davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1909-02-12
WRITTEN BY LINCOLN IN l84l
Letter Reveals Sense Of Humor Of Which This
Great Man Was Possessed" -"Tragedy"
That eliminated in Joke on
Springfield Citizens

inst, when Keys received a letter
from the postmaster in Warren coun-
ty, that William had arrived at home
and was telling very mysterious and
improbable story about the disappear
ance of Fisher which induced the
community there to suppose he had
been disposed of unfairly. Keys made
this letter public, which Immediately
set the whole town and adjoining
country agog. And so it has contin-
ued until yesterday.
The mass of the people commenced
a systematic search for the dead body,
while Wickersham was dispatched to
arrest Henry Trailor at the Grove, and
Jim Maxcy to Warren to arrest Will
liam. On Monday last, Henry was
brought in, and showed an evident in
clination to insinuate that he knew
Fisher to be dead, and that Archibald
and William had killed him. He said
he guessed the body could be found
in Spring creek, between the Boards
town road and Hickox's mill. Away
the people swept like herd of buffa-
10, and cut down Hickox's mill-dam
nolens volens, to draw the water out
of the pond, and then went up and
down, and down and up the creek, fish
ing and raking, and raking and duck
ing, and diving for two days; and,
after all, no dead body found. In the
meantime sort of scuffiing- ground
had been found in the brush in the
angle or point, where the road lead.
ing into the woods past the brewery,
and the one leading in past the brick
grove met, From the scuffie-ground
was the sign of something about the
size of man having been dragged
to the edge of the thicket, where
joined the track of some small
wheeled carriage drawn by one horse
as shown by the road-track. The car.
riage track led off towards Spring
creek. Near this drag-trail, Dr. Merry.
man found two hairs, which, after q
long scientific examination, he pro
nounced to be triangular human hair
which term, he says, includes within
1t the whiskers, the hair growing un
der the arms. and on other parts OF
the body; and he judged that these
two were of the whiskers, because the
ends were cut, showing that they had
nourished in the neighborhood of the
razor's operations.
On Thursday last Jim Maxcy
brought In William Trailor from War
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1909-02-12
THE DAY IN SCOTLAND.
Custom There Has Been to Choose
Ones Valentine.

It seems to have been a custom in
Scotland to choose ones valentine, IL
Sir Walter Scott is to be trusted in
his account of the wooing of the Fair
Maid of Perth and Hal of the Wynd
in the novel. The always amusing and
ubiquitous Pepys, in his diary, which
neglects nothing under the sun ap-
parently, mentions st. Valentines day
and its customs in several places, and
gives an amusing account of his wife,
fearing to open her eyes on st. Valen-
tines day while the painters and dec
orators were at work in her room, lest
she should see one of these unsuitable
persons first instead of more comely
valentine. The genial Pepys himself,
of course, had to call upon one of his
friends on February IA and entreat
her to become his valentine, and we
will hope that he sent suitable gift
to the lady chosen.
Whatever the origin OF the custom.
it has given rise to many quaint and
pretty fancies, and both poets and
lovers have employed the legend and
the saint to good purpose. The send
ing of letters and the more or less
tawdry cut paper valentines, which
the children Of the last generation
were so familiar with, undoubtedly
gave rise to the modern fashion OF
Christmas cards in this country and
in England, which has grown to such
astonishing, not to say alarming, pro-
portions, and the comic valentine, that
hideous and dreadful creation, is pre-
sumably one of the evils resulting
from the custom. However this may
be, 1t is exceedingly agreeable to re-
ceive gift of flowers, or fruit, or
dainty book upon this midwinter fes-
tival, and IL 1t take the form of a
more useful present there is a distinct
authority for sending even these, as
one of the Oldest customs consisted
in sending veil of tissue or gauze
to the fortunate valentine which was
selected to be the recipient of the at
tention.
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1909-02-12

Miss Alice turned the hose on her
sidewalk to wash away the ashes.
All night long, however, the wind rose.
and the fourteenth of February dawned
bitter cold, and the water used for
washing off the ashes froze.
Miss Lucinda was in the kitchen
sitting ashes to resprinkle the pave
ment, when she heard her sister
Shrek. Lucinda rushed to open the
front door, and saw Alice on her
knees in the street supporting the
husky shoulders of Williams, who was
shouting Justify: This is your work!
Nice, isn't it? Always knew your con-
founded neatness would cost me my
life."
Alice could only sob in reply.
I'll sue you for this, all right" he
beloved.
BY this time Lucinda had ap-
preached, and now spoke authoritative
ly: well, it is plain you must be
carried into your house and doctor
sent for at once" Reckoning to the
bachelors man servant, who hovered
near, she instructed him how to assist
the injured man without causing un-
necessary pain.
When Williams had been laid on a
disordered bed, Miss Lucinda made
him as comfortable as possible before
the arrival of the doctor The Berry
girls set to work preparing bandages.
The doctor came, set the arm, ex-
pressed approval of all that had been
| done, and left.
Williams heard this commentator
of the maiden sisters, aud after some
| thought said:
"If you bring me through without
crippling me, will let you OFF as light
| ly as possible"
joyed the ladies. They took their reg
ular turns, and the negro servant rued
the day when they invaded his
slouchy kingdom. Though the in,
jured bachelor could not know Of all
the changes taking place, still he felt
the influence of orderly domesticisy.
They really enjoyed the nursing
and their patient particularly appre
ciated having Miss Alice near, for heI
touch was delightfully."- soft. So, even
when the physician came, 1t was Miss
Alice who bandaged the arm after II
was dressed.
Il 4 4
When able to be around again II
was difficult to break an acquired
habit, so 1t happened that Mr.. vii
liams went over morning and evening
for Miss Alice to attend to his arm.
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1909-02-12

One morning he did not come; In
for Miss Alice, who read it with
alarm:
81 shall call this evening to sue for
my damages. II 1t is not rendered me,
1 am afraid / must proceed to extreme
measures"
Miss Alice cried the better part of
the day after the receipt of the note,
and Miss Lucinda for once was not
practical, so cried some also.
At seven that evening the door bell
rang and Miss Lucinda admitted Mr..
Williams and showed him into the par
lor where Alice sat, openly fearful.
"Take a seat" she whispered.
He sat down facing her, and took
her limp hand.
"Bless my SOUL" he cried; whats
the matter?"
Nothing" she exclaimed, and burst
into sobs.
81 wish you'd cry for me-" said the
bachelor huskily.
"Oh," she moaned, 1--WE can't pay
those damages, Mr.. Williams"
well, if you can't" said he, "can
you do something else? Can you ac-
cept the worn-out old valentine that
was thrown at your gate about a
month ago? Not worth picking up,
perhaps, old-fashioned and full of
flaws, but a most loving valentine"
With her cheek against the band
aged arm, Miss Alice cried some more
but there were smiles shining
through.
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1909-02-12

emily very unwell; that he asked him
how he had come from Springfield;
that Fisher said he had come by Peo-
ria, which showed that he at the time
of speaking did not know where he
of arrangement. He further stated
that in about two hours he received a
note from one Of Traitors friends ad-
vising him of his arrest and request
ing him to go on to Springfield as
witness to testify as to the state of
Fishers health in former times; that
he Immediately set off, calling up two
of his neighbors as company, and
riding all evening and all night, over
took Maxcy and William at Lewiston
in Fulton county. That Maxcy refus-
ing to discharge Trailor upon his state
ment, his two neighbors returned, and
he came on to Springfield. Some Ques-
ton being made as to whether the
doctors story was not fabrication,
several acquaintances of his (among
whom was the same postmaster who
wrote to Keys as before mentioned)
were introduced as sort of compurga-
tors, who swore that they knew the
doctor to be good character for
truth and veracity, and generally of
good character in every way.
Here the testimony ended, and the
Traitors were discharged, Archibald
and William expressing, both in word
and manner, their entire confidence
that Fisher would be found at the doc.
tors by Galloway, Mallory and Myers.
who day before had been dispatched
for that purpose; while Henry still
protested that no power on earth could
ever show Fisher alive. Thus stands
this curious affair.
When the Doctors story was first
I made public, it was amusing to scan
and contemplate the countenances.
and hear the remarks of those who
had been actively engaged in the
search for the dead body; some looked
quizzical, some melancholy, and some
furiously angry. Porter, who had
been very active, swore he always
knew the man was not dead, and that
he had not stirred an inch to hunt for
him. Langford, who had taken the
lead in cutting down Hickox's mill
dam, and wanted to hang Hickox for
objecting, looked most awfully woebe-
gone; he seemed the victim of un-
requited Affection" as represented in
the comic almanacs We used to laugh
over. And Hart. the little drayman
that hauled Molly home once, said It
was too damned bad to have 30 much
trouble and no hanging after all.
commenced this letter yesterday,
since which rece!Ted yours of the
18th. stick to my promise to come
to Louisville. Nothing new here, ex-
cept what have written. ! have not
seen - since my last trip; and am
going out there as soon as l mail this
letter. Yours forever.
LINCOLN.
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1909-02-12

Among legal records in the posses
sion of Mr.. John F. Geeting, promi-
nent Chicago attorney and editor of
American Criminal Reports, is the fol-
lowing letter written by Abraham Lin
coin in 1S41. 1t appeared originally in
the Quincy Whig of April 9, 1886, and
in that article, probably written by
Lincoln himself (for it is known that
he took much interest in the features
of the case) the following lines ap-
pear: "On the next Monday Myers ar
rived at Springfield, bringing with
him the now famed Fisher, in full life
and proper person." Evidently the
letter of Lincoln was written before
Fisher had been found.
Springfield, June 10, 1S41.-Dear
Speed: We have had the highest state
of excitement here for week past
that our community has ever wit
messed; and although the public feel
ing is somewhat allayed, the curious
affair which aroused 1t is very far
from being over, yet cleared of mys-
terry. 1t would take quire of paper
to give you anything like full ac-
count of 1t, and l, therefore, only pro-
pose a brief outline.
The chief personages in the drama
are Archibald Fisher, supposed to be
murdered, and Archibald Trailor, Hen
ry Trailor and William Trailor, sup
posed to have murdered him. The
three Traitors are brothers. The first,
Archibald, as you know. lives In town;
the second, Henry, in Clary's Grove;
and the third, William, in Warren
county; and Fisher, the supposed
murdered, being without family, had
made his home with William. On Sat
urday evening, being the Goth of May,
Fisher and William came to Henry's
in a one-horse dearborn, and there
stayed over Sunday; and Monday all
three came to Springfield (Henry on
horseback), and Joined Archibald at
Myers. the Dutch carpenter. That
evening at supper Fisher was missing,
and so next morning some Intellectual
search was made for him; and on
Tuesday, at 1 o'clock p. m. William
and Henry started home without him.
In a day or two Henry and one or
two of his Clary Grove neighbors
came back for him again, and adver-
tised his disappearance in the papers.
The knowledge of the matter thus
far had not been general. and here II
dropped entirely till about the 10th
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1909-02-12

rem. On the same day Arch. was ar
rested, and put in Jail. Yesterday (Fri
day. William was put upon his exam
lining trial before May and Lavely;
Archibald and Henry were both pres
ent. Lamborn prosecuted, and Logan,
Baker and your humble servant de-
Tended. A great many witnesses were
introduced and examined, but l shall
only mention those whose testimony
seemed most important. The first Of
these was Capt. Ransdell. He swore
that, when William and Henry left
Springfield for home on Tuesday be-
fore mentioned, they did not take the
direct route-which, you know, leads
by the butcher shop; but that they fol-
lowed the street north until they got
opposite, or nearly opposite, Mays
house, after which he could not see
them from where he stood; and it was
afterwards proved, that, in about an
hour after they started, they came
into the street by the butchers shop
from towards the brick-yard. DR.. Mer-
ryman and others swore to what is
stated about the scuffie-ground, drag
trail. whiskers and carriage tracks.
Henry was then introduced by the
prosecution. He swore that, when they
started for home, they went out north,
as Ransdell stated, and turned down
west by the brick-yard into the woods,
and there met Archibald; that they
proceeded small distance further,
yuh no n1o f1
watch for and announce the approach
of anyone that might happen that
way; that William and Arch. took the
dearborn out of the road small dis
tance to the edge of the thicket,
where they stopped, and he saw them
lift the body of man into 1t; that
they moved off with the carriage in
the direction of Hickox's mill, and he
loitered about for something like an
hour, When William returned with the
carriage, but without Arch, and said
they had put him in safe place; that
they went somehow, he did not know
exactly how, into the road close to the
brewery, and proceeded on to Clary's s
Grove. He also stated that some
lhO ddy NRtiidil lOiQ liiiii
that he and Arch. had killed Fisher
the evening before; that the way they
did 1t was by him (William) knocking
him down with club, and Archibald
then choking him to death.
An old man from Warren, called DR..
Gilmore, was then introduced on the
part of the defense. He swore that he
had known Fisher for several years
that Fisher had resided at his house
long time at each of the different
spells; once while he built barn for
T; him, and once while he was doctored
for some chronic disease; that two OF
three years ago Fisher had serious
hurt in his head by the bursting of a
gun, since which he had been subject
to continued bad health and occasional
alteration of mind. He also stated
that on last Tuesday, being the same
day that Maxcy arrested William
Trailor, he (the doctor) was from
home in the early part of the day. and
on his return, about IL o'clock, found
Fisher at his house in bed, and appar
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1909-02-12
Art Criticism.

II don't like marble statues" SAID
the fluffy young thing. "They always
look as II they had a cataract or some
thing of that kind the matter With
their eyeA"
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1909-02-12

THEY were the
neatest ladies on
the entire street,
Mi S s L u c 1 n d a
Berry and her Sis
ter Alice, and they
subsisted meager-
ly on a small pen
sion that had been
their late fathers.
In the same
block lived the
richest, slouchiest
and most irritable
bachelor in the
city.
In F g b ru ary,
when an uneXpect-
: ed mildness set in,
The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-05-08

the rescue OF these persons. together
with others who may be alive.
Capt. Quinan. commanding tire
Tahoms, Is 10 visit Adana and other
nlaces in Asia Minor which have been
laid waste by fire and bloodshed. lie
should be in the Adana district today
The Tahoma is the second ship IN
the United states revenue cutter ser
vice TO display the flag OF that arm OF
the floating fighting forces on a world
encircling trip. The first was the Nc
Culloch. which, on her way TO San
Francisco, was corralled al Hong
Kong by Admiral Dewey and added 10
the fleet in the fight that made the
Philippine archipelago part OF the
United States. The McCulloch, like
the Tahoma. left Baltimore. on this
unusual itinerary OF revenue cutter
to reach the Pacific coast
The Tahoma's schedule provided for
a cruise through the Suez canal. From
Alden. through the Red sea. the ship
is TO head for Colombo. in Ceylon,
thence TO Singapore. Manila will be
the next port OF call and then Ioko-
hama The Tahoma will then visit
Unalaska. again greeted by the stars
and stripes floating over the port. Port
Townsend. the end OF the trip. will
wind up $4,000 miles OF travel.
Capt Quinan is native of Calvert
county. Maryland, and a graduate of
the Baltimore city college of the class
OF 10 His father was tie late Or.
John r. Quinan, OF Baltimore. for
many years president OF the Maryland
Medical & Chirurgical faculty. Tho
son was appointed a cadet in the reve-
nue. cutter service in 1882 and spent
two years on the practice lark Chase.
then at New Bedford. Mass.
PITTS.
The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-05-08
BROTHERS IN SUIT.
Wesdocks VIII Fight each Other II
$50 900 Controversy.

BAY CITY. Mich. May y.-John c.
Weadock, of New York. and T. A. E.
Weadock, Of Detroit. brothers. arc
opposing counsel in the case OF for
mer Mayor F. r. Woodwork against
]. w. McGraw and F. p. Lhesbrough.
OF this city. in a case in the United
States court which involves $4,000.
Wo0dwOrth brought Second Nation
al bank stock on the showing OF a
statement made by the bank. he al
leges, and McGraw and Chesbrough,
as directors OF the bank. signed the
statement He alleges the stock is
a loss to him and that the two d.
rectors sre responsible because they
signed the statement. John c. Wea-
dock last year beat out his older
brother. George Weadock, a leading
Saginaw attorney. in a case in the
federal court here, and has met other
relatives in court. This is the first
time he has gone against I. A. f.
The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-05-08
DETROIT MAN
SENT TO TURKEY
Capt. tombstone H. Quinan. Com
handing U. S. Revenue Cutter,
to Rescue Persons in Peril.
(From a staff Correspondent

"
PORT HURON, Mich, May Tho
cry that sounded around ne world for
assistance for the civilized people OF
Asia Minor. where 10000 Christians
have been slain by the fanatical Mo
hammedans. has taken Capt. Johnston
II. Quinan. formerly of Detroit to thu
scene OF massacre. He is n represen.
tstive OF the United States government
and has been sent To the BALKANS in
an effort to save the lives OF Chris
tians. especially Americans, who may
be in peril because OF the aldeous orgy
of anarchy thst exists In that section.
he commando the United states reve-
nue. cutter rahoma. which left Balti-
more recently on an lS,O0o-mile trip
around the world.
Behind the announcement from
Washington that capt. Quinan had
been ordered TO speed 10 the scene OF
the massacres Is a story or his rise
from first lieutenant on The gunboat
Fessenden. which cruised i'll Michigan
waters. To commander Of the ship
which is on its record trip around the
world. Capt. Quinan Is we'll known in
Detroit. One OF his best friends In
that city is Ralph Phelps. When Capt.
Quinan was attached 10 he Fesseuden
he claimed Detroit as his temporary
home. His permanent home is In Bal
timore. There his wife, formerly Miss
Anna Botsford, OF Port Huron, is liv.
ing now. She is we'll known In Port
Huron, and the news OF Capt. Quinan's
dispatch 10 the country where the Mo-
hammedans value their revenge for
imaginary wrongs higher than human
lives thrilled the people ~ this city.
There is confidence in Capt. Quinan :
success in rescuirg Christians in peril.
though. His friends here say he Is a
cool and daring officer.
Shortly after the first news of the
terrible loss OF life at the hands OF
the fanatical Mohammedans was fash
ed TO various parts OF the world II
was announced that several persons
from Michigan, missionaries in Asia
Minor, were in peril. One OF them Is
Miss Dorinda Bowman, OF Petoskey.
Capt. Quinan is expected TO assist IN
The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-05-08

VIM. Parr-EngIand's oldest man
married the third time at 1870. worked
in the fields till 1872 and lived 20 years
longer People should be youthful at
so. James Wright. OF Spurlock. KY.
shows how to remain young. Il feel
just like a 16-year-old boy" he writes,
after taking six bottles OF Electric
Bitters. For thirty years Kidney trou.
BILE made life a burden, but the first
bottle OF this wonderful medicine
convinced me had found the greatest
cure on earth" They're a godsend TO
weak, sickly, rundown or old people
Try them. At r. G. Kinsel, Central
Drug Co, Gray g. Worcester
The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-05-08
FIGHT ON PICTURE TRUST"
End Of Fight Means One or Other
Will BE vanquished From Moving
Picture Field.

NEW YORK, May IA fight in
volying the use of s2.OO0.0OO was in.
stituted today by the independent
moving picture men against the Mo
tion Picture Patents Co. designated
by the independents as the "picture
trust" that will end, II is predicted.
with one or the other OF the organiza-
tions vanquished from the picture film
world OF amusement The plans OF
the independents in declaring war on
the Patents company include the in
corporation OF themselves into 81
600 600 company to fight the trust TO
a finish" as they say.
The independents claim this coun-
Try is in the grasp OF the Patents com.
pany and that 30 or more film manu-.
facturers in Europe are barred from
this country by the Patents company
control OF the picture field.
The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-05-08

The Twentieth Century broom Is not
a back break er. but labor-savcr. The
broom. being flexible. light and durable.
does all the bending instead OF making
YOU do H. slip a bag over tho frame
fprcferablv OF two thickness OF wooden
cloth clamp securely. and YOU have a
device that viii conquer the dust and
dirt In every out -of-the-Way place. II
il made by a Detroit company; can be
seen AZ Henry G. Weber & Co.'S. 1912
C.ratlOt
The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-05-08
NEW DETRoIT.HILLsoALE TRAIN
SERVICE.

Commencing May rs fast solid
through train will arrive from Hills
dale over the Lake Shore and Michi-
gan Central. I0i45 a. m; returning,
leave Detroit. Third.st. station. S;46
| y. ~. daily.
The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-05-08
ELLIS HAS BEEN INDICTED.

PORT HURON. Mich. May Isaac
p. Ellis, who Is believed TO have
drowned himself in the st. Clair river
Yesterday, had been indicted In the
United states court In Bay City on
the charge of making a false AFFIDAVIT
for his pension. His bail had been
forfeited and the authorities were
looking for him when he disappeared.