davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington herald., 1909-08-08
F aud s by

TINETY-NINE men out of a hundred will ac-
M cept as gospel truth the contents of a tele
- gram when it comes from the hands of
messenger hoy. They buy and sell. pay out large
Of money, start long journeys and do
countless other things upon the suggestion of the
little yellow white paper slips with their con-
densed messages. without in the least questioning
upon which hinges an enormous amount of the
country's business and it is also a fact upon
which hinge of the cleverest and boldest
frauds in criminal records.
A lot of and a little telegram
combination that recently made possible smooth
swindle on a Des Moines bank. A we'll dressed
man, apparently q business of large affairs,
called at the paying teller's window with a draft
or check on an Omaha bank, and asked If the
Omaha bank had telegraphed notice that the draft
good. He got mo" for an answer and then
informed the teller that such a telegram might
be expected at any moment Soon afterward the
telegram arrived delivered by a messenger boy
appearing to have come from the Omaha bank
and authorizing the Des Moines bank to pay the
draft When the stranger appeared again he was
given the $500. When the Des Moines bank peo-
pie took up the matter by wire with the Omaha
bank it found that the latter institution had not
sent the telegram, and then it was discovered
that the whole transaction a fraud.
But how could the swindlers send a telegram
from Omaha bearing the banks name? They did
il in this manner: An accomplice of the Des
Moines stepped to a telephone booth in
Omaha, and called the telegraph office This is
the bank" he said Send messenger at
once to get telegram for Des Moines." Then
this accompIice hurried to the entrance of the
Omaha bank TO meet the messenger and there
handed him the message for Des Moines. The
telegraph company had no reason to believe other
The Washington herald., 1909-08-08
T Te1e gr a ph
By B. K. Mann

"This is -, cashier of the - bank" he
said. please send this telegram for me-" Then
he gave the message authorizing the first bank
TO pay the bogus draft and this message the tele-
graph company sent without suspecting that 1t
fraudulent.
Some years ago eastern was induced to
invest in worthless mining stock on the basis of
expert he had sent out TO investigate the mining
property. but which was in reality sent in a man
similar to the above by a confederate. This
eastern mans faith in kilograms cost him some
thing than $4,000.
The story of a fraud with an amusing side
comes from across the water with a London man
of rather convivial habits the victim. This
man was forgetful and used to leave at home his
Office and safe keys He also had a practice Of
leaving the city surrepttiously for day and
then for a convivia time with friends, all un-
known to his wife. One day this business man
went on one of his periodical iaunts and a rogue
who knew his habits ventured to send this tele-
gram to his wife: please send my keys Love.
Freddy" In due course of time the keys were
delivered at the office door and the rogue was
there to receive them. He ransacked the whole
office at his leisure safe and all. Late that night
the business nome and teased
by his wife for his forgetfulness. This
TO him but he kept his counsel The next morn
ing he discovered that his Office had been robbed.
The courts have frequently been called upon
to determine whether the telegraph companies
are responsible for these frauds. Much depends
upon the care and scrutiny with which the tele-
graph companies accept messages. In the case
of the second fraud mentioned above, the court
held that the telegraph company must be certain
that the telegram really from the bank and
that it must make good the defrauded banks
loss
The Washington herald., 1909-08-08
LITERARY MAGAZINE

your own statement and If you admit that much,
why not charge you with being inside the store
and robbing the safer"
He did not seem the least surprised worried
l expected, and answered:
Because when tell what saw, won't have
to tell who visiting in that part of town
the night of the Judge Quick robbery, and I'll
have no trouble in proving by others that
at home last night when the burglar didn't hit
his head on the gas fixture in that little hall be-
cause he knew all about it,"
Old John was exactly that kind of a fool that
makes the most trouble at once / thought
it best to take little time to think what he
said, and l said to him:
John, I want to have long talk with you,
and only one. You eat your supper here with us
at O'Clock and then we will talk till G. and then
you can so home. down town, where you
please; and took up my journal again and he
went back to his work.
/ read through the article / had begun and
found it deep and foolish l expected,
though I got a good deal of enjoyment out of it.
Then ] took up my medicine case and looked at
a little vial slowed away in a compartment with
my hypodermatic syringe. / had thought of vera
trine, but remembered that it caused enough iT-
ritation of the walls of the stomach to make
slight showing after death and certain pc
culiar blotches in the lungs post mortem,
dismissed il at once for acontine, which is
pletey oxidized in the body and leaves absolutely
no trace after death-and If minute
quantity is found by expert chemist one can
show that the reactions OF certain ptomaines are
the same.
I told the housekeeper that had asked old
John 10 sumner as he was especially honest
about paying his bills in work, and in fifteen min
utes as / went through the dining / his
plate cup and saucer at one side of the table. l
always had the cup put at the plate and the tea
poured into them there-a mere fancy of mine
and | noticed that Old John had the cup with
the slight crack down the side. That was good,
for it made any mistake absolutely impossible.
dropped tenth of a grain of the white. flour
like acontine into his cup without stopping and
went to the kitchen to ask for a boiled egg for
supper for myself.
After supper I had the housekeeper fix the fire
in the sitting room, and 1t was nearly out
she was there with u.s. delaying talk, OF
course until Old Johns lips began to pale.
told him to to the light that might
what allied him, and when he arose from his
chair he fell to the floor | explained at the drug
The Washington herald., 1909-08-08

which most people not belonging to the family
hit their heads when admitted to the upstairs
rooms occupied as bed chambers. This gas jet
was never lighted. and each night upon retiring
the banker hung there a sheep bell that he had
brought from farm when he moved to town
fifteen years before That his ingenious and
antique burglar alarm and he told me afterwards
that his faith in his sheep bell what allowed
him to keep much money at home the night
before. as he wanted to 1t in the morning be-
fore the time lock the vault bank released
the door. But the burglar had not happened to
had done, more or less, even the banker himself
and myself thrice, although had been up to the
bed room hundred times
III HERE was so much talk about this largest of
all the burglaries the next forenoon that l did
not get away from my office and the drug store un-
til after dinner time; and when did get home,
found that somebody had brought me load of
wood from the country account and that Old
John ndustriously saving it up to pay part OF
his own doctor bill. could not help but reflect
upon the sterling honesty of the man who came
to work without word, while most of those who
worked out their bills had to be after for
weeks before they could be got to my house, my
woodpile, my stable.
1 found patient waiting at the house for me.
and it four o'clock when I got rid of her.
had just settled myself to read article this
modern fad of the degenerates when Old John
came into my sitting room and sat down by the
fire. Everybody made him welcome to their
homes and he liked to chat occasionally; but this
time, it turned out, he desired my professional
services He asked me if the cut on his fore
treatment than the homemade salve he using
upon it. The cut healing nicely and told
him So and then, to show proper interest for
ones patients expect one to take maternal in
terest i'm all their ills and wounds, l asked:
How did you get cut there John?'
81 had my face up against the window of the
store the night the safe was robbed" he replied,
"and when the window broke outward from the
explosion, the glass made that cut
Now that palpable lie, for the cut was
much more recent that the store burglary. Old
John a fool whatever else he was and his
visit to that afternoon proved It, But only
said to him, out OF all / thought:
Don't you think it little dangerous to have
to account for such story? You might have tn
account for being there watch, even taking
The Washington herald., 1909-08-08

store next day that the sudden rising put too
much work upon his enfeebled heart and my
housekeeper told the town about how he rose to
his feet and then instantly fell without word.
His funeral largely attended.
STARTED this story merely to see how it would
look written out in story form. 1t reads so well
that have decided TO publish IL, leaving out any
identity marks, and my scientific training makes
me end il with information bearing upon
the central facts Everybody likes to read
science anyhow, and will call this psychol-
ogy. But / not going into any fool desserta-
ton on heredty and degeneracy-that is all rot,
l testify, and l ought to know.
The properly educated and thoroughly trained
physician has nerve quick wit, masked thought
and the bty to keep down all his emotions
VIII necessary. If he has not these things in
his personal equation he Is not much of a sue
a physician and if he has them, he has
all the requisites of a successful burglar. The
physician has facilities for learning houses and
the business of others that would make COM
criminal get drunk with joy at possessing
for a week. Any doctor in medium sized town
who fails to take advantage Of his opportunities
to accumulate fortune is a chump especially as
he is always reputed to be rich and in most In
definite way; that nobody is surprised to find
that he is worth twenty thousand dollars more
than one individual thought
l lost of my best opportunities because
for years ] thought It took astonishing nerve to
burglarize a house, and that detection was pretty
cure But | had a patient in the Jail one day who
pleaded guilty to sandbagging, into which class
he had graduated from being what he called a
porch climber; / visited him with regularity
that won enconiums from the warmhearted Jail
er's wife, but really because ! was interested in
the mans conversation. He made IL clear TO me
that there is not chance in hundred thou
sand of anybody waking while a burglar is work
ing if the burglar has a smooth movement like
that of a nurse a doctor. / can corroborate
this statement that he made to me. There is no
more chance of my being found out than there is
of Old John Boyd coming TO life. That incident
Of Old John shows that the special knowledge or
a physician helps him at any possible turn.
find my knowledge of chemistry to be of value
also in making my own nitrOglycerne; for | do
not take the least chance Of having anything TO
explain and I never buy such stuff. I shall keep
up my work until / die and am buried with the
sincere honors given to a dead. prominent family
physician
The Washington herald., 1909-08-08
WHERE LABOR SINGS.

Broad fields of green with golden daisies stTewn,
Soft lisp Of leaves where slumberous insects drone;
Faint Ger the meads, on light wings borne along,
The harvest songl
Oh, happy days, unmarried by selfish moill
No fret Of nerves, no strife for right to toll
Pure women who make homes, free manhood strong,
The harvest songl
Stokely S. Fisher
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-24
SISTERS MARRY MINISTERS.
Maryland Girls Welded in Boston
Episcopal Church.

BOSTON, Mass, February 24.-Rev.
Charles f. Jackson. rector of St. John s
Episcopal Church, East Boston, was mar
ried to Miss Mary Sparklin. and. by the
same ceremony, Rev Albert r. Parker of
ST Johns Episcopal Church at Duluth
was married to Miss Susan r. Sparklin.
The Misses Sparklin are sisters from
Cordova, Md.
The double wedding took place in st.
Johns p. F.. Church. East Boston. Mon
day. Bishop Lawrence performed the
ceremony. assisted by Rev. w. Devices
Roberts of ST. Michael's Episcopal Church
at Milton. 1t was very simple. and the
wedding couples We're unattended.
No invitations were issued, but the
church was filled with relatives and
friends of the young people.
The brides have lived with their sister,
Mrs William Foster of 81 Somerset ave-
nue.. Winthrop, for the last five years.
going there after the death of their
mother Rev. Charles f. Jackson has
been rector of st. Johns Church for the
past two years. Rev. Albert r. Parker
and Mr.. Jackson became friends while
both were attending a theological college.
II was during a visit to Mr.. Jackson that
the Duluth clergyman made the acquaint-
ance Of Miss Susan Sparklin.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-24
SPRING NECK RUFFS ARE
TRIMMED WITH GOLD LACE

mousseline de sole are arranged alter
| nately. but two of the latter come TO-
gether between the lace frills.
To make 1t. one and one-half yards
of lace would be necessary, about a
yard of mousseline frilling. length OF
ruching to fit the neck and one and
one-half yards Of ribbon four inches
wide The cost would depend upon the
quality of the materials bought.
The newest rufus seem to be the same
width all the way around. and as they are
quite wide they are going to prove trying
to those possessing short necks.
keep the lower edge straight. but to
curve it out at the top for the accommo-
dalton of generous chins.
OF course. jet has forced itself into
neckwear. and recently a very pretty col
lar was seen that would be most becom-
ing for an elderly woman.
1t had a foundation of folded ivory
chiffon covered with a band Of fine black
net worked with Jet. Both edges were
finished with narrow black velvet and
This, too. was an easy model to fol-
low and there must certainly be many
small pieces of jet in scrap bags that
would answer this purpose.
Another new collar middle aged women
wear is Of black embroidered net ar
ranged as a stock.
Gold Trimming Used.
IOld is mucn uSeO as q trimming. DOtH
in lace and cords. A narrow strip of
gold thread insertion or applique is ef-
fective used as a band on a white or a
black befriled ruff. Another way of
using the gold is for an edging on
black net ruff of the Pierrot order, made
extremely full. A narrow cord sewed
to every frill would be most effective.
Long black streamers and loops of black
ribbon weighted with gold fringe could be
the finish. OF course a neck dressing SO
elaborate as this is only for evening or
formal day wear. 1t would brighten
black toilet II wanted for day wedding
or afternoon reception, etc, especially if
a gold rose were added to the black hat.
A pretty ruff for house wear. made
from strip of white frillng facing down
ward and another narrower, pointing
upward. would be effective il the edges
were concealed by a band OF velvet rib
bon edged with gold cord and large gold
dots worked on the velvet band.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-24
GENERAL NEWS GATHERED
ALONG THE RIVER FRONT

The rebuilding of the boilers of the
big steamer ST. Johns, In progress at a
Baltimore shipyard for several weeks, is
reported TO be advancing rapidly. but it
will be the middle OF March before she
is ready to return to this port. In adj
dition TO. the boiler work many other
changes are being made in the steamer.
The St. Johns Is now owned by the
Colonial Beach Company. and during the
coming summer will be operated between
this city and that point Charles H. st.
John. the general manager of the Colonial
Beach Company, was in Baltimore yester-
day looking over the work on the
steamer.
The three-masted schooner William P.
Hood has been chartered to load railway
ties at Alexandria for New York. and
within the next few weeks, 1t Is stated
the charter of several other vessels to
move the ties from Potomac points to
Philadelphia, New York Boston and other
points in New England will be announced
Ties and pulp wood have been the princi-
pal articles Of shipment from along the
Potomac for several years past This
spring and summer the dealers are antici-
pating an unusually heavy business from
the fact that In 1908, during the money
for ties, and they are now in consequence
putting out ususually heavy orders for
this year. The big barge Atlantic, which
has been lying at Alexandria for several
days past loading ties, will complete her
cargo in the latter part Of this week or
early in the coming one, and will sail In
tow for New York. The Atlantic will take
away about 10000 ties. and 1t Is probable
she will return here later in the season
for another cargo.
The big dredge Gen. Mckenzie. one of
the largest vessels Of its kind af1oat. has
been brought from the Eastern branch
to the upper end Of the harbor, to remain
until the spring season opens and dredg-
ing work Is resumed. The dredge Is own
ed in Baltimore and was brought here
several months ago to deepen the river
channels in the vicinity of this city.
The steamer Gen. Robert Swartwout.
the new army vessel on the route between
this city and the Potomac forts, is max
ing daily trips between this city and
Fort Washington and Fort Hunt carry
ing quartermaster and commissary sup
plies to those posts. The tug Cushing is
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-24
Vassar Fudge.
Fads and FanCieS.

The new mattings for spring are exceed
insly attractive novelty in Japanese
mattngs is the cream background scat
tered with small scenes. as landscapes
figues and flowers. in conventional ell
fectS.
1t gives the impression at first sight of
a number of Japanese lanterns being scat
tered over floor.
For chidren's rooms and country cot
tages these mattings will no doubt prove
popular.
Any woman needing gown either Tor
street or house wear to tide over TO
spring should take advantage of the mark
down sales now advertised. For there
are many tailored suits in dark PLAIN
colors. mixtures and the lighter shades.
such AS copenhagen blue, Suimpe frocks
of Panama, serge and wolfe as well as
satin dresses to choose frcm. The last
named are i'll one piece, finished with neat
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-24
Think They Have a Gold Mine.

HAGERSTOWN, Md. February o4.-An-
nouncement was made in Hagerstown
yesterday by interested parties that gold
had been discovered on the Boteer farm,
Merry Land tract, near Brunswick. The
land is owned by the nine children of the
late Robert ii. Boteler, two of whom re-
side in Hagerstown-Mrs. Lee Moler and
Mrs f. Med. Bachtel. Not only gold.
but copper, mica and talcum have been
found. Samples of the gold ore sent to
New York to be assayed are reported to
have proved rich in the precious mineral.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-24
DELICIOUS FUDGE RECIPES

in fine pieces. Stir constantly and vigor-
ously. When it reaches the boiling point
add tablespoonful butter and keep stir
ring until little poured on saucer
creams with beating. Take from the fire.
beat until cool and pour in buttered tins.
White Fudge.
Boil two cupfuls of graduated sugar
and one cupful of milk until the strip
forms a soft ball when dropped into cold
water. Then add a teaspoonful OF butter
and a cupful of dates, figs. raisins and
nut meats that have been run through a
chopper together. Beat until the candy is
nearly stiff. turn into a buttered tin. and
when nearly cold mark into squares.
Plain White Fudge.
Take two cupfuls Of soft sugar and one
half cupful of milk and cook together
until little of the strip will thread. Take
from the fire. flavor with vanilla, bea
hard, then pour into buttered pans, and
mark when nearly cool.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-24
also making few trips each week be.
tween this city and the forts

also making a rev trips each week be-
tween this city and the forts
The pungy ]. +. Parks, which was mr.
chased several weeks ago by parties re-
siding In this city, is lying i'm The James
Creek canal being equipped with a gaso-
line power engine for motive power The
vessel Is to be used in bringing cargoes Of
lumber from river points to the dealers
here. and her owners desire her to be in
dependent of wind and tide
The tug Capt. Toby of the TAYLOR fleet
IS employed In towing clay-laden scows
from point on the river TO the brick
yards OF the Miller Company on the East
ern branch. The Toby. 1t is understood
will remain in this employment until the
new tug of the Miller Company. building
at Solomons Island. is completed.
Arrived-Bugeye Halle H. oysters in
the shell from river point for the mar
ket: bugeye Maud s., wood from a river
point: tug Walter F. Meade, with a tow
from down-rfver point: schooner Will
liam H. Bixler. oysters from the Potomac
beds for the market: sloop Arnold light
to load a general cargo for Fort Washing
ton: bugeye Lottie Thomas. oysters in the
shell from Potomac point: tug Capt
Toby. with tow Of lighters from clay
landing.
Sailed-Flattie Fleet Wing light. for
.Tangier Sound to load: scow ROAM street
sweepings for a down-river point: school,
ner Kate. light for the Rappahannock
river 10 load lumber: bugeye Stephen
Hoi ~ 'tShI 1of Tie TdppdndnFOCk river
load: sloop Daisy, from Alexandria. for
Pennington. Nd, to load: pungy Cora Nc
Kenney. light for the Yeocomico river to
load oysters In the shell for Alexandria;
schooner Sterling Sisters. light for the
Rappahannock river to load: schooner
Mary Chaplin. light for the York river to
load lumber: bugeye Kirby. lumber and
bricks for the Wicomico river.
Memoranda: Schooner Samuel Wood,
which has been lying out of service at
Cambridge. Md. will go into commits
sion early in the coming week; tug John
McGinnis. at Philadelphia, is under char
ter to load lumber at a Virginia port;
schooner A. II. Quinby Is at a river point
loading lumber for the dealers here;
barge Atlantic Is at Alexandria loading
for New York: schooner Goldie c.. is at
a river point loading lumber for the
dealers here.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-24
Way to Fasten Dress Shields,

Every woman knows what a bother it
Is to pin in fresh shields each time
blouse comes from the laundress. and II
stitches are used the trouble is tenfold
increased. An ingenious woman hit upon
the device of hooking her shields in. Tiny
eyes were sewed to the armholes of the
blouse and hooks to the shields. Care
should be taken of course. to procure the
non-rustable hooks and eyes which are to
be had in reliable makes.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-24
Found Guilty of Arson.

FREDERICK. Md. February "4.-On
trial for arson. the specific charge being
that he, together with James ii. r.
Lowe. in September last, set fire to two
unfinished dwelling houses in Frederick
belonging to DIR. f. II. Walter. George
Fisher yesterday took the witness stand
and declared that he was asleep while
Lowe, who made confession implicit
ing Fisher. set fire 10 the houses. Fisher
was found guilty.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-24

chemisettes in net or lace, but are not
in many colors, for Jockey" prevails.
A few droys of ammonia added to the
rinsing water will generally restore faded
cClors. but IL this is not at hand. vinegar
may be used with even better effect, sup
posing the colors run to pinks, blues.
green's or reds.
About half a teacupful to gallon of
water should be right proportions.
Salt is better for mauve or for preServ-
ing the tone in black stockings. A hand
full to gallon Of water will make the
correct solution.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-24
Mrs. Betty Cans Dead.

Mrs Betty Cans. mother of Mrs. Sam
uel Rieber of this city and Mrs Wolf
Kaufman of Chicago. died. in the ninety
fourth year of her age. Sunday evening
at her residence $40 G. street southeast.
The funeral which was private,
held at the family home yesterday after
noon