davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Tupelo journal., 1904-09-02
ELITE
Barber Shop and
Bath Rooms.

Will move to
Spring Street after this Week.
Only white BARRIERS employed and first
class service guaranteed in every respect
Shave 10c. Massage 25c.
Hair cut 25c. Shampoo Zoe.
Hot and Cold Baths 25c.
A full line toilet articles. hair tones, etc
kept on hand strictly for customers.
J.E. COMPTON, Prop
The Washington times., 1904-03-20

as they could discover the woman was
on unfriendly terms with no one and
her financial position would not attract
even the meanest robber.
A few days ago the jail at Lincoln,
some distance from kiddermfnster. ad-
mitted a tramp sentenced ty the district
magistrate to ten days detention for
vagrancy. While the Warder was pre-
pairing the bath every prisoner must
take on entering the prison. he noticed
the tramp take from his pocket a small
notebook. tear a leaf out Of il, roll the
paper into a bail and put II into his
mouth The officer pretended TO take no
notice Of the prisoners action. and tbs
tramp. at a moment when he thought
the warder's attention diverted elected
the partly chewed fragments into q
dark corner OF the room
When the prisoner had been removed
70 a cell. the warder gathered up and
pteced together the tiny bits. and read:
i murdered her. God help me. Murder
will out" On the same page were other
references TO the Kidderminster crime
which convinced the authorities that
the murderer they were so anxious 70
inset had fallen into their hands
The Washington times., 1904-03-20
BEAUTIFUL INTERIOR DECORATIONS OF THE GENERAL DRAPER MAI

ace in Rome. and are after designs by
Raphael.
The scenes on the tapestries arc pas
toral. and were probably taken from
the surrounding country. One of the
most interesting pieces shows several
dogs chasing a wild boar. It's companion
piece depicts tbs end or the chase,
where ths frightened. half-maddened
animal struggles in the grasp OF his
pursuers. who show the hercest delight
over their captive. In othsrs. deer stalk
over smooth. green lawns. swans are
seen on the artificial lakes, timid fawn
peep cautiously out from the depths Of
a dark forest, and a lonely eagle seems
to have suddenly swooped to the ground,
and with wings poised IS ready to take
its night again.
The ballroom floor. which is 5oxeo feet.
IS OF parquetry. and covered with Turk
ISL rugs. The design OF the most not
able ono IS allegorical. and is called the
Tree OF Life" representing all the
ages OF man. The decorations Of the
room are OF the italian Renaissance pc
Rod, the tall mantel. with its wide. open
fireplace, being an exact reproduction
OF the one in the Louvre. The furni-
ture is OF green and gold. and Mrs.
Draper has installed a baby grand piano
The Washington times., 1904-03-20

Hope farm property at Philadelphia,
on which the Cramps have their i'm
mense shipbuIding plant. This part
Of the program was, however, aban-
doned for legal and sentimental rea-
sons. so the contest could commence
here. The title to the old Ball place in
N Street. is held by the heirs Of the
Pepper estate. More than fifty owners
have interviewed since Ball disposed Of
it. Nearly all of the washington heirs
are prominent socially, and a majority
Of them are wealthy. 1t is said there
is no lack OF money to prosecute the
claims. The case is certain to become
as great in legal history as the man
who accumulated the land is in the gen
eral history Of the country.
Washington mother. Mary Ball, was
a famous beauty in her day, and was
known as 1.-THE Rose Of Epping Forest -
Vast tracts of land belonged to the fam
lily, and of this her brother, Joseph, the
man over whose estate the fight is TO
be made, after nearly a hundred years,
was allotted his share.
The Washington times., 1904-03-20
:. He Recorded the Murder in Diary ::

tn HAT it Is another Of those stories
from real life that would be dis
L missed rs Incredible If used in
novelist's plot is al one can say Of the
tale that has Sust come from England
Of a tramp who killed a woman, record
ed the fact in his diars. and has Just
faEen into the hands or justice through
the gruesome entry being discovered.
The murder with which this tramp
now stands charged was committed in
the hop fields near Kidderminster. near
ly three. months ago. under parti, 7larly
revolving circumstances. Mary Swim
burne, the victim. was sixty-three years
old One Saturday afternoon she was
seen with a stranger. The next morn
ing a COW keeper found her body by the
roadside. The murderer had slashed
the body until it was almost uncogniz-
able, and then departed, leaving his
large, heavy knife by her side.
The AFFAIR made a great sensation, but
not the faintest clue TO the slayer could
be uncovered What mystifed the au-
etsorltie0 No oa1a anything else was
the apparent lack OF mo4&Ee. for so far
The Washington times., 1904-03-20

" BID Draper Mansion. IN K Street.
opposite Farragut Square, IS one
4 Of the really historic homes OF
the Capital Built by the late Alexan-
der Shepherd for his private residence,
when he was Governor OF the District Of
Columbia. the old house has Witnessed
many notable gatherings OF famous men
and women
Romance later added It's quota OF In
terest when the mansion was occupied
by Mrs. washington Mclean. and her
daughter. Mrs. Mildred Hazen. who aft
erward became Admiral Dewey'E wife
The hero OF Manila Wooed and won
Mrs. Hazsn there. and It IS whispered
that the first message from Dewey after
the official one 10 the Navy Department
came 70 his fair hancee at that house
After Mrs. Mclean dIeG the property
was purchased by General Draper. for
mer American ambassador to Italy
Among special innovations OF the
Diapers should be mentioned the mag
niIcent ballroom and Italian tapestries
imported by General Draper from Italy.
Certainly. the tapestries cannot be du-
piicated in Washington. II IN America
They arc Flemish. OF the sixteenth cen
fury. and were taken from a ducal pal
The Washington times., 1904-03-20

to be used at the musicaIes she purposes
giving.
The reception room IS an interesting
apartment on account Of its many cur
los and souvenirs OF Mrs. Diapers resi-
dence abroad, and also because OF the
valuable works OF art It contains. In
this room are three exquisite pieces OF
tapestry purchased OF Prince BorgheSs,
OF Rome. They are GObelins OF the
thirteenth century, and represent
scenes from Roman history. Caesar IN
Egypt" The Wedding OF Charlie
magne." and THE Triumph Of Constan-
tine"
In this room are busts Of General and
HrA Draper made IN 1899 By Waldo
Story. and 8 copy OF the Canova bust
Of Princess BorZhese pauline Bona-
parte). who is said 20 have posed for
his Venus"
Photographs OF the late King Of italy
and Queen Marguerite, with the latter's
autograph. and those OF the present
King and Queen occupy the prominent
places on the walls. RubensA famous
painting OF his wife IS "a this room.
as well as aazeltine's ''Tfber at Ostrn-"
In this room, too, are two sSts OF inter
esting miniatures. Napoleon With his two
favorite generals, New ard Afurat ard
Duehesse d'Abrantes. 4 round brass
table inia1d with miniatures oe Louis
XVI and the ladies OF his court IS one
OF the chief ornaments OF the room, and
a quaint ebony cabinet found IN SAX
ony's capital.
The Washington times., 1904-03-20

settled. which complicated matters.
Thus the nephews and nieces OF the
couple became the heirs of the estate,
and many of them are shown on the
face Of the records to have received
nothing. Just prior to his death Bau
made the ninety-nine year leases, which
are now to be the basis Of the proceed
ings.
Law Limits.
The descendants of the neDhews and
nieces form the heirs Of today, and
they assert that as the laws limiting
the time in which the hers Of intestates
can sue were passed after the death Of
Ball. this sort of an obstacle cannot
be futerposed to prevent the suits being
brought at this time, though nearly a
hundred years have passed since the
accumulation Of the estate passed away.
The widow. some Of the Pennsylvania
records show. received S12s. 042. SO as her
share of the property Of BAH in and
about Philadelphia, but what became OF
it no one knows. It seems. however, that
The Washington times., 1904-03-20

this. too. was only a part OF the great
system of treasure he continued to
an.ass for the church up to the day he
was seized by his last illness.
The aggregate value Of the Pontiacal
emergency fund is not known outside
OF the Vatican, and the officials within
are not inclined to discuss the matter.
1t must, however, be very great. The
gifts received by the Pope on the oc-
casion of his jubilee alone are said TO
have cost millions Of dollars, yet they.
too. were set aside for the great pur-
pose always in view.
It IS not to be imgined that the Italian
government was in ignorance OF the
Pontifical Treasure. When the various
small sums were found in Leo's apart
ments the Quirinal newspapers made a
great TODD about then. The object wls
to strike a blow at the fund known as
Peters Pence by confusing the faithful
into believing that the Vatican was so
wealthy it really did not stand IN need
OF that contribution.
Debt of the See.
This IS far from being the truth The
debit and credit Of the Holy See do not
balance at present The actual budget
was up to 100000 lire. while the re-
ceipts do not exceed 5000. 900 Hres two
millions from funded property and three
millions from contributions. and the lat
ter have shown a remarkable tendency
To EscCGC
The nsW rvPe. heEa6OEzs sss~S. mad
The Washington times., 1904-03-20

Like many other members of Wash
lngtOns family Ball died without direct
Issue. though he married. And he left
no viii a fact which makes possible the
contest OF today. lie was living in
Philadelphia at the time Of his demise,
having gone there either on business or
pleasure from Virginia. His widow,
Sarah Ban. died before the estate was
The Washington times., 1904-03-20

The idea Of making ready fund
available against some unforeseen crisis
In history seized upon the late Pope
shortly after he ascended to the throne.
He was not acting without historic pre-
cedent- Years before the Christian era
the Phsraohs OF Egypt did the same
thing. Every Rameses, every Thothmes.
every Amenophis. every ruler of the
truly Egyptian dynastics before the
Greek Ptolemies sat on the throne. laid
up treasure against the time when his
land. beset by enemies at home or
abroad. would require extraordinary
financial strength.
An Official Statement.
Tomb after tomb. pyramid after pyra-
mid. secret boarding place after secret
boarding place have been uncovered fun
OF it-gold, silver, precious stones, fab
RIGS Of price and articles OF art capa-
bic OF fetching at any time their equiva-
lent in money in the open market The
policy was great and farsighted one,
hut Leo. with the final decay and fan
OF Egypts greatness. and the loss of the
great treasures fits Kings had gathered
secretly before him, improved upon it
lie did not put his wealth away IN Sc
cret places known only to himself All
the higher officials of the Vatican were
wei aware that the formation Of a great
fund was IN progress and where Il could
he found II occasion Demanded
AT frat he modelled bis financial syS-
The Washington times., 1904-03-20

country, and when the aristocracy had
TO have in their possession tens of thou
sands of broad acres, a condition which
ended with the fall of the Confederacy.
Dissatisfied with the limitations Of the
Old Dominion. Ball extended his opera
tons, and not many years elapsed be-
fore he had vast tracts IN the other
States.
The Washington times., 1904-03-20

the matter was taken into court and an
administrator named Samuel Richards
was appointed.
The records thea show that a score OF
years later this Richards was called into
court and he made an accounting show
ing that he had in his possession most
Of the sum paid the widow. Apparently
no action was taken.
Many more years were allowed to
elapse. courts in those days not being
what they are today. and nothing fur
Their have the heirs been able to find in
the records until as late as 1854. when a
party Of the parents and grandparents
Of the present heirs took the matter up.
Auditors Report.
They had an auditor appointed by the
orphans court OF Philadelphia, and this
officer discovered that the amount had
dwindled 20 less than $500.
None of the money was paid over to
the heirs. and this entry in the musty
tones in the ancient orphans court dis
The Washington times., 1904-03-20

ETTERs have been received in
washington which for the first
IL time give the facts concerning
tae alleged finding Of vast sums Of
money IN the Vatican after the death
Of Pope Leo These letters are from
prominent ehurchmen Of Rome 10
ehurchmen here. and explain away the
alleged mystery.
According to the stories as told up to
the present time. the sums have been
given anywhere from one hundred thou
sand 20 ten million dollars. On one
occasion Cardinal Gotd was represent
ed as appearing at tho Vatican with
many strong boxes filled with gold and
Jewels, and turning them over 20 Plus
X, after announcing that they had been
eonhded 10 his care by the late Pontin,
with the Injunction that they remain
with him until forty days after a new
Pope tad been fixed upon
In his instructions TO Gott. Pope Leo
was represented as having said: we
verify believe. Gotu, that you win be
our successor. II this IS so. you win
understand the use 20 which this treas
ure IS to be put; otherwise you WI turn
Il over 20 whatsoever IS chosen.
Denied By Pope.
These reports all met with denial al
the Vatican. the new Pope. Plus x. hav-
ing stated In reply 70 one inquiry: 7
only wish they were SO WA UoulG then
be SO much tho rlchcET
The Washington times., 1904-03-20

himself obliged to adopt new methods.
ing is the annual publication OF the
list Of gifts and the donors names.
This he believes would increase the en-
thusiasm over contributions to Peters
Pence.
The Washington times., 1904-03-20

laid before him Pope Plus. Il is reported,
VIII go over each detail and. where
possible. cut down expenses. This viii.
Of course. necessarily be a matter OF
great delieacy, but the pontfn IS 8
genius in that direction and VIII douk -
less soon have everything arranged to
the satisfaction OF everyone
The Washington times., 1904-03-20

Doubtless the tales originated from a
fact not until now known-that
Pope Leo. by great self-sacrihce ana
wonderful foresight. was enabled to
leave for his successor an enormous
fund realized. not from Vatican reve-
nues, but from his own personal IN
come and the large number Of gifts be
slowed upon him by a grateful and al
niring world.
This fund IS not available for ordi-
nary needs. but is to be held as "a cash
reserve for the extraordinary circum-
stances. in which some crisis might i'm
pose on the Holy See great trials and
sacrifices. It's existence, moreover
was not a secret TO the officials of the
Vatican The new Pope. Plus X, him
self knew OF It.
Mysterious Aid.
frequently it happened that spme
noble and deserving family. impoverish-
cd through no fault Of it's own, was re-
stored 70 comfort. or some hospital re-
ceived aid through a mysterious source
known only TO itself. The benefactor
IN many instances was mono other than
Pope Leo But SO kindly. 50 unsssum-
ing WIS he that his left hand seldom
knew the good wrought by the right
In order TO follow TO successful con-
illusions charities OF this sort, Leo
was obliged TO have considerable ready
money at hand These then were the
Eums found in various places
The Washington times., 1904-03-20
Washington People Who May Obtain Part Of
the Vast Ball Estate Are:

W. Medrick Fzhugh, Miss Alice V. Lawrence
Charles E. BraytOn Mrs N. H. Mahon Miss Eva shuse1
hrs Margaret Dodge, Miss Virginia Evans,
E. Ball, Morris, Miss T Washington,
Frederick Wizl Mrs. thu DuvaH Washington,
owen Mrs. H Kingsbury, Miss Mary Douglass
William E. Ball. E. Spouse Virginia T. Ball,
Blackburn Eagterne D. A Montgomery, a B. Chinn
Mrs Souther Mrs Charles E. Ball. Miss Edith FtEhugh
John Seman Mrs. Mary J. Ball. Miss D. Ball
D. McChesney, Miss Martha NJ Ball, Miss l. G. Reid
Mrs W NJ. Brown, Miss T. G. RIlgan,
In given there number others who
subsantiate
In several hundred descendants
The Washington times., 1904-03-20
In Other States.

In the States: In Camden county, Ca.
1000 acres, on which there are several
large cotton mills at the present time:
in Virginia, 2se.oO0 acres: in Kentucky.
$1,000 acres; III South Carolina, 10000
acres; in Pennsylvania, three brick
houses in Philadelphia. 1890 acres in
Green county, 211O in Northampton
county, 1880 in AIifiin county, s2,1os in
Huntington county. 1900 IN Luzerns
county, and 5000 in Pike county.
The heirs are confident. and President
Braytor. asserts that the land wiz all
be back in the possession Of the family
in a few years.
The Washington times., 1904-03-20

tenn after that of Sixtus V. the "shep-
herd boy" Pope. whose fiscal manage
ment Of the Holy Sec was one Of the
wonders Of the seventeenth century. As
time passed he found this system to be
Inadequate and he added to it's breadth.
sixtus V believed that money gives
power. That aphOrisn OF government
suited well the rare canonist and mar
velous administrator that Leo XIII was
For that reason he did not wish his new
fund TO sap the revenues of the Vati-
can. already not over large. So he deter
mined upon self-sacrihce and turned
aside all Of the gifts which fell TO him.
They came IN gold and silver ornaments.
objects II art, sacerdotaI vessels. pic
lures, vestments, richly bound books.
priceless Illuminated missaIs and devo-
tionaI volumes, semmed rings. cruct-
fixes. rehquaries; everything that loyal
chus chmen's fancy could devise and
money purchase flooded in upon him
In addition were added the Popo's
wonderful collections OF jewels and laces.
Probably no living man. and few ma
hons, could boast OF such gems as Leo
possessed
Jewels and Laces.
Many crowns paled beside his store Of
precious stones. As to laces. no noble
woman of Europe or Great Britain could
boast Of such a store. The late Pope WIS
n connoisseur in fabrics Of this kind.
and his collection was unique for its
beauty and art as well as valuA RUr
The Washington times., 1904-03-20
Acquisitive Joseph.

Joseph, however, seemed TO be Of an
acquisitive nature. and he added to his
land until his own property exceeded
that Of the other members Of the Ball
family and nearly all this, too, at a
The Washington times., 1904-03-20
Ball Heirs Are to De-
mand Valuable Prop
erty in This City.
Ninety-Nine-Y Leases
Have Expired and
Actions Result.
CCoRDNG to the statements

CCORDING to the statements
IN made by the representatives Of
1 \ the many heirs descended from
relatives of Joseph Ball. the brother Of
the mother Of George washington, it IS
probable that one Of the greatest land
suits ever brought in the United States,
II not the world. is soon to be instituted
In this city. The property left by the
uncle of the Father Of His Country
Is today appraised at SO, 600, and the
heirs believe that as much Of it was
transferred to other people on ninety
nine year leases it can be recovered
The property is located in half a dozen
States, including Pennsylvania. North
and South Carolina, Virginia, Maryland,
New Jersey, and Kentucky. The Wash
Ington real estate consists of eleven
squares, which are said to have a real
value Of between 100000 and $5.OOO.OeO.
In all there are said to be about GOO heirs
TO all of the property. A number Of these
heirs are residents Of the District Of Co
lumbia, and they have formed an asso-
Local Officers.
Mrs. Charles A L,rayton. who lives
at III Rhode Island Avenue, is the
president Miss Lee washington, of
the Columbia flats, is vice president,
and Mrs. Eva Shuster, Of 1872 Q Street,
IS secretary. It is said the test case is
to be brought for possession of the
famous old Ball homestead, now used
as a boarding house. and for years an
inn. opposite the Mount Vernon Steam
ship Wharf in the square between Sixth
and Seventh and NJ Streets southwest.
This building is said to be one Of the
Oldest IN Washington, no one being able
20 tell Just now when the structure
was erected. 1t has. however, the walls
Of a fort and windows which were once
embrastures for old fintlocks. The
walls are three and four feet thick. At
one time the house was surrounded by
a grove Of great trees, and a lawn
sloped down to the Potomac, but these
naturally disappeared years ago.
This house replaced . fort which stood
on the same spot at a. time when Wash
ington was a small boy. It was trad
ing place for the Indians.
The heirs at first hal determined to
bring suit for possess ON OF the old
The Washington times., 1904-03-20
Property Here.

In Washington, the squares bounded
by Virginia Avenue to Eighth. to B and
to Tenth, two squares; the square
bounded by Virginia Avenue and Flew
enth and Twelfth Streets; that between
Eleventh and Twelfth and 2 and z;
that between Eighth and Ninth and Z
and F. and the three squares bounded
by Sixth and Seventh and K and II and
Third and Fourth and K ara L. al
southeast. and the square bounded BY
Lincoln Park and Eleventh and Twelfth
Streets northeast. All Of the property
is covered with dwellings and other
structures. some of them pretentious
and others not
1t was Balls intention, IN his later
years. so It is said. when his inustrfous
nephew had laid out Washington 20
build what were to be for those days.
great warehouses in the southeast. and
to have a fine residence rear Lincoln
Park.
The Washington times., 1904-03-20
d MANY MILLIONS ARE INVOLVED IN THIS LAND SUIT P
Costly Land Claimed in
a Number of Other
States.
Many Washington Peo-
pie Interested in Out
come of Cases.

poses Of the whole vast estate. so far
as the heirs have been able to learn
The records of the leases are in the
archives Of Virginia and Maryland. but
there is nothing to show that they were
ever disposed OF. Expert examiners
have been in the employ Of the heirs
more than a year. delving into the
records Of all Of the States in which
the land is situated. They have fur
nished the facts upon which the suits
are to be brought The list they have
prepared Of parcels OF property is as
follows:
Lincoln County record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1900-1905, 1904-11-25
The Tombstone Mines.

In report on operations of the
Tombstone Consolidated Mines Co.,
at Tombstone, Ariz., the Prospector
of that city says results are very en-
couraging; and then says: "The
water problem has been solved long
since, and although most expen-
sive operation, is being successfully
handled. The pumping record
varies daily, but the average is about
3,250,000 gallons pumped daily.
The ore shipments from the various
mines maintain regular supply to
the smelter, the big shaft furnishing
about one car of ore per day. The
work at the other mines of the COM
pany continues abont the same, the
regular force being maintained.
The new cyanide testing plant is
about completed and in about a
week will be ready for operation.
The tests of this plant promise much
for the future treatment of the COM
pany's ores and, incidentally, mean
much for Tombstone. Altogether
the out look is good"
Lincoln County record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1900-1905, 1904-11-25
S1OT0T 10
$26166 10
PAYMENTS,
$lO229.57
s26l66 10

From the School Funds.............. 1884, ,4S
Cash on hand Oct LIST 1904. .sl66O2 II
$26l66 70