davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1907-12-12
OFF FOR CHURCH
WITH FEET BARE
ITALIAN, FREED OF MURDER
CHARGE, ATTEMPTS TO KEEP
PECULIAR vow.
CHEERED BY HIS COUNTRYMElQ
Passed SO Months in Sing Sing Death
House-Woman Upon Knees Re-
moves His Shoes Under
Bridge of Signs.

New York.-Raffaele Cascone, an
Italian, and Harry Thaw's friend in
the Tombs, was released the other
day upon his own recognizance by
Judge Whitman, before whom he had
been acquitted of the charge of mur-
der in the first degree.
The first trial of Cascone had re-
suited in his conviction and sentence
to death. When the court of appeals
granted him a new trial a year ago
last August a reporter met Cascone
at the entrance to the deathhouse in
Sing Sing and in company with a
deputy sheriff came with the accused
man to this city.
IF | am given my freedom, and |
know that will be acquitted because
am innocent" Cascone said to the re-
porter at the death house gate, the
first thing | shall do is to walk bare
footed to my church in East One Hun
dred and Sixteenth street, and there
L will go on my knees and thank God
for answering my prayer. l will burn
the biggest candle can get My first
home will not know me until after
have been to the church,
Cascone had been confined four
years and four months when he was
given his liberty by Judge Whitman.
During 33 months of that time he had
been in the death house and had seen
II men taken from their cells to be
put to death in the electric chair.
Cascone went to the entrance to the
criminal courthouse and stood for
few moments in silence under the
Bridge of Sighs. A moment later he
was surrounded by many of his coun-
trymen They came in great numbers,
and by the time Cascone was ready to
start for the church there were nearly
thousand men and women on hand
to cheer the released man.
Cascone sent a friend to store, and
ten minutes later he returned carry
ing a candle nine inches tall. Then
Cascone started to take off his shoes.
Just then a middle-aged woman ell
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1907-12-12
DUEL WITH SWORDS
FOR WIDOWS SMILES
PARLoR OF INDIANA HOME SCENE
OF DESPERATE COMBAT BE-
TWEEN JEALOUS SWANS.

Lawrenceburg, Ind.-For the love OF
"ladye fayre" Charles W. Bennett
and Otis II. Gooden fought a duel
with swords. 1t was not prearranged
affair, however, and the only second
rushed into the battle with a chair.
foored one of the combatants and end
ed hostilities.
The duel took place at the house OF
George w. Guard, where Mrs. Minnie
Hess Cooper, a comely grass widow,
is a boarder Bennett called to spend
the evening with her Gooden, an
other admirer, arrived shortly after
ward, and a quarrel soon arose. Hang
ing on the wall in the parlor of the
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1907-12-12

the bed. Then he lay down to await
certain death
1t is said the man had told a num-
ber of companions earlier in the day
that he would kill himself, but owing
to his nervous condition nothing was
thought of his threat until the explo-
sion was heard. Neighbors hurried to
the scene and found bits of human
flesh scattered hundred feet away
with broken furniture, pieces Of
weather boarding and torn bedding.
Lectak was familiar with the use Of
dynamite, having been employed at
various times where it was used, be.
fore going to work at the brick yard.
1t is believed he secured the explosive
from coal miners, and had fully made
up his mind to die when he secured
it. Not wanting to injure anyone but
himself he waited until every one
had left the house before lighting the
fuse.
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1907-12-12
SUICIDE BLOWS self TO
PIECES WITH DYNAMITE
PLACES EXPLOSIVE UNDER BED
THEN LIES DOWN AND
LIGHTS THE FUSE.

Pittsburg, Pa.-Calmly lying down
on bed at his home, John Lectak,
aged 80, of Emo station, near Imperial,
the other evening drew comfort over
him after lighting a fuse to a stick Of
dynamite, which he placed under the
bed. Fifteen minutes later neighbors
gathered UP the fragments of Lectak
and the furniture. The building was
completely wrecked.
Lectak was employed at q brick yard
at Imperial, but it IS said he had been
despondent recently after recovering
from a lengthy spree. The man wait
ed until other occupants of the house
left and placed the dynamite under
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1907-12-12
Cow Gets on a Ian

South Norwalk, Conn.-Joseph Balls
cow, usually a kindly and docile
creature, got into his orchard and
gorged on cider apples, which strewed
the autumn dying grass.
The apple juice must have ferment-
ed ip tire cows midst, for when Ball
tried to drive her from the orchard
she pursued him and butted his back
so hard that she injured his spinal
cord. Ball was taken to the Norwalk
hospital suffering from paralysis of
the lower limbs.
After cavorting around for an hour,
the cow recovered her accustomed
sobriety.
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1907-12-12
BROTHERS ROB AND
KILL AT SET PRICE
SAID TO BE HEAD OF PARIS "SYN.
DICATE" MAKING MURDER ITS
FAVORlTE LINE.

Paris.-A crime syndicate, organ
lied for theft and murder, is the alb
sorbing story of the day that startles
France ard all Europe.
New details are coming to notice of
the criminal operations of the broth
ers Antony and Francois Thomas.
These two men seem to have com
bined the minds of Borgias, the leader
of the inquisition, and the robber bar
ons. They poisoned, tortured and
stole for years, undetected, until, be-
coming bold beyond fear of detection,
apparently, their carelessness ended
in arrest.
For years continental churches have
lost priceless treasures mysteriously.
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1907-12-12

house were two saDers, that had been
used during the civil war by Mr..
Guards grandfather
Just how they came into use Is
not known, but the commotion in the
parlor and the screams of Mrs. Coop
er attracted the attention of Guard,
who had retired. He dressed and
rushed into the room and found the
two men dueling with the sabers.
Bennett was proving poor fencer
and was getting by far the worst of
the fight. He was bleeding profusely
from cuts and slashes, and just as
Guard entered he fell on the floor,
covered with blood.
Gooden was in the act Of running
the saber through his fallen opponent
when Guard interfered and felled him
to the floor with heavy chair The
widow rushed into the street crying
for help, and a policeman arrived, and
after a struggle with Gooden, COM
PEELED him to surrender at the muz-
zle of revolver. He was taken to
Jail and a charge of cutting with in
tent to kill placed opposite his name
DR.. George f. Smith was summoned
and dressed the injuries of Bennett
There was one serious stab in his ab-
domen, which required eight stitches
to close Bennett is in serious con-
dition, but will recover unless blood
poison develops. Mrs. Cooper states
that she will not countenance either
man in the future.
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1907-12-12
Chinaman's Poor Defense.

Sue Moon, Chinese, was brought
before the Melbourne magistrate the
other day charged with having
worked after two o'clock on Satur.
day afternoon, contrary to the provi-
sions of the local factories act He
pleaded that he had washed only one
collar after the statutory closing time.
What Only one collar from two
to eight o'clock?" exclaimed the chair
man. Him welly dirty collar" re
joined Sue Moon. This defense was
deemed too thin and Sue was fined
$3.50 After paying. he remarked
"Fackly act make Chinaman welly
lazy fellow"
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1907-12-12
Corpse's Pipe Saves Widow.

Pottsville, Pa.-That the body Of
John Yacht was exhumed in order
that his wife might be sure she was
a widow was testified before Judge
Bechtel in case in which Mr.. Yacht
prosecuted Simon Prolt for his failure
to keep his promise to wed her. The
Identification was established by a
pipe found in the corpses pocket.
On the strength of this identified
ton the widow won her suit, as she
would have had no case unless she
could prove her husband was dead.
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1907-12-12
Burr Drops into BOYS Mouth.

Philadelphia. - Harold Boyer, IA
years old, held his mouth open and a
chestnut burr dropped into it. The
burr stuck so tightly there that ply
sician had much work in removing 1t.
Harold and several other small boys
went chestnuting along the Wissahic-
kon. Young Boyer tossed club among
the branches. Fearing that it might,
in falling, strike one of his friends, he
spread wide his jaws to yell warning
and the burr dropped in.
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1907-12-12
Girls Wore Trousers.

Collinsville, Conn.-The Skidoo
Young Ladies club was broken up by
several envious boys. The girls have
an annual meeting which they attend
in male attire, their trousers covered
by long wraps.
One night the boys invaded their
dressing room in their absence and
carried off all their wraps, leaving the
girls to walk home in mems clothing,
while dark lanterns were flashed on
them and a crowd cheered as they
passed.
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1907-12-12
Chinese Educational Movement

The growth of the educational move
ment has been so rapid throughout
the Chinese empire that the demand
for instructors has far exceeded the
supply of competent men available for
the position, with the result that in
the province of Shengking, while
there are undoubtedly a number of ex,
cellent men engaged in school work.
the majority are remarkable for their
energy rather than their erudition.
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1907-12-12
How They Know.

Labels in hats and tags on over.
coats, showing the sellers of these ar.
ticles sxe Of some value. Walters in
New York restaurants always glance
at these indices so as to TX the social
standing and probable liberality of
their customers. The service is ac.
cordlng to their conclusion.
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1907-12-12
Killed by Bee Stinu

Canton, S. D.-Stung on the tenn
pie by q common honey bee, Michael
Oakleaf died 10 minutes afterward in
commissions. Physicians gave it as
their opinion that the sting penetrated
the brain through the knitted part OF
the skull.
The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1907-01-19
CHAPTER xxi.

During the night following his con
fcssiou George Bosiock continued I'M
conscious Of the world around him
Throughout the icng / and breadth of
London his name. associated always
with the crime OF which he had de.
clared himself guilty was being read
and repeated, as it would be read and
repeated next day and for many days t.
come. throughout Great Britain and
wherever news had already travelled OF
the mysterious murder OF David DUN
barton
Now, on the morning succeeding his
confession. George Bostock was once
~-ore visited by Sir Pug;u Tate, who
had been much interested from the first
in his patient. Since he had last seen
the publishe- the falnous surgeon had
pondcred over the case. when it occurred
to him that the dangerous symptoms
which had Unexpectedly set in were duo
- compress sion OF the brain by clo'
OF blood which probably occupied tic
site of the removed bone and extended
beneath the skull for some way. The
removal OF this clot. which doubticss
had set into 4 stiff mass and adhered To
surrounding structures, would prove a
delicate and critical operation. not with
ont immediate danger. bat yet attended
The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1907-01-19

What deed of his could make reparation
for the wrong he h | done herr He
paused in his walk and leaned against
wall for support. dazed and weary, all
indignation, all hate having burned them
full OF remorse and pity.
And for long he r. aimed there lost
in thought. the past, With all the pleas
ures he had know in association with
her, thronged back from unforgotten
years; the future, with all its uncer-
tainty. humiliation, pain and terror ris-
ing before him
A sudden chill from the bitter night
air striking through i'm brought him
to consciousness of the present One
thing at least he resolved must be done
without delay; he woult' seek the
man he had grievously insultcI. assure
her his words were not the outcome of
conviction, but of passion, and beg of
her to forgive him the -ain he had
caused her With thi intention he set
forward. but the road in which he found
himself was unfamiliar. and having with
some trouble discovered its name, he
knew not in which di. ction it led. or to
where he should turn in search of his
destination.
Resolutely he set out, looking for
some familiar landmark until eventually
coming in sight of church, he recog-
nized his bearings anc madc straight for
the Hexton road. Throughout hi walk
his determination to seek Olive Dunn
bartons pardon never wavered until COM
ing within sight of her house, when the
lateness OF the hour and its unsuitability
for visit struck him. He looked at
his watch and saw it was long past mid
night. For all that, he went to the gar
den gate, and, pushing it. found, as he
had expected. that it was locked. He
then stepped across to the other side of
the road, that he might see the upper
windows of the house, which were all in
darkness.
The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1907-01-19
watched meanwhile,

watched meanwhile,
AID when the next day came til
great surgeon was able 10 assure him
sei5 that MS hopes were realized. that
his operation had been beyond all doubt
success ri.
After leaving his cousins house on
the evening when. overcome By jealous
ltary. he had insinuatcd that her love
for GeorFc Bostock was responsible Tor
her husbands murder. Nalerius had
walked about the reighborhood needless
II where he went. so long Z, he avoided
crowds and traffic, his mind in state
~ icrce rebellion against the woman
whose presence he had quilted. against
the man for whom she had confessed
her love
All the affection Valerius had felt f1r
her throughout his life turned to bit-
tcraesS at the ayowal she had made .
The dislike he had ever entertained to
ward Postock had deepened to hate For
the publisher had succeeded in gaining
what he, Falerius. had from boyhood
sought in vain TO win That She had
denied TO him was freely given 10 one,
who. by comparison, was stranger
With 4 rapid pace he treverscd wind
tlS lA'iAN anu lpilg eLkGtlilt~, now Almost
deserted. dead leaves from the ranii1y
barring branches fluttering in his face,
the sharp ring OF his footsteps on the
frosty paths audible at long distances,
his thoughts in wild disorder his face
distorted by passion, his feelings ont
RACED. Jealousy singing him to madness.
Not until 4 couple OF hours had
passed did he, without becoming CON
scious OF the fact, slacken his pace
THROUGH sheer WEAKNESS, and his emo
tions having meanwhile reached their
HIGHEST mitch of fury, now began to Sub
iie Then he reflected on the part he
had recently played his thoughts COM
ing TO the subject casually and flittingly
at Srst. afterwa-d with steady persist
ency that was all the more welcome, be-
causc it served to inflict upon him fresh
pain. more acute than he had yet felt
The insolence, the bitterness. the cru
city OF his words stood ont before him
in their true colors, and he reviewed
and realized the cowardice, the inht1-
nanity the injustice of his bearing to-
ward her he had eve loved, whom he
loved now more than ever And as he
viewed his conduct in this light. his con-
tempt and loathing for himself were
only equalled by his compassion and af-
lection for her
To strike her down ith such a wea-
non as he had used, such time as
he had sought. was to have blhaved as
a dcspicable scoundrel as an uu1nanly
wretch. What words of his could nov
take from her the pain he had inflicted
which must rankle in her mind and poi
son her peace for many day TO come
The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1907-01-19
A Chronicle Of the
Rear Guard.
By LEO CRANE.
ICopyrighted.)
ICopyrighted.)

The old man, bent and showing
plainly the touch of age in his dragging
step, plodded along contentedly, tapping
the staff upon the crisp and hardened
earth, and occasionally resting in the
fence corners to view the stretches of
hilly country Upon a distant rise a
line of shadowy trees were gauntly sill
houetted against the steely blue of the
fall sky. their branches an endless
tangle of black and rustling arms. Here
and there a blotch of vivid crimson
shone in the painted glare of the even
ing sun, token that the sacrifice of
Drowned leaves to the failing year had
not yet ceased They crisply cracked
in the chilling breath of the coming
night wind In the dim distance thin
wreath of smoke whrled lazily and dis
appeared, showing where forest fire
s,nouldered. and adding bleak touch to
the drawing of early winter.
A flock of dirty sheep huddled to-
gether in the half twilight of the lonely
road A few struggled alone, now
rustling knee deep in leafy pillows of
russet red and gold, now trampling
down the last patch of bright-hued flow
ers in desert vast. of their dried fel-
lows. A boy, young, tousle-haired and
tattered. followed at their heels, whist
ling and waving a gnarled stick vigor-
ously, now calling in fresh and shrilly
voice at the laggards.
"How are ye, sonny" greeted the old
man kindly.
Pretty well, sir, thank ye," returned
the boy
Likely lot o Sheep" ventured the
man, plodding in step with the boy and
urging on a stubborn animal
"Middlin' fair" acquiesced the boy,
glancing at him curiously. wonders
one that belongs to me-" he said proudly,
that young one. Pap Civ him to me
last year. His names Dan, same's
mine
This information was given with an
air of quiet importance and shy glance
to notice the effect There was brief
silence
aye amt from these parts" stated
the boy, half inquiringly.
"No-ain't been here fur nigh forty
year. Long time that. Don't
s'pose ye remember back that far,
sonny? Last time I was here l got
drink of water from the well just around
the bend Live at the house, sonny"
The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1907-01-19
IN THE SHADOW
OF SHAME
By Fitzgerald Molloy
Copyright by E Fitzgerald Molloy.

selves during his drive from St John
Mood again came before him.
How was it that the man and woman
who bc-t knew George BoSt1ck doubted
hi> confession OF murder
Ii he we're not guilty OF the crime, who
was
And Why was Mrs Dunbarton so GER
tam OF his innocence on such insufficient
elidrnce2
The voice OF his h5usekeeper an
nounCing that supper was ready inter
rupted his thoughts Before taking off
his great coat he dived his hands into
his pockets and drew out the gloves he
had taken by mistake He looked a,
them carefully. admiriur their color and
their daintiress before placing them on
the chir,ney-pieee. where. being in sight
he would not forget to return them. ..
y will take them to MIR Gslbraith to
morrow morning" Macl,worth said as.
with Shawn at his heels. he left the
room.
The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1907-01-19

by the possibility OF the patients re-
covcry.
Left alone, George Bostock must in
all human probability die in few days !;
this operation would either hasten that
death or prolong his life The question
as to whether it would be wise that his
life should be saved, now that by his
confession he had endangered its liberty
or limited its duration was not one into
which the surgeon erred. 1t was his
duty to ignore the problem and if pos
sible to save his patient from death.
The pride he justly felt in the skilled
practice of Preat science urged him
forward to a trial of the experiment,
and eventually he decided to undertake
the operation.
Therefore, early in the morning Sir
Pugin Tate once more stood beside
George Bostock, who was quite uncon-
scious, the loss of power in his left side
complete, his temperature reaching to
one hundred and seven. his pulse to sew
enty. And again did the surgeon g.
anime the wound in all its bearings. a
resolute expression in his nassively
moulded face. Then b-acing himself, he
prepared to wage war with death for the
life of one who must remain unconscious
of the struggle
An hour later he left the hospital sat
isfied with the work he ad so skilfully
performed, though as yet unable to
gauge its results. Early in the after
noon he was back again by the bedside
of the publisher, in whom there was
outwardly little apparent change. Sir
Pugin, however, was hopeful.
"His temperature has become normal, >
he remarked to the house sur. on.
"Yes; it went down quickly"
"Has he shown any signs of con-
sciousness in my absence?"
None whatever
81 expect he will before tomorrow,
said Sir Pugin. Il will come again and
see him tonight. Have him carefully
The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1907-01-19

the boy, astonished that he had discov-
cred another wonderful happening in
which this great old an figured.
"Yessr. | heard old Bobby Lee say
them very words
The man nodded his head slowly.
"Geew whispered the boy family. in
tone of half alteration. He shifted
his seat on the stone SO as to get bet
ter view of the man who had once heard
Bobby Lee speak words.
Pap often told me bout Bobby Lee,
but pap never heard him talk
This man had heard the very words;
this man had heard Larkins swear; this
man was, therefore. something beyond
the ordinary, wonder out of another
age.
That was forty years ago." nused
the man softly; forty years ago you
were unthought Of How old
arc ye? Tena Thirty year before ye
were born. Place looked much the
same then; no doubt it'll look much the
same after ye're forgotten
The thought, expressed in such mat
ter-of-fact style, made the boy shudder:
1t was the first time he had heard of
things remaining after he had departed;
it really was the first time his depar-
luIC iidu otSuI INt W IN SodAo ACt
fully appreciate its Importance.
The steady chop OF the axes had '.early
crt the thread of life from th' pine.
Occasionally it had creaked and moaned
as If in protest Now it cracked omi
nously and tottered, swayed.
"Leok out" yelled the foresters.
Look out She's a-comin'v
Over it bent, tarther, farther, and,
with a loud, swishing sound, settled
with a crash A shower of dust arose.
Many a man fell on this yer hill in
the same fashion, though some of 'erse
didn't make SO much noise,' commente
the old fellow.
Look here, ole man, what's this
asked the man who had helped in tn
telling.
Well by all" said the veteran. in
excited tone, that's a shell. Gum! bu
it's been there since the war"
"Nor' exclaimed the chopper.
"Forty year. whispered the boy.
"Chop it out said the man.
They picked it from the ground and
examined it closely, while the 10y peered
into the Jagged hole of the trunk in
search of anything else dating from the
war
Its Union she'll. They were thick
dS consS Iouiu SeI III kHSh udyS an
it amt gone off yet. Let's see
The old man .yok three steps for
ward and tossed the iron missile into
the smouldering FIRE of leaves some ten
yards away The action was that of a
child, and he waited with a smile for
the result. A binding flame sprang
upward, and the hills echoed with a
rending, Supplying report. A cloud of
choking smoke foated skyward.
"What a fool trick!' muttered the
woodchopper, half in anger. Hurt ye,
boy? Hurt ye, Sams Gawd, its hurt
him -
They ran to the man sprawled upon
the ground
1T waited fur me forty year. he
gasped painfully "Forty year a-waitin'
fur me. They all said the war was over,
but I knew better. This is the last ac
ton, an the rearguard is peggin' out.
Macs a-rushin' uo troops, but Bobby
Lee1l make EN- think yet That's him
over there with Larkin, an Larkin says,
'D-n em, we'll hold 'em.' It's been
long war-forty year!'
His head went back on the dingy red
ground.
"The reareuard has pegged out" said
the chopper solemnly.