davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1905-11-02

DEPARTMENT AGRICULTURE SPENCER

the scheme, that all of the people con.
nected with the general company, with
the exception of the president, or al
legged discoverer of the new apple. are
men entirely unknown to the horticul-
tural world"
Reckless Statements
The company appears to be well or.
Sanized and has apparently engaged eX-
cellent legal talent. "The statements
in all the literature issued by the con-
pany are very skillfully worded," said
Mr. Taylor, "the statements made
through the public press, for which the
company cannot be held accountable,
and which are influencing the people,
have been recklessly misleading and
untrue" The shrewd method by which
this apple was advertised in England
and again readvertised in the United
| States shows that master brain is en-
Sineering the promotion of the scheme,
Having prepared the British public
through numerous articles for some
thing startling, specimen of the seed
less apple was sent to King Edward,
Enclosed in a plush-lined ,jewelry box.
The English papers commented widely
upon the occurrence and several addi-
tional apples were sold at public auc-
ton for enormous prices, and the pro.
cially well written encomium on this
happening and on the value of the
apple was innocently transmitted by
the American Consul to our Depart
me1t of Commerce and through its ad-
vance consular sheets distributed to
every newspaper in the United States.
A feature of this incident was tie
ceremony connected with the cutting of
two apples which brought the largest
prices-namely, SIS. A number of dis
tinguished British horticulturists were
present, the apples were taken from
cold storage cases, and everything was
proceeding beautifully until the knife
was applied, then it was found that the
apples were neither seedless nor core
less and the indignant purchasers,
Messrs. Shearn, demanded their money
back.
Must Make the Fakirs Smile.
A somewhat amusing feature, as re-
lated by Colonel Bracket, is the con-
The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1905-11-02

papers, but in magazines and scientific
journals.
The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1905-11-02

One OF Uncle Sans duties, and 1t is
an extremely important one, is showing
up, and where possible, stopping
frauds and fakes and preventing the
people from being mulcted Of their
savings. Through its issuance of
fraud orders" the Postoffice Depart
ment prevents millions Of dollars every
year from being squandered on worth
less projects and fake schemes ex-
plotted through cunning advertise
ments. The vigilance of the Govern
ment against lottery concerns is an
other instance. So much is done now
through clever advertising that officials
have come to be very ehary about CIV
ing their Endorsement to any schemes
which have not been pretty thoroughly
tried out.
The Spencer "Seedless" Apple.
A case in point was the efforts of the
Colorado seedless and coreless apple
concern, headed by a Mr.. Spencer,
which attempted last year to secure the
The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1905-11-02
Proper Seasoning OF Farm Lmpie-

Proper Seasoning OF Farm LmpIe-
mcnls.
II Is full time that all moving ma
chimes, harvesters. and other horse
implements should be left out in the
field TO obtain the benefit of the fall
weather. Flows and harrows will, OF
course. be needed yet, and these will
be kept under cover for awhile, but
can be left out later after the fall
blowing. This practice of fall wealth
ering Of implements is quite general in
many farming sections and is encour-
aged from year to year by large
class Of farmers. II insures thorough
weathering Of the wood and produces
In the metal parts of the machinery
The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1905-11-02

THE "SEEDLESS" APPLE PRESENTED
TO KING EDWARD.
mitted to the Department and to the
st. Louis Exposition apple judges con.
tanned either seeds or cores. The
apples were, moreover, small and IT,
ferior; but the newspaper account Of
these events tell different tale.
The San Francisco call., 1905-06-22
WOUNDED.


" . . " . . . - -. -.
The San Francisco call., 1905-06-22
Hufcblngs Performs
A Fear of BruUe,y

1t was at this juncture that Policeman
Hutchings showed himself a hero. The
maniac was yelling triumphantiy inside.
and it seemed as though there was no
way of getting at him.
Captain Duke, who had been looking
through the window of an adjoining
room, saw that Lobbs room could be
easily reached by way of the fire escape,
if any one would dare attempt it.
"Hutchings, climb down that ladder
and fire into the air." he ordered. THE
rest will rush the door"
'.All right, captain said Hutchings.
quietly. I'll take a chance" He went
up to the room over Lobb's and began
the perilous descent. Outside the door
of the room where the maniac waited at
bay q squad of policemen watched
eagerly for the signal.
A pistol shot rang out. An instant
later was the crashing report of the
shotgun. Frantically the policemen
rushed at the door, believing that their
comrade had been shot and that his bat
tered body lay on the pavement, five
stories below.
The door would not give, though five
policemen showed at it with all their
might The men began firing into it.,
honinT I'm hreak the lock. when voice
The San Francisco call., 1905-06-22
Ten RecefUe Wounds,
One Losing an Eve

Following is list of the injured:
{. 4. ChevaIler, I23 Eddy street, shot
through the right eyeball and will lose
the sight in one eye; Vincent Rou-
mante, w Larkin street, shot in the
face, shoulders and head; James Lari-
bee, 9231x Howard street, shot I'm the
eye, chin, cheek, arm, shoulder and
hip; Policeman Patrick kfssane, 2S Oak
Grove avenue, shot i'm check; w. Id.
Cofman. 914 Howard street, shot I'm
cheek, ncse and forehead; w. Jones,
1921 Clay street, shot in face and head !;
Emil Roberts, 1917 Broderfclx street,
shot i'm hand; George III. de Langton,
32c McAlIiSter street. shot I'm the cheek,
hand and arm; David Farrell, shot in
head; Wong QunE WO, 116 Eddy street.
shot I'm the hand.
With the usual cunning Of the maniac
Dobb had bolted the door before he start
ed the fusillade and had barricaded il
with tho. mattress. Fourteen shots were
fired into the door by Policemen Patrick
Kissane and J. d. O'Connor, but the bull
lets were stopped by the mattress. Kis-
sane pulled sofa up TO the door and
tried to get a pot shot at the maniac.
The instant the policeman's head showed
above the transom Lobb fired. A charge
of the duckshot crashed through Kis-
sane'S helmet, tearing it to pieces, and
one pellet iodged in his cheek.
Under orders from Captain Duke. Po-
licesnan Hutchings began to descend the
fire escape. he was ordered to fire a
shot into the air when he had reached a
point outside the maniac's window Hold
ing his pistol in one hand, the fearless
policeman made the descent He ex-
pected that Lobb would see him at any
instant and turn the shotgun upon him.
The San Francisco call., 1905-06-22
CROWDS TAKE
TO COVER AT
FIRST SHOT
Maniac Fires Green
backs With the
DuckShOt.

In spite of the extensive bloodshed,
there is a humorous side to the United
States Hotel tragedy. Those who were
not shot and who were not appalled, by
the larrowness of their escapes were get
ting much amusement out of the incident
yesterday. The way the immense crowd
struck out for forts and cyclone cellars
when the maniac, at first apparently
harmless, unlimbered his artillery was a
sight worth going long miles to witness.
The widely felt sorrow over the destruc-
ton of good American greenbacks was
particularly pathetic The fact that about
all of those who were hit would not have
suffered had they pursued their several
ways instead of watching a crazy man
throw furniture from the window is also a
matter of touching interest.
When the maniac commenced to toss
chairs and crockery playfully into the
street a crowd quickly gathered The
pedestrians were for the most part those
who go early to work, and the unusual
spectacle seemed like a pleasant start
for a hard day. The faces of the spec
tators were turned gaping skyward and
each newcomer commenced looking for
an airship until the matter was ex-
planned. The hotel people seemed to ap-
preciate the humor Of the situation less
than the outsiders, in view of the reduc-
ton Of their furniture to kindling wood.
Things were getting just a trihe monot-
onous when the insane man enlivened the
scene by letting go his shotgun. Some
broke the doors down getting into the
stores and saloons Others dove into
cellars. A part Of the throng FASTENED
down Eddy street to Mason and failed
not to turn the corner. A part swept up
to Taylor street Some tore up cObble-
stones in their anxiety to break all known
sprinting records. For brief space of
time it was scene only of coattails. be-
meath which was confused blur A bar
tender, who had been an interested
watcher from a saloon doorway on the
opposite side of the street, sought small
secluded spot beneath the bar. from
which he was dragged by his employer an
hour after the trouble had been settled.
Dung Wo heard what he thought was
a big "flaclacker'' and came out for a
'look-see" Lobb gave him a bullet
through the hand, and with his curiosity
fully satisfied Dung retired within the
doors of his shop in one long backward
Jump. AS a master of retreat he de-
serves a place on the Russian general
staff. In one second and a half after
the ball had opened Eddy street looked
as dead as a no-license town after dark
Here and there, like gopher mounds on
a prairie. the top of head and half
of an eye could be seen protruding from
doorway or window ledge.
Some who started suddenly down Tay-
lorx or Mason street were reported as
having passed the county line long before
noon Those who chose the northern trip
The San Francisco call., 1905-06-22
Shooting at
Cr0ya From W1udoqe

Emile Carpenter. the bellboy who
showed him to the room, noticed that he
was acting rather Queerly. When asked
whether he was satisfied with the room
he looked under the bed and inspected
the place carefully. Then he laid a pack
age OF strawberry tarts he had brought
with him upon the bureau and paid for
the room.
Shortly after O'Clock in the morning
Lobb went to the window and hurled a
chair down TO the street. a wash basin
and a marble-topped table crashed after
H. Another chair caught in a skein of
telegraph wires.
crowd congregated in front of the
hotel to watch the antics of the madman
Lobb stepped aside rom the window.
When he reappeared he held a shotgun
and fired into the frightened crowd. w.
ID. Coffman, James Laribee, c. T. Chev-
alier and Emil Roberts, a boy, were
wounded at the first shot Before the
terrified spectators could move, Lobb
fired the second barrel. Vincent Rou-
mante, w. Jones and David Farrell were
struck by the scattering charge. Lobb
quickly reloaded and fired again at the
fleeing crowd. George H. de Longton
was struck.
When Wong Dung Wo, Chinese, en-
ployed in store across the street,
stepped out to look see," Lobb fired at
him with a pistol. His aim was accu-
rate, for the Chinaman was wounded in
the hand.
1t is fortunate that the maniac did not
have rife instead OF a shotgun. Had
he fired but three shots with a rife he
would perhaps have killed or mortally
wounded at least three people
The gun used was a 12-bore shotgun,
and the shells were loaded with No 4
shot, the kind usually used in duck
shooting.
Policeman Percy Smith heard the first
shots, and rushing up to Lobb's room de-
manded his surrender The maniac S
reply was a shot through the transom.
The Central Police Station was immedi-
ately notified, and Policemen Kissane, J.
c. OConnor ]. B. O'Connor, j. ]. Till
man. Prowse and Wratton were rushed
to the scene, in command of Captain
Duke and Lieutenant Green.
Three rifles We're brought along. 1t
was at first Captain Dukes intention to
station marksmen on the roofs opposite
to pick off the maniac. but this was
found impracticable, as the other build
ings were lower than the room occupied
by Lobb.
Kissane and ]. c. O'Connor rushed at
the door of the maniac's room, but it
held fast and a shot through the tran
som warned them that the man inside
was on the alert.
I'm going to get him. said Kissane-
He mounted a sofa and tried to peer over
the transom- A deafening report rang
out, and he staggered back. His face
was bleeding profusely where a pellet
from the shotgun had struck him. and
O'Connor, thinking he had been badly
wounded, tried to drag him away from
the door.
But Kissane leaped to his feet with a
laugh, and the two officers emptied their
revolvers through the door, hoping to hit
the maniac with a chance shot. An
other roar of the shotgun convince4
them that Lobb had not been hit
The San Francisco call., 1905-06-22

From n ffth-stOry window in the
front of the United states Hotel, 126
Eddy street, yesterday morning, Thomas
LObb, an insane carpenter, discharged
both barrels of Il shotgun into crowd
he lad collected on the street below by
hurIing furniture from the window and
wounded seven people. As the throng
fed LObb fired another charge of No. 4
shot NJ II, wOunding another. He fired
Rt n street CIR that stopped under the
window and shattered some OF the win
oGyss. but none o. the passengers were
injured. An inquisitive Chinaman that
stepped Out OF a place across the street
RNaS fired at with = pistol and wounded
ia the hand. One policeman was shot
in the check while efforts were being
made TO force the door of Lobb's room,
which he had bO.ted and barricaded
with a mattress. IntO Ihis mattress
sank fourteen bullets the officers had
fired through the door. Ten people
were wounded altogether. One police
man performed an unusual act OF bray-
cry an climbing down Al fire escape TO
reach Bobb's window. The maniac
wound up the thrilling event by blow
ing OF the top of his own head when
lie SAW the officer at the window. 1t
was found by the crowd that assembled
after the naniac's death that he had
literally shot money well as Ieaden
death AT the crowd, for nc had used
GreeHbacks in Loading the shells used
by him.
These are some of the most import
ant features OF one of the most excit-
ing tragedies that has ever racked the
nerves of the police startled the
public of this city That the maniac
did not succeed fn baSgfng a policeman
is marvellous.
For nearly an hour after his attempt
at wholesale murder the maniac held
squad of policemen in command of Cap
tain Duke and Lieutenant Green at bay
After the first shots from the maniac's
shotgun had crashed into the crowd on
EDDY street, people ran for cover. Just
as Policeman Hiram Hutchings who
fearlessiy descended q fire escape just
outside the window, covered him with
q revolver, the maniac placed the muzzle
Of the shotgun against his temple and
pulled the trigger. The top of his head
was completely torn away
The San Francisco call., 1905-06-22

down the fire escape and edged toward
the window for the purpose of discharg-
ing my revolver and making him turn
his back to the others.
II fred a shot and he came to the win
dow and took look at me from behind
the lace curtain. / was prepared to send
a bullet through him If he attempted to
raise his gun, but he did not do So After
a moments inspection he retired behind
the curtain again and a second later
heard a shot in the room. L saw piece
of human flesh fly through the window
and 1 knew just what had happened.
then sprang through the window and
opened the door for the other officers.
The room looked like a shambles when
2 entered l think he must have pulled
the trigger of his shotgun with his toe
Il do not see any use in making all this
fuss over what / did. 1t was simply what
thought l ought to do as my duty"
Captain Duke has the following to say
concerning the affair:
..As soon as / knew that crazy man
was making trouble here l hurried down.
after issuing orders that he be taken
alive, If possible. 1t is a matter of pride
for the people of the city that the police
handled this case so well. Not a man of
all those gathered here showed the white
feather when 1t came to facing the crazy
mans gun. / think we were fortunate to
corner the fellow before he had a chance
to shoot the remaining shells. He knew
enough to be afraid of the police, and
when he saw his barricade at the door
would not keep us out, he blew his head
off rather than be killed or forced to sur
render. / am particularly gratified at
the exhibition of unusual bravery on the
part of two or three of the men, =
The San Francisco call., 1905-06-22

crazy man at the United States Hotel
and that he had barricaded himself in
his room. / ordered him to arrest the
man and see that he hurt no one. Later
Smith telephoned that he had looked
over the transom and had seen the ma
MAC with gun and a revolver in his
hand. He said the fellow was threaten
ing and might act bad. / then said
would bring assistance. but meanwhile
directed that the maniac be kept where
he couldn't hurt any one If possible.
Later Smith reported to me that three
or four persons had been shot and. TAX
ing along a detachment with rifles,
hurried to the scene. Captain Duke was
Immediately notified and he ordered that
the man be taken by strategy if possible,
but to kill him if necessary to save the
lives of innocent people. This was what
had myself previously ordered. / re-
manned in charge of operations until the
arrival of Captain Duke
Fred Morrisey, the night clerk who reg
istered Lobb and fortunately gave him a
room high up, says:
'The man came in about half-past or
9 o'clock last nigh. and asked for a
room. noticed that he carried a gun
case with a revolver stuck in the end
OF it. but saw nothing peculiar in his be-
havior. l asked what priced room he
wanted and he said he guessed he would
take a dollar one. He registered his
name, but no address,.
Emile Carpenter, the bellboy, makes
the following statement:
II took Lobb to his room and after
looking under the bed and dresser and
out of the window he said he was satis-
fed with it. / thought there was some
thing strange about his actions but we
meet all kinds of cranks in hotel and
SO 1 did not take particular notice. He
stayed in his room, so far as / know.
after / left him. and no one reported
hearing him make any unusual sounds.
He did not appear to be under the in
f1uence of liquor. He had no baggage be-
sides his guns and three strawberry
tarts.''
The San Francisco call., 1905-06-22
L0BB DEEMED
TRIFLE "OFF"
in SAN DIEGO
Strikes Friend and
Leaves City to
Evade Arrest.
Special Dispatch to The Call.


SAN DIEGO. June 2.-Thomas Lobb
came to San Diego about two years ago,
but little is known here of his past. He
was a member Of the San Diego Car
penters' Union and during most OF the
time he was in this city was employed at
Fort Rosecrans by SoIon Bryan While
there he was known as a sober, indus
trious workman and while not an ex-
pert carpenter was conscientious In h1s
work.
He was also employed on the Granger
block. ]. c. O'Neill, a stairbuilder. had
Lobb detailed as his assistant and en-
deavored to teach him the business.
Their relations were pleasant until on
election night. April A. O'Neill met Lobb
on Fifth street. Lobb addressed q foul
name to O'Neill and followed II I'D with
blow on O'Neiils jaw. The next day
O'NeiI got OUT warrant for Lobb's ar
rest and the latter. hearing of the ac-
tion. left San Diego before the warrant
could be served.
Workmen generally considered that
Lobh was slightly on during the time
he was employed at the Granger build
ing. c. l.. Schmucker was foreman and
Lobb had told Schmucker that he had
had trouble with O'Neill at Fort Rose
Grams. On April A O'Neil1 came up to
look over the work on the block and
Lobb confided to Mr.. Schmucker that he
knew O'Neil was there to spoil his work.
The next day he complained that ONefll
had spoiled some window joints but
Schmucker could not see that anything
was wrong. That night the trouble oc-
CURED. Schmucker knew nothing OF his
habits. but says that Lobb had not been
drinking when he acted so peculiarly on
the occasion Of O'Neill's visit.
From remarks made by Lobb at diff
ferent times it is supposed his father was
a gamekeeper on an English preserve.
Lobb is thought to have been former
member of the Canadian Mounted Police
In the Northwest Territory.
The San Francisco call., 1905-06-22
liled out. stop shooting. It's Hutch

called out, stop shooting. It's Hutch
ings."
The brave policeman showed aside the
bed and mattress that had been used as
barricade and opened the door. Bare
foot and almost headless, the body of
Lobb lay upon the floor. A look at the
walls and ceiling turned most of those
who entered faint and sick. The place
was like a shambles.
The dead man was taken to the
Morgue and his effects were taken in
charge by Public Administrator Hynes.
Lobb was an Englishman, "a years of
age, and a carpenter by trade. He was
last employed in San Diego. He was
member of the carpenters union of that
city, in good standing. Letters found
in his tool chest show that he had
sister, two brothers and parents in Eng
land.
1t is thought that Lobb's murderous
fit of insanity was brought on through
brooding over similar tragedy in San
Diego. About two months ago w. J.
Stewart of that city, also a carpenter
and a member of Lobb's union, ran
amuck in the same manner. Stewart
killed five and wounded two before he
killed himself The similarity of the
cases convinces the police that Lobb
was influenced by Stewards insane
deed. Lobb had been visiting at Ben
son, Arizona, shortly before he came
here
The wounded were rushed to the Gen.
trail Emergency Hospital, where Dr.
Glover and Chief Steward Bucher Dress
ed their wounds Chevalier was the
worst hurt. The sight of one eve had
been totally destroyed.
While the wounds of the others were
painful, DR.. Glover declared that none
Of them were dangerous. The China
IL
bullet. All the others were wounded by
shot.
While the maniac was firing into the
street car stopped almost directly un-
der the window. Lobb fired upon it.
shattering several panes of glass; but
the passengers, warned by the cries of
people huddled in doorways, kept out of
sight. The car moved on at full speed.
George W. Merritt of 2901 Fillmore
street said that he had been introduced
to Lobb on Tuesday afternoon At the
time, Merritt declares, Lobb seemed
sane and sober
The San Francisco call., 1905-06-22
Hufcklngs Braces
Manlacs S Weab0n

When he was just outside the window
Iutchings fired a shot in the air and the
maniac peeped at him from behind the
lace curtain
The squad IL the corridor began to bat
ter at the door. Suddenly the report of
the shotgun rang out again. A piece of
red dripping human skull flew through
the window and. Hutchings. knowing well
what had happened, leaped into the room.
The men outside the door hearing the
report. thought Hutchings had been
killed and began TO fire through the door.
stop firing. this is Hutchings," shouted
the policeman. and opened the door
one Of Lobbs maddest freaks was
using greenbacks as wads. In all he
must have shot nearly $409 in currency at
the crowd. About $3.50 of this was ac-
counted for by the police and Coroner's
deputies Shortly after the insane man
ended his life crowds gathered in front
The San Francisco call., 1905-06-22
PEEPS at Policeman
From Behind Cuytazu

Like all true heroes, Policeman
Hutchings. who made possible target
of himself in the effort to take the ma
MAC alive, is modest. He said:
II did not feel that 1 was doing anv-
thing particularly brave. always have
endeavored to do my duty in danger or
otherwise ever since I have been on the
force. / thought / might get on the fire
escape and attract the maniac's atten-
ton while the others broke in the door
and overpowered or shot him. l crawled
The San Francisco call., 1905-06-22
Exh1brts W0,1ness
When Sbo7Uu to Room

Lieutenant Green of the Central Sta
tion was among the first to arrive. He
says:
..Patrolman Percy Smith telephoned me
early in the morning that there was