The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1901-08-06
MAGNOLIA
Citizens Make a Strong
Denial Of Scap Story.
A LETTER WAS SENT
But They Think II Was a Joke--
Arc Taking Every Precau-
tion to Restrict the
Disease.

The story recently published in the
News-Democrat about the sending of a
letter to the mayor of Waynesburg
which was supposed to have contained
smallpox germs in the shape of scabs
removed from patients at Magnolia, has
stirred up the citizens Of the latter vii
lage and they want to give their ver-
sion, which they do in an article ap-
pended. The main facts are admitted,
but it is thought that the letter was
sent as practical joke and did not con-
tain any contagious matter. The state
ment of the citizens follows:
Magnolia, o., Aug. 2.-As citizens of
Magnolia, We desire to call attention 10
the article under glaring headlines in
last Tuesdays Stark County Democrat,
stating that smallpox scabs had been
sent by mail from this place to Mayor
Stands, of Waynesburg.
Our citizens do not believe that small
pox scabs were sent to his honor and
for this reason: All smallpox patients
are in rigid quarantine and under strict
entirely impossible for anyone to Sc
cure such scabs without the knowledge
Of the guards and officers. That some
mischievously inclined person under
took to create CONSERVATION in Waynes-
burg by sending something which he
pretended was smallpox scabs, we do
not deny as Postmaster Gotshall says
that letter, unsealed and bearing a
one cent stamp, was found upon one of
the tables in the postofIice last Monday
morning. He did not critically exam
nine the contents of small package
in the envelope, but read, the accom-
panying note, enclosed all in an official
envelope and sent the letter to Waynes-
burg, advising the proper persons there
of it's supposed contents, where it was
destroyed without being examined.
We strongly condemn such dastardly
and cowardly conduct as sending either
genuine or pretended disease germs by
mail to anyone either for the purpose
of sport or for malice. 1t is surely
mark of depravity and degeneracy. We
have recently heard it intimated that
the said scab was simply nothing more
than a little sand neatly done up and
intended for his honor, the mayor of
Waynesburg. II such it was, then the
writer of that little note Is coward
and prevaricator according to his own
word and conduct. AS said before we
deplore such conduct as beneath the
dignity of any intelligent, honest per-
son. We do not know who was the
~r,,,i i%a,, nft a. NJ rr N nf = ha
scab, nor have we any desire to FORM
his acquaintance or that of any Of the
ilk.
In Magnolia as well as in Waynesburg
and many other places, there are few
erratic and irresponsible persons for
whose vile conduct the general populace
must suffer and answer.
While we greatly deplore such action
and conduct as above described, we Just
as strongly despise and abominate the
many libelous and maliciously conceiv-
ed reports circulated by wholly ire
sponsible and culpable parties for the
avowed and ostensible purpose of doing
us harm.
Last week our mayor and two of our
most prominent citizens sent to several
Stark and Carroll county papers for
publication true statement of condi-
tions as they then existed. Yet there
were those who had no chance of know
ing the facts, who branded that state
ment as an out and out falsehood. Such
Misrepresentation shows dense ignor-
ance, unadulterated malice, an unduly
excited and uncomfortable imagination
and total disregard for truth.
AS we are writing this morning we
are glad to state that there is not a
single case Of smallpox within our cor
poration or in the Immediately con-
tiguous part of town In Sandy township.
There are still some few In town who
are quarantined. All patients have
been removed to the pest camp, a half
mile or more from town. We trust
that the disease has been successfully
arrested and that all danger therefrom
is almost thing Of the past.
We have been ostracized, isolated.
quarantined, abused soundly and mis-
represent; notwithstanding all this
we propose to live and let live and to at
tend strictly to our own business.
are we so depraved, individually
or collectively, as to desire visitation
Of this dread disease to any of our sister
towns. Respectfully,
Citizens Of Magnolia.
III n.