Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1899-07-14

of voice and manner. That fellow never
told what he wanted to see the gov
ernor for, and we kept the matter quiet
l called in all the newspaper men and
told them the story so that no one OF
them could get scoop on the others,
and then requested them to keep the
matter out of print, and they dds so.
In 1896, at Canton, we had many eX-
periences of peculiar nature. For ex'
ample, there came from Cleveland a lit
tie German who insisted upon seeing
Maj. Mckinley, saying that he had a
letter from the major, and that the
major wanted to see him. After con-
siderable parleying L induced him to
show me his letter. 1t was only stereo-
typed sort of letter, saying: Your
communication is received and l am
gratified with your kindly expressions.
Yours truly Well, thousands of such
letters were written, merely as formal
tiles. But this little German citizen
considered those few lines, with Nc
Einleys signature, as indicating that
Maj. Mckinley recognized him as one
OF the political factors of the times.
He looked like an anarchist, but seemed
50 humble and harmless that l con-
cluded to get rid of him by giving him
an audience. Consequently l let him
into the house, and went in with him.
As soon the ma jor gave him his hand
the German dropped on his knees and
kissed the majors shoes, to show his
admiration. 1 yanked him upon his
feet. The major thanked him for call
ing and stepped back into his private
office, while 1 led the crank away. He
returned to Cleveland that afternoon
about week afterwards he APP
peared again, bringing with him an old
fashioned clock, which he had painted
fancifully and gilded. He wanted to
personally see the major and present it
to him. l convinced him that the ma
jor was too busy to see him, and he feft
the clock with me. / don't believe that
the major has seen the clock to this
day.
The following week the crank APP
peared again, and 1 turned him down
co1dly, telling him that he was getting
to be a nuisance and must stay away
He said the ma Or was going to give
him an Office, and / told him the ma joI
would never do anything of the kind
and he might as well let up. Finally
he left the house, swearing furiously
that he would compel me to remember
him. L notified the chief detective and
he posted his subordinates. That after
noon he was seen skulking around the
fence corners, and was ordered away
The next morning he was seen walking
the sidewalks around the house, and
watching the windows. One OF the de
tectives went to the hotel where the
crank was registered, went to his room,
and there found valise with a revolver.
a bottle of acid and a large dagger in
1t. He cOnfiscated that valise and then
secured a warrant for the arrest of the
German on the ground that he was a
suspicious character. When the fellow
discovered how closely he had been
watched. and that his valise had been
examined and confiscated. he tremblecf
with fear He was told that he could
so to Jail, or go to Cleveland, if he would
promise never to return to Canton. He
gave that promise and was released A
policeman went to the depot with him
and told him that if he ever came back
some detective would shoot him on
sight
Whatever became of him / never
knew. He was effectually scared away
from Canton, for we never saw him
AGAIN. SMITH D. FRY.