davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-12-09
DEATH OF JOHN FRAZER.


Another Good Man Passes Away.
Mr.. John Frazer died at his home near
Lahore. in Orange county. Saturday
morning of paralysis, aged 50 years He
was one OF the best known and respected
men Of the county During the war OF
lS61-65 he was a gallant soldier and
at its close resumed his Svoeation OF
farming on his fathers estate in the coun-
~. Later he married Miss Susan Nor
ton, daughter OF the late Geo. W. Morton,
who survives him. For many years he
had resided on his own estate near the
old homestead of the Frazer family and
his home has been noted for its hospital
ity. He was a member of Pamunkey
Baptist church, man of the strictcst
integrity and his friends were many and
true. Prof. Robert Frazer aud the late
W I b. Frazer were his brothers. His
children are Mrs. J. R.Coons, OF Culpeper
Mrs. Ernest Baker and Mr.. George Fra
ger, Of Orange.
The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-12-09
NO CHANGE IN ASSISTANT DIS.
TRICT ATTORNEYSHIP.
Announcementof MIR. Coles Appoint
ment Premature.

Mr. Hugh Gordon Miller, the present
Assistant District Attorney, will be reap
pointed. This assurance was given that
gentlemen in Washington Saturday by
President Roosevelt The latter. when
called upon by Col. Slemp, the Republican
Congressman elect from the Ninth dis
trict, and delegation of leaders from
Norfolk, declared that he was not aware
when he favored Hon. Malcolm A. Coles
for the place that Mr. Miller was the pres
ent attorney. The service Mr.. Miller
had rendered the party, the President
said. was such that he could not ignore
his claims
The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-12-09
E. G.. HELM,
Architect and Builder,
Room No. ,, Enterprise Building.
Correspondence Solicited.
MARRIAGES.

Mr.. Junius NJ. Dodson and Miss Julia
A Hay ME were married by Rev. DR.. g.
W. Beale at Heathsville last week.
The approaching marriage OF Miss Ada
ID. Payne. daughter of Rev. John +.
Payne, TO Mr. Frederick Hundley Quarles,
OF Charlottesville, is announced for Dec
23 at s O'Clock in Sledd Memorial church
at Forest Depot.
On Thursday the parsonage at Wax
pool, Loudoun county, was the scene OF
AN exceedingly romantic wedding, when
the two daughters of Mr.. VIM. Dove, OF
the Broad Run district. were married to
two brothers, Mr. J. +. ID. Hauser and
Mr. Harry Hauser. Rev. Geo Hopkins
ofiiciated.
The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-12-09
ORANGE.
bunting Notes-Bis Shipment Of
Turkeys -Other items.
Orange. Va. Dec. 9th. 1902.

Orange Va. Dec. 9th. 1902.
Mrs r King, with her sister. Mrs
Davis, and handsome grandson, VIII, re
turned TO her Orange home Saturday
She spent some weeks with relatives ia
King William, where she enjoyed MANY
happy incidents.
Mrs. l.. 81 COwardin and Miss Mamie
OF Richmond, are at MrL G Burruss' 10
attend the Norton-Coleman wedding ON
the 10th. This interesting event is the
absorbing theme Of this section. and the
popularity ct the young lady and gentle
man il general
Mr.. l.. G. BnrrusS has the champion
setter OF our parts. ScOrs of birds have
been bagged under his fine work. and
over thirty Fl - wild turkeys have been
brought to the gun under trial. OF these
turkeys Mr. Burruss has killed fifteen. not
only ladening his own table with delicate
and delicious game. but generously and
freely remembered his neivhbor and the
stranger within his gates.
Mr.. Johnson, of 10 has moved to Pine
Top and taken quarters ia Mr. Martin :
commodious house. There is universal
regret ut Mr.. Martins decision TO leave
~. lie has grown in popularity and
stands among our worthiest citizens. lie
leaves IN few days for Washington for
n short stay with relatiyesand thence to
Philadelphia. where, we hear. he con-
templates raiirOading.
Many fi1e hogs have been taken rom
the pen to this salt box this week. aud
we have passed on from liver to crack
'ings aud soon will have souse.
Mr.. Baker, Of Pine Top, shipped about
- turkeys last week. some of them
weighing 30 pounds. and got top prices
Dr- CowardiD. of Richmond. il expected
To join bis wife at Mr. l.. G. Burruss' TO
day. He will stay until after the we'd
ding, enjoying hunting and fishing.
We regret to note the death # BERNARD
the popular son % Mr. Rnlus Graves. If
Thorn Hill Many sOrrowing h. arts laid
him TO rest in the faulty grounds on sun
day evening. :.
The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-12-09
StoekheIders. Meetina-

The annual meeting Of the stockhold-
ers OF the Rappahannock Valley Agricul-
tural and Mechanical Society TO receive
annual reports OF the President an q
Treasurer aud for the election Of officers
Tor the ensuing year will Ice held in the
Mayors Office in the city OF Fredericks-
burg. on Thursday, December l1tb
1902 at IL O'Clock a. N. Every stock
holder Is urged to be present. BY order
OF the BOARD Of Directors.
5. J Quinn Clerk.
The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-12-09
Mrs. w. s. copeland Dead

Mrs. Mary Christian Copeland, wife OF
Mr. W. $. Copeland, editor of Richmond
Times, died very suddenly Friday night
at her home in Richmond. She was seized
with hemorrhage and soon expired.
Mrs. Copeland was a daughter of Prof.
Christian, long member Of the faculty
OF the Virginia Polytechnic Institute at
Blacksburg, and spent he girlhood 10
Petersburg. where her remains were
taken for interment.
The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-12-09
POTOMAC. FREDERICKSBURG AND
PIEDMONT RAILROAD.


Connections at fredericksburg with r.. r
=. Il. r.. aud Mccms Steamboat Co. Al
Orange With southern II and Chesapeake 4
Ohio X. r.
The only line T. the Chancellorsvinc and
Wilderness Battlcnelds.
iasteru STANDARD Time. Daily except sun
1sy. W II. RICHARDS. Gen Manager.
TRAIN No. leaves Orange the <th Monday
in .Arh month nt y. ".
The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-12-09
More Coal.

Charles Wallace & Bro. received anoth-
er car load of coal Saturday, which they
sold TO the genei al public at IS 90 per
ton II this coal had to be purchased
from the mines now, it could not be sold
at less than $40 per ton.
The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-12-09
Mrs. Bose ParnIxzed..

Mrs. Kate C Rose. mother Of Com
monwealth's Attorney W. A. Rose. of
King George county, was stricken with
paralysis Thursday night at her home
and is in n critical condition.
The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-12-09
In Honor Of College Foot Ban Team

The annual oyster supper given by the
students of the college to this years
football team took place at the college
Friday highland proved most enjoyable
Many OF the fair sex were present, aud
the college boys turned out en- masse in
honor of the occasion.
The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-12-09
Ahseonaina cIerk Arrest.a

Johu l.. O'BrieD, arrested in San Fran
cisco for the embezzlement OF $5,4OO
from Hon. Frank Hume, OF Washington
viii probably reach Washington this
week in charge OF a U. 5. marshal.
The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-12-09

Remember we are factory agents for
Heaters
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-01-11

Lieut.. Heffernan was saying the
other day that he had hardly ever
seen an Irishman who wasn't ready
with quick retort, no matter what
the circumstances might be.
ut was about three years ago that
[ arrested a certain fellow. He was
about tie drunkest man L ever saw
20 be still standing on his feet. AS
soon as / got hold of him he wanted
to make trouble. He was just like
many others from the ould sod when
they get full of bad booze and they
think there is chance for a scrap.
He made pass at me, but reached
over and tapped him once on the
head with my stick. He became quiet
right away, and he looked up at me
and said:
And what tonne is it?'
"of course / couldn't help but an
swer: Just struck one.'
well, if thot's So he answered,
Dim dunn glad yez didn't hit me an
hour sooner Louisville Times.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-01-11

er and tried to rouse the operator at
the cut.
The brute was slow, and when he did
answer he said that Grimes train had
gone. Gonel Casey was almos st reach
ing for the gun in the top drawer. But
he didn't. He worked the instrument
again.
Chase It'll" ratified Casey, and the
operator chased.
In the next ten minutes Casey got
his first gray hair.
Now, from the cut to GAINESVILLE IL is
down grade all the way. The gravel
train had stood on a siding, and the
brakeman had to jump to catch the
caboose after he had locked the switch.
The track was bad and good sprtnting
out of the question. The operator was
long-legged chap, however, and he
had a chance.
Meanwhile Casey sat still and wait
ed. He saw the wreck--vividly-th
steaming ruin of the engines, the
heaped-up train and tho bodies lying
side by side under blankets. Then the
inquest and all the rest of the night
mare. There was murder on his hands
unless that train was stopped. And if
1T was stopped-well, there would be
words of comment by trainmen, mes
sages over the wire to the division SUI
perintendent and others not by Casey,
and it would be all over with Casey's
railroad career, to say nothing of An
ME and the picnic.
O'Connor had left GAINESVILLE long ago
and was now plugging along up the
grade, with numerous curves ahead
and so dagoes behind. Grimes train
was rapidly gaining Roadway, string
ing out of the siding and rafting onto
the main track, going faster with every
yard.
The long-legged operator ran rapid
ly. just as the train Strengthened out
for the down grade of the main line
he caught the last hand rail of the ca
boose and was flung off his feet, but
hung on and climbed aboard.
And there they stood, the engine
putting and blowing off and Grimes
talking very earnestly with his en-
gineer when the O'Connor train pulled
In. 1t was the long-legged operator
who saved the trains-but it was the
backyard quarrel that saved Casey.
Grimes scowlsd, O'Connor glowered,
conversation was out of the question
and official joint reports not to be
thought of. In the feud that had dis
rupted the neighborhood up on Lynn
street the poor train dispatcher who
had nearly sent two trains over the
Great Divide was forgotten.
So Casey and the little lady with the
sunlit hair went on their picnic up the
river according to Schedule.-Paul r.
Wright, in Chicago Reoord-Herald.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-01-11
SPARKS.

1t costs four dollars for ten words
by the new telegraph line to Yukon.
London and Brussels, $50 miles
apart, are to be telephonically con-
nected.
Over 100 heretofore Improbable
mines in the west have been made
profitable by electrical equipment.
Three systems of wireless teleg>
raphy were used in reporting the re-
cent yacht races off Sandy Hook, and
they interfered with each other so
much that the operators finally
agreed to divide the time
During the past summer an electric
railroad was completed to the foot
Of Mont Blanc at Chamounix, which
makes it possible to reach that place
from Geneva in 3A hours. But re-
Gently the journey was by diligence
and took the greater part of day.
new era in electric railroadine
has been inaugurated by the inven-
ton of the multiple unit system, bv
which any number OF motor ears and
any number of cars without motors
can be combined into trains at will
and operated from one point through
a master switch and by which the OPP
orator or engineer can control speed
at will. 1t inauguratcs a revolution
in electric car methods.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-01-11

all, in addition to those Of several chill
dren, making a total of IA deaths.
There is, however, no expectation that
more than one crime can be fastened
upon the prisoner; and even that is
extremely doubtful, unless the author
tiles can produce much stronger tes-
timony at the coming trial in the Grim
inal court than they furnished before
the police tribunal. Should the prose
cutting attorney succeed in proving the
woman's guilt in the Pugh case, other
charges may be taken up, but to the
unbiased observer it seems as though
the story Of IA mysterious murders
VIII very likely evaporate in thin air.
Moreover, even the most relentless
pursuers of the defendant are unable
to associate any evidence with the
charges informally made.
A short outline of the Pugh case is
necessary to understand the present
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-01-11

Cubaproduccs no tobacco for chew
ing or for pipe-smoling. The Cubans
who smoke pipes might be counted
on ones fingers without making a
second round on the fingers. The
cigar and the cigarette prevail. To
what extent the Cuban cigarette
might ever become popular with
American smokers is a matter be-
yond determination. IL is certain
that most Americans of prolonged
residence become, IL they be smok-
ers, addicted to the Cuban brands
and find difficulty in weaving them
selves back to American brands on
their return.-Chicsgo ChroHicle.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-01-11

position of Mrs. Witwer. Mrs. Pugh
was i'll not more than 4S hours and suf-
fered great anguish. Prior to her
death she summoned lawyer and die
tated the terms of her will. Mrs. Wit
wer was called in the room several
times to refresh the patients memory
for names and address, of legatees.
She herself was a beneficiary only upon
the death of her mother, Mrs. Mary
Richmond, of Addison, Mich. Just as
the lawyer handed Mrs. Pugh a pen
with which to sign the document she
sank back dead. Her estate, supposed
to have been worth $4,000, has been re-
duced to $4,000, of which $500 is in per
sonal property and $4,000 in real es-
tate-a small farm near Franklin, O.
Two applications for the administra-
ton of the estate have been made, one
by an attorney, at the suggestion of
the Witwer family, and the other by
Mr.. Nevis, on recommendation of the
prisoner. The latter is an inconseouen-
tial beneficiary. Mrs. Richmond is
more than so years old. At her de tn
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-01-11

mic. The dispatcher couldn't resist. He
stepped out for just little spiel" a
very short one. Annie was such a good
hand to 'josh" with.
Casey returned to his desk at last.
Nothing had happened, and everything
was all right. The operator at the tank
wanted instructions. Grimes en-
gineer was ready to go back, but re-
quested additional orders to take on
his train at the cut, and then go rolling
down the line to GAINESVILLE, without
waiting for further telegraphic in
structions.
If Casey had been thoroughly him
self he would not have granted it, be-
cause such thing is irregular in rail-
road practice, and two trains nearly
always get into trouble when they try
to pass on the same track. But for ten
seconds it slipped his mind that he had
given O'Connor the right of way. And
in that ten seconds, having Annie's
smile before his eyes and being be-
nevolently inclined to all, he told
Grimes'en engineer to go ahead.
Then he looked out and saw Annie
waving at him from across the track
She, too, had forgotten something.
Did he prefer beef tongue or ham in his
sandwiches? That was all, or nearly
all, and it was quickly settled. He pre-
ferred ham.
But when Casey got back and looked
at his order book he turned white. Ac.
cording to the stories in the magazines
he should have drawn gun on himself
or died of heart disease. This is true
story, however, and Casey did nothing
of the sort. He shut his lips tight and
all the sunshine of the day turned
black, and all the pretty things he had
been thinking about the girl turned
black with it. He jumped to the tick
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-01-11

she married William Stowe. I'm MID
dletown, and his death was stranes
and startling. Mrs. Witwer admits
that he died from morphins poison
ing, but says a clergyman admins
tered the fatal dose.
John Williams, her next matri-
mon1al venture, deserted her two
days after the wedding. She then
came TO Dayton and served as house
keeper for John E. wenz, who died
from poisoning and a complication of
diseases. While in the woods he was
poisoned by ivy, but there in q su,-
picion that poison was given to MIN
while in bed, as several physicians
were unable to diagnose the case.
Mrs. Witwer also acted as housekeep-
er for Mr.. and Mrs. John Gabler. ana
both died apparently from heart trou-
Die within the few months she was I'm
their employ. George d. Keller, who
resided in the east end OF DAYTON.
died apparently from cerebral menir-
gifts, though his case puzzled two doe
tors, and it is asserted that he was
one of Mrs. Witwer's victims. In Md
dletown, the police allege to have
- N4AO was with
the prisoner and who says that while
discussing their husbands one day.
Mrs. Witwer remarked that to get
rid of hers "she would poison him"
There is no doubt that the police Of
ticials who have had charge of TIA
case against Mrs. Witwer have been
honest and governed by the best Of
motives, yet the impression prevails
here that they have gone out of their
way to create sensation. The wom-
an may be guilty of the crime for
which she is soon to be tried, but the
rumors upon which her notoristy "A
an American Lucretia Borgia has been
established are rather fiimsyandh hardly
susceptible of being introduced az tee.
timony in criminal court. Evsrv
town that has little local excitement
nowadays has the ambition of making
1T national episode, and the peace
officers OF Dayton, swayed by this
craze, would. some think, like to sur
prise the world by weaving a web ta
which the most cruel murdersss az
the age is to be caught.
And while all this has been rotu1 an
Mrs. Witwer has kept up an indiffer-
ent attitude and asserted her tuna-
cence in terms forcible and logical.
FRANKLIN b. Belts.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-01-11
FACES FATE BOLDLY.
Mrs. Mary Belle Witwer, Ohio's
Alleged Wholesale Prisoner.
HELD to the Grand Jury After an Ex-
animation in Police Court--Evi-
dence Against Her Purely
CircumstanttaI.
Especial Dayton (o.) letter.

tcpcclaA Oayton lO.l Letter.
HITHERTO the city of Dayton has
been famous for it's soldiers
home, but now it figures in the
newspapers as the home of Mrs. Mary
Belle Witwer, who, if half the allege-
tons made against her by professional
and amateur sleuths are true, is the
life destroyer par excellence of the
beginning of the twentieth century,
although some of the crimes she is
said to have committed must be
charged up to the nineteenth.
Mrs. Witwer has just had a hearing,
preliminary in character, before the
police court on the charge of having
poisoned her sister, Mrs. Anna c. Pugh.
A number of expert chemists testified
In the case, and were emphatic in their
statements that arsenic had been
found in the stomach of the de d wom-
an. On the strength Of this testimony
Mrs. Witwer was bound over to the
court of common pleas, without bond,
to answer to the charge of murder in
the first degree. The accused main
tanned her composure when informed
OF the police magistrate decision and,
displayed a stoicism which amazed the
authorities and COMPOUNDED her attor-
ueys. Many attempts have been
made to entrap the prisoner, but they
failed miserably, and it is quite appar-
ent that she will make good defense
when her case il brought to trial be-
fore the court of record.
One fact must not be forgotten by
those who are inclined to discuss this
cause celebre. The evidence against
Mrs. ,Witwer is purely circumstantial.
She is now, Of course, charged direct
~ with the murder OF Mrs. Pugh. who
was professional nurse and lived
with Mrs. Witwer, at No. 3s Liberty
street, Dayton. Mrs. Witwer lost four
husbands, and all died rather suddenly
and under peculiar circumstances. in
the wholesale charges informally
made by police officials she has been
accused of having caused the death of
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-01-11
PERSONALS.

Seth Low has now been made q
doctor of laws seven times, the de-
gree conferred by Yale being the
latest.
There Is revival of the rumor that
Mr.. William Waldorf Astor will re
ceive title at the time of the coro-
nation of King Edward. Mr.. Astor
has recently given 100000 to ten
charitable institutions in London.
Toulouse-Lautrec,t the poster artist,
who died recently in Paris at the age
OF 50 years, according to some French
newspapers died of consumption.
According to others, however, he
died insane, of paresis brought on by
drinking and dissipation.
Lee Choup, one of the wealthiest
Chinese merchants in New York. has
wound up his business and is about
TO return to Canton with a fortune
OF $150,000. Three children born in
New York and one wife will accom-
pany him. He is said TO have two
other wives in China
On October 10 Lord FitzwilHam, of
England, celebrated his eighty-sixth
birthday. He is a member of the Or
der of the Garter and it is stated
that when at home he always wears
that ribbon at dinner. Formerly he
never permitted his sons to enter his
presence without being formally an.
nounced.
Capt. Dreyfus, who has been living
at Cologne, near Geneva, for some
time past. has determined to leave
Switzerland and make his home in
Alsace, where he was born. He will
spend the winter in the Riviera, after
which he will definitely settle down
in Alsace, devoting his time to liter
allure and scientific pursuits.
All precedent was upset the other
day at Wilmington, Del, when G. S.
Capelle, Alfred Gawthorp, William
LawtoD, A. L. johnson and Charles
w. Pussy, commissioners appointed
by the court to condemn the beds of
certain streets for city purposes, de-
cided to return $39 which each had
received for his services. They said
that was too much for the work and
asked that they be allowed six dol
lars apiece.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-01-11
The Mnhornnr mo.

Mahogany hunters in Central and
South America are men requiring much
skill and experience, and in some dis
triets the revenues depend largely up
on the success of their endeavors. Ma
hogany trees do not grow in groups,
out are scattered and concealed in
thickets. Il takes two men an entire
day to fell tree. On account of the
thick, thorny growth about the base of
the tree, it is the custom to build a
scaffold around it, and to cut the trunk
at a height of ten or fifteen feet from
the ground. BY this wasteful method
it is said the best part of the tree ia
lost. Freed from branches, the trunk
Is hauled by oxen to the nerast river,
where RATS are made.-Youth's Com
panion.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-01-11
POETS CORNER.



You're going to start for the ton OF thu
hill.
AND olazon your name TO the world;
AL obstacles passed by the strength o.
your will,
your banner triumphant unfurled
xou'Hl hing TO the breezes that now from
the sky,
All never earth-tainted you say;
It's noble and grand and delightful: but
why
But why don't you do 1t to-day7
The good that you think and the good
that you do
Are millions of long mites apart;
what good to the earth. IL you re good and
you're true
But never outside of your heart?
Tne generous deeds you intend to perform
Are all very lovely; but say:
While your soul is so high and your hea n
Is SO warm,
Why don't you perform them to-day7
AoWen u Reese, In San Francisco Bull.