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THE SHEEDY MURDER CASE.

Preliminary Examination of Three Accused Set for Today.

PROBABILITY THAT IT WILL BE POSTPONED

Some Interesting Figures from the Report of the State Commissioner of Public Lands and Buildings.

LINCOLN, Neb, Jan 25.-[Special to THE BEE]- The preliminary examination of Mrs.Sheedy, Harry Walstrom and Monday McFarland on the charge of murdering John Sheedy is fixed at 2 p. m. tomorrow, but as the chemical analysis of the contents of the stamach has not yet been made it is probable that the case will be continued, although the prosecuting attorneys believe that there is already sufficient testimony to hang Mrs.Sheedy were she not a pretty woman.

Mrs.Sheedy's attorney, J. B. Strode, was formerly her teacher at Abingdon, Ill., when she was Mollie Gabriel. She is thirty-five years old but looks much younger.

SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION.

For several days past particular odors have been pervading the corridors of the state house. They have been due to spontaneous combustion generated in the fuel-vault connected with the furnace room south of the capital. About one hundred tons of coal slack were stored in this vault and a few days since it became apparent that spontaneous combustion had started a smoldering fire somewhere in this great heap of fuel. Dense voldmes of smoke and gas rolled out of the vault and passed through the subterranean pipes into the state house until it became necessary to disconnect the furnace. An effort was made to get the hidden fire out to no avail, and a force of men was set to work yesterday to remove the coal from the vault . It must all be wheeled first into another apartment and then lifted by means of a small elevator to the surface, where it will be aired and dried. The work removal from the vault was no small task. The shovelers, owing to the heat and stifling gases , could only remain in the vault a few moments at a time, although a large section of the roof had been torn away to permit fresh air to enter and the foul air to escape. Some of the coal taken out was at a red heat , and streams of water from a hose was kept playing upon the mass as the workmen penetrated it. The floor and walls of the vault are of brick and stone so no serious damage will ensue. It will probably take several days to remove the fuel and extinguish the fire.

LAND COMMISSIONER'S REPORT.

The biennial report of the state commissioner of public lands and building is now out and shows the following facts and figures:

Under a grant of congress, there have been selected by the state and confirmed by the general land office for several educational purposes , the following amounts of land: Common school land 2,733,500.16 acres; agricultural college land 89,140.25 acres; state university land 45,626.06 acres; state normal school land 12,804.80 acres; total 2,880,871.27.

Of the common school land, 1,436,304.19 acres are under a contract of lease ; 558,873.65 are under a contract of sale; 223,419.48 acres have been deeded, and 517,908.89 acres are still vacant.

Of the agricultural college land, 40,811.76 acres are leased, 45,859.99 acres are under contract of sale; 2,429.07 acres have been deeded and 40 acres are still vacant.

Of the university lands 19,895.80 acres are leased; 22,225.37 acres are under contract of sale; 2,544.91 acres have been deeded and 700 acres are vacant.

of the normal school lands 360 acres are leased; 10,108,82 acres are under contract of sale and 2,335.98 acres have been deeded.

This shows that 232,799.89 have been deeded leaving a balance of 2,548,141.88 acres to which the title is yet vested in the state. Of this amount [?] acres have been under contract of sale, 1,497,371.98 acres are leased and 528,802.89 acres are yet a part of the state's public domain. This makes a wonderful heritage for the educational interests of Nebraska.

There is now invested in United States bonds, state securities, and registered county bonds out of the permanent school fund the sum of $2,222,942.35, and cash in the Treasury to the amount of $522,364.86, making a total if $ $2,745,307.21 in this fund as compares with $2,100,744.45 two years ago, an increase of $644,562.76 in that period. The increase being 30 2-3 percent as compared with 13 4-5 per cent for the previous two years.

The cash in the treasury and the investments belonging to the permanent school fund amounts to $374,397.21. The unpaid principal on sale amounts to $8,766,782.61 , malding a grand total of $6,512,089.82, exclusive of the 1,497,371.95 acres under lease contracts and the 528,709.90 acres still vacant. The common school lands under lease contract are appraised at $3,182-139.77 with the annual rental of $190,937.95. This, together with the annual interest on the unpaid principals on the contract of sale which amounts to [?], makes a fund of $16,934.91 to be annually apportioned among the various school districts of the state in addition to the revenues derived from the investments of the permanent school funds in the state treasury.

THE DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL

Mr.Willaimson S. Summers, the newly appointed deputy attorney general, os only twenty nine years of age. He is a graduate of Iowa state university and the department of law at Ann Arbor, Mich., and has taken special courses in Chicago and Cinciatti. He has been given degrees in literature, science, and law. He finished his legal studies in 1885, and chose Beatrice as his home.

ODDS AND ENDS.

The thirty-five gamblers who were arrested Friday evening will have their hearing tomorrow morning in the police court.

This evening at the Holy Trinity church Bishop Worthington administered the rite of confirmation.

[?] OF MARINE SUCTION

Important Decision of Judge Ricks in a Damage Suit of Collision

CLEVELAND,O., Jan 25- Judge Ricks of the United States district court gave judgment yesterday in favor is the libelants in the case of the collision between the steamers J.H. Devereaux and Alexander Folson in St. Mary's river in August. The Devereaux was held blameless. The decision was based on the testimony of Captain Kelly and Mallory, summoned as experts. It admits such a thing as suction in the channel describes, caused by two steamers passing each other and asserts that the violent sheer of the Devereaux, was due to this suction. This suction under such circumstances the judge holds is so well known to navigators that the master schooner Mitchell, in tow of Folsom, should have anticipated and guarded against the danger of the collision from that cause. He also expresses the opinion that with the wind blowing from the quarter stated it was gross negligence on the part of the master of the Folsom to have towed his consorts through the channel of Lake George in St.Mary's river, with sails set and drawing and that the speed of the Folsom and tow was too great, increasing the suction. The Devereaux was managed with skill and prudence for exculpated. H. F. Carleton is named as commissioner to report the amount of damage to the Deveaux. The amount claimed is $18,000.