davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1906-01-05

For many years ]. N has been
called crazy" In large sense, this
is without doubt true. His mind has
been impaired since q time before the
civil war of the rebellion. His CONVEX
sation and his public speeches we're
evidences Of this fact He could not
speak about anything intellIgently for
long at time. For few sentences
he might give utterancc TO a brilliant
thought, but then he would wander of
into maze of words that no one could
follow, or, at least, form into sense.
He would talk about lifting the veil"
and assuming the pressure" etc, and
his theory for solving national ques-
lions and party differences, but his au-
diences were never given the details
OF the theory. because his mind flew
off ut tangent before he got to this
part of his speech. He was witty
at times, entertaining ut times, bat
for the most part his talk was tire
some and his audiences left the hall
or the public places where he was
speaking long before he had finished.
The mind OF ]. N was early
wrecked. AS boy and young man he
possessed brilliant meatal attachments,
far superior to the youth OF his
neigaborhood, and 1t was often said
that the future had IN store high
honors and q useful career for Jacob
N. Free. He was the son of farm.
err, and was born on farm near Nc
Cutcneonsvllle q small village in Wy
andotte county, Ohio, on the main
road between THIN and Upper San
dusky. His father, in addition to his
farm duties, followed teaching as a
profession, and taught the country
schools for years in that vicinity. The
old farm home In which ]. N. was
born is yet standing along the main
road, pointed out frequently to the
passcrby as the place that gave birth
to the wandering philosopher and
apostle of truth. j. N. was given
every advantage In the way of an early
education. and he improved his oppor-
tunites. He attended an academy and
carried of the honors OF his class.
Then he studied law, was admitted to
the bar and entered upon the practice
of the profession.
Tried a Murder Case
There are several stories afoat as
to the circumstances that led 10 the
dethrOnement of his loas"n npa of
The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1906-01-05

tricities, just as their srandfathers
and great-grandfather have done.
But J. n. Is not now the continuous
rapid vanderor Of the years gone by.
Even his iron constitution has yielded
TO times influences. He is broken IN
health. But his restless spirit keeps
him on the occasional move. His
mind. more shattered than ever is now
unable to carry a continuous thought
for more than few minutes, yet his
memory of faces and names, which
was always one OF his remarkable
characteristics, continues good. He
now spends considerable of his time,
when his illness does not permit him
TO travel, at the homes of relatives
living in McCutcheonsville, o.. and Co
tumbus. He has sisters at both places.
The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1906-01-05

them Is that It occurred during the
trial, or, rather. just after its close,
of murder case. Not long after his
admission to the bar he was employed
TO defend n man accused of murder.
j. N. believed implicitly that his client
was innocent, and he entered with all
his energies into his defense. For
several weeks before the trial took
place he worked continuously in the
preparation of the testimony and the
law points that would come up at its
hearing.
The trial CT the case lasted a week.
During that time J. n. worked assid-
uously, far into the night, giving him.
self scarcely any time for sleep. His
speech. the closing one for the deicaae.
was master piece Of elo,. ucnce, and
The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1906-01-05

on President Davis, TO whom he also
explained his theory, and was given
the privilege OF airing his views"
on the streets OF Richmond. He was
not slow In doing 1t. His queer ways
pleased the confederate soldiers for
nuisance, and, on the pretense that he
was a northern spy, he was sent back
through the lines TO Washington. He
returned satisfied that he had made con-
verts TO his theory Of both Lincoln and
Davis, and resumed his lecturing tours
through different cities OF the north,
posing as "the martyr Of truth" and
preaching his theory OF lifting the
veil" Throughout the years since
then he has followed this mission, and
there are few cities and towns, in the
west. particularly, that he has not
spoken in. Now, however his mind is
80 shattered that he never attempts
to make a public speech. So many
know him In every place he wanders
that he always finds those who will
extend him hospitality and help out
of sympathy
Never Paid Railroad Fare.
The source of his money supply J.
~ always refused to divulge. as OBJ
stinately as he refused to tell his age.
He was seemingly never without 1t
when occasion demanded that he
should fish up nickel or dime for
lunch or some obstrepcrous landlord
or railroad conductor positively re-
fused to acknowledge his philosophers
right to tho best without price. AS
rule he travels on lite or yearly
The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1906-01-05

when he had finished, tired and worn
out, he left the courtroom and went
to his hotel to lie down, leaving his CO.
counsel TO be present in the court
when the verdict OF the jury was re-
turned. Thoroughly exhausted, J. N.
slept for several hours being awakened
by knock at the door. To his come
in" his client walked into the room
The jury had returned verdict of
not guilty, and the man had FASTENED
to Free to thank him for his efforts in
his behalf,
During the conversation he confessed
to the young lawyer that he was really
guilty. Free. indignant and excited,
hastily threw on his coat, grabbed up
his hat, and rushed out of the room
to notify the Judge OF the terrible
mistake the Jury had made When
he reached the judges home he was
in a towering rage. hardly able to
explain the nature Of his mission.
The shock of the discovery that he
had cleared a guilty murderer rem
dered him insane and threw him into
a violent fever. For weeks he lay
between life and death. and when
finally he recovered sufficiently to be
out, his health was 50 poorly that his
father thought Il best for him to give
up study and The law for awhile and
go west
Lost His All in Fire.
About this time, 1919. the gold
fever in California was at its height,
and Free went there. 10 was soon
engaged in a successful business, and
was rapidly on the road to fortune at
The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1906-01-05

meetings, OF late years. failed to ma
teriaIize. He realized the fact that he
could not hold his audiences. and con-
tented himself with the notices taat ne
got through the newspapers. He al
ways hunted up old friends, however.
and they stood the pressure" for a
coin of greater or less denomination.
But J. n never begged; he only ac-
cepted such sums as contributions 10
the cause OF truth His acquaintance
among public men was wide. He knew
about every lawyer and politician in
any town he might visit. For many
years he was acquainted with every
president, and most 81 the governors,
senators and congressman. He never
forgot face or name. In his visits
of the states II he happened at the
capital when the legislature was in ses-
sion, he was asked to address II. There
was seldom q political convention, ma
tional or senate that he did not at
tend. bobbing up at some Of them in
recent years. when many OF the dele
gates had supposed him to be dead.
Such was the case at the Illinois state
convention which he attended a year
or two ago. At that time It was said
that "it was only the ghost OF the I'm
mortal j. n"
Legacy He Will Leave.
When j. ~ is dead, when with him
this mortality shall have, in reality,
put on immortality. It will be a
strange life record that he will leave
behind-surely not such one that
In the days Of his young manhood he
had hoped and had every promise Of
leaving lie was brilliant then, Gift
ed, cnyirOned by circumstances that
would have led him INTO positions OF
honor. J. n. might nave been a IA
vorite son of Ohio, n governor. n
United States senator, had not his
intellect been early clouded. Such was
the dream OF his youth, such was his
ambition when he was admitted tn the
bar Now when death comes to him,
and II cannot be far OF, the journal
lists, and the thousands who knew
him. will speak OF him AZ a crank, a
man who was welded to a theory that
had nothing practical in It, that his
life was an aimless. wasted one. They
will gay that he accomplished nothing
simply chased n phantom, an idea
when he was never able To define in
telliSibly. This is the legacy the In
mortal J. n. Free will leave.
FRANK DIl.DINE.
The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1906-01-05

railroad pass, and had free swing at
any hotel he entered.
Occasionally he had some queer
ways of getting out Of paying hotel
bills. II the landlord or clerk was
persistent, he would say: you don't
seem to know who am, am the In
mortal J. N, the philosopher" "Oh,
well" finally the man behind the desk
would say, lin that case will throw
off one.half of your bill" Then j..
n. would straighten up with the dig
nifty OF n prince and reply in tone
that could be heard throughout the
hotel office:
"My dear sir, never allow any man
to beat me In liberality. Twill meet you.
III throw off the other half"
Then, II the hotelkeeper resented
this summary method of settlement. and
protested that he could not stand that
way of dealing ]. N. would tell him that
he had better sell out to some one
who could. The landlords knew him
so well that generally his bills were
marked d. b. long before he left the
hotel. He seldom imposed on them in
this manner more than once or twice a
year, and II became a rule among them
to give him the free hand. for he never
remained with them "a hours at q
time
He had the same sort OF a snap on
the railroads There was hardly a
railroad In the country on which he
did rot have free annual pass, on
some of them life passes. 1t was a
contribution that he levied on railroad
presidents or superintendent "for the
cause OF truth" and there were few
who refused him Until within the last
several years he carried a pocketful
of passes. Now his supply is limited
and for this reason, and because of his
advancing years and broken health. he
does not get over the country so much
as he did formerly.
During his lifetime, for half century.
anyhow, he has been one Of the most
continuous travellers in the country
He seldom remained In a town long
err than a day. He seemed to want to
be on the move all the time. His was
restless. wandering nature, and he
made towns and cities about as rapidly
as the commercial traveller does with
the added element that "he was al
ways at It," There were no vacations
with him.
Knew Many Public Men.
j. n. knew and was known by about
every editor in the country. In the
western states, at any rate. About the
first thing he did after getting into
town was TO find his way to q news
paper Office to write his own an
nouncements of his meetings and I'LL
his pockets with exchanges. He
generally heralded his coming with a
postal card, written at some other
to IN. to the editor. His published
The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1906-01-05
DESERT HEAT NOT so BAD
Temperature of Sahara Hardly OPP
pressive on Account of
Dryness.

The Sahara is not at all as popular as
belief pictures It, vast plain Of NOV
ing sand, dotted here and there with
fertile GASES, somewhat like leopard s
skin. From Tunis westward 1t is a
vast depression OF sand and clay not
much above sea level, In some parts
perfectly level. in Others hilly, with
low expressions containing water salt
Ter than the sea, which generally evap-
crates, leaving n coating OF brilliant
crystals which appear like snow in
the distance.
The river from the Aures mountains
on the north serves to irrigate tho
GASES OF the Zlban; sometimes they
flow above the surface, but often below
It, There Is n fascination about the
dcse~t that Is Understandable, and which
none can understand unless they have
spent several weeks with a caravan
At times the heat Is great, but being
perfectly dry 1t does not cEervate as q
humid atmosphere does at tempcra-
ture of 40 degrees :ower.
Near midday the desert appears TO
be a molten sea Of CABLING vibrating
light. Now and then the mirage APP
pears, and the tired eyes of the
stranger are refreshed with visions of
beautiful lakes near the horizon, even
sometimes Of trees and moving cara.
vans. Alas. this is case where sec
Ing Is not believing. After many dis
appointments Of this kind the cames
suddenly raise their heads and snuff
the air and move at quicker pace,
The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1906-01-05
The Immortal, j. n. Free, One
of the Most Unique Char
acterS of His Times.
MIND SHATTERED IN HIS YOUNG MANHOOD
Toured the Country the Demosthenes of
America and Apostle of the Truth and
Was Known by Thousands
Still Living in Ohio.

Columbus, O.--The man in the pic
ture, presented in this STORY OF a
Strange Life" has been in the public
eye for over half century. He Is
known to hundreds of thousands OF
people In the middle western states
and to hundreds Of thousands more in
the other states of the union, for dur
ing almost his entire life, now meas
ured ty over four score OF years, he has
been a wanderer. AS the Apostle of
Truth" he has probably spoken to
more people publicly and oftener than
any other living man. In Ohio, In
diana, Illinois, Michigan and Wiscon-
Sin he Is known, by name and features,
more generally than any of the gov
ernors, congressman, or other public
men, and the same Is true OF him in
many Of the other states, particularly
In the west.
Let him enter almost any city or
town IN these states now and pass
along the public streets, and, although
he may not have been there for years.
recognize him. His tall form, marked
features. and long gray locks hanging
down over his shoulders, with his
peculiarities of manner, would attract
attention. He would be stopped and
greeted by the initials of his Chris
tIan name by many Of the men whom
he met, and the next Issue OF the daily
or weekly paper would have in 1t the
mention of the presence on the streets
of 1.-The Immortal ]. n, the Phlloso-
pher and the Statesman" This has
been true of him since the days of the
war Of the rebellion II is true of
him now.
Is Not Dead, But Liveth.
Several times during the last few
years the report has gone out that
''the Immortal ]. N. Free Is dead" and
1t was published In many OF the news
papers of the country. There are very
many people who, having seen no
contradiction OF the statement, now
believe that the report OF his death
was true. The Immortal j. N is not
dead; he yet iiveth. | met him
only few weeks ago on the streets
of Columbus, o. While the strong,
vigorous health of former years has
gone, he Is yet very much alive and
IT is possible that another generation
may come into the world to gaze upon
the old fellow and wonder at his eccen-
The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1906-01-05
When Cooking Ctestnuts,

An exper! authority writes In q
household magazine these directions
for preparing chestnuts for cooking.
With a sharp knife cut slit In the
side of each nut. Throw into bollina
water. and cook for two minutes,
drain, and let dry. Add for each pint
Of nuts tablespoonful of butter. stir,
aud shake over the fire for a few min
utes. Shell and outer skin will then
easily slip off. Keep the nuts covered
while handling. as they shell more
aadily while they are hot.
The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1906-01-05
JN" u % {

Maysville, when, In n single night. IN
1852. fire practically destroyed the en-
tire business section OF the town. The
building in which J. N. was located
was burned, and almost everything he
had was lost. His escape from the
building was miraculous, and the
nights horrors were OF such La
ture that his reason was again affect
ed For a few years he sought 10
bring fortunes smiles back to him but
was unsuccessful, and he returned to
his old home in Ohio. The condition
of his mind continued to grow worse,
and he was seized with the fancy that
he was the apostle of truth. He be-
gan a lecturing tour, speaking on gov
ernmental questions and calling him
self then the Demosthenes Of Amer
lea" In the memorable presidential
campaign preceding the war of the re-
bellion he took part, not. however,
as n Republican or 4 Democrat. lie
campaigued independently, speaking
whenever and wherever his wander
ings took him. The breaking out OF
the war evolved in his demented mind
his theory for the solution OF the diff
ficulties that separated the north and
the south, a theory which, II accepted,
he maintained would bring about
peace He claimed that both sides
we're right, viewed from their own
standpoints," and both wrong. viewed
from the standpoint Of the other" His
mission was ito lift the veil" and show
each side its error.
His first public speech along this
line was at TifIin, o. He spoke on
the public square, and he had great
crowd to listen to him. His utterances
we're of such violent nature that for
bis own protection the officials took
him into custody AMI placed him in
Jail lie was, however, soon released.
and then he went from town to town
through Ohio speaking on his theory
for staying the bloody hand of war"
and bombarding the newspapers with
his views.
Visited Lincoln and Davis.
1t was some time after this that
he went to Washington. His mission
was to see President Lincoln and ar
range a meeting between him and
President Davis for n peaceable set
Element of the war, seemingly salts
fed that II he could get the two to-
gethar that he could end the war.
President Lincoln accorded him an in
terviaw. To him ]. N. unfolded his
theory. He desired Lincoln to pass
him through the army lines so that
he could visit President Davis at Rich.
mond. President Lincoln was amused
with his eccentrlclties, and, seeing the
harmlessness Of his madness, fur
nished him with protection through
the lines and note to Davis.
J. N. reached Richmond and called
The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1906-01-05
London Street Names.

There is a supernuity of King streets
in London. In the county 10 thorough
fares are so named, and three of thes"
King streets are in the city Of Wss.min.
ster.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1906-11-30
MASSACHUSETTS, NOTES.

The close OF the criminal session OF the
superior court at Greenfield came Thurs
day with the trial Of William Tracy for
larceny The crime. as alleged. consisted
OF the taking of n gold watch and pin
from f. u. Sprague of Jacksonville, Vt,
in September Sprague was stopping at
one OF the hotels In Greenfield. and en-
tertained Tracy and William Mcintyre in
his room After the two had left he
missed his watch and money. Mcintyre
pleaded guilty last week. The jury re-
turned a verdict OF guilty against Tracy
Judge Fessenden imposed a sentence OF
one year In Jail. and sent Mcintyre TO
the same institution for 10 months.
Raymond Percival, Is. son OF II. H.
Percival was arraigned in the district
court at Greenfield Monday for placing
an obstruction on the track of the Con-
necticut & Passumpsic division of the
Boston 4 Maine railroad, not far from
the factory of the American tap and die
company Nov. 10. He acknowledged
his guilt. and was held in $1,000 for the
grand jury. Bail was furnished. The
engineer OF the passenger train going
north at 2.23 saw the obstruction. which
was "A tie. and stopped the train. Had
"A passenger train from the north been
due at that time the chances for dis
covering the tie would have been small.
The case was reported to Chief Manning
of the local police. who became convinced
young Percival was the cuiprit and took
him to Mr.. Burns. a Boston a. Maine de-
tective Percivafs father Is n veteran
railway employe The lad placed the
tie across the track for the purpose of
seeing what would happen when the
train struck the obstruction.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1906-11-30
PERU.

Ella Batchelder spent Sunday with Mrs
w. b. Smonds.
Edgar Batchelder, who has been working
in East Dorset. has returned home
Mrs j. b. Brown left Thursday for an
extended visit among relatives in Perm
sylvania.
Horace Stevens, a long time resident Of
Peru, died at the home of his daughter,
Mrs. Asa Brown. Nov %.
Mrs Fayette Farnum of Manchester
Depot was in town last week TO attend the
funeral Of Mrs. Emily Simonds.
Mary Prouty. who has been working
for her sister Mrs Allen Charlton in
Putney returned home last week.
Mrs. NJ. b. Lyon. who has been visiting
her daughter, Mrs NJ. ]. Il. Fuller. I'm
Crown Point. n. Y. and her son. Eugene.
In Barre, returned home last week.
a company Of young people met at the
home Of Edmund Batchelder Saturday
evening to help celebrate the birthday
anniversary OF his son. Lyle Refresh
ments were served and a pleasant even
ing was enjoyed.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1906-11-30
The New Judicial System.

The new supreme court consists of
one chief judge and three associate
judges, instead of a bench of seven as
the old supreme court was constituted.
The House reduced the number Of as
sociate judges to two but the Senate re-
stored the original number, three and
the House concurred in the amendment
The general terms of the supreme court
are to be held at Montpelier the second
Tuesday in January, the first Tuesday
in May and the first Tuesday in October.
Special terms are to be held In St Johns
bury the second Tuesday In November.
and in Brattleboro the third Tuesday in
November. Such terms may be held at
such other times and places as the judges
may appoint The clerk of a county in
which term of court is held viii &C, as
clerk
All causes on the docket Of the court
I'm the several counties are to be heard
at the general term except that causes
pending in Addison. Bennington and Rut-
land counties may be heard II desired by
either party, at the special Rutland term
corresponding in the counties Of Windham
and Windsor may be heard AT the special
term in Brattleboro; and causes pending
in the counties of Caledonia, Essex and
Orleans may be heard at the special St
Johnsbury term.
If a supreme court is disqualified to
act at any time a judge of the superior
court may be designated by the chief
judge of the supreme court to sit in the
place of the judge disqualified:
The method OF election and terms OF
office are the same as in the case of the
supreme court judges No judge may
be an officer OF railroad, banking or in
surance corporation.
Each superior judge first elected Is to
be the chief judge. This makes Judge
Haselton the first man to hold the office.
The superior judges are to preside at
the county courts but in case there Is II
temporary vacancy through disqualified
ton n supreme court judge may be as
signed to preside
The salaries OF the new judges in 10th
the supreme and superior courts is TO be
$4,000 and all necessary expenses including
office supplies. postage, stationery. etc.
The judges may not receive fees.