davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-03-09

sonal property is mortgaged. He is
So years old, about 5 feet, 4 inches
tall, stoop-shouldered, blonde CON-
plexion, prominent features, blue
eyes, scanty reddish beard, light (al'
most white) moustache and eyebrows
reddish hair He has been considered
somewhat tricky in business matters
Though he drank considerably he sell
dom became intoxicated. 1t lsagreed
that he was very drunk when he lett
Wakefield Tuesday evening.
No pains will be spared effect his
capture. The sheriff Of Clay county
offered large reward today and the
governor will be asked to add to IT
1t is probable that he was practically
penniless when he left and the
chances are good for bis capture
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-03-09
WANT TO BURN HIN.
Industry Thinks Hanging Too"0soa
for Gilbert.

Some men from Industry who we're
gasl evening said that public
sentiment in that vicinity is greatly
aroused over Gilbert's terrible deed
and there is no doubt that. .he will be
lynched if it is possible to DO IT.
Many think hanging is too good 'ol
him md propose to take him to the
scene of his crime and there bara him
The horse he rode away was brough
in from H. S, Mauchley's this morn
ing and is at Duunett's livery s'aol'
awaiting the arr:val of Clay Center
parties.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-03-09
Dr.. 0bsrliu's Experience,

Or. A. 0. Oberlin returned from
Clay Center. He was the first one IN
the Gilbert house when the murder
hear Industry was discovered and
says the horrible sight will never be
forgotten.
The doctor says' 1--WE arrived at
the one.rpom cabin at ] P. M, it was
rainy and dark. The sight was a
fearful ones,-l hope shall never see
anything like 1t again. Mrs. Gilbert
from the position in which she was
living, had evidently become stid De-
fore she was carried to the bed, show
ing that Gilbert remained in the eroos
for two or three hours with the NV
corpses. The little boy was evident.
awake when killed. The family wa
pitifully poor, there was nothing t
eat, their clothes were rags, not
paper or book could be found, the ilr
haa been Of twigs. Gilbert had taken
little money and gone to buy prov
sions-he came back drunk and mu'
saerous.
"The funeral Of the five bodies !
, Clay Center Saturday was attendt
, by at least 5000 people, every q
anxious to lynch the msrderer. W
preacher at the grave 'cslled on G'
q to ta'ing the tfend to vengeance al
4 strong men wept as they said Amen
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-03-09

happening ever known in Central
Kansas and the perpetrator OF the
deed will have short shrift II caught
A. I. Munroe Of this city, formerly
Of Industry, knows Gilbert we'll. He
says he was renter, rather shiftless
but not considered bad man. he is
American born, aged So and not consld-
cred quarrelsome. In fact he was =
fair sort Of citizen and the neighbors
account FOR his terrible deed only on
the ground Of insanity.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-03-09
TAKING HIM BACK.
GILBERT STARTED FOR CLAY
CENTER THIS MORNING.
stenographic Report Of His Latest
Confession Made Monday After.
noon Trouble Is Likely
Special to the Reflector

Special to the Rehec'of'
EMpoRlA, March i.-.lhe sheriff Of
Clay county started this morning for
clay CenyeF, having in charge John
GiabeN, the Industry murderer tic
said he was going by way Of Topeka
but probably changed at Usage and
went via Manhattan. There is
great deal Of feeling here against
Gilbert and the reports from Clay
Center are that he will meet with
warm reception when he reaches
there.
Gilbert was captured here Sunday
afternoon. The sheriff had received
dis description and going on the street
saw Gilbert walking along it.
"John!" he called.
Gilbert at once turned and aamlated
that he was John Gilbert OF C1ay
county. He was very hungry and
had been in the depot waiting room
all the morning. He professed ig'
norance OF the crime and said tht
family was we'll when he lett home
On Monday morning under clos'
questioning he broke down and In tn
mesencc Of witnesses made a full cou
kssion which be afterward signed
' he exhibited no grief and said he es
lpected to hang but wanted 1t don
elquick SO that he should not suae'
: He said:
"NowI want you TO make it P'al
q to them up there that didn't let m
family shGer. They all died quic
except Ettie--adis wite)' She KIND
fought back and lived longer than
thought. took sheets and choke
two of the children to keep them ire'
-, suffering and 0 waut the people "
u there to treat me fair justas ! dld %
!, folks. II they aregoing to DO an.
:, thing---lea it be over quick. Den
~ keep me suaierins"
He tried a. times TO fake lnsanl
-. but deceived nobody
Gilbem's confession, taken in saoI
hand at the Emporia ]all Moad'
!. afternoon, is given in full bsto'
- Evidence secured by those who llr
visited his house after the murder
lie V'''V'' "'' ..,. :.
~. ample that he IL lying inthis ceni'
sion and that he struck his wife dos
in cold blood as she sat by the sto
when he returned from Wakelie
as where, despite his denial, he had be
ed that day. He also stayed I"
y's house much longer than he says a
the condition Of the bed where
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-03-09
PERFECT BAKING POWDER.

The constantly increasing demand for Dr. fr'ces
Cream Baking Powder, the standard cream OF tartar
powder for forty years, is due to two causes.
E1RSr.-The extreme care exercised by the man
ufacturers to make it pure, Uniform IN quan'y
and Of highest leavening power. Skilled chemists
test every ingredient as to purity and strength
SECOND:-Recent State Investigations snow lhat
the majority of other baking powders contain alun''
and consumers are giving such powders VIDE oertn'
Nothing is left to chance in the manufacture Oh
Dr. PRICES Cream Baking Powder
1t is pronounced by all authorities as free from alum
or other adulterant 1t never disappolnts Each can
&c Ike the other. The BEST is ALWAYS the
CHEAPEST.
Awarded Highest Honors Worlds Fair, Chicago 1885,
so,oisl Cold xsdd California nIdwintsr hir issN
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-03-09
From Saturdays Daily. !

Five bodies, the remains OF Mrs,
John Gilbert and her four children,
this afternoon were taken from the
Gilbert farm near Industry to Clay
Center where they were buried in one
grave. The murderer, the husband
and father, is still at large with
reward offered by the Clay county
authorities for his apprehension.
Examination Of the premises indi-
! Gates that the deed was not only
horrible in its results but perpetratea
with an incredible fendishness.
John Gilbert went to Wakefield ON
Tuesday aud started for home IN ''ne
evening quite drunk. He has not
heen seen since. The children were
at school that day. They never
again left the house. The position
and marks Of the bodies indicate
,b,t when Gilbert reached home he
found his wife sitting by the stove
clad oalv in her underclothes ana
with her baby on her lap. HE struck
her with an old rusty hammer
(which she had herself found in tine
road two weeks before). She les3
against the stove, then TO the fiool
and there her skull was beaten lnec
pulp, the blood splashing to all parts
OF the room.
Blood on the bottom Of the baby''
1 feet indicates that it walked arosn'
| besore it. too. was murdered. In tn
he'd Law two little girls asleep an'
n they were the next Victims 'oe, !,
heads also being fearfally pounded
The little son lying across the loot 0
q the he'd was the last victim and IN
hammer lay beside him
8 Perhaps sobered somewhat Of hi
10 drunken frenzy the murderer carrie
g. the wife and baby to a bed ana lei
them there. lie next took Oh III
bloody clothes and put on his oes
SUIT, preparing for flight. tie locke
70 the house, took horse, saddle an
ie bridle and fled where, no one yf
h. knows.
as There are indications that dlloer
;, Tor none doubts that he was the mu
I" aerer remained in tbe room Nv
n hours or more after the crime II
'ss fact that his owu bloody clothes ha'
at been found and that his better suit
be missing is ample evidence oi MS su'
and Of his careful planning to escaP
A theory has been advanced IN
the deed was dcne by some nelghp
III and that Gilbert, too, has been mu
dered but there is little evidence
in SUPPORT it. John Gilbert is the gu
ty one and II captured no punishme
!, Is too severe for him who sent i've
nocent souls to their Maker in so d
bolical a manner.
The people of North Dickinson a
of Clav county are greatly excl
n. over the affair and hundreds were
ial the Gilbert farm yesterday discussl
=. the terrible crime. Mrs. Gilbert Y
Us the daughter of John Blue OIL =
. Center and had been an employe
Il the Industry hotel for some time wi
Gilbert married her. She was pie
= ant and hard working woman, hig
respected. Gilbert has been a rer
'a'. in the vicinity for several years,
it'd isu. has not made much money, His
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-03-09
KILLED FIVE AND FLED.
TERRIBLE MURDER OCCURS
NEAR INDUSTRY.
John Gilbert, a Farmer, Kills His
Wife and Four Children Then Es.
capes on Horseback Horrible
Sight in q Little Room

From Fridays Daily'l
A terrible murder occarred within
the past AS hours at the farm Of '0Ah
Gilbert, four miles ncrtAsast Of in'
du.try. Five pefs0ns were killed.
Mrs. John Gilbert,
one son aged about 4 years.
Two daughters aged about ana
years,
One babe, aged two years
The murderer was the husband anu
father, John Gilbert, who has lleo on
horsesack-no one knows where
The first news Of the terrible affair
was when farmer from Industry
rode into Clay Center about about .
o'clock last evening and said he BE-
lieved there had been murder COM
mitted at neighbor's house fo0r
men went out with him. one OF them
being Dr.. A. .. oberlin OF this CITY,
They arrived at o'clock at inc
small dwelling on the farm OF 'onn
Gilbert, four miles northeast OF IN
dustry. An was silent and they
broke into the single living ana
s,eerino room. A horrible sight was
presented. The uncarpeted floor was
smeared with blood and braln-maf
ter. the wall, ceiling and scant.
furniture being also thickly spla'
tered.
On the bed in one corner clad on'
in her underclothing, lay the bod
at Mrs. Gilbert, also her two'year-ol
,baha both with skulls mashed all
pounded out Of human semblance'
ON the bed in the opposite cornt
we're the bodies Of two little CIR
and little boy, the eldest be'n
about eight years old. Their hea'
were also brutally crushed an
beaten.
The appearance OF the bodies ind
Gated that the the children were k'
ed while asleep but the mother ''
had fearful struggle with the net
guilty Of the fearful deed
In the bed with the three chl'ur
was an old hammer bloody and WI
hair clinging to it, With this weap
the lives Of five had been taken
The bodies had been dead about
hours. The husband and father "
is undoubtedly the murderer is mi
ing as are horse, saddle and bril-
4 from The stable.
Gilbert has not been seen lor :
days and the absence Of signs oil
around the place aroused 'he ne''
bors' suspicious. The 'am''y
very poor and it is thought 'na'
bert performed the deed in a Mt 0'
sanity resulting from his Ous'0
troubles. It seems impossible !
he can escape capture as he must
blood. stained to marked degree'
The coroner's inquest was held
morning and returned a veralc'
accordance with the above facts
The five bodies will be bur'eu
one grave.
The tragedy is the most TERI
- +l
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-03-09
Horse Is Identified.

Sheriff Cooper of Clay county was
here'suuday and positively identified
the horse found at H. $. Mauchley's
as that ridden away by Gilbert
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-03-09

baby lay proved that the child was
not killed while In ted.
John GiLBERr's CONFESSION
Q. What is your namep
A. John Gilbert
Q. How long have you lived on the
tarmp
A. ] have lived on the farm nine
years.
Q. Will You state what led up to
the trouble between you and your
iamilyf
A. The main trouble that caused
| this was, j didn't put ina wheat crop
| got run behind on that oi course
have spent little too much money
for drink, but the main thing was IN
lust raising corn and selling it anu
not getting in stock. got behind III
| 1t and il bothered me 50 this last
wear that | could not sleep at nigh'
and could hardly attend to my bus,
ness and when come to put u
crops this yew needed anothe
lhorse and needed seed cats, and no''l
: ing to do 1t with, and, thinking
over. it seemed as though cooia fne
sleep at uights, or anything.
Q. Have you or your wife had "''
troubles
A. Last month SHE seemed 10 NJ
pear Ia me as though she did not al
nnits the swwe as she used TO. III
folks are arMnd there quite a'lm.
kind OF got mad hat they did nj
thint | was good enough for hor, ar
| tha,ght If she wanted I" ge' er &c
was willing to let her. ! Offered
y 20 to town aud give her half and ps
hslf the debts and let hcr free, a.
y she could GO her way sad ! cor'd
mime. | uLougha we c~lld im abo
the et,ildrsa, as there were 'two
" three different PARTIES soald'take q
children; ] could let her get etadiyor'
she dfdn'. seem TO want to; She did
- seem like wantsl to be free.
10 O. How old was yGr wife
~ A. She was ~ years old
- q. Did you 20 to town shat ia
= A. was not at Town ut all u
day.
q. Did you 90 any~hcre'dlseP
A. ] was nv uulHo As ""y'
q. Had yos been drinking
A. No. sir. I hadn't beea dril
ing.
q. What night was il yor'e"mn
ed this deed' ..-
A. Il was TUESDAY night
q. What time did you 60 Ito
that night
A. Probably . o'clock.
O. How long did you stay IN y
before coz, hitting the crimes
A. Why, think about an s'"
knew ! could not sleep or rest, an
thought would just get up.
O. Where we're your enld
sleeping?
A. Ny boy was in the bed on
other side Of the room.
@. Did yos and your wife 81
have any trouble that day.
A. No, we was not having
words at all.
o. What influenced you to
this deed.
A. Well, sir, ! could not go
sleep, and it just seemed to me
though could not rest, and ] co
not feel happy, and she would not
me free from her, and it looked
though ! could let her free aud
not know what to do.
q. Where did you get the ham
that you uscdP
A. 1t was lying in the wood
in the same ROOM 1t was one Of tt
Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1899-12-23

The New York committee having In
charge the erection Of the permanent
Dewey arch has estimated the proba-
BILE cost Of the arch and eolounade to
be approximately 81. 00o, 900. The mass
and Importance Of the sculpture in
VOWED exceeds that Of any similar
monument Of modern times. Thereare
nearly so statues or figures Of colossal
seAlo, the greater number Of which
are IT least double life size. and many
or fhem are still larger; besides the
historic portrait mednllIopa and other
sculpture c1flehmenf
Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1899-12-23
Words That Made Wars.

Great wars from little causes
spring; ut least, that has been the
case in many fierce conflicts of the
past. A dispatch altered in one or
two points by Bismarck brought on
the Franco-German war. Palmerston
said facetiously that only three men
in Europe ever knew what the Schles-
wig-IIolstein troubles, which led TO
two wars. were about, and two of
them died before the conflict began,
while he 1.-THE third had forgotten.
A sighting reference by Frederick the
Great OF Prussia to Nine. Pompadonr,
Of France was said to have been one
of the causes of the seven years war.
John Bright declared that England
and her allies drifted into the Crimean
war without realizing 1t until after
the commencement of hostilities, and
that, moreover, they did not know
what they were fighting for even after
they started.-London Mail.
Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1899-12-23
BRAVE MAN KILLED.
Maj. Gen. Henry W. Lawton Fell In
Battle In the Philippines.
Was Standing In Front of His Troops and
q shsrpshooter Picked Him Out
Lawton Had Fought In
Many Battles

Manila, Dec. 20.-Gen. Henry w.
Lawton has been shot and killed Mt
San Mateo. lie was stnding in front
of his troops. He WINS shot in the
breast aud died Immediately. Gen.
Lawton started from Manila last
night with cavalry. under Capt. Lock-
EFT, and battalions of the Twenty
ninth and Twenty-seventh infantry,
under Lieut.. Col. Sargent, for the pur-
pose of capturing San Mateo, where
Geronimo was said to have 400 ins'lr.
gents.
Accompanied by his staff and troop
I, Fourth cavalry, Gen. Lawton set
out at nine o'clock in advance Of the
main force, consisting Of the Elev-
enth cavalry and one battalion each
of the Twentieth and Twenty
seventh infantry, which started from
Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1899-12-23
IMMIGRATION BRISK.
The Incomlng of Foreigners to TINS
Country Continues TO he Unusually
Heayy-statistics Given.

New York, Dec. 21.-Immigrat'on
continues to be unusually heavy for
this time OF year. For the month OF
November. 90. 400 immigrants came &"
this port, us compared with 1896
during the same month last year. For
The preceding four months The
figures stand as follows: October
2S,7g4. against 1864 Ct that mouth
last year: September, 2i,i6o against
1860; August. 1866, against 12,6'i;
July. 1883, against 1906. In each
case substantial increase. Most OF
the nnticnalities are represented, but
the Italians figure most prominently,
followed by the Austro-Hungarians.
The English, Irish and Scotch show a
decided decrease; the Germans claim
about the same number; the Italians
have increased 80 per cent; Austro-
Hungarians have doubled and there
inns been an influx Of Syrians, Arabs
and Armenians.
Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1899-12-23
sn.llpor worrying Kan.a. Cl,y.

Kansas ,jity, No.. Dec. eo.--Smallpox
IL costing Kansas City $500 a day. and
1t win continue to he a heavy expense
for some time to come. There are
now Is patients in the hospital. II
costs sl5I q month for q physician to
attend them, $50 a month each for
three female nurses. and $50 q month
for q steward. The food and fuel for
them cost SIS . day. To many Of the
ioi people In quarantine the city is
compelled TO furnish fuel and proyi-
aions, besides keeping guards On
witch dsy md pirl&
Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1899-12-23
diamond. Mean Broad 20 Tn, m

The average mortal is accustomed
to regard diamonds as 0onected only
with the highest luxury; but, in real
fly, they IRE source of employment
for many thousands Of people and
form the leading commerce for sever
al large European cities. Nearly all
Of the diamonds come from Kimber-
ley and the recent stoppagc in the
output of the mines has bankrupted
q number Of European firms, while in
Antwerp hundreds of starving din
mond cutters are parading the streets
demanding bread.
Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1899-12-23

La Iona at midnight. With n small
escort, he led the way through an al
most painless country, distance OF
Is miles, over hills and through cane
brake and deep mud, the horses
climbing the rocks and sliding down
the hills. Before daybreak The com
mand had reached the head Of the
valley.
San Mateo was attacked at eight
o'clock and n three hours fight en-
sued. This resulted in but few ca SUI
nlties on the American side apart
from the death of Gen. Lawton, but
the attack was difficult because of the
natural defenses OF the town.
Gen. Lawton was walking along the
firing line within 800 yards Of small
sharpshooters' trench, conspicuous in
the big white helmet he always wore.
and n light yellow rain coat. lie was
also easily distinguishablc because of
his commanding stature. The sharp
shooters directed several close shots
which clipped the grass nearby. His
staff officer called Gen. Lawton's Mt
tention to the danger he was in, but
he only laughed with his usual con-
tempt for bullets. Suddenly he ex-
claimed: IL am shot," clenched his
hands in desperate effort to stand
erect, and fell into the arms Of a staff
officer.
Henry W. I.awton for nearly 40
years had worn the uniform of the
United States army. He arose from
the ranks, leaving behind him other
men us strong possibly, but less for
tunate. lie was born in Ohio SO years
ago. He was country boy and got
only a common school education-not
any too much of it. Emphatically he
was not n book man. Studying the
printed page was 10 him always task
and never u pleasure. His folk were
plain farmer folk
Lawton entered the volunteer serv-
ice of the United States in April, 1861,
rs sergeant in company + OF the
Ninth Indiana infantry, and was mus
tered out of the service in November,
1865, us u colonel by brevet. He h d
had practically four years of the most
tremendous war in the history of the
nations. He had been a participant
in a dozen pitched battles.
After the civil war Lawton was in
many Indian campaigns. His Indian
name was ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
fore-breakfast-to-fght."
Lawton fought through the SANTA
70 campaign under Shafter, in COM
mand of division. After the insur-
rection broke out In the Philippines
he was sent there, early this year, to
take command in the field, under
Otis. who was to be chiefly busy in tho
civil administration.
lie was first in command south OF
MANILA. When the operations became
more serious in the north he fought
there with Macarthur. His great
campaign, however, opened the last OF
October, when he started on the expe-
dition that destroyed the insurgent
army. He took his men through the
jungles OF Northern Luzon in n cam
paign from which they dropped ex-
hausted. But he believed this would
be the most merciful and shortest
way to end the war and events showed
he was right.
Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1899-12-23
Natural All Around.

Sims Reeves, when young man,
received singing lessons from teach
or conspicuous alike for his ability
and brusque manner. One day while
ut lessons Sims was requested tn sing
a verse Of a then popular song. He
had scarcely sung the first line when
his teacher abruptly interrupted him
with stop, sir, you are fat--very
fat" "And you, sir, are sharp
very sharp" was the instant retort Of
the now famous tenor, rs he picked
up his music and indignantly left the
room.-San Francisco Argonaut.
Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1899-12-23
INCL. Bii, on General Principle.

Some close-fisted men die Of the
grip.
Don't be over-confident when
there's q woman around.
lie who laughs at his trouble soon
has nothing to laugh Mt.
The fellow who'd rather beat q car
pet than his dog-tax isn't human.
1t doesn't pay TO be too forward,
especially in head-end collision.
Don't let your doctor be your cred
itor; he may take notion that your
heirs are better pay.
The man who likes to appear in the
height of fashion when he's walking
in the valley of financial ruin isn't
necessarily n philosopher.-Judge.
Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1899-12-23
ns,,nr ArnI.. or.a, pl...nee..

During the present year immense
numbers Of troops have been con-
veyed by water and rail ever dis
.ances reaching rs high rs 10000
miles. Last year quarter Of MIL
lion Of soldiers were transported from
point to point all over the United
States, to the West Indies on the
cast and the Philippines on the west.
In 1899 an army of 10000 has been
brought home from the Philippines
and replaced by one Of 10000. Not q
troop ship has been lost, and railroad
fatalities were few.
Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1899-12-23
snms Drink 100 nesr. n n.r.

The amount of beer consumed by
men who work in breweries is little
short OF appalling, 100 glasses n day
being not considered unusual. Every
man Is graded according to his capac-
ity, and tickets are issued to the men
when they come to work in the morn
ing. Each ticket is good for n glass
of beer. Some men get 100, others
so, Others 60 and so on down to the
novices, who are only allowed 25 UNI
til their capacity is accurately judged
through the system of graduation.