Free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1888-1908, 1904-02-27

man is from Indian Territory and is
dying from consumption. He has
some property and wishes his wife to
inherit it and for this reason he chose
to be legally married to her fearing
that the common law marriage under
which they lived might not hold in
case of his death.
PENSION PAyMENTs.-The Topeka
pension Office issued between February
and 10 pension vouchers to the
amount of 1886, 441.2s to 1O5,273 pen
sioners. Since February IS $500
vouchers were issued to inmates of the
Soldiers home for S11O, 519. 33; making
total amount paid of s3,646, 800 1-
The district paid from Topeka includes
Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, New Mex
leo. Oklahoma and Indian Territory.
Snow on ASH WEDNEsDAY.-In the
early hours of Ash Wednesday storm
OF sleety snow swept over Topeka and
that region covering the ground to 2.
depth of two inches. An east wind
prevailed with an announced temper
ature of 20 degrees at the government
weather bureau. Experts say there is
enough snow to form blanket for the
wheat, giving it moisture and excluding
the cold.
AFTER WIFE BEATERs.-Clad Hamil-
ton, police judge, and Mr.. McCullom,
CHIEF of police, adopted a new policy
which they believe will have tend
ency to stop wife beating there. They
have decided to inflict on men convict
ed of beating their wives the heaviest
/ penalty possible and to shaclxle them
with ball and chain and put them to
work on the streets.
JOINT LINE PRoPosED.-There is
persistent rumor in railroad circles
that the Chicago Great Western and
the Missouri Pacific will build joint
| line from st. Joseph to Atchison on the
Kansas side of the river. Both lines
will use the track, and the Great West
ern will use the Missouri Pacific line
| from Atchison to Kansas City.
| FARMERS ORGANIZE.-The farmers of
| ganization at La Crosse for the pur-
pose of handling grain and coal. They
have purchased lots near the railroad
and expect in short time to have their
business working.
New GRAND MAsTER-At the meet
ing of the Masonic grand lodge in To-
peka, Thomas G. Fitch, of Wichita
was elected grand master to succeed
Bester G. Brown. Perry G. Hoising-
ton, of Newton, was chosen grand high
priest.
4 A FINE THEY'VE just had fine
time" were the words used by the chill
dren of the Masonic home at Wichita
when they arrived home after spend
ing two days at Topeka as the guests
of Grand Master Bestor G. Brown.
A CLOSE SHAvE-State Treasurer
Kelly says the state will have close
shave next fall to keep from stamping
more warrants mot paid for want of
funds" 1t took 1864, $40 of the 1904
tax money to pay off 1908 bills.
SAFFoRDvILLE GRowING.-The Orient
depot is to be in the center of the town
near the Santa Fe. Twelve residences
costing from 81, 900 to So, 900 have been
built this winter and seven more are
to be built in the spring.
MILL AND DEPOT BURN.-The new
flour mill of Edward Guldner and the
Frisco depot at Frederick are destroyed
by fire. The loss is 1,4Oo; the insur-
ance, 81, 900.
BRIDES LEG BRoKEN.-A couple were
married at parsonage in Holton and
on leaving the bride slipped on the ice
and broke her leg.
A FREDERICKSBURG Santa Fe com
pany is wrapping its steam pipes in
the Newton station with asbestos.
SIEEr IN GEARY- Sleet fell nearly
all day in Geary county with a cold
east wind. The wheat growing farm
ers are greatly concerned about the
, continued lack of moisture. There
, has been practically no moisture OF
the fields since November. Wheat viii
be badly damaged unless there is a faI
of rain or snow soon.
WAS A WREsTLER.-I. L. Dayhoff
t State superintendent of public instrnc
ton, formerly was the champion catch
5 as-you-can wrestler of Jasper county
Missouri.
{ PRAIRIE CHICKEN PEsT.-The fire
f that swept over the Fort Riley reserva
l ton drove the prairie chickens onto
| the surrounding farms. The reserva
E ton has been game preserve for year
r and the chickens have become a pes
= to the farmers who want to kill them
: but they are prohibited by law from
doing so.
. BULLET IN LUNG.-Wm. Coggswen,
f 16-year-old boy of Greenwich, shot him
n self, tie ball remaining in his lung
e He is steadily improving and his ply
sicians say he will recover.
e MUTUAL TELEPnoNEs.-Mutu tele
: phone companies are increasing owe
n Central Kansas. Three such compan
y les have already been formed in Dick
y inson county, each with 40 or so mem