davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Leon reporter., 1900-02-01
QUEER MINISTER.
He IS ! Friend Of the
Denver m Gamblers.
a SERMON IN THEIR FAVOR.
Doctor Meyers, of Denver, Takes
Very Strange Position
for a Preacher.

Rev. DR.. Harry 9. Myers, of Broad
way Temple, Denver, has created sensa.
tons by his startling ideas on several
subjects. The following sermon is pro.
duced in the REroRrER by request:
Rev. Dr.. Harry G. Meyers, of Broad
way temple spoke on Gambling yes
terday morning. "Amusements of var.
ious kinds he said, and gambling of
numerous devices have been in exist
ence ever since the earliest history OF
mankind. These elements of mans ma.
ture manifested themselves in such re-
mote periods, and are SO thoroughly in.
grained in the constitution of man, that
neither the historian nor the etholog
can find q race exempt from this SEEM
ing evil that has given the world 10
much unnecessary alarm and trouble.
The desire to be amused and entertain.
ed, together with the gambling appe-
tite, calling for the gamblers reward,
have formed such an important part of
the necessary elements of human life
that, had it not been for these, the hu.
man race would now be in the wild
fields OF prehistoric shamelessness, max.
ing for itself clothing out of The rust.
ling foliage of trees. 1t is as wise to en-
act laws with the hope of preventing
water from running down hill as it is to
enact laws with the hope of preventing
"a manifestation of those elements,
often constitute an important part of
mans complete nature. All these seem.
ing elements of evil in human life are
elements as natural as are the most
complete and perfect man.
ut is not my purpose to approve of
gambling, horse racing, prize fighting or
sporting Of any kind or degree, but to
show that the elements of life which
result in these are elements yet remain.
ing in human nature that have not been
eliminated by natural process Of
growth and refinement. | am perfectly
familiar with the leading gentlemen of
the gambling houses and horse racing
associations Of Denver, and know Just
what their business is like. l approve
of speedy horses. The fast horse shows
The Leon reporter., 1900-02-01

|--1. VI
Illoye bad men, not because they are
bad, but because they have been the
victims of circumstances which have
forced them to be what different cir.
cumstances forced me not to be-
"Your gambling houses, at least
those ] have visited, are the most re.
spectacle institutions of the kind u
have ever seen, 'Respectabie?' says
one; yes, respectable. Not respectable
gambling, but respectable houses and
men running them. Everything so
quiet and orderly that could have
conducted a prayer meeting with good
grace and dignity. Keep them just as
l found them and no harm can possibly
come to our city.
"Is all the crime of Denver and other
cities chargeable to the gambler. saloon
keeper, prize fighter and sport? Call
the medical profession to the witness
stand and let me ask a few questions.
Gentlemen, is all the crime of the
city chargeable to the gambler, saloon
keeper and sport?
"They refuse to answer.
sIt seems that nature has wisely
chosen men for the medical profession
in whom the faculty of secretiyeness
predominates. Well, it is for fashion
able society that its witnesses can be
silenced by the power of dollars and
cents, broadcloth and silk.
'But what becomes of the poor
criminal who has neither? He must
submit to clubs, chains, abuses, with
bread and water. Many poor hungry
outcast, with neither friends or money
starts small device for making bread,
is arrested for gambling, clubbed and
dragged to PRISON while the Rockefel.
lows, Hannas, corporation kings and
monopolistic queens gamble at whole
sale, drink champagne and sport in
brown stone fronts, and the world looks
at them seated in some fashionable
church on Sunday and calls them good.
WITH THE GAMBLERS.
You can count me with the gambler,
the saloon keeper, the tramp, the out.
cast, the fallen woman or the suppressed
laborer, and if the world can get
pleasure by abusing me, shall be
happier if shall cause to burst forth
the light of a new star, the darkened
constellation of their hope, by associat.
ing with them, than ever could be
should l receive the plaudits of the
worlds silks and broadcloth. Give me
all the evil doers of the world, and
then give me the supreme control of
the reproductive forces in nature, and
l will neither kill, imprison, nor op.
press, but in one hundred years / will
show you race of men and women
whose lives and characters will compel
the joys of heaven to come down into
the abodes of earth; and all men will
have heaven to 60 to heaven in.''
The Leon reporter., 1900-02-01

what can be done by propeE eonbina-
ton of those Inert elements miniature
when organized and under the control
of life. To disapprove of the producing
of fast horses would be the same as de-
nouncing the Improvement of other
animals and the strengthening of men.
The speed Of the horse has given rise to
the bet in the race. The strength of
the man resulted in the prize of the
light. The scent If The dog antedated
the mechanism Of the gun and the de-
light of the huuter. The beauty and
charm Of the woman has captured the
world. But of the evils resulting from
these no wise man can justly condemn
either the horse, the dog or the woman.
We rejoice that they have come to
brighten the home and cheer the des.
pondent and to enrich the world.
"While gambling and sporting is car.
ried on in Denver and other cities
throughout the world, few people have
considered the changes which have tax.
en- place along those lines within the
past decade. The modern gambler ia
not the gambler Of Atty years ago. The
improvement in the gambler has been
in ratio with the improvement in gam.
bling. Fifty years ago the gambler was
an outlaw. a desperate, a thug, and he
is now in cities where he is forced by
law to conduct his business in some dark
and secluded place in the city. An evil
forced to hide itself is the most danger.
GUS evil in th world. For this reason
1t is unlawful to carry n concealed
weapon. The world has decided ~Ahat
an exposed weapon is less dangerous
| than one out of sight.
1.-The ordinary gambler Of the present
age, when allowed to carry on his pro
fession, within the necessary restric
tions of we'll regulated city, is Il gen
tleman with as much honor along hi.
line of association as most men are
along other and perhaps more desirable
occupations Of life.
"a city is the same when gambling and
rum selling and sporting, with all con
comitant associations, are localized and
restricted but it is dangerous place
when all those unavoidable and undes.
tructible forms of evil are forced by law
to hide in some dark and out of sight
den.
GAMBLING HELL is AN HONOR.
1.-The public gambling house is an
honor, not in the sense of honor adher-
ing in the nature of the profession, but
is an honor in comparison with the Sc.
cluded dives of cities that are controlled
by the force of ignorance and supersti-
ton rather than the wisdom and com.
mon sense of we'll regulated minds.
There is sense in which all men, more
or less, are chess players upon the chess
board of human life. When this play
of life begins, upon the board are seen
The Leon reporter., 1900-02-01

kings, queens, bishops, Knights, castles
rocks and pawns. The players play
and are in turn played upon; each seek :
ing in turn to get the bettet 1t the other.
The doctor plays, the merchant plays,
the mechanic plays, the la&yer plays
and the common laborer plays. al
most forgot to say the minister plays.
All men are players and all men do their
best to be winners. Churches, corpora.
tions, syndicates and trusts are all play.
ers, and to succeed is the equivalent Of
honor, and to fail is the equivalent Of
disgrace. The ex.treasurer Of the state
of Nebraska played upon the state and
won $2l2, 600. Bartlett is now playing
upon the broom corn in the state prison.
He was an honored member of the Meth.
odist church. Elk Chancellor Ellenwood
of Wesleyan university, minister Of
the Methodist church, played aud won
from the loyers Of education $26, 600.
"All the bank failures and gigantic
robberies Of the past decade have been
brought about hy men standing high in
religious circles and society.
s'ln the city where l married my wife
was family Of Arnolds doing bank.
ing and mercantile business Of great
proportions, all leaders of religious SO.
cieties. In an unexpected moment they
went to the wall, robbing widows, or
phans, laborers and business men com.
pletely wrecking the whole community
for years to follow.
"Can the common gambler be blamed
for an effort to get money? The mer.
chant who can sell an inferior article at
i a big profit and conceal the inferiority
Of his goods beneath the ignorance Of
the purchaser gets rich and the world
applauds him. The minister who can
keep his followers in ignorance and feed
them upon the cheap drivilings of an
empty brain, secures large salary and
receives the enconiums of Gods chosen
flock.
"Churches that can gamble in dinner
baskets, or ladies' hands, or sell their
feet while their bodies are concealed be.
hind a screen, to the highest bidder, fill
their Golfers, 60 on in the name Of the
Most High, and tell the world Come
with US and We will do you good
81 have had twenty-five years. expert.
ence with the worlds gamblers, and the
most dangerous and detestable gambler
in the universe is the gamblerwh Of
stamps upon the chess board Of life the
name of his church. have associated,
more or less. with saloon keepers, horse
racers, prize fighters and sports and
gamblers Of all sorts, and the first one
has yet to do me an injury, either by
robbing me of my money or slandering
my name. And yet do not gamble, OF
drink, or sport in any way unbecoming
a man of my profession.
"On the other hand l have spent
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-20
THE WRONG PERSON SUED
A DAMAGE CASE IN JUDGE LEATH-
ERs's COURT DISMISSED.
Discovery Made After the Trial Had
Begun Noisy Children in
COurt-Otber Cases.

The jury had been impaneled, wit
nesses were sworn, everything was ready
for trial and Judge feathers was listen
ing to the testimony of the first witness
yesterday, when it was discovered that
the plaintiff had brought suit against the
wrong person. The jury was ordered TO
retire and the judge took the two attorneys
into his office. 1t was explained to the
attorney for the plaintiff that he had made
a great mistake in bringing the suit, with
the result that he dismissed it,
The suit was that of Jacob Miller against
Edward McCaffery for 5000 damages
Miller lived in McCafery's house. While
he was i'll and in bed he asserts that Nc
Gallery let contract for moving the house
to the rear of the lot TO William A. Con-
over. In moving the house it is alleged
that the contractor was Negligent and
made a great deal of noise lifted the
house in such manner that the plastering
fell from the ceiling, all of which was
detrimental TO the plaintiffs recovery, ne
AYERS.
The case has been on the docket for
several years. When 1t was called yester-
day there was every appearance that moth
ing would mar the regular procedure or
q damage suit
After the jury was impaneled and the
witnesses sworn, Mrs. Miller was put on
the stand Miller's attorney began to ques-
ton her regarding the alleged acts OF Con-
over when McCaffery's attorney objected
maintaining that his client was not re-
sponsible for what the contractor hau
done. The objection was sustained, the
jury was dismissed and the judge called
both attorneys into his private office. Here
ii was explained that there was no reia-
ton between the landlord and the con-
tractor under the circumstances, and the
suit was dismissed.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-20

A w Bule has been appointed travelling
passenger agent Of the Florida East Coast
Railway.
The Pennsylvania last week purchased
500 fire extinguishers from Buffalo con-
Germ to be placed on its trains.
This week the interlocking switch at the
Templeton crossing of the Big Four and
the Lake Erie will be completed.
The board of managers of the Union Rail-
way Company will hold their monthly
meeting at the Union Station to-day.
The Chicago Burlington & Quincy last
week purchased 900 worth of property
to add to its Chicago terminal facilities.
In all the shops of the Panhandle the
men are now working fifty-nine hours a
week. which is unusual in the late fall and
winter months.
T. j. Costelloe. of the Wabash's Buffalo
division, has been appointed assistant man
ager of the tourist business of the Phila-
delphia * Reading.
ment OF the Baltimore * Ohio. has re-
signed and has been placed in charge Of
the passenger accounts or the Old Do
mlnion line.
agent of the Big -Four at Cincinnati, and
ri. L.. Matthews. general agent of the Big
-Four at Grand Rapids. were in the city
last evening.
Thomas z. vaille. who has represented
the Chicago < Northwestern in Philadel-
phia for ten years, yesterday became man
ager of the companys tourist business in
New England.
A meeting of the executive committee OF
the Trunk Line Association will be held in
New York on Wednesday. when efforts
will be made 10 reach a settlement regard
ing west-bound traffic.
The Panhandle is building at its shops in
Columbus three sixty-foot baggage and
nail cars and three mail and express cars
a new pattern. making them mc re con-
venient for the service intended.
o. w. Beckwith. trainmaster of the Chi
go division OF the Big -Four, was married
at kankakec on Saturday evening 10 Miss
Edith Benheid. the ceremony taking place
at the home OF the parents OF the bride.
1t Is always possible wheo necessary
to make fast time over the Lake Shore
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-20
FIRE IN THORPE BLOCK.


A fire which started about o'clock yes
terday morning in the engine room Of the
Thorpe block. at 147 East Market street,
burned so fiercely before the fremen could
get to the seat OF the fire that it was feared
the whole block would be destroyed. When
the department wagons arrived at the scene
the flames were high above the building
The building extends from Market street
to Court street, with a court about the
middle. The Baldwin block incloses the
court on the east side and the west side
the Enclosure reaches only to the second
story.
The court made sort of shaft for the
flames and the draft caused the fire to burn
with great rapidity. The progress OF the
flames could be seen through the windows
OF printing Office on Court street. The
smoke throughout the entire building
caused considerable damage and at the
time prevented the firemen from getting at
the fire. The entire damage was estimated
at $1,000. of which w. w. Spencer and Z. II.
Ferris lost about 81. 900. Morris White coll
ored, and his wife were in the building.
The woman was overcome by smoke and
was taken from the building on a ladder
The department was called out several
times later in the day TO put out fires
which started from various causes and
caused slight losses.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-20
NOISY CHILDREN IN COURT.
They Annoyed the Court and Almost
stopped Proceedings.


The contest between the Board of Chill
dren's Guardians and Martin V. Wilkinson,
blind music teacher, for possession
of lola Rankin, twelve years old, was set
tied by Judge Allen, of the Circuit Cour-'
yesterday. He awarded the girl to the
board. Wilkinson has moved the girl from
PLACE to place and il was said had lived
in a dozen different places in the last
two years. This migratory way of living
the judge objected TO and said the board
should take possession.
The case was holly contested by the at
torneys and there were several incidents
TO make it out of The ordinary. a Ger
man woman was put on the stand ana
was cross-questioned by Attorney Negley,
tor Wilkinson. He asked her questions not
strictly relating to the case, 20 wnicn tne
opposing attorney objected, and which the
woman declined to answer When the OBJ
lection was overruled, taking her cue from
the attorney, she began to upbraid Neg
ley and for more than five. minutes the
court himself could not stop her. while the
attorney Redeemed and the others were con-
vused with laughter.
Then. when Judge Allen was rendering
his decision, another incident occurred.
One woman was in court who wanted the
girl She had three small children with WITT,
about fifteen years old. The little ones
would not keep quiet. They romped over
the court room and amused themselves by
hanging on to the ratings back of the
bar and giggling al the judge. Finally they
became too noisy and were sent into the
hall with the girl as attendant, while the
mother remained. As the judge was speak
ing suddenly there came loud wall from
the hall which was followed simultaneous
ly by two others. All three were at X.
Persons in other courtrooms aid offices
thought IL was a divorce suit and some
bodys children were beiag taken away.
They all looked out to see what was the
matter. To the judge this was strong evil
dence AGAINST the woman who wished 10
take another child to care for, and he
was PLATA in making ii understood that she
tad plenty to do TO care for her own chill
dren Then the mother went into the hall
ana from the next sound, three nffsprings
must have felt the maternal hand.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-20
SONS OF REVOLUTION.
A Business Meeting Held and Conn
mittees Appointed.

The board of managers of the Sons of the
Revolution, consisting Of w l.. Elder, j. T.
Barnett, Joseph T. Elliott, jr., j. C. Tark-
ington, William Allen Wood, James I.
Loves, DIR. n. A. Adams and g. s. Tilton,
met at Mr.. Elders office yesterday after
noon to perfect organization. MIR. Elder
was chosen chairman. and the report of the
societys president read, setting forth the
committees appointed. The committee
whose duty 1t is to seek to secure legisla-
ton against dissertation of the flag by adj
vertisers and the like consists of Albert
O. Lockridge. Col. John T. Barnett and
Frank II. Baker Committee on smoker in
commemoration of the battle of Princeton.
jan 3, 1901: DR.. II. a Adams. William
Carter, Charles l.. Tilton. The board also
appointed a committee TO take charge of
arrangements for the fiag-day celebration
i'm this city. as follows: w. H Phillips,
Albert Snider, Benjamin. ID. Miner, John
NJ Lilly, j. G. Harrington.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-20

In Justice Shocks court yesterday
Joseph Shissler brought suit again Lorenz
Leppert, a saloon keeper, charging the
conversion of 800 in money belonging TO
the plaintiff. The Friday before the cleo
ton ii is claimed Shissler had S125, and
while in drunken condition had portion
of the money taken from him. Part was
found on the floor of an clubhouse and re-
turned to him and was then left on de-
posit with the saloon keeper. Shissler
claims he only drew SIS of the money, the
rest being convented by Leppert to his
own use Judgment in the case was post
pcned until Wednesday.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-20
THE COURT RECORD.
SUPERIOR COURT.

COlhI.
Room John L. McMasters. Judge.
Levi Darneu vs. Alexander Toln; account.
Plaintiff dismisses. Judgment VS.. plaintin Tor
costs.
peIier Ind VS. oscar NeisIer; on note. Find
ing and judgment for plaintiff in default for
Della Robinson VS. Frank Whitehead: damages
jury returned verdict for plaintiff and assesses
trial by jury
Room FLAMES NJ feathers. Judge.
Jacob Miller vs. Edward McCaffrey; DAM
ages. On trial by jury.
Room s-vlnson Carter. Judge.
James Huffman VS. Dorrnan Davidson: note
and foreclosure. Finding due s2.42s.5l. Decree
Geo. w. Stout vs. Chas. c. Puckel ct al ;
For Fndng AGAINST John
CIRCUIT COURT.
Henry Clay Allen. Judge.
John c. Ruckleshaus presents commission
from Governor Of State as prosecuting attorney
TGaiana. and tenders bond Of 5000, with VIM.
Bosom, VIM. b. West and Edwin ID. Logsdon
as security. Bond approved and prosecuting at
Theodore woodbeck VS.. Stephen vanhoEn ct
Hamilton c. Arnheld VS.. Frank NJ. Erwin ct
misses case. Judgment VS. plaintiff for costs
John e: Whistler vs. Charles King; on note .,t,s.
for plaintiff. Judgment VS. defendant for szzl.i
and costs without relief.
on motion OF Charles s. Wiltsie. Frank IL;
Huntwork and Harry G. Hendrickson admitted
to bar.
James s. Cruise. special administrator. etc.
VS.. John Stuck ct al injunction, etc. Trial oy
court resumed. Additional evidence heard.
NEW SUITS FILED.
Salie Kahn Klein et al. Almon l.. Bow
man; on account Circuit Court
SUPREME COURT.
Minutes
1927. Western Union telegraph Company vs.
Frederick Ferguson. by next friend. Monroe e
c. Appellants supplemental brief (so
1923. Alpheus ". Moon ct al vs. Pittsburg
Plate Glass Company. Howard >. 9. Appellee 5
petition for extension of time for filing brief and
consent Of appellant.
APPELLATE COURT.
Minutes
35i9. Indiana Stone Railway Company vs. VIM.
Stein owen c. C. Appellees petition for ex-
tension OF time to file brief and consent
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-20
A SPECIAL ELECTION.
The Indianapolis Southern Road
Wants n Tax Voted.

Petitions TO the county commissioners
are being circulated. asking the board to
call special election for the purpose Of
voting upon the question of a tax for the
proposed Indianapolis Southern Railway
DIR. Long. OF 1107 Central avenue, said
last night the petition was presented TO
him with the explanation that the request
20 the commissioners was TO vote a tax of
] per cent. upon the amount OF taxes paid
reading OF the petition. DR.. Long said
showed that IL asks for tax of per cent
upon the amount OF taxable property. The
petition offered for DIR. Longs signature
had already about forty sfguerS
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-20
First Corored Child Adopted.

Margaret Johnson. nine years old. col
ored, was adopted by Elias B. Jackson yes
terday. Her mother died when the child
was a baby. and her father, John Johnson,
was murdered by James Robertson in
Brightwood a little more than week ago.
The girl has made her home with the
Jacksons since her mother died. She is the
first colored child that was ever brought
into the Marion county courts and adopted.
Nellie Reynolds, nine years old, was
adopted by Oliver b. Snyder, but the girls
name is not to be changed. Her mother is
dead. and the father consented to the adop-
ton providing her name should be retained.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-20
Three Insanity Cases.

Mary E. Kersey, forty-eight years old,
1916 Mill street, was adjudged insane yes
terday. She imagines she sees spirits, that
she is a medium and calls the dead back to
converse with them and thinks money falls
from the ceiling.
Ida Mcclellan, forty-three years old, S27
West Tenth street, was also adjudged of
unsound mind. She imagines she is rich
and does not recognize her husband. Her
appetite is stimulated by tonics and she
can only sleep under the influence of
"hypnotics," according to the complaint.
A lunacy commission was called at IL
o'clock yesterday morning to pass upon the
sanity of Horace b. Makepeace. former
township trustee, but the proceedings were
dismissed and it was decided to place him
in a private asylum. His daughter filed the
affidavit.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-20
A Gang of Car Thieves Arrested.

For several weeks past the railroad
companies have been annoyed by thieves
breaking into cars standing on sidetracks
at Hammond and stealing merchandise
Last week steps were taken to discover
who the thieves were. and as a result six
men were arrested charged with the thiev-
ing. Four of them pleaded guilty and
the other two were held as witnesses
Goods were found under the Trudell Home
s0-called. buried in the sand and In such
manner as to leave but little to indicate
their hiding place. In this hiding place
goods were found taken from cars of the
Monon. the Erie. the Wabash, the Penn
sylvania and the Nickel-plate, and goods
belonging TO the Pacific Express Company