The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1901-12-10
THE RESULT OF
A PRACTICAL JOKE
News Was Sent Throughout the
Country and Now kilograms
of Condolence Are Pour
ing Into the Home.

John F. Weiss is not dead. He is
alive and well at his home, 1907 West
Tuscarawas street. Through a care
less remark of friend who was in
Cleveland, Thursday, the story was
sent broadcast throughout the state
and nation that Mr.. Weiss had died.
Mr.. Weiss is a quiet, unassuming
citizen, yet among the liquor dealers
of the United States is one of the most
prominent men in the country, being
president of the National Retail Liquor
fraternity is quite popular.
The story was believed and the tele-
graph wires out of Cleveland were
busy sending the news from city to
city. There was general regret ex-
pressed among his friends.
SYMPATHY FOR WIDOW"
Not only was there sorrow for the
death of Mr.. Weiss, but great wave
Of sympathy swept over the land In
certain quarters for the supposed be.
reaved widow, who was thought to be
sitting disconsolately in her home made
desolate by the loss of loving hus.
band. From the minor liquor organiza.
tions all over the state and from other
more distant points, kilograms of con
dolence commenced pouring into Mrs.
Weiss expressing regret, sorrow and
sympathy, and eulogizing the charac-
ter of her husband.
At Cleveland, Columbus and other
points, local liquor deaiers' organiza-
tions have arranged to hold meetings
to pass resolutions over the death Of
their national president and to send
proper delegations to the. obsequies.
SORROW AT CAPITAL.
At Columbus, where Mr.. Weiss Is
well known, the report of his death was
received with regret. The following
dispatch from the News-Democrat staff
correspondent was received Friday:
Columbus, Dec. 6.-Secretary p. ].
McCaffrey, of the Ohio Retail Liquor
Dealers association, was advised by
wire yesterday of the death of John f.
Weiss, of Canton, and appropriate ac-
tion will be taken by the organization
on his death. Mr. Weiss had a large
acquaintance here and was known as
an honest and fair-minded man. He
spent much time here during the ses-
sions of the legislature opposing the
passage of laws inimical to the liquor
business. Superintendent Baker, of
the Anti-Saloon league, once said that
Mr.. Weiss was too good a man to be
identified with the liquor traffic"
Mr.. Weiss has had the rare exper-
fence of reading his own eulogies and
encomiums, but is congratulating him
self on the fact that while these
things are very satisfactory in a way,
he is very much alive and enjoying
the best Of health.
This matter is getting serious"
said John F. Weiss, of West Tuscara-
was street, Saturday morning, as he
grinly inspected two handsome
wreaths that had been sent to decorate
his grave.
81 am beginning to suspect" said he,
"that the statement l made to the
News-Democrat yesterday about being
alive is not true. When the kilograms
OF coincidence began to como to my wife
] treated the matter as a joke but now
that the flowers are actually beginning
to arrive l fear that have spoken
rather hastily. My friends insist that
have died and have gone to the ex.
pense of sending flowers and to the
trouble of passing appropriate resolu-
tlons. They have not consulted me in
this matter and will no doubt be disap-
pointed If refuse to accept their YER
dict" tt
On Saturday morning Mr.. Weiss, or
rather Mrs. Weiss, received a large
wreath from Cleveland and little
lator another was delivered at the
house, sent by the Retail Liquor Deal
ers' association, of Columbus. The de-
hugo of kilograms which poured into the
house yesterday is being succeeded 10y
punches of letters today. All of these
are addressed to Mrs. Weiss and expresa
sympathy with her In her supposed
bereavement
RECEIVES CONGRATULATIONS.
Mr.. Weiss spent good deal Of money
In replying to kilograms contradictins
the story OF his death and today he
has received a number OF messages Of
congratulations.
The Columbus papers on Friday
printed lengthy stories of Mr.. Weiss's
death and one or two went 80 far as to
announce the time OF the funeral. In
1prmstion appeared 70 be > Httle. hasy'
~ he ca,,se Of ND demise but ths.
~ o61s - 1l12H xa6io ~ polIe ~