Arizona republican., 1901-04-07
JUDGMENT RENDERED
Justice Gray Won the Suit Against
 Ross & Megquier.

The guessing contest conducted by Messrs Ross and Mcguire, and in which the whole world was invited to give its opinion on how long fifty-iive inch candle would burn, was settled when the candle went out yesterday morning at o'clock, 26 minutes and fifty seconds. having burned 62 hours, 26 minutes and 90 seconds.
 The above named firm, in order to inspire interest in the contest, agreed to give a suit of clothes to the one guessing the closest to the length of time the candle would burn. and pair of pants to the one guessing the near est to the number of guesses made on the first proposition. There were 1928 guesses dropped into the box, and Mir. William Davis predicted that there would be 1891, bur that was near enough for all practical purposes, and Mir. Davis will therefore be given pair of pants
 But Gilbert D. Gray, having an idea that judgment was right in his line as justice of the peace, entered the con- test against the candle. He argued that justice of the peace might as well have no close at all as to appear in court rObed only in a pair of pants, so he went in for the whole suit and got it. He said the candle would burn 62 hours. 2S minutes and 10 seconds, and it would probably have done so only for the fact that ;sa weather moderated triie the next day after the candle was lighted, and the atmosphere in the window was :rile warmer than the judge had calculated on, and more con ducive to the melting of the candle. The candle therefore went out a mi~- ute and twenty seconds before the judge had arrangd for it's final wink. But no one made any better guess and the judge was awarded the suit of clothes.
 J. l.. B. Alexander. who in these later days is first in Tampa. first in peace and tries his darndest tc i've next to the hearts of his countrymen, played Justice Gray close second on the new clothes, and was only minute and fifty seconds be- hind him. or rather ahead of him. But Mir. Alexander was figuring on a fur moon. thinking thereby that the niSrts would he warmer. while in reality the moon was only half full and the window is on the shady side of the street at night.
 There was one little incident that should be explained for the benefit of some who may think that the time is not correctly announced. About an hour before the candle went out the wick dropped down in the candestick. and the boy at the window with a stop watch announced that the time was up. quite a crowd at te time hearing him say SO A card was pasted on the glass stating the time. and after it had been displayed for some time it was dscov- cred that the wick was still burning. so it became necessary Co issue a revised bulletin.
 This candle contest has done a great deal to attract the attention of the pub lie to the store of Ross X Megquire. IL also shows that advertising in The Republican Is one of the stepping stones to business success in th town. The announcement of the contest was made through this paper, and though the time for depositing the guesses was only about 40 hours 1928 were made In addition, thousands of men, women and children stood around the window,