davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1903-12-27

was wounded unto death. He was car
ried to the hospital and the doctor, after
examination, declared that he had but
a few hours 70 live. The Methodist
pastor attended at The bedside. The
dying man professed contritiOn for his
sins and desired the clergyman to pray
iOr him. He did so and then asked
the sinner to pray Tor himself. NO
you pray for me-" said the outlaw.
Yea have more influence up there than
1 have. Cod is better acquainted with
you, ard then I don't know the first
thing about prayin'' Use your own
words. brother said the preacher, dis
regarding the inadvertent oath. Ask
God to forgive you in your own way"
The cowboy raised his hands: Dear
Lord Jesus" said he. please be nercf-
ful to a poor, misera BILE. damned drunk
en- loafer."
Was not the prayer answered? Who
shall doubt it. for surely it was but a
repetition of the old, old petition: God
be merciful to me, sinner"
The San Francisco call., 1903-12-27

One of the most hOnOra bic men evea
knew was a convict for life in the
Yuma, Arizona. penitentiary. He was
a prOspectOr. and while inebriated so
that he was both mentally and morally
irresponsible, had shot and killed a
stranger. Regaining consciousness and
being made aware of what he had done.
he ATTEMPTED to flee to Mexico. Seek
ing shelter. en- route. al a frontier post.
one of the officers, who knew him. Of
fered him $500 for his half-interest in
a valuable mining claim and threatened
to detain him and give him into Gus
tody unless he accepted it. Thus CO.
creed he executed a deed, received the
money and continued his journey. Be
fore he reached the line he was cap
tured and soon afterward tried. The
homicide was unprovoked and inexcus-
able. Really the man was as uncon-
scious Of his deed at the time OF its
commission as if such Inconsistencies
were the result of a blow on the head
instead Of being produced by whisky.
But drunkenness is no excuse for crime,
and he was adjudged guilty Of murder
in the second degree and sentenced to
Imprisonment for life.
The San Francisco call., 1903-12-27

hard work he was no longer in irons"
A brace Of bad men in Prescott
shot out the lights il a saloc1 one
night. emptied the till, mounted their
brontoes aad rode away to their camp
The San Francisco call., 1903-12-27

In the course of many years law prac-
tice in the Territories l have had occa-
sion TO defend good many transSreS-
The San Francisco call., 1903-12-27

The story was entirely unlike the
usual fairy tale about stolen bullion.
and my friend accepted il as true and
went out 10 see the Indians He found
two Of them camDed in the chaparral
near Oceanside. They were shy and
suspicious and denounced their COM
paniOn for bringing a stranger to the
camp. They finally permitted their vic
tim 10 take look 81 the gold bar.
which was wrapped in a grain sack
and hidden under a manzanita brush.
He agreed to come another day for an
other interview. when he would bring
the necessary implements for sampling
the bar. He was requested to bring at
the same time a bottle of cough medi-
cine. as one Of the Indians was suffer
ing from a severe cod.
When he returned the next day the
noble red men had again suspicious.
When the cough medicine was pro-
duced the sick man expressed some
doubts as TO the motives Of the stranger
and intimated that it might be poison
with which he proposed to end their
DAYS so as 70 secure the gold bar. To
dispel this unjust suspicion the victim
drank about One-third Of the bottle Of
medicine. which was palatable in
taste and unpleasant in consequences.
but who shall shrink at stomach
trouble when wealth will be the reward
OF sacrifice? With drill and chisel the
bar was sampled at each corner and
the bullion sDeculator departed with
the chips. The assayer at San Diego
reported that they were gold and very
fine.
The agent Of the savages then stated
that they had concluded, under the cir
cumstances, not to trust their entire
fortune in the hands of the victim with
out security: that the bar was worth
over $4,000 and that as evidence Of
good faith and Of personal responsible
ity the victim must pay over $4,000 on
delivery Of the bar.
The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1903-08-27

Mrs. Tucker (nee Miss Nora John
sony came up from Grvenville this
morning to visit her mother, Mrs. A..
v. johnson.
Mess. Edwin Josey, Waite Bagley.
Thurman Kitchin and Wilson Price
went to Wake Forest Tuesday to be
present at the opening of the session
Wednesday.
Misses Mary ana Helen Montague,
Of Winston, N. c., daughters of DR.. s.
J. Montague, are visiting their aunts
here, Mechanics J. III. Lawrence and
e. E. Hilliard.
Mrs. A. Mcdowell and children re-
turned Tuesday from a visit to her
brother, Hon. w. w. Kitchin in Rox-
boro. She was accompanied home by
Mr.. Kitchin and his little daughter.
Sue.
The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1903-08-27
Mr.. ]. E. crutcbfeld Married.

Mr.. J. E. Crutchfield, who with the
editor OF The COMMONWEALTH publish
ed The Spokesman in Rocky Mount
last year, was married at Ore Hill Au-
gust 10Th. Mr.. Crutchfeld Is now
principal of the graded school at Mount
Airy. The following account of his
marriage appeared in the Oh arlotte
Observer
"The marriage of Mr.. John E.
Crutchfield, of Mount Airy, to Mics
Ava Louise Cheek, of Ore Hill, was
solemnized today at the home OF Mrs.
Emily Cheek, mother OF the bride.
The ceremony was performed by Rev.
T. s. Crutchfeld, of Tarboro; Mr.. A.
w. Cooke. of Greensboro, was best
man, and Miss Lille Morgan, OF Marsh
Vile, was maid of honor. The other
attendants were Mr.. Charles G. Cheek,
of Ore Hill, with Miss Rosa Paschal, of
Goldston, and Mr. s. v. Crutchfeld, o
Townsville, with Miss Matte Cheek,
OF Ore Hill, sister of the bride. Miss
Della Lane presided at the organ.
"Mr. Crutchfield is principal of the
graded schools of Mount Airy, and is a
graduate of Wake Forest College, tax
ing the degree of Bachelor of arts in
1900. He ia a man of sterling worth
,, and eminent ability, and we'll equipped
for the winning of success in LIES bat
ties. The bride is young woman Of
grace, elegance and beauty, and is be-
loved and esteemed by all who know
her. She was for some time student
at the Baptist Female University, and
was tor one session teacher in Rock,
Mount. Her charming personality
has made her admired by all as wo
man of rare culture. Mr.. and Mrs
Crutchfield left on the afternoon trsil
for their home in Mount Airy"
The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1903-08-27
Prof. Wilson at Ga.esville.

Prof. c.. w. Wilson returned some
DAYS ago from holding a teachers
institute at Gatesyllle. He did line
work and made most favorable I'M
preston. A Gatesville correspondent
to the News and Observer wrote as fol-
lows:
1.-The week ending Saturday was one
of the most successful in the history
OF the county tor education.
The institute, conducted by Prof.
G. w. Wilson, of Scotland Neck, was
complete success. All of the teachers
except few who were kept away OF
account of sickness attended: Pro1
Wilson's work was of the highest OF
der and received encomiums by all TIT
teachers present. There is no bette
Or more efficient man in the state 10
institute work than Prof. Wilson,.
The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1903-08-27
Well Equipped Court Room.

The court room in Halifax is now
we'll equipped. Within the past year
there have been some pleasing changes
In the arrangement of the bar for the
Jury box, the prisoners box and other
parts of the court room.
The floor of the room has been ele-
waited in the rear and nice assembly
chairs placed all oyer the court room
outside of the bar. Nice revolving
chairs have been placed in the jury
box aud around the tables in the bar
and the entire court room is much
improved.
One thing is lacking-the room
needss better ventilation. There ought
to be some ventilation back OF tht
Judges stand, Tor it is very oppressive
in that end of the court room during
very hot weather.
The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1903-08-27
MIR. Dunn at Windsor.

At temperance rally at Windsor on
Thursday of last week Mr.. w. A. Dunn
addressed an enthusiastic audience on
the subject of temperance. Owing to
the constant rains the crowd was moth
ing like as large as had been expected,
but 1t was a great day for the tenn
perance people.
Those who heard Mr.. Dunn say his
address was fine and effective.
Mr.. Hinton, organizer Tor the State
Anti-Saloon League, was also present
and made fine address.
Others who went from here were
Mess. w. E. Whitmore, }. Whit Bel
and Bruce Futrell.
The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1903-08-27

FINE MELoN---The editors family
are under obligations to Mr.. R. Gard
ner for a fine melon sent around some
days ago.
LAST PUZZLE AD.-This week closes
the series of puzzle ads. by Futrell-
Hardy Hardware Co. the Judges OF
the contest will be announced next
week.
CHANGED HoTELs-Since Mr.. A. F.
Hancock moved from Hancock hotel
on depot street to the Scotland Neck
hotel, Mr., L. r. Carter has m wed into
the hotel vacated by Mr.. Hancock.
MEETING AT T1LLERY-Rev. M. L
Kesler spent last week at Tillery assist
ing Rev. J. K. Howell in a meeting
The meeting was a pleasant one and
productive of much good. 1t closed
Sunday night.
A Coop PRoHIBITIoNIsT-Mr }. u
Raw. one of our clever business men
is such a strong prohlbitionist and i
taking such an active interest In tn
campaign now on in Scotland Necl
that some have named his corne
"Coaling Station No. on Grand Trunl
Prohibition Line" Mr.. Ray believe
that prohibition would be good thinl
for Scotland Neck and Is free to say g
and to work for it.
The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1903-08-27
Mr.. Hancock Proprietor Now.

Mr.. G. III. johnson who has been
proprietor of the Scotland Neck H0tel
for some time, has vacated and Mr.. A
F. Hancock is now proprietor. Mr.
Hancock has been proprietor of the
Hancock Hotel near the depot for 9
year and half.
Those who have been boarding al
the Scotland Neck hotel under Mr.
Johnson's Management say the fart
has been fine, and the public may vel
expect the same good fare under Mr.
Hancock's management.
The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1903-08-27
INTERSTATE Exam.
NATION COURSE.

Teachers Wishing to prepare Tor ex-
aminations should write, at once, to
Prof. J. L. Graham, L. l.. d.. 152-l54
Randolph Building, Memphis, Tenn.
tor particulars concerning his special
rTe.chers, Examination Course
This course Is taught BY mail, and
nranaree teachers for examination In
eyerv State in the Union Leading
educators pronounce It the best course
aver offered to the teaching profession
.ra ali teachers Wishing 70 advance n
eheir profession should Immediately
av.Il themsolvss 81 e. Enclose stamI
The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1903-08-27
Mr.. Broughton Coming.

Mr.. N. B. Broughton, of Raleigh,
will address the people of Scotland
Neck in Futre;l's opera house to night
Thursday, 27th) on tho subject OF
tamperance and prohibition. He is a
fine platform speaker, has long been an
active temperance work and is an able
advocate OF the cause.
All lovers of the temperance cause
will hear him gladly, and all who are
omen to conviction on the subject will
do we'll to hear him.
A large audience will welcome Mr.
Broughton tonight.
The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1903-08-27
Poisoned by lea Cream.

There was an ice cream supper at
Boanoke Rapids some nights ego at
which many persons partook OF the
ielicacy. Next day a number OF per-
sons were taken sick and one young
man named Crawford died. 1t was
thought he died from the effects OF the
cream. It was reported that one OF
the mills in the town had to shut
down by reason Of the sickness OF the
operatjves, but that WE g mistake.
The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1903-08-27
BLACKLIST cR1ME OF THE AGE.
Foul Msrdsr In Hal,fax.

II ie not ali uncommon thing to
read of murders, assaults and odtrages
away from home, but the people OF
Halifax county now realize what such
things mean.
On Thursday evening August 10th,
at her home in Halifax, little Miss
Mary Jenkins,the grand daughter OF the
late Capt J. NJ. Grizzard, was missed by
her mother upon returning home from
call down the street. Search was
made for the child who was delicate
girl of twelve years, and her body was
found in a stable not hundred feet
from the back door steps of her home,
assaulted and foully murdered. She
had been caught, a cord drawn around
her neck to strangulation and then her
throat cut. To heighten the horror OF
the affair the mother found her own
child in this condition with the little
body still warm after the assault, suffer-
ing and death. The body was found
in stable, but soon it was discovered
that the deed had been committed In
feed room near by and knife was
found in the feed room with fresh
blood. The stable in which the body
was found was locked and the keys
were in the pocket Of young colored
man named Mamma Ponton. He was
at once suspected Of the crime and was
promptly arrested. He denied it and
when blood was found on his thumb
nail he told various tales about it.
Said he had cleaned fish; but when
his SISTER with whom he lived said they
had not had any fish the negro said he
sold them to a man in the country after
he had cleaned them.
When the knife was produced be
confessed the crime. Said he was in
waiting for the little girl who was &C
customed to go about the stable. He
told her there were eggs in the feed
room, and when she went in alter the
eggs he seized her and choked her and
tied the cord around her neck and al
forwards cut her throat.
As soon as he made the confession
there was no more chance for his life
One might as we'll have stood on th'
sea-shore and said to the in-rollir
waves, "Aback Come not further J"
The little girl was found about
o'clock and before midnight Mann'
Ponton's body was hanging to a tele
graph pole not far from the depot witt
hundreds OF bullet holes which riddles
him from the crown of his head t
the soles of his feet. His body hun
there until 2 O'Clock the following da
when it was taken down, carried to th
county home and buried. Hundred
Of persons were present when th
wretch was killed and hundreds cam
in from the country next day to loo
upon his body.
. On Friday afternoon the body OF th
murdered little girl was taken to til
Methodist church where services wei
held by the Rev. Mr.. Gotten. It ",
, perhaps the saddeet funeral ever bel
In the historic old town of Halifax, Il
, lit was the result OF the blacklist GRIN
ever recorded in the annals OF tt
: State.
The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1903-08-27
Letter to ]. e. Wooiard.

Dear Sir: Mr.. Frank Robinson, II
tus vile, Penn, bought Devoe with q
COOL deal OF feeling against the wnoie
tribe Of mixed paints. Our agents there
Messrs. Kernochan and Go. got him 70
do it. He says:
Il am more than pleased with the
job. / had one-third Of the paint io1t
over; know of several other JOBS, 2
year old or more, painted with Devoe'
that are-wearing we'll"
What pity We have to 60 through
the same school, to End out what palm
to put on housel ExpHience teecn'
es. Isn't that - eedse ~ g iaaln g.
The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1903-08-27
SUPERIOR COURT.
Lengthy cr,minai Docket.

August term OF superior court open
ed at Halifax Monday. Judge NJ. h.
Justice presiding.
The following grand jury was
drawn:
J. B. Edwards, foreman, ]. w. Butte,
e. K. Aycock, M. T. Wood, NJ. White
head, James Glasgow, E. M. Perkins,
Alex. Mlllikln, J. o. Hasking, J. G.
Randolph, w. J. Collins. w. r. New
lille, ]. G. Branch, w. E. Smith, w. N.
Herring, w. w. Knight, Leonard
Bachelor.
The grand jury being sworn, Judge
Justice proceeded to deliyer his charge.
THE CHARGE.
Judge Justice is easily one OF the
most highly esteemed judges In the
State. His charge to the jury wat
pointed, clear and comprehensive, and
made quite a good impression on all
the people in the court house. He
took up the criminal law and clearly
defined the principal crimes which
come under the puryiew ct the grand
jury.
It was clear ct the conclusion OF
Judge Justices charge that every man
on the grand jury knew hisduty to the
State as grand juror, although the
charge was not as long as is sometime'
heard in the court room. It might IL
called a model charge. There vert
more than fifty cases on the docket
when court was called, and it II
thought that 1t will take until Friday
to clear the criminal docket.
The civil docket is pretty full and
/ it will doubtless consume the two
weeks allotted to clear both dockets.
The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1903-08-27
Notice..

Notice Is hereby given that l shall
Withdraw from the part ownership In
the pasture fence kept up by j. 6.
Moore, birs Annie AskeW and whey
Briley, In Scotland Neck township OF
Halifax county, N. c. Also notice Is
given that | shall cut loose my pasture
fence from the pasture fence OF J
Frank Brinkley.
WILEY BRILEY.
August Is. 1903.
Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-05-12
WATERTOWN JOTTINGS
J. M. Lynch Recovered His Horse and
 Wagon.

wagon.
 Last Saturday night as J. NJ. Lynch was driving past the trO0ting park on his way from Waterbury he was ac- costed by two strangers who told him that person driving on his way to WatertOWn had met with an accident so that his horse was unable to go on farther. Supposing everything to be correct Mir Lynch got down from his wagon to render what assistance he could No sooner had he done so, however, than one of the strangers jumped into his (AIr Lynch's) wagon and, whipping up the horse, was out of reach before Mir Lynch could stop him. Returning home, Mir Lynch notified Selectman B. F. McGowan of his loss and they together looked over many of the surrounding towns in search of the property, but nothing could be seen of it. Sheriff Peck was also notified and he said that he would do all in his power to bring the culprits to justice. When Selectman McGowan and Mir Lynch returned to the center they met Constable O. T. Roeske. Mir Roeske, recognizing Mir McGowan, told him that a horse and wagon had been found in his yard and in a coat on the seat of the wagon he found letter with the address of J. NJ. Lynch. This being the property which had been stolen, MT McGowdn told Mir Roeske that the horse belonged to the gentle man with him. While the three men were in conversation F. l.. Peck, a son of Sho1~if poaIy Mir Mo Gowan accosting him. said: ''Tell your father that he need do nothing about that case, as the property has been found" At this Mir Roeske became angry and said that since Sheriff Peck had been notified before he was. he (Nfr Roeske) would give no further in- formation regarding the finding of the property.
 Miss Bessie Barbour of Winsted, who has been spending some time with E. M. ZeidIer and family, returned home last evening.
 The regular meeting of Court Mer- ritt Heminway. No AS, F. of A., will take place this evening.
 The Taft baseball team added an other to their long string of victories by defeating the Gunnery school team at Washington yesterday. The princi- pal feature of the game was the heavy batting of the Taft team. They bat ted the Gunnery pitcher out of the box. Score, Taft g, Gunnery 6. The next game will be played at the Athletic field tomorrow with the Black Hall team.
 Tickets for the gold bazaar of the Watertown fire departm eTlt, which takes place May 27 are selling rapidly and all the canvassers are so far very successful.
Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-05-12
KLEEBER, THE BARBER
Will Be Installed in the MulIings
 Block on Bank Street.

George hleeber, the we'll known ton- sorial artist, is preparing to move his shop back to his old store in the Null lings block on Bank street. He ex- poets to open his new rooms some day thls week. It is no exaggeration' to say that MT Kleeber will have the pfettiest and best equipped shop in the city. The room, which is 4S by 37 feet, has floor of fine mosaic mater ial. The handsome fixtures are of oak. They contain marble slabs. On the upper part are little hooks or stands where different goods will be displayed, while in the lower part are separate drawers for the clean and wet towels. In the drawers for wet towels are screens which will afford an outlet for the dampness. The fix lures run along the width of the hall The stand for the customers cups and so on is one of the prettiest pieces of furniture In the city. Nearby is large and beautiful mirror where the customers may admire their beauty. There is fine case, in the upper part of which cigars will be displayed and in the lower part perfumery. A new feature of the shop will be the addi- tiOn of manicure. A bootblack, also, will be always on hand.
 There will be seven chairs used by the tonsorial artists and customers may be sure of not having to wait long time for shave. The chairs for the customers who are waiting will be covered with leather. The room will be splendidly lighted, the combination chandeliers being of the latest design. It will have a fine front. seven windows of no small size opening onto Bank street. There is a splendid wash stand which contains three bowls and Is made of Tennessee marble. The fixtures are modern and up-to-date. There Is a splendid hot water cistern. modern in design. Ev- erything is of such a nature that il would be hard to improve upon any thing in the shop.
Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-05-12
AUGATUCk NUGGETS
First Meeting of New Board Held
 Last Night.

Last Night.
 The first meeting of the new board of warden and burgesses was held last evening. T4ose present were War den John J. German and Burgesses Reynolds, Mccarthy, Smith, May, Squires and Olsen. The following borough officers were elected for the ensuing year: Borough clerk, w. J. Weary; borough attorney, William Ken nedy; superintendent of streets, w.. Fl. McCarthy; senior burgess, J. o. May; second senior burgess, W. F. Smith; sealer of weights and measures, Maurice Quirk;. Warden German ap- pointed the following committees: On hnance-W. F. Smith, James o. May, Joseph Reynolds. On streets-W. H. McC Carthy, N. A. Olsen, W. P Smith. On sewers--W. F. Smith, J. O. May, w H. McCarthy. On lights-C. Hen ry Squires, J. o. May. w H. McCar- thy. A committee was also appoint ed by the warden to arrange for exer- cises to be held here on July f. By the changes made by the new board, l.. s. Beardsley will hand over the of ice of borough clerk to W. J. Weary and Street Superintendent Pitcher will release the reins of his office and they will be grdsped by W. H. Mccarthy for the ensuing year.
 Robert Cleary, the newly elected bor- ough treasurer was given the oath of office last evening by Warden German MT Cleary deposited his bond with the board. The bond is for $4O,OOO.
 The adjourned meeting of the free men will be held this evening instead of last evening as stated in yesterdays Democrat
 The Waterbury Military band will give another of it's enjoyable promen- ades at Columbus hall Saturday night, May 16.
 Two well known Naugatuck young men were arrested yesterday by Chief of Police Schmidt on complaint of a man who resides on West mountain He claimed the prisoners were hang ing around his chicken coop. They were given hearing in the borough court this morning.