davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1908-01-10
TELL US ABOUT 1T.

One of our most valued subscribers in
remitting for the Pioneer Express this
week adds some kindly criticisms of the
editorial department and also suggests
the discussion of some questions which
he thinks would be of general interest.
We wish more of our friends wounld do
the same. 1t is not the least difficult
task of the editor to know what to talk
about. What particularly interests the
editor is not always of general interest
to his readers. The paper is or should
be published and edited mostly in the
interest of it's readers. The editor likes
to have his editorial matter criticised
and more than all likes to have his read
ers suggest or ask questions. II you
think him wrong tell him so, if right say
SO; if he ought to say something about
something, he will be glad for you to
suggest the something.
The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1908-01-10
headwaters and therefore the ice Jams
below and food ensnes.

neadwaters and therefore the ice Jams
below and food ensues.
This writer has lived alongside the
Red river for thirty years and never saw
anything like serious ice jam in the
river-and it is certain that no ice jum
ever caused anything approaching a
flood. Further, the ice generally melts
about as soon at the north end as it does
in the south Usually the ice breaks up
at Pembina within few days at most,
as soon as it does at Fargo and Grand
Forks. Further than that all floods we
have ever witnessed in the valley occur.
red after the Ice has moved and general.
ly about month or more after all the
ice is gone. The water that makes ou,
floods comes from the woods and swamps
Of Northern Minnesota and they do not
thaw out and run out until after the
river ice has melted.
Ice jams are formed in rapid flowing
rivers that have high narrow banks. In
the case of the Red river, the banks are
sloping and wide and the first thing in
the spring, before the ice moves, is the
rising and spreading of the waters, sc
that by the time the ice goes out, the
water channel is from double to quad
ruple the width of the ice, hence the lct
The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1908-01-10
OFFICIAL PAPER or clTY
AND COUNTY.
). s.1.a1s. sa.ee rzH Aazazva4
I. a. wardwen. G. G. Thompson
wA1Dwn11. = THOMPSON.
Official Directory

U Senators = = 2 dcGu%Ss4s dMsGHs11Ssgsh
U RepreseuU Thos F Marshall
, . tatives "a Gronna
Governor-J1hn Burke
Secretary Of fState-Alfred Biaisdell
state Treasurer-A Peterson
State Auditor-H L Holmes
Attorney General-T F McCue
Railroad Cetn- Z s4asas Dsisem
missioners Simon Westby
Supt of Psa6 Inst-W L Stockwell
Com of surapce-E f, E :; CSoper
Judser et Supreme 2 ] + Fisf FMiGzfan
Court B F Spalding
STATE SENATORS
let Dist-Jndson LaMoure, Pembina
and Dist-F A Halliday. Crystal
REPRESENTATIVES
Nv Watts, Leroy
EofeRh H Ra1ss,devlx Norm; Meshs Shs,r
2ad District }ohn GaJesie 5ehnssa, g Tbnas Ga.das
Judge:.ath Jud. Dist-W J Kneeshaw
coUNTY:oFFIcIALs
Clefk OF ,Court.Geo Peterson
She1df-GeO ROadhOuse
} Auditorium. W. Felson
TVeasuYer-Elis Thorwaldson
} Register of Deeds-John f Gill
County .Judge-H G Wick
Supt of Schools-F NJ Sherarts
Surveyor-F E Hebert
CerGner-Dr w NJ Brown
Public AdministratOr-TR II Shaw
(1st-F c Myrick, Pembina
no,,,,4,, 2nd-S Sigurdson, Gardar
Eo,riry ,iir 3rd-Adanl Norton, Caval'r
ool'rs 4th-y N Horgan, Neche
l5th-Wm Bigwood,St Tho7s
The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1908-01-10
HARDLY LOGICAL

According to report which was print.
ed on our inside pages some time ago
made by the US. Engineers, il the Red
river was dredged out and 'tcut-ofs''
made at the bends, the result would be
that the water would how so rapidly
that there would not be enough left u
hoata steamboat or barge. On the other
hand it would not prevent foods because
it would not run fast enough. Which
logic seems rather funny. Then again
they say that the floods are caused BY
the ice melting first at tho south and Il
The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1908-01-10
Important Cases Disposed of With Light Expense
to the County. Not in Twenty Years has
the Calendar Presented Such Ex-
traordnary Cases.
Three Juveniles Plead Guilty to Enormous Crimes
---O'Brien Sentenced for Life, McF1olland
to Reform School and Thompson
suspended Sentence.
traordinary Cases.

MS composure while standing in the
conrt room, though his grey-haired faith
er bowed his head on the table and
shook with emotion, but as soon as he
left the court room for the Jail he broke
down and wept tAitterly.
On Wednesday during the sentence he
used his handkerchief upon his eyes
continuously His apparent hardness is
rapidly leaving him and he will be a
sorrowful boy when he hears the peni-
tentlary gates swing and bang behind
him. No evidence was taken in the
court and the plea of murder in the first
degree was accepted without question by
the judge. From reliable sources the
reporter may say, that if the case had
had come to trial considerable evidence
that has not been given out to the pub
l'c would have been brought out. The
story OF an eyewitness, who claimed to
nave seen the murder at distance of
fifty or sixty feet, as printed in some
daily papers is said to be true except
that some of the details were rather
enlarged, but the evidence was sufficient
to overcome the any idea of a self-de.
renee. The theory of the prosecution Is
that OBrien tried to induce LeClaire to
go with him to the river and then under
the pretence of getting drink from the
ice, to get LeClaire at or near the water
and then dispatch him there, but when
LeClalre refused togo farther, that the
deed was done where it was, about one
block from the dam.
The court room was crowded on Wed.
nesday morning. among whom we're
about twenty ladies. O'Brien was
brought in, but was not compelled to
stand during the sentence of the indpe
az is usual at such times.
WHY SENTENCE SHOULD
NOT BE PRONOUNCED.
The proceedings began by Judge
kneeshaw addressing the prisoner as
follows:-
"James O'Brien, you are accused Of
murder in the first degree for the mur.
der of Arthur LeClaire on the 22nd day
Of December, in the town of Neche, with
malice aforethought, with premeditated
design to effect the ,death Of Arthur
LeClaire. and then and there assaulted
and beat him with hatchet from which
he died. Have you any reason why court
should not pass sentence upon you?'
Attorney JohnlP. Conmy Of the coun-
sci for the accused then stood and gave
an eloquent and moving plea for clemen-
cy, and while he had but little ground
on which to stand, be made the most of
it and said all that could be said in be-
half Of the unfortunate boy. His re-
marks were in part Is follows
The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1908-01-10

The regular January term OF court be.
gan on Tuesday. While there was nc
jury called,yet the first session on Tues
day afternoon was attended by many
people, many coming on the train from
toilette, Bowesmont, dayton and othel
parts of the county. These we're large
ly attracted by the fact of the probable
,arraignment and sentence of James
O'Brien, for murder of Arthur LeClaire
at Neche on the night of Decembe,
22nd.
The first business of the court was t<
call over the calender to see il it would
be necessary to call a jury and to set the
cases for trial. His honor, Judge Knee
shaw, saying that in the opinion of The
local attorneys there was not enough
business before the court to warrant the
calling.of jury.
After the call, informations were read
in the presence of the accused parties by
states attorney Brynjolfson against
James O'Brien for murder in the first
degree; Wesley L. McHolland, rape in
first degree; Alex. Gaudette, selling
whisky; and later an information against
Fred Leslie Thompson for grand larceny.
The accused we're given until Wednes-
day morning to plead.
Wednesday morning, contrary to ex-
pectation, and to ordinary court usage,
but by request Of the defendant and his
counsel, O'Brien was brought into court
to plead and receive sentence.
GUILTY.
When asked for his plea, the youthful
prisoner with bowed head and fearful
eyes answered "Guilty." Beside him
we're his father and brother-in-law, Mr..
Clark Of Winnipeg. Behind and around
him were perhaps two hundred people,
many of whom had known him from
q child, some had been his playmates
and friends. Even the Judge, on the
bench had taken him on his knee and
played with him in his babyhood and
childhood when visiting at his fathers
hotel. The scene was very trying to all
and to, those whose duty it became to
carry out the stern provisions Of the
law, it was almost as trying as it must
have been to those who had to receive
the punishment and shame, for as the
Judge observed, the parents and re-
latives must also share in the awful
Of the crime he had com
mitted. O'Brien. while not tall is Of
average height and weighs about 14O
pounds. In feature he is good looking
lad with dark hair and eyes. In appear
snce he might easily be taken for
twenty one years Of age or more. Among
, crowd Of boys, many others would be
selected before him, il one was looking
fOr murderer. On TUESDAY afternoon
while the long formal information was
being read BY the states attorney charg-
;ng him with willful murder, he kept
The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1908-01-10

court, they are, or should bejudged not
only blythe circumstances just at the
time of the crime, but the punishment
be given. because the accused had no
right to allow himself to pass from the
state Of normal to the state Of abnormal
which allowed him to take leave of his
judgment, and permitted him to make
himself criminal.
The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1908-01-10
CRIMINAL INSANITY

Man rs born with dual natures, good
and bad. Long before the baby has
come to months of self consciousness, we
can see the beginnings of the two dis
positions. Nature has also given the
normal human greater or less degree
of knowledge of right and wrong, and
also endows us with will power to
govern our actions. If there were no.
thing more than this, humanity as a
whole would mostly go wrong. Physic-
ally we learn very early in life that If we
pat,our hands in fire that we shall suf-
fer pain. In the same manner we also
learn the same thing is true morally,
only it seems harder to convince. Sin
and wrong are certain of punishment,
someway, sometime, naturally aud by
nature. But because the punishment
is not always swift, the man thinks he
may comnit and still escape.
Human law has been made to supple
ment the punishments of nature and
perhaps may be considered as part OF
the plan. Hence when crime is commit.
ed the law provides punishment.
The object Of human punishment is
not always understood. 1t really has
two objects, to punish the sinner and
to deter others. The latter as far as
society is concerned is the more import.
ant.
There is rarely such a thing as I'M
promeditated crime. ''Brain-storms''
may be a possibility, but they are neces-
sarily very rare. Most of such cases are
the results of previous preparation of
the mind of the person who commits the
crime, e,-crime is habit of mind before
it is shown outwardly.
The normal mind is kept on balance
by the will power. Any person can let
his passions work Independently of his
will power until later his will power be-
comes dormant and useless and then
the person becomes the victim Of the
first storm of lust or revenge that blows
over and through his brain.
The man who habitually allows his
"quick-temper" to have its way is in
good trim for a brain-storms that may
mean homicide. The man who wants
money and good-time without work,
soon gets in condition of mind that
leads to robbery and murder.
The punishments given by the law do
much to prevent this sort of loss Of will
power. The thought may come, and
does come to every man to do wrong; if
he Is normal, both his sense Of right and
wrong and the fear Of the consequences
will cause him to stop that thought
right there, and it will pass away so
quickly that he is hardly conscious Of
its presence. But let him think it over
more and more, and he will finally forget
to weigh the consequences, think only
Of what he desires, and thus for this;
much, is really insane. +.
The penalties Of the law, as we say,
preyent much Of this insanity, but
whom such cases do como before the
The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1908-01-10

has plenty of room to flow slowly and
comfortably.
With all due respect to the engineers
there are some things they muSt have
accepted on mere rumor or supposition.
The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1908-01-10


is question as to whether this is either
legally or morally right. From a farmers
standpoint il seems right, but there are
always two parties to bargain, and both
have rights, Anyway, nobody would
kick quicker and harder than the farmer
it other producers should combine to
raise the price of what he, the farmer,
has to buy. The great weakness of the
basis of the society was the fixing of an
arbitrary price of their product. A
combination, for the purpose of getting
the right price, whether it be fifty cents
or two dollars per bushel is correct
principle. A combination for simply
getting the farmers together to see that
other combinations and monopolies or
middle men do not "do" them is only
self.preservation.
But wheat went to dollar anyway.
and because the motive was taken away
there has naturally been but little in
terest taken in the movement by the
wheat farmers. But in some other
states, where tobacco is the issue, we
hear ofsome dreadful things. How much
of this is equity we do not know. But
from similar issue and through simil.
ar combination, the daily papers are
telling stories of ''night-riders'' who
burn the crops and the storehouses OF
neighbors who want to sell their pro.
ducts independent of the combination.
AS we say we>don't know how much
if any of this, can be charged to the
Equity Society, but We certainly would
not want such state of aft airs in this
county or valley. And yet, if the Society
of Equity had found wheat remaining
below the dollar this fall, and members
had stuck to their pledge not to sell, ii
would certainly have made an unpleas.
antness among neighbors, if the other
fellows had sold their wheat while we
held ours for higher prices.
AS this paper has heretofore pointed
out, combinations of any kind among
farmers, wheat farmers particularly, 10y
nature of their product live on large
farms, are necessarily isolated and live
at long distances from each other, and il
is inconvenient for them to meet often
and talk things over. Workmen in fac.
tories and shops are together all day at
work and at. night find their halls
pleasant places of concourse. The
farmer works alone without an employer
absolutely independenttand his product
is his own and he sells when and how he
chooses as he may find customers. The
city employe has nothing to sell but his
daily labor paid at regular rates, while
the farmers product is a matter of
speculation from the seed time to. the
harvest.
By these remarks we are not trying to
knock the Equity Society, we are only
referring to some of the difficulties con-
nected with the success of such society
These difficulties are very grave and it
will take some pretty wise heads and
much enthusiasm to make such society.
a success. Nevertheless, this writer has
invested his two dollars in the enter
prise, hoping that something may come
cope out Of it for the good of the farm
ersamong whom he ranks as Of the
degree Of "agriculturalist."
The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1908-01-10

Continued II On eight pase.
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-10-04

with many great problems as to what
is best to do in such cases. The lives
of both parties to clandestine mar
rage are usually wrecked by the fool
ish marriage School girls and boys
getting into an automobile and hying
themselves off to some county seat or
city hall where they can obtain IL
cense and find some one authorized to
perform the marriage service is OF all
too frequent occurrence.
Not long ago boy and girl took
trolley ride out to Rockville, the
county seat of Montgomery county,
Maryland, obtained license and found
some one who was wicked enough to
marry them. They went to a con-
fectioner, bought some candy, and sat
down near the track and waited for a
car to return to Washington. They
each returned to their respective homes
and thought to keep their marriage
o secret The mother of the young
bride. being dissatisfied with her
daughters explanation Of her disap-
pearance from home insisted upon be-
ing told the truth as to where she had
been, and who was with her, and final
ly succeeded in getting the whole
story. The father of the boy groom
was informed of the facts and was
SO outraged and indignant that the
boy ran away, and both families were
overwhelmed with grief over the af-
fair.
Disappointment, ruin of careers even
tual disagreements, disenchantment
and separation are the usual conse-
quences of Opponents.
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-10-04
SUCCESS PREDICTED
Cattle Show in Connection
With Fall Festival Is
Promising.
FARMERS TAKE INTEREST.

About week ago the fall festival
show were greatly discouraged over
the lack of interest stock breeders and
farmers in this section of the country
were taking in this exhibit. Entries
were few and far between. However
the first of this week the cattle show
began to boom and now the prospects
are that it will be great success.
There will not be as many cattle
shown here as horses, of which there
will be an exceptional number, but
there will be enough on hand to make
the exhibit a most interesting one.
The past three or four days farmers
and stock breeders have begun to take
interest in the event and have notified
the committee that they will be repre-
sented by some Of their best stock.
All cattle entered in the show will
be quartered in large barn on North
A street near Fifth street. This barn
has been loaned to the fall festival
company of this ciyt-
Cattle will be exhibited on North A
street in front of the barn. One of the
most interesting herds which will be
entered is owned by Captain Jackson,
the we'll known Center township farm
er.
Prizes of $40 and S. will be awarded
to the winners of first and second rib
bons in the following classes:
Best bull. any breed; best cow and
calf. any breed; best COW years or
over, any breed; best heifer under 2
years, any breed; best sucking calf,
any breed; best steer over 2 years,
any breed; best steer, years or un-
der, any breed; heaviest steer, any
age, any breed.
The committee insists that all en-
tries be filed at the fall festival head
quarters by noon, Monday.
Swine Show Prospects.
The prospects for the swine show,
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-10-04

forty-two hours. She regained con-
seriousness Tuesday and told her moth
er remarkable story. She described
a beautiful gate that opened to her.
and angels carrying her through space
until she suddenly saw God before her.
God had book, but he told me it
was not my time yet" said Ethel. Il
saw papa and little Charlie both hav-
ing wings, and they also said that it
was not time for me to stay in heaven
1t was so beautiful that l did not want
to come back. pleaded but suppose
God wanted me to stay on earth and
comfort you, mamma, and that is the
reason l came back. But / must go
back, for there is no trouble in heav-
en-; all happiness and no pain
The physicians do not hold out much
hope for the girls recovery.
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-10-04

had placed a piano and starte1 the
monograph going. He talked H6cited
and played on the piano the same ber-
vice which he rendered at the funeral
of his relatives and large number
of others.
Il prepared five records" ne aid
mo. is the twenty-third psaln No.
Q is the song. Shall We Gathef>3t the
RiverT No. 8 is made up of IL Yer,
ses from the poem 1mmortality No.
is the Lords prayer and No. a
Gottschalk's Last Hope
DR.. Morrill, Is a brother of tho
Morrill, Twins who several years
ago conducted evangelistic services q
Chicago and its suburbs.
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-10-04
DECLARES SHE WENT
TO HEAVEN AND SAW GOD
Remarkable Story of Girl Who
Was Near Death.

New York, Oct. 3.-After awaken
ing from what appeared to be the sleep
Brooklyn, declared she had been in
heaven for forty-eight hours and had
seen the Deity and her dead father
and brother.
The girl has been suffering from
spinal meningitis. She lay in trance
like stupor with wide open eyes for
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-10-04
PHONOGRAPH TO
PREACH At FUNERAL
Minneapolis Divine Arranges
For His Own Services.

Minneapolis, Mimi, Oct. 3.-The
Rev. G. l.. Morrill,, chaplain of the
Actors alliance, has prepared his own
funeral service by aid of a phono-
graph.
The Rev. Mr.. Morrill, is so years
old and is pastor of the Peoples
church, Unique theater.
= The clergyman went to a Minnea.
polls monograph store and closeted
himself in a private room Here he
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-10-04
Effective at All Hours,

"I've got the finest gardens in this
part Of the country" boosted the new
ly made millionaire. fright in the
center of them Is the most expensive
sundial in the world"
"a sundial is all right during the
day." remarked listener. ITS use
less at night"
milne isn't" retorted the millionaire
proudly. give got mine surrounded
with electric lights '-Bohemian Maya.
zine
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-10-04

which will be held at the South A
street market house, are quite salts.
factory. The exhibit will not be a
large one, but the animals shown will
be of exceptionally high quality. Gen.
erous prizes for first and second win.
ners in each class Of swine have been
offered.