The Brooklyn Daily Eagle from Brooklyn, New York • Page 2

THE BROOKLYN DAILY EAGLE. NEW YORK, SAWteAY; DECEIBER 13. 1902. SUSCEIXANEOTJS. WEATHER FORECAST.

CIVIL SERVICE. BHD LIBERTY BELLES IN COURT ABOUT ANONYMOUS LETTER great actual need of coal. We cannot get what we have purchased delivered. We are willing to pay even the high prices asked by the dealers' If we can get the money. We have managed so far to send small supplies to the most needy cases, but our supply is about gone.

"If the people who have clothes to give away will send them to us we can heln Rheumatism Is a rack on 'which you need not suffer long. It dcpentls on an acid condition of tho blood, which' affects the muscles and joints, causes inflammation and pain and results from defective digestion and a torpid action of the liver, ludueys and skin. Sciatica, lumbago and stiff neck are forms of it. "Hood's Sarsaparilla has cured me of rheumatism. I was so I could not lift anything and my knees were so stiff I could hardly Bet up or down stairs." Mrs.

Hattie Turner, Bolivar, Mo. Hood's Sarsaparilla and Pills Neutralize the acidity of the blood and permanently cure rheumatism. Indications Until 8 P. M. To morrow.

Washington, December 13 For Eastern New Sn'dw to night; Sunday, probably fair; brisk, to high north winds. Record of the thermdmetcr as kept at the Brooklyn' Daily Eagle Office: '2 A. 27 10 A. 23 4A.M 27 I 12 28 A. 28 2 P.

28 '8 A. 2J JP.M: 28 Average temperature to day 27 Average temperature same date last 36 local Probabilities. Sleet and snow to night Sunday, partly cloudy and colder; 'brisk to high easterly winds, shifting late to night to northwest. At noon the Eagle's mercurial barometer registered 80.00. having fallen .39 of an inch since noon yesterday.

Official Temperature. for the 24 h(iura. ending at .2 P. M. to day: December.

12. December 13. 3 p. 36 i a. "23 4P.M 34 2 A.M.......

28 5 P. M'. 35 3 A.M.; 6 P. 32 i A. 25 P.

32 5 A. 25 P. 82 6 A. .26 9 P. 31 A.

27 10 P. 31 8 A. 27 It P. 31 9 A. M.

28 12 (Midnight) 32 10 A.M.:..... 28 I ii a. 28 12 (Noon) 28 I 1 P. 29 formed the municipal service to the state service." The allegation that the work of "per scs session" examiners has been preferred' is denied. It is shown that a larger number of salaried examiners bag been asked for.

Other assertions met are" as follows: "The association charges' that 'the Commission has invited a flood of appeals from the" markings ot its and that 'between February. 10 and November 1 the Commission had entertained more than 1,250 appeals and granted moro than "As a matter of the number' of appeals from the ratings of the examiners during this period was 577, and the number which were granted was 107. That is to say, the rating of 577 Candidates out of a total kof 14.053 has been considered by the Commission, and the ratings 'changed in only 107 cases, a proportion of .007 per cent. Under the system in existence when this Commission entei ed office, substantially none of the appeals granted would have been considered by it. for It abolished a system of so called 'automatic' appeals by which all candidates having within' 5 per cent, of the passing mark were rerated, of course, by the examiners.

"The appeal of the candidate for patrolmen was addressed to the former. Commission and Is dated December 4, 1901. He received 69.50 per cent, on his mental examination, 81.92 per cent, on his physical examination and 80 per cent, on experience. He stated that he believed, his paper on rules and regulations was entitled to a higher mark than 83. One examiner had marked him 85 oh that paper and the other 80.

His rating was raised to 84, and he thus received a passing mark on his mental examination. "The candidate for promotion to captain was appointed to the force in 1862, became a sergeant In 1873 and was the senior officer In rank. He had received 100 per cent, for seniority and 88 per cent, for record and 66.65 per cent, on his mental examination. Ho pointed out discrepancies in the marks of the examiners on different papers, varying from 5 to 12 per and ended by saying: 'I think you will agree with me that after nearly twenty nine years of honorable service as a sergeant in the Police Department, I may be pardoned for asking your co operation with your honorable commission in according me, if consistent with your rules, the mark given me by the examiner marking lalgher, as I am extremely anxious to close my career in the Police Department with the rank of The last clause of this letter is quoted by the association, the balance is omitted. "The letter of the candidate for senior clerk is dated February 14 last, before th? adoption of the rule requiring specific assignment of error.

He received 79.45 per 80 oer 'cent, being the passing mark. His mark in arithmetic was raised from the average of the two examiners to that of the one giving him the higher mark, thus enabling him to pass. There are but fifteen instances (one appeal being denied), out of 14.053 applicants, in which a candidate's papers have been rated where he has signed his name to his examination papers. Of these 14,053 applicants each one received on an average four and one half papers, making a total of about 63,000. "The association also charges that 'the bulk ot promotions in the city's public service outside of the Police and Fire Departments have been made through the thorouehly discredited system of non competitive "pass" examinations conducted by the officer having the power of The inference intended is that competition is eliminated.

Such a suggestion is wholly without foundation. Noncompetitive examinations are permitted only where there are only two candidates available for promotion. The civil service law allows the appointing officer the choice of three names from which to make an appointment." A brief answer is made to tlie Justice Hinsdale barges, and a full report of the commission's work is appended. ANSWERS IIS CRITICS. Shows That the C.

Association Has Misrepresented All the Conditions of the Work. A SIMPLY SMASHING REPLY. Every Effort Has Been Made to Hasten the Handling of Papers by Examiners. The Municipal Civil Service Commission has issued a formal answer to the attacks of the Civil Service Reform Association, covering, all the questions at issue as to the efficiency of the local board. This answer is signed by President Willis L.

Ogaen and by all the members of the commission, except Cornelius Vanderbilt, who Is very ill William N. Dykmah, Alexander T. Mason, Theodore M. Banta, William A. Perrine and Nelson S.

Spencer. On the charge of extravagant management the answer says: "This charge is that the cost in the federal service during the year ending June 30, 1302, lor each person examined, was the cost for each person examined in New York and Brooklyn in 1897, five years ago, was and that during the present year the cost has been $6.76. As we arc furnished with no data upon which these figures are based. It is not possible to discuss them with exactness. "With regard to the federal service, no proper comparison can be made, owing to the great difference in conditions.

In the federal service, examinations are conducted by local boards, appointed by the commission from persons in the Government service who perform their duties as part of the, duties of the office in which they are serving, and without, cost to the commission. In the federal service pay rolls are not examined and certified by the Civil Service Commission, but by the Treasury Department. In the municipal service during the month of November the names of 32,151 employes were examined and certified on pay rolls as properly appointed or employed under the civil service law. A similar examination and certification is accomplished each month. In the fed eral service there is no examination or registration of laborers.

In the municipal service, during the eleven months last past, there have been 5.C19 laborers examined, and 8,403 applicants have b.een registered. In the federal service the commission Is under no expense for postage. In the municipal service the commission has expended during the past eleven months $2,344 for postage. "The other figure of cost suggested by the association for comparison is almost equally unsatisfactory. The consolidated city has been in existence five years, but the association prefers to omit any comparison of tha cost of our work with that of our predecessors, and to take the figures of two different administrations in the two different cities of New York and Brooklyn, and from them to reach a composite figure, which we have been unable to verify.

As the systems ct New York and Brooklyn were not identical prior to their consolidation, and as the system as at present administered is virtually a continuation of that of tho former City of New York, we venture to limit our observations to the latter. "In the boroughs of Manhattan and the Bronx, in the' year 1897, there were 4,699 applicants examined at a cost tor each person oE $5.64. This is exclusive of the labor service. In the eleven months of the year 1902 there have been 14,053 applicants examined, at a cost for each person examined of $5.63, exclusive of labor service. This cost is computed iipon all expenses of the office, including all salaries, clerical services and other disbursements, whether connected with the ex.

amining work oi otherwise, except the cost of removing its offices. A substantial part of these expenses, such as that arising from the certification of payrolls, the supervision of the civil service and the prosecution of investigations, has no connection with the examining work. One of the savings which the commission has made to the city is a substantial reduction of the rent which the city was paying for its offices (although not paid out cf its appropriation), amounting to a year. Following consolidation the expenses of the commission were at once greatly Increased, but from 1898 to 1902 the decrease In the cost per capita has been steady. In 1898, the first year of the consolidated city, the eost per capita was in 1899, in 1900, in 1901, in 1902, $5.63.

A schedule showing the amount of the appropriation each year, the number of persons examined and the cost per capita for each person is annexed hereto. "The cost per capita of examining candidates is at best a very rough test of efficiency. Thus in 1898 changes in the law interrupted examinations for five months, decreasing the numbers examined and more than doubling the cost per capita because salaries of examiners and other expenses went on while examinations were suspended." With reference to the accusation of dilatory methods the commissioners deny that they have "seriously embarrassed other departments and obstructed the conduct of public business." They call attention to themany new offices and classifications of the revised charter which made a rush of work at the start, and explain delays caused by statutory and other unavoidable conditions. They say: "There is of necessity an initial delay of fifteen days in advertising the examination. Then, too, examinations cannot all be held on one day and the dates for holding them must be distributed in such manner as to satisfy the more pressing demands.

The answers to each set of questions must be rated by the same two examiners. If they should be distributed to different examiners, it introduces an element of unfairness which destroys the value of the competition. If there are one hundred candidates and the papers of fifty are rated by A and of fifty by the diverse minds of the examiners necessarily apply different tests and their marks and ratings do not make a fair competition. "This is elemental in civil service administration. It is not physically possible for two examiners adequately to rate 1,020 papers of a technical character at once.

And yet that is what the association Seems to demand, of the commission. In our judgment it was better that a department should undergo a temporary Inconvenience in order that the work might be well donr than that it should he inefficient and defective in quality. On the latter point the association does not venture a complaint, and we think none can be made. That the inconvenience was often more apparent than real is evident from the fact that after many lists were issued no appointments were made from them for a substantial period of time. "As a result of this great, imperative and concentrated demand for new eligible lists, certain delays were inevitable.

But, we submit," it is only a hasty and ill considered judgment which will charge the Civil Service Commission with inefficiency in the furnishing of eligible lists, under these when, as the tact is, there has been no commission, so far as we are aware, since the inauguration of the merit system in the City of New York, which has furnished lists of comparable character in so brief a time as we have done." up the charge that the commission sought an extension of the examination period by law, the answer says: "It seems charitable to consider this statement an inadvertance, and we cannot but think that if the other charges, concerning which no data are furnished, arc based' upon as insufficient a foundation, they might be dismissed without serious discussion. The commission made no appeal to the State Legislature for an extension of time to mark its examination papers. There is no limit of time fixed in which such marking can be made. The reference is undoubtedly made to Chapter 355 of the Laws of 1902, which amended Section 14 of the Civil Service Law so as to provide that a provisional appointment without a competitive examination in a city as well as in the state service, should not continue for a longer period than two months. This was the period in the state service, but the time had therefore been limited to one month in any city.

The amendment simply con relieve the suffering from the cold. Good warm ciotnes will at least enable the poor to stand the. cold better." Superintendent Edward C. A Vila of the Brooklyn. Association for Improving the Condition of the Poor, said: "We have some coal paid for, but cannot get it delivered.

All this is nearly gone and we have many applications for coal from deserving poor. There are cases of extreme need which must be attended to. The dealers are charging such prlceB that the poor who could ordinarily buy their own coal find themselves 'unable to do so. now. For in stance, I had a woman whom we had once helped come in yesterday and plead for me to get her some, coal at a reasonable price.

She was once dependent upon our aid, but now she has a daughter at work and Is willing to pay for coal, but she cannot get it at a price which she is able to pay. She told me she went to a certain dealer (mentioning a well known firm which gets its coal from the operators at $5.50 a ton) and was asked $12 a ton." The dealers are finding it impossible to deliver coal as fast as orders are taken on account of the condition of the streets. Extra horses and carts are being hired by them. One well known firm which is selling coal at $7 a ton received three barges of 500 tons each within the past day or two. More coal is coming to the Jersey ports now than last week, but there seems to be a great delay in shipping it to the local yards.

BRIDGE NO 4 REPORTED ON. Only a Few of the Lindenthal Changes Approved by Special Commission. A report was received to day by Mayor Low from the special commission appointed to pass on changes in the Blackwell's Island bridge plan proposed by Bridge Com misloner Lindenthal. The commission consisted of Professor William H. Burr of Columbia University, Professor Palmer C.

Ricketts of the Troy Polytechnic Institute, and Henry W. Hedges of Manhattan. Tho commission disapproves the idea of lessening the width of the bridge from 120 feet to 80 feet, but concedes that a reduction might be made to SI feet. It disapproves also the double deck scheme of Commissioner Lindenthal, but accepts several of his changes which were of an engineering character. Among these arc the provisions for stairways nnd elevators from Blackwell's Island.

The Jackson avenue plaza in Queens, and the roadway approach at Vernon avenue to the viaduct, are also approved. These plans still have to go before the Municipal Art Commission. They were withdrawn from that commission by Commissioner Lindenthal before they had been acted upon. FRANK H. BRIST0W DEAD.

Son. of the Congressman Succumbs to Typhoid Fever in "Washington. (Special to the Eagle.) Washington, December 13 Frank H. Bristow, son of Representative Bristow of Brooklyn, died at. the Garfleld Hospital in this city yesterday, after a long illness, from typhoid fever.

Young Mr. Bristow was engaged in business in this city as the representative of a New York firm of manufacturers. At the time of his eath his wife was with him. The body of tho young man was taken to Brooklyn last night by his wife, father and mother. Frank Bristow, son of Congressman Henry R.

Bristow, whose death occurred at Washington. D. C. yesterday, of typhoid fever, after an illness of bIx weeks, was born on March 7, 185S, at 400 Sixth avenue, where his body now lies awaiting funeral services. He attended Public School No.

39, and after graduating from Claghorn's Business College he went into business with his father in this borough, continuing there after his father was elected judge and subsequently Congressman. For some months he had been living in Washington and wa3 a partner in the firm of Van Reuth makers of a patented article. He was taken ill two days before election and his condition being almosst immediately serious his father and mother went to Washington and had been near bim almost continuously since. His death yesterday was unexpected, as he had rallied somewhat, but he suddenly relapsed. He had married Miss Nellie Grant of this borough, nine years ago, and she survives him, with a child of 7 years, named Harry, after his grandfather.

The deceased was one of the founders and long a prominent member of the Booth Dramatic Society, and also had belonged to the Cortelyou Club. He was especially popular in both organizations. The body was brought on from Washington last night. The funeral services will be held at his late home, at 4 o'clock to morrow afternoon. The Rev.

Dr. James M. Farrar will officiate. CHEISTMAS KILLED HIMSELF. Saloonkeeper, Despondent Because of Business Reverses, Used a Pistol.

Christian a saloonkeeper at 5 Bushwick avenue, committed suicide this morning by shooting himself in the right temple. His wife, who had been attracted by the screams of her husband, rushed to his room and found him lying on the floor, with a bullet wound in his head. Dr. Jennings of St. Catherine's Hospital was called, but Christmas was dead on his arrival Business reverses are given as the cause of the suicide.

Christmas formerly conducted a prosperous liquor business, but financial troubles came and he grew despondent. He leaves two small children. TO NAME FULLER OR HANBURY. Contest for Election Commissioner Narrowed Down to These Two Men. It Is Said.

It seemed to be assumed to day that the contest over the Election Commissionershlp to represent the Republicans of Brooklyn had narrowed down to a choice between Senator Rudolph C. Fuller and Congressman Harry A. Hanbury. The choice so far aa the Republican organization is concerned will probably be made at a meeting of the executive committee next week. Hanbury has bene putting forth considerable effort recently and now believes ho has secured the Influence of Michael J.

Dady. He is, however, very much out of favor with all the independents and many say it would be the worst sort of politics for the Republican uparty to appoint him now. FFuller would satisfy the independents and is a good machine man, too. NO DESSERT MORE ATTRACTIVE. Why use jreUtlne and spend time oaltfnc, sweetening, flavoring and coloring when JKLL 0 produces better results In two minutes? Everything In the packaBe.

Simply add hot water and pet away to cool It's perfection. A sum surprise to jhe hounewife. No trouble, lens expense. Try It to day. In Four Fruit Flavors: Lumon, Orance.

Strawberry Raspberry. At your grocer's. 10c. Enoush for six. THE GENESEE PURE FOOD Le F.oy, X.

T. Theodore Starr Diamond Merchant, Jeweler and Silversmith, MADISON SQUARE WEST Between 23th and 26th Streets. Established 1S2. IS years on John St. ae Starr Marcus.

2i years as above. SPECIAL NOTICE. No connection with any other house in this line of business. SHAW NOT TO AID WALLSTREET. Belief That He Contemplates No Action to Believe the Money Stringency.

Washington, December 13 Secretary. Shaw declines to say anything for publication aa to the attitude of the Treasury Department in regard to the present money stringency in New York. There is reason to believe, however, that no action whatever Is contemplated now or at any time in the near future and certainly not so long as the interests involved are not extended to the substantial business operations of the countty outside of its present limited area. It Is understood that the department takes the position that the government is not involved in the present situation, and that Wall, street must rely upon his own resources to tide over the present stringency. At this time the Treasury has no available' cash on hand above a moderate working balance approximating $58,000,000, and It is not Its present purpose to further reduce tho source by making additional deposits in national bank depositories or otherwise.

BULLDOG SEIZED HER THROAT. Animal Hung on at Miss Freda Vbl quartz's Neck tfntil ChokedOff. Then She Fainted. Miss Freda' Volquartz, 21 yeara old, of 132? Boston Road, bad a narrow escape from possibly fatal injuries this and showed a rare presence of mind. Miss Volqiiarte was walking down the street and met a neighbor, Fred Dorn, who had a newly purchased bulldog with him.

They stopped to talk about the dbg, and Miss Volquartz stooped down 'to pat it. The dog made a sudden leap at her and seized her by the throat and held on. Both Mis3 Volquartz and Dorn held tfta ejog by the thfoat until they choked It off. Miss Volquartz then fainted: She was taken to her residence and Dr. D.

J. Quirk of 1,001 Boston road cauterized the wound. The wound was not serious, but Dr. Quirk said if Miss Volquartz had lifted her head, which she did not do, the weight of the dog would probably have torn the Jugular vein and killed her. HANDCUFFED TO A Sad.

Sight Witnessed by Passengers on a Long Island Railroad Train This Honing; (Special to the Eagle.) Jamaica, L. December 13 Passengers in the forward smoking car of the train for Brooklyn, leaving here at 8:07 this morning, were witnesses to a sad and unusual sight. They, saw a tiny white boy, scarcely 4 feet high and evidently very young, 'handcuffed to a burly negro. Two other negroes, handcuffed together, and all lu charge of an officer from Oyster Bay, Constituted the party. The officer was taking the negroes to the Kings County Penitentiary to serve a six months' sentence for chicKen stealing, and the boy was to be delivered to the superintendent of the House of Refuge, on Randall's Island, it was learned.

He is said to be incorrigible, a truant and all round bad boy. He seemed utterly indifferent to his fate and munched contentedly on some cheese and ginger snaps which one of the negro prisoners took from his pocket. The child's lips were stained with tobacco, and he seemed not in th; least shocked by tho ribald remarks of his fellow prisoners. He was poorly cwd, having no overcoat and his shoes were in wretched condition. Parents who saw the boy and contrasted his pitiful condition with that of their own little ones shuddered, nnd some were heard to re mark that it would have been wiser had the officer handcuffed the third prisoner to himself and riot to the child.

FIGHT OVER LEYH'S WILL Evident That a Bitter Contest Will Be a suit Between Heirs Court Applica tion Coming Monday. was evident to day there would be. bitter contest over the distribution of the estate of the late George H. Leyh, the aged truss maker of 73 Broadway In the Eastern District, whose death is supposed to have been due to a dose of cyanide of potassium, administered by some unknown person. Dr.

George F. Leyh, his son, has not as yet offered his father's will for probatev and it is intimated that he does not 'intend to ask tho surrogate to order an accounting in the case until the cause of his lather's death has been clearly demonstrated. Coroner Williams has not as yet received the report of the chemist who is analyzing the contents of Mr. Leyh's stomachy and It" wiU be fully one week, it is underriood, befbte the Inquest is held. In them eantime Edward Leyh, son, (if the murdered man, is anxious, to have an accounting of some kind in order to know in what condition his claim to the.

estate lies. He has an impression that be was disinherited by his father in all of the three wills which are known to exist, and which his brother, Dr. George F. Leyh, is said to be chief executor. It was announced to day that Lawyer Franklin Taylor represents the interests of Edward Leyh.

and that he would make an application to the court on oMnday, asking for an order requiring Dr. George F. Leyh to offer the last will for probate. It Is understood that the docunionts value owned by the deceased truss maker wore in the possession of the Wllllamsburgh Trust Company, and that soon after, his rleath Dr. George F.

Leyh took possession of some of thein. Edward Leyh has protested to the trust company against the delivery of any of those papers, but. It Is claimed, that the only paper which Dr. Leyh received was the deed to the family plot in Lutheran Cemetery. It la believed that there will be a bitter "contest over the will by all concerned.

The estate amounts to $300,000, so tar aa Is known. It is alleged that Mrs. McLeod, the daughter. Is cut off in the will from a share in estate, and Mrs. McLeod ia not acting In harmony with her brother, Edward, ia these proceedings.

Mrs. Clark Says Mrs. Robbins Wrote It, but the Magistrate Dismisses the Case. CAPT. HARKINSGOTTHE LETTER.

Lawyer Says the Police Officer Ought to Be Arraigned for Giving It Out. A delegation from the Ltbery Belles Lodge of the Daughters of. Liberty, which holdB its secret and solemn sessions in East New York, was in the Gates avenue court tp in a body to listen to the charges of sending unladylike letters to one of their members by one of their members. Mrs. Fannie Clark of 108 Essex street, who formerly lived at 262 Linwood appeared as complainant against Mrs, Margaret Robbins of 2,736 Atlantic avenue.

Mrs. Clark's complaint was that anonymous, letters had been sent to Captain Harklns and women in the sacred lodge, and that she believed that Mrs. Robbins was the author of them. Furthermore, she believed that Mrs. Robbins was the writer because an intimate friend of hers had heard from an intimate friend of an intimate friend of Mrs.

Robbins that she was Jealous of her huBband. Several other women had also received these anonymous letters, among them Mrs. Robbins. Mrs. Clark recently removed from her Linwood street address for the reason, as stated, that she had been much bothered by the blight that had been put upon her life tithe letters which she thinks come from the pen of Mr3.

Robbins. Mrs. Clark testifl id that on one occasion Mrs. Robbins was heard to remark that they might stop her mouth, but they couldn't stop her pen. The letter to Captain Harkihs follows: "Captain Harklns, Fifty third Precinct I wish to call your attention to a house of ill repute kept by a woman named Clark at 270 Linwood street, first flat, left.

She has had men of all classes and colors visit her, both married and single. Here arc some of the names, Finganzi, Scaeffer, Smith. Sweet and various others too numerous to mention. At the present time she has an officer' in your precinct by name Hann, visit beY very often. "I understood that police officers were paid to suppress such vice, but with this officer it seems to be the reverse.

Such men as he are a disgrace to brass buttons. "This woman's husband is out on Long Island Greenport. I believe working, and docs not come homo but once a year. She has a little girl, 6 years and I think the Gerry Society should be notified to look alter this litle child, as her mother Is no fit person to have her in charge. "A NEIGHBOR.

"The number, 270, I am not sure of, but the house is between Fulton street and At lantio avenue. It is the first double fiat house from Fulton street, about the center of the street." Several Liberty Belles took the stand, among them a Mrs. Brewer, who declared that at one time she and her husband had accompanied Mr. Robbins down the street. When they reached the gate in front of the Robbins house Mrs.

Robbins came running out, called Mrs. Brewer an uncomplimentary name and after punching her in the face, hissed: "This is where hfs. money is it? He can buy you automobiles, diamond rings, and sealskin sacques, but I have no motley to buy pants for tho Mrs. Brewer fled in terror before this onslaught. Attorney John Anderson appeared for the Liberty Belles who were complaining pt Mrs.

Robbins, while that Woman's interests were in the hands of Elections Commissioner John McGuire. Mrs. Brewer while on the stand, said that at one time Mrs. Robbins had attacked her character in the secret lodge meeting and had said that she was not married to Mr. Brewer.

Mr. McGuire moved to dismiss after the Clark side of the case had been put in and contended" that as long as Captain Harklns had given the letter out that he should suffer for its publication; that it was a privileged communication to a police officer. "You think that Captain Harklns ought to be arraigned here instead oi this woman?" inquired Magistrate Furlong with a smile. "Whoever published the Is guilty," answered ths commissioner. His motion was denied and Mrs.

Robbins was called to the stand in her own behalf. "Did you write this letter?" her lawyer asked her as he showed the Harklns letter. "No. sir." "Oh came from the Liberty Belles, who wer closely crowded into three rows of seats near the front. "I never wrote a letter in my life that I was afraid to sign my name to," replied the witness as she shot a glare of triumph at the bunch of women.

Mrs. Robbins admitted that she had said in the solemn lodge that Mrs. Brewer was not married oMr. Brewer, for $he had seen the 'marriage lines" and had been so informed by the original Mrs. Brewer.

Mrs. Brewer was recalled. "Your name was formerly Mrs. Uptnan?" she was asked. "Yes, sir." "Where is your husband?" "I don't know.

We separated seventeen years ago and I haven't seen him since. Yes, I am married to Mr. Brewer." The witness said that one time while Biswas friendly with Mrs. Robbins that woman had said that she would write a letter to her cousin on brown paper and tell her what slic thought of her. "On brown paper?" inquired Magistrate Furlong.

"Is it any more galling to write on brown paper than on the highest priced stationery?" It seemed to be in, the eyes of the Liberty Belles. After much argument by counsel the case was dismissed and Mrs. Robbins hurried from the court room. The rest of the belles stayed to tell each other what they thought of each other, of Mrs. RobblnB, of the" brainy looking judge, of tho handsoni') lawyer on the other side and various other things.1 They all insisted upon talking at once and at the same time.

HELD FOR BEATING WIFE. Mrs. Hamilton Says' Her Husband Also1 Forced Her to Serve His Heals to Him in Bed. Thomas H. Hamilton, a stalwart chap, who lives at 216 Richardson street, was held for trial before the Court of Special Sessions by Magistrate O'Reilly in the Manhattan avenue court to day, on a charge of assault preferred by bis wife, Mary.

The frail woman said that her husband had compelled her every morning to serve his meals to him in bed and then go out to work. She grew tired of this and a few days ago started to work without preparing. his breakfast for him: When she returned, he, as alleged, beat her and "threatened to repeat the punishment If she refused to carry his meals to him every morning. He went io jail in default of bail. STOLE FOE, HER SICK BABY.

Mrs. Anna Schmidt, 19 years old, of 203 Graham avenue, was arraigned before Magistrate O'Reilly in the Manhattan avenue court to day on a charge of stealing a mat valued at $2 from the vestibule on 37 Scholes street. The woman admitted the laroeny, but said her husband was 111 and that she was forced to steal in order to obtain money to buy medicine and food for her sick child. She was paroled for a hearing on Tuesday: NEWTOWN CREEK BRIDGE BROKEN (Special to the Eagle.) Long Island City, L. December .13 Jf machinery of the Newton Creek draw bridgo at Vernon avenue broke down at noon and tugboat Mascot was hired to tow the draw open and close it.

If rhe bridge cannot be repaired by Monday afternoon the temporary bridge will be put in' service. feet In theory, but it won't work with any degree of satisfaction. The Brooklyn elevated trains use iron scrapers for the rails and loosen up the ice with brine, but it' is impossible to clean the rails so that the insulation will not be impaired and power wasted. The railroad officials say that the present tie up on the elevated lines does not prove by any means that the motor ssytem is a failure. They expect to have the system perfected soon so that the rails may be kept tree from ice.

Storm Delays in Eastern District. The storm and the slippery streets along the several trolley lines in Greenpoint and Wllllamaburgh played havoc with traffic during the early morning hours, and delays were frequent along the Lorlmer, CrosBtown, Greenpoint and Bushwick avenue lines. The habit of truck drivers of monopolizing the tracks in the hope of finding better going, and then getting wedged in and causing a tle un was the chief cause of the trouble, and while motormen used double blanks to voice their displeasure, the unfortunate passengers kicked their feet together and railed against the elements in an effort to keep warm. Along Manhattan avenue and the other important thoroughfa res cf the section the street cleaners get to worl early and the cars had nut little snow to" contend with on their way to the Greenpoint ferries. Out in the sparsely Inhabited portions of the Fifteenth and Seventeenth wards conditions were not so good, however, and, despite the diligent work of the railroad company's sweepers, blockades were of frequent occurrence, and all the cars were late in reaching their destination.

Eastern District residents were agreeably urprlsed this morning over the excellent time made by the cars of the various lines running to the ferries at the foot of Broadway. While the storm caused some little delay in several of the lines it was not of sufficient inirjortancc to cause passengers to complain. It was evident that the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company was determined not to be caught napping in the same manner run under a shorter headway and almost on schedule time. The snow caused some delay to the Ocean avenue, Marcy, Tompkins and Xostrand avenue lines in surmounting some of. the steep grades but as a rule fairly good time was made on all the lines.

The elevated system as usual last night was almost practically compelled to abandon their third rail system and resorted to engines to propel their trains. Queens Trolley Lines Tied Tp. (Special to the Eagle.) Long Island L. December 13 There was little if any delay in the running of the Long Island Railroad trains to day, but the snow storm crippled the trolley lines of the Xew York and Queens Railroad and cars were delayed greatly in all directions. COAL ONLY AT $12 RATE.

Even Then You Must Ask It as a Favor and the Poor Are Suffering Terribly. The snow to day, following the sleet of yesterday, brought the real pinch so long dreaded in the matter of the fuel supply here. To day. at all the coal yards in Brooklyn, already crowded with orders which cannot be filled for perhaps several weeks, people actually suffering from the lack of heat in their houses, called and begged for enough coal to tide them over until next week. Their pleas were futile in most cases, because of one of two reasons.

Many of the smaller dealers, with no pull with the operators and big middlemen, have no coal to sell, and those who have coal could not promise to deliver orders taken to day until some time next week. The mask has dropped off some of the Brooklyn coal dealers who have been quoting $7 prices to the public and charging $10 and $12 per ton. Before this cold spell it wag so thin that any intelligent person could Bee through it. There are a tew coal dealers here who are. doing the best they can to supply the desperate needs of their customers and others at a good but not unreasonable profit.

Nine tenths of the coal delivered now stands the purchaser out from to $12. Some of the large dealers will not deliver coal for less than $12. When a reporter sees those dealers and asks them about the price they usually say $7 or $8. There Is always a string tied "to this quotation, however. Here's a scene illustrative of how these men get ihslr prices: A man, snow covered and shivering, enters a coal dealer's office.

He bows, almost salaams, to a man behind a wicket. The would be purchaser asks in a tone of humility: "Have you any coal you could send me lo i)ealer I am afraid it is precious little we have on hand. Wo are expecting a barge to day, but the Lord ltnows when it will set here. Purchaser If I can get only a half or a quarter of a ton it would keep my family from freezing. We haven't had a fire in the house to day.

The children are in bed. We won't let them get up for fear of pneumonia. I've got to get some coal. Dealer We have orders for every lump of coal, we can expect to get in next week. We have more orders than we can fill before Christmas.

I've had to turn a hundred like you away to day. You see how it is Purchaser What couid you let me have a half ton for, say by Monday, then? Dealer (fumbling his papers and looking out of the window) Well, you see our price is $7 to customers when we've go the coal. If we fill outside orders we've got to pay middlemen more than that for it. Then we've been compelled to hire extra carts and horses and have lost on our last spring contracts. Purchaser We'll make the price satisfactory to you.

then. Dealer Well, say $12 a ton; that's what the other dealers are charging. I'm putting myself out, but I'll do it as a favrr to you. This is the sort of conversation that can be heard in nearly every coal dealer's place Rrnnklvn. The charity organizations of this borough have poor people come to them and aBk for coal at reasonable cost, because the big dealr era have asked them $12 a ton.

The man In moderate circumstances Is in almost as bad fix as the poor. He would not accept aid from the charity societies even if they would ender It. and he cannot get coal unless he willing to spend his savlnes by outbidding the well to do man. For that Is about what it amountB to outbidding. The dealer knows that he can force the price up, for the people who can afford luxuries are not going to sit in cold roomB.

The poor people who live in tenements are nearly all suffering to day. The very poor, those that depend upon charity, are suffering also, for the charities find it difficult to hnv at nrespnf nml innrn Htfflnult in hnv. delivered. The Brooklyn Bureau of Charities and the Brooklyn Association for Improving the Condition of the Poor both have small supply of coal on paper. That Is they1 have purchased some, but it is used as fast as it is delivered, and even then only the acute eases of suffering are attended to.

General Secretary W. f. Bishop of the Brooklyn Bureau of Charities, said this morning: "We know of many families which are in Aveiage temperature to day Precipitation for 24 hours ending 8 A. to Oaji PreolpjUtlon from 8 A. M.

to 2 P. M. hpurs ending at 8. M. to day HIGH WATEB.

A. TlmeiHelgnt a. M.l Feet P. M. Time Height I h.

m. Feet Dura'n ot Sis Fall H. H. New Tork.l .8:58 SandyHookj oiin I S.4 5.5 4.5 4. 5:54 I 6:08 I 6:25 6:35 ASTRONOMICAL EVENTS.

Td night and To morro Slorning. Sun. sets 4:81. rises 7:17. Moon sets 6:28 A.

M. Conjunction between Mercury and Uranus. SHIP NEWS. Arrived at New York To day. Federica.

from Trieste. Havana, from Vera. Cruz. Peninsular, from Lisbon. PotoVnac.

from Liverpool. from" Ga)vest6n. Sailed Prom New York To day. Alamo, for Mobile and Brunswick. Erica, for Kingston.

Finland, for Antwerp. Rotterdam, for Rotterdam. Siberia, for San Francisco. Trtbia, for Savannah. Arrived at Foreign Ports To day.

Liverpool Bellaura. from New York. Liverpool Campania, from New York. Port Said Thordls, from New York. Sailed Prom Foreign Ports To day.

Antwerp Kroonland. for New York. Bermuda Kttramanla, from Naples, for New York Havre La Savoic, for New York. Mverpool Etruria, for New York. Manila Indrawadl.

for New York. Southampton rSt. for New York. BROOKLYN AND QUEENS FIRES. Fires reported and alarms for Are received at Fire Headquarters, Brooklyn, during the twenty tour hours ending at 8 A.

December 18, 1902: December 12, 9:12 A. M. SS7 Gates avenue, three story brick: damage to building and stock none. December 12, 10:35 A. M.

627 Sixtieth street, two story frame; damage to building and stock trifling. December 12. 4:30 M. 79 Manhattan avenue, five Btory brick; chimney Are. December 12, 4:50.

A. M. River, street, between North Second and North Third streets, three story "brick damage to building and stock none. December 12, (S ularms) 351 Classon avenue, three story brick; damage not estimated. December '12, A.

M. 371 Hudson avenue, four stciry. frame: damage to building none, age iflto Decent! street, foiir stol Ing and stock elf Amphton Quincy Adams Sawyer. BIJou The Still Alarm. Blnney's The Great Eolson Mystery.

Columbia Carmen, Folly Are You a Gayety Al Reeves Burlesque. Gotlmm Ttte Red Barn. Grand Opera House Alphonse and Gaston. Hyde Bohman's Vaudeville. Montauk Mrs.

Leslie Carter, In Du Barry. Orpheum Vaudeville. Park Uncle Tom's Cabin. Psyton's Aristocracy. Starr Irwin's Majesties.

Unique MIS3 New York, Jr. Manhattan. Academv of Music The and Nine. American Slaves of Russia. Beioaco Theater The Darling of the God (Blanche Butca).

Btiou The Mocklnrr Bird. Broadway The Silver Slipper. Carnegie Hall Boston Symphony Orcliestra. Casino Chinese Honeymoon. cilterlon Cavalier (Julia Marlowe).

Daly's A Country air! Eden Musqe Waxworks. Empire Imprudence (William Favorshami. fourteenth Street Old Limerick Town (Chauncey Olcuttl. Gardiin Theater Th Cardinal (E g. Wlllard).

Garilok The Stubbornness of Oeraldlne (Mary Manner jnsi. Grand The New Clown. Harlem Opera HoUse 'The Only Way. Herald Squure Richard Manstlsld. in Julius Cao ilvirtlg Seamon's Vaudeville.

Irvine Place Dcr Bureaukrat. Keith's Vaudeville. Knkkcrbocker Tho Altar of Friendship Qfal Goodwin and llaiine Madison Square Audrey. Manhattan Mrs. Kiske in Mary of Magdala.

Metropolis Andrew Metropolitan Opera House Tosca. In Italian. Mrs Osborn'B Playhouse Fad and Folly. Murray Hill New Savoy A Country Mouse (Ethel Burrymorel New Star A Ragged Herp. New York Sally Our Alley.

Paradise Hoof Vaudeville. pastor's Vaudevllle. Pflriiess The Night of tlio Party. Procter')! (Twonty third Street) Vaudeville. I'roctbr's (Fifth Avenue) Saints and Sinners.

Proctor's (Fttty elghth Street) Uncle Tom's Cabin FroMor's (One Hundred and Twemy Wtn streeu Alvln Joslln. Bt. Nicholas Garden Bostock's Animals. Tli'e Dewey World Beaters' Burlesquers. Third Avenue A Montana Outlaw.

Vlctorla The Eternal Cfty (Viola Alien). Wallttck's The Crisis (James K. Hackett). Wbr A Fields TwHrljt Whtrly, West End Thpater 1 Cohans. LABORER HTTBT BY A FALL.

Thomas J. Burke of. 17.9 Stuyvesant avenue, a laborer employed on the new school building at Boerum and.Leonard streets, stepped on an ice covered beam yesterday afternoon and fell a distance of about twenty feet, sustaining a fractured, ankle, contusions and a scalp wound. CLOCK BETRAYED THIEVES. Alarm Went Off; Men Were Arrested and Pound to Have a Dozen Stolen Timepieces.

Detective Michael Lynch of the Butler street station was standing in front of a pawnbroker's shop on Atlantic on the lookout lor lawbreakers, last night, when two" men eanie along with a box. The men acted suspiciously and Lynch strolled along behind. He had not gone far when he heard the sound of ah alarm clock as he supposed from within the box the men were carrying. Tho oiflver arrested the pair and at the station fiouse learned the box contained just dozen clocks, stolen from 24 Doughty street. prisoners said they were John 30 years old, of 101 Atlantic avenue, and John Uckert, 26' years old, of 1,208 Eighth avenue.

When' confronted by Alexander J. Smith, a truckman of 494 Henry street, from whom the were stolen, the accused admitted their guilt and were held for the Court of Special Sessions by Magistrate Tighe in the Butler stret court. Tali imtare on Tsryboa of the genuine Laxative urooiouuuuDe Tablet tt nmsdj ttat vmtt a day FINNELL SEEKS RELEASE. Man Suspected of Complicity in Assaulting and Robbing Mrs. Martenboff Gets Habeas Corpus Through a writ of habeas corpus John Flrinell, held on suspicion df being connected with the assault and robbery of Mrs.

jiarteuhoff of 143 Concord street, was brought before Justice Dickey in the Supreme Court, special term, this morning. The proceeding was brought by Elizabeth Finnell, through Lawyer G. J. O'Keefe, and after a short hearing was adjourned until Monday. Lawyer O'Keefe said that Finnell was arrested Thursday by Policeman Brady of the Forty ninth Precinct on suspicion of having committed a burglary, and the magistrate was asked to hold him until further proof was obtained.

Counsel held that as crime was not charged in the commitment the man should not be deprived of his liberty. Assistant District Attorney Martin Littleton the discharge of Finnell. He said that Mrs. Martenhoft was assaulted In her room and at the muzzle of a revolver, was robbed of her diamonds. Finnell and another were arrested because it was believed they were implicated in the crime, or at least knw something about it.

Finnell was held, as he might be an important witness. He was held on information and belief that he had committed a crime and asked that the matter be adjourned until Monday. To this Justice Dickey assented. HE DIED IN A SALOON. Merkle Was With Boosevelt in Charge Up San Juan Hill.

George Merkle, 30 years old, living at 153 Prince street, employed as a clerk in the ordnance department of the Brooklyn Navy Yard, died suddenly last night of heart failure in the rear room of the saloon of William Ray, at 491 Broadway. Merkle, who was a Spanish War veteran, was a member of the Marine Corps when the famous charge up San Juan Hill was made, and as a result lost his right arm through a bullet wound, which required He had been in the habit of visiting Ray's saloon and yesterday afternoon took a sea't. at a table in the rear room. He was found seated at the table by a bartender who attempted to rouse him. Failing in this respect the man passed his han dover the face of Merkle and discovered he was dead.

JACOB WORTH'S CONDITION. At the: home of ex Senator Jacob Worth, 94 Leo avenue, it was stated this morning that word had been received from the cottage of Mr. Worth, at Rockaway Beach, and that he was still indisposed. It was also stated that his condition was not such that might in any mariner alarm his friends. It wr.s added, as was stated yesterday, that his slight illness was due only to a cold, and that ho undoubtedly would be in a condition to be ui and around a few days.

PRIZE FIGHTER'S HEART. Coffee Shown to Be the Caane of Hin Weak Heart, Frank Wallis, the Illinois champion featherweight, says: "Nearly all my life I drank coffee, and it finally put me in such a condition that trainiiit; for any tight was almost impossible. My breathing was poor and slight exertion always made me very tired. I could not understand it, for I was otherwise well and strong, until one day, hi training quarters, a friend and admirer of mine asked me if I drank coffee. I told him and he said that was what ailed me.

This was two weeks before an important light of mine was due. He explained how coffee affected the heart and nerves and told me of the good qualities of Postum Food Coffee. I immediately commenced to use it in place of coffee. The result was wonderful. My nervousness left me, my breathing both ered me no more, my confidence and I was as good as in a short time.

I returned victor of the fight, which I am confident I would not have been had I continued the use of coffee.".