davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-12-22
WILL MAKE VISITS
To Stores TONIGHT
One Lady Wanted To Know II He is
a Brunette-some of the Things
Mr.. Big Finger Saw and Heard Yes
terday.

All you have to do is to come to
me and say: Are you the Mysterious
Mr.. Big Finger of The News?", and at
the same time present me with the
latest edition of The News and I will
gladly give you the reward of $25.OO
offered by The News for my capture.
Now, isn't that easy? Be careful
about the way you approach me.
Make no mistakes and that reward is
yours.
I started on my journey through the
streets and stores yesterday after
noon about o'cock. The weather
was fine and the streets looked quite
different from Monday.
You could tell that Christmas was
close at hand if you entered O'Fer-
rails yesterday. The store was crowd
ed and little attention was paid to me
making my rounds through the diff
ferent departments.
The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-12-22
Sorry For Clerks.

certainly feel sorry for those
clerks in this store, if business keeps
up like yesterday until Christmas.
think some of that crowd got wise to
the "shop early" habit and decided
not to wait until the eleventh hour.
Miss Moore still had that pleasant
smile. l was looking over that stock
of blankets and comforts l noticed and
was thinking what useful present
one of those articles would make this
kind of weather-blankets $1.00 to
$1,000 a pair and comforts $1.0O to
$3.50 each.
Miss Miller, think, began to notice
me, and | thought it, was time to
move-and l did.
then noticed Mr.. R. G. Hall, of the
City Coal Co., doing wholesale and
retail business. From the way Mr.
Hall was moving about he must have
had many orders to fill yesterday.
The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-12-22
king LEOP0LD'S
FUNERAL TODAY
Impressive Scenes AS cortege Passes
Through Streets And At the
Cathedral.
(By Associated PreSS.)

Brussels, Dec. 22.-Torrential rair,
accompanied by a driving wind, ush-
cred in the funeral day of King Leo
pold II, but as the imposing military
cortege left the royal palace, the
downpour ceased and the gale died
away, giving way to just sub cold,
damp raw day as that on which the
aged monarch died.
The scene was impressive as the
cortege passed through the streets,
the populace uncovering their heads
as the procession passed, paying re-
spectful homage to the dead. Still
more impressive spectacle was the
scene at the Cathedral of st. Michael
and St. Guarda, where the last rites
over Leopold's body were pronounced
/ The funeral was largely attended
many titled aristocrats of Europe be
ing among those present.
The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-12-22
Was WRONG Man.

Being assured the man they had in
tow was not Mr.. Big Finger, the boys
slowly dispersed, evidently doubling
that they had been wrong.
But they were wrong. The man
they had was Mr.. Austin, represent
ing the Memphis News-Scimitar, who
was only spending a day in Hatties-
burg in the interest of his papers cir
culation here. 1t can be emphatically
relied upon that when the genuine Mr..
Big Finger is caught in the proper
manner he readily will own up to his
identity and The News guarantees
that the s25 reward will be forthcom-
ing for the lucky man, woman, boy or
girl who captures the Man of Mys-
terry.
There can be no doubt that the ad-
vent of Mr. Big Finger has created q
furore of excitement in Hattiesburg
He is being talked about everywhere
by all sorts of people and half the peo
pie one meets has a copy of the latest
edition of The News and are ready tc
pounce upon suspected Mr.. Big Fin
ger at the slightest provocation.
The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-12-22
Local Postoftce Did Record
Breaking business In This
Department.
SUPPOSED TO HAVE
been WnISkEY ORDERS
Postmaster Collins Gives Out Interest
ing Information-Regis Busi-
ness is Enormous, and Office Is
Very Busy Place During Holidays.

Probably the greatest number of
money orders ever issued in one day
by the local postoffice were sold Mon
day, when, at the closing hour tho
records showed that a total of two
hundred and eighteen of Uncle Sans
checks had been passed through tAes
window of the money order 1efart<
ment.
A noticeable feature in connection
with this heavy run on the postoffice
is the fact that nearly all the craess
were for practically the same amount.
made payable at the same place and
to a comparatively small number of
parties, and the inference is that
when they reach their destination the
senders will be expecting small square
pasteboard packages in exchange for
the amount specified in the money
OrOerS. -. :.
The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-12-22
REDUCTION Of
COUNTY TAXES
BY South Mississippi Counties Will
Be Subject In Governors Mes
sage to Solons.

Jackson, Dec. Ex-Governor Noel
states that he has no intention of in
stituting legal proceedings against the
several counties in South Mississippi
where realty and personally assess
ments for the current year were de-
liberately reduced by boards of super
visors, acting on the theory that those
counties have been bearing more than
their just share of the burden of state
government, and increasing county
tax levies in order to maintain suffi'
ciant revenues to meet the burdens OF
local government
While the Governor believes that
the action taken by these boards oi
supervisors was unwarranted he does
not regard it as his personal duty t.
institute proceedings. and recognize:
that, while the spirit of the law ha
been violated. it is doubtful whethe
a charge of violating the letter of tn
law could be maintained.
!! 1t is the Governors purpose, how
ever, to call the attention of the lei
islature to the wholesale reduction
} and in his biennial message he wi
} suggest that remedial legislation I
} some sort be adopted.
The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-12-22
$4,00O,00O
FOR FARMERS
Those Of State Get That Much
More For 1909 Cotton Than
For 1908 Crop,
Special TO The NetUS.

Special TO The NeiOs.
Jackson, Miss, Dec. 22.-Granting
that Mississippi's cotton crop for the
current season will not exceed 1,020,-
900 bales, which is the lowest esti-
mate accepted in any quarter, it will
nevertheless bring to the farmers of
the state over $4,00O,0OO more than
was received from the crop Of 1908.
Last year Mississippi's crop was
placed by the government at 1,!41.947
bales, and it was marketed at an aver
age of not exceeding $50 per bale,
making total of $72.097,35O.
The 1909 yield has been marketed
at an average of SIS per bale. bring
ing a revenue to the farmers of SIC,
100000.
Both calculations include the seed
grown with the crop, and shows bal
ance of more than $4,000,000 in favor
of the 1909 yield.
The most regrettable feature of the
1909 crop is the fact that it is very
spotted, some ounties not producing
more than twenty per cent Of nor
NAL yield, and, consequently, they are
facing a very discouraging outlook fol
the next season.
The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-12-22
JACKSON men
are IN CONTROL
Now Own Wo-Thirds of the Electri,
Railway, Light and Power
Company.

Special 10 The NeaUs.
Jackson, Dec. 22.-The new million
dollar corporation formed for the pur.
pose of assuming control Of the Jack
son electric railway, power. lighting
and gas plants will be known as the
Jackson Railway and Lighting Com
pany, and the charter for the concern
will be prepared within the next few
days and presented to the governor
for approval as soon as the publica-
tion period has expired.
This is the net result of the meet
ing held last evening at the office OF
Mr.. R. B. Minis, at which large num-
ber of the representative capitalists OF
Jackson were present.
The new corporation assumes abso
lutte control of the property, purchas
! ing all right, title and interest held
by Messrs. Carnes & Jones, the Mem
phis capitalists. a sufficient amour
of stock has been subscribed to fur
nish guarantee that local stockhold
ers will control two-thirds of the pror
erty, and the new board of director
, will be composed of nine persons o
jackson.
The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-12-22
Heavy Business To-Day.

Yesterdays business was not so
heavy, only $50 orders having been
issued by the postoffice, but to-day
promises to eclipse anything on rec
ord, Judging from the early start made
this morning by those who have been
tardy about sending in their Christ
mas orders.
Postmaster Collins stated this
morning that the registration business
during the past few days had been
enormous, and that yesterday alone
full wagon load of registered pack
ages had been forwarded from this Of
flee. So far the receipt OF registered
matter has been very light it is said,
but this is expected to increase and
furnish about as much business as
can be handled within the next two or
three days.
Holiday packages do not usually be-
gin to arrive until the day before
Christmas, and they continue to como,
generally, until after New Years, and
letter carriers are naturally looking
forward with no pleasurable antici-
patton to this unusually busy period.
The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-12-22
Soldiers On Scene.

Magnolia, Ala, Dec. 22.-The SOL
diers from Selma reached Magnolia
after nightfall last night, and at s
O'Clock sentries were placed around
storehouses where thirty negroes
we're confined. These negroes were
arrested because of reported threats
that they had made against the whites,
or because they were suspected OF
having been implicated in the murder
of young Algernon Lewis by the four
Montgomery negroes.
Ernest Slade, the white man who
was desperately wounded when Clint
Montgomery fired on possee, has
been taken to his home at Lamison
He is terribly wounded, but surgeons
give hopes for his recovery.
Will Montgomery is still at large
with posses and dogs hunting for
him. The other two Montgomery ne
groes, Fletcher and Shelly, are in jai
at Linden, and there is no threaten
ing violence to them.
Sheriff Grant, of Marengo county
and Col. J. E. Carter, of Selma, com
manding the troops, are in charge o
the situation here. If trouble shoul'
break out it would come from an al
tack by negroes, but it is not be
lieved that such an attack will b.
made.
The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-12-22
Saw Gillian Again.

Now, ladies, | don't know much
about drawn work, but take tip
from me and look over that Mexican
and Japanese drawn work in table
covers and dresser scarfs, now on dis
play at O'Ferrall's, from sl.50 to $500.
l heard Mr. O'Ferrall say that all
mems suits selling at $40 to 500 were
$3.50 each, and it wasn't good day
for bargains, either.
Mr. Gillian, told you I would see
you again, and | did. Somebody told
me that OFerral's had big reduc'
tion on ladies and children's shoes
and called to see, and know now
that the party that informed me was
| telling the truth. then returned t.
the gents furnishing department.
| (COntinued on mage eight.)
The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-12-22
Bio FINGER Busy.

In the meantime, Mr.. Big Finger is
pursuing the even tenor of his way,
serenely visiting these places he speci-
fies in The News, and getting data for
giving the public more information as
to how to proceed to capture him. He
surely visits and win visit all the
places he names in his published ar
ticles in these columns. When he is
eventually captured the chagrin Of
many will be deep because they per-
mitted s25 to get away from them so
easily. And when this time comes all
will agree that Mr.. Big Finger was a
bona fide proposition and that he did
everything he said he did and more
besides.
Remember that Mr.. Big Finger may
be near you even as you read these
lines.
The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-12-22
HOT AFTER
BIG FINGER
Boys Tow Wrong Man To News
0Hice---Real Big Finger Is
Very Busy.

Here's Mr.. Big Finger; give us
that s25.."
Bursting pell nell into the News
office shortly after the noon hour yes
terday, a number of boys dragged
man before the only member of The
News staff who happened to be in
the office just at that moment.
"Oh, we've got him." said one of the
boys breathlessly; ''he says so him
self We want the twenty-five dol
lars
A nicely dressed man, somewhat
disheveled in appearance but smiling
good-naturedly, extricated himself
from the clutches of a dozen husky
young hands and approached The
News man.
please tell these young men wheth-
er | am Mr.. Big Finger or not" he
said. They have practically dragged
me from fire department headquarters,
where | was trying to do some bust
ness, and want to get away"
But you said you were Mr.. Big
Finger when we caught you," insisted
the spokesman for the crowd of juve
niles.
"Yes, but | did that for joke.
wish now ! hadn't" was the reply.
The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-12-22
BRITISH india
Is IN FERMENT
over Assassination of Arthur jackson,
Chief Magistrate Of Mask,
BY Native.
(Bu Associated PreSS.)

Bombay, India, Dec. 22.-All of
British India is in a ferment this
morning over the assassination of Ar
thur Mason Tippetts Jackson, chief
magistrate of Mask. The news reach
ed here to-day that he was assassinat
ed by native while attending theat.
rical performance last night.
Mask is a hotbed of sedition. Jack
son has been in the British Indian ser
vice since 1888.
The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-12-22
TROOPS and ARMED
MEN PAThOL Streets
Man Hunt Still Going On-Ernest
Sade Terribly Wounded, But May
Recover-Neeroes Planned To Burn
Town.
(By Associated PreSS.)

Montgomery, Ala. Dec. 22.-CoIonel
j. F. Carter, with three officers and
thirty-ive men, and Sheriff Grant,
with a posse, left Magnolia at 1890
o'clock this morning conveying thirty
three negroes to be lodged in the Jail
at Linden. charged with all sorts OF
breaches of the peace from incendiar-
ism to drunks and general threats.
They were arrested by soldiers as
result of trouble that grew out OF
the burning of Clinton Montgomery
one of the murderers of Algernon Lew
is. last Saturday
The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-12-22
Overheard Murder Plans.

Sam Shields, a relative OF Tom
Shields. one of the four white men
shot by Clint Montgomery reported
that he overheard a number of ne
proes plotting a systematic attack
upop the whites. There was large
gathering of negroes at house near
town. and Mr.. Shields says they plan
ned to go from house to house in Mag
nolia, applying the torch and killing
the occupants as they made effort to
escape from the flames.
The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-12-22
SIX HUNDRED men ARE
KILLED OR WOUNDED
Nineteen Hundred Of ZeIaya's Soldiers
Have Surrendered-Two Americans
Among Those Killed on Gen. Estra-
da's side-U. S. Surgeons Larded.
(By Associated PreSS.)

Bluefields, Nicaragua, Dee. 22.--Gen
Estrada has won a complete victory
over the government troops at Rama
A total of six hundred men vas killed
or wounded on both sides. Nineteen
hundred of Zelaya's men have sur
rendered, including Gen. Gonzales
who was in command.
Two Americans are reported among
those killed on Estrada'S side.
The fighting occurred Just outside
of Rama. The wounded are being
brought here. Commander Shipley
has landed surgeons from The Des
Moines to care for them.
The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-12-22
HIS HOST At time
SUSPECTED OF crime
Lured To Apartment and Blown To
Atoms BY Exploding Bomb-AlIeged
Murderer Rushes Into Street and is
Captured BY Police.

st. Petersburg, Dec. 22.-Colonel
Karpoff, chief of the secret police of
St. Petersburg, was assassinated early
to-day.
He was lured to an apartment in the
Viborg district and blown to pieces by
a bomb exploded, it is supposed, by his
host, one Michael Vosskressonsky.
The alleged murderer rushed into
the street following the explosion and
was captured.
The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-12-22
THREE CHILDREN
BURNED TO DEATH

Delaware. o. Dec. s2 -'i,ree chii-
dren Of Mr.. and Mrs. Jasper Williams
son were barned to dsath in a ire =
the home q their parents. twelve
miles from here. hast night at nisAt-
fall when their mother was driving a
the cows and their fasher had gono|
after wood.
The house caught nre IN some ~
and the children were brrued ~ -
fore the parents could rescne th
Their ages ranged from ! = s rI
The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-12-22
BARONESS ATTENDS
81. MASS FOR KING.
fBy Associated Press,

Pontoise, France, Dec. 22.-Lucien
and Philippe, sons of the late King
Leopold, and Baroness Vaughan. ac-
companied by their governess. drove
to the little village of Arronville to-
day and attenfsS.e special mass cele-
brated by Atoe Mornsnt for the re-
pose of Leoyolds soul. The boys wore
white sailSr suits with bands of crepe
on theiy arms.
The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-12-22
THOUGHT DR.. COOK
WAS GENTLEMAN
Danish Papers Think That Only
Fault To Be Found With
Danes.
(By Associated PreSS.)

Copenhagen, Dec. 22.--Morning pa
pers generally find comfort for the
Cook affair in the thought that the
only fault that may be charged
against the Danes is that they accept
ed the explorers word as that of
gentleman.
The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-12-22
ANARCHIST SHOOTS
PRIME MINISTER
(Bv Associated Press.0

Washington, Dec. 22.-An official
. dispatch was received by the state de-
partment this morning from Bucha-
rest to the effect that the prime min
lister Of Roumania had been shot and
seriously wounded by a Roumanian
anarchist.
The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-12-22
= 80 = = = > = = = = !: = = 4
: THE WEATHER.

= Washington, Dec. 22.-Fair to-
= night and Thursday. I
= :: & = = = = = 9 . = = = : = =
The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1909-01-22
TAFT I.AUDs Y. M. @. A.
Speech to Negroes-Tells Big Audience
at Augusta, Ga, of Advantages
of Morality.

Augusta, Ga, Jan. 1S.-Introduced to
a big audience of men, comprising the
negro Y. M. G. A. of this city, Sunday,
President-elect Taft discussed the
Christian uplift of the Y. M. G. A.
DR.. Walker, known as "Black Spur
geon," who introduced Mr.. Taft, said
the negroes of Georgia owned 100000
acres of land in the state and paid
taxes on $2O,ooo,oOO worth of property.
This report Mr.. Taft regarded as most
gratifying. 1t gave him an illustration
for the Oft-repeated belief that the race
question must be settled by the negroes
themselves becoming Indispensable to
the community in which they live. This
meant industry, information and thrift,
acquired by constant individual effort.
He dwelt at length on the advantages of
the Y. M. G. A. work to bring about this
end.
The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1909-01-22
OREGON sQU1Bs.

Miss Helen F. Spalding, for many
years teacher in the public schools in
Portland, died recently.
The chapel and class room building
at the klamath Indian agency, near
klamath Falls, was destroyed by fire
recently. The building cost $4,000.
After returning three indictments,
not previously reported; refusing to in
dict Jerry Brooks for murder for killing
George Jackson at Hermiston, and MAX
ing its final report, the Umatilla grand
jury was excused from further duty.
The klamath Falls County bank was
held up and robbed of over $4,000 in
coin by two masked men at noon Sat-
urday. Later both men were captured
and $2230 recovered. The robbers en-
tered the bank and with drawn revolv-
ers commanded Alexander Martin, Jr.,
the cashier, to hold UP his hands. The
robbers then ordered Martin to put the
counter cash into sack and hand it to
them. Martin, with the desperate men
pointing revolvers at his head, did not
resist the command.
The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1909-01-22
PRODUCTS OF WEST CUT.
Alterations in Tarln on Lumber, Lead,
Hides, Wool and Coal Planned.

Alterations in Tarln on Lumber, Lead,
Hides, Wool and Coal Planned.
The following alterations of the tar
iff duties may be expected by Pacific
coast people:
Removal Of the So thousand duty
on lumber.
Reduction of 33 1-3 per cent or 1-2
a cent pound Of the duty on lead
ore.
Removal Of the duty on hides.
Removal of the duty of so cents
ton on bituminous COAL
Reduction of the duty on wool
Were the new Payne tariff bill, to
replace the Dingley law, to be re.
ported tomorrow for action by the
house, it would probably contain pro-
visions as stated in the foregoing.
That the Payne bill ultimately to be
reported by the ways and means COM
mittee in the special session of March
will contain these provisions, can not
be asserted positively.
The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1909-01-22

record for that month in 20 years, with
the exception of 1889.
M. H. Myers, who is wanted in Mos
COW for obtaining money under false
pretence, has been arrested at Mount
Vernon, in Skagit county, Washington.
First semester examinations at the
university occur Feb. to S, and the
second semester opens Feb. 8, on which
date new students enroll for the second
half of the years studies.
Madison, Wis.-Judge K. M. Lands,
in deciding the case of Charles Barber
and Sumner G. Moon, charged with con-
spiracy in land fraud in Idaho, as to
whether they would be compelled to 60
to Idaho for trial, held that they must
A coroner's inquest held at the iso-
lated and snow-covered cabin of Beno
Salvo, the s0-year-old trapper and
miner, found dead Saturday near Idaho
City, and probably the first white man
to explor what is now Idaho, revealed
that the old man shot himself.
The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1909-01-22
New Senators
Elected Tuesday

New York elected Elihu Root to sue.
coed Thomas G Platt.
Oregon's Legislature elected George
E. Chamberlain, democrat, United
States senator. the governor receiving
majority of the votes in each house
l 8 in the senate and 81 in the senate.
Congressman Jones was elected of
Washington to succeed Senator An
keny, receiving 40 of the 4 votes cast
in the senate and 80 of the 81 votes
cast in the house. He received the votes
of the republican members.
South Dakota elected Coo I. Craw-
ford, republican
Senator Gore. democrat, was was
reelected from OkIohoma.
James Clarke was reelected from
Ark ansas.
Charles J Hughes. Jr., of Denver,
democrat, was elected in Colorado to
succeed H. M. Teller.
M. N. johnson, republican, was elect
ed in North Dakota to succeed II G.
Hansbrough.
A. j. Cummins was elected in Iowa
for the six-year term.
Senator Hopkins was endorsed in
caucus in Illinois for reelection.
The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1909-01-22
CHANGE MEANS NO ILL WILL
Ministers to China From u. s. and
Great Britain Given Assurance,

Peking.-William W: Rockhill and
Sir John Jordan, respectively the min
listers to China from the United States
and Great Britain, Saturday expressed
themselves as pleased with the recep-
tion accorded them yesterday by
Prince Ching, president of the board
of foreign affairs, whom they visited
in connection with the dismissal of
Yuan Shi Kai. They said the prince
received them in the spirit in which
they came, as representatives of two
friendly powers.
He listened to Ministers Rockhill and
Jordan respectfully, who inquired
whether the dismissal of Yuan Shi Kai
meant change in the policy of China.
Prince Ching authoritatively assured
his callers that this was not so. This
assurance, it is understood, puts an
end to the bad impression that fol-
lowed the dismissal of Yuan Shi Kai.