davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1905-02-08

pressed too closely on his trail and
Immediate escape was necessary. Flee
ing before the officers and farmers.
Ely's escape. as subsequently described
oy himself. was one so hazardous that
ne does not to-day know how the
shower of bullets sent after him failed
10 end his life. With the horses push
ing him 10 his utmost he came upon
FARMER driving peacefully along the
road. Stop or I'll shoot" he yelled
Inc FARMER pulled up. Paying no at
ten to the men following. a quarter of
mile behind, he stood behind the
agriculturist and ordered him to drive
ike h, or I'll blow your bloody
Drains out. Again the farmer obeyed
Suddenly coming upon a dozen ditch
men directly in his path. all hone nj
escape seemed 20 be cut on II was
then that the remarkable GOODNESS of
the man and presence of mind as
serted themselves. HurriedIy iumpinF
from the wagon he cowed the crowd i'm
front with his revolver, calmly nm
hitched one Of the horses and bofore
anybody knew Lis intentions he had
Jumped on the animals back and. with
half dozen shots. dashed on a mad
gallop to stretch of wooded land
three miles away. Reaching the
thicket he dismounted turned tho
morse loose and escaped from his p,n
suers IL was then that the plans of
Morrison TO aid in the escape were
useful. for Ely found the home of Is,k
Taylor one Of the gang. gave the Dass-
word, and was sheltered until nc had
time TO burglarizc the residence NJ
William Schwartz. a farmer. and NH
mately found his way 20 Kansas civ
Ely's Confession.
In the investigation Of recent veara
the robbery OF Ayers was looked into
and information given by Jacx psoe
resulted in the apprehension Of EIv
He was brought to Williams countv
from his residence in the west ond
when the evidence prepared nv the
state fire marshal was shown him he
confessed TO the deed. took the oaico.s
over the route Of his escape ard veri-
fed all that had been related by page
in his confession. lie served one year
in the Columbus (O). penitentiorv for
his crime, justice having been side-
tracked to some extent because he
turned states evidence and supnIied
the officers with information which In
part. resulted in the arrest and con-
victiOn OF Morrison. who is now sorry.
ing sentence of 30 years IN prison.
Jack Page, first in crime after Nor
rison. enjoys freedom because ne gave
information of so much value IN bunt.
ing down the frebugs. A crippled old
man now. he does not hesitate 20 say
that he cannot begin to remember how
many houses he fred, and how many
Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1905-02-08

came each week, he visited the little
bank in the village, drew out from
81. 800 to 5000 with which to trans
act, business the week following.
Morrison was Ayers best friend. to
all appearances. One night, Morrison
casually asked the cattleman why he
never carried revolver for protection.
What's the use?" Ayers asked.
Nobody knows ] have money in my
pockets but my friends, and trust
every one OF them"
Within a week Morrison. fearing to
do the job him self. imported Jim Ely,
Kansas City crook. who was to hold
UP Ayers and murder him II necessary
to get the money Ely baked on the
killing. II have a brother who will do
that; he will be here SOON" he told
Morrison. and in two days G.. Waldo
Ely dropped in at West Unity. met
Morrison in the latter's barn and the
details of the crime were planned.
Morrison's scouts watched Ayers.
learned that he drew about 81. 900 from
the bank. and Swallowed his every
movement until the time came to
strike
Meanwhile Morrison remained at
home. conscious Of the fact that half
the swag was to be given him. that
the division was to be made in his
barn. where the plans for the robbery
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.
IL 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 sgnalled
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 ne pulled the gun there were two
sharp reports as streaks OF hamc
poured from the barrels of the gun,
Ely held. Ayers fell with a Rroan
Inc noise OF the shooting attracted
Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1905-02-08

people Of the town. and in q 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 10 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 even 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 II. now get me out. or therell be
somebody else beside me sent up for
this little job" was his admonition,
and IL was up to Morrison to furnish
the assistance
With the help of 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
Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1905-02-08

been kept. The insurance companies
have paid. IL Is estimated more than
81 500 900 To the members of the gang
Homer Morrison and Jack Page wers
indicted nearly dozen times. principal
ly for arson. April 2, 1873. they burned g.
Morrison's home. and got the insurance.
Morrison hired Page for that job A lit
tie later. Page was duped into burning 4
John Kellers property, west OF West
Unity. Then Keller. trapped because hs
employed Morrison to do the dirty work,
was forced into the gang. and he becams
one Of the worst OF the lot lie was in
dicted several times for aiding Morrison
and Page October 49, 1908. he pleaded
guilty to arson. and served year in ths
penitentiary.
Waldo Ely. Morrison. Wesley Ship
man and Frank Colon, all OF whom par
ticlpated in the attempt on Samuel Ay-
ers' life were indicted. Morrison got
ten years In the penltentiary. Shipman
two, and Ely one.
In 1895, new men were taken into tho
fold, and their work resulted In the in
dictment OF Harry Kirkenda1l. William
Bonner, Freddie Bowman. Chsfies
Smith, William Davidson, and 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. lie was sentenced to serve
two years. Newton Omey, Jackson
Swisber. Charles Hultzberg and one OF
two more are still at large having fed
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 II haa
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.
I Some have ceased 20 be active particle
/ pants in the saturnaliua Of crime. ana
are leading respectable existences. But
their reformation will not carry them
! through the present storm of iustica-
/ They must answer for their misdeeds
and the confessions. being made almost
daily. will cause their downfall. and
none but their disgraced families can en-
JOY the fruit OF theis i'll gotten wealth.
Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1905-02-08

night. dual existence ii was, with
church worship an outward sign OF the
piety in their bosoms. Nothing es-
capped. Schoolhouses were fred with
impunity. just as willingly as 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, genuine pyromaniac, whose
lust for adventure induced him to set
fire to the Methodist church in Stryker.
o. From 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
would be given opportunity to- become
proficient in the art, and ultimately de-
velop into a talented firebug One
night, without orders from his superb
ors, he 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 ad-
missions of the youth were pronounced
falsehOods, and nobody but the officers
placed faith in them. Not until within
the last year. when the boys confes-
sion was substantiated, 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 unacquainted 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
Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1905-02-08

cess baggage" Morrison said. and PAGE
never forgot the insult. He left with
the parting admonition that he would
some day get even. and he has. for Nor
rison is serving In the penitentiary. and
score OF his cronies have been indicted,
dozen found guilty and sent TO prison.
while Page breathes free air. and Will
probably live the rest OF his days outside
OF prison walls
The barriers In the way OF confession
oy Page were broken by Jim Saunders.
respected West Unity man. Saunders
and Page were boys together. when they
iett England, the country OF their birth.
TO try their fortunes In America. Saun-
ders grew up In the straight and narrow
pain, living as he had been taught to
I'VE Page forgot the good teachings Of
MS youth. The officers got the two men
toSether. saunders well posted as to his
""'y' lie resolved to- do all he could to
assist In wringing confession from tho
o'u nreoug. But this at first seemed to
oe useless. for Page. wary to the last.
eVaued the efforts To get at the truth.
Arrest OF Page was finally necessary.
ana ne was taken to Toledo. where tho
sweatbox was to be tried on him. Sauu-
aers accompanied him. The good mau
denounced the nrebugs. talked of thu
Gays OF long ago. when both stood on tho
tn'esnoid with an even chance at tho
world They had reached nearly the al
io'.eo three score and ten. The one was
an honest man, the other was a criminal
Oh tue worst type A few rounds OF drinks
In the Widdell hotel brought out admis-
sions from Page. Then he confessed to
some OF his actions and asked Saunders'
advice.
| Tell the whole truth. you can't AFFORD
10 lie, now, Jack" said Saunders. ana
rage. seeing an opportunity to maze
good the threat of vengeance upon hia
former pals, disclosed so much that a
conference with the fire marshal was
arranged.
a man. conscious OF the fact that his
criminal operations are even partially
known to those I'm authority. and wish
ing to bring upon his partners in crime
the punishment he had already suffered.
Is easy picking for detectives. Thus 1t
was that Page, the stole. revealed the
inner workings of the gang which had
terrorized the community for years.
Names were mentioned, and when the
disclosures were substantiated by fur
Their investigation. the grand juries OF
Williams and Fulton counties were kept
busy for months, indicting men connect.
ed with the conspiracy.
Number of Fires Unknown.
Nobody knows how many fires were
caused by the torches of these criminals.
The number is more than hundred, but
more accurate count than that has not
Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1905-02-08

lected only after the greatest efforts.
Now and then. indications would ap-
pear on the surface OF what-was really
happening. and it was from these small
clues that the detectives finally I'M
earthed the chief conspirators and
turned them over to the law for pun
ishment
Or this gang OF fearless criminals.
Homer Morrison. once a respected son
or 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.
IL ne was not aware that he was lust
as liable to punishment as IL he had
applied the torch. he was so informed
and thus became an addition to the
ranks.
The Killing Of Ayers.
IL was Morrison's avarice that re-
suited in the concoction of a plot to
Kill Samuel Ayers. November %. 1897.
Ayers was a wealthy cattleman. who
lived near West Unity, small village
In Williams county. The old fellow
was peculiar, believed everybody his
friend. and feared harm from 40 one.
Every Friday. as regularly as that day
Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1905-02-08
State Officials We're Baffled Until They Sc
cured the Confession of Eishty-Y ear-Old
Jack Page. After Which Indict-
ments Followed Rapidly.
History of This Remarkable Band of Incendiaries
and Their Methods of Operation Bodness Marked
Every Move-A Desire for Revenge on the Part
of Page Finally Caused Their Exposure.

edo.-Northwestern Ohio with its
ers, is nearing the end of a reign OF
terror of 80 years. during which time
gang of incendaries, hungry for sud
den wealth, have desecrated it's beauty
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 those
which have shocked the residents of
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 firebugs. 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 one man have
been returned y indictments, against
another there are ten and lucky indeed
Is the member of the organization who
escaped with only a single true bill,
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
tzation.
Only 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
q 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
Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1905-02-08

hreougs. was a young man. possessed
Of valuable farm and surrounded by
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 25 years elapsed before it was
satiated. Gathering as clansmeu ap-
pareutly honest and respectable farm
ers. the gang pursued its course. stop
ping at nothing, making insurance
companies It's prey, and bouncing upon
them every time an occasion presented
itself
Working as honored men by day,
they became the vilest desperadoes by
Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1905-02-08

neighbor for fear that he would time
aodress member Of the organization
ana so jeopardize. not only his nron.
erty, but the lives OF himself and Fam
ily. 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 an.
piled the flames was covered with the
garb OF good citizenship. and even the
bravest feared 10 point at him the An
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 nm
dertaking was known to be big and
fraught with peril. evidence was CO...
The statesman., 1905-11-03
Every Little Bit Helps Odd
Fellows Entertainment Nov. 9.

CHICAGO, H., Oct. 23.- Negroes,
Negroes everywhere, and not Negro
man to works the plight of the
South" The foregoing is the first
line of an article in The Chicago Trl
bune Of Sunday before last, under the
heading: South Cries for Workers" "
Complaint is made CT the Afro-Amer-
lean as a worker in the South:
O-That he is willing to work at
exceptionally high wages about half
of the time. In railroad work, the
colored man averages about twelve
days each per month, although the
wages are from sl.50 to 81 90 per day
(2)--rhat, unlike the white la orer,
"the efficiency OF the Negro laborer
does not increase with an increase OF
wages"
(8-The Negro works "only long
enough for actual and immediate
maintenance"
4-In Mobile county, Ala, she
Negro's shiftlessness is reflected in
the annual reports, which show that
for the average fiscal period more
than one-half have been buried as
paupers at the public expense"
(5)-The South's industrial expan.
sion has produced labor demand
which is supplied neither by natural
increase Of nstiv, 8 OF by the arrival Of
The statesman., 1905-11-03
aliens"


There may be some error in the
sweeping arraignment Of the south
ern Negro, but there is enough OF
truth in the foregoing to cause a sad
gloom to settle on even the most op
timistic of us when we think OF the
wasted opportunities. All may not
be as dark and hopeless as would
seem from the severe criticisms we
receive but the hundreds OF Negroes
who are perennially IDLE, the many
children who are kept in school only
by the truancy laws, the wretched use
which is made OF education on the
part of large class bring home with
crushing force the thought that the
President stated so well, that duty
comes before rights. 1t is a long way
from emancipation to equality. The
journey is amid many besetm nts and
requires the best that we can offer.
Organization is an old cry and is
urged as a panacea for our ills. II
we will put our best into it OF brain
and manhood it can accomplish won.
ders. Let US talk it over by twos and
ihrees and then wield the advanced
thought, the sacrifice, the spirit to do
thai exist among US into an orgauiza
tlon, Previous failures should not
The statesman., 1905-11-03

The life OF an old man is like A
lighted candle In a draught
BE not slaves to your children, they
will have their happiness later.
Before We can sympathlze With
others we ourselves must have suf
fered.
The statesman., 1905-11-03

deter us, the m ,untains to be moved
should inspire only greater effort. II
it is worth while it certainly is within
the range Of possibility for whatever
is is right.
The statesman., 1905-11-03

II ls easier TO nnd thousand re.
cruits than one general
Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1905-02-20
The CHEHALIS RIVER Bridge.
n. J. West has Ief Contract for
Draw, Spans and Piers.

While in Portland last week A. j. West
let contract to the Pacific Construction
Co., of San Francisco for the building OF
steel draw two draw spans, and the
concrete piers for the Chehalis river
bridge. The contract is to be com pleted
by Sept. l, and Mr.. West will proceed
a. once with the piling OF the approach
es, so that wagon, and possibly trolley
car. travel between the city proper and
South Aberdeen and Cosmopolis will be
an accomplished fact before next fall.
Keep your eye on the development OF
Aberdeen, and the entire Grays Harbor
country during the year 1905.
The contract as signed up by Mr..
West calls for the construction OF steel
draw, 3O7 feet long, and two combination
iron and wood spans aggregating 372
feet, and five concrete piers. Creech
Bros, have the contract for piling the
approaches, and will begin work proba.
bly, tommow, and are also figuring upon
building the approaches complete.
The erection OF this bridge will marx
an epoch on the development of Aber.
deem, and its projection is already caus.
ing lots Of inquiry for South Aberdeen
property.
Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1905-02-20
new RAIL CONNECTION,
kOad From. Shelton Ito Elma TO be
Pushed.

Millard Lemon returned last week
from Mason county where he has been
engaged for some time in locating the
line for the railroad which Is to connect
the Blakeiy road and the Peninsular
road, and thereby giving shelton its first
rail connections with the outside world.
The extension is being pushed with
vigor, and right behind the surveying
party comes the right-of-way clearing
crew, and behind them the graders. BY
this time the laving of rails on one end
Of the line is under way.
"About fifty men are now at work on
the extension" said Mr.. Lemon today,
"and the entire grade will be ready for
the ties within a short while. The
crossing of the Satsop river presents the
only engineering difficulty, and there, q
bridge about 800 feet long must be built
Most OF the country is comparatively
level, and at one place there is mile
and half of road as straight as string
cut down through the virgin forest,
making as pretty scene as one could
wish. The line will be completed, and ]
believe it will be possible to ship out
logs and lumber from Shelton over these
roads and the Northern Pacific spur
from Elma by the middle Of next sum.
mer."-Olympia Recorder.