Free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1888-1908, 1904-06-25


struction at the penitentiary nearly 40
years. He was an officer when the Kan
sas convicts were held in a stockade.
and was the superintendent in charge
of the prisoners when the first cell
house was erected in 1866. He super
tended the erection of all of the peni-
Tertiary, cells and walls, including the
last new cell house. Mr.. Patterson
was kept in this position through all
administrations, Republican, Demo
cratic and Populist. OF late years he
was feeble and unable to work much,
but was held on the roll until few
months ago on account of his service.
THE WHEAT CRoP.-Estimates based
riculturarl department indicate that the
Kansas wheat crop will aggregate sO,-
600, 900 bushels. The grain trust Off
Gals say it will not be over 10000, 900,
but Coburn's percentages tell another
story. The Northwest, which raised
more than its share of wheat last year,
will have an extremely short crop this
year on account of the dry fall and
winter. The regular wheat belt will
raise more grain this year than last.
much wheat has been plowcd up in the
Northwest.
HoUsEBREAKERs.- is infested
with gang of them. Within a few
days dozen houses were entered and
= II. II
watches have been taken. Almost in
every instance the screens to the houses
were cut and the intruders entered
through the windows. The police
think it is the work of a gang of tramp
thieves.
CoFFEYvEILE CENsUs:.The city as
SCISSORS report shows that the popula-
ton of Coffeyville is 12,3O6. This is
an increase of nearly rs per cent over
the returns of last year The city has
landed a number of large factories the
past year which is responsible for the
increase. The population of Mont
gomery county 1927.
AT THE REFoRMA ToRY.-Sev
young men were paroled by the board
of managers at the state industrial re-
formatory at Hutchinson. Some of
them have been in for four years.
There are now 333 inmates. the largest
number since the institution was es-
tablished. Ten more are sentenced.
A CLOUD BURsr.-The cloud burst
over the Cottonwood in Marion county
last week sent all streams out over the
bottoms. lightning struck and burned
the house of Chas. Ward, near Cedar
Point. Loss. $1,000. No insurance.
MUTUAL INsURANCE.--Therea are sew
enteen mutual fire insurance companies
in Kansas. Most of them are farmers
companies and operate mostly in the
| localities where they were organized,
yet they are growing very rapidly,
| PASTOR AZ YEARS. Richard Cordley,
| d. d., is the oldest minister in point of
! service in Kansas. For AZ years. bar
ring an absence of two years he has
been the pastor of Plymouth Congrega-
/ tional church of Lawrence
! JUNCTION IN KANsAs.-The president
| of the Denver, Enid & Gulf railroad is
authority for the statement that his
road will have an extension 10 a June
ton with Union Pacific at Hays or
Russell. Kansas.
COURT HOUSE SrRUcK-During an
electrical storm at Ellsworth lightning
struck the court house but caused little
damage.
BUNCH OF THIEvEs.-The district
court of Kiowa county sent eight horse
thieves to the penitentiary in one
bunch.
FIGHTING MICROBES. Valley Cen
ter lime is used in generous quantities
to kill the microbes left from the
flood.
COUNTY CLERK DEAD.-Will A. Lich
tenberger, county CLERK of Sumnes
county, died at his home in Welling
ton, of peritonitis, following an attach
of acute stomach. trouble. He was 81
years of age and haA~recently been re
nominated by, the Republicans for h;
second term as county clerk.
No THEoLoGY.-Du During the com
mencement exercises at Washbur,
President .Plass stated that the repor
that Washbhrn was contemplating in
stituting a Theological department il
the college rs without foundation.
BISHOP SELLS HorEI.-The Nationn
Hotel at Salina has passed out O
the hands of the Bishop of Birming
) ham, England, to Ezra Cri1ey, of tn
Coates house of Kansas City, for casl
, consideration of se4 900. The Nationa
. was built in an early day by loca
parties. 1t was mortgaged to tn
English bishop.
CHANGE OF SrEwARD.-A. G. Jone
! has resigned the office oil steward @
D the Topeka reform school. He Ia
/ been succeeded by C. C. Wightman, G
Ottawa
STRANGE Bur TRUE-Ottawa is nc
: in Ottawa county; Wichita is not i
= Wichita county; neither is Kiowa i
: Kiowa county nor is Chase in Chas