davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Milford chronicle., 1909-09-10
KILLS MOTHER,
Then HIMSELF
POttSVIIIe, Pa, Youth Hid Body
in the Attic.
COVERED IT WITH QUICK LIME
Hearing the Police Approach Sweet
hearts Home, Murderer Puts Bullet
Into His 5rain-Mothsr Disappeared
a Week Ago.

Into His 5rain-Mother Disappeared
a Week Ago.
Without waiting TO be accused OF
the murder Of his mother, George
Simons put a bullet in his brains at
the home of his sweetheart, Miss
; Viola Hartranft, at Pottsville, Pa.
when he heard police officers ap-
preaching.
Previous investigation showed thar
Simons had killed his mother a week
stopping up the cracks in the door and
then screWing the door shut with five
screws and marking it paint" so no
body would touch it.
To add 10 the horror Of the crime.
SimOns had covered the body of his
mother with quick lime, hoping to de-
stroy the evidence of his ghastly deed
Mrs. SimOns disappeared last week
Young Simons told his father
that his mother had gone to visit
friends at Mahanoy City. Hearing
nothing of the mother, the father then
went to Mahanoy City and found she
had not been there. He then came
back and asked Chief of Police Davies
to investigate.
The Simons house on North George
street was searched. The door, sealed
with parafine. attracted the attention
of Chief Davies and it was broken
open. Mrs. SimOns, who was fifty-eight
years old. was found lying in the mid
die Of the room. The body was SO
badly decompOsed that it was difficult
to tell just in what manner she was
killed.
Il had no idea whatever of what
was to occur" declared Chief Davies
when we drove up and asked for
young Simons at the home OF his
sweetheart. But as soon as he heard
our voices, SimOns. who was seated
in an adjoining room, got up, excused
himself to those present. and. going to
the door, shot himself to death"
The motive for the murder is be-
lieved to be the gaining of a trihing
sum with which, it is believed, Simons
expected to get married. He was a
civil engineer The murderer was an
only son.
Milford chronicle., 1909-09-10
PRODUCE QUOTATIONS.
The Latest Closing Prices For Produce
and Live Stock.

PHILADE -PHIA ~ FLOUR weak;
winter low grades. S4104 440; winter
clear S440n 4.60; city mills, fancy,
S. 4066.75.
RYE FLOUR quiet; per barrel, S4.15
6435.
WHEAT steady; new, No. 2, red,
western. S101G G1.02.
CORN quiet; No. . yellow, local rs
07S1ac.
OATS firm: No. . white. new. .421s
643c.: lower grades. Ale.
POULTRY: Live steady; hens, $50
lie: old roosters. l1@ u &c. Dressed
steady; choice fowls 1Sl2c.; old roost-
ers. PFC.
BUTTER steady; extra creamery.
33c. per ID.
EGGS firm; selected. 29031c.; near
by. pc: western PIC.
POTATOES steady; new, per bar
rel. 75c q $1.75.
Milford chronicle., 1909-09-10
KILLED MOTHER
TO HIDE THEFTS
POttSVIlle Suicide Left Letter
COnf8SSlng DaStaTdIy Crime.
INTENDED TO KILL FATHER
Decided to End His Own Life After
Failing In Second Murder - Had
Robbed His Parents Since He Was
Ten Years Old.

~ 9SSoHu murdeF - nae
Robbed His Parents since He Was
Ten Years Old.
Pottsville. Pa. Sept S-A lengthy
concession by George Simon in his
own handwriting. written enroute to
BirdsbOro, after the failure of an at
tempt to kill his father, has come to
light, clearing up the crime of the
murder Of his mother, Mrs. Phoebe
simon. and the subsequent suicide of
himself.
Young Simon says that he killed his
mother by shooting her through the
head in order to conceal the fact that
he had bSen systematically robbing
her and his father since he was ten
years old, until they, unknown to them
selves. had not a cent in the world. He
further confesses that he intended to
kill his father with a hatchet while he
slept and then saturate the bed and
the building with oil and conceal his
crime by setting the house on fire.
He entered his fathers room several
nights after the killing Of his mother.
but the parent was awakened and or
dered the youth from his room He
says that when this attempt failed he
determined to leave his father un-
harmed and to instead take his own
life. He went to Birdsboro to see his
sweetheart, Miss Viola Hartranft, Of
PottsvilIe. who was visiting there, to
bid her farewell before shooting him
self His nerve evidently failed him
and he returned to Pottsville with the
girl. His confession goes no further
than up to the time he left the train
at Birdsboro.
The message from the dead is a
pathetic one, pleading for forgiveness
and expressing the opinion that when
my darling learns of this it will kill
her" Part Of the letter. which covers
twelve foolscap pages. is addressed to |
his father He says that his downfall
commenced when he was ten years Of
age and commenced to steal pennies |
and then nicl1els and dimes from his
mothers purse. This led to bigger
thefts until finally, at the age of thir-
teen. he forged his fathers name to .
check and drew a large sum of money. /
This was continued until the fathers
bank account was exhausted After
that the money given to him to deposit
was kept by himself instead of being
taken to the bank.
He kept money given to him by his
father to put in a saving fund and
also that Of a friend of his fathers.
which he was supposed to deposit
monthly for him. When every cent the
parents owned had been squandered
he decided to hide the robbery from
them by taking their lives and making
their home their funeral pyre.
after the killing of my sainted
mother I repented and tried to conse-
crate my soul to God. and It was then
that I determined to spare my fathers
life and take my own"
Il was when police officers found
1im at the home of his sweetheart, after
he l.nding Of the decomposed body Of
his mother in a spare room. the door
IF which had been screwed shut after
he body had been covered with quick
ime and disinfectant. that Simon shot
himself. He had not been suspected
# the murder Of his mother up to
hat time.
Milford chronicle., 1909-09-10
nanama Canal Fair.

San Diego. Cal. Sept. s.-A $1,000
600 association, headed by John D.
Snreckels. has been incorporated to
give a worlds fair here in 1915, in eel
sbrstion of the completion of the Pan
anna canal.
Milford chronicle., 1909-09-10
Balloon Lifts Boy 5000 Feet; Unhurt.

In the presence Of 5000 persons who
attende dthe harvest jubilee at Syra-
cuse, Ind, Quinter Heff, twelve years
old. got entangled in the ropes Of a
balloon when it went up. At an alti-
tude of 5000 feet the balloon began to
descend. and the boy reached the
ground unhurt
Milford chronicle., 1909-09-10
Pail.ter Killed hv EalI.

While painting on the roof Of Dick
inson hall one Of the recitation halls
of PrincetcJ IN. j. university, Jesse
Hackett, Of Trenton, N. J.. fell dis
tance of sixty feet and was instantly
killed.
Milford chronicle., 1909-09-10
,.I.II Knovn Missionary Dead.

Warren, Pa, Sept S.-Rev. Albert
7 Nathan, a missionary, well known
through his connection with the rescue
OF Ellen Stone. who was held by the
bandit Ralsula, is dead here.
Milford chronicle., 1909-09-10
RETURNING
Steamer will leave Philadelphia ;sPier 8, soutl
Wharves, as follows;
LEAVE PHILADELPHIA

Telephone No. Bell, Lombard 2i-O5 on wharf in
Philadelphia.
GEO. F. PIERCE, Manager,
Milford, Del.
Milford chronicle., 1909-09-10
CONDENSED NEWS ITEMS.
Thursday, September 2.

Five men were seriously injured by
IN explosion in a cinder pit Of the
American Steel and Wire company at
Donora, near Pittsburg.
While playing with q shotgun at
Nicholasville, Ky, James Littrell
eight years old, accidentally discharg-
ed the weapon and blew of the head
of his six-year-old sister.
George S. Purdy, Of Honesdale, Pa.
president judge Of the twenty-second
judicial district Of Pennsylvania, died
a Mt. Clemens. Mich, where he had
gone two weeks ago for the benefit Of
his health
Milford chronicle., 1909-09-10

Fare 60 Ph1IAdelr8h1A, 0I 90
Round Trim ................-.......... 80
Milford chronicle., 1909-09-10
Friday, September 3.

It is estimated that the loss accom-.
panying the heavy frost in Muskegon
and Oceana counties. Mich, will run
up to at least 100000.
George Servie about ffty-fve years
old, OF Flemington, N. J., died from
blood poisoning, caused by a blister
being rubbed on one of his feet by his
shoe five days ago.
Joseph Bier, eighty years old. who
was killed by a train at Toledo. o.,
was a veteran of the Crimean war
and fought in the battle Of Balaklava.
being a witness Of the charge of the
Light Brigade"
Milford chronicle., 1909-09-10
Tuesday. september Z.

Seven men and one woman we're in
iured. none fatally in a collision Of
two street cars at Edenburg Pa.
Robbers blew open the safe of the
First State bank at FoXhome, Mimi,
secured $1,000 and escaped on a hand
car.
Ezra Peters. a farmer living near
Proctorville. Lawrence county, Ohio,
was shot from ambush and Instantly
killed while walking down a road with
his brother.
Firing his revolver ndiscriminately,
Joseph Schiro. Young iron worker
while under the influence of whiskey
shot three women at New Orleans, La.
wounding one seriously before he was
finally taken into custody
Wednesday, September 8.
Regis H. Post. governor of Porto
Rico. announced that he had sent his
resignation to President Taft.
Captain W. II. Mckinley, old time
river man. a cousin Of the late Presi-
dent Mckinley died at his home at
Ludlow Ky
Turkey is to issue a loan of $780,
500. .000 to pay for Adana riot damages.
the deposed sultan's debts and other
General James Shackelford a hero
Of the Mexican war. and prominent in
the south. died at his summer cottage |
at Port Huron, Mich.
Judge John G.. HOrner of Mount I
Holly. n. J.. was appointed in the
United States court receiver for the
County Railway company.
Mrs. George Carrizen. forty years
,ld. was killed and her daughter Mary.
aged thirteen. was fatally injured when
, Pere Marquette train struck their
buggy at Bad Axe Mich.
Milford chronicle., 1909-09-10
Monday, September 6.

For numbering Mrs. Ida Gilmore at
Eaton, O., Harry Rife, was sentenced
Eaton. O.. Harry Rife was stntenced
to be electrocuted in January.
Two negroes. Josh and Lewis Ba-
laam. who had murdered a deputy
sheriff. were taken from officers by a
mob and hanged at Jackson, Ala
The body of G. H. Smith, of Georgia,
of the engineers staff in the Panama
canal zone. who was drowned in the
Chagres river. was brought to New
York on the steamer Advance from
Cristobal.
When an express train sped past
the station at Valparaiso. Ind. while
another train was unloading passen-
gers. George w. jerks, of Detroit was
fatally injured and a score of others
narrowly escaped death.
Milford chronicle., 1909-09-10
Saturday, September 4.

One man was killed. one badly burn
ed and two others less seriously in
jured by an explosion at the Rand &,
Latin Powder works, at Pompton,
N. ].
Desperate after his capture by the
authorities of the county home at
Woodville Pa. after his escape last
month, James B. Hill, Jr., aged thirty
eight. leaped from the train which
was conveying him to the institution,
and received fatal injuries.
To enable postmasters Of the third
and fourth classes to attend the CON
vention Of the Natisnal League Of
.Postmasters Of the United States. to
be held at Syracuse, N. Y, Oct. 6. 7
and s. Postmaster General Hitchcock
has granted them leaves Of absence
for as many days as may be necessary.
Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1909-08-13
ISLAM BY HIS OWN MATES
Version Of Death OF Lieut..
sutton.

o.. Is . SO .rr /
Boston.-Testimony given by fellow
officers of Lieut.. James Sutton of the
United States marine corps, whose
death is being investigated at An
napolis, is fatty contradicted by Sergt
Arthur Todd, who says Sutton was
murdered and did not commit suicide
as charged.
Sergt. Todd, who has been on range
duty at Wakefield, left for Annapolis,
where he may be called as witness.
In describing the shooting, Sergt.
Todd says:
Il was, corporal of, the guard on the
night. that Lieut. Sutton was shot and
from the place where l was standing
saw figure about $50 feet away.
Il saw Leuts. Adams and Osterman
and recognized them. They were
nearer to me. The man who was in
shirt sleeves started to run and
heard voice cry: Stop running!
You're under arrest
THE man ran on, and once more
heard the same voice cry out loudly:
Stop running or I'll shoot!' and the
next moment saw fash and heard
a revolver report. There were three
other shots, and the man who was
running dropped, do not know at
what shot.
Il ran over to him and bent over.
1t was Lieut.. Sutton. saw hole in
the mans forehead where there was a
ragged entrance and a hole back Of
the left ear. where. the bullet came
out Clean"
Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1909-08-13
MRS. BERRY HEADS W. R. C.
Minnesotan Heads G. A. r. and Des
Moines Woman is National Presi.
dent Of w. r. c.

Salt Lake City, Utah, Aug. 13-
Samuel r. Van SAINT of Minnesota was
elected commander in chief of the
Grand Army of the Republic. Van
SAINT won over Judge William A. Ket-
cham of Indiana by vote of 587 to
1856.
Mrs. Jennie L. Berry of Des
Moines won in a fight for the national
presidency of the Women's ReliOf
Corps. After three ballots she was
elected over Mrs. Belle Harris of
Kansas by u vote OF 213 to 80.
The Grand Armys order of business
did not provide for the election Of Of
,ficers, but the increasing departures
lcf delegates warned the encampment
that an early choice would be neces-
sary to secure full expression Of
the will of the majority. n. ~
In addition to Commander Van SAINT
the following officers we're elected:
Senior Vice Commander-W. NJ.
Bostaph, Ogden, Utah.
Junior Vice Commander - Judge
Alfred Beers, Bristol, Conn.
Surgeon General-W. H. Lemon,
Lawrence, Kan.
Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1909-08-13
MAD MAN SEES GOVERNOR
Fugitive Maniac Makes an Unexpected
Visit 10 the offices OF Georgia
Executive.

Atlanta, Ga. -. r. E. Dunning.
ton, former inmate of the State
Hospital for the Insane, who resisted
arrest at Augusta last week by barri-
cading himself in a house and shoot
ing an officer who approached too
near his place of refuge, later escap-
ing and fleeing into South Carolina,
made an unexpected visit to Gov. Joe
Brown at the executive Office in the
capitol. -. ~
< Dunnnigton came to appeal to the
governor for protection from what he
termed the persecution of his rela-
tives and some people who we're, he
said, unnecessarily alarmed for fear
that he might commit murder.
Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1909-08-13
sACR|F|CECH|[DREN.
Crazed Mother Tries to Burn
Three Babies Alive. II
HAD BURNED THEIR CLOTHING
Deserted by Her Husband, Woman 70
Now Held In Jail Awaiting .
Hearing Before the Board
Of Insanity.

Des Moines, Aug. 13.-Crazed with
religious fervor, Mrs. Nellie Gold.
stone, Ill East Locust street, built
a huge bonfire in the rear OF her
home and threatened to throw her
three small children into the flames
as living sacrifices to the deity which.
In her disorderedt mind, she worahips.
Police believe that only the prompt
Intervention Of Oficers Courtney and
Harding prevented the mad woman
from carrying out her threat. She had
already torn the clothing from the
children and thrown the garments in
to the fire.
The terrible threats of the woman
were communicated to police head
quarters by neighbors and the two
patrolmen we're hurried to the scene.
The woman was taken to the station
and locked up in the matron's ward.
The three Gladys, aged 8;
Ida, s, and Sherman, 4-have been
turned over to Rabbi Mannheimer.
Charges of insanity will be flied
against the woman by Humane ON.
Ger ]. o. Eckles.
Mrs. Goldstone has long been
known as a religious fanatic. The
peculiar actions which her fervor led
her to commit resulted in her being
taken before the insanity commission
by humane officers several months
ago. She was discharged. Officer
Eckles beliefes that this time she
will be committed to an asylum. The
woman's husband is said to have de-
serted her. He is supposed to be In
North Dakota.
Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1909-08-13
Negroes Attack Sheriff.

Denison.-Clark and Hubbard. thu
two negroes held on a charge Of kill
ing the two Northwestern brakeEen
Brechtel and Warner, made an as
saul upon Sheriff Cummings. Timel!
help alone prevented Jail delivery
The sheriff was choked and cut ir
the mouth, causing blood to flow
freely. After the negroes were pu
in their cells Clark tried to hanl
himself with towel suspended from
the top of the cage but the sheriff
interviewed before the deed was ac
complished.
Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1909-08-13
FRENcHnlN FLIES OVER ALPS
DARING VOYAGE MADE ~ Spell
TERiNE AND FRIENDS.
Reach Height Exceeding Three Miles
While Passing over Mount Blanc
danger, Not Over.

Chamonix, France. The bal.
loon Sirius has succeeded in flying
over the Alps. The airship left here
last Sunday under the pilotage of M
Spelterine, who had with him three
passengers. Fears were entertained
for the safety of the voyagers, but
they have landed safely at point
near Locarno at an altitude of 5,400
feet. The four men, however, still had
a dangerous path to cover on foot
from the place where they landed into
Locarno. @E5.
The Sirius traveysed Mount Blanc
and scared over the Aiguille du Dru
and the Aiguille Verte. The highest
altitude attained on the voyage was
$500 meters, equal to 1898 feet.
A successful balloon trip over Mount
Blanc and the Alps was made in No
vember of 1906 by two Italian aero.
nauts in the, balloon Milano. The
greatest altitude reached on this trip
was 20,500 feet, and the rarefied at
mosphere made it necessary for the
men to resort to their supply of oxy-
gen to keep alive. The Milano.
which went up from Milan, came
down at Aix-le-Bains after having COW
cred distance of It's miles in three
hours s4,
The record for height in q balloon
would appear to belong to two Eng.
ltshmen. Messrs Coxwell and
Glaisher. who, in 1862, ascended to q
height of $4,000 feet, or about seven
miles. In 1875 M. Tissandier. a
Frenchman, rose more than Eve miles
into the air. He was accompanied by
friend who died on the way. a self.
registering balloon sent UP without a
passenger from Paris in 1893 reached
an altitude of 52,490 feet.
Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1909-08-13
Frssd a Lat. smlth Dies.

Des Moines. Iowa. Samuel Fran
els Smith, former mayor of Daven
port, and son OF the man who wrote
America" died in hospital at To
ronto. Canada, where he was taken
after becoming Ill on the train which
was bearing him to Newton Center
Mass, where his wife and daughter
awaited his coming after Ave years
separation. Mr.. Smith was released
last week from the state reformatory
at AHamosa on orders from Governor
Carroll. who suspended his sentence
because Of old age. Convicted Of EN-.
bezzling trust funds In Davenport Ave
years ago, he served part of his
eleven years sentence when the sus.
pension OF sentence was granted.
Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1909-08-13

A bank Official in the west, con
victed Of swindling and sentenced to
IS years imprisonment was pardoned
after serving few years. He had Q
new start in life, every one sympa.
thizing with his resolve to reform. He
Sst another chance. likewise more
thousands with which he has disap
peared. Sympathy y q pleasing feel
Ing to those who bestow It. but It IL
also expensive. particularly when II
induces mercy to temper justice sc
that justice cannot be recognized.
Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1909-08-13
viii BUILD New Rarn..

Des Moines-President Cameron
Secretary Simpson and Superintend'
ent Curtiss Of the horse department
visited the state fair grounds and
made arrangements for providing &C
commodations for about 200 horses
The entries exceed the stalls by about
that number. More. barns will be
hastily erected and will be ready fol
occupancy by the time the fair opens
The stake race entries are all In and
those for the running races will close
the night before the races.
Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1909-08-13
crabtree's Hope With President

Des Moines, Aug. 13-Corporal Lisle
Crabtree, who shot and killed Cap
tain Raymond of the Second cavalry
and wounded Sergeant Washburn and
Corporal Such, will make his big
dght for Life With President Taft
placing little hope for anything short
of a death sentence from the court
martial which will pass on his case
Aug. 16 at Omaha. This was learned
after the arrival In the city of Mrs
A. w. Boyer, Crabtree's mother; Mrs
c. s. w. Jones, a friend; and s. +
Crabtree, brother, all of Tyrone, Fa
to confer. with Attorney James Par
sons and to be with C.abtree from
now until hs has finished his fight foy
life.
Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1909-08-13
miss SANTA CLAUS" SUICIDE
Had Letters to "kris krinsie" from
Children Sent to Her and
Sent Gifts.

y Philadelphia. Miss Elizabeth
A. Phillips, known widely as Miss
Santa Claus" committed suicide
by inhaling illuminating gas. She
was found in room at her home
with gas tube in her mouth.
Friends Of the woman say that her
own tender heart killed her. Miss
Phillips had been Respondent since q
young man whom she took fSom q
prison cell stole the meager funds
which she had reserved for her festi-
walls for the children and then used
her name to defraud trades people.
That the suicide was premeditated
was shown by the fact that the cracks
OF the door and windows Of the room
had been carefully stopped by bed
clothing. Pinned to the woman 8
clothing was a note which read:
Il have been in failing health for
some time. have always tried to do
my best for mapkind."
Miss Phillips enjoyed almost q. ma
tional reputationsyby reason of her
work at Christmas time among the
poor children. For weeks prior to
Christmas of each year she collected
funds which she expended for toys
and clothing for the needy and on
Christmas eve she visited the homes
Of the children in big automobile.
Two years ago. at her request. all
the letters written by children and
mailed m Santa ClauQ uoro do1ivorod
to her and the requests Of the chill
dren, as far as possible. were com
piled with.
Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1909-08-13
SWEDEE'S STRIKE WEAKENS
Many Men Are Returning to
Their Work.

StockhOlm.-The belief is gaining
ground that the backbone of the gen
eral strike has been broken. Work
men Of various kinds resumed their
duties in increasing. numbers Wednes
day anu 1t Is expected that the print,
ers soon will return to work. All the
newspapers in Stockholm are issuing
hand-printed sheets while those in the
south are being printed in Den
mark.
Some 10000 strikers attended q
meeting in the woods south of Stock.
holm. There was a strike riot al
Norberg as q result of which ~ per.
sons were arrested.
Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1909-08-13
Girl Calls on Lover-DIes Smiling

Girl Calls on Lover-Dies Smiling.
Des Moines.-With smile Of per.
feet peace enlightening his features
following the first visit from his
sweetheart, Miss Della Berry. Guy
Fisher, the 19-year-old boy who shot
himself with suicidal intent, died at
Mercy hospital. For the first time
since the shooting. Miss Berry went
to see the wounded boy at Mercy hos
pital. After she had bent over the
narrow cot of the sufferer, smile
appeared upon his lips which never
left, even after they were closed in
death.