which they had revolted? Would
Abraham Lincoln have advised that course?
I do not think so? Should we turn the
Islands over to Aguinaldo and his military
subordinates? They had themselves in the
nine months Intervening- tried to establish
a civil government and the tyrants and the
Insufficiencies in that government In trying
to maintain order would have made It a
crime against the whole people of the
Islands for us thus to seek to escape the
burden which Providence seemed to have
thrust upon us. Clearly there is nothing In
the Ieclaration of Independence as Inter
preted by Abraham Lincoln, that would
have compelled this course. It Is true that
the Eeclaratlon recites that all Just gov
ernment must rely on the consent of the
governed, but that Is to be Interpreted as
meaning a consent of the governed who
have Intelligence sufficient to enable them
to discriminate as to what is government In
their own Interest.
I affirm that the policy adopted by Will
iam McKinley and embraced by the Repub
lican party, under which it Is proposed a
gradual extending of self-government to the
people of the Philippine Islands as they
shall become better and better politically
educated by practice and by the school sys
tem Is following the true spirit and proper
interpretation of the principles of the Dec
laration of Independence.
Policy In the Islands.
In the nearly ten years that we have been
in the islands we have produced tranquillity
and freedom from the Ladronism, from the
disturbance which lon Interfered with the
agriculture of the islands. We have done
this at the cost of blood and treasure.
Would Abraham Lincoln have disapproved
this policy?
We have found a people separated from
each other by 16 islands of barbarous char
acter and we are now engaged with a
school system in teaching their children at
the rate of 5000, a common medium of com
munication, the business language of the
Orient and the language of free Institutions
our own English. Would Abraham Lin
coln have disapproved that policy?
We have brought about in the islands
more system of sanitation, which has great
ly reduced the death rate, and we are grad
ually teaching these tropical people to live
In such a way that they may become
stronger and better and far abler to resist
disease. Would Abraham Lincoln have dis
sented from this policy?
Hare Equalised Taxation.
We have Introduced a system of taxation
from which the burdens of government are
borne by wealthy and the humble in the
proportion of , their ability', to pay,, and
abolished the old Spanish' system from
which the taxes were chiefly exacted from
the poor and humble people. , We have in
troduced and carried on - a system of Im
provement of harbors, roads, railroads and
Inter-island communication by steam navi
gation. We have united the Islands by im
proving the means of lnter-communication
and stimulating the spread of common
medium in language as they never have
been united before. Would Lincoln have' ob
jected to this policy? " t
We have organised an autonomy In i the
municipality, autonomy In the provincial
government; we have Introduced to , the
central Government.' as one branch of. the
.Legislature, a National Assembly . selected
by the eligible voters of the Christian prov-
... In .- " .1
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King Man n4 , of Port cgl , in His
Sailor Cnlform.
inces. and we have now a government that
Is largely a government of Philippine people
under the Anal guidance, however, of an
American executive and one branch of the
Legislature. Would Abraham Lincoln have
dissented from this policy of step by step
leading these people to an understanding
of the responsibilities of self-government
and familiarity with Its difficulties?
Only Two Rights Withheld. ;
We have introduced into the islands all
the constitutional guarantees under the
Federal Constitution except the right to
bear arms and the right to -serve on Juries,
for both of., which as yet tha oivillswAtion of
the people 1 enilrely. unfit., but we have
given them, and they are now enjoying the
right to life, liberty and property and the
pursuit of happineae and freedom from de
privation from any. of those rights except
by due procesa of law. We have given them
a Judicial system. In the impartiality and
efficiency of which they have every confi
dence. Would Lincoln have dissented from
this?
During the Administration of Theodore
Roosevelt our influence as a world power
has exceeded anything before In history. We
have done more toward bringing about the
peace of the world than any power In this
century. Under thee circumstances,. Is
there room for doubt that Abraham Lincoln
would have approved the policy of Mc
Kinley and Roosevelt In maintaining our
possession as a world power, In increasing
the size of onr Kavy so that when we do
Intervene in international affairs we exercise
and Influence commensurate with our great
ness as a Nation.
fight Against Corruption.
Finally, can there be any doubt where
Lincoln would have stood In the issues
which peculiarly distinguished the Adminis
tration of Theodore Roosevelt ? I refer to
the struggle which he andhts Administration
have made for elimination from our business
and political fabric of corrupting Influences
of the unlawful business combinations and
the. demoralizing influence of disobedience
to law by our great railroad and transporta
tion companies. We may know with cer
tainty that cannot brook contradiction, that
in the struggle to' make all business lawful
to take away from great, corporations the
Illegal privileges and Immunities that offi
cial Investigations have shown in many in
stances to prevail. Lincoln would have made
the same good fight which has endeared
Roosevelt to the same plain people of the
country who upheld th'e hands of the mar-
(Conclude on Page 4.)
AND -THE CAT-CAME BACK
FRIENDS DIFFER ON
S
New Jersey Democrats
. Amuse , House.
HAMILL LAUDS PEERLESS ONE
Leake Denies He- Represents
True Democracy.
CALLS DOCTRINES HERESY
Republicans Enjoy Hearing Oppo'
ncnts Air Their Troubles Rich
ardson Raise Cry. for Free
Raw Materials In Tariff. '
WASHINGTON, Feb. 12. The pent-Tip
feelings ot meraners on the tesues of the
flay ana other topics were given a cnance
to be elred In the House of Representa
tives today. The opportunity came when
the executive, legislative and Judicial ap
propriation bill was taken up and gen
eral debate for an indefinite period was
begun. As was the- case last week, the
tariff question and the President's mes
sage were the principal themes of dis
cussion. '
In the course of the concluding debate
on the Indian appropriation bill, the pro
ceedings were enlivened by Hamhill and
Ieake, of New Jersey, both Democrats,
discussing the virtues and faults of Will
lam J. Bryan. Hamill insisted that his
colleague had ' not In his speech of last
Monday truly represented the sentiment
of Hudson Coufity, which they both rep
resented, the State of. New Jersey or the
country. Replying, Mr. Leake reassert
ed his charges, that Mr. Bryan did not
represent the principles for which Democ
racy stood.
Bryan Finds a Champion.
"My colleague, Mr. Lieake, last Mon
day made some remarks derogatory to
the conduct of William. J Bryan," began
IJaiuill, but before he could ' continue,
Sherman of New York said, amid general
laughter: . .
"I must make the" point of order that
this section of the bill does not appro
priate for William J. Bryan." There
were demands that Hamill be allowed to
proceed. On condition that Leake should
be permitted five minutes to reply, the
permission was accorded.
Resuming his remarks, Hamill declared
that Mr. Bryan had been criticized be
cause of his knowledge of the decalogue.
In his opinion It was amazing that Mr.
Bryan should be openly opposed on the
floor of the House because he showed an
acquaintance with the ten command
ments. It was refreshing, he said, to
And a man who not only boasted that
be possesesd an acquaintance with the
ten commandments, "but who, through
the entire course of his public career, has
consistently put the precepts of the com
mandments into practice."
Fit to Fill Presidency.
Shouts of Democratic approval greeted
Hamill's announcement that, while he
agreed with the statement that Bryan's
knowledge of the commandments would
fit him to occupy a pulpit with promi
nence. "I can also assure the House, re
flecting at the same time their' own con
viction, that the same acquaintance will
11
VflTUES
' l li !
enable him to occupy with eclat the post
of President of the United States."
All eyes then turned towards Leake,
who, amid Republican applause, said that
he-had been misunderstood and that the
"Congressional Record would bear him out
that he had made no aspersions on the
"peerless one." His tone In referring to
Mr. Bryan was so sarcastic that be was
again applauded by the Republicans.
Leake spoke' of the doctrine of Thomas
Jefferson and, reverting to Mr. Bryan,
provoked Republican applause and gen
eral laughter when he said:
AVonnd Around With Heresy.
" I believe that Mr. Bryan Is sincere, hon
est, and I believe that he la truthful. I
believe further that he cannot represent the
principles of Democracy before the Ameri
can people. I believe ttfat he cannot preach
the doctrine of home rule in the states. X
don't believe he can preach the doctrine
ot American individuality, for when he
rises as our leader he is wound around by
his heresies of free silver, by his doctrines
of Government ownership and by his guaranteeing-
of the 'bank deposits of the United
States and by all those other Socialistic
tendencies.
Genpral applause and laughter greeted
Leake as he took hisseat. and after a
momentary silence. It broke out with in
creased vigor. John Sharp Williams,
leader of the minority, brought the
colloquy to a climax and a close by say
ing: I have observed that the risibilities of
the other side were considerably stirred by
the clash of the two individual opinions on
this side. The ReDublicans seem to re-
Seantor Isidnr Rayner, of Mary
Innjil, Mho Opened Attvrlt on
Alilrlch Currency Bill. .
Jolne In the fact . that there is no rod of
iron on the Democratic side to assure abso
lute unanimity of opinion. I recognize as
In contrast that the Republicans are gen
erally united, notwithstanding the fact that
now and then, when one of them rises, he is
warned by another of them to get out of
the way or be run down.
Calls for Free Kaw Material.
The attitude of the Republican party on
the tariff question and the President's
recent special message to Congress in
which he called attention to the necessity
of certain legislation were the themes of
a lengthy speech by Richardson, of Ala
bama. Tariff reform, he said, was the
Issue that would clarify the political at
mosphere. "Let us stand for free raw material,"
he exclaimed, "and -the victory is ours."
He charged that on that point the Re
publican party was weak and stood dis
credited with the people by its broken
pledges. He did not hesitate to say that
the tariff will be an issue that appeals to
the people more than the Panama Canal,
the railroads, the currency, the freedom
of the Philippines, imperialism or the
question of unharmed malefactors so
soundly denounced by the President in
his last message. The debate of the last
week, he said. . had demonstrated the
(Concluded on Page 2.)
CONTENTS TODAY'S PAPER
The "Weather.
YESTERDAY'S Maximum 4emperattzre 43
degrees:, minimum. 37 degrees.
TODAY'S Partly cloudy, with posrlbly oc
casional light rain; winds ah if tin to
easterly.
National.
Bryan again subject of debate In House.
Page 1.
Rid ley denies National banking; law is
not enforced. Page 3.
Government to arm entire militia, with
modern rifle. Pa are 4.
Rayner &ttarfcs A Id rich, currency bill and
criticize Roosevelt. Page 4.
Borah proposes to forbid Congressmen to
serve corporations against Government.
Page 8. '
. Politic.
Taft speaks at Grand. Rapids on Philippine
policy. Page 1.
Foraker explain away hi defeat. Page 4.
Hughe speak in New York City. Page 3.
Knox speajes In favor of river and harbor
Improvement. Page 3.
Domestic
Heavy baying by merchant shows return
of prosperity. Page 1.
Fleet may send ship to rescue new Robinson
Crusoe. Page 2,
Chicago's claim as healthy city disputed by
Pacific Coast cities. Page 2.
Sports.
A-utomoblle start on race frajn New York
to Paris. Page 4.
Roderick MacLeay leads in Unit golf round
of National tournament. Page 5.
Pacific Coast. .
Japanese spie seen trying range with can
non at San. Diego. Page 2.
Ruef's immunity contract to be investigated
by court. Page 4.
British hark Amazon seen In distress drift
ing in -ah ore. Page 6.
6alem boosters have rousing meeting.
Page 6.
Coroner's Jury reports on Forest Grove
Wreck. Page 6.
Commercial and Marine.
British shlD Arctic Stream was chartered
on speculation and rates fall. Charterer
lose. Page 15.
Portland and Vicinity.
Patrolman Henner shoots and kills his
friend, John G. Wetle, who pretends
to be highwayman. Page 1.
Republican Clubs celebrate Lincoln's birth
day. Page 7.
Bishop Scad d in discusses Anglo-Roman
Church union plan. Page 11.
Reorganized German-American Bank open
its doors. Page 10.
Dr. Clarence True Wilson replies to John
H. Hall. Page 14.
Y. M. C. A. takes up educational prob
lems. Page 14.
Councilman Menefce attacks policy of liqr-r
license committee. Page 10.
Council considers voting $10,000 to give un
employed work on the. streets. Page 18.
W. T. Shanahan tells of work of Oregon
Humane Society. Pare1 lO.
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POLICEMAN KILLS
PRACTICAL JOKER
John G. Wetle Shot by
Patrolman Hepner.
PRETENDS HE IS HIGHWAYMAN
Points Pipe at Officer, and De
mands His Money.
ANSWER IS A PISTOL SHOT
Men CIose Friends and Netgbriors,
living at Fulton Park, Where
Shooting Occurred Hepner
Only Recently Joined Fore.
For the sake of perpetratine; a. pra.crl
cal Joke, John G. Wetle, a married man !
with a wife and seven children, forfeited
his life last night. Wetle whs shot and
killed about 7:45 o'clock while attempting
to hold up Policeman K. D. Hepner in
play at a lonely spot in Fulton Park,
near where both men live.
Wetle knew Hepner well, m fact they
had been bosom friends all their lives,
and all the evidence in the affair, al
though there were no witnesses to It
save the two principals, goes to show
that Wetle, who was an ex-policeman,
wanted to try the mettle of Hepner, who
Is a young man of about 24, with only a
little experience on the force, and after
wards give him the laugh about the af
fair. Hepner left his house between 7:30 and
7:45 o'clock and started for the police
station, where he was to report for duty
shortly before 11 o'clock. He was
dressed In his "plain" clothes and car
ried his revolver In his pocket. His
home Is about a quarter of a mile from
the city limits and his path to the Taylor
Ferry road, where he could take a Ful
ton car, led for about a third of a mile
down the hill Uirough a dark walk,
skirted on either side, with - brush afld'
ugly-looking places.
Meets Man In Park Spot..
Hepner had just arrived at a spot
where two nights before John Duffy, one
of his neighbors on the hill, had been
held up and robbed, when he saw a man
coming toward him from behind a. clump
of brush. It was Wetle, but the night
was 'so dark that Hepner did not recog
nize him. Wetle's collar was turned up
and his slouch hat pulled down over his
eyes and at the time and the place sug
gested the appearance of one not bent
on honest business. Wetle bore toward
Hepner In his ' direction and Hepner
walked off to one side, rather to avoid
him. Wetle was then about B0 feet
away. As Hepner turned, Wetle also
turned and made straight for Hepner,
and when within about 12 feet, drew his
hand from his pocket and, holding what
Hepner thought to be a revolver, com
manded: "Hand over your money."
Fatal Shot Fired.
Hepner drew h'.s" revolver and fired.
The shot went through the man's heart.
He tottered on his feet for a bare sec
ond and, with the cry, "Oh, my God,
Fritz," sank in bis tracks, dead.
The moment Wetle spoke Hepner recog
nized his voice and knew that he had
shot his friend. With his electric flash
light Hepner discovered that It was only
a tobacco pipe that Wetle held that had
looked like a revolver.
Hepner summoned Wetle's brother to
the scene and the police were notified at
once, Hepner reporting the shooting at
the first telephone he could find, while
the dead man's brother and others
watched by the body. Chief of Police
Grltzmacher, upon being notified. Im
mediately sent Detective Price to Inves
tigate the affair and to see if there were
any. circumstances connected with It In
which the policeman might be held to "
blame. The Investigations of both the.
detective and the Coroner, who also ar
rived at the scene shortly after the oc
currence, failed to bring out any addl-,
tlonal facts, and all concerned, even In
cluding the dead man's relatives, com
bined In the opinion that the unfortunate
policeman had only acted as he, should
have under the circumstances. Hepner
was not arrested.
Men the Best of Friends.
Wetle was 43 years old and was em
ployed in" the Engineer's department In
tfie construction of sewers. He served
as a policeman under the administration
of Mayor Pennoyer. about 12 years ago.
He had known Hepner since that young
man was born and the men had never
been anything but the best of friends.
Hepner was appointed to the police
force a little less than a month ago and
bears a good reputation, both among the
police and his neighbors. His. grief at
the killing of his friend was pitiful, and,
shaken with sobs and moans, he was led
away to his home, where his nervous
ness and grief compelled him to remain
for the balance of the night. He was
excused from duty last night by Chiel.
Gritzmacher and told to report to tha
Coroner this morning at 9 o'clock.
Many Cars Are Idle.
PHILADBI.PHIA, Feb. 12. The Penn
sylvania Railroad has on its lino cast
and west 77.000 idle cars, representing 35
per cent of the company's frefght car
equipment Of this number 61.000 are
standing on the sidings and yards over
the system and 15,000 are in the various
hops undergoing or awaiting repairs.