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VOL. VIII. NO.1879 ‘
N ORWALK, CONN, WEDN ES DAY EVENING, JUNE 1, 1898.
PRICE CNE'CENT.
FOR TWO HOURS THE BATTLE
RAGED WITH GREAT DAM—
AGE TO THE SPANISH
FORTIFICATIONS.
HEAVY SHOT TOROLD- MORRO.
BATTERED BY BIG GUNS---SMALLER
ONES SHELL
TH‘E'SHORES. " "
REPORTED SAMPSON ENTERED SAN-
' TIAGO HARBOR.
‘- PORT-An-PRTNCE, June 1.-—About 2
o’clock yesterdayafternoon anAmerican
squadron, composed of fourteen war
ships, of which the cruiser New York
displayed the flag of Rear Admiral
Sampson, and a number of torpedo-
boats, began a. bombardment with , ,
yesterday the Santiago cable was work-
-heavy guns of the forts and the harbor
of Santiago de Cuba.
The American fire
, principally against the forts and the
harbor. The forts of Morro Castle, La
Cocapa and Punta Carda suffered es-
pecially. The cannonading was very
persistent and cannot have failed to be
destructive. It lasted until 3:45 p. m.
The to“ n, which is situated near the
inner end of the harbor, escaped dam-
age. At 3:45 p. In., the cannonade
diminished. About 3 o’clock cannon
discharges were heard at a distance,
which (presumably at sea) continued
for some time, when the firing ceased
was directed
completely. .
The Spanish authoritiespmaintain
strict silence as to the number of vic-
tims, who were apparently numerous.
CANNON ADIN G THE BATTERIES.
CAPE HAYTIEN, June 1+Advices
just received from Havana say that
since 2 o’clock yesterday afternoon the
American fleet at Santiago de Cuba
- has been cannonading the batteries of
Morro Castle, La Cocapa and. Punta
Carda. At the same time, it added,
the American ships‘have been engaged
with the Spanish warships. The firing
was extremely heavy. At 3:45 p. m.
the cannonading became less heavy
' against the fortifications,- but was more
accentuated in the locality where the
fleets were engaged. - '
SCHLEY FORCED AN ENTRANCE.
CAPE HAYTIEN, June 1.—The Hava-
’ na advices indicate that the American
fleet has forced the entrance to the
harbor of Santiago de Cuba and has
engaged the Spanish fleet.
AMERICANS HAD ADVANTAGE.
CAPE HAYTIEN, June 1.—At 6:45 p. m.
.ing fromSantiago.Private messages inti—
mate that there has been a severe fight
outer fortifications and the Spanish
fleet. The fight lasted the
part of the afternoon. The advantage
appears to have been with the Ameri-
cans. According to the latest advices
the combat is still in progress.
greater
DISPATCH-BOATS AT KINGSTON.
'KINGSTON, JAMAICA, June 1.~—There
has been a rapid exchange of dispatches
between Commodore Schley and Wash-
ington during the last thirty-six hours,
; and an important movement of Schley’s
fleet is expected soon. -
The auxiliary cruiser Yale put in
{ here Saturday, receiving and sending
lcable dispatches. The Eagle and the
i Harvard have been in Jamaica waters
several times since then acting as dis-
patch-boats.
DISCREDIT THE REPORT.
WASHINGTON, June 1,~—No advices of
an engagement at Santiago de Cuba
have reached the Navy Department,
up to late last night, and officials dis-
credit the report.
BRIEF WAR. NEWS.
Advices. received at Cape Haytien
from Santiago de Cuba says that Com-
modore Sampson bombarded the forts,
entered the harbor and engaged Cer-
vera’s fleet. The report isdiscredited
by the Navy Department in Washing-
ton.
between the American fleet and the‘
The steamer Florida returned to
Key West, reporting that she landed
over four hundred men, with arms and
ammunition, on the Cuban coast, about
twenty-five miles east of Havana, to aid
the insurgents, without difficulty, or
interruption from the Spaniards.
Preparations were made for the de-
parture of eight regiments from Chick-
amauga to Tampa. The first will start
to-day. .
Major‘General Miles and his staff
passed through Columbia, S. 0., yes-
terday afternoon on their way toTampa,
which they are expected to reach this
morning.
The War Department continued its
preparations for the expedition to
Manila. There are indications that
20,000 troops may be sent there.
Theadvocates of the annexation of
Hawaii as a war measure will continue
their- fight in Congress, although Sena-
tor Lodge has decided not to press his
amendment to the War Revenue bill.
Secretary Alger sent war estimates
to Congress which raise the total of the
General Deficiency bill to more than
$207,000,000.
Seligman Brothers, of'London, have
of
at
been designated as the agents
the United States
Manila, and through
transacted such financial operations
government
them will be
as the Government may desire after
that city has come into the possession
of the United States forces. '
The cruiser Philadelphia now at the
Mare Island Navy Yard, California,
will be in readiness to go into com-
Her
mounts have been strengthened, and
mission within two weeks. gun
many changes made in her inner
fittings.
Secretary Gage has sent to Congress
recommendations for authority for an
additionalisrce of. thirty-six persens”
necessary for the work of collection
under the War Revenue bill. The
collection will cause the creation of a
separate tobacco division of the office.
The owners of the British ship Gen-
ista, at London, which has been load-
ing at Manila, have received a cable
dispatch, dated May 24, saying Rear-
Admiral Dewey has ordered the vessel
to leave port, from which it is conject-
ured that the American commander
contemplated some action. .
Paymaster~General Stanton, of the
Army, has directed that $1,000,000 be
placed to the credit of the representa-
tive of his office at San Francisco to
pay the officers and men who are to go
to Manila one month’s wages in ad-
vance. .-
Advices received at Gibraltar from
Cadiz say that all the guns of both the
batteries and the forts are being re
placed by heavier guns.
It is reported that the departurg of
Admiral Camara’s fleet has been delay-
cd by defects discovered in the torpedo-
boats.
A Dispute Over Properly.
During the trial of the case of Aaron
G. Sherwood against Sarah N. Alby in
thecourt of Common Pleas at Bridge-
port yesterday, an interesting story
was developed. The plaintiff sues to
have a deed conveying a half interest
in his property at Cranbury.
Mr. Sherwood’s first wife was J osc-
phine Alby,‘from whom he was di-
vorced. Then he married her niece,
and lived with her until her death.
Sarah N. Alby, his first wife’s sister,
was living with them. She remained
with him as his housekeeper for a
time, but they finally got into legal
difficulties, and she sued him, for $1,—
500. A settlement was affected, and it
was at that time that he deeded half
the property to her. He Wanted to
marry her, and'she finally consented.
After they had lived together for
some time Mr. Sherwood found that
she had been married and never di-
vorced. ‘He separated from her and
later married a fourth time. His
fourth wife had been to the matri-
monial altar eight times. They
separated after a brief time, and he
returned to his first love. The pres-
ent suit is to have the deed set aside
‘
.on the ground that it was obtained by
/?
misrepresentation. _ .
~——<o.¢>————
A band of gypSTes arrived in town
yesterday and have pitched their camp
where the grass is green and foraging
_ is not afar off.
. DEATHEENALTY.
Jury Finds Ben Willis Guilty of
Murder in First Degree
After Five Hours Deliberation—Will Be
Hanged November 4th.
“’hen the court came in Tuesday
morning the arguments alone remained
The
accused was not put upon the stand and
to complete the case for the jury.
no attempt was made to combat the
terrible evidence Which had been piled
Tip-against him.
At the very last moment it was de-
cided to make insanity the sole plea
for mercy. But even this effort was
rudely shaken by the cross examina-
tion and the rebuttal. ,
Counsel for the defense made an ef-
fort to have inserted in the record the
statement that objection was made to
the admisSion of Willis’ confession
upon constitutional grounds, but the
court would not allow it.
Assistant State’s Attorney Carter
opened the arguments by going briefly
over the claim of the defense on the
insanity plea. He also stated the law,
following closely the lines laid down
in the Boinay trial. He claimed murder
in the first degree as the offense com-
mitted and asserted that the state had
proven that fact'beyond a reasonable
douba
The defense followed with a state-
ment of the case from the best possible
view for Willis. The insanity plea was
worked to the utmost and every actions
of the accused after the crime, it was
claimed, showed that this'could be the
only explanation of their peculiarity;
State’s Attorney Fessenden closed
with one of his usual fiery addresses
which held up to ridicule the insanity
claim and handled Willis without
gloves. The ghastly crime was briefly
reviewed and again brought before the
jury a picture of words that were
thrilling at times.
Judge Thayer followed with an im-
partial ‘charg‘epwhich, however, had
little in it which" Could be construed as
favorable to the accused. _
.He offered no instructions in any
way, more than to review the complied-
tions of the case under ‘the four dis-
tinct counts. These were murder in
the first degree, murder in the'sqecond
degree, manslaughter and burglary.
Willis kept his eyes on the judge
during the charge, but acted in a list-
less and not over interested way all
through. Judge Thayer’s charge oc-
cupied about 40 minutes time and at
‘3205 the jury retired. Then began a
long period of waiting. Willis was re-
moved from the court room to the cell
department. below, in charge of two
His mother left the court
room and waited anxiously in an ad-
keepers.
joming apartment.
Spectators and officials wandered
rcstlessly in and out of the court room.
As the absence of the jury became
more and more prolonged, there was no
end of speculation as to what the ver-
dict would be.
Minutes and hours went by. Of
course, Counsel for the accused con-
sidered that the lengthy deliberations
of the 12 'men portended that they Were
not of one mind and that there was a
possibility of a disagreement. Up to
6 o'clock not a sound had come from
the jury room. Not even the ominous
knock on the door, with a request, as
is often the. case, for instructions.
Spectators held their seats well and an
air of impatience and nervous restless-
ness prevailed the court room.
Madame Louise, the mother of Wil-
lis, at this hour, uneasily paced the
corridor, aCcompanicd by alady friend.
Legal men, who had heard the
charge of Judge Thayer, believed that
he had caused the jury to . become all
tangled-up over the numerous features
of the case. I
At 7 o’clock State’s Attorney Fessen-
den began to show signs of impatience
and by this time there must have been
a hungry set of'men in the jury room. 1
The majority were farmers. They
were busily engaged in balloting and
trying to make each other agree.
The sun went down, 'the lamps were
lit and still the fate of Willis hung in
the balance. Soul racking hours, if he
has any heart at all, must theSe have
been to him waiting in the cell room
below stairs every moment expecting
the final decree.
, It was stated at 7.15 o’clock that the
jury stood 11 to 1 for conviction; that
one juryman was persistently holding
out under the point made by counsel
for the accused that the indictment was
faulty by which the accused was ar-
raigned on three counts leaving Brock-
haus ilnmcntioned. .
It was recounted that the present
jury had been out longer than any
similar body in this county sinCe the
conviction of John Hawley.
At 7:45 o’clock, or when the jury had
been in retirement for nearly five
hours, there came the tell tale knock
at the jury room door.
emerged from his room and took his
Judge Thayer
seat on the bench.
“Bring up the prisoner,” was the
command of Sheriff Hawley, and Wil-
lis, in charge of keepers, came from
below.
The jury filed in, responded to the
roll call and in response to the usual
query as to whether they had agreed, .
the foreman replied in the affirmative,
saying that the accused had been found
guilty of murder in the first degree.
\Villis appeared to be unaffected.
The jury were then discharged.
States Attorney Fessenden moved
for an immediate sentence. Counsel
for the accused aimed for a continu-
ance of a day before sentence should
be passed. This was objected to by
Mr. Fessenden.
Then came the direful words of
Judge Thayer :
“Sheriff, bring forward the prisoner. ”
Willis came before the bar and was
asked : “Have you anything to say why
the penalty of the law should not be
passed upon you?” '
The prisoner replied that he had not.
Then the court in the usual formula
ordered that he be removed to the cus-
tody of the warden of the state prison
at Wcthersfield and there between the
hours of 12:30 and 4 a. m. on Nov. 4
next, to be hanged by the neck until he
was dead. ,
Willis looked at the judge in a stoi—
cal way and betrayed no emotion as the
he
conversed with his counsel and was
later handcuffed and removed to the
He will be taken to Wet i-
ersfield in a few days.
It is said \that the jury would soon
have agreed on a verdict of murder in
the first degree, had not one member
held out for a second degree verdict.
sentence was passed. Afterwards
county jail.
He was assailed and argued with for
several hours and finally yielded to the
His identity was not re-
VVilliam Davis of Greenwich,
majority.
vealed.
one of the jury when
stated that he held scruples against
inflicting capital punishment although
he said that he could put those scruples
aside in passing on the guilt of the
accused according to the evidence. It
was not learned as to whether Davis
impanelled,
was or was not the obdurate juryman.
Much. discussion was entailed by the
fact that the prisoner was found guilty
, and sentenced the same day, a custom
that seldom prevails.
The mother of Willis,
Louise, as she is called, was not in
She
Madame
courtvwhen sentence was passed.
went to the county jail and met her
son on his return from court.
meeting was very affecting on her part,
Willis maintaining his apparent indif-
ference.
It was reported that Willis’ counsel
would take action in some way, in the
shape of an appeal, but this is not
- probable.
‘v
Klondike Celebrates.
The Klondike club met' Memorial
Day in the woods of West N orwalk and
among other pastimes placed thirty
bushels of clams out of sight, and
danced in high glee over the achieve-
ment.
The'
Wilton.
Mrs. John L. Cummins who has been
‘visiting in town returned to Goshen,
N. Y., on Monday.
Irving Smith of Norwalk, was visits:
ing friends is town on Tlgnday. ‘
Harold Weston of New Yerkmuity,
has been visiting his cousin George
Thomson. 0
Mrs. Charles Jones, H. S. Ogden and
F. J. Middlebrook with their families
have returned to their pleasant home
in this place for the summer.
W. K. J. Hubbell, Arthur Little and
T. T. Merwin wheeled to Quidgeport
Decoration Day to witness ‘the «luc‘ycle
races at Pleasure Beach.
A large congregation attended the
Memorial services at the Congrega~
tional church on Sunday evening. An
interesting address appropriate to the ‘
occasion was made by the pastor, Rev.
W. D. Hart which was of especial in-
terest to the number of old soldiers
present. The special music for the
occasion was appropriate and well
rendered.
Charles J. Taber of Brooklyn, was
the guest of R. H. Fitch over the heli-
day.
Mrs. David Whitlock of Silver Mine,
has been visiting relatives in town.
Henry Hunt of New York city, has
been visiting his father, James Hunt.
W. P. Bland, Arthur Little and Hal's
ry Olmstead enjoyed a day’s fishing at
Lake Vi’accabuc on Saturday.
’ The annual meeting of the Wilton
jLibrary Association will be held at the
library rooms on Monday evening,
June 6th. A full attendance is request-
ed.
Decoration Day was observed in the
usual quiet manner in this town.
Many visitors enjoyed a day’s outing
here, and the schools were closed. One
fact that caused some comment was the
marked absence of flags displayed in
memory of those who fought to save
Old Glory. Many of the graves in the
various cemeteries were decorated on
Sunday, but the formal decoration of
soldiers’ graves will take place next
Sunday.
Agent Olmstead made a business
trip to New York on Saturday. Opera.-
tor Griffin was in charge of Wilton
station during his absence.
Robert Ralston has rented the cot~
tage next to the Foote store and will
occupy the same soon.
Miss Folsom entertained a uumbcref
friends Decoration Day.
w—————-‘
Darien and N oroton.
Memorial Day was celebrated at the
Soldiers’ Home by a service held at
three o’clock in the afternoon. The
G. A. R. Post from New» Canaan at~
tended. A choir discoursed fine music.
The speakers of the occasion were Rev.
Mr. Hoyt, of New Canaan and Rev. E.
F. Atwood, who delivered a short ad»
dress. '
While Carl Wucrz and Alonzo Weed
were fooling 0n the stoop of the Town
Hall, Saturday night, about 9:30
o’clock, they accidentally pushed Wil-
liam Reed over the railing and he fell.
to the sidewalk and struck on his head.
He was picked up and carried into Sil-
1iman’s drug store in an unconscious
condition. Dr. J. H. White was sum-
moned and took charge of the case.
The boy was sent home in a wagon and
was doing well this morning. '
Joseph Leslie was removed from his
home in Glenbrook last sunday to the
Stamerd hospital, upon the advice of
his physician. He was suffering from
appendicitis, and an operation was
considered necessary.
The Wee Burn Golf club defeated
the Apawamis club of Rye, Saturday,
at the grounds of the latter. The score
was 8 to 4. George P. Brett has pre-
sented the club with 75 volumes of as“
sorted literature as the nucleus of a
library for the club rooms.
—-—-—<e.o>
The Weather.
Fair in interior clearing weather on
coast to-night; Thursday fair.
‘
A GREAT IMPROVEMENT
DINING—CARS '
Has just been made on the new Pennsyl-
vania Railroad "Congressional Limit~
ed,” between New York and Washing-
ton. Train leaves New Yorkat 3.20
pm. daily. -
4--
V
IN
DEATHS.
PERRY—In Southport, May 315t,
Harriet Hoyt, widow of Oliver H.
Perry, and daughter of the late Eli T.
Hoyt.
RAPELYEA—In .Dflinblll'y, May 30,
Hattie J. Chase, wife of Wm. C.
Rapelyea, aged 36 years.
WILDMAN—In Danbury, May 3lst,
Theodore K. Wildman, of 43 Washing—
ton avenue, aged 38 years.
Norwalk Chronicler