The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-09-29
CITY NEWS AND GOSSIP.
Recent Events in the Town Have
Awakened Few Interesting
Recollections.
Some Taxpayers Believe That the
County Assessment Will
Be Reduced.
The Mysterious DEM Murder and Con-
fessiop-Montana's Fine Weather
The Choking Process.

Inc Nly8tef1OuS D6un NkuIOoE anu y ~OA-
fession-Montana's Fine Weather
The Choking Process.
Perhaps the most absorbing topic of con.
versation on the streets and in the hotel
Hobbies for the past week or so has been the
city and county assessments. The opinions
which have been expressed about this fnan
cial question are various. The lawyers dc
not all agree on the subject, but no one ex-
poets anything of that kind to happen
The taxpayers who were before the county
board of equalization last week to make
their com plants seemed to be unanimous
/ In the opinion that the assessment is toe
high. Otherwise, however. there did moi
appear to be any individuat where
there was an inequality and icy were all
satisfied that the assessmentWAs uniform
When making his return to the commits
sioners the assessor did not place any valua-
tion upon the improvements on the lot
where the Power block stands. It seems
there was some question about his right to
assess building while it was in course OF
construction. The board had this matter
presented to them last week and the result
was that the improvements were valued at
100000. Several persons who have given
considerable attention to the arguments
made, and the general drift of talk have
reached the conclusion that the board will
reduce the assessment about twenty OF
twenty-five per cent.
The revival of interest in the Julia
Dowd murder by the recent charge Of
Judge Hunt to the grand jury, has awakened
recollections of other crimes which have
happened in Helena in past years. Who
has not heard of the DEM murder2 II il
more mysterious than the Dowd affair.
The poor old man who lived in stone
ware house on the spot where is now stu
ated the Pelican, on Wood street, was MUIR
dered in cold blood ono night some ten
years ago. There are men who have been
working on the case for years. You can
hear all sorts of stories about it from old
timers, who were in Helena when the body
was discovered in the gloomy old building.
At various times the matter has been
brought to public notice. Only few years
ago woman died on jackson street who
| Az woe 0oAN AoO AAA0SA0 q SOAAAO0OAOAAs l AS
story was written up in most sensational
manner in an evening paper, but the icon.
fession'' was not believed by everybody, and
90 far the case is just AZ mysterious as it
ever was, and may be until the crack OF
doom.
\ The people who were at Encore hall last
v Friday night to hear Miss Flora Batson, the
colored songstress, whom an eastern paper
called the "Colored Jenny Lind" probably
noticed the gray haired gentleman of eau.
casion extraction with an air Of eminent
responsibility who was on the platform al
times and when he was not there occupied
Ia front seat. He was the husband and
manager of Miss Batson. A critic present
whose recollections of Jenny Lind and hel
unapproachablev voice are as vivid as though
lit was but yesterday, and of the feelings
inspired by everything she sang, whether
classical music or those simple and beauti-
full ballads "Home Sweet Home" "Comin'
Through the Rye" "Rcbin Affair."" "John
Anderson My Joe," 1.-THE Last Rose OF
Summer" and others, with which she in
gratiated herself into the hearts of all who
heard her, can recall at the bare mention OF
her name, even at this late day, the food OF
melody that poured forth in joyous
volume from her beautiful throat
while her bright. expressive face varied
with every emotion, as she threw her soul
into the song, which charmed and thrilled
slalike, every listener. He heard her ''Home
Sweet Home," on the eve of her departure
\ from the United States to her Swedish
home, when, as the last note died away, the
whole audience, that filled every foot of
space in the vast hall, rose with one inn
pulse, tears Of pleasure and regret stream
ing from their eyes, and gave her one grand.
simultaneous, s'good. bye" such as never
greeted public singer before or since.
Il In the opinion of many people who deem
themselves competent to judge, this is the
fpleasantest season Of the year. Fall is at
hand and the bright green leaves will soon
schange to crimson and gold. The markets
ARE filled with tempting fruit of all kinds.
The sun has lost some of his scorching
heat, and his rays are turning to yellow.
The atmosphere is rare, pure and health
giving. The days are full of mellow light
and the smoky haze of early autumn ia
\ seen along the horizon. All the world seems
lat peace. For q month or six weeks to come
we may reasonably expect fine weather
most of the time, and person who can
cake any comfort at all on earth can take it
about this time of the year.
Y
Il When Matsada Soraklchi, the champion
eniddle-weight wrestler of the world, and
William H. Quinn were here with their
|. manager, Edwine T. ZeiRler, the '.strangle
! lold'' created good deal of talk. It be-
came very popular with young boys, and
soack yards ON both sides of town were the
,yscenes of many spirited contests. These
purely athletic affairs were conducted
strictly according to rules and the contest
iants had their referees, seconds, bottle
aolders and timekeepers. The youngsters
{ faithfully copied the choking process as
Illustrated by the coast champion and the
gentleman from Japan. It was sort of a
tstrangling hold for exhibition purposes. but
he real article is different thing and does
not depend altogether for its success ON its
ability to close tho windpipe. While the
mall bone ON the inner side of the left
wrist is being pressed against the throat,
Y and both hands are clasped. the right