davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-12-26
Grabbing and Gambling.

"And there are your grab bags-your
grab-bags I tell you there is 10 much OF
this. Your fairs and your bazars won
do, and your voting, your casting OF bal
lots for the most popular man or the
most popular woman, just helping along
their vanity. / tell you it grieves the spir-
il. it offends God. They've got so far now
that for twenty-five cents young men can
come in and kiss the handsomest woman
in the room. Think of shisl Look at the
church lotteries going on in New work.
Before God | would rather preach IN any
barn or the most miserable howell on earth,
than within the walls of church paid for
IN such away. What is the use Of going to
a gambling den when you can have a
game of grab with lady for partnerF"
OF church choirs which are net composed
Of Christians be disapproves in the same
en- phatic way Il tell you it's about time
YOU stopped hiring ungodly men and I'M
godly women to sing in your church
choirs, Just because they happen to have
good voices. You smile. | tell you its
10 smiling matter. You ought to blush
with shame; that's what you ought to do.
And there is such thing Is having an
oTgani-f who gets drunk, and VINO cant
nlsv bat he must % back every nov and
ihea aud take drink 70 sssTsfh a.sa.h
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-12-26
M Economical Criminal.
Cincinnati Enouirer.l

About bslf-past yesterday morning, with
ont previous notice. Peter Morschheuser, q la
borer, who lived on Spring Grove avenue, nesr
Mad Anthony street, beat his wife nearly 20
death with a smOothing-iron. The noise Of the
4racas RrpVaed the rest of the family, and one
Of his children ran to the Tenth district police
station ans notified Lieutenant Emery that his
father 9yaS whipping his mother. The lieuten-
ant Immediately went to Morschhenser's house.
but cousd not find him. Upon making care.
FIJI searih Morschheuser found back Of his
stable sanging to a high post Of the fence,
dead. lie bad secured strap in the stable
placed i around his neck. fastened it 20 the
top Of the post aud jumped off. His body Was
immediately cut down by Lieutenant Emery
TIE coroner held an inquest on his remains
Yesterday. Norschheuser was an old hand at
wife-bestipg and abusing his family; had
served several terms in the work-house. had
Just retaJnei from there few DAYS ago where
be had sorted out term Of thirty DAYS and $50
for beotiBg his wife. She was injured yerv
badly as Gt the head, and is under the care Of
a doctor. The coroner rendered a verdict of
death by suicide while in a state of mental
alteration. ia consequence of excessive use of
alcoholic Bqnors. The would be coniupicide
saved the county and State some expense bv
becoming a successful suicide. His last act
though cUme, was incidentally in the inter
est Of public economy. He leaves fonr chit
dren, the oldest less than twelve years old. and
their mother, whose toll has for years been
their and his only support, disabled il not
mortaLy einred by his cruel hands. Now
comes this, coroner with his mental aberra-
tion" ~ consequence Of excessive drinking
20 let the fellow down easily. Had his mind
''aherratciz' before be commenced excessive
drinking, fsad didn't he know the devils ex-
eesslve dGst% cast into hIm. and didn't he 10
bis soAes sense commsnee drinkius exces.
slvelyS EsbsNi
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-12-26
MISCFLL4EEUUS.

Three boys were drowned in Cam
bridge, Mass, Dec. 2lst, while skating.
There was heavy snow storm, Dec.
2lst, throughout Ontario, causing great delay
TO railroad trains.
At Sheffield 1000 children and 5000
adults received beds last week. The mayors
relief fund amounts to $4,000
The Touring mill of White, Nash &
Co, of Lanesboro, MINI, was destroyed by
/ fre, Dec. Goth. Loss, $4,000
At Oakland Park, Cal, Dec. 21st,
Rarus trotted the first heat in 2:14; tie second
heat with running mate in 2:141S.
In New York city, December fifth,
gold sold at par, the first time since the sus-
/ pension of specie payment in 1862.
At Cahoes, n. Y, Patrick Boarke and
family of five children were burned with their
house on the night OF December 18Th.
Great excitement has been caused IN
Cincinnati by the failure of the banking house
Of C. F. Adae & Co. Liabilities s6so00O.
A Liverpool dispatch says it is many
wears since the working classes endured
such distress and privatiOn as at the present
time.
Reports from large number of places
represent the distress as very great and in
creasiug among the better class 81 mechanics
and working men.
At Stocton the distress is increasing.
Hundreds OF families OF iron workers are des-
titulc, and an influential committee is can
wasting for subscriptions and contributions.
At Treichlero, Pa, December 10Th, the
clothing Of child OF Mrs. .Meneh was acct
dentally set on fire, and in an attempt 10 ex-
tinguish the flames the mother and child were
burned to death.
Advices from Stockholm state that an
other firm, l. Hirsch, has failed, with 100000
crowns liabilities, its difficult having arisen
through the fan in the price of iron, and also
from improbable speculatious in buildings
and lands.
The secretary of the treasury has issued
a circular to customs officers authorizing
them to receive, after the LIST Of January,
United States notes as well as gold coin and
standared silver dollars in payment Of duti es
on importations.
The Illinois & st. Louis bridge has
been sold under a decree Of court, foreclosing
the first and second mortgage bonds. II was
purchased in the name OF Anthony J Thomas,
Of New York, who paid $4,000 gold as earnst
:roney, The price paid is ss0ooooo.
At Huntington meeting, convened
Dy the magos, has 6eea held 70 eansldeg he
8sss saeAAs Il relieve he distress NAlaA is ss. |
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-12-26
NEWS OF THE WEEK
oRIMEs IND CRIMINALS.

Louis Anenbaugh, of Toledo has just
Iaanslaughter.
Two convicts have made their escape
from t. e Ohio penitentiary by scaling the
walls with a ladder and ropes.
The families of ] ohm Keogh and Martin
Bergan, Molly Maguires, who were to be
hung Dec. IS, took leave of them Dec. II.
Martin Bergan, the Molly Mcguire
who was to be hung Dec. is, has been reprived
BY the Governor of Pennsylvania to JAM 6.
The board of pardons of Pennsylvania
refused to reopen the case OF John heogh,
sentenced to be hung at Pottsville Dec. lo
At Kansas City, Me-, on Sunday, Dec.
ed, the building occupied by the Eseaffa9
.Haa and the Commercial Indicator was nearly
DESTROYED by fire. Two safes in the Nal Of
dee were found to have been tempered with,
but falling to open them it is believed burg
lars fired the building. Loss, about $1,000
At Cape Giradeau, Mo-, on tie 18th
inst, Walsh Ives, colored porter at the Frank
lin house, shot and killed his wife, then shot
himself, placing the weapon to his own head,
fired and died instantly. Ives was hard
drinker and lived unhappily with his wife, and
had frequently threatened TO kill her and
himself.
A dispatch from St. Joseph, Mo-, says
Michael Dorohue shot and killed Fred locke
| in the house OF the latter Dec. 2lst. The lat
| ter owed the former some money, which he
refused to pay, and accused Donohue OF steal
ing some monkey wrenches from him, where
upon Donohue drew a revolver and shot hin
| dead while sitting in a chair.
Great excitement prevails at Evans
Vile. Indiana over the discovery of the bod,
Of Frank NJ Murphy, respectable painter, II
/ the dissecting room of the Evansville Mediea
college. Murphy was buried on the 18th, an'
his wife received an anonymous note, on thu
| 10th, instructing her to go to the college ant
she would discover the body. She fouowe'
the instructions, and police have taken pos
session Of the building. She identified TIL
| body, which was partially dissected, by mark
| and initials on his arm. An inquest is beina
| held with the intention of getting at the per
son who robbed his grave. Serious develop
nents are anticipated leading to shocking dis
closures.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-12-26
The Cry of the Maiden Shareholders

The Edinburgh Scotsman publishes the fol-
lowing "Cry Of the Maiden Shareholders" IN
the broken GLASGOW bank:
Pity us, God There are five of us here,
With threescore years on the youngestheadi
Five OF us sitting in sorrow and fear
Well for our widowed one she is dead;
Day and night sitting, we've not laid head
Down on q pillow this week now and more /;
Trembling has seized on us, shrinking and
dread,
To hear the bell ring or be seen out o'door.
Pity us, pity, 0 Godl
Pity us, God When our father died
His mind was at ease, for he left us shares
And roof DER our heads, too; and side by
side
Happy and loving, wa faced lfe's cares.
Then we were young, and now feeble and old,
But We never wronged any, az far as we
knew
And we tried to do right with our silver and
gold,
And the poor had their portion, the church
had its due.
Pity us, pity, 0 Godl
Pity us, God! We would work if we could
But suppler fingers must stitch and hem;
And who would give us our morsel of food,
| Though we spun and knitted all day fol
them?
We never knew work, but to keep ourselves
neat;
And never knew want, but our wants are
small,
And there's bread in the house yet, If VIC coult
/ eat,
But the sickness OF sorrow is mixed with /
all.
| Pity us, pity, o God!
Pity us, God Must our little things gos
AIl-even our mothers things cherlshe'
with carey
Must we leave the old home-the one hom
that we know?
But not for the poor-house-O surely no
there?
| Could they not wait awhile? We viii no
keep them long;
We could live on so little, too, cheerful an
| brave;
But to leave the old house. where old memor
les throng,
For the poor-house, o rather the peace 9
the gravel
Pity us, pity, o God!
PITY us, Cod As for them who have wrough
All this sad ruin so wide and deep,
o how could they do it, and know il not?
How could they know il, and think or sleep
But we would not, one Of us, change this da
Our lot for theirs, for our hands are clean
And the bankrupt soul has darker way
Then the way of the honest poor ever hat
been.
Pity US, pity, o God
WALTER SMITH
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-12-26
Undoubtedly Insane.

cincinnati Special to Chicago Tribune.
The trial of the Rev. James Stephenson
of the Methodist Episcopal church, presid
ing elder of Dayton district, for drunken
ness and immortality, was concluded to-day
1t was conducted by committee of minis
tiers appointed in accordance with the Metho-
dist discipline. 1t was proved by abundant
testimony that Stephenson left his
home~ in Piqua on the 10Th of No
vember, and went to Dayton, where he reg
istered at hotel, and presently issued forth
upon the streets in a state of advanced in
toxication: that he insulted ladies passing, in
some itstan ces Selling their persons, and
that he was captured by a policeman, and
stter struggle, in which both rolled in a
cutter, was locked up in the station house
where he Soon became dead drunk. There
Eas no attempt ON Stephenson's behalf to
q prove these facts. The only question was
as to his moral responsibility. 1t was shown
that he had for for year or more given in
dications of nervous disorders, and thai
some of his friends had fears of suicide
or insanity. He formerly used to-
bacco, but thought it his duty to
abandon the habit, and the desire
for the weed nearly drove him crazy.
OF late he had had severe sickness in his
family, and excessive watching and loss of
sleep, together with attacks of chills, had
shattered his nervous system. Mr.. Stephen
son testified that, upon reaching the hotel in
DAYTON. he took drink of bitters, on the
recommendation of the landlord, for the
chills, and, after that, remembered nothing.
Since that event he has shown strong symp-
toms of insanity. The opinions Of his
friends and of experts differed as to his re-
sponsibiIity for his extraordinary conduct,
but the examining committee found him
guilty, and suspended him from the minis
try until the meeting of the annual con-
ference IN September next. Stephenson is a
large, ne-Ioolxing man, and is well known
within the boundaries of the Cincinnati con-
ference.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-12-26
Au Unnecessary Notoriety.

Fond du Lac Special to Milwaukee Sentinel
Gen. John Mcdonald appeared in County
Judge Perkins court this morning in the
case Of the State of Wisconsin against him
self, for an assault with intent to do bodily
harm, upon Mr.. w. c. Williams, the Milwe a.
kee lawyer who is retained in the celebrated
divorce suit of Mcdonald VS.. Mcdonald.
The general waived examination, and by
consent of his own counsel, Col. W. W. ID.
Turner, of Ripon, was held to bail to the
circuit court in $1,000. Col G. l.. Pier,
vice president of the Fond do Lac Savings
bank. became joint surety VITA the defend
ant. In the afternoon at O'Clock the
general appeared before Police Jus
tice Eastman to answer 10 "a demand tor
peace warrant by Mr.. Willisms. who IN his
complaint stated that he considered ms lie
in danger. Col. ellison, district attorney, IN
behalf of the State, moved a discontinuance
of the action, stating IN open court that mr..
Williams was able to protect himself. The
motion was granted and Gen. Mcdonald and
Iere Doobs went to Oshkosh to witness the
walking match. Mrs. La Mothe, the "Sylph,
xor,r CORRESPONDENT is informed by her ct
fornev. Col. Turner, of Ripon, has instruct
ed him to bring suit in her name against
every newspaper in Wisconsin. and some
outside of the State which had mentioned
her name in any connection which reflects
on her personal character. ] understood
the colonel. who has been here to-day, to
say that he was already drawing up
pspers in the cases. Among other news
parers who aim to eiye the news but who are
to be prosecuted for il, are the Milwaukee,
Seatt1.el. the Fond du Lac Commonwealth,
the Fond du Lac TOaTnal, and the Ripon
Commonwealth. The colonel informs me
thai if ali these newspapers which have ever
had anything to say about Mrs LaAlothe
viii take ii back and swear they never said
il she win discontinue. Otherwise there will
be millions in it for her if she collects from
SO. OOo to SO. oae each from them, graded
according to their financial capacity.
In the divorce suit the colonel stands
aIoof ). 3 sort of third party (greenback for
Instances. representing Mrs. LaAothes
Jreenbaeks. Bnt / aEn assared Oh personal
authority that il ii bad not been foE tae "a
ssgusadllna 81 third pastlss. aoF eoaasAss
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-12-26
A Singular Encounter.

Nashville Special to Louisville Courier
Journal
A man named Bates, who arrived to-day
from DeKalb county, reports that san
culinary encounter occurred in the edge OF
Overton and Fentress counties Friday after
noon. between force under command OF
Capt. Davis and illicit dlstillers, headed by
Campbell Morgan, renowned leader OF
yiolators of the revenue laws in that section
OF this State. Davis had about forty men
and Morgan nearly sixty. Davis force were
attacked about shutdown by Morgan's band
and from the friendly cover of trees poured
yolley after volley into the ranks of the dis
filters, who, protected by a bluff overlook
ing the hollow in which the revenue men
were caught at disadvantage, kept up a
STEADY fire upon them. For over an hour
the conflict continued, reaching an end only
when darkness fell upon the scene of the
sanguinary battle. Examination by Davis
resulted in his finding five or six of
his men dead, while an equal number OF
Morgan's band persisted. Bates thinks the
fight was continued next day, and there IS
strong probability that both sides suffered
additional losses. Collector Woodcock has
not received any intelligence of the battle,
but regards Bates statement as true, as be
gave Davis imperative orders before starting
out on the expedition against the moonshirs-
ers to use every endeavor to capture them
end break up the manufacture of illicit
whisky. Davis, who is one of the bravest
men in the service of the government, and
intensely hated by the moonshiners, left
Nashville with nineteen men, and reinforced
his company on the road. Morgan, it will
Ie remembered, had fight in Putnam
county in the latter part of last August with
Davis and his men, which ended IN the
death of two or three distillers and the re-
treat of Davis force, which was shut off
from water and food for three days. Nor
gan recently applied to Commissioner Raum
for pardon, promising never again to engage
in making whisky, but his overtures were re-
iacted, and he seems to have made up his
lnind to continue the warfare against the
revenue forces.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-12-26

six o'clock train. Meyers has the reputation
of being n bad character, and has been a
terror to the community for some years. At
the same time he has home Influences that
should have made better man of him; all
related to him, mother, father, sisters and
brothers, being held in the highest esteem.
The unfortunate Plow was from all accounts,
a good man, but somewhat addicted to drink,
and at such times his meeting with Meyers
influenced his most VIOLENT passions. His
mother, widow, bother and four sisters re-
main. The former is almost crazed with greif,
regretting that he had not died soldier s death
did her husband and one son.
The neighborhood is much excited over the
| matter and the authorities are condemned in
unmessured terms for allowing the criminal
to escape although, from present appearances,
| a clear case of self defence could be estab-
| lished. The locality could not be selected that
/ would afford more fitting place for murder
most foul, and from the character of the parties
that have infested this saloon of Scheffel, it II
| passing strange that the community have
not been startled by somethingmore horrible.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-12-26
THE KILLING SEASON.
A Fatal EHed at Delhi, ObiO-A HGa
Drained With a Fence Rail.
! Delhi Special dec. 15) to Cincinnati En-

Drained With a Fenee Rail
Delhi Special dec, l5) to Cincinnati En-
quirer.
One mile south of this station is a saloon,
kept by Peter Scheffel, that has been for some
full surroundings. AS a culn nation to the
past boisterous conduct carried on at this
place was the tragedy of to-day. The building
is a one-story frame, situated about two squares
this side of Muddy Creek, on the Clevetown
road. The parties to the trouble are William
Meyers and William Plow, deceased.
At ten clock this morning these two worth
les. with boon companions, assembled at this
dispensary of liquor and from frequent drinks
became VIOLENT. A feud of some years stand
ing had existed between Meyers, who is a
German, and Plow. and in the encounters
which had ensued Plow had generally been
victorious. After full charge of benzine this
morning the men were willing again to try
their hand for supremacy which resulted in
the proprietor ejeeting them from the house.
From all evidence that can be obtained at the
present writing rough-and-tumble fight
occurred in the mud on the outside, when
Ieyes, being worsted, sought safety in fight.
but was pursued by Plow. According to
some statements, the latter had an open knife
in his hand. Some two hundred yards from
the house they reached fence. which Meyers
succeeded in scaling, and with prospects of
De4is ofS4 eaASAf AA-AtSA ttA1 asCca LIS FthhSu a
and warned if be crossed the fence he would
kill him. at the same time grasping half
fence-rail. Plow disregarded the warning,
and after climbing the fence was struck by
Meyers, knocked down and then beaten until
life was extinct. Meyers then left the man
and went TO a coal-pit, where be hsd been
employed, oue-half mile below the place where
the assault was committed, but returned II
time to meet the Squire and constable, swho
had been notified, and expressed = willingness
to give himself mp. From some unexplained
cause he wss not placed under arrest and not
until seven O'Clock did the eonstabls have the
papers placed in his hands feg MaYsrk' sgrest.
Aaa thea the nab could Cos be t0aaa. aad
II Nss Supposed h lad xoAa Il tks tats % tAs
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-12-26
HOPELESS BANKRUPTCY.
The Ciof,d That is Hanging Deer UWfor"-
nate memphis.
fNo.by;Ifo


nate Memphis.
Nashville American.
Leading citizens of Memphis who have been
visiting Nashville within the past two or three
davs eive a rather dolefuI account Of the con-
ditiou Of the streets of their city They say
that hel business is unusually heavy, but that
the thoropghfarcs-so called-arc almost inn
passiblc The wheels OF drays, heavy wagons
and even light vehicles sink up to their hubs
in the mud. Horses are continually stalling
in the most public streets The miles Of Mic
olson pavement have long since rottcd and
gone ~ pieces. To promote her commerce.
tIempht; will have 10 spend a very largo
amount ~ money for the reconstruction of
her strects She must get rid of her rotten
wooden pavements believed to have been an
exciting cause of yellow fever Wolf creek
will have TO be covered in, and general
system Of sewerage established, TO prevent.
if possible another epidemic. But this can
not he accomplished with the heavy incubus
of debt overhanging her. Two years ago
Mem his comment ed the compromise OF her
debt ot nearly siV millions of dollars. Real
ling her distress many holders of her bonds
came forward and accepted the compro-
misc Of fifty cents on the dollar. The
city has thus been enable TO fund
something like 600 of her seouri-
ties, and her authorities hoped that by this
time the entire debt would have been compro-
missed But they hoped in vain. Those that
would not accept the compromise have been
pressing the city for interest on their bonds.
Mandsmua after mandamus has been issued,
levics are made, and the collection of still
heavier taxes are ordered. If the holders of
the bcnds, amounting to over S3,O0O,OOO,
persist in this course; il they continue 10 re-
fuse to accept the compromise, the people
propose ~ appeal to the general assembly for
Legislature, which will hopelessly complicate
mattsra II not indefinitely postpone the set
Element uf the debt. A strong effort will lbe
made to induce the Legislature to abolish the
charter Of Memphis and place its affairs in the
hands OF n receiver. With Memphis these
gentlemen say il is matter of self-proserva-
ton. II Der creditois continne to push Der.
she hiss no hope save in a receiver.