davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-08-20
MISDIRECTED GENIUS.
Ability Displayed by a Gang Of
Railroad Robbers.
But THEY WERE CAUGHT AT LAST.

Robbed Freight Trains In an Ingenious
Manner and Disposed Of Their Booty
With Consummate Skill--A Pitched Bat
tie With the Detectives.
In the penitentiary at Joliet, Ills, serv-
ing QUO a sentence which will take four
years more to complete. is man not vet
go who was one Of the most daring and
ingenious railroad thieves that the coun-
try ever produced. He commenced opera
lions at an early age, stealing from the
cars as they were standing in the yards of
the various depots. This eventually re-
suited in his being sent to the house of
correction for one year. After serving his
time he began again in the old way and
soon got q 12 months sentence to the
county Jail The city was getting too hot
to hold him, and, with three companions
he formed a gang to transfer the field of
operations to the country.
In many parts of the country railroads
cross or run close to each other, and on ev.
cry railroad are water tanks, where the
different engines stop to fill the boilers
One of his first schemes, which worked
well for awhile, was to buy ticket to
some point near the city and pick pockets
or get hold of valises and drop ont with
them at short stops for water and disap-
pear in the darkness, where a confederate
would be on hand with a light buggy to
drive him away. No clothing found in
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-08-20

ent directions in "a hours and await de-
veinpmentS But in the afternoon of the
next day the tenants were surprised to see
Il wagon filled with men sweep round the
tall osage orange hedge near the barnyard
and come straight fc- the house The
thieves had felt so secure of the time in
which they had to escape that they had
not recEoned of the day and night work of
the railroad detective or Of the special
train to bring his men to the scene of &C
ton They sprang to the doors, barricaded
them, and seizing their weapons awaited
developments.
Surrender" called the special agent
from outside 1--WE know you. johnson
has squealed."
a bullet from inside just grazed his hat
and ended further verbal condolences. A
rafting volley from the officers was replied
to by fusillade of pistol shots from with
in. One of the posse got a bullet through
his hip and was taken out to the barn and
was laid up for repairs. One of the men
in the house was shot through the right
hand and rendered almost helpless. The
situation was desperate for the men inside,
and they finally decided to surrender A
handkerchief was stuck out through a
broken pane of glass, and hostilities
stopped.
The men came out singly and were
handcuffcd and put in "a wagon. At the
trial they all pleaded guilty and received
heavy sentences. The gang was thorough
~ broken up. Merchandise began to come
regularly over the line, and baled hay was
not shipped SO freely as before.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-08-20
Publication Notice.

STATE OF ILLINOIS. L..
ROCK ISLAND CoUHrY,
In the Circuit court in ehaneery, September
term, A. D. 1896.
John W. Johnston W. Eliza Johnston. Franci.
Johnston, Margaret Johnston, John Johnston,
Eliza Johnston. Frank Smith. Samuel smith, Al
Moehcr. Mosher. Matilda Remp, -
re mp. Josephire Johnston. Henry Johnston. j.
W Johnston, Maria Johnston, Martha Johnston
John l.. Johnston, Ella Johnston. Anna Pitmao.
- Pitman, Elizabeth Fi;zsimmops, Ash
Fizsimmons. Rachel Johnston, William John
tton, Thomas Johnston. Miles w. Diemer, VIII
liam Johnston. guardian of Mics " Demer,
minor. Ia hel Johnston. Thoma- Johnston. John
Hutchinson, Mary Hutchinson, Joreph Hutchin-
son. Margaret Hutchinson, Robert Hutchinson.
PiDnie Hutchinson, Thomse Hutchinson. Emma
Hutchinson, William Hutchiu SOD, Nora Tut, him
s9n, Henry S, hu,chnrSn, nay z; HTtIiI.on
or devisees Of Thomas Johnston ttL.essu, The
unknown owners Of the weft o.. LaII Of the
southeast quarter OF section 4 n.I.. twenty six
range number two west Of the fourln =. u. IN the
county Of Rcck Island and eta:e Of Illinois, Bill
TO cor strue and corr, CT VIII.
To the above named defendants. Eliza Johns.
TOT, Franci. Johnston. Margaret Johf eton. John
Johnston. Eliza Johnston: Frank smith. samuel
Smith; Al Mosher. ,,, Goshs,. A1,ild. kemp'
ton. W Johnston. Maria Johnr'on. John l..
Johnston, + Ia Johnston, Anna Pitman. -
Pi,man; Kacbel Johnrion, thomas Johnston,
John Ilu'chinson. Mary Hutchinson. Jo-eph
Hutchinson Aarga-et Hutchinson. Robert Hutch
inson, rinnie Hutchin-on, Thorla. Hutchinson,
Emma Hutchinson. william lufoin.ob., Sors
| Hutchinson. Henry Hutchinson, Mary z. Hutch
in-on Va Ida smith James smith. the unknown
heirs or deyiste- Of Thomas Johnston. deceased
| the unknown owners o: the west half Of the
southeast quarter o! section number tven.y-fiz
al. In township ngmber si. teen (i6l. north oil
range number two tsl west OF the Fourth pripci-
pat meridian in the county Of rock leland anc
.taie Of Illinois.
An ,avit OF your no--residencs having bee
fled in the Office % The olers Of SAID circu:
court. notire 4. hereby given to you and each oi
| you that the above famed complainant hss dlet
IN rafd court III. hill OF complaint sgaine. you OF
| the rhancery side Of said court and a Summons
/ In cnsnccrry has hcsn issued In raid Gauss
| asainst you returnsble TO the next term os ssis
court. tn be b.Rua AID hold n ~ the court hous,
| in the city II Rock Island Ia ssid county on tn
| ffsf Monday In September A. d.. is26. At whicI
| tine and visee you vill appear and Plead. answe
| or cemur 10 said bill Of mp ainf IL you Ct.
4 Dated at Rock isisn5. Illinois, this 18Th day o
July, A. D., I.y6.
| GEORGE y. GsxsLe Clerk.
| SWEENEY WsLKEx- Complainant soiicitors.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-08-20
Sentimental Murdercrs.

There is story that the most famous
of all japanese robbers. Ishlkawa Gocmon,
once by night entering house to kill and
steal, was charmed by the smile of baby
which reached out hands to him, and that
he remained playing with the little crea-
turc until all chance of carrying out his
purpose was lost. 1t is not hard to believe
this story. Every year the japanese police
records tell of compassion shown to chill
dren by professional criminals Some
months ago terrible murder case was re-
ported in the local papers-the slaughter
of household by robbers. Seven persons
had been literally hewn to pieces while
asleep, but the police discovered a little boy
quite unframed, crying alone in pool of
blood, and they found evidence unmistak-
able that the men who slew must have
taken great care not to hurt the child.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-08-20

Judge Asphalt passed the sentence, not
because he desired to infiict such a severe
punishment on the defendant, but because
the habitual criminal law made the Il
position of the penalty mandatory on /.
Unusual attention was attracted t. he
case because this was the first sent .ce
under the new law. and it was the rst
time that life imprisonment has been i'm
posed for any crime less than murder in
the second degree in New York state. Sec
ton 6SS of the penal code provides as fol-
lows:
"A person who, after having been con-
tictcd within this state of felony, or an
attempt to commit n felony, or petty lar
ceny, or, under the laws of any other state,
government or country, of a crime which
if committed within this state would be
n felony, commits any crime within this
state, is punishable, upon conviction of
such second offense, as follows:
IF the subsequent crime is such that,
upon first conviction, the offender might
be punished in the discretion of the court
by imprisonment for life, he must !. T.
fenced to state prison for life
Under section 507 of the code burglary
in the first degree must be punished by a
sentence of not less than ten years and
may he punished by life imprisonment.
Therefore the judge had no discretion in
the case and was compelled to send Block
to prison for life.
Block stoutly denied his guilt and re.
fused to plead guilty in the second degree
and thus mitigate his punishment. The
booty secured by the robbery was valued
at less than $50
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-08-20
Publication Notice.
Rock ISLAND CoUHrY,

In the Circuit court. September term, A. d.
1896
lar. petitiop.of Rock Island and Eastern ILL
nois Railway company to condo nm right Of way
Affidavit Of the non-reeidence Of the defend
ants, Peter Farrell, Anna N. wadsworth
William c. Wad.wofth, Kate Fraser. Henry
Fraser, Josephine Petit grew and - Pet,icrew
cher hushand). having been filed in the erk's OF.
flee OF tbs circuit court Of sad county. no ice IL
her, fore hereby given 10 the eaid noI-rcsi-
dent defendants that the petitioner filed i,s
petition in said court. on the chancery eide there
OF, on the twenty-n nth (29, day Of May, 1895 and
that thereupon luminous issued out Of esid
court, whe rein said SUIT lie now pending. returna
bic on the first Monday in the month Of Sepiem-
Der EXT, as lie by law required.
Now, unless you the said nonresident de-
fendante above named, Peter fa.r ell, Anna y
Wadsworth, William Wadeworih, Kate Frazer
Henry Fraser, Josephine PettiRrew and Petit
rew.shall personally be ard appear before said CIR
cIit court, the first day Of the next term there
o. to be holden II Rock leland in and for the SAID
county, on tn e hret Mondayin September next and
plead, answer or dcmur to the eaid petitioners
petition, the same and the matters and
things T. erein charged and stated will be taker
as confessed, and . decree entered against YOU
according to the prayer Of eaid bill.
Rock Island, H., July %, 1896.
GEORGE W. 0AMDLD, Clerk.
Haas BUFoRD.. Complainant Solicitor.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-08-20
A Human bloodhound.

The "black tracker" is one Of the most
useful members Of the Australian police
force He is To he found in uniform ut all
the head stations throughout the colonies
and his services are in constant demand.
He is recruited from the aboriginal tribes
who, as a rule, are spoken of by scientist:
as being perhaps the lowest race Of man
kind yet discovered, but certain it is tina,
the Australian aboriginal senses Of seeing
hearing and smelling excel those of every
savage tribe. not excluding the NORTH
American Indians. and these traits make
him substitute for the bloodhounds USED
in America and other countries
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-08-20
THE CYCLING PARSON.
Mrs. Charlotte Smith Denounces Him and
Says the Wheel Is Immoral.

Mrs. Charlotte Smith, president of the
Woman's Rescue league in Washington,
has made quite n stir among riders of the
bicycle by vigorous ard wholesale denun-
citation of that vehicle. She says the bicy-
Gle is immoral and unhealthful. She pays
her respects to the bicycle flirt and charges
that riding without chaperon is fraught
with danger to young girls. Altogether
the wheel is an instrument of evil, with
no redeeming feature, in the eyes of Mrs.
Smith.
When her attention was called to the
fact that a number of reputable clergymcn
have preached sermons in favor of the
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-08-20
MRS. CHARLOTTE SMITH.

wheel, she said: "Do you want to know
how that comes about? I will tell you.
The bicycle agent gives n wheel to the
clergyman and offers him commission
on all wheels sold through him to mem
bers of his congregation. No wonder Inc
becomes interested. personally know OF
eight or ten cases where such arrange
1nents have been consunmated. One pas
tor of flock, exceptionally conscientious,
asked me what my Judgment was as to
the propricty of his accepting an offer OF
the kind, which would add $500 or 5000 a
year to his income. God save us, 1 say,
from quack preachers! Quack doctors are
bad enough, hut the quack cycling parson
is beyond enduring"
Mrs. Smith does not ride the bicycle.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-08-20
Publication Notice.
II the circuit court Of esid county At the Septen
Der term, 1896.

II the circuit court Of ssid county at the septem
bor term, 1896.
Caroline Southerd, Diana Irwin, Emmain
Stoothof vs.. Mary LsForge, Andrew J. Lii hit
Joseph Light, Mary Miliard. Emma Hartwell. q
W Light. Louisa loduin,ton, Lucinda Hodkin-
con. Char. es A. Light, John Ii. LIght, Marths
Liktt. Rebecca Schultz, William F. Light, Robert
A. Light. Annie Light. sarah NJ. Deal, Jane
-aunders. Emma Root, b. G. Light, Anna A. Tai.
bolt. Florence Light. Matte L. Light, Jav "
Light, William Dusinberry and William Dusin
berry. administrator Of the estate OF 10 .ept
Light. deceased.
AFFIDAVIT OF non. residence Of Mary LaForge
Andrew J. Light, Joseph Light. Mary Willard
Emma Hartwel,. G. W. Light. Louise Codding-
ton. Lucinda Hodkinson, John Light. Robe T,
Light. Mineola Ande rson. Charles A. Iight. Johr
B. Light. Rebecca Schulz. William F. Light
Jane Saunders. Emma Root, b. c. Light. AIMS
A Talbot, Florence Light, Matte &. Light. Jay
". Light, the above defendants having been filed
in the clerks office OF the circuit court Of eaid
resident defendants that the complainant fled
| their bill Of complaint in said court, on the chan
Gerry side thereof on the asth day of May, 1895 snt
that thereupon q summons issued ont Of said
court, wherein said suit r. now pending. returna-
bic on the first Monday in the month OF September
next, as is by law required. Now, unless you
the said nonresident defendants above named
shall personally be and appear before the said
thereof, to be holden at Rock Island in apc
tor the eaid county, on the FIRST Monday II
September next, and plead, answer or demur "
the said complainant's bill Of complaint, the sam,
and stated will be taken a. confessed, and
decree entered against you according to thu
prayer Of said bill.
GEORGE W. aAMBLR. Clerk.
Rock Island, H., July II. 1885.
WILLIAM NECESSITY,
Complainants Solicitor.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-08-20
Death by Boiling.

In old England, before the law was
passed which prohibited cruel and I'M
usual forms of punishment, :" murderers
We're often condemned tn death by boiling,
says the It Louis Republic. In such cases
the victims were chained in large kettles
OF cold water, which was gradually heated
until 1t caused the flesh to drop from the
bones The last English victim of the
boiling death was one Rouse. a cook,
who, 1t was alleged, had killed IL persons
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-08-20
Lash For Highway Robbers,

The lash was recently applied TO the
back of a man in England who had com
mitted highway robbery. He knocked a
young woman down and stole her purse
1t was his first offcnsc. MIR. Justice Day
of the Kent assizes expressed his disap-
prevail of long sentences for first offenders
He thereupon sentenced Ellis TO "A month s
imprisonment and so lashes from the
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-08-20
LEGAL.
Administrators Notice.
Estate Of wilhelm Sander. deceased.

The undersigned having been appointed admin
istrstr;x Of the estate Of wilhelm Sander,
late of the county Of Roon Island.
etate of Illinois, doSe Ased, hereby gives notice
Of Rock Island county, at the once Of the clerk
Of said court, in the city Of Rock Island. at the
October term, on the nrst Monday In October
next, At which time all persons having claims
against sid estate are notified and requested TO
attend, for the purpose Of having the same ad'
justed.
All persons indebted TO said estate are ~
ques,ed to make immediate payment % the IN
dersigned.
Dated this 3ssh day Of July A. D.. isas.
AUGUSTA SANDER, Administrative.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-08-20
Seniority Of Twins Disputed.

Two French gentlemen are now at law
In Paris over a curious contention They
are twins, but one was born three-quarters
of an hour before the other Each claims
to he the elder. The book in which the
births were recorded was destroy,~, during
the commune, and judge has beez asked
to decide tie question.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-08-20
Publication Notice.
STATE OF ILLINOIS,
Rock ISLAND COUNTY.

koCk ISLAND COUNTY.
in the circuit court. to the September tenn, A.
ID. 1896.
Gudalis F. Cellue vs.. Ella Baker in attachment
Public notice IL herery given to the said Ella
Baker that writ Of attachment issued
out OF the Office Of the clerk Of the circuit court
OF Rock leland county, dated the 3lth day OF
March. A D., 1926, at the cult Of the said
Gudalis Ce'las. and against the estate Of
the said E'la Baker for the sum Of ten hun
drcd and twenty five dollars, 81 ,025 directed to
the sheriff o. sa:d Rock Island county, which
said writ hiss return. d executed.
snd an order having entered Of record in paid
court at the May term, 1895. thereof, that said
cause stand Continued.
Now, therefore. unless you, the said Ella Baker,
shall personally be and appear before the ssid
circ1it cOIrt of Rock Island county on the fret
day OF the next term tsereof, TO be holden At
tho court house In the city of Rock Island.
IN said county. on the frat Monday of September
A. d 1896. give special bail and plead TO the said
Plaintiffs action, judgment will be entered
against you, and in favor OF the said Gudals
f. Cellue. and 30 much of the property a.
tached a. NAV be SUFFICIENT 10 satisfy the said
judgment and COTS will be sold to satisfy the
same, GEORGE ". GAMBLE. Clerk
McENIHY & Mckinney, Plaiatif's Attorneys.
July 10. A. D.. 1896.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-08-20
A HocsloO Lawn.

ihey have in Bisideford Me. what the,
term a hoodoo lawn. Every year. wins.
moved, the operation is followed by rail-
TINS year was no exception, making the
twenty-si1th consecutive year this hss
haYpened
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-08-20
"DIRT DEFlEs THE KING" THEN
SAP POI 10
IS GREATER THAN ROYALTY ITSELF.
A WOman's Quest.
After travelling over land and sea,
she finds the object of her
search at home.

The story Of this well kuown iady's quest
Tor health. Is that of thousands. They uEy
NOT nave Travelled So far or expended
much money, but have searched just rs
earnestly. Thousands of women dying an
nuallN from diseases peculiar to- the scN show
now tutiic Is the quest of many. a brsf CN.
tract from Mrs Prgtt's statement: 'TwclvC
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-08-20
The Mo.t CostlH Tomb.

The most costly tomb in existence IL
that which was erected to the memory Of
Mohamrned. The diamonds and rubies
used in the decorations are worth e, 00o.-
600
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-08-20

years l suffered al q
won an can and live
Dcuth would have been
u happy release. / was
trcatcdby the best Spc-
Cialistsiu Canada, Eng
iaudnrdathofut. with
out relief. Had iuilam-
nation, liberation. ca
tarrh. fCtroVCrSIpu and
hcnurrhagcs. 1oplcas=
africud ,iWildplivc
and Myrtle Tonic. They
cured me permanently.
Not ~ sign LETT. Have
CuinCl IL pounds. "
NfRS NNCpN.pRATT
IntCrhny, Wash. A
full history pf tn,
49,.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-08-20
LIFE IMPRISONMENT FOR BURGLARY


In Brooklyn the other day Joseph Block.
a Russian, % years old. who can neither
read nor write, was sent to Sing Sing
prison to spend the rest of his natural life
at hard labor because after once being
convicted Of petty larceny, a jury found
him guilty Of burglary in the first degree.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-08-20

"thcrS, scnt On application. The remedies
used. ere the pfifCd formulas of u physician
who gave his life to the study 81 diseases oi
women. Wild olive - applied - the seat of
disease. Myrtle Tpuic ~ taken internally to
build UP the system. NCttnE IN harmony
thrv cute eases that nothing else can reach
friCC 81. each. samples ct both and n val.
uahlc treatise EktE. ct Our agents or H.
addressing. VICTOR MEDICAL ASSS
CITATION, South Bend, Ind.
Mrs. NJ. J. SAroxsr, Agent,
iiia thirty seventh ST., Roei;I.i,nd
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-08-20

HIoA0o, RooK BLAND . PAcIHlo
Ra:lysy-r!ckets can b purchased or ~.
ssee eneeked at I . P Twentisth street tepct
depot corner FIFTH svaras sad
'o'fy+e'ss street Prank a. Pirmney, sysrt.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-02-06
THE DEATH RECORD.
DeceasS of Patrick Dryer, Mrs. Albert
Killam and Miss Mary Clark,

Patrick Dwyer. the veteran hackman,
died at his home on Bank street Saturday
noon, after an Illness of nearly a year.
For many years, until sickness last spring
compelled him to relinquish the business,
Mr.. Dwyer was a familiar figure at the
passenger station on the arrival of trains
and his faithfu.ness and obligng manners
won for him many friends, not only among
Burlingtonians but among the travelling
public in general. He was IS years of age.
He leaves n widow, a son, Rev. John
Dwyer, and daughter, Miss Mary Dwyer
Mrs. Albert Killam, whose critical Ill
ness was chronicled in these columns
Thursday, died Saturday afternoon at $3.50
o'clock, after an illness of six weeks from
neuralgia of the stomach, followed by
malarial fever. Besides her husband and
a daughter, Mrs. Killam s survived by
two brothers, Augustus and l.. NJ. Bar
rows of this city, and a sister, Mrs. IL. L.
Bundy OF Hartford. Conn. She was Sc
years of age.
News was received Saturday of the
death OF Miss Mary S. Clark, in St. Mich
olas, Florida. Miss Clark was at one time
a teacher in the public schools OF this
city and identified with the Unitarian
sunday school for years as both scholar
and teacher. For the last 20 years she has
taught in the South. Her aunt, Miss
Hannah Chandonette. will have the SYM
pathy of the many friends who remember
Miss Clark as one of the kindest and most
lovable persons VINO ever went from Bur-
lington.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-02-06

about, and I took II. From the start
noticed Improvement, and am now In the
best of health, and able to get around as
lively as any youngster / know. Yours
truly. J.. A. Gilbert.
The most rational way Of getting rid of
rheumatism, neuralgia and insomnia and
getting back sound health Is to husband
every mite of strength and to set about
radical all-around restoring Of the tired
system with Paine's celery compound.
1t is your business to furnish the body
with nervous energy as fast and album
dainty as you can, and to get richer,
purer blood supply. There Is no way in
which this restorative process can be
swiftly brought about as by using Paine's
celery compound.
There is nothing known to physicians Of
the most extensive practice equal to
Paines celery compound for purifying the
blood and making strong. healthy nerves.
Unremitting work at last brings down the
vitality Of the strongest men and women
Everyone has felt the ambitionlese, listless
feeling There are many persons who man
age to keep about their business because
they are not sick abed, who are neverthe-
less sadly "out of health" Paine's celery