davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Crittenden press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1879-1907, 1903-04-02
COMMONWEALTH EVIDENCE.
GROVER BROWN.


l live mile and half from town.
Cane from Livingston county
about five years ago; am nineteen
years old; was waiting on Bertha
Williamson the night she was
killed; took her to church that
night; Ida and Ona Long and Ell
mer and Ray Williamson, brothers
of Bertha, were with us. Went to
Chapel Hill, which is about a mile
from Horace Williamson's. We
walked, started between 5 and 6
O'Clock; we came back between 9:
30 and 1870 O'Clock. Ida and Ona
Long, Wade Brooksher, Elmer
and Ray Williamson and my bro
Their Pierce came back with US;
Long girls had to go by William.
sons to get home; we came along
together. Bertha and 1 were in
front until we came TO road where
We turned off to go up to William
sons. The Long girls kept on
down the main road; we turned up
road. Ona Long said, Goodbye,
Bertha, and Bertha said, Good
bye, Ona". We stepped about two
steps and the gun fired; / was at
Bertha's side. The main road was
lower than the side road. Bertha
pushed me down as she fell; l
rolled down incline into main
road. When l got up | saw the
person that fired the shot. He was
in the fence corner with his
hands on fence looking over; /
saw no gun. The man was
George Sisco. He had on
light hat, wore mustache; | drew
my pistol; frat cartridge snapped,
he whirled and ran; l shot at him
twice. He either fell or knock
cd him down with the shot. He
ran in direction of George Siscos'
house. l went on up to William
son house as didn't know Bertha
was shot and thought she had gone
up to house; went back to her;
she was shot in neck and her whole
throat was cut away by shot; she
was lS years old; we were engaged
to be married; the weapon used
was a shotgun. l never had any
trouble with George Sisco; had
trouble with Allie Sisco; murder
occurred Oct 22, 1902.
Cross Examination.
Murder occurred little over mile
from church, near Williamson
home, on Frances and Dycusburg
road; Williamson home about 30
feet off Of main road. The side
road was 4 or 5 feet high on each
side; there was wheat field on one
side, garden or potato patch on
the other. There was fence be-
tween the person who fred the
shot and myself; he was about 5
feet from me; l was next to fence
never saw the man after l shot
said afterward l believed l hit
him; l was not excited. testified
before the coroner's jury. l swore
at that time that / din't know the
Crittenden press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1879-1907, 1903-04-02

Mrs. Mary Ida Pierson, of Stur-
gis, visited the city last week and
WIS so impressed with the location
and desirability of the city build
ing lots in the Reed addition TO
Marion, coupled with the 81, 900
worth of mining stock with each
lot that she purchased twelve. Sc
curing a warranty deed for the lots
and $4,000 worth of mining stock
Among the other purchasers of
the week are: Mr.. j B. Jenkins of
Albert. West Virginia; Chas Stad-
Ter of Henderson; j. s. Bagby of
NATION; A. j. Bennett of Tolu
Robert +. Haynes. Creed Taylor,
Harry Watkins, c. j. Pierce and
Robt Drescher, of Marion.
Crittenden press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1879-1907, 1903-04-02
After Many Hours Deliberation No Verdict
Could be Agreed Upon.
STRONG ARRAY OF EVIDENCE AGAINST kCCUSED-BRllllANT
FIGHT MADE BY ATTORNEYS FOR DEFENSe-RAPlD
PROGRESS MADE IN THE TRIAL
THE EVIDENCE IN FULL!

give him the death penalty or a
life sentence.
After the jury received their in.
Structions the speeches were made.
Thursday afternoon attorney Jas.
A. Moore made the opening
speech for the defense. He spoke
for nearly two hours. His effort
was strong and forcible. Friday
morning Mr.. A. @. Moore address
ed the jury in behalf Of the de-
PENDANT, and his presentation OF
the case was splendid. He spoke
with characteristic power aud ear
nestness, and his pleading was ef-
fective. Moore was followed by
county attorney Carl Henderson
for the prosecution. The argu-
ments he put forth were strong.
He placed the evidence before the
jury in most convincing manner.
The last plea for the defendant
was made by Mr. Ollie James. His
speech was a great one. He re-
viewed the evidence in careful
manner and his reasoning was able.
Commonwealth Attorney Grayot
made the closing speech. He
spoke in his usual eloquent and
convincing manner, and demon.
strated that the case against Sisco
was not weak one. Immediately
after Grayots speech the jury
took the case under consideration.
The defense attempted to prove
an alibi. The accused and men,
bers of his family swore that the
accused was at home on the even.
ing of the murder, and did not
leave the house. These witnesses
stated that Ed. Daniel of Living.
ston county spent the night at Sis
cos, The attorneys for the de-
Tense did not introduce Daniel; il
was alleged that he was i'll at Col
conda, Ill. They produced let
ter from him in which he stated
that he knew Sisco was innocent
and would try to be here. The let
ter was not allowed to go to the
jury as evidence. The common
wealth introduced a young lady
who swore that Daniel was eigh-
teen miles from Sisco's, in Liv.
ingston county on the evening OF
the murder.
The testimony of Grover Brown
the murdered girls lover, was Of
little value. Brown swore on the
witness stand that Sisco was the
murderer, while he had stated be-
fore the ooroner's jury that he
didn't recognize the murderer. In
his speech the commemorative at
torney asked the jury not to con.
slider Browns testimony, that the
case was strong
enough without it.
The evidence on each side is
weak in some points. In the opin-
ion of the commonwealth il
will have a stronger case by
The June term of court, and the
defense expects to have a stronger
,Rse.
Crittenden press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1879-1907, 1903-04-02

The trial of George NJ. Sisco,
charged with the murder Of Miss
Bertha +. Williamson, is over and
the accuSed stands neither acouit.
ted Or condemned.
The jury was unable TO agree
upon n verdict and WAS discharged
hy Judge Gordon Saturday night.
The twelve men whose duty il was
to decide whether OF not Geo Sis
go WAS guilty or innocent of the
heinous crime of numbering the
lair young girl, retired TO the jury
room a few minutes past 9 o'clock
Friday evening. The following
composed the Jury:
Il. J. Winders, A. b. Crisp, o.
chr Terry, j. h. Bell, M. Ledbet-
ter 5. q. Griffith, J. II. Hardesty,
q w. Tucker, Kelly Walker, T..
W. Walker, w. T. Springs and
Ru'ledge Newoomb.
On the fret poll of the jury
eight stood for acquittsl and four
conviction After elaboration
of three hours the jury retired TO
rest. All day Saturday the case
was debated. In the afternoon the
jury reported that they were una
be to agree. Judge Gordon asked
them TO keep the case few hours
longer. Anime o'clock Saturday
night the jury again reported that
they could not agree upon a YER
dict, and we're of the opinion that
they could never agree. AT this
hour they stood ten for acquittal
and two for conviction. The ju.
rors holding out we're for the death
sentence, but were willing TO CON-
promise on the life sentence. The
Judge discharged the jury and the
Sisco trial was at an end.
Sisco was brought into court
Monday morning. He asked for
bail. Judge Gordon fixed the
bond at $500, which was secured
by Sisco's father, Mr.. Press Sisco,
and the accused was released. He
left at once for his home in the
Chapel Hill neighborhood. He
seemed to be in good spirits and
believes that he will yet prove his
innocence.
The examination of the witness
sos for the commonwealth began
Wednesday morning. The wit
ssses for the defense were intro
duced Thursday morning, Rapid
progress was made and the exami-
nation of witnesses for both the
defense and commonwealth was
completed early in the afternoon
of Thursday, The Judge instruc-
ted tire jury. The indictment
charged Sisco with willful murder
and If the jury found him guilty
as charged they were instructed to
Crittenden press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1879-1907, 1903-04-02

The result of the separation eff
feoted by Mr. Keene of the Hodge
mines zinc blend and huor spar,
shows an advance in concentrating
methods that six months ago was
thought an impossibility. The
Hodge vein of zinc and huor spar
shows such an intimate mixture of
the two ores that fine crushing is
an absolute essential to their sepa-
ration. The position taken by Mr..
keene that given the half of one
per cent difference in specific gra-
witty of two minerals with close
sizing a first class commercial
concentration can easily be made
on the finer types of tables, with
some improvements of his own
suggested by his late experiments
is unequivocslly correct, as the
samples on view in the Reed Mi
ming company's office attest. 1t is
somewhat of a triumph over all
preconceived ideas.
Crittenden press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1879-1907, 1903-04-02

Editor Hanlon, of the Gallatin
Democrat, Shawneetown, ILL.,, evil
IDENTIFY believes in the mining re-
sources of Hardin county as
strongly as in the Democratic prin-
ciples which his paper advocates,
He has associated with him Mr.. s.
q. MoWade, Of Cleveland, and be-
tween them they propose develop
ing the long abandoned iron inte-
rests of that portion of Illinois.
The iron ore fields of this section
at one time had almost a national
reputation for both quantity and
quality
Crittenden press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1879-1907, 1903-04-02

The United States Geological
Survey will issue bulletin emit
titled, Contributions to Economic
Geology for the Year 1902" con-
tanning, among many similar pa
pers, brief account of the Sur.
vey's work in Western Kentucky.
This bulletin will be ready for dis
tribution in few weeks.
The final report, which will he
very complete in every respect so
far as our ore veins and rock for.
nation are concerned will be in
the printers hands about June LIST.
Prof. Ulrich, to whom this district
is SO greatly indebted for the very
positive position he has always as
sumed regarding our fissure veins,
is devoting his entire time to this
report.
Crittenden press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1879-1907, 1903-04-02

During the past winter about
1000 tons of huor spar have been
mined on the land belonging to
the Tabb mine near Mexico. The
flooding of the deep shaft ON this
property years ago, and the drown
ing of quite valuable pump,
which of course still remains at
the lowest depth, put quietus on
deep mining there. Probably the
Commercial Mining company will
now clear the water out and inves-
tigate the ore body below.
Crittenden press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1879-1907, 1903-04-02

The sale of the Tabb mines near
Mexico, some ten miles south OF
Marion, is reported, the purChas-
ers being the Commercial Mining
aud Smelling company of Hop
kinsville. The owner of the land
on which the mine IL situated is
Mr.. Brown, of Pittsburg. Mr.. E.
Z. Squier of st Louis, has the
lease on the lead and Zinc ores,
and the Kentucky Flourspar CON-
pany the lease on the fuor spar.
Possibly these various interests
have been merged, although the
Kentucky company, of this city,
had no information regarding it.
Crittenden press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1879-1907, 1903-04-02

One hundred wagons and 100
heavy teams are wanted by the
Kentucky Fluor Spar company for
the transportation OF fiuor spar
and lead ores from their several
mines to the railroad.
Crittenden press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1879-1907, 1903-04-02

The meeting today at st. Louis
of the Columbia Mining company
with several representatives of ore
dressing machinery, will result in
an order being given for the 100
ton daily capacity concentrating
plant, to be erected at the Column
bia nina.
Crittenden press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1879-1907, 1903-04-02

chinery salesman and always some
whore in the procession the men
who can tell one just where the
very best things are to be had and
what 10 better. he has an option or
a lease on them which can be had
remarkably cheap.
And it 10 not surprising hat so
great an interest is made manifest.
There are but few, il any, mining
districts in America that offer
such decided advantages in the
way OF low priced lands carrying
such enormous veins of lead aud
zinc ores as do this trinity of
counties, Crittendsn, Livingston,
and Caldwell.
The past year has shown this
in very decided way. The ship
ments of zinc ore, both to the
smelters at Mineral Point, Wis.
and Joplin, Mo-, has been large
and constant, except during the
bad roads season, when even a
light buggy has proven an impos-
sible burden to team of horses.
The sale of lead ore is but just
commencing, the first car load of
concentrates being ready for the
smelter and will likely go for
ward this week.
The stocks of Auor spar are rap
idly decreasing at all the ship
ping points-Marion, Crayneville
and Mexico, still there is fully
thirty days supply on hand and
the large accumulation at the
mines will begin to move toward
the railroad in ample time to keep
all orders filed. The demand for
this spar has been on a much grea
ter scale than during any previ-
our year known in this district.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-18

might be arranged. as they always give
pleasure TO young children. In the case OF
a small room this decoration may be sup-
piled in amateur fashion by clipping
Mother Goose pictures and pasting them
on the wall, afterward coating them with
shellsc. The upper part OF the wall may be-
plain and in good taste, preferably light
colored, for greater cheerfulness.
There are especially designed wall papers,
of course, which illustrate the stories OF
Red Riding Hood and other juvenile tales
OF like character. These are by no means
beautiful however, and preclude the hang
ing of pictures. II is a question whether
the better choice would not be in favor OF
plain paper. suited 10 the display OF a few
well chosen engravings. or even photos
graphs.
BY the way. some may argue against
the blackboarding that IL would tend TO
encourage the childish habit OF defacing
the case when the experiment has been
tried; rather the contrary. IL the fitting
OF the room must be done at a minimum
cost. wainscoting OF thick brown paper
may be substituted, fastened down at its
upper edge with a narrow molding. This
can be renewed from time 10 time.
The general idea to be kept in mind IN
fitting up such room Is the avoidance
OF sharp corners. There should be a
round instead Of a square table, and
rocking chairs Should find no place IN n .
are dangerous. usually innicting injuries
to cuticle sooner or later; In the secoud
place, children should not be permitted
TO acquire the rocking chair habit which
is conducive TO round shoulders.
Each child should have q separate
repository fc- story books and toys IL
there is but one closet in the room a
shelf or corner should be allotted TO each
Ventilation is best provided BY using
those which have curving pipe set in
a board which fits beneath the sash. Thus
air is admitted without draught Perhaps.
needless to say. If there is an open IRE
place IN the room, the IRE should always
be protected with a screen too strong and
well secured for childish hands to remove.
Ii Is best 10 have no carpet. See thar
the wood OF the floor Is smooth, and
throw down soft rugs and cushions. which
will prevent the little ones being hurt IN
their romps. and yet can be easily
cleansed.
A strong box couch may be improvised.
II there is room for IL, and IL the man OF
the house Possesses carpentering inge-
nuity, out OF an oblong packing box.
with well padded hinged lind and denim
upholstery. This provides repository for
toys and other things. and is nice for the
little ones 10 rest on when tired OF play
1t need hardly be said that IN any
house where choice can be exercised the
children's room should be on the sunniest
and lightest side Let them have a place
10 themselves, however. even II IL Is NOT
ideally located.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-18

diana people found him jolly sort. The
Indiana building is to be completed by Feb.
IA, according to the contract, and it is likely
before the fair opens.
Assistant Secretary Alexander has COM
piled table Of figures relative to the size
of the grounds and the buildings at the ST.
Louis exposition as compared with other
great fairs that have been held in the past
The comparison shows that the st. Louis
exposition will exceed. in the extent of the
grounds devoted to the purpose and the
acreage Of the giant buildings in which the
exhibits are to be made, all the other expo
sitions ever held in America combined. The
St Louis exposition grounds cover 1,240
acres and the exposition buildings cover 12S
acres, that much actually being under roof
to display the exhibits from the various
countries and States. The nearest approach
to the st. Louis fair was the Chicago
worlds fair of 1893.
Following is a list Of Indiana's fair COM
missioners:
Newton w. Gilbert, Fort Wayne, presi-
dent.
III. w. Marshall Lafayette, vice president.
]. w. Cockrum, Oakland City, secretary.
w. w. Hicks, Bloomington.
w. w. Stevens, Salem.
w. H. O'Brien, Lawrenceburg.
Crawford Fairbanks, Terre Haute.
ID. w. Kinsey, New Castle.
N. A. Gladding, Indianapolis.
Frank c. Ball, Muncie.
G. c. Shirley, kokomo.
Fremont Goodwine, Williamsport.
Joseph B. Grass, Huntington
Stephen b. Fleming, Fort Wayne.
NJ. w. Mix, Mishawaka.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-18
PLANNING A PLAYR00M.
inexpensive Way OF Arranging the
Children's Own Room.
Philadelphia Ledger.

Philadelphia Ledger.
Not all mothers are so fortunate as to be
able to afford nursery for their children,
in the usual sense of the word. 1t sounds
extravaganza, suggesting the idea of pala-
tial mansion, planned out with that easy
comfort which is really luxury.
This is misleading, however. Every home
ought to contain a playroom-one apart
ment which can be the children's very
own" Every house, with very few excep-
tons, may have one. And this statement is
made strictly with reference to middle class
homes.
Even two-story houses, such as charac-
terize Philadelphia, usually have little ex-
ira room sandwiched between sitting room
and bathroom. 1t is most frequently set
apart for sewing, but why not let 1t serve
for nursery? Think how much "tidying
up" might be saved, If toys could be. left
behind there. instead Of being scattered
through every room in the house. There
would be no worry over damaged furniture
or scratched walls; best of all, the children
would enjoy liberty, could romp and be
noisy without causing discomfort to adult
members of the family.
Supposing that you wish to inexpensively
fit up a playroom, have, II possible. a
blackboard dado. Most children love to
scribble and mark" every available space,
and this arrangement permits them TO do
SO. Blackboarding is not very expensive.
Above ii a border Of Mother Goose pictures
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-18
An Exhibit for the Fair.
Harper's Weekly.

per w SChiy.
When Columbus discovered America there
stood in a remote mountain gorge in Chero-
kee county, North Carolina, tulip poplar
tree that was then 400 years old. For four
more centuries it grew and f1ourished, and
was recently felled for exhibition at the
ST. Louis worlds fair. The tree was thr-
teen feet in diameter at the base when it
was cut. The gorge in which it grew was
so inaccessible, being forty miles from a
railroad, that 1t was impracticable to OBJ
tain q section near the base. Forty feet
up where the tree was little more than
six feet in diameter, a disk was cut. This
has been polished and will occupy place
in front of the hunters lodge. On the
polished disk have been engraved the i'm
portant historical events of the Old North
State from the time that Sir Walter
Raleigh took possession of the land in
his sovereigns name on July 4, 1884, through
the colonial days, during the revolution and
up to the present time. Another section of
the tree will stand like monument in the
forestry exhibit 1t is ten feet high. A
portion has been dressed, polished and var
nished, while the lower portion Is covered
with the bark.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-18

1t Is doubtful question whether the nee
essary justice will ever be done, except in
Isolated instances, to that valuable class of
books commonly referred
Geology on to by the uninitiated as
the Farm. ''tiresome old government
reports" AS a matter of
fact however, the educational influence OF
these precious public documents is far
reaching beyond computation.
I'm the country store of an f-the-way
town in Indiana" said scholarly gentle
man who travels about his own State
good deal, mot long ago l encountered a
very plain man who owned a large and in
teresting collection of Indiana fossils. From
the mans general conversation I deduced
that his education had been limited, but his
geological talk was that of a man of wide
information on his subject, and his geologi-
cal zest was both boundless and inspiring.
LAS our conversation went on, the plain
man told me how he became a geologist.
When he was a boy of nineteen, working on
farm as an ordinary field hand, he came
across several old government reports,
tossed out in barn as of no use to the farm
family. In his noon hours and other idle
times-on rainy days and the like-he read
and absorbing field to his eager but almost
empty mind. From the printed pages and
the plates he learned to know the testi-
mony of the rocks to identify such geo.
logical specimens as could be found along
his own lanes and creekbeds. Thus arose in
him the geologist, and thence his priced
collection. He still treasures the old geology
books-as he called them-which the farmer
freely gave him years ago; and now the
Farmland geologist has correspondence
with amateur and professional biologists
all over the country, for mutual benefit, ex-
changing specimens and comparing notes."
In the interesting and artistic library of
an old Indianapolis home, departing guest
picked up, from the beautiful old mahogany
center table, a glittering
The Girl and and brand-new, tan-col-
the Book. ored volume with gold
edges. Across the back, in
gold letters, were the words, "Swinburnes
Poems" In some mild surprise the guest
turned to the tallest,e brownest-eyed daugh-
ter of the house and exclaimed
do you care for Swinburne?'
"No, DON'T" the brownest-eyed girl said
frankly; IT don't like him bit; he is too
oh, 1 don't know what But 1 asked to see
Swinburnes poems in the bookstore yester-
day to look UP quotation 1 had heard
used, and the bookstore man, with a great
air, said: Only our most intellectual people
buy Swinburne.' That settled it, concluded
the tall girl, laughing; then and there
bought Swinburne. I wasn't going to let
that patronizing man think 1 was not as
highly intellectual anybody else in In
dianapolis-no, indeed"
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-18
FACTS ABOUT THE WABASH.

Bluffton Qnd.) Chronicle.

Bluffton Qnd) Chronicle.
Newspapers down the Wabash are advo-
eating the improvement of the stream.
They want the channel dredged so that the
river will be navigated as far as Lafay-
cite. The Chronicle is heartily in favor of
improving the Wabash and believes the
Board of Health ought to go at 1t as soon
as 1t can raise the money. What the river
needs more than anything else is a good
cleaning I'D or else to be run through
vitrified tile and the tile covered up. Ex-
cept in the spring it is little more than an
open sewer and a poor sewer at that, for it
is clogged up with weeds, willows and the
remnants of stone quarry banks that the
water and fifth stagnate so that you can
smell the stream ten miles away. There
are a few pretty spots left along the stream
yet, but around Button the Wabash is as
disreputable Pickett's run used to be
before the sanitary sewers were put In.
Six years ago there was real pretty
song written about the river, but it never
tried to live up to the reputation the song
made for it. The City Council and the
commissioners should do something next
spring towards having the stream, at least
near the city, cleaned out and put in a
sanitary condition.