davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-08-14
CURED HIM TO KILL Him
Trephining the Skull of An In
sane Murderer.
CHEATED THE GALLONS AFTER ALL

Typhoid Fever Carried or . Prisoner
Who Had Undergone . Surgical Oper-
alton So That He Might He Hanged.
Strange Features Of the Drchcr Case.
A surgical operation was performed in
st. Louis recently which in all probability
has no equal in the history Of the world.
1t was undertaken for tbs purpose of cur
ing man Of insanity SO that he might be
hanged. The operation proved successful,
but the man died from typhoid contracted
from impure drinking water
Charles Dreher was sentenced to death
for numbering his sweetheart. After his
condemnation he became insane and could
not, according to law, suffer the death
penalty.
Three years ago Dreher shot and killed
his sweetheart, Bertha Hunicke. He de-
veloped fit of insane jealousy for reasons
that no one could ascertain. The girl was
only 10. On Jan. go, 1894, he went to her
room, upbraided her wildly and shot her
dead.
Then ho turned his revolver on himself.
He fired three shots, only ono of which
struck him. This one lodged in his skull,
entering tho parietal bone on the left side,
just below the coronal suture. 1t was
easily removed, together with a piece of
splintered bone. Dreher recovered quickly
and was placed on trial for the murder
He seemed perfectly rational, although
dull and brutal. The evidence was clear
against him, and he excited little SYM
pathy. He was convicted and condemned
to death.
While in prison awaiting execution he
began to behave strangely. His symptoms
quickly developed into unmistakable in
sanity. Within three days of the date set
for his execution he was declared absolute
~ insane.
He was sent to the insane asylum mt
Fulton, Mo. There his condition was or
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-08-14

thor, has eloped with Nine. Warnet, wife
Of the distinguished composer.
Richepin is one of the most picturesque
men in Paris. 1t was he who few years
ago accompanied Sarah Bernhardt when
she horsewhipped Mile. Colombier. He
throttled NJ. SOudan, the journalist who
was present, and then prevented that gen.
tleman from protecting Nine Bernhardt' g
victim. 1t was Richepin who was the au-
thor of Nine. Bernbardt's suppressed
book, "Marie Pigeonnier
Richepin Is a handsome, athletic man of
40. He is a brilliant scholar, has been a
soldier, poet, a journalist and author and
finally dramatist. The press has him
for n contributor, the thcater for q critic,
the Cato Anglais for patron and La Bo-
heme for one of its most striking figures
n. Richepin was born in Africa and
Is as dark rs mulatto. His parents
were from Picardy, and it is said that the
brilliant Partisan has gypsy blood in his
veins.
No one is surprised at his latest esca-
pade. 1t Is quite in limo with his charac-
ter, which is seldom at loss for some sort of
surprise for friends and the public PEG.
pie are now asking, What will he do
next?'
About the only specimen of Richepin's
style that is familiar to Americans is the
song 1.-The Mothers Heart" which was
sung last winter by Yvette Guilbert. Here
Is Arthur Symon's translation of it:
There once was a lad-alncls fol, his lot!
And he loved one who loved him not.
She said to him: "Go bring to my feet,
Thy mothers heart for my dogs meat.
Get thee home; slay her, not watt"
He took the heart and he ran with it straight.
Ashe ran he fell to the ground,
And in the clay the heart rolled round
As the heart rolled round in the clay
The heirt spoke, and he heard it say
He heard the heart say in his ear:
"Hast hurt thyself, my dear? Oh, my deari"
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-08-14

ensues. The fight is about to begin The
heralds show a quite moderate skill in
caraooling their fine blacks to beneath the
presidents place.
He acknowledges a profound salute and
losses down to them golden key, en-
blematic of the unloosing of the bull
Across the vice circle they gallop on firm,
white sand, just sufficiently dampened to
give them foothold
And now the big military band breaks
into nervous Spanish march, the big
gates near the heralds swing open and the
march of the tOreadors begins, first the
three matadores in red and gold, their
plated hair hanging from beneath rich
gold embroidered hats
Ihe costumes are gorgeous. The knee
pants and short open jackets often cost
thousands All the rest is silk Dancing
pumps complete the dress. Following in
brilliant lines come 40 assistants of vari-
GUS kinds
They halt opposite the president All
salute and go to their stations
One of the best matadores in Spain is to
kill the first bull. NIazzantini is a gen.
tleman born. He was a bank clerk, but
walked out one day, saying:
There are only two professions in Spain
which pay-begang and bullfiehting. 1
prefer bullfighting'
He receives $1,000 each fight. From
this he pays his 'caHdrillos," or seven
comrades of the cloak, the bantlerilla and
the finishing knife. leaving him not less
than $1,000 profit. At two fights "a week
for IL weeks year n good Spanish mata-
dore becomes rich in q couple of years. il
the bulls let him live
Now perfect silence shows the first
bull is aboat TO be let out of the dark cell
where be has been since early in the day.
A gate is quickly drawn. Out into the
center of the glaring ring swiftly trots the
fiercest and finest fighting animal afoot-
an Andalusian bull.
fhis one comes from the Nfinra es-
tate, famous for its vicious product The
ribbons floating from his neck denote his
pedigree. His name is printed Oh the pro-
grarnme as Medianito. As yearling
he charged a horse five successive times,
despite the plea of the riders sharp
lance, and became a recruit of the first
class. For six years he has lived out of
the sight o, man. No accidents have
broken the stiletto points of his polished
horns, and today he is fit for the slaughter
Of "corrida formal or first class combat.
Suddenly he looks right and left with q
savage alertEess as different from the slow
motions of our, pastoral bovines as is q
marser bullet from thrown brickbat
He secs horse and starts for. him.
Gaining speed each second, with lowered
head he strikes the trembling animal with
shock sensible over the whole plaza.
The audience shsdders in delight Down
go horse and man with crash. In
darts toreadcr. dashing his rcd cloak into
the gor:ng animals bloolshot eyes
The bull follows the scarlet. He charges
1t. The man springs aside with a graceful
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-08-14

That Of an old lady nearly 90 years old
was ono of the most remarkable She was
sick unto death, and her end was mo-
mentarily expected. All thought that she
must die within n few hours of old age and
extreme weakness. was called In to SEQ
her, md / nnointed her. She immedi-
ntoly arose md was perfectly well. Today
she goes to Rhode Island on visit to some
friends Of hers
Tho reverend gentleman was quito will
Ing to give tho names and addresses of the
persons no has healed, but desire to save
them tho unnecessary notOriety of publica-
ton caused him to refrain from doing So
"There was n young man in lunatic
nsylum Mt San Bernardino, Cal" contin-
ued Mr.. Merritt. ~ was In Los Angeles.
The youth was said to BIO hopelessly and
helplessly insane. I went over and prayed
with him, and his reason was restored.
He was released from the asylum and
went homo to his mother. That was in
Juno, and since / left California 1 hear
that no has continued to remain in his
right mind. He is completely cured of
his supposedly incurablc insanity.
Tho case of q young woman who was
In tho last stage Of consumption was mar
velous. Tho physicians had told her she
could not live tho night out, and was
called to her bedside.
IL talked with her some time, and then
.sho asked mo TO anoint her. told her
distinctly that IL anointed her she would
live. Sho was full of faith, and when her
folks had brought oil anointed her. She
got well and today is in perfect health.
For three weeks after her recovery she
worked here, addressing envelopes, and I
was ablo TO observe that the disease had
entirely left her. She is now in Cleveland
and enjoys tho best of health.''
Mr.. Merritt declares that bo is in daily
communion with the Holy Ghost and has
been given tho third dispensation.
~ shrank back from this particular
phase of ministerial work for some years, ~
no said, "but feel that have been called
70 it. It Is not my wish or desire. 1t Is
tho promptings Of tho Holy Ghost"
At the recent Christian Alliance conyep.
tion ut Old Orchard, Me-, Mr. Merritt de.
livered IN address on sanctifcation; dur
1ng which he explained the healing powers
OF which he claims to have become DOS.
gessed.
"In tho last few months, " he said, "God
hns manifested himself TO Inc and through
me more than in all my former Christian
experience. Through me he has opened
lunatic asylums, babe inmates come forth,
and have seen them depart clothed in
their right minds. He has touched con
sumptives ON the very brink OF the grave
npd restored them TO health. The crippled
end in1rm have been fully healed
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-08-14
HARD TO KILL.
Two New York Women Who Are Appar
emily Bullet Proof.

Some human beings achieve greatness
by riding 200 miles on a, bicycle in one
day. Others buy greatness by means of
thor millions. Still others have greatness
thrust upon them by not dying when they
were expected to die by profound medical
thinkers.
New York has two beings of the latter
kind at present, who were inconsiderate
enough not to dio when expected to do 80
by their respective assailants and the hos
pital doctors. The first of these is Mrs.
Lena Hardy. She was shot five times by
her husband and then struck on the head
with a Ratchet.
Tho assault was committed at their
home, and it took the ambulance nearly
IN hour to reach the injured woman
When tho young surgeon saw her state, he
expressed the opinion that she would not
live to reach the hospital. AS u matter of
duty he took her to the Harlem hospital,
where she was put under ether and her
wounds examined
One bullet has! gone into her shoulder,
another through the neck, one through
her arm, and two were imbedded in her
left side, two Of the latter puncturing the
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-08-14
An Amorous Ghost.

There is a genuine haunted house of the
old fashioned kind in Ponckhockie, near
Kingston, n. Y, and people won't live in
ii. 1t belonged to the late Squire Josiah
Du Bots, who in the material life was q
spiritualist and is apparently in the spirit
ual lie materialist. for it Is ayerred
that the shade of old Du Bots haupts the
house and hugs women.
James Burke lived in the haunted house
until the wrath of Du Bots took it into
its ghostly head to hpg Mrs. Burke, who
is comely. Mr.. Burke found his wife w.
ing on the parlor floor in swoon. She
told her husband when she recovered that
she had seen q shadowy form and that the
ghost had caught her in his arms and hug
ged her.
Not only was she badly scared, but her
sense Of wifely propriety and dignity was
Outraged, and she declared she would not
submit to the ignominy of being caressed
by departed spirit again. So the Burkes
moved out, and now strange noises arc
heard in the dead of night in the house.
and people walk on the other side of the
way and whisper with white lips:
"Old Du Bots is walking again"
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-08-14

upward sweep Of the cloak. The bull
passes under Is with lowered head and
closed eyes The man salutes the audi
ence, which applauds the dexterous move
ment, or 'quit"
Meanwhile the red shirted and capped
assistants are dragging the prone pica6or
from under his weltering horse. Some
times the bull docs not follow the cloak
after the charge. Then the slicing horns
rip and rip, and there is one more picador
gone. These horsemen show the superbest
courage. They lie perfectly still, trusting
all to their comrades.
This time the horse is lifted bodily and
hurled against the barrier The picador is
damned between. There is stiffness, brok-
en- by clild's shrek. Again the scarlet
cloaks draw off the bull. The picador Is
dragged out with u leg broken, despite its
iron case.
And now commences the real fighting
Of the bull. Now the sensations change
to genuine excitement.
1.-the athlete in red velvet, gold en-
broidery and silk approaches the still agile
bull. He holds in each hand a banderilla.
or foot ribboned stick, ending in a
inch steel barb. He can emily thrust
these into the bulls shoulders as it charges
with lowered head and wicked horns.
Man and beast approach each other. With
the bull right upon him the banderillero
leans over, plants his barbs, springs won
derfuily aside, and the curved horns miss
him about six inches. Believing with
rage the animal receives four more sting
ing banderillas. He is frothing at the
mouth, and his flanks are heaviDg.
The trumpets blow. The mataiore ap-
proaches the presidential box. Removing
his hat be begs permission to kill, losses
his hat over the barrier and takes his sword
and small scarlet silk banner. He an
proaches the bull, holding the banner in
his right hand. Quite close he comes, and
the bull charges. A short turning side
step and Mazzantini dexterously sweeps the
banner SO as to bring the bull short
around facing him again. Time and time
again he repeats it. The closer the needle
pointed horns shave him each passage the
louder howls the audience
The bull is firing. Now he stands, but
his head is turned slightly. Again he is
tempted to charge and is brought about
perhaps by the aid of another toreador
with larger cloak. Now he stands correct
ly, front feet even, head well up Quickly
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-08-14

dinarily characterized by hopeless dull
ness and an almost total failure to under
stand what was going on about him. At
times he had brief fits Of great violence.
The physicians finally noted that these
fits came on usually when he was living
down on one side of his head or when bis
hat pressed on a certain part of his head.
The old scar where the splinter of bone
had been removed was examined and 1t
was seen that now bone had formed and
grown to an abnormal thickness. This
thickening would naturally press on the
brain inside the skull and was apparently
the cause of Dreher's insanity.
The asylum physicians reported to Gov
ernor Stephens that Dreher would posi-.
bly, be restored to sanity by the operation
of trephining. Tho governor ordered the
operation to DO performed
The trephinc isan instrument consisting
Of a handle and a steel cylinder ending in
extremely sharp teeth and a central PIN
This cylinder is made TO reyolve by an
electric current and will cut out circular
piece of bono as quickly rs the surgeon
wishes.
large trephine was applied to Dreher's
thickened skull. Tho piece removed was
an inch thick and showed that an enor-
nous and almost fatal pressure had been
exerted on his brain.
The surgeons stated that Dreher's reason
had returned. He was therefore subject
to his original sentence.
The surgeons notified Chief Deputy
Sheriff Huebler Of the success of the opera
ton. Captain Hucbler was to have had
charge of the execution and proceeded with
his preparations for that interesting ccre-
mony, but typhoid foyer cheated the gal
lows of its victim.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-08-14
Married to a Vac.

In China 1t is not unusual for q fiancee
TO marry u flower vase in case her intended
husband dies before she has o chance to
wed him. This Chinese custom was imi-
tated recently by San Francisco girl of
good family She had herself united in
wedlock with . costly flower vase of deep
red hue. The vase stood In the place of a
young Chinaman to whom the girl was
engaged and who died a short time before
the day appointed for the wedding.
From the day of the marriage with the
vase the young woman is looked upon as
a widow and entitled to live in the house
Of her parents in-hw, just as IL she had
substitute.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-08-14
A SPANISH BULLFlGHT.
A Sunday Scene In the Arena
at Madrid.
BEAUTY APPLAUDs THE SPORT.
Animals Slaughtered and Men Manned to
Make q Spanish Holiday-The Picador's
Superb Courage and the Matadore's Ex-
Quisite Skill.

Qu1slte SKILL
Six hours ago all the women and many
of the men of Madrid were being solemnly
summoned by tolling bells to church and
prayer and devotion. Now all the men
and many of the women are rolling to the
merry jingle of mule bells toward the bull
ring and frenzy and blood writes Sylves-
ter Scovel in the New York World.
This Sunday afternoon secs 10, 600 afoot.
astride and seated. all bound for the COM
mon Mecca. Once through the swarming
crowd OF water girls and fan sellers, the
great amphitheater stretches - out and
around Us. Men look like little boys
Fifteen thousand people will occupy seats
Six thousand more will have to stand to-
day, for liberal percentage OF the profits
of this ''cOrrida' is to care for the Spanish
peasant boys who have gone obediently to
fight in Cuba for an end which really
means nothing to them.
But the city folk of Madrid have strong
interest in the maintenance of Spanish
officeholders in Cuba and have turned out
in force today. The red and yellow flags
and awnings. the white lace mantillas
of the women and the glowing colors of
their dresses form a brilliant mass of color
Fans are waving. Every man and wom-
an has one.
Tho royal box is the only dark spot.
The queen regent has courage enough to
show her disapproval of brutalizing
thing by staying away from even benefit
for the very wounded in whose behalf she
is SO interested.
Now through a massive gate under the
royal box ride into the ring two handsome
men in rich cavalier costumes of black
and gold. A tremendous ciapping of hands
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-08-14
MRS. LENA HARDY,

hisS. hAlsD1.
lung. The bullets were extracted, and
the woman rallied slightly. The next day
she showed symptoms of recovering, and
tho doctors determined to help nature o
bit.
The hatohet wound in the forehead was
cleansed and sewed up, and from that mo-
ment Mrs. Hardy proceeded rapidly to-
ward health and IN month was dis
charged from the hospital.
The other case is that Of Mrs Rosina
Drolet, the young Frenchwoman who was
shot by her lover, Ferdinand Herve, in
the hallway Of a Harlem flathouse Herve
committed suicide at the same time, but
his intended victim will be as well as ever
in n few days.
One Of the bullets pierced her neck,
making an ugly wound near the jugular
vein. Another went through the right
lung and the third through the right arm.
Her case, too, was pronounced hopeless,
but after the bullets were extracted she
rallied and Is now within sight Of com.
plete recovery.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-08-14

of Grace is now living in Joliet. Ills, and
is petty thief, having served several short
Jail sentences. The maternal great grand
mother served three terms in Joliet pcni-
Tertiary for shoplifting and larceny. With
Grace, therefore, Ii Is clear case of bered-
itary depravity.
DIR. Beers, superintendent Of the state
home. first discovered the child's peculiar
affection about eight months ago, when a
wealthy Denver woman, who was visiting
the home, attracted Ivy Grace's beauty and
winning ways, expressed desire to adopt
her. Grace seemed delighted with the
proposition, and, climbing upon the lady's
lap, put her arms about her neck and ask-
cd IL she could be her little girl.
The touching scene brought tears to the
eyes of the good doctor, but when Grace
got down from the visitors lap and start
cd TO leave the room she noticed that tho
child held one hand under her apron in N
suspicious manner, and, calling her back,
asked her what she was endcayoring TO
conceal
Grace stoutly protested her innocence Of
wrongdoing; hut, pulling tho apron aside,
the doctor discovered the woman S pocket
book tightly clinchod in the little hand.
The kind visitors surprise was great, for
the pocketbook. which contained n large
oihouhb vi iiobty. WIS IN M lnS1uc pocket
OF her jacket and could have been removed
without discovery only by an adept.
Next day the child room was thorough
ly searched. Cunningly concealed In the
mattress of the bed large number of arti-
cles which bud mystcriously disappeared
wero discovered.
A month later wealthy woman Of
Monitou, i'm spite of the doctors story Of
the child's affection, adopted Grace. She
did not believe that crime could be bereti-
tary and would not be convinced that this
sweet child could not be trained to become
good woman.
All went well for a few days, and Grace
won the hearts Of the entire family. but
one evening her bencfactrcss gave n large
party, and as n result Of what occurred
she Is now firm believer in the heredity
OF crime. While the party was at its height
Grace managed to slip unobseryed into the
cloakroom and steal all the pockefbooks
and handkerchiefs from the visitors wraps.
Proiiting by the doctors story. the woman
soon discovered them in the girls fayorite
hiding place, tho mattress Of her bed.
Next day Grace was returned to the home.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-08-14
Feed Offenders to Aliigators.

Among the Seminole Indians Of Florida
there is no lynching. When any of those
ofenses are committed which usually lead
TO lynching, these Indians seize the Of
tenders and turn them over to the alliga-
sors. A few days ago the tribe caught q
missing couple and tied them to stakes
near the waters edge, about so feet apart.
Then they tied dog between them to at
tract attention. For the entire day they
were left there in the hot sun, and then at
sunset the alligators crawled out and first
devourca the bowling dog and afterward
the man and woman.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-08-14
YOUNG WOMAN's ODD TASTE
Miss Mabel Parrish Likes to BE Around
Dead BOdies.

81 have always had q desire to be among
dead people. can remember, when was
little girl, fwould beg my mother to
take me to funerals. When l grew older,
/ would go to the house where one was "
ing dead and offer to lay the body ont
My spare time was spent at the morgues
and undertaking establishments, and I
made my friends among the dead. When
was n nurse In the Detroit sanitarium, I
would always lay out my patients when
they died"
Thus spoke Miss Mabel Parrish, m Ut
tractive young woman of San Antonio,
Tex, who has just taken her diploma at
the Chicago College Of Embalming. Her
work in Chicago was mainly ot the county
morgue, and whenever a body was brought
IN she was glad of the opportunity to prao-
tice on IL, whether it was in the middle of
the night or ut any other hour Her cour-
age and nerve are unlimited, and, a NEST
remarkable thing, she has lost none of
her womanly bearing or natural tender
ness Of heart.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-08-14
HIS wife Rode . Bicycle.

I Dr.. J. ID. Porter Of Kansas City COM
mittcd suicide the other day because his
wife insisted on riding n bicycle against
his wishes. Ho did not consider the prac-
tico womanly and tried TO keep her from
&c, but she would ride in spite Of him. DR.
Porter swallowed morphine, strychnine
and hydratc Of choral and inhaled gas
He was IN expert chemist and familiar
with oil tho deadly poisons. and 1t would
seem that such man would court death
a the quickest, most painless manner,
hut instead Or. Porter died an awful
death. His self destruction was the.ap-
palling self torture Of maniac. He was
nlonc Through it allie hours or more.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-08-14
TWO MINDS IN ONE BODY,
Dora LOOMS Can do Two Things st the
Same Time

young girl at the Binghnmton State
hospital is the most remarkable example
OF double personality" ever brought to
the attention of doctors who study freaks
OF the brain. She is afflicted with by stcria
and actually lives two lives in one. The
discovery Of her dual consciousness, wns
made during the treatment ut the hospital
for her malady. Hypnotic suggestion d q
part Of the treatment.
The girl. Dora Loomis, can do two
things at the same time. For instance.
she can read aloud from a book ana Will