davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The age-herald., 1901-11-17

who have had in their possession at the
 time of their illness much larger sums
 than she Is alleged to have stolen. have
 recovered? Is it conceivable, or is 1t com
 mon sense to presume that woman in-
 fatuated with a desire for money would
 kill those who had only a little about
 them, when she could have just as well
 killed those who possessed that she might
 have possessed herself of?'
 Took Pleasure In Murder.
 To this argument the believers in Miss Toppan's guilt have their answer. In
 their opinion the disappearance of the
 money in these cases has only been an
 incident of the crimes, and not the con- trolling motive that was responsible for their pcrpetration. They believe that Miss Toppan is @ degenefa,e. Perhaps" they say, when the woman did begin her murderous career, the desire for
 money may have been the inspiring mo- tive. But as her victims dropped on one by one, and she saw the immunity from suspicion that she possessed, her mind became perverted with the knowledge of the dread power she exercised, and from this the step of staying for mere love of staying was an easy one
 Miss Tcppan the woman who 10 now under arrest charged with this series or revolting crimes. Is about 45, and until
 few weeks ago had always enjoyed the best of regulations, both personally and in her profession as trained nurse. One of the latest alleged victims was Chi cago woman. Mrs. Harry Gordon. who cdme on to Massachusetts to be near her | mother in the latters serious illness, and who followed the latter to the grave in a few days. The nurse is a large. kindly l faced woman, with dark hair. strealSed | with gray. Her face has a jolly, quizzi- | cal expression, and outwardly hears no marks of degenerate mind. Among | physicians and patients She has always | enjoyed an enviable reputation
 The specific crime for which Niss Top pan has been arrested and is now held | for trial Is the poisoning of Mrs. Mary E. Gibbs at Cataumet, Mass. last Au- | gust. But indirectly the woman is now
 held responsible for the dsaths cf three cthcr persn'.s at about the same tire.'
The age-herald., 1901-11-17

fairs closely to himself MT. Davis was a member of the Episcopal church, and his wife was a believer in the doctrines of Christian Science.
 Miss Toppan's acquaintance with the Davis family began several years ago, when she went to Cataumet and rented little cottage which belonged to Mr. Davis and which adjoined his hotel. This cottage Miss Toppan had occupied for several summers in succession. The Davis family liked her, and she was on the best of terms with all It's members. In fact, that has been the case with all with whom Miss Toppan has had rela- tions. She has had patients among the best families of New England and has in every case won their affections. -fi
 Sudden Deaths In Davis Family.
 Mrs. Davis had been an invalid for number of years, and in August last grew worse rapidly. Miss Toppan at once went to the Davis family and offered her services to take care of the sick woman. The offer was accepted gratefully by the family, and Miss Toppan moved into tho house and began her ministrations. De- spite the best medical care and the con stant attention of the nurse, Mrs. Davis continued to grow worse.
 Thinking that change might be ben eficial. the physician ordered Mrs. Davis removed to Cambridge. Miss Toppan went along, and few days later Mrs Davis died in Cambridge A physicians cer- tificate gave chronic diabetes as the cause, and there appeared to be no sus- picious circumstances attending the death.
 Mrs. Harry Gordon. the daughter from Chicago came on meantime. and Mrs. Gibbs, the second daughter, came from her house to remain temporarily at the Davis home. Mrs. Davis was buried at Cataumet. The devotion of the members of the Davis family for each other has been a matter of comment and all were stricken with grief at the mothers death Miss Toppan, In her capacity as friend and nurse, looked after their comfort saw all visitors. and in manner super intended the household for a time
 In less than a week Mrs Gordon was taken i'll. There did mot appear to be
The age-herald., 1901-11-17
Woman Accused of Mnrdering Seven Persons

any organic disease, as far as the physi- clans who were called in to attend her could see. and their opinion was that her illness was solely due to ehaustion and grief Miss Toppan took the entire care of the patient, but within week of the death of her mother Mrs. Gordon was also a corpse.
 MT. Davis was the next one of the family to come under Miss Toppans care. In making arrangements for the funeral of his daughter MT. Davis had a slight altercation with the undertaken over what he considered an exorbit ant bill He became quite exercised over what he termed the coffin trust" and after Mrs Gordons burial he went to Boston to ar- range for the printing of an article on the alleged extortion practiced by coffin manufacturers. Within day or two of his return he was stricken with illness and died suddenly. Heart disease, ag- gravated by grief and by the dispute with the undertaken" was the explanation commonly accepted at this instance.
 Three days after the death of MT. Davis the only remaining member of the fam fly. Mrs. Gibbs, died.
 Suspicion Slow in Awakening.
 For week or more after the deaths no suspicion of foul play was aroused by the strange series of fatal illnesses. Miss Toppan, who seemed to have labored day and night fin faithful services for tho family, was the subject of much praise and many condolences. Shortly after wards she left the town. ostensibly on a vacation. To friends she confided the fact that she would probably never re- turn to the town which held so many sad remembrances for her Captain Irv- ing Gibbs husband of Mrs. Gibbs. came home about this time and was shocked to find that his wife and her entire fam fly had died during his absence.
 Captain Paul Gibbs, father-in-lnw of the dead woman. did not hesitate to voice was a subject for investigation by the police. He was not. satisfied that every thing In the matter had come to light.
 (Continued on Page Eight.)
The age-herald., 1901-11-17

> HERE is an epidemic of mar NN rying and giving in marriage
 in tho Philippines. A tidal
 "a wave of matrimony Is sweep ing over those far off islands of the sea, psys the Chicago Tribune. Mars has given place to Cupid, and where Mars counted his victims by the hundred Cupid counts his by the ten hundred.
 From Aparri, the northernmost city of Luzon, away down through dozens of islands to Tawi Tawi, off the coast of Borneo, there is a hustling before the nrptial altar and the glad sound of we'd ding bells. The smoke of battle has given place to the odor of orange blos- soms and other heavy scented flowers of a tropical kind. In every parish the village priests as well as the army chap lains, the missionaries sent out to the islands by, the various religious bodies .n the United States, and the Y. M. c. A. workers of the army are busy night and day linking couples for better or worse.
 Such scrambiing, and rush and scam- per was never witnessed in the world before. The busy county clerk and the @aVOr1te marrying parSon oI ot. Joe, Mich. never had half such a call for their services on the brightest, busiest Sunday they ever knew as have half the men in the Philippines in whom is vested the authority to marry.
 All Glasses Have Fever.
 The epidemic is not confined to one ciass. The nuptial microbe seems to have spread in every village and town and hamlet, and through every island. Amer ican army officers, American soldiers, American school teachers. Tagalogs yis- cayans, Macabebes, Chinese, Spaniards, n1estizos of every breed and shade, na- lives of all sorts and conditions and be- longing to all the fifty-five tribes of the Philippines, carpet baggers, explorers, edventurers, tourists, mule packers, and every body else in the Philippines not already encumbered with martial VOWS are engaged in this scramble to be wed. The trouble Is sweeping over the island like a prairie fire and there seems to be no end in sight
 The reasons for the epidemic are many and various. The army officers and sol- diers are lonesome and yearn for wo- mans love and sympathy. The advent of
The age-herald., 1901-11-17

< OSTON, MASS, November l2.-
 lo Charged directly with the mur- S--- rectly with the murder of six other persons, Miss Jane Toppan, pro- fessional nurse, is locked up in the jail of Barnstable. this state. If the sus- picions and theories that have been ex- plotted about Miss Toppan- are finally verified, her place in criminal annals will rival that of H. II. Holmes, the Chicago man who was executed for his numer- ous crimes. and she will strip the mem- ory of the Borgias of the distinction that there poisoning -proclivities have given them as cold-blooded poisoners.
 In the case of Miss Toppan the motive alleged for the numerous crimes laid at her door has been the greed for money. Several of the people who died while she was their attendant were known to have had in their possession considerable sums of ready cash. After their dccease these sums of money could not be found and suspicion In consequence was directed to Miss Toppan. Like many other plausible theories 1t has It's weakness, although in this case it may possipiy pe Fcs-heu. Aiss Toppan has her friends who have known her during her many years of duty as a nurse, and they scout the suggestion, in the first place. that she is nurderess and, in the second place. that the temp tation of paltry gum of money could have provided the incentive to turn the woman from life of rectitude to one of the most shocking criminality.
 Eliminating from the subject the many deaths that have occurred under Miss Toppan's administration, and which, while of alarming frequency. might have occurred in the ordinary course Of na- ture, the womans friends make strong point in her favor. How is it." they ask, that is Miss Toppan has such lust for money that she is willing to murder people in dvoves. that so many of the pat!cnts whom she las attended. and
The age-herald., 1901-11-17

riage ceremony is of course different from that among the natives in Luson and the northern islands. The guests as sembled at the brides house, where r- orchestra at one end of the room is maiss ing all the noise it possibly can, and nn- merous Moros are ringing big bells tod to the rafters around the room. Tho bridegroom appears clad in gauge trouH- CTS and shirt of rich silk, together with a short skirt of the same material. His friends fasten two long ribbons. em- broidered with gold and silver, on his back and breast.
 Two panditas of Mohammedan priests come in and squat on the floor in front of the bridegroom, who kneels down before them. A saucer of live coals Is put be- fore the panditas and incense is burned in 1t. One of the priests puts five large i rings on the fingers and thumbs of the | groom in a peculiar manner and re- cites long rigamarole, at the end of which the groom and his friends make suGden exclamations.
 The other pandita now begins to sing. at first soft, then louder and louder. and six young women who are the brides maids enter the room. Their faces are painted white with rice paste Their eyebrows are broadened and their hair pasted tight around their temples. They sit down with great deliberation and re-
 
 The bride enters and takes great pains to turn her back on the groom, as though she were much offended, and sits down in cold and naughty manner Tho groom arises, followed by his friends, and makes slow pilgrimage over to the bride. and the others mark time while the groom makes a pitiful appeal to the bride to favor him with a small smile.
 The bride glowers at him in a fero- cious manner, and the poor bridegroom turns back disconsolate The crowd ex- tends sympathy and one of the brides maids breaks her forbidding silence to intercede with the bride In behalf of the bridegroom. After more entreaties from the crowd the bride rises and turns to- wards the groom. That means she ac- cepts the groom as her husband and therefore the ceremony and the agony is over and everybody troops out to dinner. where the bride and groom are finally found staring stolidly at each other.
The age-herald., 1901-11-17

the women school teachers that the gov ernment sent out to teach the sullen, un- taught brother was greeted by the home sick bachelors with positive joy. The teachers came and saw and were mar risd. Among the natives, Chinese and mestizos there was another reason. Un- der the Spanish rule marriages were al- most an impossibility among natives, be- cause the friars charged prices for per forming the ceremony which were we'll nigh prohibitive running all the way from $50 to $500.
 Once Did Without Ceremony.
 It is a sad and melancholy fact that because marriages cost so much the ma tives were prone to dispense with the benefit of clergy and worry along with out marriage certificates entwined with cooing words and hearts and arrows over the family hearth.t But with Amer ican rule came in cut rates and assorted styles in weddings for the natives to se- lect from. Civil marriages, which were impossible under Spanish rule. became popular for few dollars.
 Obliging army chaplains have been will ling to perform a marriage in order to help the progress of civilization in the Philippines, and also to offer entertain ment to the officers and soldiers of the garrison. Missionaries shocked beyond words at the condition of things as they existed under the Spanish went out among the natives, pointed to them the sinfulness of their ways, and performed marriages right and left without money and without price.
 The Filipines are aping everything American, and they find that it is quite the common practice in America to be- come married in due and legal form without trying to evade the ceremony they readily took up the idea of marrying and giving in marriage as one step which would make them more like the Ameri- cans.
 Marriage Arranged by Parents.
 Under the Spaniards the marriages be- tween natives were arranged by the par ents of the respective families. Women often married men when they were only Il years of age. The marriage negotia- tions were begun by the parents of the young man visiting those of the maiden and approaching the subject delicately iu oritorlcal styles. The responses were in like manner deeply shrouded in mys- tery, and the veil was only thrown off negotiations when 1t became evident that both parties agreed.
 If the young man had no dowry to of
The age-herald., 1901-11-17
Reading the Bible.

Dr. Coltman. in "The East Asiatic Lloyd relates an interesting converse tion he had with Li Hung Chang on the subject of the Bible. He says that one day when he called on the aged states man he found him reading a beautifully bound New Testament. The old man was
The age-herald., 1901-11-17
A Natural Query.

A Natural Query. Mother--Well, dear, what Is 1t? Gertrude-Do you think, mamma, you will ever learn to love me as much as you do Fido?
The age-herald., 1901-11-17

tcontinued on Page Eight,
The age-herald., 1901-11-17

Is an epidemic of mar
 rying and giving in marriage in tho Philippines. A tidal
The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1901-07-04
Fine Crop Prospects.

Crop conditions and prospects in the
northern half of the state are more
promising than they have been for
years.
Continued rains and cool weather
have put the wheat in fine condition.
The growth Is rank and hardy and
farmers say that Ii is rooted great
deal deeper than it generally Is, and
hence would be able to stand consider
able drouth without serious injury.
Other small grains are doing well.
success this year. 1t was severely
injured by frost June Z. and the cool
weather since has retarded it's growth.
Many farmers are sowing their corn
fields to fax, and the acreage for that
crop will be considerably increased.
The usual number of mutual hail in
surance sharks are in the field, but
their endeavors are not meeting with
as much success as usual. on account
of the bitter experience Of many farm
ers with a mutual hail concern of Wa
tertown two years ago.
The fine crop prospects have made
the season a banner one for the real
estate agent, and this enterprising in
dividual is to be met with on every
hand.
Land sales are easy and at rapidly
increasing prices. The hotels are filed
with land seekers, and If present con-
ditions continue many real estate men
will find themselves on easy street.
The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1901-07-04
BETTER Than "Christian sciences

Jetmore, Kans., July lst.--Mrs. Anna
Jones Freeman, daughter of Mr.. G. G.
Jones of Burdett. and one of the most
popular ladies in Hodgeman County.
has been a martyr to headache. 1t has
made her life continual misery el
her. She suffered pains in the small Of
the back, and Dad every symptom q
Kidney and Urinary Trouble.
To-dayshe is as well as any lady in
the state.
To-day she Is as well as any lady in
tirely to a remedy recently INTRODUCED
here. 1t is called Dodd's Kidney Pills
and many people claim II TO be an In.
fallible cure for Kidney Diseases
rheumatism and Heart Trouble.
Mrs. Freeman heard of Dodd's Kid
ney pills. and almost with the first dose
she grew better. In a week her head
aches and other pains had gone, and
she had left behind her all her illness
and days of misery.
A medicine that can do for any one
what Dodd's Kidney Pills have done foi
this lady, is very sure soon 20 be uni
versally used. and already the demand
for these pills has Increased wonderfuF
ly in Pawnee and Hodgeman Counties
where the particulars of Mrs. Free
mans case and it's cure are known
The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1901-07-04
Rival TO siiken Fan.

A man without sense Of
has invented and patented raaap
chal hand fan. and sets 1t UP as , .
OF the toy gauze and lace what
been a feminine weapon through IN. laa
ages. His fan buzzes and Is M, NV
tiful. but 1t provides a steady drar.s.
of cool air.
In appearance 1t is a cross he,w...
an egg-beater and a gloye-stro.os'ea !
1t is made of wood and brass ana :
asserts that, in expert hands. n cor =
made to reach speed of soon revo,.
lions per minute, and will throw or,
rent or air as far as an electric fan !,
the same size.
1t works by COMPRISING in the han,
two wooden handles Of gloye-s,retcs
er-like arrangement. A ratchet an
two small cog wheels at the end of n
arms transmit the force to the hl,S.
of the fan, which are miniature elec,ri
fan blades. Both of these are detars
able, so that the fan may be easl
carried when not in use
The inventor says that he has A,
posed of 1000 of his hand fans In te
months. He isn't sanguine of its &c,
eral adoption by the gentler sex, but
thinks that lots of men would use Il
hot weather. Sentiment ought not
play any part in comfort seeking,
says, but has to admit that it geners
ly does.-New York Sun.
The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1901-07-04
sly StOcIxmeD.

Stockmen who have cattle on that
portion of the abandoned Fort Sisseton
military reservation which lies within
the boundaries of Marshall county are
liable to have hot time with the au-
thorities of that county. The county
assessor recently made a trip through
the military reservation for the pur-
pose of assessing the cattle belonging
to the stockmen, who, however, refused
to list the animals for assessment
claiming that the stock had been as
sessed elsewhere favorite method of
striving to evade taxation. AS the cat
tie are worth an aggregate of SIPS, 900.
the county authorities will give the
stockmen an opportunity to prove that
the animals were assessed elsewhere.
The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1901-07-04
General resources of south Dakota

n
A h,IIetin IS to be issued this fall by
the state geological survey on the gen.
eral resources Of South Dakota.
DIR. ]. f. Todd, the state geologist
and professor of mineralogy and geolo-
gy at the state university at Vermiiiioh'
Prof. ID. A. Saunders, of the department
of botany, at Brookings, and Prof. =.
C. O'Harra, of the department Of geol-
og,- at the state school of mines, havc
already commenced on the work.
Owing to the large appropriation
made by the last legislature 1t Is now
possible for the state geologist to DO
work that he has had set aside for
number Of years which will be of great
benefit to the state.
Dr. Todd will look more particularly
after the structural and similar mate
rails of the state, and his first examin-
atoms will be of the supplies of stone,
brick, stucco, lime, ETC., and the coal
districts.
Prot. O'Harra Is preparing an ex-
haustive report on the working mining
companies of the Black Hills, the out
put of gold since the first discovery. and
a general treatise on the precious met
ais of the Hills.
Professors Lonlmen and Saunders
will work in number of districts CT
the state gathering materials for their
portions Of the report.
The state school of mines. using
separate appropriation. will ISSUE,
through the efforts of Prof G. III. Full
ton, who occupies the chair OF metal
lurgy and mineralogy at that institu-
ton, bulletin on the cyanide process,
as used in the Black Mills.
Both bulletins will be the means Of
giving the people OF the state authentic
information on matters of great inter-
est to them.
The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1901-07-04

Perhaps the sudden paling of her
lovely face startled him, or the sharp
culver of pain in her voice touched
him.
"He-your father-neyer told you
that he insisted on the marriage?"
No, never" she replied, family.
He never told you that he made
1t my only refuge from him-my oCly
hope-my only alternative?'
mo; he never told me that"
Then | will tell you now He COM
PEELED me to marry you-and | begin
to perceive that he has sacrificed you
as we'll as myself"
Sacrificed us?" she repeated. You
cannot mean the world"
II do mean it, both for myself and
YOU" he replied. Il will tell you,
Lady Caraven; it is right that you
should know the truth. / have squan-
dered large fortune, and was deeply
in debt. l owed your father the sum
of sixty thousand pounds had mort
gagged Ravensmere to him was also
uCCpiy III utDI u OlueT5. udu lllcT-
ally come to my last shilling; disgrace,
ruin, poverty and shame were all be-
fore me. Your father Ind the man
agement of my affairs, and, when
asked him what | was to do, he told
me that he had two hundred thousand
pounds and a daughter"
A low cry came from her lips, and
she covered her face with her hands.
Il am sorry to pain you," he said
sorry to distress you-but it is bet
ter that you should know the real
truth. Your father is ambitious; his
hopes were fixed on your marriage.
lie offered me the alternative could
choose beggary, ruin, shame, disgrace,
the total humiliation of my house and
name, or / could choose the money
and marry you. / told him that |
did not feel inclined to marry, that |
had no affection for you, and l i'm
plored him to find some other way
out of the difficulty. He refused, and
you know the result Bear in mind,
though, that / am most deeply CRATE
The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1901-07-04
NEW beer CAPITAL.
Small Village Selected as the Seat of
the Orange Free tSnte.


Cape Town. June PA small body
of Boer invaders has revisited James
town and proclaimed that village the
capital of the Orange Free State. The
same force is said to be INDUCING In
considerable looting in that district. 1t
Is understood that energetic measures
will be taken for the effectual clear
ance of the marauders. A Boer force
marched to within ten miles of Barley
West last Saturday and engaged pa
troll of the Cape police and a local
mounted defense force from the farms
OF Lyndale and Orphendale. The
British lost one killed, nine prisoners,
three of whom were wounded, and two
missing.
A British column under Col. Mure
has defeated a force Of Beers, supposed
to be portion of Kritzinger's COM
mando. The Beers were routed from
the field, leaving. their carts and pro-
visions behind them.