davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1906-05-26

issued on the life of this unfortunate
brother-in-law as security for some
money he (Gray) mad advanced, he
might contemplate with more equa-
nimity his relatives approaching end.
Richardson thought he could fix it.
and the brother-in-law was sent for
from ST. Louis.
Now, the convenient orother-in-law
was about as much a relative CT Gray's
as Gray was himself a lumber mer-
chant, but he was indeed suffering from
consumption and diabetes and was SO
ill when Richardson wrote his $50, 000
policy that he had to be propped up
in bed in order to sign it. Richardson
announced that he had bri5ed a couple
of doctors to sign the physical exam
ination papers, and the sick brother
in-law was shipped back to ST. Louis,
whence he went out to Arizona a year
later to die.
Dallas Made Headquarters.
Greatly did Gray admire the skilled
manipulation of the brother-in-Iaw
case by his friend Richardson. So
when the latter suggested that there
was plenty of easy money to be made
by similar undertakings down in the
border country where people are not
watched too carefully, Gray fell in
with the game at once, and the two
went back to Dallas, where Gray's
lumber Office became shortly their
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1906-05-26

headquarters. Gray used to hear from
Richardson how it wasn't really neces-
sary to bribe a doctor in an insurance
case, but simply to take a dummy be-
fore the medical man to pass the
physical examination, and Richardson
had just the dummy that filed the
bill, young fellow named Mason,
once a miner in Chihuahua.
So the months went on, and it was
in October of 1902. The Gray-Richard-
son-Mason combination was now in
good running order, and it was
planned that they should go to Ell
Paso, where Mason would t AXE out
100000 insurance in the name of
Marshall D. Sanguinetto, An individ-
ual whom Richardson said he knew to
be dying of consumption in Mexico.
They were to make Gray the benefi-
ciary of the policy, wait until Sanguin-
etto died, and then collect the $780,
600. But hitch arose. Richardson
remembered one day that mis- friend
Sanguinetto, was a young man of
middle age, whereas Mason was but a
youngster of %. Why not, then, have
Gray take out the policy as Sanguin-
etto, making Mason the benenciary,
and then collect in the usual way?
Gray Marked for Murder.
Gray was not Overanxious to make
his death possible source of profit to
Richardson and Mason, but he con-
scented to be Sanguinetto for the pur-
poses of the policy, and to own Mason
as David SanguinettO, his son and
heir. After various introductions the
policy was made out anu the deal
closeo-apparently. What introduced
a new element into it that Rich
ardson and his friend Mason had not
counted on was the fact that Harry
BOttOme and a couple of detectives
had been keeping in nightly touch
with Gray and incidentally had been
doing little work on the side, listen
ing to conversations between Rich
ardson and Mason when Gray wasn't
around. 1t was in one of these con-
versations that Richardson gleefully
remarked that Gray had been the cas-
lest thing imaginable in the Sanguin-
etto case, and added:
I'VE won't do a thing to him when
we get him over the border
Bottome and his men decided that
matters had gone far enough. They
laid their information before the dis
trict attorney of Ell Paso county, and
warrants were issued for all three, in
Guiding Gray, for it was inexpedient
just then to have an exposure of the
part which the lumberman-detectfve
had played in the case. Gray, however,
was soon released, and the next step
was a charge fled in the City of Chi
huahua accusing Richardson and Ma
son of the murders of Mitchell and
Devers. In the preliminary hearing
DIR. Harle was called as witness, and
testified that Mitchell did die of strvch-
nine poisoning instead of spinal men
nights, but that Richardson had told
him that the case was one of sui
eide, and wanted to have things hushed
up. Devers, Harle still declared, died
of dysentery. Harle said that he had
been called in to attend him by half
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1906-05-26
OUuUuDQDQQI

look into the matter. These things
were reported to the home office, and
under the direction of Second Vice
President Kingsley, Harry H. Bottome,
a lawyer Of New York, and a detective,
who may remain nameless, got busy
on the case.
1t was discovered that Devers had
been in Chihuahua a few weeks before
his death, and that nothing was known
about him except that he was a hard
drinker and of a type of social out
cast common enough in that territory
This strengthened a theory that the
very possession of a $40, 900 policy by
such a man required some further
explanation, let alone possible suspi-
cious circumstances attending his
death So the Investigators turned to
the payment OF the Devers policy at
the Ell Paso ONCE, after the company
had unsuccessfully tried to have the
check sent from New York intercepted
In transit
First Evidence Secured.
1t appeared that the check had been
forwarded from the FL Paso ONCE to
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1906-05-26

was to be used in Swindling one Will
lis Meredith out of a lot of money.
For this purpose Devers was to pose
| as the half-brother of Meredith, and
also to take out a life insurance pol
icy in his half-brothers favor. But
Devers never signed any papers in this
| connection; that was all arranged be-
tween Harle and Richardson. so that
when Willis Meredith, who turned out
to be Mason, arrived on the night OF
Harry M1tchell's funeral with a wom-
an who posed as his wife, it was neces-
sary only that the final preparation
should be made to put Devers out OF
the way before collecting both of the
policies. These were easily arranged.
The bogus Meredith and Devers went
to live together. On February %
Harle was called to see Devers, who
appeared to be suffering from acute dys-
EMERY. Harle gave him some medi-
cine to ease his pain, but shortly after
he died.
In his confession Harle said he knew
Devers was being poisoned, and sup
posed that bichloride of mercury was
given him in whisky. Harle filed out
a fake burial certificate and the
other papers necessary to collect on
the policy, otter which Richardson
and Mason, w6J had now become Will
liam Mitchell, took it to the Ell Paso
agency and eventually raised the S.
900, of which we have heard, at the
bank at Fort Worth. Harle, of course,
was Immediately arrested, and event.
ually came to trial with the other men.
Hurlbert'S Criminal Record
But in the meantime photographs of
the trio had been distributed through
the usual police channels throughout
the country, and when they reached
Rochester, N. Y, the photograph of
Richardson was recognized as that of
Lester E. Hurlbert, a lawyer, who had
jumped that city in May, 1901, after
the exposure of an extensive divorce
mill which he had operated in the
cities of Rochester and Buffalo. Will
liam Mitchell, or Willis Meredith, or
Mason, as he was variously known
turned out to be the brother of Harry
Mitchell, who was killed in Chfhua-
hua in order that the gang might col
lect on his $4,000 policy. Mrs Rich
ardson was identified as the wife of
Hurlbert, and Investigation in Roches-
ter developed the fact that she was
the sister of the Mitchell boys. Will
liam Mftchell's trail, indeed, was fol-
lowed even to Hot Springs. Ark.
where the wealthy lumberman" Gray
had his brother-in-law insured, for
Mason" was the engaging young
man who had himself examined by
the Hot Springs doctor as John J.
Evans
The trial OF the three men had been
reported in part in the papers through
out the country, and it served only to
develop the facts in the remarkable
case which have been very simply mar
rated above The verdict CT guilty
quickly followed the presentation of
the facts to the jury, and it remained
at length necessary only for the exc
cutioners to carry out the sentence
of the court
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1906-05-26

Hail Is a mystery. Nobody knows
how it is formed, though there are
several theories. A hailstone is made
like an onion, of series of concentric
coats. These coats of ice are appar-
emily put on in succession, by repeat
ed freezings, but in what manner is
unknown. One notion suggested is
that the frozen rain-drop, which is
the nucleus, is alternately attracted
and repealed between opposing storm
clouds, of positive and negative cleo
trification respectively, and that it
gradually increases in size as it is
carried to and fro.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1906-05-26

Insurance came from medieval Italy.
1t is believed to date from the 10th
century, and at that time it was
known in Florence. The Romans did
not know insurance. The nearest they
came to it was the practice of a COM
pany supplying the army to require a
guarantee from the state against the
loss of ships. But this was soon
abandoned, because damages had been
collected for sunken ships too worth
less to float.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1906-05-26

Talus, the Greek, is said to have in
vented the saw from having once
found the jawbone of a snake, which
he employed to cut through a small
piece of wood. In early periods the
trunks of trees were split into boards
with wedges, and though these boards
were not always straight, they were
regarded as much better suited to
construction than sawn boards, be
cause they followed the grain, and
lasted longer and were stronger.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1906-05-26

agent for the life insurance company
in the territory.
Gray's Entry Into the Game.
1t was at this stage of the case that
there came to Dallas, where the Rich.
ardsons were living in style, a pre-
possessing citizen named w. ]. Gray,
a dealer in lumber lands, who opened
an ONCE of some size and took a house
in the best part of the town. The
Richardson's happened to be in Hot
Springs, Ark, at the time. and SO
Gray, the lumberman, who wasn't in
any hurry to get his Dallas affairs NOV
ing anyway, took a trip over to the
Arkansas resort and registered at the
same hotel with the former life in
surance agent, his wife and child.
The two got acquainted and became
famous friends. Then one day Rich
ardson proposed that he should insure
Gray's life. Gray demurred, but he
recalled that his wife had a brother
who was i'll with consumption, dia-
betes, and several other troubles, and
it occurred to him that If there were
any way in which a policy might be
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1906-05-26

In India assaults on British SOL
diers by natives have become so fire.
quent of late that the press is direct
ing the serious attention of the gov
eminent to the matter. The Civil and
Military Gazette asserts, ION trust
worthy information, that in the north
ern command alone such assaults oc-
cur as often as once a week, with a
marked tendency to increase" This
is regarded as an aftermath of the
triumph of the japanese in the far
. east
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1906-05-26

According to the Biological Society
of Copenhagen very interesting ex-
pertinent is shortly to be made in the
northern portion of the narrow straits
called the Little Belt, between the
Baltic sea and the Cattegat. Electric
lamps are to be fixed at the bottom of
the straits, in order to prevent the
conger cells from making their way
out into the open sea- The eel shows
a marked fear of light The conger
eel even will not migrate to the open
sea when the moon is at the full.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1906-05-26

"Colored rain,'' in the shape of mil
lions of little red, green and yellow
insects, fell recently at Anglers,
France. The phenomenon lasted sew
eral hours, and so numerous were the
insects that they choked the water
pipes in the town and were shoveled
up in the streets by the CARLOAD.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1906-05-26

The lowest temperature ever re-
corded on the earth was taken at
Werchojansk, in the interior of Sibe-
ria, January Is, 1885. 1t was 80 de-
grees and a fraction below zero.
Werchojansk is in the latitude of the
pole of cold. There the earth is
frozen to a depth of about 100 feet.
and in the warmest season it never
thawS.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1906-05-26

Pharmacy and medicine were first
made separate professions by the
monks and priests of the tenth and
eleventh centuries. The father of the
apothecaries seems to have been Con-
stantine Afer, of Carthage. Their
preparations and potions were sold to
the rich and given to the poor. No
apothecaries are mentioned in France
prior to 1854.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1906-05-26

Japan's mortuary list in the late
war numbers SO,73s, made up of A.
1872 killed in action, II, 424 died from
wounds and 21 ,SO2 from sickness. The
total included 213 officers, 16,90S nom
commissioned officers and men, and
1857 non-combatantS.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1906-05-26

During 1905, 172 climbers lost their
lives on the Alps. But as 100000 per-
sons made ascents the percentage of
loss was small. Only 10 per cent of
the accidents, fatal or otherwise, were
due to unavoidable causes. The rest
were due to carelessness or foolhardi-
ness
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1906-05-26

1t is reported that the disaster in
San Francisco has resulted in many
weddings. Women, driven out of their
homes and left destitute, have ap-
pealed to the men to whom they were
engaged, and marriages have been i'm
mediately effected.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1906-05-26

Miss Belle McTyre, of Chesterfield.
Va, recently killed a large eagle
which had been feasting for some time
on her chickens. The eagle measured
feet 67s inches from wing to wing.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1906-05-26

The Chinese detective force is
secret body, and the best organized
in the world. Its members keep an
eye on every man, woman or child,
and, in addition, watch one another.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1906-05-26

China, following Japan's example,
is sending large numbers of students
to Great Britain and the continent of
Europe. They go to the chief indus
trial centers.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1906-05-26
! KANSAS STATE NEWS.


w. l.. A. Johnson, commissioners Of
the state bureau of labor, has 10
turned from Cherryvale, where he sue
ceeded in settling strike of smelter
employees. The employees of the Ed
gar Zinc works, 800 of them being in
volved, demanded an increase of ten
cents a day in the wage scale and the
discharge of an Objectionable foreman
named Fisher, who had been selling
promotions. Fisher, it is alleged, has
collected $500 through the sale of pro-
motions in the last few months. Ee is
now under arrest on a charge Of con-
structive larceny. Mr.. johnson pro-
cured affidavits establishing Fishers
guilt and settlement Of the strike was
then easy.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1906-05-26

There is a great demand for fax all
over the world, and a great effort is
being made to induce Americans to
cultivate it
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1906-05-26

In SO years the average height Of
British men has risen an inch, to
feet 8A inches.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1906-05-26

German Farmer Killed by Wawoin
John Oelrich, well-to-do and re-
spected German farmer near Mineral,
fell from his wagon while on his way
for a load of lumber and sustained in
5uries from which he died at his home
The National tribune., 1906-09-13
THE CASTLE OF ZENDA.

lowed to the letter Sapts exhortation to
let the morrow take care Of itself.
At last the King set down his glass
and leaned back in his chair.
II have drunk enough" said he.
Far be it from me to contradict the
King" said I.
Indeed, his remark was most abso-
lutely true-so far as it went.
While I yet spoke Josef came and set
before the King a marvellous old wick
er-covered flagon. 1t had lain so long
in some darkened cellar that 1t seemed
to blink in the candlelight.
His Highness the Duke of Strelsau
bade me set this wine before the King
when the King was weary Of all other
wines, and pray the King to drink for
the love that he bears his brother"
"Well done, Black Michael!" said the
King. "Out with the cork, Josef. Hang
himi Did he think I'd finch from his
bottle?"
The bottle was opened, and Josef fill
ed the Kings glass. The King tasted it.
Then, with a solemnity born Of the hour
and his own condition, he looked round
on us.
Gentlemen, my friends-Rudolf, my
cousin Cts a scandalous story, Rudolf,
on my honor! !)-everything Is yours. to
the half Of Ruritania. But ask me not
for a single drop Of this divine bottle.
which I will drink to the health of
that-tnat sly knave, my brother, Black
Michael"
And the King seized the bottle and
turned it over his mouth, and drained
it and flung 1t from him, and laid his
head on his arms on the table.
And we drank pleasant dreams to his
Majesty-and that is all I remember of
the evening. Perhaps 1t is enough.
The National tribune., 1906-09-13
BY ANTHONY HOPE.

drank its fellow to the "Elphberg red, >
whereat he laughed loudly.
Now, be the meat what it might, the
wine We drank was beyond all price OF
praise, and we did it justice. Fritz
ventured once to stay the Kings hand
WHAT" cried the King. "Remem-
Der, you start before do. Master Fritz;
you must be more sparing by two hours
than II
Fritz saw that I did not understand.
''Thc Colonel and l." he explained,
"leave here at 6; we ride down to Zenda
and return with the guard of honor to
fetch the King at s, and then we all
ride together to the station"
Hang that same guard!" growled
Sapt.
"Oh, it's very civil of my brother to
ask the honor for his regiment" said
the King. Come. cousin. you need not
start early. Another bottle, mani"
1 had another bottle-or. rather, 4
part of one, for the larger half travelled
quickly down his Majesty's throat. Fritz
gave up his attempts at persuasion;
from persuading he fell to being per-
suaded, and soon we were all of us as
full of wine as We had any right to be.
The King began talking of what he
would do in the future. old Sapt of what
he had done in the past, Fritz of some
beautiful girl or other, and 1 of the
wonderful merits of the Elphberg dy-
nasty. We all talked at once, and fol-
The National tribune., 1906-09-13
uI.-Continued.

For an instant we stood motionless
looking at one another. Then 1 barred
my head again and bowed respectfully
The King found his voice, and asked in
bewilderment:
"Colonel-Fritz-w is this gentle
MANI"
I was about to answer when Col
Sapt stepped between the King and me-
and began to talk to his Majesty in a
low growl. The King lowered over
Sapt, and as he listened his eyes now
end again sought mine. looked at him
&ng and carefully. The likeness was
certainly astonishing, though 1 saw the
points of difference also. The King
face was slightly more fieshy than mine,
the oval of its contour the least trifie
more pronounced, and, as 1 fancied, his
mouth lacked something of the firm
ness Cor obstinacy) which was to be
gathered from my close-shutting lips.
But for all that, and above all minor
distinctions, the likeness rose striking,
salient, wonderful.
Sapt ceased speaking, and the King
still frowned. Then, gradually, the cor
ners of his mouth began to twitch, his
nose came down Gas mine does when
I laugh), his eyes twinkled. and, be-
hold! he burst into the merriest fit of
irrepressible laughter, which rang
through the woods and proclaimed him
a jovial soul.
The National tribune., 1906-09-13
The King Keeps His Appointment.

Whether I had slept a minute or a
year I knew not. I awoke with a start
and shiver; my face, hair and clothes
dripped water, and opposite me stood
old Sapt, a sneering smile on his face
and an empty bucket in his hand On
the table by him sat Fritz Won Tarlen-
helm, pale as a ghost and black as a
crow under the eyes.
I leaped to my feet in anger.
Your Joke goes too far. siri' cried.
tut, man, we've no time for quar-
reling. Nothing else would rouse you.
It's o'clock"
"I'll thank you, Col. Sapt-" 1 began
again, hot in spirit, though I was un-
commonly cold in body.
"Rassendyll," interrupted Fritz. get
ting down from the table and taking
my arm, Took here"
The King lay full length on the floor.
His face was as red as his hair, and he
breathed heavily. Sapt, the disrespect-
full old dog, kicked him sharply. He did
not stir, nor was there any break in his
breathing. / saw that his face and
head were wet with water, as were
mine.
We've spent half an hour on him."
said Fritz.
He drank three times what either
of you did," growled Sapt.
/ knelt down and felt his pulse. It
was alarmingly languid and slow. We
three looked at one another.
WAS it drugged-that last bottle?" /
asked in whisper.
Il don't know" said Sapt.
1--WE must get a DOCTOR
There's none within 10 miles, and
1000 doctors wouldn't take him to
Strelsau to-day. 1 know the look of il.
He'll not move for six or seven hours
yet"
But the coronation!" I cried in hor-
ror.
Fritz shrugged his shoulders, as I be-
gan to see was his habit on most occa-
sions.
I'VE must send word that he's ill.,"
he said.
81 suppose So" said I.
Old Sapt, who seemed as fresh as a
daisy, had Lit his pipe and was putting
hard at it.
"If he's not crowned to-day" said he,
''I'll lay crown he's never crowned"
But, Heavens, why?"
THE whole Nations there to meet
him; half the army-aye, and Black
| Michael at the head. Shall we send
word that the Kings drunk?"
THAT he's ILL.," said I, in correction.
! "Il!" echoed sapt with scornful
The National tribune., 1906-09-13

laugh. "They know his illnesses too
well. He's been ill before"
"Well, we must chance what the,
Think said Fritz heIplessly. '1ll carr,
the news and make the best of it,"
Sapt raised his hand.
"Tell me-" said he; "do you think tho
King was drugged?'
| 81 do,' said 7.
| "And who drugged him?''
'1'hat damned hound. Black Mi
chael," said Fritz between his teeth.
aye" said Sapt, that he might not
come to be crowned. Rassendyll hero
doesn't know our pretty Michael. What
| think you FritZ-has Michael no King
ready? Has half Strelsau no other can
didate? AS Gods alive. man. the
| thrones lost if the King show himself
not in Strelsau to-day. 1 know Black
Michael"
1--WE could carry him there" said I.
"And very pretty picture he
makes" sneered Sapt.
Fritz Won Tarlenheim buried his face
in his hands. The King breathed loud
ly and heavily. Sapt stirred him again
with his foot.
'"The drunken dog!" he said. But
he's an Elphberg and the son of his
father, and may I rot in hell before
Black Michael sits in his place!"
For a moment or two we were all
silent; then Sapt, knitting his bushy
gray brows, took his pipe from his
mouth and said to me:
"As a man grows old he believes in
Fate. Fate sent you here. Fate sends
you now to Strelsau."
I staggered back, murmuring, Good
GodI"
Fritz looked up with an eager, be-
wildered gaze.
'Impossible!" murmured. II should
be known
IT'S r'sk--against n certainty" said
Sapt. eff you shave I'll wager you'll
not be known. Are you afraid?"
'Sir!"
Come, lad. there, there; but it's your
life, you know, If you're known-and
Fritz's here. But IL You
don't go 1 swear to you Black Michael
will sit tonight on the throne, and the
King lie in prison or his grave"