davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The L'Anse sentinel., 1908-01-11
WlLLIAn IRAMER5 JEROM

Mart" Littleton had been selected as
chief counsel for Harry X. Thaw. It
caused some In New York. While he
has been recognized for several years
as an able trial lawyer, he has not
been prominently identified with the
criminal branch OF his profession, al
though he has been many times ad-
vised that he could become supreme
in that field II he would enter it.
His success since he left his old
hople In Texas has been almost phe-
nomenal, and 1t has been due largely
to these things-determinati af-
liability of manner, a gift of oratory
and conciseness of expression. There
are few men in New York who can
excel him In making a plea before q
Jury; there are fewer who can make
more pleasing after-dinner speech;
there are few who can equal him in
clearly stating complex proposition;
there is none who can excel him In
dealing telling verbal blow at an op-
perfume time. And, added to It all,
he Is . thorough student of the law.
He is an expert at cross-examination
is fighter for what he thinks Is right
and he has q forceful way with jury.
Became Famed a. Orator.
Back In his boyhood days In Texas
he was known as an orator and story
teller. He could recite all the old
fifth reader masterpieces with FIRE
that stirred the boys" in the village
store, and, short time later, when he
was active in politics but not old
enough to vote. he could rouse the
old timers down in Weatherford to
bursts Of applause with his oratorical
efforts.
II was due to no choice Of his own
The L'Anse sentinel., 1908-01-11
ONCE TRACK WALKER,
p NOW GREAT LAWYER
The Career Of Martin w. Littleton
Selected Leading Counsel for Harry K. Thaw 1t Is
Predicted That District Attorney Jerome Will Find
in Him Worthy Opponent at Coming Trial

that Littleton went to Weatherford,
He was born In log cabin In Roane
county, In the eastern part Of Tennes.
see, 35 years ago last January, and
when just youngster was taken by
his father to Weatherford. After q
stay Of a few years there the elder
Littleton decided to move back to
Tennessee. but the son. then under 16
years Of age, declined to accompany
him. He preferred Texas. Even at
that tender age he had begun to dream
Of life in New York city. The idea
of studying law hadn't occurred to
him, but he was determined to get
in the midst Of things" and to make
his way at something.
Worked and Studied Law.
Dependent on his own efforts after
his father moved back to Tennessee
he did odd jobs about Weatherford
for time and then, for want of
something to do, obtained a job as
trackwalker. It wasn't the sort OF
work he preferred, but he wasn't par.
ticular and he stuck to 1t for several
months. It was during this servitude
that ambition to become a lawyer
seized him. His ready wit and his
ability to say things better than the
other men on the road caused some
Of his associates to suggest the law
to him.
BY way Of shortening his path some
what to his chosen field he left the
railroad and got job as devil in
the Office of the Park County News,
which was published in Weatherford.
He didn't like ink and pressroom Ell.
quette, so after a short term here he
got job as bakers helper. Mixing
dough and reading law didn't prove as
delightful a combination as he had
hoped and he resumed his old job OF
trackwalker because it gave him plen-
ty CT time to study nights and to think
about his studies during the daytime.
The L'Anse sentinel., 1908-01-11

trial courts and was regarded as a
conner" in criminal law.
Involved In Big" Cases.
In 1899 he was made an assistant
district attorney of Kings county, and
while serving in that capacity he had
charge of some of the most notable
cases in the borough across the bridge.
He prosecuted Five Hundred and
Twenty Per Cent" Miller and was
chief prosecutor in many other prom
inent cases. And during all this time
he was gradually earning a reputation
as an orator and after-dinner speaker.
He attracted particular attention be-
cause he was OF q different school
from his competitors. He brought
east with him southern charm Of
manner that invariably made friends
for him.
His real debut as an orator came
during the campaign OF 1900, in the old
Academy of Music, in Brooklyn.
Known as man who could make q
fair speech. he was put down on the
programme as one Of the tailenders.
Three Democrats of national promi-
nence were scheduled for the chief ad-
dresses, and David B. Hill was her
aided as the principal attraction. When
his turn came Mr.. Littleton--then a
man OF but 2s years--created sensa-
tion from the start. II is no exag-
geration to say that he really elec-
trified the audience. His speech was
short, clear and to the point. and his
eloQuence stirred the crowd to storms
Of applause. Instead Of leaving the
hali everyone stayed and still others
jammed their way In.
Littleton became known outside Of
Brooklyn after that. II was that effort.
The L'Anse sentinel., 1908-01-11

New York.-It was back In 1888
when the following dialogue took place
between the foreman of a little rail
road down in Texas and rosy
checked, smiling young trackwalker
whose good nature and ready tongue
had earned him reputation extend
ing clear across Texas township
You're a pretty bright young man."
said the foreman. Il suppose some day
you expect to be the conductor Of a
freight train, don't your"
mo. sir" replied the trackwalker.
Il never expect to be that"
You don't? You ought to aspire to
something like that. What do you
hope to be?" -
Il expect to be big lawyer in New
Yok city"
After the foreman had recovered
from his laughter he said:
Pretty far cry from trackwalker to
. metropolitan lawyer, isn't it?"
Eyes, sir, but no farther than from
rail splitter to president"
Martin w. Littleton was the rosy
checked trackwalker. A few years
later when the whole country was
ringing with his speech at the st.
Louis national convention in which
he nominated Alton B. Parker for the
presidency. Mr.. Littleton went back
to his old corner of Texas, and met
the railroad foreman who had sketched
out for him the brilliant future of a
freight conductor.
Part Of Ambition Realized.
We'll, Martin" said the foreman,
you've changed some since l was
your boss, amt your"
I'm older"
"And you're big New York lawyer,
too, amt your"
We'll, don't know about the big,
but I'm a New York lawyer, anyhow"
1t probably caused some talk down
in Texas, when 1t was learned that
The L'Anse sentinel., 1908-01-11

practice he hung out his shingle In
Weatherford. and forthwith he began
to win cases In the local courts. The
suavity of manner that distinguished
him proved to be one Of his chief as
sets, and the quick wit which gives
him advantage over his opponents at
the present time aided him then in de-
feating his older adversaries. Two
years in Weatherford put him at the
head Of the profession there, despite
the fact that he was still beardless
youth who had cast but one vote.
Bright Career In Dallas.
Dallas was the scene of his next en-
deavors. He was unheralded. but It
was only short time before he be-
came recognized as lawyer of ability
and boundless ambition. In two years
he became assistant district attorney,
and Ia that capacity he made q reputa-
ton a. prosecutor which extended
pretty we'll all over Texas. His grasp
OF cp0ninal law was described as re-
markable and his handling OF jury
was said TO be little short Of mar
velous. There was just enough OF the
old southern fire In his oratory to
make juries bow before him.
During his career in Dallas he was
constantly fondling his ambition to
come to New York. He had never
been east Of the Texas line since his
father had moved over from Tennes-
see, and he had never met more than
half dozen men from the metropolis.
But he had read of 1t and dreamed Of
It and he was determined to make q
clean jump across the continent as
soon as he could scrape together
enough money to pay the expenses Of
himself and-of Mrs. Littleton.
Winning a Wife.
There wasn't any Mrs. Littleton at
that time, but he was determined there
should be. 1t has been said that the
greatest oratorical effort of his life
was that put forth when he induced
his wife to marry him, give up her lux
urious home in Texas, and come to
New York with him. He had made a
splendid success as lawyer. but had
little money; he had no friends in New
York, and not even suggestion that
he might obtain work. Mr.. and Mrs.
,Littleton, nevertheless, bade goodbye
to Dallas in 1896 and a short time
later arrived in the city, which the
youthful bridegroom-he was then but
"a years old-had dreamed Of conquer
Ing.
The young lawyer, despite his Texas
laurels, did not make the strides here
he had made in the southwest, but he
was neither surprised nor dispap-
pointed. He sought work in the Of
fees of various lawyers and finally OBJ
tanned a position with the firm Of
Peck & Field. Later he found a place
with Sheehan & Collins. Still later he
became attorney for the Brooklyn
Heights Railway company, and 1t was
while there that his star began to
rise. He attracted attention in the
The L'Anse sentinel., 1908-01-11

trial courts and was regarded as a
scnvoarv In criv,, IN a. Iau
The L'Anse sentinel., 1908-01-11

IN fact, which led to his selection ~
the man to nominate Alton b. Parker
for the presidency at the st. Louis
con vention of 1904. William #. Shee-
han heard his Academy OF Music
speech. and in looking for some one
to make the supreme effort at the st.
Louis convention he suggested Little
ton.
Studied Address Carefully.
It Is not necessary to recall the SEN
sation caused by Mr.. Littleton's speech
In st. Louis, but II 10 interesting to
recall the preparation made for the
address. Unlike most orators, Mr..
Littleton does not profess to be an
impromptu speaker. He can make an
impromptu speech. but he never does
so II he can help 1t. He prepares his
sentences with great care and then
commits them to memory. In fact. he
does not have to put forth any effort
to memorize them. When he has writ.
ten a speech he has learned 1t. He
can repeat 1t with practically no varia.
tion.
He prepared his st. Louis speech
weeks ahead of time. He rehearsed It
at home, and when he needed larger
place in which to train his voice he
went out to the cathedral In Garden
City and practised for hours. After he
reached st. Louis he went to the con-
vention hall one Sunday afternoon.
and in the presence Of two or three of
his friends went through the speech
two or three times to get the proper
pitch for his voice. His oration
created a sensation and put him in
stantly in the front rank Of American
orators.
Never a Seeker for Office.
Although possessing the attributes of
successful politician and having po-
litical ambitions, Mr.. Littleton has not
been seeker for office. He was perman-
ent chairman of the Democratic state
convention in 1902 and was borough
president of Brooklyn In 1904 and
1905. He was urged to accept renom-
ination for borough president, but he
declined. He had two reasons for do
iu6 bO. ouc was ludt hO WdhtCu W
leave the office before he had been
criticised: the other was that be was,
as he publicly expressed it at the time,
unable to make both ends meet"
He retired from public life to build
up a law practice, and he has been
busily engaged in doing so ever since.
He left Brooklyn couple of years
ago and set up in Manhattan, and he
has been prominently before the public
since in his legal capacity. In the mat
ter of earnings he is said to rank with
the leading lawyers of the city.
Not yet SO years, Of age, he may
truthfully be said to have glowing
future, and his close friends intimate
that it will not be alone in the field of
law. After he has accumulated COM
Portable fortune it is said he may seek
again to re-enter public life.
Younger by many years than any
The L'Anse sentinel., 1908-01-11

other lawyer who has in recent years
been in full charge of a case so i'm
portant as the Thaw trial, Mr.. Little
ton will be eagerly watched during his
conduct Of that trial. His friends say
that his experience as prosecuting
attorney in Texas and in Brooklyn will
greatly aid him In his fight, and they
predict that the pitting Of his ability
against the cool, unerring methods of
District Attorney Jerome will furnish
one Of the most interesting contests of
It's kind seen in New York in many
years.
The L'Anse sentinel., 1908-01-11

Laundry work at home would be
much more satisfactory II the right
Starch were used. In order to get the
desired stiffness, 1t Is usually neces-
sary to use 30 much starch that the
beauty and fineness Of the fabric is
hidden behind paste Of varying
thickness. which not only destroys the
appearance. but also affects the wear
ing quality Of the goods. This trou-
BILE can be entirely overcome by using
Defiance Starch, as 1t can be applied
much more thinly because of its great
er strength than other makes.
The L'Anse sentinel., 1908-01-11
It,a Chief use.

These" said the inventor proudly,
ARE photographs Of the finest aero.
plane the world has vet SEEN"
We studied the remsrkable-looking
object.
And how is It supposed TO werk7"
we asked.
oh" he rejoined, 1T isn't supposed
to work at all; but you can see wha
splendid newspaper and magazine
articles It will make"
The L'Anse sentinel., 1908-01-11
Mrs. Evans' Claim,

Mrs. Evans, Of Richmond-on.
Thames. England, claims she IL the
,nly woman entitled to wear the Alma,
3alaclava. and Inkerman medals, per.
mission having been granted on the
death OF her husband, whom she &C
companied through the Crimea. She
was often under IRE.
The L'Anse sentinel., 1908-01-11
pIscovered PrehIstorIc Ruin.

In Spruce canyon. near Cliff palace,
Colorado, Prof. e. l.. Hewitt has ais
covered q prehistoric ruin six
stories high. one Of the finest examples
Of the cliff dwelling ever found.
The L'Anse sentinel., 1908-01-11
The EXPLANATION.

TUc GNPIdTdt'VT'
II wonder why the snakes a man
sees when he's been drinking multiply
SO fast?"
Il suppose because the kind Of
snakes he sees are adders."
The L'Anse sentinel., 1908-01-11

Griggs-The idea Of your letting
your wife 60 round saying she made
man Of you. You don't hear my wife
saying that.
Briggs-No, but I heard her telling
my wife that she did her best.
The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1908-03-03
DIED.

KATEs,-March 2, at Mount Holly, Theodore
N. Hates, in his 85th year.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend
the funeral from the residence of his son,
Frank L. Hates, No. % Bfspham street, on
Thursday, March 5, at q P. M. Interment
Baptist cemetery.
PEAK.-February %, at Mount Holly, George
H. Peak, in his 18th year.
Relatives and friends, also Washington
and Unity Lodge, No. lie, /. O. O. F.. Nonpareil
Lodge, l. o. M, and Union Fire Company, are
invited ito attend the funeral from his late
residence, No. lN Buttonwood street, on We'd
nesday, March 4. at p. Nj. Interment Mount
Holly cemetery.
BULLocK.-Marchl, at Mount Holly Cynthia
A. Bullock, widow of William j. Bullock.
BURKE.-March q at Mount Holly, Naomi
s., infant daughter of George w. and Ray
Burke, aged months.
MISUNDERSTANDING Is, in Philadelphia,
Lewis W. Branson, formerly of Vincentown'
CARTER.-March 1, near Roebling, Lydia
Carter.
CooK.-February %, at Lumberton, John
Cullen Cook. aged % years.
CLYDE.-February "a, at Florence, Catharine
c., daughter of Matthew and the late mar
garet ID. Clyde, aged IL years.
CLARK.-February rs, near Bustleton, Mrs.
Mary Clark.
DAuy-February 26, near Marlton, Julia
Daily. wife of William Daily, aged 81 years.
EMLEY.-February %, at Westyille,. Millen
EmIev. aged So years, formerly of Jacobstown.
| Fleck.
FRAzER.-February2 "a, at Georgetown, Mary
Frazer daughter ofN. w. and Mary n. Frazer.
G1BERsoN.-February %. at Beverly, Will
liam H. Giberson aged As years.
HUGe.-February %, at Moorestown, Charles
F. Hugg.
KELLUM.-February %, at Kearny, Frank
Kellum, formerly of Bordentown.
ORNEs.-February %, at Burlington, Mary
Louisa, wife of Benjamin Q. Ornes, aged %
| years.
PRIcKETT.-Marchl /, at Burlington, William
d. Prickett.
| PHILLIPs.-March /, at Burlington, Lettie
Pauline, daughter of Lewis M. ana Saran A.
Phillips, aged year and months.
RIcE,-February %, at Burlington, Mary
| Rice aged IL years.
REEsE.-February 26, at Lumberton, Henry
Reese, in his 6Sth year.
| SHINN.-February %. at Mount Holly, sam
uel W. Shinn, aged 81 years.
sMITH.-February %, at Burlington, Mary
widow OF Joan 9. Smith, In her 9Th year.
The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1908-03-03
Protest Against Tax.

At the regular meeting of Tuckertol
Council Tuesday number of directors Of
the Tuckerton Gas Company were on hant
TO protest against doubla franchise tax
This tax problem has been before Council
on number of occasions, and that the
matter might be settled the executive
committee Of the company was invited to
attend the session.
Among those present wereF. r. Austin,
president of the gas company, and W. G.
Sawyer, cashier of the Tuckerton Bank.
They contended that the attempt to collect
the extra franchise tax imposed by the
state was unjust and beyond reason.
The trouble arose over the ignorance of
the officials Of the gas company of Sec
ton of the law which says that two per
cent. of the gross receipts shall be paid to
the municipality as franchise tax. Not
knowing of this law the gas company has
a clause In its contracts with the borough
in which it agreed to give the town ten
lights free as franchise tax, which at the
rate charged for the other lights would be
equivalent to $500 The gas company is
content to let the tax of $75, imposed by
statute, be applied on the 5000 but does
not like the idea of paying the two taxes.
Mayor j. L. Lane has been accused of
playing In the'matter and Indignantly de-
MES it and states that seventy five per
cent. of citizens of the municipality are in
favor of imposing the extra tax on the gas
company,
The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1908-03-03
Fon1 PLAY Suspected.

Increasing mystery surrounds the dis
covery Saturday morning of driverless
farm team, stranded in the orchard of
a vacant farm near Columbus, by Charles
Il. Sampson, owner of the place Al
though the horses, nearly dead from
starvation and cold, had evidently been
deserted for some time, no reports have
been made to the police of any missing
team or missing farmer.
As a load of corn had probably been
taken to market by the driver of the team.
the police believe he had a snug sum OF
cash with him when he started home.
The theory founded on an empty whiskey
bottle found under the drivers seat, that
the man fell from the vehicle while intox
icated and was run over, is gaining ground,
but search of the vicinity has failed tC
reveal any sign of him.
The horses of the team are q valuable
pair, and evidently belong to some we'll
to do farmer. Many tramps are infesting
that locality and there is suspicion that
the driver may have been victim Of
robbery.
Unless an owner appears tomorrow fol
the team, which is still sheltered and fec
by Mr.. Sampson, 1t is expected that there
will be a thorough search of every woods
swamps and thicket in the vicinity of the
vacant farm.
The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1908-03-03
loci 81. Ridewax Dead.

Captain Joel 81. Ridgway. who for
nearly 30 years was keeper of the life
saving station near Barnegat Inlet, died
on Thursday night His reputation for
bravery and GOODNESS in the hour of dan
ger extended along the entire coast, and
made him conspicuous figure among the
life-saving corps.
Some years ago he was retired from the
service. During the last years of his SER
vice an incident in his career was the
rescue of the crew of the Austrian brig
Kral Jevicka, which came ashore during
a fierce storm on a cold winter night.
Captain Ridgway and his crew imperiled
their own lives, and two of the men were
drowned. No more heroic example has
been furnished in the annals of the New
Jersey coast. Several times on the way
out the boat was only prevented from
broaching to by the almost superhuman
efforts of the captain and his crew. Two
oars were torn away In the work of reach
ing the stranded brig, and the captain and
his associates were forced to swim to the
shore through terrific sea.
The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1908-03-03

Rendered unconscious by suffocating
smoke, Lidia Carter and William Fleck,
of Roebling, were burned to death in a
midnight fire, Sunday night, in the old
English farm house, situated between the
Florence road and the tracks OF the Penn
sylvania railroad, about half way between
Florence station and Roebling.
| While the two were being burned, many
people from Florence and Roebling
watched the blaze and tried to extinguish
it, without suspecting that there was any
one in the fiery furnace, and it was not
until late yesterday morning that the truth
was suspected. Then q casual passerby
who stopped to examine the ruinG was
Mortified to discover what he thought was
a charred human trunk in the ashes.
He Immediately summoned Coroner
Bisbing, who confirmed his worst fears
by unearthing the body of Lidia Carter
Later, after further search, that of Flick
was discovered.
The coroner at once impanelled jury
composed of Frank Miller, c. r. Moser,
s. L. Major, John Hester, Andrew Dia- |
mond and William Robbins These sur
veyed the ruins, and while no formal YER
dict was arrived at, the general opinion
was that a verdict would be rendered that
the deaths were accidental.
According to the Roebling authorities
Fleck and Miss Carter had been in the
habit of going every Sunday to the Eng
lish farm, which is abandoned, and in an
isolated neighborhood, and indulging In
carouse lasting until Monday morning.
The farm is the property of Lidia H.
Campbell, of Philadelphia, and has not
been occupied for some time.
On Sunday the couple went as usual.
and according to their custom lighted a
Gre in the sitting-room stove to render the
house comfortable. 1t is supposed that
The fire was caused by one of them reel
ing against this stove and upsetting it on
,he wooden floor. Then the smoke and
tunes of the burning wood quickly over
powered any of the senses of the two
which had not already been deadened by
rink, and the flames spread until the
house and its inmates were entirely con-
Jumed
At about midnight the flames were seen
both in Roebling and in Florence and the
ire-fghters of both places hurried to the
Jcene. When they arrived the fre had
gained too much Roadway to be checked,
md thinking the house to be empty and
If little value attention was directed to
he nearby outbuildings.
About O'Clock the fire had burned IT.
elf out, and the crowd dispersed and
vent home, totally ignorant of the terri
de tragedy which had taken place under
heir ewes II