davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-08

throw its rays on the gentlemans bed
through the opened door between. Its os-
citations were fitful and infrequent. the
light being thrown at the head one mo-
ment at the feet the next. Occasionally,
as the lamp dropped back. the gentle
mans room was left in darkness.
II went to sleep late and was very
tired" explained the householder as he
thoughtfully reloaded his pistol and eyed
the lamp viciously, land consequently |
did not notice the light in the next room.
About / o'clock | was awakened by
bright light which was thrown directly
in my face As l opened my eyes the
light disappeared. l looked around and
could see nothing.
Il then yelled to the supposed burglar
and told him to get out. i gave him
plenty OF time. ! swore at him. Just
then from the darkness of the other room
the Shaft of light was turned on again.
l suppose / was half asleep. l started
10 fire and-well. you fellows happened to
come in at the right time.
Yes" remarked the captain. grimly:
1T was lucky we dropped in. You seemed
about ready to shoot the entire back out
Of the house
Tragedies as a result of the mistaken
burglar are infrequent in the District. In
many years there have been but few cases
where the excited householder shoots
some one near and dear to him. But there
Is one case InaL Is remembered III tVSiy
precinct in Washington. Capt. Elliott or
No 10 tells the story.
1t seems that young couple had just
moved into snug little home I'm Mount
Pleasant They were happy and in love
with each other. but single small diff
ference was always between them. The
husband was fond OF firearms, kept them
around the house. practiced with them
constantly and the wife was intensely
afraid of them.
Time and again she had begged her nus
band to give up his target practice, but
he laughingly refused There was no
danger, he said
One night while he was asleep she arose
and walked into an adjoining room. EN-
actly what happened afterward only one
living soul knows-the husband When
the Young wife's mother ran into the room
she found her daughter. shot through the
heart, swaying by the bedside. Her nus
band, sitting in bed, held a smoking re-
volyer in his hand.
1T was an accident" she gasped. ana
fell. limp and quiet. to the floor.
Twice that night the young husband at
tempted to end his life. He gradually
grew calmer, remembered his child-dnd
his WITHSTAND decided to live.
Capt Elliott is a strong man, but there
is something about this story that always
affects him. And he tells II often as a
horrible example of keeping revolvers
around when one Is victim OF the pop.
ular Observation-Disclosures
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-08

was a burglar?' he said to the wagon
driver Yes, 1t is awfully funny. Ha.
Ha! Ha! / am having Mysteries. Why
doesn't somebody else laugh?"
In the first precinct Capt Wlillams one
night had an experience that Will appear
in his biography if it is ever written. The
story concerns householder who shot
up an electric light, thinking that it was
a dark lantern in the hand of some In
truder. 1t is a sweet little story, and the
captain loves to tell it with little green
light and some soft, malaral music. IRE
captain is lover Of the melodramatic.
According to Capt. Williams call OF
the wild was registered over the telephone
about ten years ago by householder.
who informed the desk man at the first
precinct station that either somebody was
being murdered next door or political
body was in session. The neighbor eX-
planned that he didn't know exactly what
was going on, but that he had heard
enough profanity wasted in ten minutes
to last a respectable person lifetime
with care.
The captain galloped wildly down to the
scene Of the riot. AS he arrived a pistol
shot caused him to jump slightly. He
kicked down the front door and sprinted
to the back room on the second floor.
AT least suicide he murmured sadly
as he ran down the hallway.
Bursting through the door of the noisy
chamber. the captain beheld a sight that
startled him. Sitting in bed was an irate
profane gentleman aiming carefully
through an open door leading into the
next room. The adjoining chamber was
absolutely dark. AS the captain ran
toward the bed the gentleman lowered his
revolver and gasped hoarsely:
Il don't think he's dead yet. | winged
him and put his light out the first shot.
He's laying in there somewhere. I've
pumped five bullets into him, | think"
"Who?" demanded the captain.
S. ''Who?" repeated the gentleman in ac-
cents of surprise, "a burglar.
One of the captains men ran into the
room and by the light of dark lamp
gaZed about Not human was in sight.
not even drop of gore could be seen
upon the floor The holes of the five bull
lets were distinctly visible. their results
being noticed in shattered pictures, brok-
en- panes of glass and mutilated plaster.
In the center of the room was a hanging
electric lamp, the bulb shot clear out OF
it, that swayed in the evening breeze as
1t came through the half-opened window.
But little Importance was attached to this
at first Gradually it came upon the cap
tain that as this had been shot to atoms
it might have been the cause of the
householder's excitement.
A new bulb was screwed to the lamp
and the light was turned on. Then came
the explanation. Swayed by the evening
breeze the lamp swung high enough TO
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-08

the patrol. Arriving at the house, the
regulation outside watch was arranged
and the captain galloped inside. closely
followed by numerous myrmidons- They
reached the parlor door on the run. The
door was locked From the interior rose
sounds indicative of acute suffering.
Plainly the burglar had eaten something
which did not agree with him. The cap
tain's blood froze in his veins as he lis
tened to the uncanny noises.
THE door must be broken, he NUT
tered. agitatedly. Quick. me good men,
at the door"
Clubs and b1ackjacks battered down the
flimsy barrier in a moment. and in
another the law had burst into the par
lor. lamp was lit and by it's Pickering
light the burglar could be seen lying at
full length on a sofa. He seemed to be
a peaceful burglar. He did not seem to
be anxious to do murder He was asleep
and he was snoring in correct imitation
of happy donkey's voice.
AS the lamp was turned upon him a
faint cheerful smile Illuminated his placid
face and he lifted ZIP his voice and snored
again 1t was a fine. full-bodied snore.
a little startling at first and gradually
ascending in shril crescendo with a
reminscently thoughtful little wheeze at
the end. followed by placid porcine
grunt. The captain gripped him by the
arm The man protested sleepily.
..Wazzermazzer?" he asked. drowsily.
You femme lone. Lemme Schleep.
faint mornin' yet Zmosh abshurd zing
to wake a man before mornin.
That's all right. my man, SAID the
captain grimly. you can sleep In the
police station for the rest of the night.
The somnolent one leaped to his feet
with scream.
Wyatt zyou talkin' about" he yelled,
'.zish ish my home.
At this critical moment the woman VINO
had called the police entered the roo"
and gazed at the recumbent one severely
Well John William Harris she said.
what do you mean by this? To come
into my house in this condition. John
William, l leave for mothers home to-
morrow
"Zfren's m'dear, nice, kin fren.' said
the recreant husband, showing evidences
of a recurrent desire for sleep. "fren's
fr-r-r-rah.
With which he toppled over on the sofa
and went to sleep again.
The woman turned to the policeman and
smiled sweetly.
Poor John. he's been out with friends
she explained. Isn't it funny / thought
it was burglar?"
The captain is ever polite. He removed
his cap and made a sweeping bow. And
then marched back to the wagon.
Once outside he relieved himself of his
pent-up feelings:
Isn't it funny she thought her husband
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-08

LTHct GIL no woman may be
~ President. a woman may he a
Presidents wife. And the award
vote of the people fully as much
AS does the success of her candidate nus
band. for without the one the other may
not exist. And so another beside the pres
idential candidate is vitality interested III
the outcome of Il campaign. With ears as
eager as those of their husbands To hear
the heraIds of victory or the harbingers of
defeat borne over the wires Tuesday night
were Mrs. William Howard Taft who
kept her finger on the voting pulse of the
country in her sisters home on Pike
street Cincinnati. and Mrs. William
Jennings Bryan. who watched events from
her husbands farmhouse at Fairview.
near Lincoln. Nab
To Mrs. Taft the experience was
new To Mrs. Bryan the story was a
comparatively old one. for IL was the
third time that she had sat by her hus
hands side and listened to the tick of the
telegraph instruments as they told the
fate of the Nebraskan. And yet Mrs.
Bryan's position was perhaps far more
trying than that of the Ohoan's wife,
for upon two other occasions she had
come 10 him with wifely words of en-
couragement To enter the presidential bat
tie again. 10 the end that the Peerless
One said Immediately before the voting
Tuesday. Il may lose the election, but
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-08


tremblingly felt for your
volver when, to your affrighted
ear, came that strange sound
which announced the presence of an in
truder in the home? The noise that wor-
red and disturbed may have been the
coughing of the night breezes through
the half-opened window; it may have
been the cat or the slight rustling of
some evening paper carelessly deposited
on the floor None of these simple ex-
plantations came to you. As you reached
for your pistol and crept towaru the tele-
phone determined to your life dearly,
there was only one explanation. OF the
noise-burglars
Police records show that only one call
in fifty that comes in over the telephone
announcing Historically that there's
burglar in our house ever amounts TO
ANYTHING Out of fifty householders who
firmly and unalterably believe that some
bloodthirsty villain is suffering from
desire to murder them in their homes
and then remove the SAID nome IN an
express wagon, only one is justified IN
his suspicious. The remaining forty-nine
are the victims of extreme nervousness.
a hectic cat a wandering dog or loose
piece of paper
DESPITE the fact that the police smile
every time wailing, weeping voice begs
them to hurry 70 An address before
the inmate is brutally and ruthlessly muir
dered they are required 10 visit the scene
and search for the hobgoblin burglar.
and il is strange but we'll known fact
they are never able to convince the
householder that his house has not been
entered.
Just why the average able-bodie man
who is ordinarily calm and cool should
become quite wild when he hears the
slightest sound in his domicile after mid
night is d psychological problem that the
proSaic mind of d commonplace police
man cannot grasp. To quote the average
cop: It's blamed funny how brave
coward is liz the light and how cowardly
a brave man acts in the dark
Many and strange are the tales they
tell in the police station houses about
The men who think they have burglars in
their homes. stories strange enough to
rival the wildly concocted works of some
of our present-day fiction writers. For
nstance-but it Is well TO begin at the
beginning.
There Is no man in Washington less
given 10 superstitition and what he
terms "tomfoolery" than Lieut.. Judge OF
the eighth precinct. The lieutenant is
the kind of man who cannot evolve Il
respectable shudder even when he is
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-08

looking into the revolver of some ir-
ritated evildoer Consequently, he grins
appreciatively as he tells various stories
on excited householders.
1t was late one night and the lieutenant
was drowsly trying to figure out why
he had joined the department. when the
telephone bell changed. and the desk ser
geant jumped sixteen feet in the air. sup
posing at least that a murder had been
done.
A thin. wild voice trailed through the
receiver and into the sergeants ear.
'Foah de Lawd's sake, man. come to
dis house quick it said. ''deahS a man
in yeah tryin' TO massacre NAH hus-
Gripping his faithful horse pistol the
lieutenant leaped into the patrol wagon
and with four policemen hurried to the
house. Arriving there they found the
place dark and forbidding. Not a light
shone anywhere. Two policemen covered
the back, one hurried to the front, while
the fourth. with the lieutenant. entered
the house.
colored man armed with a revolver of
such a shape as to encourage the sup
position that it had been remodeled
from gatlng gun The man was firmly
holding the door Of small closet. He
seemed nervous. AS the lieutenant ran
toward him he looked up and said:
"Yessuh. Abs got him right yeah. sub
He's right benin dis do. You wants to
look out kauSe he got a knife. YeSSuh
Abs been holdin' him in yeah foah three
hours"
The lieutenant was disconnected for
once in his life. 1t was clear that this
man had at last broken the tried ira
ditions of the police by catching a burg
lar.
rs he big man. he asked. as he
gently approached the door
Beads OF perspiration trickled ira
jectorally from the citizens trembling
face he replied:
Nigh to seben feet high"
AS has been before stated. the lieuten-
ant is brave. He grappIed with the door
knob and. valiantly throwing the door
open. numbered
Come OUT
And in five seconds one colored citizen
be equaled by five straight passes in
crap.
y large and Disguised tomcat jumped
lightly down from barrel and. tail erect
and eyes half closed. stalked out into
the hall. AS it passed the colored man
il stifled yawn with difficulty.
Tie colored man wanted to go in the
other closets. explaining that he believed
he had been holding the wrong door. but
the lieutenant declined to investigate
further. He explained. reproachfully.
that while he didn't mind playing at tag
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-08

OW many times have you
awakened during the night and
tremblingly felt for your re-
volver when, to your affrighted
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-08

Tie colored man wanted to go in the
other closets. explaining that he believed
he had been holding the wrong door. but
the lieutenant declined to investigate
further He explained. reproachfully,
that while he didn't mind playing at tag
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-08

There Is no man in Washington less
given 10 supersttition and what he
terms ''tomfoolery' than Lieut.. Judge OF
the eighth precinct The lieutenant is
the kind of a man who cannot evolve
respectable Shudder even when he is
Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1908-04-30
Bl Bl-.-A COMEDY OF TOYS

A novel and attractive entertain
ment will be given by home talent
in the Gates Hall, by the Willis
ton Musical Club on Thursday
evening, May Z, for the benefit of
the Library fund.
This play represents a Toyshop,
conducted by the Toyman and his
daughter, and many of those taking
part represent the stiff, stately,
silent dolls and animals therein ex-
posed for sale. A fairy comes
along and with her wand and magic
salts, awakes the toys and fills
them with life. Then the jump
ing jacks tie the daughter while
the old Toyman is asleep, where
upon pandemonium reigns su-
preme. The animal toys jump
and caper about, one doll elopes
with the man in the moon, the
dolls, fairies and brownies appear
each in their appropriate roles.
Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1908-04-30
had SUCCESSFUL SALE.

E. G. Hugunin had very sue
cessful sale at his farm near Tren-
ton last Saturday in spite of the
bad weather. He sold $534 worth
of goods and the cash sales
amounted to just about an even
$500. Talk about hard times.
When farmers can 60 to sale and
pay cash for everything they buy
it goes to show that hard times are
not known here.
Mr.. Hugunin has had very poor
health for a couple of years and
this is his reason for selling. He
will leave in few days for Santa
Rosa, CAL, accompanied by his
wife and they will make that
place their home.
Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1908-04-30
BASKET BALL GAME.

The last basket ball game of the
season will be played at the Gates
Opera house Saturday evening,
May 2, between the Militia and
business men of the city. The
game promises to be fast and furi-
Gus, and as it is to be played for
the benefit of the Citizens Lecture
Course, it is expected that large
number of people will be present.
Tickets will be on sale at Smiths
Music store.
Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1908-04-30
CLUB MEETING

1he B. and T. club met with
Mrs. d. A. Powell on Wednesday
afternoon with large attendance.
Mrs. G. A. Wittmeier presided
during the program and led the
club into discussions of recent
events, also giving a talk on the
the Japanese Russian war. Mes
danes Mansfield, Overson and
Grant had papers on Roosevelt,
the Panama Canal and the Growth
of the United States. The library
question was discussed to some ex-
tent. Mrs. Brownell reported on
the Federal convention at Botti-
neau to which she was delegate.
A very pleasant and profitable
meeting was enjoyed by all.
Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1908-04-30
CHIEF DAVIDSON
ARRESTS BURGLARS
Chief Of Police Arrests Two Crookston
Burglars.--Won't Go Without Requi-
sition Papers.

Chief of Police Davidson ar
rested three young men who ar
rived in the city Tuesday morning
on Number one, two of the num-
Ter being wanted in Crookston,
Mimi, on the charge of burglary.
The two wanted were Robert Hi
ram alias johnson, and Carl Schu-
ler. They were both recognized
by railroad man who had ar
rived in this city the night before,
and the chief had them locked up
at once. The third party proved
to the satisfaction of the officers
that he was from Devils Lake and
had had nothing to do with the
crimes committed by the other
two. He was given his liberty.
johnson and Schuler refused to
60 back to Crookston without re-
QUESTION papers and will be held
here until the authorities from
Minnesota appear with the neces-
sary documents. The young men,
they are not over twenty-five
years of age, are charged with rob-
bing a pool room of $40 and of
breaking into general store and
stealing several watches. When
arrested they had very little mon
ey but each young man had a
watch.
Later-The boys decided to go
without requisition papers and
the sheriff from Crookston came
after them yesterday.
Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1908-04-30

an interesting program was given
during the afternoon. The ad-
dress of welcome was delivered by
Miss Burr, president of the Botti-
neau club and she was responded
to by Mrs. Lyman of Minot. Sew
eral interesting papers were read
and reports from several clubs
given by representatives present.
Thursday evening a reception was
given at the home of Mrs. Mckay
in honor of the visitors. The
Williston delegates, Mrs. S.
Brownson and Mrs. E. r. Brown
son returned greatly pleased with
the convention and with the royal
manner in which they were enter
tanned by the Bottineau ladies.
Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1908-04-30

DR.. Dochterman was over on
the South Side Wednesday.
A young son arrived at the
home of Mr.. and Mrs. Oscar
Hansen on Monday.
Mr.. and Mrs. Blackden are the
happy parents of a baby boy
born on Saturday last.
H. N. Savage, supervising en-
gineer Of the reclamation work in
this and several other western
states, is in the city this week.
DR.. Dochter1nan, assisted by
DR.. Windel operated on Mrs.
McCullon of Mckenzie county
on Saturday at the Francis hos
pital. She is improving nicely.
Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1908-04-30
BOSTON STORE
TO MOVE SOON
". A. Garrison HIS Rented Creengard's S
Old Stand in Unien BIock---Will
Move About June |.

w. A. Garrison, proprietor of
the Boston Store, has rented the
store room in Union block for
merly occupied by Greengard
Bros. and will move about the
first of June. Since coming to
this city Mr.. Garrison has met
with fattering success and his in
creasing business has forced him
to secure a larger building.
Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1908-04-30
500 KILLED AND
THOUSANDS HURT
Fierce Cyclone Swept Over Parts Of
Eight Southern States Killing Hun
dreds---Ihousands Injured.

New Orleans, La, April %
Probably half a thousand lives
lost, several hundred fatally in
jured and thousand or more
painfully hurt, together with a
property loss running up in the
millions, is the record so far of
the cyclone originating in the
west two days ago. Sweeping
across Texas, Oklahoma, Arkan-
sas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Ten
nessee, Alabama and Georgia it
has left path of death, desolation
and want in it's wake, seriously
interrupted all communication be-
tween cities in the south and
brought about chaotic conditions
in many smaller towns.
Mississippi was the worst suffer
er. Up to midnight tonight the
known dead numbered 1873; seri-
ously injured, $50; others with
minor injuries fully 1000.
The Louisiana death list reach
es 108. In Texas, Louisiana, AL
ALBANIA and Georgia the death lists
are also large, with a serious loss
of life in Arkansas and Tennessee.
Authentic information is in many
instances lacking, owing to the
crippled facilities for communica-
tion and lack of time to form any
thing like an accurate estimate of
the damage done in many sections.
Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1908-04-30
WILLlST0N LIVERY
CHANGES HANDS
tEORGEE W. JONES SELLS LIVERY BARN
AND BUSINESS TO FRANK BANKS
OF STROUD.


George w. Jones closed a deal
with Frank Banks of Stroud Mon
day, whereby he disposes of his
livery business in this city. Mr..
Banks purchases the barn, horses,
rigs, harnesses, and in fact every
thing connected with the livery
business. The consideration was in
the neighborhood of $4,000. Mr..
Banks has placed John Townsend
in charge and he will run the bus
mess during the summer. Mr..
Banks expects to move to Willis
ton next fall and will probably
take personal charge of the busi-
ness at that time.
Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1908-04-30
FAMILY THEATER.

The program at the Family
Theater commencing May fourth
will be exceptionally good. The
Ryans in comedy entitled You
do but you DON'T are very clever.
Sam Carlton, with his Hebrew
funny talk makes a hit wherever
he goes, and Miss Maggie Rysn is
a fayorite as vocalist. Mrs.
Siewert will preside at the piano
and you all know her musical abil-
ity. A real live baby given away
to the holder of the lucky number
on Saturday night.
Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1908-04-30
BIRTHDAY PARTY

Hazel Chaffee had party Mon
day evening to celebrate her sew
enth birthday. She had about
twelve of her little girl friends
present and they spent very
pleasant evening. Dainty refresh
ments were served. The girls had
an exceptionally good time and
one and all pronounce Miss Hazel
charming little hostess.
Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1908-04-30
CONVENTION AT BoTTINEAU.

A convention Of the Ladies
clubs of the Eighth district was
held at Bottineau April %, and
delegates from Minot, Souris and
Williston were present. The
meeting was called to order by the
District Vice-President, Mrs.
Leonard. The object of the meet
ing was to create deeper interest
in the state federation work and
Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1908-04-30
LAMP EXPL0DES

The explosion of a lamp caus-
ed a slight fire in a rooming
house near the Palace Cafe yes
terday morning about four
O'Clock. The fire whistle called
the people out but the fire was
extinguished almost at once and
the fire hose was not needed.
Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1908-04-30
WILL ELECT OFFICERS

Company E. will have an cleo
ton of officers next Tuesday
night. a first Lieutenant, two
Seargants and Corporals will
be elected.