davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1908-05-29
THE LA PORTE MURDER FARM.
Grcwsomc Revelations There Read
Like "A story of the Mid-Centuries.

Grcwsomc Revelations There Read
Like "A story of the Mid-Centuries.
Like q chapter from the bloody rec
ord8 Of the mid-centuries is the ter
rible story unfOlded by the authorities
Of La Porte, Ind, where wholesale muir
der was done for years without anyone
knowing or suspecting it. Criminal rec
0rds contain no parallel Of the grew
some story revealed in the finding of
the clearing house for murders kept by
Mrs. Belle Guinness near the Indiana
town. Just how many persons met
their fate in connection with the bloody
business carried on there will perhaps
never be known. The skeletons dis
covered on her premises and the fact
that eXpressmen had many times de
liyered to her boxes and trunks now
believed to contain human bodies form
the chief materials for the construction
of the strange story Of her career. She
Is supposed to have lured rich men to
her den by matrimonial advertisements
and then made away with them for
their money, and also to have run
murder fence" for the benefit of her
partners in the awful trade of human
slaughter, the latter operating In Chi
cago and sending the bodies of their
victims to her for burial. 1t is the
theory of the prosecution that Mrs.
Guinness deliberately lured men to
her farm by means of an advertisement
In a Chicago newspaper, in which she
represented herself as an attractive and
amiable widow looking for mate. She
alleged that she was the owner of
valuable farm and sought well-to-do
farmer as a husband After a visit
from such q candidate she generally in
duced him, it appears, to sell his farm
and come to her with the proceeds of
the sale, at which time she would de-
liberately murder him and bury his
body on the premises.
For years this strange woman is
said to have conducted her murder mill,
Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1908-05-29

uncertainty A fire which destroyed
the Guinness home also disclosed the
fact that her three children had either
been murdered before the fire or that
they had persisted in the flames.
in some respects the methods of Mrs.
Belle Guinness seem similar to those
OF the infamous Bender family in Kan
sas. Yet it is doubtful if the blood
thirsty Kate Bender in her paImiest
days was ever equal to the awful
crimes that are laid at the door of the
Guinness woman. The story of the La
Porte murder farm recalls the noto-
Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1908-05-29

sible for the murder of quite long list
Of persons. He was hanged in Phila-
deiphia. The Benders, husband and
wife and son and daughter, were sup
posed to lave murdered nine or ten
persons and buried the bodies in the
vicinity Of their home, robbery being
their motive. The Benders mysteri-
ously disappeared and their fate is IN
known, although rumors were abroad
at the time that indignant citizens put
an end to their infamous careers.
Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1908-05-29
HIGH SCHOOLS MAY ROW
Plan Projected for Boat Race Between
Menominee and Marinette at
Chautauqua

MARINETTE, Wis, May 23.-The
management of the Northern Chautau-
qua assembly to be held here July II to
"a, is making arrangements for boat
race between crews representing the
Marinette and Menominee high schools
Six cared shells will be used and the
high school students are enthusiastic
over the event.
The course, which will be from two to
four miles, from Peshtigo Point to the
ChautauQua grounds, is Il perfect one,
the water for the entire distance lying
in the bay on the shore of which the
Chautauqua grounds are located.
1t will be the first event of the kind
ever pulled off by high schools in the
west.
Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1908-05-29
THE DEMANDS OF AN IDEAL.

By Henry F. Cope.
"Sell whatsoever thou hast and give
to the poor and come take up thy cross
and follow Me."-Mark 10 81.
Ideals are our treasures only so long
as they are also tracks in which we
tread. The visions of things great and
worthy are not given that we might
have something beautiful to contem-
plate; they are calls to serve, to endure,
to toll, to bear burdens and meet diff
culties.
The dreams Of greatness or Of good
ness that go no further than dreaming
leave us weaker, poorer, less than if
we had never seen them. He who
sees the height and does not strive to
attaia it is less than he who seeing
it not at all lives toward his lowlier
vision. Our dreams must determine
deeds. Life were empty without its
dreams; it were emptier still if it were
nothing but dreams.
Yet how easy it is 70 be satisfied with
aspiration; never to make the in
yestment Of endeavor, to paint pictures
of lifes crowns. but never to be will
ing even to pay the price to gain any
of them. So many imagine that they
must be saints because they have
thought so often of seraphic joys. 1t
takes a good deal more than looking at
heaven to make the heavenly life
Now every sincere man is asking the
question, How may l realize the ideal?
Every sincere idealist is seeking for
means Of practical expression Of that
which is visioned before him. He is
not afraid of paying the price He
knows that it will be high if the end
is also high. There is an easy descent
to the things that are below there is
no facile grade, no means of sliding
up unconsciously to the higher levels.
Every attainment means so much
loss every gain so much giving up.
No man gains the crown who grasps at
every shining pebble by the way. We
have to learn to choose, to discriminate,
to reject even many good things that
we may gain that which is best. None
can gain all Of everything; all may
win all of something if willing to lose
other things.
Riches are not a curse of themselves :;
they are a curse and a cause of the
deepest poverty when we choose them
before some better things. The young
man in the story must sell his posses
sions because they stood between him
and the attainment of his ideals. SO
long as they were the chief good to
him he could make no progress toward
any greater good.
Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1908-05-29

THE railroads may win" said the
senator. They may. But if they win,
they lose" he added.
How so? What do you propose to
do if regulation fails?'
own" he said.
He realized what it meant TO say
that. but he didn't modify, he went on
and completed the thought:
When it comes to a choice" he said.
between government ownership by the
trusts or-of them, then l shall be for
ownership of the trusts"
4 moment. and l put another ques-
ton:
And what if that doesn't solve all
our problems
Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1908-05-29
La Toilette and the Railroads.

eve are regulating the railroads out
in Wisconsin; really; justly: to the com
fort and convenience of the people and.
1 believe. TO the advantage of the stock
holders of the railroads. said Senator
La Toilette. Let those who control
them fight. l believe in democracy l
see the people watching the struggle.
They want to be fair; We all want to
be fair and-patient, too. And we may
win. We may continue to govern even
the railroads, for that is what regula-
ton means. 1t means subjecting trans
portation to the laws and the common
good of the state.
Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1908-05-29
$4,000 GIVEN TO PEARY FUND.
Zenas Crane, Dalton, Mass, Contrib
utes for Equipment Of Expedition.

WASHINGTON, D. c., May %
Commander Peary. of arctic exploration
fame, sent this telegram to President
Roosevelt yesterday:
Ten thousand dollar check just re-
ceived from Zenas Crane. Dalton, Mass"
President Roosevelt replied as follows:
II heartily congratulate you on the
magnificent gift of Mr.. Crane. 1t will
be a real misfortune from q national
standpoint if there should be any failure
to equip your expedition"
Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1908-05-29

''Oh. Well" he laughed. that's as far
as we shall get in my time. But" he
sobered and his eyes glinted. with a
government that has made and survived
that test. we shall have the power and
the intelligence and the character to
solve any problems that arise; and we
will solve them all. Give us what We
are getting, the sense of the common
good, and no special interest of any
group or class can prevent the realiza-
ton of the ideals of the American peo-
ple."-Lincoln Steffens in the June
Everybody's.
Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1908-05-29
HYMNS YOU OUGHT TO KNOW
In Heavenly Love.

In Heavenly Love.
In heavenly love abiding,
No change my heart shall fear;
And safe is such confding.
For nothing changes here.
The storm may roar without me,
My heart may low be laid,
But God is round about me,
And can l be dismayed?
Wherever he may guide me,
No want shall turn me back;
My shepherd is beside me,
And nothing can I lack.
His wisdom ever waketh,
His sight is never dim,
He knows the way he taketh,
And l will walk with him.
Green pastures are before me,
Which yet l have not seen;
Bright skies will soon be DER me,
Where darkest clouds have been.
My hope l cannot measure,
My path TO life is free,
My Savior has my treasure,
And he will walk with me.
Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1908-05-29
FIRST TRIP TO CALUMET HARBoR.
Oshkosh Excursion Boat Ready for
Trial Run.

OSHKOSH, Wis, May 23.-[Spe-
ciaII.-A special permit has been secured
from the government inspectors of steam
boats. so that the new steamer Leander
Choate will carry its initial excursion
Sunday afternoon to Calumet Harbor on
the east shore Of Lake Winnebago. A
special trial trip was made this after
noon. The boat was finished this week
and was inspected by United States In
spectors Van Patten and Collins Of Mil
waukee. who found it in first class con-
dition.
Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1908-05-29
TORNADO SINKS POAT,
Six Europeans and Forty-eight Blacks
Drown Off Coast of
Africa

BRUSSELS, May 23.-Dispatches re-
ceived here from the west coast of Africa
announce that the steamship Vile de
Bruges has been sunk by d tornado on
the upper Congo. Six Europeans and
forty-eight blacks were drowned.
Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1908-05-29

rious doings OF the Bender family in
Montgomery County, Kan, about forty
years ago, and the famous case of
Henry II. Holmes, who swindled insur-
ance companies and was held respon-
Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1908-05-29
&xEExnzxw----
| o.. CO.

while her neighbors remarked upon her
good humor and her children mingled
with others OF their age in the neigh
borhood. And the end of this record
Of crime and mystery is shrouded In
Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1908-05-29
Francois Coppee Dead.

PARIS, May 23.-The death is an
nounced of Francois COpee, the we'll
known French poet and dramatist. He
was born in 1912 and was elected TO thaa
French academy in 1884.
Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1908-05-29

When a woman buys something she
cannot really afford, she condones the
fault by doing without something she
did not intend to buy, anyway.
Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1908-05-29
The Situation.

Are you able to keep a grip
Financially, yes. AUTOMATICALLY.
no" -Pittsburg Post.
Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-09-09
TWEED's QUESTION

II ONG AGO, when Bill Tweed, who
looted New York not wisely but
- too we'll, was at last called to ac-
count, he said to his accusers, well
what are you going to do about it,"
In November, 1907, an inquiry into e.
II. Harriman's methods was conducted
before the United States circuit court.
Frank B. Kellogg, counsel for the gov
eminent, questioned the propriety OF
Mr.. Hartman being member OF
committee to fix the price of stock he
held and was about to sell to the I'm
ion Pacific. John G. Milburn, Harri-
mans counsel, retorted: Yes, 1 know
he was a member of that committee,
but what are you going to do about it?"
Confronted by a record of financial
panic, predatory loot, frenZied finance,
and a decline in national education
which has reduced the United States
from first to sixth place among literate
nations (THINK OF IT'D the Repub-
lican party turns to the voters of the
United States and asks: "Well, what
are you going to do about it?" The
question will be answered at the ballot
box in November. The people will rule.
Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-09-09
TAFT'S GHOST

TT NAV be true, as a Republican
contemporary says, that Taft Will
l. have no ghosts of past speeches.
rising I'D behind him to contradict what
he is saying. He never yet made
speech that left a ghost strong enough
to get up and walk. That Is exactly
what is the matter with Tatts
speeches. They are remembered neither
for good nor for evil. They lead the
audience or readers round and round
the mulberry bush. They are circuit
Gus. They never arrive. No doubt some
people who hear them are impressed by
them.
Such people may be like the old Scotch
woman that went to hear preacher
who was struggling for a reputation.
On her return home her friends asked
eagerly, "Weel, granny and what
thought we of Mr.. MacBlank? Hes
no bad" was the reply. Il never heard
his like for the saving JUNCTION he puts
into that grand and gracious word,
Mesopotawmia."
As a Mesopotawmian orator Mr.. Taft
is a success. But one Of his utterances
was out Of the routine of his usual
cold and unimpassioned style, and Is
haunting him like ghost. 1t was not
a part of his regular address. 1t had
not been prepared in advance. 1t was
an impromptu, and was an honest and
unstudied confession of the Republican
attitude toward the social problem,
which is the greatest problem in the
United States today, and is indeed the
parent of all other problams. When 1t
Is settled the others will adjust them
selves without difficulty. A man in
Taft's audience, with keen recollections
Of the empty dinner pail and the hun
cry family after Republican prosperity
had looted the country and panic had
followed loot, said: MIR. Taft, if man
is out of work, cannot find work, has
no money, cannot borrow money, is not
allowed to earn money, and has a wife
and children whom he must support,
what is he to do?"
God knows" said Taft.
Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-09-09
GUARANTY SYSTEM

TN SPITE of the overwhelming ex-
preston of sentiment in favor OF
Il Mr.. Bryan's plan for the protec-
ton of depositors in banks, which was
embodied in the admirable Democratic
platform and is now part of the CAM
paign program, Mr.. Taft, under "God
knows what influences Gas he would
say, has been so Ill advised as to pick
out the guaranty system for attack.
Over and over again in his speeches
he has assailed the suggestion which is
recognized by leading financiers as the
best modern American contribution to
practical economics.
He sounded his own keynote in his
speech of acceptance when he said:
1.-THE Democratic platform recommends
a tax upon national banks and upon
such state banks as may come in, in
the nature of enforced insurance to
raise a guaranty fund to pay the de-
positors of any bank which fails. The
proposal is wholly impracticable I'M
less it is to be accompanied by COM
plete revolution in our banking sys-
tenn with a supervision SO close as
practically to create a government
bank If the proposal were adopted
exactly as the Democratic platform
suggests it would bring the whole
banking system of the country down
to ruin"
A guaranty of deposits will mean
that the savings of the masses shall be
secured so that when men and women
place their hard earned money in bank
ing institutions they need not worry
for fear it will be lost through the
recklessness or dishonesty of bank
officials.
Bank deposits are to be made as safe
as any other kind of property. Surely
there is nothing unreasonable or out
rageous in that. 1t Is to save the bank
ing business and protect the peoples
money that the plan Of guaranteed de-
posits is advocated by Democrats. 1t
is strange indeed that Mr.. Taft and
other leading Republicans cannot see
that the guaranteed deposits system
is bound to become an established and
recognized part of American financial
and business life. They cannot prevent
this reform. 1t is bound to come in
the course of national evolution. The
guaranteed deposits system is abso-
| lutely necessary for the prevention of
panics, for the safe keeping Of the
money of the masses and for the pres
ervation of the banking business in
the hands of individuals.
Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-09-09
LOCAL DEMOCRACY

W HEODORE A. BELL, who is re-
garded by many leading Demo-
- Gratis as Mr.. Bryan's spokesman
for the Pacific coast, will deliver an
address tonight in Los Angeles. There
will be big Democratic rally and a
big Democratic time"
Mr.. Bell is an eloquent orator, with
a thorough comprehension and appre-
citation of the leading questions of the
day. This year the united Democracy
of Los Angeles will make campaign
which will be memorable. The national
ticket inspires enthusiasm, and en-
thusiasm results in hard and effective
work.
Local Democrats by standing shoul-
der to shoulder and doing team work.
can accomplish results that will graf
ify them and surprise those who
are prone to underestimate Democratic
strength. The cause of Democracy is
winning more adherents every day,
and the present campaign marks new
era in the history OF the party.
Harmony reigns. Discussions. which
were profitable to the political oppo-
nents of the Democracy, have been re-
placed by concord. All in the same
boat, and all pulling together, the
Democrats of Los Angeles and of
Southern California will roll up a vote
for Bryan and Kern which will show
the United States that Democracy is
very far from being a negligible
quantity in the political calculations OF
this great state.
Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-09-09
GETS MUCH AMUSEMENT BY
WATCHING CORRESPONDENTS

LOS ANGELES. Sept. 6.-[Editor
Herald: It is quite q circus sh wascnlns
on the weighty subjects Of "heredity
and ,, and w Shsat in ret ths
cbePf after all. There is, though, lit
tie tendency in the discussion Of , yari,
Gus subjects to become personal w n,tar
ought wu Hts not to be slurred at as hiding
behind nom de plume, or an initial initial
az fact. the owner of the big, fine-iook-
autograph Is as and little Sjs p srown eS
as Iittje cared for by nine-tenths or
more Of the readers: What .o we want tn IS
the reason for o given Statement n ., am, anu
son e good and sufficient or not. The
pompous assertion, Il have proved" so
and SO, and calling our opponents ar
eilments s'tommyrot," Is essentially
weak and amusing, is it not?
one thing would insist on, as am
one OF thousands who are not going to
drop the Bible" as an authority at
Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-09-09
FUNNY JIM
k6n URING a statutory application
ID OF this (high protection) prin-
~ ciD1e PROSPERITY HAS

66n URING statutory application
of this (high protection) prin-
- ciple, PROSPERITY HAS
ABIDED WITH us. When revenue
tariff has been the law, adversely and
want have been our portion"
There Is only one man in the United
States who could have been guilty Of
this double boomerang. His name is
James s. Sherman, but by some friends
he is called Sunny Jim and by others
Funny Jim. The latter sobriquet is
we'll earned, for he is the greatest I'M
conscious humorist in the United
States.
Taft's "God knows" was considered
the champion feat in amateur political
artlessness till Sunny Jim came gal
umphing a-down the oratorical lane,
chortling ana chuckling between
bounds;
Shall the people rule? is declared
by the Democratic platform and candi-
date to be the overshadowing issue
now under discussion. IT IS NO is
SUE. Surely the people shall rule.
the people do rule!"
Does Phoebus Apollo Sherman really
think the people OF the United States,
the men and women of this great coun-
try, who have been forced to suffer
while under an ingenlously contrived
system they were USED and vast in
dividual fortunes Were founded upon
THEM, will quietly assent to PROPOSE
tions which in the mouth of Mephis-
topheles might be attributed to a spirit
of malicious mockery, but in the mouth
of Mr.. Sherman, who, honest man, Is
very far from Mephistophelian, are like
the tinkling little oriental wind bells
that some folks hang on front porches?
Surely the people WILL rule, but
they will rule through the Democratic
administration that will be voted into
power in November.
Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-09-09
CALLING

no the Duke of Abruzzi will marry
Miss Elkins or marry no one!
~ That sounds as If he were In
earnest. The utterance has the ring of
Lochinvar rather than of a fortune
hunter. When a man loves a woman.
and a woman loves a man, then whom
God will join let no man try to put
asunder. Those who try frequently get
the worst of it. But with all due SYM
pathy and respect for Abruzzi. and
realizing that all the world loves a
lover, we think this latest interna-
tional match serves to emphasize the,
chief objection to all such marriages.
Americans nationally are gallant.
Women are more respected and better
treated In the United States than in
any other country. No American man
takes kindly to the idea of the rumor
and scandal ana small talk and chat
terbox discussion of our American girls
which always attend these internal
tional matches. The furore of gossip
is distressing. The impertinences of
the discussion are Irritating.
HAS Miss Elkins the qualities neces-
sary to enter the reigning homer" We
have no doubt Miss Elkins, like every
American girl, has all the qualities
which will enable her to reign in her
own home, and we cannot help think
ing it is a misfortune for an American
girl when she falls in love with a titled
foreigner surrounded by his sisters and
his cousins whom he reckons up by
dozens, and his aunts, tiaraed, betitled,
naughty and unconscionably vulgar.
For of all the vulgarities that of inner
tied rank is the worst and the least ex-
cusable. Vulgar wealth is bad enough.
But there is some faint excuse for dol
lar toadyism. After all, wealth is pur-
chasing power, and it is human nature
to bow to the buyer. Even the Ameri-
can housewife would not be pleased IL,
upon a shopping tour, she were not
waited upon with what she calls
proper attention." |. e., Difference. But
to have to kowtow to some jewel be-
dizened European dowager, simply be-
cause that dowager's great great grand
father was "ennobled" by a reigning
monarch, must indeed be CALLING to
free born American girl.