davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-14

Main street, saw gold bracelet on the
hand of Miss Meyer protruding through
the debris, and by he CLINT of the gold
called attention of the firemen that a
woman's body was pinned there.
II was working with an AK" said
ColSer, land narrowly missed chopping
the arm. We saw that the poor girl
was dead when we uncovered the head
and that it was too late.
Back toward the tailor shop we
came across poor Harry Halderman, the
gas company employe. I was working
with saw and as I sawed away the
pinned-down man told me how to work
to keep from saving his leg off. Every
once in while he would moan:
my God, get me out, quick!'
1--WE passed him some whisky, but he
couldn't get 1t down as his mouth was
choked up with plaster dust.
1--WE crawled in under the kitchen
debris and saw some one pinned down
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-14
MAYOR FAV0RS
INQUIRY INTO
CAUSE OF CRASH

Last night Mayor Harper declared
that IL such an inquiry was within the
province of the grand jury he would
favorehaving an Investigation made i'm
mediately to see If the gas company
was responsible for the killings; if not
to find out where the fault lay.
my theory was that gas did 1t, but
that is for experts to find out and re-
port" said the mayor.
This declaration was made in the
mayors Office as lie was about to leave
the city hall.
From what l have learned / believe
that the gas company is criminally re-
sponsible and its officers should be ar
rested" said Mayor Harper at the po-
lice station earlier In the afternoon.
After the coroner's inquest 1t is
probable some action will be taken. I
hold that If the facts as stated to me
are correct the members of the repair
department showed themselves to be
criminally negligent and believe all
the officers OF the, company should be
punished.
Mayor Harper called at the police
station for the purpose of learning some
facts in connection with the horror
which were unobtainable at any other
place. He had passed the greater part
OF the day at the scene doing all In his
power to assist the injured and aid the
firemen.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-14

"a man who said he was the fore
man came to the telephone and L
asked him for Gods sake to send some
one to fix the leak. He said he would,
but as none came I telephoned again
at 9:2O. By that time most of those
employed in the restaurant had left on
account of the odor.
cat 10 o'clock a man showed up for
the company and asked where the leak
was. l could not tell him and the man
then went on a trip of investigation.
He soon returned and telephoned the
company and informed the man he
was speaking to that it was a bad
leak and that he needed help. About
1920 o'clock a second man showed up
and said the foreman would soon be
there. At 1915 the foreman came.
Just previous to his arrival 1 tele-
phoned Mr.. Lewis, the agent for the
building and also sent for a plumber
named Hoffman. The latter refused
to come unless paid. The men from
the gas company arrived just about
this time and at first could not find
the main. The foreman then sent for
an extension electric light, saying that
by this means he could find the leak.
L asked the foreman where his map of
different mains was He did not know.
II went to the corner saloon to wash
my hands and while I was there the
explosion occurred.
II do not know whether any person
lighted match and both the girls
who were there at the time are now
dead"
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-14
ACID INDICATES
SUICIDAL DEATH
Body of James Forbes Is Found Ra
hind Billboard with Bottle of
carbolic Acid Near BY.
Not Known Here

James Forbes. a we'll dressed. neat
appearing man about 35 years old. was
found dead as a result of d large dose of
carbolic acid, taken apparently with
suicidal intent, back CT the sign board
between Seventh and Eighth streets on
Main street, about $3.50 o'clock last
nlght. The man evidently had been
dead about three hours when found
The body was seen by Patrolman Nc
Millen while going through the LOT on
his beat. The bottle containing the acid
was lying short distance away.
A check for $50 was found in the
mans pocket, as well as a receipted
Dill from local clothing establishment
The check was signed by the California.
Clothing company and was drawn on
the Merchants National bank. It was
made payable to James Forbes. The
recenpted bill was also made out In
Forbes name.
NO one who knew the man could he
found last night. 1t is thought he was
a commercial traveller. He was fall
and smooth shaven. The body was re-
moved to Pierce's undertaking estab-
lishment. A coroner's inquest will be
held today.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-14
May DlsmIss Charges

AT the word rom Judge Smith the
foreman of the jury arose slowly and
read his verdict. For moment Wilson
looked as though he We're going to faint
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-14
CANAL CONTRACTORS
MEET AT WASHINGTON

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1S.-Another
conference on awarding the Panama
canal contract was held at the White
House today. j. b. Mcdonald and
John Pierce, both of New York. asso-
ciated with w. ]. Oliver in his bid for
the work, were present and were con-
suited by President Roosevelt regard-z Z
ing their experience in handling larea&
contracts. No conclusion was
nounced.
Further conferences are expez
which the president and his
will consult with others ASSOC
Mr.. Oliver i'm his CONTRACT
these are p. j. Brennan Of
and p. T. Walsh OF Davenpo
The next conference, 1t
nounced will take place next
During today's session GeA
Mckenzie, chief OF engineers. =
called upon by the president foN
formation respecting the professid
ability of some of the contractors w
have been associated with Mr.. OliveN
and was also called upon to detail thelrN
records as contractors with the govern
ment
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-14

1.-THE company was notified often
enough. 1 personally telephoned its
officers four times. detected the odor
of gas at $50 o'clock and at once rang
up the gas company. L was told a
man would be sent, but none came. At
Z o'clock 1 telephoned again and was
told the same, but no man came. At
$3.50 1 again telephoned and asked for
the superintendent.
This time a man came to the tele-
phone, who told me he was the super
intendent. He said it was too early
to send a man, and for me to take
things easy.
"At $3.50 o'clock I was obliged to
open the doors to my establishment as
the odor was so strong we could not
stand it. My cashier, Miss Ray Calish,
came into the restaurant at 8 o'clock
and I asked her to ring up the gas
company again for me. She did so and
asked for the foreman.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-14

and then he smiled weakly while the
spectators yelled and cheered.
When quiet was restored the order Of
dismissal was read and Wilson left the
court room. In the corridor he was
again cheered as with his wife and
daughter he walked toward the ele-
vator.
There is a trial of assault with a
deadly weapon still resting against
Mrs. Wilson in regard to the Belden
case, but from intimations from the
district attorneys lice yesterday the
case against her will, in all probability.
be Immediately dismissed.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-14
EXPLOSION FROM
ESCAPING GAS
tContinued from Page One,

had such complete devastation oc-
Cured through the medium of a gas
explosion. Yerger's tailoring establish
ment was wiped off the map and it's
tottering walls had been torn down by
the firemen. Two of the store buildings
were completely razed in the ear~be-
fore the crowds were permitted to enter
the fire line and view the disaster
The block was owned by Thomas
Higgins and was one of the old brick
buildings erected on Second street dur
ing the boom of 1885. 1t was valued
highly and a modern building probably
will take its place.
Inquests over the bodies of those
whose lives were taken in the disaster
will be held today, and blame, If any
blame there was, will be determined by
the coroner's jury.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-14
PROPRIETOR SAYS
HE WARNED GAS
COMPANY OFTEN

"I hold the gas company was en-
tirely to blame for the disaster and so
told them over the phone during the
morning." said B. Cressaty, pro-
prietor of the restaurant in which the
explosion occurred yesterday morning,
while he was at the police station last
night. Mr.. Cressaty had called at the
station for the purpose of gaining in
formation in regard to the injuries of
his employees
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-14

the ruins, doing what she could. She
filled pitchers with water to furnish to
the police and firemen working in the
dust and almost checking. She sup
piled bandages for the surgeons at
work in nearby rooms.
1T came like a big blast" said she,
"and our first impulse was to get ont
on the sidewalk. Our girls leaped over
tables and chairs like real acrobats.
So did the restaurant patrons"
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-14
UNWR|TTEN LAW
CLEARS WILSON
JURY ACQUITS THE SLAYER OF
BELDEN
Crowd in Court Room Cheers When
Verdict Is Returned Giving
Long Beach Man His
Liberty

A California jury yesterday upheld
the unwritten law by returning a YER
dict of acquittal in the case of Will
liam T. Wilson OF Long Beach on trial
for the murder CT iallace Belden,
whom he learned had taken criminal
advantage of his little girl, Natalie.
AS an expression of the Lentiment In
the case the more than two hundred
men and women in the court room at
the time of the returning of the verdict
arose in a solid mass and cheered and
clapped their hands in suOh manner
that the deputy sheriff on guard did
not even attempt to quell the noise.
Even Judge Smith In issuing repri-
mand for the breach of court etiquette
did so in such gentle manner as to win
a second round of applause.
Deputy District Attorney McComas
for the prosecution finished his argu-
ment shortly before noon yesterday and
the case went to the jury at II O'CLOCK
The jurymen were promptly taken TO
dinner and did not return until after j,
so that not longer than an hour and
half was required TO reach decision,
for by o'clock the rap came on the
jury room and the men filed slowly in
Unwritten Law Appears
The court room was crowded at that
time. To the many interested In the
case and to the scores who had fol-
lowed it's details because of its being
parallel to the Thaw shooting, the
moment of the report Of that jury was
Il crisis.
While the clerk was reading the
names of the jurymen over the specta-
tors looked at the assembled Jurors as
though trying to read their thoughts.
A jury impaneled in the Besold case
occupied the jury box and looked at
their brother jurors In wonder
Wilson was seated In chair facing
the jury and his wife who has fought
so hard for him and his daughter for
which he committed the killing, stood
by him. Attorney Rogers fairly prowled
about the court room waiting for the
report from those twelve men. From
the beginning of the case Justitiable
homicide, because of the great moral or
unwritten law, has figured prominently
A half hearted insanity plea had been
advanced by Attorney Rogers and 1t
had been made strong enough to give
the Jurors a chance to ease their con-
science In ease the unwritten law
bothered them. But the real point OF
the case was the unwritten law. 1t ap-
peared In the first trial when the jury
disagreed and It was the strong factor
of the seqpnd trial
May Dismiss Charges
At the word rom Judge Smith the
foreman Of the jury arose slowly and
read his verdict. For moment Wilson
looked as though he were going TO faint
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-14
VIRGINIA GIRL
PROVES HERSELF
A HEROINE

Miss Virginia Craig, head waitress
for Messmore's restaurant, was one Of
the heroines of the occasion. Miss
Craig is a recent arrival from Craigs-
Vile, Va. Immediately after the big
shock, having Gained her force OF
girls. Miss Craig asked them to re-
main near to help attend any injured
women while she made her way into
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-14
The as,r!1e! "Redond0 Villa Tract 3"
The Beautiful
81 Down, 81 Per Month
No Interest, No Taxes

minutes given office absolutely free Also Aum
a h a roRef pc @tI on as pei
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-14

here. The firemen and policemen
soon got them out"
Colyer lives at 211 South Los Angeles
street.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-14

1t will make your blood tingle to hear
the Fuhrer sisters play national airs at
and to hear DR.. Chapman's Stainless
Flag address,
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-14
VICTIM TELLS MEN
WHERE TO SAW to-
RELEASE HIM

j. f. Colyer saleoman for Isaacyon's
furniture store. around the corner on |
The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1907-11-15
MOTOR GAR 70 BONESIEEL
TAKES THE PLACE OF THE LOCAL
PASSENGER TRAIN.
STARTS NEXT MONDAY MORNING
The Morning Passenger Out of Nor
folk Will be Replaced With Motor
Car Service That Will Carry Pas
sengers Only.

Motor car service on the Bonesteel
of the features of a new time card eff
fective next Sunday. The new car
will run between Bonesteel and Nor
folk and will be substituted for trains
No. 403 and 404, running on the same
schedule as the train which it re-
places.
The motor car represents the latest
development made in the railroad
world to meet the problem Of trans
portation on local lines. The car
which will be placed on the Bonesteel
line next Monday is the first motor
car to be purchased by the Northwest
ern. During the past few weeks it
has been given successful trial on
the Fremont-York line.
The new car is driven by gasoline
engine, carries seventy-eight people
comfortably, is heated by hot water
and lighted by acetylene gas.
The car is modern in every respect
and just now is the last word on the
subject of handling light traffic salts
factorily.
Railroad men are watching the new
cars closely because the innovation
is believed to mean a revolution in
local passenger traffic. The Union Pa
cific has been the first company to put
the cars on the market and is using
them on a score or so of their branch
lines where they are said to be giving
good service.
The new car will be brought to Nor
folk next Saturday afternoon from
Fremont where it has had temporary
use on the Fremont-York line. Hav'
ing stood all tests it is brought to this
city for permanent use on the north
line. Its use is an experiment on the
part of the Northwestern and may
foreshadow the purchase of a number
of other similar cars.
The motor car will be limited to
passenger service. 1t will not carry
mail, baggage or express.
The car will run on the old SEIZED
ule, leaving Norfolk Junction at 1880
a. m. and arriving in Bonesteel al
1920 p. m, leaving Bonesteel at 2:15
p. m. and arriving in Norfolk at 7:15
d. m.
The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1907-11-15

nominations were represented at the
initial meeting. Mrs. o. II. Meredith
acted az temporary leader Monday but
permanent officers will be chosen at
the meeting next Monday evening,
which will also be held at the Chris
tian church.
Omaha Bee: "Billy the Bear" sans
hands and feet, has scored a demo
cratic victory In Dawes county, where
he was candidate for clerk OF the dis
trict court. Mr. Jaeger was defeated
I'm his contest for national secretary
of the Independent Order OF Eagles
and returned home to be nominated
for county office. In the face OF re-
publican victory for all other Offices
he came in a winner by eight major
ity.
One Of Uncle Sans new ten-dollar
gold pieces, embodying a radical de-
parture from the old design, has been
received in Norfolk by the Nebraska
National bank. The new coin carries
the famous Saint Gaudens design, for
which an Irish waitress In the east
posed, to the CONSERVATION OF those
who wanted the face on the new coins
to embody the features of some maid
en- whose sojourn in America had been
little longer than that Of the beau
tiful Irish lassie. On one side OF the
new coin Is the head Of the Irish
maiden, given an American tinge by
high Indian bonnet. On the reverse
side the traditional eagle is still i'm.
printed but the noble bird on the new
coins has drawn in his formerly ex'
tended wings. Another innovation is
circle of stars on the edge of the
new coins in place of the imprint left
by the former milling process. While
probably more artistic In aspect, the
new coins are less symmetrical than
the old ones and lack the clean-cut de
sign that has marked the American
coins. So radical is the change In
the new gold pieces designed by the
late Saint Gaudens that they pass
readily for a foreign coin when seer
for the first time The twenty dollar
gold pieces have not yet been received
in Norfolk.
The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1907-11-15

pany You are notified that on Aug
ust 10, 1904. you placed in my ware
house on Braasch avenue In Norfolk,
Nebraska, for storage, three derricks
and fixtures, one box of rope, one bar.
rel of junk and three pair of stone
tongs, that the charge against said
property to November Is, 1907, Is
$4,000. II said charge is not paid
within three months from the 4th day
of November, 1907, the same will be
sold according to law.
George w. Stalcop.
The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1907-11-15
CHERRY COUNTY VOTE.
Reese Given Small Majority, But the
Other Way on Judges.

Valentine, Neb., Nov. 11.-Special
to The News: Following is the COM
plete vote of Cherry county as shown
by the official canvass:
For judge of the supreme court:
Reese, rep, 795; Loomis. dem. and p.
t., 545; Graves, pro-, 40; Stebbins, Soc,
40.
Regents: Anderson, rep, S07;
COPELAND, rept TAI; Mllard, dem,
400; Sunbeam, dem. and p. L., 440; Won
Steen, pro-, AS; Carter, Soc, SO; Por.
ter, Soc, 40.
Regent to fill vacancy: Rogers
Soc, 319.
Railway commissioner to fill vacan
cy: Clarke, rep, $50; Lichty, pro.
80; Mcclure, Soc, 118.
Judges of district court, Fifteenth
district: Douglas, rep, 663; Jenckes
rep, sos; Harrington. dem. and p. l..
ZIG; Westover, dem. and p. l., 808.
For transferring territory, 140i
against transferring territory, 1910.
County assessor: Ormesher, rep.
$50; Young, DEM, $50.
County clerk: Kelley, rep, 1887.
County treasurer: Armstrong, rep.
1906.
County Judge: Layport, rep, 500
Clynes, dem, $50.
Sheriff: Sherman, rep, 637; Ros
setter, DEM, SAG.
Superintendent: KortZ, rep, 1917
Surveyor: Mcdaniel, DEM, 963.
Coroner: Lewis, rep, TAO; Comp
ton, DEM, 707
Commissioner, Second district, t.
fill vacancy: Russell, rep, 9S2.
Commissioner, Third district: Bow
ring, rep, 1928; None, DEM, 1877.
The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1907-11-15
DID THE HURRY Up ACT
CHAIRMAN DEMOCRATIC STATE
COMMITTEE BUSHES.
TWO MINUTES BY THE WATCH

In That Much Time T. s. Allen Dis
posed of Law Suit, Bought Lunch
and Talked Politics to a News Re-
porter.
T. S. Allen of Lincoln, chairman of
the state democratic committee and
brother-in-law to w. J. Bryan, did the
real hurry-up act in Norfolk Monday
noon.
Mr.. Allen was in Norfolk two min
utes. In that time he disposed of a
law suit, bought lunch and saved a
trip to Neigh.
Chairman Allen said that the demo.
cratic committee would follow the ex.
ample of the republicans in maintain,
ing permanent headquarters during
the months preceding the presidential
canvass. Mr.. Allen stated that the
state headquarters had been closed
temporarily but would be opened again
in Lincoln by the first of the year.
THE heavy vote that was cast this
year indicates something of the siren
uous campaign that will be on for the
presidential fight" Mr.. Allen remark
ed. THE vote in this state was larger
than expected. AS to the election
itself Reese's success was indicated
in advance but we were surprised at
his majority. Reese, however, re-
ceived a big populist vote from men
who thought that he had been badly
treated in the past and saw a chance
to even up scores with those who had
once turned him down.
THE national campaign in a way is
almost on us. The national commit
| tees will meet next month. By Febru
airy the first state conventions will be
meeting. Our own convention will
come in the spring.
And about Bryan? Well, that can't
be discussed now. Nor the presiden
tial situation. There are too many
things that may happen in the next
few months"
Chairman Allen came to Norfolk In
his capacity as attorney for the Mod
ern Woodmen in the $4,000 insurance
suit brought by Mrs. Hannah Bryant
of this county. The case was to have
come before Judge Welch at Neligt
on a motion but Mrs. Bryant's attor
ney, Senator Allen of Madison, me-
the democratic chairman at the juno
ton depot and arranged to have the
issue go before Judge WEIGH on briefs
Then the chairman, who had just come
in from Fremont, grabbed quicker
der lunch and caught the return traiI
just pulling out of the station.
The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1907-11-15

Superior wedding stationery, en-
graved or printed. Ask to see sam
pies. Huse Publishing Co.
The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1907-11-15

40 water consumers. Eleven new
taps were reported and twelve chang
es from fiat to meter rates. Norfolk
has over seventeen miles of water
mains. The city used 23,093, AGO gal
Ions of water during the last six
months.
The Norfolk post Of the Travellers
Protective association has launched
it's campaign for an increased men,
bership and will soon be in the midst
of plans for it's state convention in
Norfolk, one of the most important
state conventions to be held in Ne
braska this year. Commenting on the
activity of the Norfolk travellers the
Omaha Trade Review says: Post
of Norfolk has had revival. Mr..
|. j. Johnson, their president for the
last year, has removed from the city
and Mr. A. F. Stearns was elected to
the Office of president They have de-
cided to hold regular monthly meeting
the first Sunday in each month, and
have elected the following directors:
S. F. Erskine, d. S. Day, A. l.. Lag
ger, Geo. II. Spear, A. 7. Thompson.
At the request of the state hotel chair
man, Geo. H. Spear of Norfolk, the
state board has ordered a hotel COM
plant blank, to be used by the men,
bers. 1t is Mr.. Spears idea that the
service of many hotels can be i'm
proved by systematic plan which he
intends to carry out. Bum hotels be-
ware
The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1907-11-15
MARRIAGES ILLEGAL.
Five Thousand Weddings at Hammond,
md, Pronounced Void.


Chicago, Nov. IL Five thousand
marriages of Chicago couples which
have been performed in Hammond
Ind, within the last five years, were
declared to be illegal, in an opinion
rendered yesterday at Hammond by
Attorney Lowden o. Bomberger to
Ernest L. Shortridge, clerk of the cir
cult and superior courts.
In his opinion, he holds that licenses
issued by the superior court in Lake
county, located at Hammond, are is
sued without legal authority, and that
the only court of Lake county which
is empowered to issue licenses, is the
circuit court at Crown Point.
If he is right 5000 couples who have
sought the aid Of the kindly laws OF
Indiana during the past five years
and had the knot tied at Hammond
have been living together without le'
gal sanction. The possible complica
tions of legal character alone which
would follow such a state of affairs
are innumerable.
The revelation has been brought
about by long fight between the JUS
tees of the peace of Hammond and
those of Crown Point for the lucrative
business of marrying couples, who &c
from Chicago to Indiana to avoid the
Illinois law requiring divorced per