davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-12-10
NAUGHTY GIRL SAID MATR0N
 HILL GOT $2
Story of Pretty Annie Labey of Alleged
 Gift is Promptly Investigated and Found to be Untrue - Annie Has
 Large Record for Sweet Sixteen.

Pretty Annie Lahey, otherwise known as Annie Lee, is reported to have ac- cused Matron Hill of accepting s2 from her before she was released from a cell at police headquarters. The state ment is reported to have been made to Mrs. Matthew H. McMahon. a friend of the girls The story spread like wildfire about headquarters. and created excitement. The police scout ed the story. but an investigation was made The police are now satisned that the girl was lying. Matron Hill denies the charge flatly.
 The Lahey girl is Is years of age and pretty. She was taken upon complaint of her mother. Mrs. Marcella Lahey. who is employed at the home of pr. Thomas Martin. She has been in the lived with Mrs. McMahon in this city for a few weeks. until she planned to go to New York. where she was to meet a man. The plan was discov- cred before it was carried out. She will be sent to the House of the Good Shepherd this afternoon. Mrs Mo Mahon says that she will take her back if she is a good girl at the home.
 She ran away yesterday afternoon while walking with Matron Hill and went to New Haven by trolley. She was arrested by the New Haven police and returned to this city this morning. She said she went away because she did not want to be sent back to the home "for nothing"
 Although cleared of the accusation Mrs. Hill feels the imputation keenly, after her years of good service at po- lice headquarters.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-12-10
:Stery of a Horse That Was
 Stolen and Found Again

Edwin Lyons of Trumbuil made ap- plication for $50 which is allowed those who give information which leads to the capture of a horse thief Lyons gave the information which caused Joe Fisher of Westport to be sentenc- ed to jail this week for horse theft
 Lyons told the court that one morn ing he was accosted by Fisher who asked him if he wanted to buy the outfit which he was driving. offering to sell for $25. Lyons told him all the money he had with him was g which Fisher accepted, on condition that the rest would be forthcoming in the afternoon. Lyons promised to meet Fisher at the end of the North Main street trolley line in the after noon with the S23. Lyons believing that there was something crooked in the deal. 'phoned the police in this city. Captain Arnold arrested Fisher as he was sitting on q pile of ties in Main street waiting for Lyons. Fisher stole the horse from Mrs. Dollie Crosby in westport and traded it in this city for another rig.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-12-10
''THAD' BEECHER AND DIR. (. L. BANKS IN
 AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT

The Buick motor car owned by Dr. | Lincoln Banks collided with pile of stone and dirt near Westport cen ter, westport at 6 o'clock last even ing and Thaddeus B. Beecher. business agent of the Interstate Association of this city was thrown out on his head into the stones and severely injured.
 Dr. Banks was driving the machine and the steering wheel prevented him from being thrown out MT. Beecher. however, was tossed over the dash and hood of the car and the point where he landed was covered by a huge pile of stones.
 Dr. Banks made an examination of his companion and found that he had n severe scalp wound, a number of bruises and was suffering from shock. AS the radiator of his car was smash ed and the machinery displaced gener- ally the doctor secured another auto mobile and hurried his wounded com panion to this city.
 A despatch from Norwalk stated that
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-12-10
WAITED 10 YEARS FOR GEORGE; HE
 ATE AND WENT

Barbara Aquilino. a pretty, young daughter of sunny Italy. residing in Hallett street, was the plaintiff this afternoon in a suit for divorce brought against her husband, Bernard Aquilino. Judge Lucien F. Burpee listened to her tale of woe granting her decree on the ground of intolerable cruelty. Bar bara was married in this city Dec. 2. 1905 Her husband tried to kill her with a razor, but only cut her fin ger.
 Margaret F. Lyons King of South No-walk was freed from Charles H. King of parts unknown. on the Pround of assertion. The Kings married in Waterbury May 19. 1900 Three weeks after the wedding day King deserted his wife. After living away from her for five years he came back and stayed until July .. 1906. Mrs. King has not seen him since
 Margaret Nesbit Morrison of South Norwalk has been loosed from George F. Morrison, Of parts unknown. They married in Norwalk July 16. 1892. He deserted her Oct. 2S, 1899. leaving her with four children to support. One Sunday Mrs. Morrison was surprised to have a visit from her husband. who said he just dropped in for dinner. Af- ter the meal Morrison went out and never came again. The court asked Mrs Morrison If she expected him again.
 i've waited for George for ten years" said Mrs. Morrison.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-12-10
CHINESE GIRLS BRING HIGH PRICE OF $3,OOO
 IN WHITE SLAVE TRADE
knocking Details of the Traffic Told in Report Subm- ted by Immigration Committee to Congress- Today, designating it as the Most Pitiful and RsvOltiny Phase of the Whole Question == Government Agents Recommended to Stamp Gut the Evil.

at the principal foreign ports, that agents on shipboard watch for possible victims of the traffic and that a moEe thorough investigation than at present be made at landing ports in this coun- try.
 The commission also recommends that the immigration laws be changed so that the alien women of ill-repute may be deported at any time. instead of within three years. as at present; that the women should serve prison terms before deportation; that there should be a penalty for perjury and the time and place of their landing when they are held in deportation pro- ceedings-
 Commenting upon its work. the commission says:
 ''As a result of the commissions in- vestigations into violations of the i'm migration act. fines were forfeited, balls were paid into the United States treasury, through the United States District Attorney at Chicago, amount ing to $125.O0O. The pity of it Is that the money to pay fines had been earn ed not by the worst criminals. but by their exploited victims
 The commission quotes an agent in Seattle. who. writing to New York buyer regarding the sale of four Jap anese girls. said:
 ''I have just been to see the cigars. They are fine. young and good look ing. He has four of them but 1t seems they are in debt here to the extent of S300 each. This money you will get back as the cigars earn 1t. Mrs.
 will take all responsibility of these cigars staying with you until all debts are paid and will sign an agree ment to that effect"
 A letter written in Paris asked a New York dealer as to the best means for sending over a slave. "an abso- lutely new number. tall. handsome of figure and body. twenty years and six months old.''
 Another announced the shipment of a woman ''as beautiful as 1t is possi- ble to find in this world"
 A letter from a Japanese in Yoko- homa in reply to a request for a wo- man discussed plans for the shipment and added
 TIT carried out well the market price of a woman is about $500 at present. request you to pay me about $500 in advance. In December. 1906. sent a woman to a friend of mine. but he hasn't paid me the whole sum of money yet
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-12-10
DENMARK LODGE OF DANISH BROTHERHOOD
 IS 20 YEARS OLD

Denmark Lodge, No g. Danish Brotherhood. celebrated its goth anni- versary with a banquet and ball at Gcrmania hall last evening. The af- fair was exclusively for members and their families. MT. and Mrs. An drew Petersen led the grand march, followed by one hundred couples At 10 o'clock turkey supper was served in the banquet hall. President Martin Ma-cusen acted as toastmaster most acceptably. welcoming the guests. Among those who spoke were the charter president of the lodge. MT. An drew Billing. and Christian Neilsen and MT. and Mrs. Andrew Petersen.
 Twenty years ago this lodge started with 21 members. Today it has 125 members with several thousands of dollars in the treasury. and is one of the foremost lodges in the Brother hood.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-12-10
PHENIX MADE BIG LOANS TO
 STATE OFFICERS
fspecial from United Press.)

-1
 New York, Dec. 10.-The statement given out yesterday by Robert H. Hunter. postmaster at Poughkeepsie N r., but formerly first deputy in the state superintendent of insur- ance's office, that he had never bor- rowed any money f-o-n the Phenix 'n- surance company of B o2klyl, but ha @he had borrowed sSS.OoO persons. y from George P. Sheldon, the deposed head of the company was today de- nied by Superintendent Hotchkiss of the Insurance Department According 10 a statement given out this after noon by Hotchkiss. Hunter. while still in the insurance department. borrow ed sums aggregating $6O.0iO.T from the Phenix- Of this sum. Hunter paid back about S27.00O up to October 15, 1906. The other sss 900 was paid back on October 90, the check being sign ed by Carter. Wilder & Company, New York brokers, with whom MT. Sheldon ran personal account and all of Hunters collateral was turned over to the brokers when they took up his loan
 Hotchkiss declare the books of the Phenix show that the company, and not Sheldon, made the loan
 Hotchkiss adds that the question is not whether the loans were renaid but whether they were made to an officer of the state charged with the supervision of the insurance compan- les.
 Hotchkiss' statement declares that there is no question of the nlegality of the loans of s61. .0OO0 made to Will liam H. Buckley. then third deputy insurance superintendent He declares that Section 2. of the insurance law prohibiting such loans. was in force when Buckeley was in the State De-
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-12-10
Special from United Press.)

Washington. Dec. 10.-A shocking story of the white slave traffic. its widespread influence. its degradation and its misery. is told in a report sub- ,mitted by the immigration committee to Congress today. The commission Is composed of three Senators and three Representatives with Senator Dillingham; CRepCblican. New Hamp- shire), as chairman. They have had agents Investigating the problem in all parts of the country since 1907. Their report is a printed pamphlet of 6O pages To illustrate the horrors of the traffic the facts in perhaps score of cases are given fin detail Letters seized in raIds that show the cold blooded way in which dealers look up on the traffic are printed as an appen- dix to the report The commission calls the traffic the most pitiful and most revolting phase of the immigra- ton question:
 It is "a slavery. rigid in its strict ness and barbarouS in its nature While a majority of the women are believed by the commission to have lived improper lives abroad evidence has been secured of large numbers Of Innocent girls turned to this country by promises of employment or of mar riage and consigned to lives of slav- L- debt, threats of arrest. exposure of their disgrace to their parents and to their employers if they seek honest work, physical violence and by threats of death.
 There is much cooperation among the slave owners but the commission failed to find evidence to support the charges made that a great corporation controls the traffic between this country and Europe. While the aggregate of i'm rorfatfo fs l<Arra if does not appear that a large number are brought in by any one person or corporation
 The traffic has such a business-like basis that agents of the commission were able to report the price of French girl slaves, at Chicago and Omaha at from $500 to q. 400; Japanese girls at Seattle for eastern shipment, 500 for one or $500 each for several, and Chin ese girls at Seattle from 5000 to s. GOO each
 In order to stamp out the evil. if possible the comm ssion recommends that government agents be stationed
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-12-10

MT Beecher was rendered unconsci- ous but Dr. Banks denied that today. He stated that MT. Beecher was rest ing as comfortably as could be ex- pected and that no serious results were expected
 Dr. Banks stated that the cause of the accident was the failure of con tractors engaged in repairing the road to place lights on pile of stone and sand.
 After the accident the lights were placed at the dangerous spot
 The scene of the accident is just south of Westport center where a number Of serious automobile acci- dents have happened There is a long Iron fence at the point and the auto mobile containing the Bridgeporters skioded into a guard rail which is be- side the trolley tracks
 It is quite likely that the accident will result in a suit against either the town of Westport or the Connecticut Go.
 It will cost Dr. Banks several hum dred dollars to put his car in condi- ton again.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-12-10

ion upon this point.
 Together with the victory won by Mayor Buckingham the committee Is responsible for the real tax reform which Is now to be accomplished. ana Tor the extraordinary activity of the Board of Assessors of which the Stan dard boasts.
 Few people know the immense amount of labor that has been per- formed by the Tax Equa iization com mlttee, nor the disagreeable attacks to which its members have been suhiect- ed by interests desiring that it's work should not continue.
 Salo member of the committee this morning: ''It is good news. if if iS true. that the assessors are now awake to the disparities in valuation of the several classes of property in this city. The work needs to be done and there IS enough Of 1t to go round The as- sesors should be encouraged Tn every possl Die way to perform their duty Nothing should be done to discouraee them"
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-12-10
.BUCKINGHAM'S ELECTION
 MAKES ASSESSORS BUSY
No More Ardent Converts to Tax Equalization Than the Members of Board of Assessors Are Now,
 It is Said.

What 1t means to the people of Bridgeport to have an administration that means business is indicated by the announcement that the Board of Assessors has jumped into the effort to equalize taxes with an energy that has not been displayed by that board in many years.
 The Standard makes this announce ment and it is partly true. The Stan oard also severely criticises the Tax Equalization committee of which Lynn w. Wilson is a member, for it's alleg- ed delinquency in promoting tax equal ization- Nevertheless this commit tee, as we'll informed persons under stand, has furnished most of the evil dence upon which common knowledge of the enormous disparities in the tax ation of homes and some other forms of property is based.
 It has also furnished a large DOT tion of the information necessary to the formation of a sound public opin-
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-12-10
LONG TERMS IN
 PRISON FOR TWO
 BOLD HIGHWAYMEN
Judge Wheeler Adds to Tenancy of the
 State Penitentiery.

Salvatore Iemma and Rania Salva- tore. the two Italians. who on Nov goth last held up with intent to rob Malcolm Merritt, paymaster and trea- surer of the J. O. Merritt Construc- tion Go, who are building a dam at Greenwich and fired upon him with almost fatal results. were this morning each sentenced to not more than l4 or less than 10 years in states prison by Judge Ralph Wheeler in the Su- perior court It was learned today that another Italian who went by the number of 336 at the Greenwich works was arrested yesterday in New Ro- cheile. being suspected as the third member Of the party that held Mer- rfrt up. He is held in that town to await action of the authorities.
 Douenico Grego. of Stratford, who Tuesday pleaded not guffty .co--tne charge of assault with intent to rape. pleaded guilty this morning to the charge of simple assault. and was sen- fenced to jail for six months Grego on Nov. 21st. last winter went to the home of Mrs. Maria Furgillo in Strat- ford. ostensibly for the purpose Of pur- chasing a pig. He got into conversa- tion with the lady of the house, stat ing that she reminded him of his wife in the old country He attacked ner- Her father who was busy chopping wood in the yard heard her screams and ran to her assistance. Grego took to his heeIs. the father pursuing him with an axe. In the pursuit, Grego pulled out a pistol to frighten the old man off. but the latter kept on his way. Both ran into a store in East Bridgeport where they were captured.
 Six months in jail was doled out to Joseph wangyulo, a resident of the far West End for assaulting Davis White, also a resident of that section. White with others entered Pine street restaurant when he was accost- ed by Wangyulo who said, Here comes some sports with their stin hats. Why don't they wear a soft hat like I do. I don't have to wear a stiff hat to be spoken to on the street" The proprietor saw that an argument was brewing and put Wang yulo out of the restaurant. When White came out. Wangyulo attacked him with a knife, digging a gash in his head, which took ten stitches to sew up.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-12-10
DISCARDED YOUTH x
 SLASHES FIANCEE
Especial from United Press.)

Shelton. Dec. 10.-Mad because she decided not to marry him although their engagement was one of long standing an Italian youth. Dominick Carotenuto. today overlook his fiancee, Lizzie Cuterelli, the belle of the small local Italian colony. on Howe street. the main thoroughfare of the town, and slashed her so severely about the face with a razor that it is possible she may die.
 The couple worked in the Speciality Weaving Company's plant and had known each other many years Sev- eral months ago they became engaged to be married the coming Christmas Yesterday the girl told Carotenuto that she had lost her affection for him and that they would not be married. He tried to persuade her to alter her decision on the subject. Failing in this, he used his razor with terrible effect.
 The youth was arrested and Is be- ing held pending the outcome of the girls injuries.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-12-10
PARENTS TESTIMONY PROVES MISS M'NEIL
 COMMITTED SUICIDE
New Haven County Coroner Reaches Conclusion in Case of Stratford Girl Who Turned on Gas in Room of New Haven Y. W. (. A. -= Said She Would Die if She Did Not Find Work

Miss McNeil appeared at the Y. W. c. A. in New Haven and asked for a room. This was on Monday. She said she was seeking work. A room was assigned to her in a house next door.
 She retired at the usual hour Tues day night and at S:30 yesterday morn ing when. she did not~appear in the dining room. one of the people in the residence went to her room and found 1t filled with gas. One of the jets was open and the gas was flowing freely into the room. There was no ventilation sufficient to release the gas which had killed the girl. She was in bed.
 Her body has been removed to the McNeil home. The funeral will take place tomorrow
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-12-10
She Did Not Find Work.

Annie McNeil. aged 22, often said that she would end her life if she did not find work that she could do. This statement she frequently made to her parents. respectable people of Strat- ford. They so testified before Coroner Mix in New Haven this morning. Cor oner Mix is satisfied that the young woman met her death by suffocation with gas and that death was by her own will.
 Miss McNeil was we'll known in Stratford. Her parents. Mir. and Mrs Albert McNeil, have lived in the vil- lage for 90 years. There had been some talk of a sweetheart whose at tentions were not gratifying to the parents. It is denied. however. that such a sweetheart had any real exist ence-
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-12-10
Republican Alderman Declares That Tax Equalization, Though Betrayed by Leaders, is a Republican
 Measure.
Asks Taxpayers League Why it Spends Thousands to Prevent a Lawful Ex. pendilure of a Few Thousand Dollars Annually and ViO'enlIy Resenis Effort to Stop Unlawful Drain ou City's Resources, Amounting to S6oJ, J,CO0 Annually.

Alderman Eugene l. Meyer replies to the open letter addressed to him by M. l.. Brewster-Greene, secretary of the Manufacturers Association and of the Taxpayers League.
 MT. Meyer declares that the tax equalization is a Republican policy. as we'll as a Democratic policy. That the movement for tax equalization is therefore non partisan and that a tax equalization plank ought to have been inserted in the Leagues program Mir. Meyer points out that Alderman Thomas O'Brien first called attention to the need of tax equilaztion in 1907 and that in the same year Republicans and Democrats each made 1t a part of their party declarations of princi- pie.
 Alderman Meyer pays some atten- ton to the threat. made in covert language by MT. Greene. that the League will attempt to secure his de- feat as an alderman, should he seek reelection. The letter follows: MT. M. E. Brewster-GTeene.
 Secretary Taxpayers League,
 Bridgeport. Conn:
 Dear Sir-In the open letter about ffremen's pay increase which you sent to me, you say you are only secretary pro-tem of the Taxpayers League. but
  This leaves me in doubt as to whether you attempt to represent yourself or the league
 But since you say you are not tax payer and are at least secretary of the league shall take it for granted that you did not attempt as an individual to represent the taxpayers. but that you spoke officially for the league
 It happens that I am taxpayer in Bridgeport as well as an Alderman and that after listening attentively to the reasons advanced by the league as to why I should vote against the in crease. I offered reasons that made 1t seem to me that I should not
 My views were courteously put I was surprised therefore to find in the communication which the league ad- dressed through you no effort at meet ing my argument. but a series of as- pensions of a most insulting character and a threat.
 What possible justification can the league have for it's statement that my letter was not frank: that is. not an honest presentation of my actual views?
 (Continued on Page 1o)
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-12-10
U. M. (. CO.,. UNFURLS FLAG FROM HIGHEST
 POINT IN PARK CITY
Handsome New Factory andShot Tower
 is Completed.

The company flag of the Union Metallic Cartridge Co. is now flying from the top of the highest building in Bridgeport, the handsome new fac tory building and shot tower erected in Arctic street at Pauline street. It is 19O 1t from the ground to the peak of the 20 it. flagstaff which can be seen from almost every part of the city.
 The new building is one of the handsomest factory structures in tine city. It is of red brick trimmed with white stone. The 16O it. brick stack of the company which stands along side of the plant is declared by brick masons to be a thing of beauty be- cause of its graceful lines.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-12-10
ROGERS COUNCIL, K. OF c.
 ELECT NEW OFFICERS

At the annual meeting of John F. Rogers council, Knights of Columbus, the following officers were elected Past Grand Knight. Daniel P. Harri- gan: Grand Knight, William Flynn: Deputy Grand Knight. Dr. Edward F. McGovern; Financial Secretary, R. J. Connolly; Recording Secretary. Alexander Macdonald; Warden. J. W. Ryan: Chancellor. P. w Murray: representatives to the Bridgeport chapter. D. F. Harrigan. J. J. Scan- Ion. Henry P Cleary, John H. Tague, and James Garrfty.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-12-10
ANOTHER MARCoNE RUAIoR

The story that Margaret Hurley. of I594 Seaview avenue saw Antonio Mar cone. Sunday. disguised as a woman Is not credited at police headquarters. State Policeman Frank Nirelli also agrees with the local police. but he still sticks to his statement that Mar cone is in town.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-12-10
Deaths and Funerals.

Patrick Cashman. aged 70 years dropped dead late yesterday afternoon at his home 4G RrothweI street of
 1rt disease. He is survived by two daughters. Mrs. Kirby. of Hartford. and Minnie of this city, and one son, a resident of this city.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-12-10
EARTHQUAKE
 AT HAMILTON

Hamilton. Ont, Dec. IDA sharp earthquake tremor was felt here shortly before 1:30 a. m. today. People throughout the city were awakened. The Dominion Observatory says it was of a local chara