davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1896-02-12
Rev. James Mcdonald Lectures
Before the Reading
Circles.
HIS PLEA FOR GOOD BOOKS.
In the Course of an Able Essay the
Lecturer Points Out a Way
in Reading.

Metropolitan Hall was crowded last
night when the Rev. James Mcdonald of
st. Peters Church delivered lecture be-
fore the Catholic reading circles on
Catholic English Literature"
Father Mcdonald read his lecture, which
was distinguished for its smooth, agreeable
style and an undercurrent of humor. He
quoted extensively to illustrate his dis
course.
He said that there never was time
when so much writing was done, so much
indifferent if not indeed bad writing was
inflicted upon the people. None of this
writing was great. The present century
opened in blaze of literary glory. The
French revolution had an influence upon
the thought of the period. Religion. NOR
ality, reverence, virtue were cast aside and
large promises were made in the name of
liberty and equality
All Europe caught the fever of the
thought.
The movement crossed the English
Channel. TIE English literature of the
time is crowned with many great names,
beginning it might be said with Burns.
The last half of the century has only one
name to boast of-Teunyson-afser whom
there has appeared no great poet. Writers
Vi peItSCG Slyle tO-Qdy pt COuHteu Dy
the thousands, and yet few who are the
equal of Hall Caine for instance can be
found. He continued:
Modern literature is decidedly unhealthy,
breaking out here and there into fits Of
nastiness and indecency. The modern story
teller delights in such, and the reader has TO
accept ii in the name of art.
What wonder is 1t that people who believe
in justice, truth and old-fashioned virtue
should be satisfied with nothing higher, ana
should not cry out against such rising tide of
filth.
What can be done about it? Some people
say read Catholic literature. What is this
literature? II was Cardinal Newman's. The
phrase does not mean religious literature
treating exclusively of Catholic matters or
Catholic doctrine but consists of literature as
a Catholic would treat it. The Catholic
church is full of its own literature. The most
startling disclosure OF modern times is the ig-
norance of Catholic doctrinal works on the
part of Protestant men of pretended literary
reputation. When Catholic literature is men
toned it should be understood that it is not
necessarily a pious literature. People who
think so are a little bigoted and want Catho-
lie hallmark on everything.
The speaker said he wished to refrain
from hurting the feelings OF any person or
any aggregation of persons, and he hoped
that no offense would be taken where none
was intended. He held that the sodality
The San Francisco call., 1896-02-12

sense, were not observed, and the cortege
was formed in matter-of-fact way, such
as the carting away of some incum brance
from ones household.
JACK Smith, the man who has been re-
garded for couple of years as the hus-
oano OF the woman, dropped in to view
ner remains and then went his way. In
eneeVening he was again about his haunts,
Wnere, IN the lifetime of the girl, he earned
by gambling enough to tighten her burden
OF his keeping.
curiosity, as much as anything else, ex-
citing the taste of the women of the hall
worIa, attracted many of them to the
Morgue during the early hours OF the day.
ihey were disappointed not to find the
body there. They pursued their quest as
lar as the undertaker's, 20 the latter's very
great dissatisfaction.
Now that the poor murdered girl is
buried there is nothing left behind but
the remembrance of how she was killed.
The public will soon forget that, and it is
likely, too, that the police will have to
inscrlbe the assassination on their archives
as one of the mysterious cases presented
to them.
A Coroner's jury has been impaneled,
after having viewed the corpse, and its
verdict, if it is ever deemed necessary to
ask it for one, must be that May Smith
came to her death at the hands of some
person unknown.
The police, however, are not resting be-
cause they are in the dark as to the prob
able murderer. Captain Lees has been
working twenty hours out OF twenty-four
catechizing every person who might have
a possible connection with the case.
He has found the cook from San Diego
whose letters to May Smith were signed
Billy" The fellow is w. R. Neuman
He accounts for his movements ever since
The San Francisco call., 1896-02-12

assault, has filed with Judge Belcher a
motion to dismiss the indictment against
his client.
In his motion Cook alleges that the in
dictment was not found by the concurring
voices of twelve of the members of the
Grand Jury; that the names of all the
witnesses against Lane were not indorsed
in the Indictment. He also contended
that the evidence taken before the Grand
Jury was incompetent, irrelevant, insuffi-
cient and illegal. Further, Mr.. Cook
claims that the Grand Jury itself was i'm
properly and illegally drawn; some of its
members are aliens, he says, and preiu-
diced. He therefore asked that the in
dictment be dismissed. The motion will
come up for hearing later.
The trial of the information against
Lane, for similar offense, will come
before Judge Bahrs on February IA.
The San Francisco call., 1896-02-12
GALLANT GENERAL HARRISON.
The Presidents Delicate Regard for the
Feminine Part of Humanity

The Presidents Delicate Regard for tho
Feminine Part of Humanity.
The approaching marriage of ex-Presi-
dent Benjamin Harrison recalls to mind
the extreme Difference with which the gen.
eral has always regarded the geatler sex.
No more striking illustration of this char
acteristic could be desired than the manner
in which he conducted himself toward the
defendant in the case of Nancy e. Glenn.
charged with murder, in which he was one
OF the attorneys for the prosecution.
The time intervening between her arrest
and final discharge was little over eight
years. She was charged with having
killed JacobY Yonng and wife at IndiananoIis
September II, 1866, and was tried four times.
Twice the jury hung and twice she was
convicted and sentenced to life imprison-
ment, but each time the Supreme Court
came to her rescue and reversed the case.
After the second trial the case came here
on change of venue. Marion County
spent over $4,000 in the prosecution, but
refused to contribute further after the
verdict of guilty rendered at the fourth
trial had been reversed by the Supreme
Court, and the case was dismissed
General Harrison made the closing arpr
ment for the State, and continually re-
ferred to Mrs. Glenn, 1.-The unfortunate
defendant After he closed Senator
voorhees,, VINO was associated with the
defense, asked him why he had been 80
easy in his remarks against the defendant.
Dan" he replied, mo matter what she
may have done, she is still woman, and
won't abuse her." When the jury had
retired he wen: over to Mrs. Ciem. who
was crying, and asked her forgiveness for
anything he said which might have in.
iured her feelings. As he turned away be
said to Judge Palmer, who was trying the
case: Judge. I'll never prosecute another
woman" He has kept his word.-Cincin-
natl Commercial Gazette.
The San Francisco call., 1896-02-12

Jack the Ripper, who in the course of a
year or two murdered many fallen women
and terrorized the entire WhitechapeI dis
trict of that great metropolis.
1t seems as though such were the case,
for within the last few days a young girl
on Morton street has been strangled to
death by an unknown assassin and several
other women in the same region have been
beaten, stabbed and strangled, in each of
the latter cases the assailant escaping
without leaving a trace by which he could
be detected.
The night prior to the murder of "little
3day Smith," man bearing the appear
knce of a thug entered the room of a young
girl who had assumed the name OF Lulu
Taber on Morton street. After inquiring
as to the amount of money the girl had on
her person and receiving a reply favorable
to him, he became exceedingly rough, tear
ing the girls clothes from her person in
an endeaVor, it is presumed, to rob her.
The girl ordered him out into the street,
but he refused to go, and again assailed
her. but her cries and her threats 10 call
the police attracted the attention of the
girls in rooms al joining her, which evi-
IDENTIFY frightened him, as he made hasty
exit and joined a man waiting on the side
walk, who is supposed to have been his ac-
complice.
Both rapidly disappeared down the
street before the officers arrived. A few
hours after this occurrence loud cries were
heard coming from the rooms at 161l Berry
street, occupied by girl who is known as
Carrie Thomas. Upon their arrival the
police found the girl lying on the floor in
an almost insensible condition, badly
bruised and with deep red finger marks on
her neck showing that she had been stran-
gled. A man, who proved to be John
Kelly, alias Williams. was endeavoring to
escape through the back door, but through
the interference of a man who happened
TO hear the cries, ran into the room and
intercepted him, he was handed over
to the police.
Standing on the curb outside of the
room was the accomplice, who fed upon
hearing the cries OF the girl, but was seen,
and his description answers that given by
Lulu Taber as the man who had a short
while before assailed her. Night before
last another girl was nearly strangled to
death on Berry street, her assailant being
unknown, but it is thought 10 be the con-
federate of the man now in custody. AL
though the police searched high and low,
they were afterward unable to again To-
cate the girl who had been choked The
girls across the street from the house
heard the screaming, and after learning
that another attempt had been made upon
the life of one of their associates, they i'm
mediately left their places for their other
rooms. A number of them have de-
termined not to return to their old haunts
until this unknown and dangerous thug
shall have been taken into custody.
The agents OF the houses occupied by
these girls are very reticent about the
matter it being evident that they are in
danger of losing their tenants if they be-
come aware of the attempts made on the
lives of other girls.
Although number OF girls living on
that street heard the disturbance. but few
of them know the truth concerning the
matter.
The San Francisco call., 1896-02-12
GUNBOATS FOR The NAVY,
Union Iron Works Begin Con-
struction Of Two Com
posites.
LIGHT DRAUGHT FIGHTERS.
Speed, Sail Area, Armament and Gen.
eral Description of the
Craft.
LIGHT DRAUGHT FIGHTERS

The Union Iron Works of this City was
the successful bidder for the construction
of light draught composite gunboats Nos.
| Ia and 15 of the United States navy. The
contract cost is s223, 900 and $219,000, re-
spectively. They are to be completed
within fifteen months.
A few days ago Senior Lieutenant Capps
q. S. N, arrived from Washington, and is
He will superintend the hull construction
of the new craft.
Active work in the building OF the boats
will begin soon, and it is expected that the
construction of the vessels will enable the
contractors to enlarge the force of work
men.
The new gunboats are of type wholly
different from the Bennington and Con-
cord. The exterior design of gunboat Is
and IA is exactly the same-is shown in
the illustration accompanying. The naval
architecture of the craft is greatly adj
mir ed, and surely service aboard one of
these light-draught steamers will be de-
sired by reason of the comforts offered.
The gunDoats are not designed Tor de-
stroyers of commerce, but they are
equipped nevertheless to fight, and will
attain speed of twelve knots an hour.
For navigation of rivers, bays and
estuaries where the water is shallow they
will render the best service, as they will be
able to ascend streams where cruisers and
pattle-ships would not dare venture. Boats
of this description will prove exceptionally
useful in Asiatic waters. By the terms of
the recent treaty between Japan and
China many of the Chinese rivers will be
open to the commerce of the world. Boats
drawing only twelve feet of water-the
draught of Nos. IA and 15-can navigate
these rivers long distance from the sea.
Therefore, in the event of insurrection or
tumult inland, requiring the presence OF
United States forces to protect American
citizens, the gunboats could land troops
near the scene of disturbance, while the
cruisers would be compelled to remain at
a distance of 100 miles or more from the
| danger point.
Each of the new gunboats is to carry six
four-inch rapid-fre guns. There is one
gun forward and one aft on the main deck
and two on either broadside of the gun
deck. There are also four six-pounders
and four one-pounders. With the rapid
fire four-inch guns some effective work in
open fighting against other craft could be
done, while the six-pounders might make
things lively for bodies of troops on the
| shore. For their size, Nos. IA and Is of the
The San Francisco call., 1896-02-12
MAY SMITHS BURIAL.
There Was Only a Heart-Broken
Mother to Weep for the Girl.

There Was Only a Heart-Broken
Mother to Weep for the Girl.
Forsaken by every one but her sorrow
ing mother, Mamie McDermott was buried
yesterday in Cypress Lawn Cemetery.
The unfortunate young woman. who was
killed by stranger on Monday morning
was given as decent and conventional an
interment as money could purchase, but
there lacked all those tender and senti-
mental adiIncts seemingly so natural,
although so sad, in like ceremonies under
different circumstances.
The woman was only trifle over 20
years Of age when death overlook her.
Yet around her casket there were no chill
dren nor young people in the moral ac-
ceptance of the term. There were women
there, TO be sure, whose lives were still
young, but whose painted faces and hard
lines told the story of the paths they, like
the dead one, have followed.
The funeral ceremonies, in religious
The San Francisco call., 1896-02-12
Built q House in a Bottle.

A few years ago the writer saw genu-
inc curiosity which had been made by a
little blind boy IN Chicago. 1t was moth
ing more or less than a miniature house,
made up of forty odd pieces of wood, which
was placed on the inside of very common
looking four-ounce medicine bottle. TIE
general verdict of all who examined the
wonder was that it would puzzle man
with two good eyes to put the pieces in the
bottle, to say nothing of the task of glu-
ing them together SO as to make them re-
semble house.-St. Paul Dispatch.
The San Francisco call., 1896-02-12
CHARGES AGAINST LANE.

Carroll Cook Moves to Dismiss the In
dictment.
Carroll Cook, counsel for Peter F. Lane.
who is now under Indictment for felonious
The San Francisco call., 1896-02-12
STRANGERS ON
MORTON STREET.
Terror Caused by Several
Attacks on Young
Women.
AS MAY SMITH DIED.
Attempts to Choke and Rob Other
Hibitues of the Region
Reported.
NOT a CLEW YET DISCOVERED.
A Condition of Affairs That Suggests
the Presence of a Morbid
Maniac.
NOT a CLEW YET DISCOVERED.

The police are inclined to think that
there Is strangler in this City whose am
bition, or mania, is to equal, or possibly
eclipse, the record of London's notorious
The San Francisco call., 1896-02-12
NEW To-DAY-DRY GOODS.
GOODS
TWELVE GREAT BARGAINS

In connection with the numberIess
which GREAT MIDWINTER CLEARANCE SALE
following lines SPECIALLY SELECTED FOR CLEAR
ANCE TODAY therefore offered at
Sacrifice That Will Force Them Out Immediately
The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1896-12-12
THE WORLDS COINAGE.
Report of Director Of the Mint Preston
An Important Recommendation.

Report of Director Of the Mint Preston
An Important Recommendation.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 5.-The report OF
r. L. Preston, the director of the
mint, shows in elaborate details the
operations of the minis and assay Of
ices during the fiscal year 1896, to-
gether with statistics of foreign coun-
tries, relative to the production, coin
age and monetary conditions of each.
The total coinage of gold and silver
by the various countries of the world
was as follows:
Gold, S23l, 0s7, 43S; silver, S121, 61O.-
219. Total, $751;, 697, 657. The total
metallic stock and uncovered paper in
the world was estimated, on January
l, 1896, to be $40, 93S, 600, COO.
The director recommends that au-
thority be given the secretary to have
experiments made 10 determine the
best means of preventing the counter
feiting of silver coinage. At the pre-
vailing price of silver. the difference
between the bullion and the nominal
value of our silver coins is about 100
per cent. and this constitutes a great
temptation for the stamping of such
coins by INSCRIPTIONS persons, af-
fording them an opportunity to place
in circulation counterfeit silver coins
at about 100 per cent. profit as good
as those stamped by the minis, and
which cannot be distinguished from
them, even by experts.
The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1896-12-12
MONEY FOR PENSIONS.
The appropriation for the Next Fisca.
Year VIII be FuiIy S14O,OOO,0 u

The appropriation for the Next Fisca.
Year VIII be b uiiy S14O,OOO,0OO.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 5.-The appro-
pr:ation for pensions for the next ifs
cal year will Eot be less than Si4J,OU0,
900, and it may exceed that sum. Tie
subcommittee of the house appropriate
tons committee. which is now draft
ing the measure, find that the most
rigid economy will not enable them to
reduce the mount necessary for the
maintenance Of the pension offices be-
yond the sum of $4,000 in the appro-
priation for fees for examining sur
geons. This saving will result not
from reducing the fees, but because a
surplus to that amount will remain
unexpended from this years appro-
priations.
The bill will be reported to the fall
committee to-day or Monday and be
placed on the house calendar with the
executive and Legislative bill next
week.
The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1896-12-12

Until / met you, Adele" he u
INJURED, in a voice husky with emotion.
Il believed that all women were de-
c%eitful, but when l look into your
clear, beautiful eyes l behold there the
very soul of candor and loyalty"
George" she exclaimed, with en-
thusiasm, this is the happiest moment
l have known since papa took me to
that Paris oculist!"
paris oculist?"
'Yes, dear; you never would have
known that my left eye Is a glass one"
Then the moon went behind a cloud
and George rolled over, and buried his
face in the moist grass.-Odds and
Ends.
The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1896-12-12
FIVE VICTIMS
Or a Deadly Battle Over Politics In
Letcher Couniy, Ky.

Of a Deadly Battle Over Politics In
Letcher County, Ky.
MIDDLEsBoRO, KY, Dec. 4.--Meager
details have reached here OF a battle
in i.etcher county between the Nor
gan family. strong supporters of Con-
gresham ID. c. c. Colson, and the Har-
rison family, advocates of eX-Con-
gresham John u. White in the re-
cent congressional election. Mr..
Morgan and his three sons.
Thomas, Caleb and John, were going
to the mill when they met William
Harrison and his sons j In and Henry.
The families have been at outs since
the election, and after 4 few words
guns were drawn. Old man Morgan
fell dead at the first fire, and when the
fight was over Jim and Henry Harri.
son also lay dead, and Tom and Caleb
Morgan were dying.
The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1896-12-12
FAME EASILY HAD.
An Inventors Brilliant Scheme for Max
ing Himself Famous.

An Inventors Brilliant Scheme for Max.
ing Himself Famous.
sat last 1 shall be famous. My name
an and child in the United States. It
may go laundering down to posterity.
Like Napoleon, Ishall be an ancestor"
declared the pale young man in a burst
of enthusiasm.
what are you going to DO. Turn
bandit and rain robber?" inquired his
friend.
NO, indeed, better than that"
"What then?"
II shall invent n flying machine"
II didn't know you were an invent
or"
Neither am l. But 1 have a good
imagination. 1 will think of a ma
chine 400 feet long made of spun god
and shaped like m enormous rock. 1t
will be worked by a 4,00O-horse-power
engine. weighing 90 pounds and will
carry a dozen men 4 score OF miles"
But where will you get the money
to build a machine of gold 400 feet
long? And don't you know that it is
impossible to construct a 4,000-horse-
power engine weighing 20 pounds?
Are you crazy?'
NO, 1 am n genius"
Genius? Oh, pshaw. How are You
going to get the money!"
Don't need any,, except 81 for postal
cards"
What are you going to do with
them?"
III write to every newspaper in
the country and tell them of my
scheme"
"But, suppose it doesn't fiy?"
"You don't suppose am fool enough
to attempt to make it. No. indeed"
Then where does the fame come
IMP"
Every newspaper will send men to
see me. I'll describe my machine TO
them and they will print a s%even-eol-
umn cut of it. You would not get a
400 feet long machine in less. They
will print my picture. It'll make a
page in every Sunday paper and I'll be
known from one end of the country to
the other as the great inventor of a
flying machine. and I'll spend my life
being interviewed as to when L shall
begin the work of construction. Talk
about fame. Think of having your
picture and an account of your life in
every newspaper in the nd."-Chica
go Times-Herald.
The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1896-12-12
SOLDIERS HOME OFFICIALS
To lie Prosecuted in Iowa for Violation &c
a United States Statute In Regar: 10
Pensions and Pensioners.

To he Prosecuted In Iowa for Violation GO
a United States Statute In Regar: 10
Pensions and Pensioners.
Dies MONIES, Dec. SC. D. Fulton,
federal attorney for the southern dis
trict of Iowa, announces that he will,
next week, swear out warrants for the
arrest of the commandant and trus-
tees of the soldiers home at MARSHALL
town for violations Of federal statutes
for the protection of pensioners. They
will be charged with the violation of
sections 47i7 TO 4749, Revised Statutes.
Two years ago a rule was adopted
requiring that all pensioners pay the
home their pensions in excess of ST per
month. The inmates took the matter
to court, and the Marshall county
court held against the RUE. The SUI
preme court reversed this, and the rule
Is nows being enforced. the money
raised being turned over to the sup
port fund of the institution.
Attorney Fullen has discovered that
the rule seems to be in violation of the
statutes referred to, which make it a
-mlsdemeanor, punishable by fine and
Imprisonment, to hold or attempt to
enforce any lien against a pension.
The rule in Iowa prevails in the
homes of several other states, and if
the court decides against the Iowa in.
stitution, it will apply to all alike. The
only exception made by the federal
statute is in the case of the national
soldiers and sailors homes. which are
allowed to hold in trust for pensioners
all their pensions above five dollars per
month, to be turned over to them at
their discharge, or to their heirs in
case of death; nc part of it can be con.
tScated.
The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1896-12-12
IMPORTANT ISSUES INVOLVED
In a Series of suits just Begun at Wichita,
kas.

WICHITA, kas., Dec. 5. In the dis
trict court Thursday, the Anglo-Amer-
lean Land Mortgage and Agency Co.,
an English corporation, which owns Il
great deal of Lombard securities, be-
gun suit against the Lombard Invest
ment Co., of Kansas City, for 5000, 900.
The suit is the beginning Of numerous
suits against eastern stockholders of
the latter company, and IS attracting
much attention because of the impor.
tart issues involved. Eastern courts
have held that the double liability
which is imposed by the laws of this
state upon corporations and stockhold-
ers applies with equal force to corpo-
r~ations and stockholders outside of the
state. Both sides to the contest charge
frauds