Chariton courier. (Keytesville, Chariton County, Mo.) 1878-current, 1895-05-24
Jack the Measurer.

oped that Salisbury, Mo-, another
great city. has been made notorious
by the possession of "Jack the
Measurer," in the person of Robt.
Probst. ir., q youth II or 1s years
OF age, and who is one Of the junior
proprietors Of Robt. Probst & Sons'
bakery and restaurant at Sale
bury.
1t seems that young Probst"in his
cussed desire to see q little higher"
had been telling the misses who came
to the restaurant that q st. Louis
firm had offered four pounds OF
candy to the Salisbury girl who had
the largest leg. and had appointed
him (Probst) to take the measure
ments.
Among Probst's victims was Mabel
Wallace, a II yearold daughter OF
Mrs. s. l.. Wallace, q widow.
Mabel told her story iD the con rt
room before Acting Mayor Thomas
on Thursday OF last week, occordinl,
to the Salisbury Democrat, ss fol.
lows:
On the Sunday previous Mabel
said that che. In company With sew
eral other little girls. called at
Probst's place OF business and par-
chased 10 cts worth OF cakes which |
she started out with, asking young |
Probst TO charge the cakes to her
brother. but this be refused to do,
took the cakes from Mabel AID put
them back into the show case. Ma
bel then took her departure and did
not tee young Probst again until
Mo nday night when he met her on |
the street and told her to come up
to the restaurant the next day and
be would treat her to lea cream.
On Tuesday afternoon between 3
and 4 O'Clock she went INTO sue-rssrt
where shs saw P,obst and
was invited by him into the ice
cream parlor where she was given a
dish of cream and cake. While eat
ing this, Probst told her a ST. Louis
candy firm would give four pounds
OF candy TO the Salisbury girl who
had the biggest leg, and had ap-
pointed him 20 take the dimensions.
telling her all Of the other girls were
trying for the prize and mentioned
the names OF number OF girls, one
of whom. he said, was ahead so far.
Mabel finally consented for him to
take the measure Of her lower limb.
when he got a string and told her
he would have to measure up to her
hip, when she objected. He grabbed
her and attempted to take the meas
urement by main force. After
reporting what had happened q
warrant was sworn out and Probst
was arrested, and released on bond.
for his appearances for trial on
Thursday.
When the case was called for trial,
Probst asked for q jury. which. after |
hearing the testimony, could not
agree, but finally Q tvothirds verdict |
was decided upon, resulting In the
defendants being fined $1 and costs.
The testimony. We understand.
was very conflicting and IL was for
that reason. perhaps. that Probst
was not more severely punished.
Among those Mabel wallacs said
Probst had told her whose lower ex
tremities he had measured, was a
little daughter OF City Marshal Gil
christ OF Salisbury. The marshal,
after making due inquiry OF his
daughter, who admitted the truth
of Probst's statement. Mr.. Gilchrist
went bach up town and proceeded to
sing Prohst in the most approved
style.
IL is q pity that he was not also
/ submitted to a good cow-hiding by
the parents of everyone OF the girls
whom he had defiled.
Since the exposure OF his rsscality
Probst has left Salisbury, and his
departure lie doubtless considered q
good riddance.
It is said that you can now buy
tape lines in Salisbury at your own
price.
MONEY issirIsa EsstsrG snd .