davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1897-11-26
ROTTERDAM, Nov. /.

rotterdam, Nov. i.
The notorious crimes of the late
American nun lerer, Holmes, have been
outdone by the wholesale butcheries
perpetrated by Gustav Carl Friedrich
Muller matchmaker of this city, who
has surrender hiu.sclf to the police for
the assassination of his wife and child.
and who pleads guilty to the murders
of his father mother, fourteen wives
| and several of his children 1t is be-
lieved that Muller, though only 80 years
of age, has murdered more than twenty
persons, to all of whom he was bound
by sacred ties. He is now trying to
starve himself to death.
Muller entered the Kassmarkt police
station few days ago, and, approach
ing the officer on duty, exclaimed dra-
matically:
81 surrender myself! 1 have muir
dered my wife and child"
what do you mean?" asked the Of
ficer incredulously.
"Just what I say" answered Muller.
| L nave killed tHeIn botll.
Thought He Was Crazy.
GLOW did you come to do it?" asked
the officer, still thinking the man was
not telling the truth.
IT was in the kitchen this morning,
Muller replied, cleaning mussels for
the midday meal when voice called to
me to draw my knife across my wifes
70
Then l killed the little one."
The officer, convinced that Muller
was a drunkard or maniac, laughed
which enraged his visitor.
perhaps you will believe me now
cried Muller, taking from his pocket
and placing on the desk in front of thu
Mortified officer four bloody human
ears. eco to my house, and you will
find that what I have said is true"
The man was Immediately placed un
der arrest, and CHEF Strang, the heat
of the Police Department, was notified
Ordering two officers to follow him
. the chief hurried to the prisoner
house and there found ample confirma
, ton of Muller's tragic tale.
5 Both Were Butchered.
In the kitchen were the two bodie
5 of Muller's wife and child, the head
of both having been nearly severe
, from the trunks The room was spa1
S tered with blood.
! Chief Strang went to the Kassmark
e station and subjected Muller to rigi
! examination Muller, without any con
f pulsion confessed that these two mul
4 ders were merely links in long chat
: of crime He told the chief he ha
e butchered his father and mother an
] had married fourteen women in
n MANY parts of the world, all of whol
o he had done to death, with numbe
~ ~ en-, ,f bSi 6Gdhl dHen . He could not re
Il slaughtered.
g After completing his confession, Mu
r Ter became morosely silent and refuse
TO eat. He has declared his intentit
e of abstaining from food as the on
o way in which he can commit suicide.
(. The police now give full credence
q his awful story, and are making eve
e effort to trace his other crimes. 1t
+ believed that some of his murders we
e committed in the Orient.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1897-11-26

the situation before him. She tod the
official that something must b. done
Immediately to save herself and chill
dren from the humiliation of becoming
public charges. and with tears stream
ing down her cheeks implored him to
assist her
In few days the roadmaster in
formed Mrs. Shannon that she might
90 to work as a section hand. and the
following morning found her perched
upon a hand car with half dozen
hardy men. prepared to WELD the shovel
and other implements of toll from
morning till night in all kinds of wealth
err, for the sake of her pride and her
children.
"It's this way" explained the road
master to those questioning him about
the woman's strange employment;
"shell tire of it in a day or two. and
that's the only way 1 could think to
rid her of that whimsical notion"
But the roadmaster was mistaken.
She did find the work extremely tire
sulDt tnC III 81 low va pht 'hS ~ w
section boss favored her in many ways,
and at the end of week she had not
the slightest notion of relinquishing
her job. On the contrary, when the
roadmaster called one day to see how
she was getting along she talked of her
work with a show of enthusiasm thu t
surprised and vanquished him.
"rll keep right on" she said, "and
I'll make the best worker you have on
the line.
Shortly after that new arrange
ment was made whereby Mrs. Shannon
became the foreman of section No.
and was installed as mistress of the
section house. where all the men board
She has held the position for nearly q
year, says the New York Times. ha:
saved up quite snug sum OF money
and the roadmaster affirms that she is
the best section boss in the world.
Dressed in pair of bloomer overalls
with the bottoms laced around the top!
of cowhide boots, and her head adorned
by broad-brimmed SLOUGH hat, tn,
woman section boss may be seen an.
day. except Sunday, in all kinds o
weather. standing beside the track il
the midst of a gang of laborers. direct
Ing in loud. commanding voice tn
work of surfacing, lining up ard raj
replacing. Every morning at sever
D'clock Mrs. Shannon kisses her tw
Tho trrr9hw sayes tlhtst m1o TO m ihf s"r %lq
while she goes forth for the days worl
On the railroad. The men are wnilin!
: for her at the switch with the hand ga
. loaded with tools and dinner pals
"All ready boys: l"t her eo!" sh
l says, and they are eff down The line
dav of toll .\fter ten hours wori
when the .boss" looks at her watch ar
t shouts: 'sAll al; ard for srrper! ther
, is scramble of hrr Try toilers. ella
t tering of shovels AID bars as they ar
: thrown upon the car. rafting
! empty dinner pals and away they
e hompward
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1897-11-26
HIS ENGLISH RECORD.
Muller Declared In London That he
Had Butchered Four ThOusand
Persons.

(By Anglo American Presso
LONDON, Nov. /.
Some time in March, 1898, there land
ed at Dover a German Matchmaker
named Gustav Muller. He came from
India, travelling somewhat leisurely,
through France, on his way TO this
country. When he arrived in London
toward the end of March, he was pen
niless. or nearly so. The slender re-
sources he may have had in his pos
session were soon exhausted, ana one
night he was found wandering IN
/ Southwark by Police Constable iidg-
way. 10 NJ r., who took him to the
! warehouse in Mint street, Borough
/ This happened on the 3tth OF March
of the said year.
In due course Gustav Miller, who'
strange to say-coming as lie did from
India-professed neither to understand
nor to speak word of English, ca-Ae
under the observation OF the workAouse
doctor, who very soon came 10 u con-
clusion that the man was OF unsounu
mind He walked a'out the yard in
time. and he told the doctor some ex-
traordinary tales. He had, he salo'
murdered his father and mother, his
wife and children. At other times he
proclaimed himself wholesale slaugh-
terer. having butchered no less than
four Thousand persons. The police, Mui,
Ter added, were at last on his track ana
wanted to kill him.
Sent to an Asylum.
! There being no doubt as to the mans
insanity, the necessary certihcate Tor
his removal to a lunatic asylum was
. procured, and on the 18th of April, 1873
! Gustav Muller was taken, In the usual
way. to the London County Lunatic
Asvlum. at Banstead, in Surrey.
From inquiries made there yesterday
after the announcement of the Grim
at Rotterdam-there is no doubt tina
the Gustav Muller who was detaine
at Banstead and the Gustav Mule
who gave himself up for the murder c
his wife and child to the RotterdaI
$ police, are one and the same person
III lHt Doph VI tlliiCS a. i'ehAA9sNs.
d Gustav Muller is described as well bui
and well nourished, with healthy Of
u gans, and "well-shaped Uranium" II
age was given as 81; by trade watcl
II maker and goldworker. Nothing wa
is known as to his religion or nationalit
and whether he was married or sinsi
lie Nor were any details Forthcoming r
lc garding the epileptic fits from which
was supposed to be suffering, the dat
lie of their occurrence. his treatment in L
dia and in Europe. and so on. But
~ was reported to suffer from suicid
OF mania, though not to be dangero'
lunatic
is Behaved Well mt Banstead.
he As a matter of fact Gustav Null
not only behaved very well indeed
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1897-11-26
NOVELTIES JUST PATENTED.

Lanterns can be carried on the ends
OF wagon tongues, instead OF on the
WAGON body, by means of new holder
which consists of a cap to slide over the
end of a pole and support bracket for
the lamp, and wire guard to keep the
horses from striking it.
To safely transport animals in Or
binary railroad cars portable stall
is used, having four corner posts set IN
the movable floor and supporting an adj
Unstable roof, with a feed trough hung
on the post at one end and padded
boards extending along the sides of the
stall.
A Michigan woman has patented an
improvement in screen doors to keep
flies out when the door opens, construct
ed of flexible folding sections, which
allow the guard to collapse as the door
shuts. the device being attached to the
top and upper portions of the door and
casing.
To prevent the slipping of belts on
pulleys movable pieces are set in the
wheel rim and held IN place by springs,
which allow the pieces to protrude be-
yond the surface OF the rim when GER
tain speed is attained, to increase the
circumference OF the wheel and tight
On the belt.
Sign lettering is made.easy by new
device, which consists of spacing dia-
having series OF radial points to cor
respond with the letters to be formed
with ruling arm working in conjunc
ton with the dial to determine thu
angle and shape of the different letters
composing the sign.
To Indicate whether letter collector
have visited all the boxes on their rout
new letter box is provided with
ticket punch and the carrier is fur
nished with number of tickets pivote'
together, one Of which he inserts i
each box to be punched by the actio
o. opening the door.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1897-11-26
DOLL CAUSED HER DOWNFALL.
Eight-Year-OId Girl Arrested for
Stealing WaNen Belle.
(By Anglo-American Press.)
MANCHESTER, Eng, Nov. /.

MANCHESTER, Eng, Nov. l.
There was something very human In
a charge of stealing a doll preferred
against child at Brighton police court
yesterday. The small occupant of the
dock was only 8 years old, and her
name was Rose Coleby.
When passing toy shop the other
day Rose espied a doll displayed out
side the fancy bazaar in a manner most
attractive.
The child's weakness for dolls was
not proof against the sudden tempta-
ton. She passed and repassed, and
still returned to feast her eyes on the
waxen beauty, and, at last, unable to
resist any longer, she snatched it up
and fed.
The shopman, however, was on the
alert and Rose and the doll were soon
parted.
The case aroused considerable curl
osity and amusement at the local court.
but matters took a more serious turn
when 1t was intimated that there was
another charge against Rose of pur-
Joining a watch. On that account the
child was remanded for further inqui-
ries.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1897-11-26

her husband dead she also awakened TO
the sad realization that John had left
her TO the mercy Of the world with two
small children TO support and barely
enough money coming from the rail-.
road to defray his funeral expenses
The day after the funeral Mrs. Shan
non went to the roadmaster and laid
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1897-11-26

Glasgow has 50 health inspectors;
Liverpool has Ga.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1897-11-26
wOBURN ABBEY ROBBED.
Room of the Duchess of Bedford
LooSei by IA Burglar.

Anglo American Press)
LIVERPOOL, Nov. /.
Woburn Abbey, the seat of the Duke
of Bedford, was broken into yesterday
and two valuable clocks and dispatch
box were stolen from the private apart
ments of the Duchess.
Two watchmen going their rounds
saw the thief leaving the house and
arrested him after a fierce struggle.
The man, who appeared to be of the
tramp class, gave the name OF John
Smith, and said he came from Birming-
ham.
1t was found that he climbed a fence
into the abbey grounds and entered the
mansion by forcing a window He was
charged before a magistrate to-day
and remanded.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1897-11-26
Slew FOURTEEN wives.
MULLER SAYS HE HAS KILLED
-FOUR THOUSAND PERSONS.

A ccuses Himself of the Murders of
His Father and Mother and of the
AssassInntion OF Several of His
ChiIdren-Gnve Himself Up ut the
Knssmnrkt Police station In Rot
terdam-Whcn the Officers Re-
fused to Believe Him, the Crimi-
nal Laid on the Desk Four Bloody
Human Ears-Now He Is Trying 10
Starve Himself to Denth-Iie Was
Confined In an English Asylum
for the Insane Four Years Ago.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1897-11-26

little 1-year-old daughter by him, ina,
he has foully murdered in Rotterdam,
after basely betraying both her and his
lawful wife.
With Margaret Hannemann Gus
tav Muller has lived as husband,
first at Amsterdam, afterward at Rot
terdam. In both places they appear to
have lived a comfortable life, mainly
on the money stolen at Berlin, but at
Rotterdam Muller managed to obtain
profitable employment with a respect
able matchmaker.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1897-11-26

Miss Ricketts-It must have been
perfectly dreadful to be witness IN
court. Were you cross-examinedT
Miss Tenspot-Indeed l was. he was
the crossest lawyer ever saw.-Detroit
| Free Press.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1897-11-26

ii Has faithfully aborcd for their prosperity and happiness
for The improve Hcnt Of their business and home m
t,rcsts. for education, for the elevation OF American
manhood and true wommnood.
Ii has told the fe,de. Interesting and instructive stories
of the donys OF the world, the nation states.
II has advised The farmer the most approved methods
Of eulivano and harvesting his crops and the prop
time t, convert them into the largest possible amount
OF money.
1t ha, led in al matters pertaining the welfare OF frne
aud Villagers and for over half century has held the
confidence and esteem.
Ii i, the New York Weekly TRIBUNE and we imnisi
with the SITTER | ve,i for SIS cash in advance.
Address all orders to L II FI SITTER,
and Geo W. Best Tr nm
THE New YORK WEEKLY ItlnuN
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-06-26
THE CABOT QUADRIOENTENARY

Four hundred years ago this month
to be exact, on June 24-John Ca
bot is reputed to have discovered the
continent of North America. The
date named so closely comedies with
the sixtieth anniversary of Queen
Victoria's accession that it may large
ly be lost sight of amid the splendors
of the Diamond Jubilee. 1t is never
theless worthy of high commemora-
ton, and will receive some measure
thereof in England itself, at Bristol,
whence the discoverer sailed on his
great voyage, and in Newfoundland
and Canada, both of which lay claim
to having been his landing place. 1t
is quite fitting that some attention
should be paid to it in this country
also. For just as surely as Cabot was
a follower of Columbus, Raleigh and
the Mayaower were followers of Ca
bot. 1t was Cabot who first bore the
flag of England to these shores, and
and thus opened the way for Anglo
Saxon dominance in North America,
and for the establishment of the
United States.
Mr.. Henry Harrisle, writing in
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-06-26

The Salvation Army resort to drum
and fife and other boisterous instru-
ments of music to attract and
carry along the street rabble. They
put forth something of reasonable
excuse for this procedure. Colleges,
to compromise with a potent part of
1.-The brute inheritance" still domin-
ating considerable number of stu
dents, authorize college YELL" The
reason for this affront to the refined
taste expected to attend mental hab-
its and pursuits are perhaps the same
as those of the Salvationists. 1t is
evidently an expansion of the college
boys hilarity. And it may be that
the advancement of this genius,
through course of education, is i'm
practical without it. If so, then it
must be SO, and nothing is to be said.
Like the athletic craze that supplies
to universities in these modern
days their most distinguishing end
attractive features, and that when
fully evoluted" blossoms out in
the prize fight, it too, may be neces-
sity that did not exist when colleges
still grew Channings, Websters and
Summers.
But conceding it to the college, is
the "yell" appropriate to Christian
procedures? Is the hilarious, noisy
aspect befitting9 Have these young
Christians not yet grown beyond its
necessity for really delightful time?
Is it not in their mission to induce a
discontinuance of the rude and un-
civil in social life? Do they not re-
call the man who, without sword, or
whoop, or "yell," revolutionized the
empire of the world by simply the
Jealous advocacy of his Master; and
that it was he who said, "Let every
thing be done decently and in or
der"
do not know that other societies
Of young Christians have not their
"yells." Some, who should know,
have heard of none. 1t matters not.
But it is hoped that good counsel
will prevail and that unfavorable
criticism will not be evoked by this
needless adjunct. S.
CHICAGO, Jrns 5.
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-06-26

ther from church influence the less
moral restraint. Churches and crime
exist in an inverse latio.
The Christian must be perfect. We
need not be frightened at the word
perfect, for it's true meaning is an en-
enlargement. Jesus used the word
and we need not shrink from it. He
said, "Be ye therefore perfect" etc.
Not perfect in the sense of absolute
perfection, but rather in relative
sense. The master mason builds his
wall 60 that it shall stand the test
of the square and plumb line. 1t
is upright and perfect in design and
workmanship. The perfect Christian
is without deception. In the manu-
facture OF a piece of fine ware, the
workman may find flaw, and instead
of throwing it aside, deception sug-
gests wax, and he may fill the defect
and glaze it smooth so that the casual
observer may not see the fraud. AS
ware without wax, or sugar without
sand, or as gold without alloy, so must
the Christian be.
One of the best evidences of this sa-
worry condition is charity. Not that
kind of charity which exists in theory,
in great and magnanimous thought
alone, but rather in that charity that
is kind, kin in thought, in speech,
ami above all things kind in action.
Jesus lived not for himself but for
others. No man can live unto him
self. He must live unto others, either
for good or for evil. Christian charity
can no more live in itself than the
sun can shine without giving light
and heat, or God exist without doing
good. The church that tries to live
in itself and for itself, must gain truer
conceptions of its mission or it must
die. God has no use for such a
church until he breathss the breath
of the Christ-life into it and puts it in
motion. Activity is the law of life and
inactivity means death. "Ichabod "
has been written over many church
door, becauseit was shriveled up in its
own selfishness, and had forgotten to
move. We ara to remember that the
great law of Christian life is doing;
doing for others. Christianity is &C
tive righteousness. The Christ-life
is epitomized in the brief statement:
"He went about doing good"
Another conserving force is q lris-
an purity. By this is meant the alb
sence of all vulgarism in speech and
social intercourse. In all things pure.
Think of Jesus among his disciples.
He was pure in thought word and ac-
ton. The Gospel rule is First pure
and then peaceable," which but ex-
presses a natural law, for when all
evil thoughts are driven out of the
mind the vacuum will be filled by
higher, nobler thoughts, and these
will produce the rich fruitage of Chris
tian work.
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-06-26

Macmillan and Carlotta. DIR. Nc
Collester is an admirer of President
Diaz and regards him as the Lincoln
of Mexico.
He describes the Mexican Presi-
dent as "gifted, high minded and
cultured man, of entire Aztec de-
scent" Diaz is believer in public
schools, and separation of church and
state. Though a Catholic, President
Diaz is very friendly to the Protes-
tan IS, giving them cordial welcome to
any part of his dominions, and he
Seems bound so far as it lies in his
power to have justice done every one,
whether high or low. black or white,
pedant or savant"
The title of DIR. McCollester's book
is Mexico, Old and New; A Wonder
land" 1t is beautifully and copious-
ly embellished by half tone pictures
of really excellent workmanship. 1t
is an instructive and entertaining
volume, combining large amount of
information, presented in a very pleas
ing manner. 1t is the best book on
Mexico that has come under our OBJ
servation. 1t is just the volume that
the author proposed, and for which
his readers will thank him-"a famil-
lar, CHEEKY, helpful record, helpful to
mind and heart" Mexico is fortu-
nate in its traveller, and President
Diaz may well be proud of DR.. Nc
Collester's remarks on Mexico and
its patriotic and able ruler.
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-06-26
Hints on Savory Christianity.


AS in mathematics an exponent in
dictates the power of number, so the
Christian is an exponent of the power
of Christianity. Genuine Christianity
has always been power for good.
But everything in nature. morals and
religion has its contrast or contradic-
ton. The genuine coin suggests its
counterfeit. Jesus said to his dis
ciples, aye are the salt of the earth, !"
but Immediately added by way of
caution, "But if the salt have lost
its SAVIOR wherewith shall it be sailed"
Christianity must have certain
savory and conserving properties or
be trodden underfoot of men. Well
seasoned food is at once pleasant
and helpful, and Jesus teaches his
disciples that religious thought and
life must be seasoned with the salt of
his truth, and he warns them of the
danger of degenerating into condi-
ton that is almost ironically sugges-
tive of spoiled food. But in spite of
human intirmity and all adverse criti-
cism there are men and women in
every Christian community whose
lives are savory, pure and wholesome,
and who in all things conserve the
public good. There is in their ma
ture, character and reputation, no Of
fensive moral faint, no impure stains,
no blots of evil to mar the beauty of
their lives, and of such it may be said
MARK the perfect and behold the
upright" They are essentially the
salt of the earth.
Salt is well known active preserv-
alive agency, permeating every por-
ton of the mass to be seasoned or
saved from decomposition. If Chris
tians are the salt of the earth the COM
parison is obvious. Their savory and
seasoning qualities must go through
every part of the church organization,
in all its departments of work, and
from thence out into the world, and
thus be felt in heart and life. Such
Christianity is the great and only pre-
sentative against vice and corruption
in morals, and without such a Chris
tan influence the best community in
the world would soon be afflicted by
moral rot. The rule is that the far