Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1897-12-23
BELLE AN OLD ADAGE.
Twelve Missouri Women Keep a Secret
Seven Years.

The statement that a woman cannot
keep secret is all nonsense. Modern
representatives of the fair sex have
belied the adage many times. One
instance which shows that women
can keep information as tight as any
one comes from Missouri. 1t is a
matter of record in that state that for
nearly eight years dozen women
have kept secret and kept it well.
Time after time they have baffied the
most persistent and ingenious efforts
to gain possession of the coveted in
formation.
1t was on Feb 7, 1890, that the w. c.
r. u. women of Lathrop, Mo-, after an
hour of prayer over the subject,
marched up the main street and de-
moished couple of saloons that were
being operated in opposition to law
and public sentiment. The first one
visited was run by Thomas Achoff.
The women found the door locked, and
sCme one of the dozen that stood in
the doorway smashed the big glass
with a rock and unlocked the door
With the sound of smashing glass the
women became imbued with the desire
to destroy the ginmill and they did it
with such completeness that their
work stands unrivaled to the present
day In the flush of victory following
the raid of the ginmlls, when every
woman was interviewed by dozen
reporters, not word was ever spoken
so that the most ingenious and ven
turesome reporter could hazard guess
as to who broke the glass. The pre-
caution of guarding the secret was
taken before any legal advice had been
sought. 1t was piece of woman's
tact, and the jealous guard kept over
it shows what dozen women can do
when they decide on a certain thing.
After the saloons were dotted tho
women gathered at the home of one of
the members. There were over thirty
of them. Each one was asked if she
knew who broke the glass, and the
twelve who did held a short star cham
Der session. Just what transpired at
that meeting is not known outside eX-
cept that a pledge was made that I'M
der no circumstances would the name
be given in court or elsewhere. They
would all stand together. The secret
was to be locked within their breasts.
That was over seven years ago, and
the secret has never been betrayed.
The compact is as binding today as
secret for seven years when they have
all been on trial in the state courts,
charged with the malicious destruc-
ton of personal property. Had one
been willing to turn states evidence
the case would have been dropped
against her, but in the face of danger
/ they stood together. They had Joined
hands in a promise, and not link IN
the chain proved unworthy. It baffled
an attorney who had not counted on
such persistence. 1t aided materially
! In securing an acqulttal for the
women.
John A. Cross, prosecuting attorney
OF the county, lived In Lathrop and he
vowed he would see that all violators
were punished. He caused the arrest
Of seventy eight people, and for nearly
two years spared no effort to ascertain
who it was that smashed the window.
He is persistent and ingenious, but all
the work he and his assistants could
do awaited nothing. He was wholly
unable TO gain possession OF the infor-
Il alton He got the name OF every
man and woman who was near the
door, his assistants resorted to all the
expedients known to experienced and
astute practitioners, every piece of viii
lage gossip was gathered up. every re-
mark that might yield clue was fol-
lowed up, but all to no avail The