davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1904-02-04

Miss Hattie never held a GER
tifcate as a teacher, but taught
some one winter in York and
Alpha twps on a permit. One
year ago her father died, at
which time her neighbors and
friends gave her sympathy aud
practical aid. She was an or
phan, an innocent and homeless
young grl, of lite worldly ex-
perience. She was offered a good
home by her uncle Michigan,
but she declined to accept it.
The young man associated
with her in the dispatches sent
out from Miller as her lover is
Dick Romig, a tall young man
with the easy, nonchalant man
ner of a western sport. He is
from Nebraska, and was recent
ly assistant agent at the depot
here, and later at Oakes. He re-
turned to Miller a lew weeks
ago.
On Monday it was announced
that both Romig and Miss
Pitcher had Geparted rom Mil
Ter, but they dii not go together.
THE COURT DRAMA.
On Wednesday, Jan. 27, the
first anniversarf o Eer fathers s
death Miss pilcher appeared in
Justice +. j. Mi ieI' IS ourt charg-
ed with compile ty in the Collins
robbery. The large court roo IN
i'm the court nous WAS crowded
with interestej witnesses and
spectators, many women being
present
States Attorney j. 81. Cole ap.
The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1904-02-04

fess to Mrs. Robert Sedan. al
old friend of her parents.
Before Mrs Sedan came to see
her, Dick Romig, who went to
Pierre a dav or two before, re-
turned, and was permitted to
have conference with the girl
at the Jail. When Mrs. Sedan
arrived Miss Pitcher had nothing
new to tell, but repeated her
story of attempted suicide.
On Sunday Miss Pitcher took
Sheriff Abbott and his wife to
the place east Of town in w. II.
Waters pasture, where she had
thrown the revolver Tuesday
night. She confessed to having
stolen the revolver from Crab
trees store.
Miss Hattie Pitcher. the unfor-
tunate girl, or heroine, just as
you view it, of this episode, is
a rather small, plump young
woman of % years, well formed
and good looking, possessing a
pleasant look and smile. She
came to Hand county with her
parents and brother Edward in
the early days from Indiana.
They lived on farm near How
ell tor several years, afterwards
moving to St. Lawrence, and
then to Miller, where her father
and mother died. Her brother
Edward met a sudden death in
Michigan a couple of years ago
by an overdose OF some drug, by
whom given and for what pur-
pose was never clearly shown
The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1904-02-04

Under the circumstances it is
not strange that the frightened
druggist forgot the combination
with which he was not very fa-
nliliar, and failed to open the
strong box. He was shaking
with cold; and agreed to open
the safe if given time. The small
one then brought a quilt from
his bed and threw it about the
clerks shoulders. After another
attempt he opened the safe. But
there was no money IN it except
few dollars in small change,
which the gentlemen ofthe mask
declined to bother with.
Where's the bills ?" the talker
asked.
There's all of it." declared the
man ofdrugs.
Then the short man Clipped in
for the first time, Lets open
the cash register
The voice, though in a kind of
whisper. was high pitched and
sounded like that of a woman.
In his surprise Quirk turned to
look at the speaker, but the light
was instantly flashed in his face
and he was ordered to turn
away.
After a whispered conference
Quirk was ordered to get a bot
tie Of glycerine and some ether.
While he was doing this aided BY
the dark lanterns glare, a tin
cup was thrust beneath his nose
and the spokesman ordered him
to drink it's contents.
The clerk Immediately recog-
nized the smell of laudanum.
"My God, you'll not compel
me to drink that" he exclaimed.
Drink it or we both fire. We
have noiseless revolvers," said
the orator of the evening, and
two ugly guns touched his head.
With little hope OF life in either
direction the clerk thought the
laudanum route the easiest so
he chose that and drank the
stuff offered him.
He was then pushed into his
bed room and thrown onto his
bed. The tall Claude Duval got
a ball of twine out of his pocket
and proceeded to bind Quirk to
his bed, the little one covering
him with a revolver in the lett
hand, and holding the bulls eye
in the right. The clerks feet
were tied to the foot of the bed,
The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1904-02-04
HATTIE PITCHER mot GUILTY."

and told him to proceed to the
safe.
Quirk walked into the drug
store followed by the men. In
his excitement he turned the
combination wrong and failed
to open the safe.
The tall robDer said, "You gel
that safe open. fit isn't open
in ten minutes we will shoot to
kill"
The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1904-02-04

1t not blended into one, IN the
public's mind, especially as Miss
Pitcher told conflicting stories OF
her injury, while Wilbur Quirk
told straight, reasonable story
and stuck to it. He is a sober,
Industrious young man from
Highnore, of excellent reputa-
ton, and was actually threaten
ed, drugged, and left tied on his
bed. 1t was a desperate deed,
enacted by two persons wearing
masks, who, by their actions
and gun enforced command, evi-
IDENTIFY feared that he would rec
ognize them. That it was the
work of novices is also evident
from
THE CLERK 5 STORY,
On the night mentioned above
Ouirk worked in the store until
near midnight, at which time he
went to bed in his room back Of
the store. He was aroused at
about 1870 o'clock by someone
tapping on the window i'll the
north of his room.
His first thought was of rob-
bers, and that thought proved
later to be the means of foiling
the parties who held him up, be-
cause he then slipped out to the
safe in the dark, removed some
$50 therefrom, hid it in the pre-
scription case, and returned to
bed. He was soon disturbed
again by a hammering at the
back door. Thinking that some
one might want medicine, he
went through another room in
his night clothes to the door and
asked "Who is there?
"Open up. Kid. This is John,
don't you know me? Ny wife is
sick, and want some medicine. ]"
came back IN a voice which Quirk
thought sounded familiar.
The clerk opened the door, and
there stood two men, both wear
ing caps and overcoats. One
was tall and the other short.
This was all he could see in the
dark.
Here's the prescription, hurry
up and flillt," said the tall man,
handing Quirk piece of paper.
He turned ard started to walk
to his room, the men following,
He heard the men whispering
and turned around to see IN the
dim light two revolvers close to
his face. At the same time the
small man flashed o dark lantern
on him.
Give me that paper and do as
we tell you and yoa'll have no
trouble; refuse or make a false
move and we'll shoot you,' said
the tall man.
Quirk was chilled and asked
to put on his clothes, which was
agreed to. He put on his socks,
but the robbers grew impatient
The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1904-02-04


peared for the prosecution and
former County Judge John Pusey
for the defense.
A change OF venue was taken
by the defense to City Justice b.
III. Douglass, with Mr.. Schneper,
of Huron, as stenographer.
Special correspondents for daily
papers were present to report
the case, which has had wide
publicity through the dailies.
Tho defendant appeared in the
coert room heavily velled. She
was not put on the stand in her
own defense. The trial lasted
three days. and at times was
quite-dramatlc.
The prosecution attempted to
show the connection OF defend
ant and some other person with
the hold up in Collins store, by
the contradictory stories tod by
defendants: by her supposed
identity with the effeminite, left
handed robber; by blood found
back of Collins drug store, and
her wounded shoulder; by her
unoccupied bed, and her room
vacant at / O'Clock that night:
by the supposed burning OF 81
suit of clothes IN the hotel stove,
by the expressions she used
about a nclseless. gun and Won.
an in mans clothes. Added to
this was Quirk's description OF
the masked men who held him
up--one tall man with a gruff
voice. a sort of Dick Deadeye
swagger, like the heavy william
character in transforming the
atricals, who did all tie talking
IN bluffing tone and manner.
The other Il short, left handed
and as he thought, a woman.
But the clerk could not swear
that he knew the parties!
The defense introduced a num-
ber OF witnesses who testified
either that her character was
good or that they knew ofnoth-
ing against her, except two ar
three who doubted her good rep
utation.
This evidence was all sum-
med up in the pleas OF the attor-
news. Attorney Cole thought he
had introduced plenty OF evi-
dence to hold defendant over to
the circuit court, and made a
strong plea for his side OF the
case.
Attorney Pusey made very
dramatic plea. The oppoltunl-
ty was his, and he was ri o ior
it. The ministers ard churches
wece scored, and he plead or tie
homeless orphan girl with tears
running down his cheeks. The
Judge is quite an actor, and he
made a strong and eloquent plea
for his client, but marred it con
siderably by indulgence in per-
sonalities that were forcible rath-
er than elegant.
The case closed at 7:30 Friday
night. The Justice decide " tn
he defense, and defendant vas
a free girl!
The twin mysteries OF "WhO
shot Hattie Pilcher?" and "Who
rugged Wilbur Quirli?" rem ain
unsolved.
"The pretty yonng school
teacher and her lover" have de-
parted rom Miller, and this is
The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1904-02-04

face was then covered with a
handkerchief saturated with
ether. He held his breath and
struggled, but it was useless. He
was slowly passing into uncon'
sciousness and indifference.
Wilbur Quirk told this story
to his employer, to the doctor
and others, and upon the witness
stand in Justice Douglass court.
He has told the same reasonable
story each time, and there is lit
tie doubt about its correctness.
The only doubt remaining is as
to the tall man, and the short
man with the effeminite voice ;
why they wore masks; and why
they commanded the druggist
to Eeep his eyes offthem!
MISS PILcHER'S STORIES.
DR.. Wallis was also summoned
to attend Miss Pitcher, in her
room at the Henshaw hotel,
where he found her on her bed,
with her clothes on, and the bed
showing it had been unoccupied
the night previous.
The bullet that caused her
wound had struck her near the
right breast, ranging up and out
at the right shoulder. Her vest
and even the flesh of the breast
showed powder burn, indicating
that the weapon had been press
ed close to her, possibly in her
own left hand, as that is the
hand she uses. There was no
bullet hole in or out of the cloak
she had on, although it is said
she wore this coat in each of the
three stories.
She claimed first to have been
shot and chlorofrmed the previ-
Gus evening by a woman in
mems clothes, and said the wom-
om was her sister in-law, Mrs.
Ed. Pitcher. A letter was found
on the stand near her bed, which
she claimed was left there by her
sister-in-law. This letter said
Miss Pitcher had been shot by
the writer, and would slowly
bleed to death.
In the morning she had hailed
a boarder passing her door and
asked him to call Dick Romig,
that she had been shot. This is
the young man named as her
loyer.
The doctor and landlord Hen
shaw did not believe this story
of shooting there in her room, as
no noise was heard by the hotel
people, and no bullet or mark of
one could be found in the room.
She said it was done with a
"noiseless revolver" that the
bullet must be about her clothes,
and that she would find it later.
THE THIRD STORY.
The final story told was the
one of suicide. Whether she had
been advised to stick to that or
not is mere guess work. She
told the Sheriff and others that
Dick Romig had refused to mar
ry her as he had promised; that
she was out of money and with
out friends. and decided to end
her troubles by taxing her life.
On Saturday evening a war
rant signed by several citizens
was sworn out for her arrest.
She was taken by the Sheriff to
his home in the Jail building.
1t is said the old veteran all
round crook, Tim Parks, now
in jail awaiting trial on a charge
of wheat stealing, called to Miss
Pitcher, Keep your mouth
closed and tell nothing; they'll
try to pump you."
The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1904-02-04

Well, the celebrated case is
over, and the mystery is--note ex-
actly clear yet. Although full
and truthful record compels the
statement that the majority of
Miller's citizens think it is clear
enough in their minds, even in
the absence of positive proof.
The tragedy, the participants,
and the trial were all dram attic
enough to suit those who delight
in the romantic and sensational,
even though it ends like Mark
Twain's burlesque of a novel III
which he got his hero and hero
inc into such a fix that he Just
quit, with advice to each reader
to end the story to suit himself.
THE TRAGEDY.
The lively little city of Miller
was checked in her accustomed
rush of things and affairs on
Wednesday morning January IS
by the announcement that 0. II.
Collins drug store had been en-
tered by robbers Tuesday night,
and the clerk, Wilbur Dunk, was
drugged and tied to his bed in a
room back of the drug store.
He was found thus by G. W.
and o. H. Collins. DIR. Wallis
was called. and soon brought
the young man out of his dazed
condition, so that he could indi-
cate briefly what had happened
to him. After this he was taken
to the Vanderbilt hotel and put
to bed. He soon recovered from
the effects of the drug he had
been forced to swallow, and his
exciting experience, and returned
to work in the store.
After this occurrence and later
in the morning, it was announc-
ed that Miss Hattie Pitcher. a
boarder at the Henshaw hotel,
had been wounded in the right
shoulder BY a revolver shot, as
she claimed by a woman dressed
in mems clothes, who had enter
ed her room the night before
shot her and chloroformed her.
1t was not long until the two
tragedies were joined gether,
The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1904-02-04
The Celebrated Case Ended by Justice Douglass Dis
missing the Defendant.

The Mystery of Her Shooting and the Quirk Hold
up Not Entirely Cleared.
The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1904-02-04

D9HSSS%%SNNN@N%1> 3 y
After dramatic trial lasting three days before City Justice
Douglass Defendant, Pilcher Discharged
and affair mystery. Hiss Pitcher and her
Lover leave Miller
The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1904-02-04

The Case Has Been Made Famous by Daily Papers
and Dramatic Trial.
The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1904-04-30
II
HOuOrS Were Easy,

I'm the churchill attended as boy"
said New York man. there were fire.
quent clashes between the minister
and the choir. The minister thought
the choir irreverent and unmusical.
The choir thought him back number.
Each tried to give the other dig on
every possible occasion. 4.
Zone Sunday, remember, there was
a clash wherein the honors were about
even. The minister, after the choir
had sung the opening hymn, said with
a significant smile. that his text would
be from Acts Xxx. And after the uproar
was ceased. But the choir, at the SER
mons end. retorted neatly with the
anthem, 1t Is Time to Awake From
Sleep"
The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1904-04-30
4 NOTORIOUS CORPS.
e'he French Foreign Legion and It's
Dangerous Characters.

The death penalty awarded private
In the French foreign legion for throw
ing his cap In his captains face at
Oran is an illustration of the merciless
severity exercised in that famous corps.
Shooting at sight is permitted the Of
ficers. who have to deal with dangerous
characters from all quarters of Europe.
Nowhere is there such a corps, ac-
eording TO the London Chronicle. Its
ranks are recruited from Outcasts Of
all social ranks. Disgraced officers of
the Russian service, deserters from the
German army, broken scions of the
Austrian nobility, fraudulent debtors
from Belgium, forgers from Spain,
homicides from America, ruined gam
blers from Italy, are found in plenty
i'm the ranks. No excuse is taken for n
fault, and the slightest symptom of in
subordination carries with it a swift
passage to another world. 1t is under
stood that recruits are simply seeking
refuge from the arm of the civil law.
The foreign legion is the only volun-
tarily enlisted corps in the French
army. 1t has done excellent service
against the Arabs and is always placed
In the forefront of the fight.
The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1904-04-30
The Harmless Grass Snake.

The poor. harmless grass snake is the
subject of stories almost as wonderful
rs those related of the adder. The
superstition that, however much you
NAV hammer it, it will not die till the
setting of the sun is widely held. a
fable not so generally. held to is that
even at shutdown it will not die If you
should neglect to tell some one of what
YOU have done. The rule on seeing one
of these terrible creatures is to hit 1t
and telI'-that is, give it good drub-
bling and run quickly and tell some one.
The best snake story is from Leigh
Sinton, near Malvern, according to a
London correspondent. A laborer
states that he had killed grass snake
and hung it on a tree. The blood
dripped down and toad came. and
swallowed some, dying instantly! ~,
The fancy that makes this species
poisonous or even harmful Is wild
one. but how much more wild is that
which attributes violent toxic proper
ties to any chance drop of blood from
its body, 1t might have been thought
that the other popular belief that poi
sonous things cannot be poisoned would
have saved the life Of the poor toad
London Express
The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1904-04-30
BRIGHT,S DISEASE

The largest sum ever paid for pre-
scription, changed hands in San Fran
cisco, Aug. 80, 1901. The transfer in
volved in coin and stock $l12,50O and
was paid by party of business men
for specific for Bright's Disease ana
Diabetes, hitherto incurable diseases.
They commenced the serious. investI
CATION of the specific Nov. 10, 1901:
They interviewed scores of the cured
and tried it out ON its merits by put
ting over three dozen cases on the
treatment and watching them. They
also got physicians TO name chronic,
incurable cases, and administered ~
with the physicians for judges. Upto
Aug. rs. efghty-seven per cent of the
test cases were either wei or progress
ing favorabIy.
There being but thirteen per cent OF
failures, the parties were satisfied ano
closed the transaction. The proceed.
ings of the investigating committee
and the clinical reports of the test cases
were published and viii be mailed Tree
on application. Address JOHN j. fuL
TON COMPANY, 400 Washington e'
San Francisco, Cal.
The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1904-04-30

Backed up by over third of century
of remarkable and Uniform cures, a record
such as no other remedy for the diseases
and weaknesses peculiar to women ever
attained, the proprietors and makers of
Dr. Pierce's Favorite Prescription now feel
fully warranted in offering to pay $500 in
legal money for any case of Leucorrhea,
Female Weakness, Prolapsus, or Falling of
Womb, which they cannot cure. All they
ask is fair and reasonable trial of their
means of cure.
Very often a married woman or Young
girl does not know who to turn to for adj
vice in circumstances Where she 1dislikes to
talk with the family physician about deli
cate matters. Al such times write to Dr.
r. V. Pierce, chief consulting physician to
of Buffalo, N. Y, for free consultation and
advice, and the same will be held as sa-
credly confidential. 1t is foolish to consult
women friends or persons without medical
training,
DR.. Pierce's Favorite Prescription con.
tains no alcohol is entirely vegetable and
was the FIRST exclusively woman's tonic on
the market-it has sold more largely in
the past third of aieentury than any other
medicine for women.
All other compounds intended for women
only are made with alcohol, or alcohol is a
large coInponent-7=tliis alcohol Injuries the
nerves. The LITTLE red corpuscles of the
blood are shrunkxn by alcohol. All such
compounds, therefore, do harm. !
DR.. Pierce's Pleasant Pellets invigorate
the stomach, liver and bowels. Use them
with the "Favorite Prescription when
pill is required. One is laxative, two, q
mild cathartic.
The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1904-04-30
The stick insect of Borneo.

The longest known insect is undoubt-
eddy the stick insect of Borneo. Speci-
mems thirteen inches In length have
been captured. 1t is an interesting ex-
ample of mimetic coloring, resembling
In remarkable manner a. piece. Of
rough stick. On the bough Of tree 1t
is extremely difficult to distinguish be-
tween the insect and the bark. Borneo
is also the home of one of the largest
species of dragon fly. A specimen Of
the subfamily eschna measures six
inches and a half from wing to wing
and is endowed with a correspondingly
strong body.
The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1904-04-30

From our point Of view there is
nothing to commend the proposition
of Senator Fulton, of Oregon, prob
ably made at the instigation of some
of the salmon canning companies of
Puget Sound, that our government
should prohibit the expectation of
fresh salmon to British Columbia be-
cause the Canadians have prohibited
foreign exports of fresh salmon from
the Fraser river. There is no good
reason why the government should
step in to strengthen the monopoly
OF the Puget Sound salmon combine
to the serious detriment of the inter
eSts of Independent trap owners and
gill-net and purse-seine fishermen, to
whom the annual coming of Fraser
river buyers has been an appreciated
boon, They are honorable in their
dealings. They pay good prices and
pay cash and the more of their money
we can get over here the better.
The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1904-04-30
SHERIFF'S SALE OF REAL ESTATE

BY Write of an execution issued out of the
superior Court OF the State of Washington for
the County of San Juan, and to fne directed and
Delivered, for Judgment rendered in said
Sourt on the and day of March, A. D. 1904, In
favor of b. ]. Massey, plaintiff, and against
John S. Munro, defendant, for the sum of s4so, az
with interest at the rate of 10 per cent per an,
mum from said and day of March A! d. 1904. and
1855 costs of suit, have levied upon the fol-
lowing described real estate, to-wit:
All OF the Southeast Quarter of the Southeast
Quarter of Section Two I'll Northeast Quarter
OF the Northeast Quarter of Section EleyenT mi
and the North Half of the Northwest Quarter ~
Section Twelve ffs] of TownseIp 36 North of r a
WV NJ, Washington containing 100 acres Sit
alta lying and being in San Juan County, State
Notice is hereby given that on SATURDAY. the
goth day of April A. ID. 1904. afSthe hour of IN
door In Friday Harhpr, in said County of San
Juan, VIII selkall the right tide, and Interest
OF the said John S. Munro. defendant In and 10
theaoove descrbed real estate, al public suc
uo9' 70 the highest and best bidder, to satisfy
SAID execution and all costs.
Given undeFmy hahd this a4th day of March
n. ~. 1904 ;~'a.'~l ~ az.
+ w. H. MccRARY
herif Of San Juan County, Washington.
Date hrst publication March &C. 1904
The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1904-04-30

The bill to permit the importation
of dutiable merchandise into Puget
Sound ports from British Columbia
in vessels of less than thirty tons
burden has passed the House Of Rep
resentatives and is likely to become
a law. 1t is understood that the bill
provides for the removal Of the mini
mum tonnage limit and that the new
law will permit the importation
of dutiable merchandise in boats of
any size.