The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-10-24
A PATHETIC LETTER.
A FEARFUL WARNING TO THE
BOYS OF AMERICA.

Just Before His Execution MUIR
dercr Tells How Liquor Made Him
Commit the Terrible Crime and
How He Began His Downward
Career.
THAT Campaign Of Education-The Prohibi-
ton Side.
OMAHA-(special Correspondence >
Several weeks ago Claude Hoover, while
mad drunk, stepped into shoestore and
killed Mr.. Dubois, ono Of the leading mer-
chants. 1t was a whisky murder. A jury
decided that Hoover must hang. Before
he was led out on the gallows he wrote
statement, which was read by Rev. Q, W.
savidge It Is a strong argument for Pro
hibition and is enough TO shame the citi-
Gems Of this state who voted In 1890 TO per-
petuate the rumshops In Nebraska. Hoov-
er's statement Is as follows:
az desire TO let young men know the
causes which led me to commit this terri
BILE crime From child until was II or
10 years Of ago always attended Sunday
school and church was given Bible
for reciting the most verses IN the Psalms
/ still have that Bible In my possession.
have kept 1t for 20 years, and cherish IL
very highly as keepsake from my Sun
day school teacher, who has long since
passed away. When my father died, Il was
| is years old, and started TO work to help
support my mother and sister. My first
| position was In o printing Office That
| was where I took my first glass ID beer.
| relate this with sorrow. The print
ers always made IL q practice to get a
small keg of beer every Saturday night
There were three or four of us young boys
working In that Office, and when the men
went to lunch we would steal beer out OF
the keg and drink It. That Is how fell
into the habit Of taking Intoxicating drink.
next worked as bridge builder, and IN
this was thrown among class OF men
who drank and who spent the greater par,
Of their leisure In saloons drinking and
PLAYING cards. I soon fell into theii
habits Of life.
shave lived In Omaha most Of the TINT
for the past eight years and have been va
riously employed, working on the railroad
building bridges, etc. At the time th'
| crime was committed was not feeling
we'll, 40 / drank glass OF whisky, ant
that led to another, and by noon WA
very full of liquor. got into an argu
ment with my brother in law over trifiini
matter, but which made me very angry
I drank more beer and became by thi
time 40 intoxicated that 1 did not know
what was doing or where was going
do not remember anything about goinl
into the shoeshop. do not remember
the occurrence / cannot realize wha
caused me to do It, for Sam Dubois wa
one of the best friends 1 had on earth
Young men of Omaha, let me give 20
some good advice and take heed to what
say, for II you do not you may find youl
self some day In the same place am.
anybody a year ago had told me that
.. would be In jail today with death ser
tence upon me, would have called hill
crazy. But am here and have only fe
more hours to live. And the cause OF m
being here is drink. II had kept ava
from that vile stuff would be out In II
world today. Young men, for Gods sab
: keep away from drink. Keep out OF ba
company. Don't 90 around saloons an
, beer gardens. Seek the society OF respec
. able and manly young men or stay
l home with your mother. Let her kno
that you respect her and try TO make h
3 happy. Any young man who puts In b
time in saloons and dance halls, stays OF
late Mt night and comeo home drunk III
J, very little respect for his mother Toda
my greatest sorrow Is that have brougl
= shame and disgrace on my poor moth
and sisters. Oh If could only recall q
o past. If only l could live my life over,
/ would be very different. But now II Is &
u late BY the time you hear these words
!. shall be in eternity. Now, dear friends M
p brothers, remember, whenever you take
IL glass of beer or any kind Of intoxicatiI
n drink, think what have told you.
II CLAUDE HOOVER !"