KANITZ HEARING NOW UP
BEFORE THE COMMISSIONER
_V
The preliminary hearing of Otto
Xanltz on the charge of arson, in
connection with the conflagration
which visited Valdez on the morning
of January 2, was begun at 10 o'clock
this morning in the district court
room before U. S. Commissioner G.
J. Love. The government was rep
resented by District Attorney W. N.
Spence, assisted by Attorneys Lyons
& Ritchie. The defendant was rep
resented by Attorneys O: P. Hubbard,
of Valdez and Leon C. Booker of
Seward.
Attorneys for the defense won the
first legal battle op the question of
combining the five charges against
the accused in one hearing. The court
held that this was perfectly legal, but
if the defense considered such pro
ceeding jeopardized the rights of the
defendant he would have the charges
brought up singly, and on the insls
tance of the defense he so ordered.
The first charge taken up was that
■ of setting fire to the residence of
Frank Hudson and the postoffice
block. Charles R. Crawford was the
Afirst witness called. He testified as
to the value of the postoffice block,
which he stated could be built for be
tween $4,000 and $5,000, without
the steam plant.
E. S. Larson was next called and
testified that the postofflce building
without the steam plant, could prob
ably be built for about $4,000. On
cross examination he was asked if
he knew that it had cost $2,000 to
put the building in shape for the
postoffice a little more than a year
ago. Said he did not, and if that sum
was paid someone got more than they
were entitled to.
Both of above witnessed" qualified
as expert contractors and builders.
At this point the attorneys for the
defendant n oved that the witnesses
be excluded from the court room.
Some argument ensued between op
. posing counsel on this point, and
J again the court ruled with the gov
ernment as to the legality of the
question, but eventually ordered the
witnesses out as a courtesy to the de
fense.
William Thomas, chief of the Val
dez Fire Department was the next
witness called for the government.
He stated that the first fire on the
morning of January 2, apparently
started in the Arcade Cafe and the
Golden North Hotel. Fire did not ap
pear in the postoffice building until
several hours later, he thought about
S o’clock. At this time the Alameda
hotel had completely burned, the
fire in the Ellis block was under con
trol; the ‘‘Big Place” and adjoining
buildings down and only a heap of
smoldering ruins, as was the Golden
North, Arcade Cafe, and the S. Blum
k Company’s store. He was in front
of the postoffice building when the
fire started there. Apparently started
in the rear. First saw smoke com
ing out of safety flues around chim
neys. He was not cross-examined.
William Meals, a member of the
Fire department, was the next wit
ness called. Thought Are started
about 4 o’clock. Was at work on the
fire in the Ellis block when the fire
in the postoffice building started. He
could not tell just what tfme the fire
started in that building. First saw
smoke coming from flues. Went over
there and tried to go up the stairs,
believing fire on upper story. Was
without lantern and lights were out.
Smoke very thick. Turned back and
with assistance of C. J. Todd, whom
he called, closed front door to pre
vent draft. Went around to back of
building and found flames breaking
out the rear. Also testified that the
Ellis block fire was under control
and the Golden North Hotel wab com
pletely burned down and only small
heap of embers marked spot.
William Schmidt, bartender at the
Buffet, was the next witness for the
government. On January 1 went on
shift at 1 o’clock and remained on
until 11 o’clock at night. Knew the
defendant well. Said Kanitz came
into the bar room about 9 o’clock on
i the evening of January 1, bringing
* with him a paper sack full of whis
ky flasks, which he exchanged for a
flask of whisky. While Kanitz was
there an odor of kerosene was no
ticeable, and remained for a time
after he went out. Odor noticed and
remarked on by others in room. He
thought lamps were leaking and ex
amined them carefully. Found them
all right and then examined flasks
Kanitz had brought in, thinking oil
might have been in them. Found
none smelling of oil. On cross-exami
nation said he wa3 sure of time and
date. Kanitz seldom came into his
place. Remembered well. Did not
suspect fire or even think of it. Mere
ly aroused by smell of kerosene and
examined lamps fearful of leak.
Deputy U. S. Marshal C. W. Moss
man then took the stand for the gov
ernment. Testified he did not see
Kanitz until after the fire. He went
down to Joe Braxton's residence, he
thought about 9:30 on the morning
of January 2, and took Kanitz into
custody. Said Kanitz had volunteer
ed no information, but in reply to
questions had stated that on the eve
ning of January 1 he had gone home
about 8 o’clock and retired about 9,
and remained in bed until the fire
broke out. On cross-examination he
said he did not have a warrant for
Kanitz’s arrest, just went down and
took him up to jail.
Arthur Pinkus also testified for
the government. Said that on the
night of January 1 he remained jii
the Empress theatre until about
10:25 packing up some films, and
then went up to the postoffice to mail
a paper. Saw Kanitz at the intersec
tion of Broadway and McKinley and
spoke to him. Received a reply. On
cross-examination was certain he was
not mistaken in the date. Was pos
itive it was not the night previous.
Knew the man spoken to was Kanitz.
Streets well lighted; passed within
six or eight feet of him.
J. D. Jefferson, former postmaster,
was next called by the government.
Said occupied cabin on alley back lot
formerly occupied by Senate saloon.
Same alley ran down across Broad
way and parallel with McKinley
street to Alaska avenue. Had been
sleeping on his boat on the water
front recently. On night of January
1 went to his cabin about 9 o’clock to
attend to fires. Went down to boat
and on arrival there found he had
forgotten his glasses. Went back to
cabin. On way back to boat saw a
man coming up alley back of Blum's
store; saw him pulling up collar of
his overcoat as though just putting
on or just coming out of some warn
place. Met man in middle of Broa 1
way and saw it was Otto Kanitz.
Spoke to him, received short reply.
Thought this was nearer 10 o'clock
than 9. Went on to his boat and re
mained until lire alarm was given.
Came up town, found Jack Callin’s
place afire, and went on to his own
house to pack up. Carried some
things from his house out and across
Front street, when he saw Kanitz
drawing an empty sled coming from
the direction of Keystone avenue.
This was about 30 minutes after he
i came up—town. Saw him several
times later at a distance. Regarding
changes made in block for the post
office said they consisted of repaper
ing the interior; that no new floor
was laid, but old floor patched up in
places, and a window and a door nail
ed up. Known Mr. Kanitz for a num
ber of years. Said business men had
agreed to pay a certain sum each
month to get postofflce there. Kanitz
stated that they had not done so and
he was very dissatisfied with arrange
ment; that Suessdorff had not done
right. Made no specific threats but
said he would get even. Said he was
not getting enough out of the rent
and wanted to get rid of the office.
On cross examination insisted Kanitz
had complained of not getting his
share of the money paid by mer
chants. Rent from government $118
per quarter. Agreement between Ka
nitz and government covered period
of ten years. Said when he saw Ka
nitz in alley he wore overcoat and
cap. Was ordinary length overcoat.
On re-direct examination, said after
taking goods from his house to Front
street, saw Mrs. Kanitz standing in
door of her house. She asked him
to help with children. Took one boy
over to Keystone avenue and left him
and went back to assist further. Mrs.
Kanitz told him she could get along
all right. Later met Otto and spoke
to him about fire. Otto stated so far
his place was all right.
L. F. Washburn was called for the
government. Said he was a baker,
employed Blum’s bakery. Bakery
(Continued on Page Two.)
THAW’S MOTHER
i.t-IFl
WILL TAKE COMPLETE -^CHARGE
7
_______ >
Mother of Harry Thaw Will Assume
Complete Control of Legal Battle
J
to Save Her kon From Imprison
ment on Kidnapping Cliurge.
PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 16.—It la
reported here that Mrs. Mary Copely
Thaw, the mother of Harry Thaw, has
taken complete charge and will direct
the legal battle to retain her son's
freedom.
Thaw is rapidly recovering from
his self-inflicted wounds, and it Is
expected he will be able to leave the
hospital within a week. His family
has not yet visited his bedside, but
his mother is expected here within a
day or two. Henry Scott, counsel for
Thaw, has asked for a hearing before
the federal court before extradition
is granted to New York.
—
GOES ASHORE OKI EUREKA
United States Cruiser Strikes on Bar
While Assisting in Salving Subma
rine H-3—Taking Off Crew With
Breeches Buoy. -" ‘
EUREKA. Calif., Jan. 15.—The
first class cruiser Milwaukee, with a
crew of 670 men aboard, went ashore
off this port at 4 o’clock this morn
ing while engaged in the salving of j
the U. S. submarine H-3 which went;'
ashore here several days ago. The |
Milwaukee is stuck fast in the sand j
in about 12 feet of water and experts c
consider her position dangerous and
little chance of her ever being float- (
ed. The life saving crew shot a line ,
over here, and are now engaged in |
bringing the crew ashore in the
breeches buoy. A heavy sea is run
ning making the position of the war
ship doubly dangerous.
Ship Rolling Badly.
SONOMA. Calif., Jan. 15.—The
cruiser Milwaukee, which went
ashore off Eureka at an early hour
this morning, is reported to be lying
broadside to the breakers and roll
ing heavily. She has listed badly and
it is feared that she will roll com
pletely. The life saving crew is tak
ing off the crew by the aid of the
breeches buoy.
Caperton to Direct Work.
WASHINGTON, D. C., Jan. 15.—
Following the receipt of the news of
the standing of the cruiser Milwau
kee off Eureka, the Navy Depart
ment issued orders to Admiral Caper
ton, commander of the Pacific fleet,
to take charge of the work of salving
the cruiser.
GRAPE GROWERS WANT TO
CURB ACTIVITIES SALOONS
SAN FRANCISCO: The Califor
nia Grapegrowers Association, which
recently held a convention in this
city, has demanded an overhauling
and curtailment of the activities of
the saloons of the state, claiming
that prejudice against them by the
people is liable to put the vineyards
of the state out of existence. They
claim that wrongfully conducted sa
loons are responsible for the activity
against the liquor business.
Tornado Kills 11 Children
MUSKOGEE: A school house, in
which 60 children were employed at
their studies, was hit by^a tornado
yesterday afternoon, and 11 of the
Inmates were killed, while others
were injured.
Internrban Car Kills Woman
PORTLAND: Lillian Luscher, ag
ed 19 years, was killed yesterday,
when an interurban street railway
car ran down the auto in which she
was riding, at a street crossing.
PRESIDENT WILL
HIKE EFFORT
ro SECURE PEACE IN EUROPE
Despite Attitude of Belligerents tlie
«
President Will Make Another At
tempt Within a Fortnight—May
Send Col. House to Europe.
WASHINGTON, D. C., Jan. 15
Officials close to the President de
tlare that regardless of the attitude
)f the belligerents, Wiison will con
:inue his efforts to bring about peace
,n Europe, and his next move is ex
pected in about a fortnight. Just
what course the next move of the
President will take is being kept a
profound secret In some quarters it
is rumored that the President will
work through foreign diplomats in
this city and in others it is asserted
that he will send Col. House, Ills
personal representative on a mission
to the capitals of the nations at war
with a new proposal.
STANLEY DOLLAR
PROCEEDS SOUTR
PULLED OFF REEF ACTIVE PASS
Is Floated by Aid of Wrecker Salvor
and Now on Way to Seattle to Dis
charge Her Curgo and Be Inspect
ed—Hole in Pert Side.
SEATTLE, Jan. 15.—The steamer
Stanley Dollar, of the Alaska Steam
ship line, which struck on a reef at
;he entrance to Active Pass Satur
lay morning was floated yesterday
jy the aid of the wrecking steamer
salvor, and is now on her way to Se
ittle to discharge her cargo and un
lergo inspection. The extent of her
njuries are unknown, but are not
jelieved to be serious.
Arrives At Blakeley.
PORT BLAKELEY, Wash., Jan
L5.—The steamer Stanley Dollar,
which struck a reef in Active Pass
Saturday, arrived here today and is
mgaged in discharging her cargo.
She has a hole in her port side of
jonsiderable size, and as soon as her
:argo is taken out of her she will
.ndergo repairs here
WILL OF LATE S. BLUM
ADMITTED TO PROBATE
Mr. Meyer Blum received word
from Seattle today that the will of
Mr. Samuel Blum, who met death ae
ddentally Saturday, had been opened
ind probated. The executors named
in the will are W. Eckstein of the
Schwabacher Grocery Company of Se.
ittle; Leo Schwabacher of the same
Trm; Mrs. Samuel Blum, and Meyer
Blum of Valdez. The value of the
Mr. Blum’s estate was not given.
Rev. Father Fletcher left on the
steamship Spokane for Cordova,
where he will remain a few days
tm business connected with his church
it that place.
New Commissioner Appointed.
Judge Martin Moran of Nome has
seen appointed U. S. Commissioner at
Portuna Ledge (Marshall) He was
:omraissloner at Kobug some years
md and is well known.
Chairman Edes of the railway com
tnlssion, states that the Alaska rail
way will be completed in 1919.
Mrs. J. F. Tramontln left on the
iteamshlp Spokane Sunday morning,
’or Seattle and Cincinnati, O., with
the body of her husband, who was re
:ently killed in a mine accident at
Latouche. Mr. Tramontln will be in
ferred in Cincinnati.
Yukon to Be Dredged.
WASHINGTON: Included in the
rivers and harbors bill as submitted
to the house last week is an item of
*46,000 for dredging the mouth of
the Yukon.
HALIBUT ARRIVE IN PORT
NTUFFEI) WITH LIQUOR
SEATTLE: Capt. Putnam of the
Seattle dry squad seized the halibut
schooner Chicago on a charge of vio
lating the liquor laws. It is stated
that forty cases of liquor were im
ported Into Seattle from Alaska, and
that the captain of the Chicago secur
ed its entrance by placing bottles of
liquor in the mouths of halibut and
delivering them to customers.
Five bottles were found stuffed
into a 250-pound halibut.
SAYS CONDITIONS
ABE IMPOSSIBLE
AND COULD NOT BE ACCEPTED
Vienna and Other Austrian Newspa
pers Assert Conditions Set Forth
in Entente Reply to President Wil
son Are Ravings of Insane.
VIENNA, Jan. 15.—Newspapers
throughout Austria and particularly
in this city, in commenting on the
Entente reply to President Wilson,
are almost unanimous in the opinion
that the conditions set forth in the
note are impossible and assert that
only an insane person could expect
the Central Powers to accept any
such conditions.
--
POPE WILL TAKE NO
PART IX PEACE EFFORTS
* PARIS. Jan. 15.—A report from
Rome states that the Pope will take
no part in the present efforts to pro
mote peace in Europe, and will main
tain a discreet silence on the suh
|je«.
- . I • I
OF HIE S. BLUM
WERE HELD THIS AFTERNOON
Last Rites Over Remains of tlie Late
Valdez Merchant Were I>argely I
I
Attended—Many Handsome Floral
Offerings Bedecked the Casket.
SEATTLE, Jan. 15.—The funeral
of the late S. Blum took place here
this afternoon at 2 o'clock and was
largely attended. Practically all of
the prominent business men of the
city attended as did the wide circle
of friends of the deceased. Many
handsome floral offerings decked the
casket of the deceased, tributes of
the love and respect in which he
was held by his business associates
and personal friends.
Business Houses Close.
At 2 o’clock this afternoon all the
business houses in Valdez closed their
doors out of respect to the memory
of the late Samuel Blum, whose fu
neral took place in Seattle at 2
o'clock today. The public schools
of this city were also closed for the
afternoon and the court also took a
recess for an hour while the services
in Seattle were in progress.
FUNERAL SERVICES OVER
REMAINS ANGUH CHISHOLM
Funeral .services over the remains
of the late Angus Chisholm will be
held in Eagle hall tomorrow, Tues
day, afternoon at 2 o’clock, under
the auspices of the Valdez lodge of
Eagles, of which the deceased was
a member. The remains will be held
for a short time until a reply can be
received from the relatives of the
deceased, and in the event no direc
tions for the disposal of the remains
are sent the body will be sent to Se
attle for Interment.
Marshall Would Gone for Sulzer, But
J. Wilson Reed, M. D., of Marshall,
who recently arrived In Seward, •kysl
that but for the inhabitants of that
camp engaging in their weekly stam
pede just before election that mining
eamp would have gone strongly for
Sulzer.
SEATTLE ALASKANS
MAKE PROPHESIES
REGARDING POLITICAL 8HAKECP
Strong, Jennings, Brown and Hnn
nell Probably Reappointed—Polit
ical Housecleaning at Nome—Sul
zer Gets Pick of Jobs if Defeated.
SEATTLE, Jan. 15.—Alaskans in
I his city predict a great shakeup in
Alaska politics when the new appoint
ment of officials in the territory is
made. It is predicted that Governor
Strong. Judge Jennings of the Firit
Division, Judge Brown of the Third,
and Judge Bunnell of the Fourth ar >
flmost. certain of reappointment, ac
cording to these prophets. They also
assert that there will be a complete
political housecleaning at Nome,
where an entire new set of federal
officials will be made. In the Third
division, these political wiseacres as
sert, District Attorney Spence will
get the axe because of his activities
against the Tillikum club, and that
Charles A. Sulzer, the democratic
candidate for Delegate to Congress,
if defeated, will have his pick of the
Federal offices.
SAYS FALL DUE
FAINTING SPELL
NO INQUEST WILL BE HELD
*•
After Investigation Into ('ircum
stances Surroumling Death of the
Late S. Blum, Coroner Says No In
quest Is Necessary.
SEATTLE, Jan. 15.—The city
coroner, after an investigation into
Ihe circumstances surrounding the
death of the late Sam Blum, express
es the opinion that the fall from the
window of his office was caused by a
fainting spell, during which the vic
tim rushed to the window for air, and
falling, went through the aperture
to his death. There will be no in
quest.
According to the statement of his
nearest friends Mr. Blum had been
suffering from a nervous affection for
several months, accompanied by in
somnia. He had worried consider
ably for several days past over the
Valdez Are and the preservation of
the records of the First Bank of Val
dez. He was also much worried over
the effect of the Are upon hia cousin,
Meyer Blum, at the head of the Val
dez mercantile and banking depart
ments. J. M. Lathrop, who was prob
ably one of Mr. Blum’s closest
friends, stated that while talking
with Mr. Blum several days ago, he
suddenly exclaimed he needed air and
immediately fainted. A similar at
tack is said to have been the cause
of his fatal fall.
Suspect is Apprehended
LOS ANGELES: The lining of the
back of his coat filled with buckshot
and a valise which he carried filled
with nitro-glycerine, T. Sharkey was
taken into custody by detectives who
had been trailing him for days past
at the railroad depot last night.
Sharkey is suspected of complicity
in the blowing up of the Llewellyn
Iron Works. He was en route on
another fiendish job when arrested.
Duchess to Wed Plebian
CHICAGO: A dispatch from Petro
grad to the Chicago Tribune says
that Czar Nicholas, sister of Grand
Duchess Olgo, who was recently di
vorced from her royal husband,
Prince Peter of Oldenburg, will
marry plain Captain Drozdoff, of the
Russian army.
'Suspect Takes Life
ATLANTIC CITY: Bernard W.
Lewis, a wealthy youndg Plttburger,
who was wanted in connectlbn with
the murder of Maizie Colbert, an art
ists’ model of Philadelphia, shot and
killed himself in the bathroom of a
villa here yesterday, while the police
were ascending the stairs to place
him under arrest.