davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-04
A CRAZY FIEND.
Pennsylvania Man Who Attempted to CRU
city and Burn His Children.

city and Burn His Children.
Buffalo Special.
The eastern part of Erie Pa, is intensely
excited over the blood-curdling freaks of
man crazed by religion. Sylvester Knott a
well-to-do farmer, living in a comparatively
isolated spot on the bank of Lake Erie, is the
fanatic whose deeds are the theme of public
conversation. Some months ago he attend,
ed meeting of the Salvation Army. at
Franklin, where the first seeds of insanity
were sown. Since then his brain has by de-
grees grown more and more inhamed and
now his frenzy knows no check For two
weeks past he has wandered up and down
the lake shore, regardless of sunshine or
storm, declaiming on salvation schemes, pic
turing the horrors of judgment day, and
calling upon sinners to worship God or be
eternally lost Yesterday morning
he planted a large cross in the woods
upon which to nail his eight-yedr-old
son, believing the boy would be tormented
in hell-fire forever unless he died the death
of mankinds Redeemer. With strength well
nigh superhuman Knott held the lad firmly
while driving a large nail through the little
fellows hand, unheeding his piteous pleas for
mercy. The dreadful work was interrupted
by some woodcutters who CHANGED to be pass
ing. Leaving his son hanging, the maniac
fed, first striking down one of the rescuers
with a hammer, then leaping into the lake.
A search for his hiding place proved fruitless,
and it was thought he had been drowned, but
such was not the case Before midnight the
crazy fiend returned. smashed the door of his
house, and knocked Mrs. Knott insensibIe at
a single blow. Entering cha mber where his
only daughter, Minnie, a beautiful girl of
seventeen, lay sleeping, he bound her hand
and foot and carried her to a lonely place in
the forest, where hundreds of cords OF wood
were piled An altar was quickly built, and
upon 1T the mailman secured his child.
Even as Abraham did with Isaac, will [
offer you as burnt offering unto the Lord"
chanted the mailman setting the funeral
pyre on fire. The climbing flames soon licked
the exposed limbs of the girl whose shrieks
of agony and prayers for a more merciful
death were music to the madman's ear. He
implored the Almighty to accept the sacrifice
as an atonement for the sinful deeds comit-
ted by him in years long gone, and added
fresh fuel to the altar But help arrived in
time to prevent the consummation of the
fearful design Two young men crossing the
woods on their way home from a party. saw
bright light and heard the Young lady's
screams. One felled the demented sire while
his companion scattered the blazing fagots
and lifted the almost nude maiden from her
fiery bed when the cords that fettered her
limbs were transferred to those OF the I'M
conscious maniac Miss Knott is painfully
burned about the lower extremities. and
there are large blsters on her shoulders
arms and sides. So awful was her expert.
ence that the doors of an asylum may open
to the daughter as well as the father. She
raves night and day and 1t is feared her rea-
son is permanently dethroned.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-04

profane man he took delight in repeating
his curse, G Anthony Comstock." 1t
ought to be repeated here that D. NJ. Ben
nett was an ignorant, profane and sacri-
legjous mountebank. Instead of erecting a
monument to his memory, he should be for
gotten as soon as possible. His loss was
morality's gain-the world is better off with
out him. His influence was pernicious, his
teachings dangerous to all that is good and
pure, and his works were characterized most
on account of their vulgarity. He lacked
but education to make him very dangerous
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-04

SOME sensitive souls have taken exception
to the Journals estimate of the late d. NJ
Bennett-that he was an ignorant, profane,
and very commonplace man. Several have
taken the trouble to send in postal-cards de-
Tending his memory and denouncing criti-
csm. That he was an ignoramus was too
apparent to need proof while he was living
he made daily exposition Of the fact. One
Of his favorite expressions was There amt
no God" Another was, My works amt
40 more obscene than Moseses" As a
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-04

THE address of Mr.. McMaster printed in
the Journal of to-day, is worthy the careful
attention of taxpayers His contrast
Of the condition of the city under Re-
publican and Democratic rule is very
striking, and his ideas as to the duties of the
Office to which he aspires are OF an entirely
different character from those expressed by
his opponent, Mr.. Schmuck. Mr.. McMaster's
address should be read by all taxpayers.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-04

THE postal service over the Northern Pa
cifc is rapidly being organized and mail
from Oregon and Washington Territory is
already beginning to come over that line.
Heretofore all mail from that region has
been carried via Sail Francisco, requiring
from eight to twelve days for transmission to
points this far east. The new route shortens
the time several days and thus brings the
people of the far Northwest into closer COM
munication with their old homes
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-04
Everything Going to the Devil.

Cincinnati news journal.
1t is sad to see the homely bitters degraded
from means to preserve domestic peace and
slyly beguile the good dame of domestic
license to use intoxicating liqours, and be-
come a mere vulgar means of lodging the
revenues. Thus we go on from bad to worse
in government 1t is not only become pa
ternal government, the great father of us
all, but also spouse of us all, that has to be
lodged by means of btters, as once the hus-
band was wont to dodge the keen nose of the
alcohol hating wife. Everything is going to
the devil very fast.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-04

IT is gratifying to know that Mary Ander-
son has begun successful career in Eng
land. This will compensate for the financial
success attained by a certain alleged rival
English beauty in America. The English
lovers of the drama have paid themselves a
very neat compliment at our expense
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-04

A CORRESPONDENT states that the force in
the government printing office is now 400 or
500 short, though there is not room enough
for the 1000 already employed. The emer-
gency should be met by cutting down the
volume of useless publications.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-04

THERE seems to be considerable enthusi-
asm of one sort or another mingled with the
funeral rites of the dead French count. This
would be a novel Ingredient of burial cere-
monies in this country.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-04

A wELL-NIGH incredible story is in circu-
Telegraph Company has issued en- order in
creasing the hours of the night force in Bos-
ton thirty minutes per night but providing
extra pay equivalent to 20 per cent. The
cosmic commissions in Java undoubtedly
foretold this concession.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-04

JUDGE HoADLY is in the hands of the
ply sicians and his real friends have come
to congratulate him that the weight and
cares of the governorship are not likely to
succeed his present illness.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-04

THE government printing office is publish
ing $4,000 copies of the eulogies delivered in
Congress on President Garfield. That 80 per
cent of this number will be wasted will go
without question. Garfield lives in the
hearts of the people, and they care very little
what was said of him in Congress.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-04

A MAINE woman complains through the Bos
ton papers OF the arbitrary rule of society which
prefixes the title "Miss" "Mrs." before each
woman's name, thereby indicating to all the
world whether she is or is not married. The
writer believes that this matrimonial label is I'M
necessary, as well as frequently a source of an
noyance TO the bearer of it, and calls for the
invention of a title which, like ''Nr." applied to
all men alike, be used to designate any
woman, without regard to her condition
of matrimonial servitude or freedom
1t is to be feared that this woman
will not have the hearty support and
sympathy of her in this demand. The ma
jority, if interviewed the subject, would
probably agree with the sentiments of certain
sprightly young lady just home from water
ing place. Said this giddy pleasureseeker dis
consolatey "There were so very few gentlemen
there-nOt half, no, not one-tenth enough to go
around. And of those who were there half
turned out to be old married men-mean, de-
ceitful things-just as the girls were getting in
terested in them. There ought to be a law COM
polling married man to label himself taken,
in some way, just as his wife is Obliged to do by
wearing Mrs before her name"
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-04

TIE city election takes place on Tuesday,
Oct O. Voters should bear in mind that to
be a legal voter one must be a resident of
the ward or precinct in which he lives for
thirty days prior to the day of election. The
voter who moves out of his ward after Thurs
day next loses his vote.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-04

THE catastrophe in Java reaches the break
fast table of every coffee drinker in the land.
The production and trade in coffee upon the
island is said to be seriously disturbed if
not permanently crippled
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-04

New York Times.
All the plausible fictions which the presi-
dent of the Western Union Company can in
vent will not hide the fact that the policy of
himself and his associates has been to put
on in charges what the traffic will bear"
and to conceal their extortion by the ille-
ultimate issue of stock certificates.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-04
Don't Worry About the Country.

~. d.
1 cannot feel SOLICITORS because the coun-
try is going to the dogs. Not 1. am very
fond of dogs, and had much rather go to
them than have them come to me. And
how jolly for us all to go there together
Besides, no sooner has one man convinced
me that the country is going to the dogs
than another man tells me it is going right
straight to glory and prosperity and that it
was never in such excellent hands.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-04

pie is improving steadily. The failure of
the several banks that have gone down
should serve as warning to others to con-
fine their business within safe bounds
This done, there is no ground for anxiety.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-04
Painful Laoh of Reverence.


Who is Mr. Jeems Jackson Jarvis? Mr..
Jeems Jackson Jarvis, in receiving a mud
bust from the King OF Italy, licked all the
dust off the boots of that bob-tail sovereign
the other day. Mr. Jeems Jackson Jarvis
pretended to be speaking for the United
States, 'where the name of your majesty
and the august house of Savoy are so much
revered and admired" Heavens and earth!
who cares anything for these vermicelli
eatarS2
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-04

Is not every man a free thinker? There
are no shackles upon thought in this coun-
try, except the feeble effort made in that
direction by those who call themselves 1.-The
free thinknrsn
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-04


How discouraging it must be to poor Wig
gins to reflect that he missed the eruption at
Java and the high tide on the Jersey coast
by little more than five months. The way
OF the prophet is hard.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-04

Missouri piety is just now centered upon
the contemplation of the pistol OF James.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-04

for money and material aid, professedly to
resist these intended frauds, but really to
secure fraudulent returns for Samuel j. Til
den, as will be seen in the end.
Avoiding dispatches unnecessary to clear
comprehension of what was going on those
given tell their own story:
'Nov. o, 1s76.-A s. Hewitt. Everett House,
New York: Send good man here to represent
your committee, with an understood cipher.
"George P Raney, for State committee.
''NEw YORK, Nov. 9.-w. D. BloxhAm, George
L. Raney: Telegram received. He has gone on.
"ABRAM 8. HEWITT.
"On the night of the 9th John f. Coyle. a
notorious lobbyist of Washington, who had
been rendering invaluable services for Tilden
In North Carolina started southwark.
"RALEIGH, N. O., Nov. IL, '76.-Henry Have
meyer, / . West Seventeenth street, New York;
Met this safe Weldon noon Rome arrived well
not things have at look although on Fox Web
ster Ed. give me Thomas instructions me par
train Brooklyn. MAX.
THE cipher is now understood by others
besides those who used it. The follow,
ing is the translation: Arrived safe. Met
Rome at Weldon this noon. Things look
we'll, although have not yet seen Fox. Ed.
Webster, of Brooklyn, came on train with
Instructions. The fact that Max is John
4. Coyle is proved by The following kilograms
and by many Others:
.. "wELDoN, N. c.. Nov. ., 1876.
Col W. T. Pelton, Everett House, New York:
"Just discovered lrauds Our tickets are print
ed wrong. Have ordered tickets all over
the State. 20 TO Raleigh by next train. Such
a fraud may have been penetrated In other
states. Warn our friends every where. MAX.
"NEw YORK, Nov. ?, 1876.
John f. Coyle Raleigh N. c.;
Nv. T. PELroN.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-04

THE agent of Barnum's circus. in advertis-
ing interview, declares that female performers
in crcuses do not chew tobacco. Who said
they did2
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-04
Readx-Roasted Java.

Cincinnati News Journal
Hereafter no Java coffee will be consid-
cred genuine unless it comes ready roasted.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-04
"TALLAHAsSEE, Dec. 3

Col. Pelton, Is Gramercy park New York:
preventing Moses best Bolivia from Glas-
gov vote London documents United Rochester
states half giving Zone word droppedl concur
renee electors his cost being court either of in
received of action or Havana.
''The translation of this Isl Proposition
received, either giving vote of (one) Repub-
lican of board or his concurrence in the court
of action preventing the electors vote from
being cast, for half hundred of the best
United States documents (for $50. 600 in U. s.
notes. This was signed by Marble"
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-04

Miss IDLEwILD GARDINER, a New Jersey girl,
has scandalized her family and friends by
clipping with a bOOk-agent. It is Satan that
finds mischief for Idle hands to do, but girl by
ony other name might not have been so wild
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-04

THE organist of New York church has eloped
with the first soprano. The congregation regret
that, in the interests of harmony the rest of the
choir did not 20 along
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-04

THE INDIANAPOLIS JOURNAL
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-04

PARIS-American Exchange in Paris, s. bouleVard
Capucines.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-04

LoNG-HAIRED men wearing PREDETERMINED
hats and hgh-topped boots. who occasionally
appear in this part of the country are Invariably
set down as wild westerners or bad men from
Texas, but, according to the Laramie Boom
erang, the same sort of individual creates a sem
sation there. One of these men got off west
bound train at that city, the other day, and
attracted attention because of his long hair,
swarthy complexion, and the wearing of ear
rings and bracelets. On being interviewed this
eccentric person proved to be a citizen of Con-
nectcut, which has not been considered a
Western State for some years. He was on his
way to Montana, where he expects to take the
headwaters of the Yellowstone for a starting
point and go down to New Orleans, trip over
5000 miles. He will use small fat-bottomed
skiff provided with rudder and sail, and cook
and sleep on board, tying up at night when TOO
dark TO navigate with safety. Cranks, 1T is thus
seen, even those with long hair, are not confined
to one narrow section of country.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-04

NEW YoRK-Ffth Avenue and Windsor Hotels
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-04

Can he found at the following PAGES:
LONDoN-American Kxchangein Europe, 4t9 Strand.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-04

SUPERSTITION dies hard. Its latest manifesto
ton, among respectable well-to-do people," so
it is affirmed, was at Reading, Pa. A child died
there recently, and witch doctor who had been
In attendance named Mrs. Snyder as the
witch. The lady denied the soft impeachment
and appealed to court for redress. 1t was there
developed, through the evidence of the childs
mother that the witch doctor had prescribed a
very peculiar and original remedy. She said:
"The doctor gave me bits OF paper and said 1
should put them in molases and feed them to
the child. He also gave me a strip Of paper to
place around the chd's breast to drive the
witches away, telling me 1 must be careful to tie
a knot in the paper. fed some of the moasses
with the paper it, 1t to the child, but 1t could not
eat it all. Next the doctor told me- the child
was restless, to take a briar stick and whip the
cradle in which the child lay until was tired
that could not strike any more. Before strik-
ing the cradle l was take leaf off the briar
whip and dry it on the stove" The justice be-
fore whom the case was tried was unable to de-
eide It's merits, and it goes to higher court.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-04

WASHINGTON. D. C.-Brentanos LOIS Pennsylva
mia avenue.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-04

'NEw YORK, Nov. 2, SIC.
John f. Coye, Raleigh, n. c.;
Telegraph me nature of the frauds
Nv Pr
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-04

For Rates of Subscription. etc. see Sixth Page. !
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-04

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER, 4, 1883.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-04

cINCINNArI-J. {. Iawley 3 Co. ~ vino stroot.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-04

gT. LoUIs-unton Sew. compnny junior nenot
Daily Republican., 1883-11-23
N unlc lral Court,

At last nights session Of the Municipal
Court, Judge Cummins imposed penalty Of
81 AMI costs on Daniel Collins, Josiah
Mullen and James Meeter. for drunkenness.
John McHuxh, who was found wanderii 4
about the streets and apparently without a
home, was given 20 days free board at the
Hotel Martin. Henry McMon9 gle was
charged with committing q n assault and bat.
tory on boy named VIM. Watson In the bak.
cry OF John Il. Stewart, No. 2e7 West Eighth
street, where both are employed. The ffacas
occurred yesterday afternoon and quite .
crowd c0ngregated In the vicinity. For thi.
otiense he was fined $40 and costs.
The three DVugherty children, Charles,
Mary and John, aged respectively IL, IS snd
10 years, were arraigned asvagrants upon the
charge Of NJ ary Smith, and they were CON.
mitted TO New Castle for 80 days.
AT this mornings session, Spencer Green.
wood, cOlored. was placed in the dock on the
charge Of drunkenness, preferred by officer
Cannon. q He was also disorderly, and was
fined ~ and costs, with gentle reminder
that II he was again brought in his punish.
m ent would be more severe.
Richard Kinder and John McAleer both
plead guilty Of drunkennes IS. and were each
fined 81 and costs.
Daily Republican., 1883-11-23

has not been shown what replv bs
made, but II IL known that Txylor
started to hog him, and he thought he
served him right, and would not have
done his duty az man, let alone an
uncle, II he had not tioRged him.
II Taylor had been killed when List
first fired at him, AZ he was rupnina
away, 1t wOuld have been q clear case
Of manslaughter, as 1t would have been
done in hot blood. But 1t was not done
then but afterwards, when Last had baJ
sufficient time 20 cool, aud Is there for.
q murder and not manslaughter.
| lie dwelt on the fact Of the eld or Li.t
urging the son 10 beat Taylor after he
had shot him down, and said 1t showed
u malice that would not have been dis.
played by q beast II was fearful
sight this father urging his son to beat
and stamp the body Of the man he had
already murdered
He secuted the idea of self.defenss
and said that II List had any idea Of
escaping from Taylor, or If he was
afraid of him, he had ample time to oct
in Mr.. Ford house but he did not do
that he laid in wait for his victim
onu Wutu He CAME III BlKuI bnOt him
dowE, even before Taylor saw him.
The evidence Of the wives Of these
men was admitted by consent of coun.
vel, and he had no unkind feelings for
either OF them but 1t must be borne in
mind by the jury that their statements,
especially that Of the younger, was
entirely different from all the other
witnesses, either for the State or tho
defense, and A. that is the case 1t must
be rejected by the Jury.
No evidence has been produced to
show that George B. Taylor had made
any threats to take the life of Lewis +,
List, and nothing else would jnstify a
plea Of self defense. Mr.. Cooper closed
his able argument at 49, so o'clock, with
an appeal to the jury for verdict of
murder in the first degree.
He also submitted several points Of
law to the Court, on which he asked that
the jury should be charged.
Mr.. Cooper spent some time In citing
authorities to show that this Is a case Of
murder in the first degree, and continued
until o'clock, when Court took recess
until 3 o'clock this afternoon. The case
will probably be given to the jury be.
fore Conrt adjourns this evening.
Daily Republican., 1883-11-23
AnsilNeIllenta.

Tomorrow evening Kernels, Wheat
ley and Traynor's great show will ap
pear at the Opera House, and promise
10 be a first class entertainment
Among others in the troupe ar
Kitty O'N"iIl, the O'BIien Brothers
the Maxwells land the McShane Broth
erS
The operate event of the season
will take plac, on Monday and Tues
day evenings, when the unrivalie,
Hess Opera Company will presen
The Merry DutchesS. This com
pany are now performing to crowded
houses in Baltimore, and are anuounc
ed for the Academy Of Music, PLlIaleI
phia.