davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1905-02-09
MANY PROMINENT men ARE INVOLVED
State Officials We're Baffled Until They Sc
cured the Confession of Eighty ear-Old
Jack Page, After Which Indict-
ments Followed Rapidly.
History of This Remarkable Band of Incendiaries
and Their Methods of Observation-Disclosures Marked
Every Move-A Desire for Revenge on the Part
ofPage Finally Caused Their Exposure.

o. From a small shed nearby he
watched the flames devour the small
structure. Taken in because he was
young and %precocious, he was entrusted
with small jobs, where the risk of de-
lection was not great, and where he
wori' be given opportunity to become
prC.cient in the art, and ultimately de-
velop into a talented firebug. One
night, without orders from his superb
ors, be touched off the church, and his
subsequent apprehension and confess
sion almost ensnared the remainder of
the gang. But, so high in the commu-
nifty did the ringleaders stand, the adj
missions of the youth were pronounced
f%alsehoods, and nobody but the officers
placed faith in them. Not until within
the last year, when the boys confess
sion was su~bstantiated, did it become
public that his arrest was one of the
first of an organization of men who al
lowed the commission of no crime,
however enormous, to stand between
them and the money they coveted.
The traveller u~nacquainted with the
happenings of past years would see lit
tie in the scared country nowadays to
| attract his attention. The fire-destroyed
buildings have been replaced with new
structures and, under the protection of
the state fire marshal, protection has
been given sufficiently to allow i'm
provements. But the time was when
every man, woman and child stood in
mortal fear of the gang. One man
could hardly speak confidentially to his
neighbor for fear that he would thus
address a member of the organization
and so ~jeopardize, not only his prop
erty, but the lives of himself and fam
lily. So high in social standing were
the criminals that their identity was
unknown, except in the inner circle.
Once a building was fired, he who ap-
piled the flames was covered with the
garb of good citizenship, and ever the
bravest feared to point at him the fin
| ger of suspicion, for such meant speedy
revenge. A remark by one boasting
farmer resulted in the burning of his
barn the same night.
Task of State Officers.
To hunt down such a lot Of beings
was the task of state officers. The I'M
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1905-02-09

been kept. The insurance companies
have paid, it is estimated, more than
81, 500, 900 to the members of the gang.
Homer Morrison and Jack Page were
indicted nearly a dozen times, principal
ly for arson. April 2, 1878, they burned
Morrison's home, and got the insurance.
Morrison hired Page for that job. A lit
tie later, Page was duped into burning
John Keller's property, west Of West
Unity. Then Keller, trapped because he
employed Morrison to do the dirty work,
was forced into the gang, and he became
one of the worst of the lot. He was in-
dicted several times for aiding Morrison
and Page. October 10, 1903, he pleaded
guilty to arson, and served a year in the
penitentiary.
Waldo Ely, Morrison, Wesley Ship
man and Frank Colon, all of whom par
ticipated in the attempt on Samuel Ay-
ers' life, were indicted. Morrison got
ten years in the p%enitentiary, Shipman
two, and Ely one
In 1895, new men were taken into the
fold, and their work resulted in the in
dictment of Harry Kirkendall, William
Bonner, Freddie Bowman, Charles
Smith, William Davidson, and a half
dozen others. Most of them confessed,
and were given sentences ranging from
one TO four years in prison. William
Matthews was another of the later day
criminals. He was sentenced to serve
two years. Newton Omey, Jackson
Swisher, Charles Hultzberg and one or
two more are still at large, having fled
from the state. They have remained
away, fearing to take the consequences
of their actions.
Even with the excellent work already
accomplished, the state believes it has
not done its full duty. More prominent
men are to be dragged from their high
pinnacle in society, and their work Of
the past exposed to the public view.
Some have ceased to be active partici-
pants in the saturnaliua of crime, and
are leading respectable existences. But
their reformation will not carry them
through the present storm of justice.
They must answer for their misdeeds,
and the confessions, being made almost
daily, will cause their downfall, and
none but their disgraced families car en-
Joy the fruit Of their Ill gotten wealth.
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1905-02-09

dertaking was known to be big and
fraught with peril. Evidence was COL
lected only after the greatest efforts.
Now and then, indications would ap
PEGS en- the surface of what was really
happening, and it was from these small
CLUBS that the detectives finally un-
eafehed the chief conspirators and
turned them over to the law for pun
ishment.
OF this gang of fearless criminals,
Homer Morrison, once a respected son
Of well-to-do parents, was the leader.
His cunning brain devised most of the
daring jobs during the long years he
and his PALS worked, unmolested, burn
ing any building for which the owner
paid the required fee. Once a man
employed the arsonists to transact
business, he was in their mesbes, for,
II he was not aware that he was Just
as liable to punishment as If he had
applied the torch, he was so informed,
and thus became an addition to the
ranks.
The Killing Of Ayers.
It was Morrison's ayarice that re-
suited in the concoction Of a plot to
kill Samuel Ayers, November q, 1897.
Ayers was a wealthy cattleman, who
lived near West Unity, a small village
in Williams county. The old fellow
was peculiar, believed everybody his
friend, and feared harm from no one.
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1905-02-09

friends who wished him only pros
perity. Homer Morrison, also young
and well-to-do, was his neighbor.
Whatever induced these two boys to
leave the Puritanic path laid out for
them by Christian parents cannot be
explained, except in their greed for
gold. But the desire TO defraud came,
and rs years elapsed before 1t was
satiated. Gathering as clansmen ap-
parently honest ami respectable farm.
ers, the gang pursued its course, stop
ping at nothing, making insurance
companies its prey, and bouncing upon
them every tims an occasion presented
itself.
Working as honored men by day,
they became the vilest desperadoes by
night. A dual existence it was, with
church worship an outward sign of the
piety in their bosoms. Nothing es-
capped. Schoolhouses were fired with
impunity, just as willingly al were
farmhouses; stores and barns made
the objects Of their incendiarism, for
one class Of timber made as pretty a
flame as another.
Made Arson a Business.
AS far as known, only one of the
band made arson a business, Just to
see things burn. This was Freddy
Bowman, a genuine pyromaniac, whose
lust for adventure induced him to set
fire to the Methodist church in Stryker,
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1905-02-09

Observation-Disclosures Ohio, with its
pretty farms and prosperous lando%n-
ers, is nearing the end of a reign of
terror of 80 years, during which timN a
gang of incendaries, hungry for SID
den wealth, have desecrated its beatty
with flaming torches, and committed
almost every crime on the calendar,
from the smallest burglary to attempt
ed murder.
Criminal history tells no story Of
events so blood-curdling as there
which have shocked the residents X
this section in the last quarter century.
The widest dime-novel dreamer could
hardly imagine so terrible a melodrama
as has been acted by this conspiracy
of mercenary frebugs. Revelations
made in the past few weeks, by confess
sion, and investigation by state Off
GERS, are so startling as to be almost
unbelievable. Against n man have
been returned IL indictments, against
another there are ten and lucky indeed
is the member of the organization who
SSCdpCu Will Ouls q oih5iO puO bAiA
for the work of the state has been thor
ough and the laws firm hand has been
laid with unrelenting vigor on those
known to be connected with the organ
ization.
Only a Beginning.
With the 40 or more indictments,
however, it is believed that only a
good beginning has been made. Deep
under the surface, it is known that
more disclosures, still more startling,
are to come. Those men effected by
investigation now completed, fully con
scious that their long terms in prison
will effectually prevent them from par
ticipation in more work, have shown
a disposition to tell at least some of
the secrets, and, with the aid of these
admissions, Williams and Fulton coun-
ties, where the more exciting events
have transpired, are determined to
punish all the guilty, and remove the
stain of dishonor which has been made
upon them by their hardness in ferret
ing out the criminals.
Thirty years ago, Jack Page, one of
the most daring and notorious of the
frebugs, was a young man, possessed
of a valuable farm and surrounded by
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1905-02-09

were made, and that Ely was to be
planted" there until he found a good
opportunity to escape.
Yet Morrison and the cattle buyer
had been life long friends, and Ayers.
if he was to choose any one man more
friendly to him than another, would
have selected Morrison. But Morrison
saw his chance and his wicked mind
could not be restrained by mere bonds
of friendship.
The night of the assault a dismal
rain and cutting wind, almost binding
all who CHANGED to be out, kept nearly
everybody in the village indoors.
Ayers had played his usual game Of
cards and was on his way home. Nor
rison's men spotted him, signalled
Ely, who was lying in ambush, and
when Ayers came to the designated
spot he found two big guns thrust in
front of his face.
Ely was behind them, we'll masked.
"Your dough, please" was all the &C.
complished stick-up man said.
Ayers reached for an old-fashioned
Colt revolver that he had, by mere
chance, put into his pocket before
leaving home. Afterwards he said
that Morrison's admonition made him
suspicious.
As he pulled the gun there were two
sharp reports as streaks of flame
poured from the barrels of the guns
Ely held. Ayers fell with a groan.
The noise of the shooting attracted
people of the town, and in a moment
or two several were hurrying to the
scene.
Flight of the Murderer.
Ayers had fallen in such a manner
that his wallet, filled with bills, could
not be reached and Ely was obliged
to scud away in the darkness, leaving
the PROSTATE body of Ayers to be found
by the villagers. Fastening to Nor
rison's barn he found that arsonist be-
side himself with rage.
why did you shoot? Why didn't
you belt him over the head?" he asked
Ely.
Shut Up, you fool, l had to shoot
or he would have got me-" Ely replied,
coolly; 'and what's worse, | didn't
have time to get the money"
Morrison, cowardly ever in crime,
wanted to leave Ely to his own fate.
The Kansas City crook, however, was
too old at the business. You got me
into it, now get me out, or there'll be
somebody else beside me sent up for
this little job was his admonition,
and it was up to Morrison to furnish
the assistance.
With the help of a farm hand who
afterwards confessed, Morrison rail-
roaded Ely several miles away, where
he was to remain for a week or two,
but a posse of indignant citizens
pressed too closely on his trail and
immediate escape was necessary. Flee
Ing before the officers and farmers,
Ely's escape, as subsequently described
by himself, was one so hazardous that
he does not to-day know how the
shower of bullets sent after him failed
to end his life. With the horses push
ing him to his utmost he came upon
a farmer, driving peacefully along the
road. stop or I'll shoot" he yelled.
The farmer pulled up. Paying no at
ten to the men following, a quarter Of
q mile behind, he stood behind the
agriculturist and ordered him to drive
like h, or I'll blow your bloody
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1905-02-09
Tturs mrprkrA in
8ahyhnnh
By DIR. GEORGE F. BUTLER.
Specialist.

ing of cigarettes in his teens. Parents who have perpetualy entertained.
codded and diverted their children; who have jumped at their call as to
the call Of a superior being, are by logic and nature estopped from object
ing to the use of coffee, cigarettes, wine or late hours, when the children
pass into youth from babyhood and would still CRAFTY their demand for
all kinds of stimulating anuscnents.
THE mother who carries the baby to make it go to sleep is simply
making trouble for herself.
"Al such indulgencies tended to raise a generation of weaklngs
The youth thus codded will always bear the marks of its babyhood.
Four rules for the bringing up OF babies into youths of character
and value may be prescribed. The rules are of a general nature and
may be the means of causing a child to grow up with a strong nervous
system. The rules are:
Lessen emotional attention to children. Do not oge and engage
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1905-02-09

III 1OO1SH pay WIFI tIeIIT.
Stop entertaining children let them entertain them
selves. 1t will develop their brains.
Don't make young ladies and gentlemen out of
children. If one believes that unless they are made
to go into society they will become difhdent, let them
become diffident. 1t is all advantage.
Minimize emotional struggles at school. Teach
the children not to fear failure, not to be envious OF
jealous in their school life. Worry, envy and jeal-
ousy breed disease.
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1905-02-09
Thought It Was Her Skirt.

De Jones latter the opera)-Hasn't
she a marvellous technique?
Miss Countrygirl--Yes; but she
doesn't-er-seem to know how to
manage it gracefully. She gave it q
sort of a kick when she tisryaad around
-Tit-Bits
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1905-02-09
Parents think It a ter

Parents think it a ter
rible thing if their boys
smoke cigarettes, but
they have allowed habits
detrimental to the nerv-
Gus system from baby
hood up that are even
worse for the future of
the boy than the smok-
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1905-02-09
Another spot ON the sun.

Chicago, Feb. A new sun spot,
believed to be the largest and best
defined ever observed, has been dis
covered by A. H. Cole, a local as
tronomer. Mathematical calculations
indicate that it is 10000 miles in d.
ameter.
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1905-02-09
Hay Daughter writing a Novel.

Manhasset, L. L., Feb. Mrs. Helen
whitney, wife of Payne Whitney, and
daughter of Secretary of State Hay,
is writing a novel, which will make
its appearance IN the nnac future.
The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1905-07-06
The Pra ctical Side Of Irrigation.

Many of the people who will locate
ON land under the several national
irrigation systems now In course OF
construction and to be commenced
in the future, will be men from the
east and the middle west who have
had no practical experience In irriga-
tion and know little or nothing about
the artificial application of water to
the SOIL 1t is important therefore,
to the success OF the irrigation move
ment, that knowledge along this line
be diffused among intending settlers
and homeseekers. 1t Is vital to the
success OF the would-be homebuilder
in the new irrigated regions that he
acquaint himself with the practic al
side of the irrigation problem.
In this connection Ii is gratifying
to note that the reclamation depart
ment Is proposing to experiment
along the line of ascertaining how
much water different soils require,
so that settlers may not waste water,
as has frequently been the case with
beginners In irrigated sections. II
the settler can know In advance the
nature OF the sUil he Is to deal with,
its capacity Of production when
rightly irrigated, and what can best
be grown on the various soils and In
different localities, much OF the un
certainty which heretofore has at
tended the homebuider In new coun
tries, will be solved. The settle
should know in advance something
OF the duty OF water, when and hov
to apply 1t to the land, what crop
are best suited TO the soil and eli
mate where he locates, and hi
chances for success will be practicall
assured, taking It for granted tina
he is observing and industrious.
Maxwell's Talisman.
The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1905-07-06
Our Influence.

1t Is folly to call ourselves unim-
portant. II we have been hospitable
without extravagance or vuigarity OF
display. II we have paid our Tribute
to good art wherever our means
could carry US, IL we have been SIN
cere and reverent worshippers OF
God, we have done good In all these
directions and In SO far have con-
tributed TO the civilization OF the
world and to the glory OF our creator.
There Is no vanity I'm feeling that
we may and do exert influence both
consciously aud unconsciously. There
are no unimportant people In the
world. AS soon as we realize that we
can not help being either OF benefit
or OF injury to hose about US, be
they few or many we must also COM
prehend that we can not excuse our
selves on the ground OF incense
quence.
We do not need TO seek out occa.
sions OF influence; they are here, ''al.
ways upon US, aDo we can not conDBs
/ the results Of our actions to our owr
lives: what we do or say, what w
eat and drink, inevitably make ;
1 difference TO Others. While manin
tanning a high ideal for ourselves w
are surely imparting to Others thu
dignity we confer upon our own lives
/ Aud the belief that the most un
attractive and least endowed Of on
fellow creatures is a unit OF res
value in the great scheme Of huma
life. subdues In us every temptation
TO look upon those whose small en-
} dowment and less attainment seem
to degrade them i'm our eyes.-Ad
NJ. krecker.
The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1905-07-06

The care OF the clothes has more
TO do than we think In keeping peo-
pie well-dressed. When clothing Is
taken of 1t should be thoroughly air
ed and brushed spots and stains
should be Immediately removed, and
the aid OF the pressboard and hot
iron should be invoked when neces-
sary.
Any evidence Of neglect In torn
braids, missing buttons and loose
ends generally is fatal to neatness In
dress. The little accessories OF the
toilet, the ties, ruchings, frills,
buckles, and other small things, which
add finishing touches, must be taken
into account. These may add largely
TO the expenses OF ones costume,
unless they are put carefully away
when not In use. The secret Of many
a woman's dainty appearance Is to he
found In that revelation OF charact-
ed, the top drawer OF her dressing
bureau. 1t is a pity that a man
seeking wife cannot have peep Into
the maiden's bureau before he asks
the all-important question.
I. Ornament and jewelry should be
used very sparingly by those who
aspire to be well dressed. A profu'
sion of rings, however costly, Is moi
In good taste.
Once we are dressed, we should
think no more about the subject. II
1t is impossible or any reason for u
to dress so extensively as our neigh
bors, we need not be distressed
Taste counts for more than money IL
the choice of ones wardrobe. Tn
less one has a very deep purse, 1t Z
a great mistake To have too man
dresses or suits at the same time
They are suie TO 20 out OF fashion
and to prove source OF trouble
rather than OF satisfaction. In pur
chasing look out for the wearin
qualities Of goods. That which cost
most to begin with Is often cheapes
In the end The thrifty woman buy
yard or two more than she need
for future alterations. MarRare
f. Sangster.
The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1905-07-06

Quarrymen In north Wales recently
suffered a reduction In wages
la Norway there are 1896 organ
lied workers, OF whom 92s are women.
OF 10000 railway workers In the
United States IL Is said that 1000, 900
are uDorganized.
Mattresses aud both white and
colored bellboys' unions will he
officially organized in Boston, Mass.
Theatrical Stage Employees. Inter
national alliance will hold It's annual
convention at pittsburg. Pa, July ..
San Pedro, Cal, will shortly have
a walters aud mattresses union.
Preliminary steps have already been
taken.
In Seryia In the last fiscal year the
receipts OF organized labor were less
than 81, 600 aud the expenses only
81 800.
All the unions OF lobster fishermen,
OF which there are already nine. are
attached to the American Federation
Of Labor.
The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1905-07-06
Specializing in Farming.

Irrigation offers means OF control
OF conditions such as are found no.
where except In greenhouse culture.
The farmer In the humid country,
cannot control the amount OF starch
In potatoes, sugar In beets protein In
corn, gluten In wheat, except by
planting varieties which are especial
ly adapted TO the production OF the
desired quality. The irrigation farm
er, on the other hand, has the abil-
Ity to produce this or that desirable
quality by the control OF the moist
ure supply to the plant. He can
nasten or retard maturity OF the
plant, produce early truck or late
truck on the same soil, grow wheat
or grow rice as he deems advisable.
He can grow potatoes rich In starch
or potatoes poor In starch, wheat
rich In gluten or wheat pour In
gluten, sugar Nbeets rich IN sugar, or,
/ " he is careless, sugar bcets poor In
sugar, potatoes OF marketable size OF
potatoes fit only for pigs.
Most Of our agricultural crops have
their greatest use for one element OF
their composition. Thus corn Is val
uable for It's starch In feeding, pota
toes for their starch, alfalfa for III
protein. beets for their sugar, etc.
Those industries which use aRrl
cultural products are therefore espe
cially ada pied to irrigated districts
for with the control OF the moisture
supply comes the ability to ccntro
this or that quality IN the plant.
Some very interesting figures wer
obtained In 1901 by the agriculture
experiment station at Logan, Utah
Wheat was irrigated with dineren
; amounts Of water and the grain an
, alyzcd. Where five inches OF wate
= we're used this wheat contained Z
, per cent gluten, with : inches G
: water 2i per cent gluten, - lnche
e OF water IS per cent gluten and 80 IL
p cbes of water II per cent CLUTTER
|. The yield Of grain varies also, but ,
!. who desires wheat with high glute
r contents can get II By going to an !
4 rigated district. Potatoes we're irr
n gated with different amounts OF vi
, ter, with the result that the per cei
i OF starch could be made To increa
IS 6 per cent. Sugar beets were grow
a with Is per cent sugar, and 9th
beets grown on the same kind Of -
The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1905-07-06

with nearly II per cent sugar, the
difference being due TO the amount
II water used.
In all these cases, and many not
quoted, the ability to increase or de-
crease the Yield. TO raise more grain
and little straw, or much straw and
little grain. to raise IL tons OF sugar
beets or 20 tons OF sugar beets, to
raise potatoes with al pounds In
every hundred marketable, or pota-
toes with VI pounds In every hundred
marketable, belong peculiarly to the
irrigation farmer.
A host OF other advantages are pos
sible TO him who irrigates, too num-
erous to mention, but appreciablc to
the manufacturer and business man.
Sugar factories, starch factories aud
patent food mills viii lind irrigated
products desirable. and the new fields
now being opened by the reclamat Ion
service oser exceptional opportunities
for these enterprises. Sugar beets
can be grown In many localities, po-
tatoes for starch Ia others, nuts for
this new food, high gluten wheat for
that, barley for this kind OF beer,
hops for that.
Specializing In agriculture Is need
ed as In all other industries, and Il
this end irrigation In the arid west
will tend. The work OF the reclama
tion service In adding to the number
OF irrigated farms is thus rendering
possible a wholly unprecedented
specialization IN all crops and yarie
ties OF useful plants. MAXWELL
Ialismap.