davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Democratic messenger., 1909-09-10
cannibaIs Ate Telegraph Operator.

Advices that were received at Ant
werp from the French Congo say that
cannibalism is rampant in the Mataba
and Sangha regions where the blacks
are in complete revolt They have
employees. and telegraph operator
was slain at his key and devoured.
Native detachments headed by four
French officers, have left for the scene
TO punish the cannibals.
Democratic messenger., 1909-09-10
POttsvlIIe Suicide Left Letter
COnfessing 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.

A lengthy confession by George ST.
mon in his own handwriting written
enroute to Birdsboro. after the failure
of an attempt to kill his father. has
come to light at Poutsville. Pa. clear.
Ing 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 been systematically robbing
her and his father since he w&s 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 hatchet while he
slept and then saturate the bed and
the building with oil and conceal his
crime by setting the house on fire.
lie 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
Pottsville. 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 nickels 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 a
check and drew 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 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 ! repented and tried to conse-
crate my soul to God, and II was then
that determined to spare my fathers
life and take my own"
II was when police officers found
him at the home Of his sweetheart. after
the finding of the decomposed body OF
his mother in a spare room. the door
OF which had been screwed shut after
the body had been covered with quick
lime and disinfectant. that Simon shot
himself. He had not been suspected
of the murder of his mother up to
that time.
Democratic messenger., 1909-09-10
WHAT is A JoKE7
u 10 a Serious Business to the Man
Who Concocts II.


Who coneoets II.
"There's orr thing ! thought knew,
but find | don't know" said TOMMY.
"What Is u joie!"
Father prlcked up his ears. as 1t
were. ~ Joke" he said slowly, 'is
something its maker thinks is funny,
but nobody else does"
"That eH Iains 1t then. Today I said
an awful quaint thing. Mother had a
lot of women here. and they talked
about clothes. said: a woman's
mind Is always on clothes. When she
amt talking through her hat she's
laughing up her sleeve But no one
laughed. and read that one too. Tell
Inc joke"
IF were to say when came home
from visiting the cemetery that l had
returned from the dead. that would be
joke"
SIS that n practical joker
at Is not. It's grave Joke"
"What's practical joke"
"If your mother just before going
out shopping asked for money and !
gave her all she wanted"
do you like practical jokes?"
Not when they're rs practical as
that"
Does every one like jokesY
"Few people do. Most think 1t Is
more blessed TO give than to receive"
"Then people can't take joke"
There are some who can't Editors,
for instance. rarely take joke"
Does any one make money from the
writing of jokes?"
"Only the papermakers and the post
al department of the government"
"Alust Il joke be funny to be joker"
"Few are"
'Thcn some are serious"
mot exactly. But II you refer to a
sexton as man of grave cares some
might think you intended to be jocu-
lar"
rs pun like joker"
Nothing at ALL a man who makes
a joke is an idiot, whereas man who
makes pun is criminal"
"Then the man who writes what he
thinks are jokes is funny fellow?"
NO; II Is serious business with
him.
"IIe has his ups and downs, then?"
"Yes. He gets up courage to write
TO editors and gets turned down by
them
you're not referring to the man
who writes the column In the papers
every day? Surely life is one joke
with him."
"No, 1t isn't. He thinks he's hu-
morist. but he's pessimist. He'd
rather be hodcarrier."
"Why. does hodcarrier make more
money!
"Well. he has habit of climbing and
often goes higher Besides. the out
door work is healthier"
"Isn't joke writing healthy"
Not when you're caught at It."
"Can a man write jokes and still be
q gentleman"
"You forget. Tommy, that our re-
marks are intended for publication
and that ] have many friends who
write. Besides, ! sometimes get of n
joke or two myself" - Philadelphia
edpar
Democratic messenger., 1909-09-10
Vatican RuIldinas pamaaed.

A commission appointed by the pope
has made an investigation. and reports
that several of the vatican buildings
at Rome were slightly damaged by
the earthquake that was experienced
in Rome on the afternoon OF Aug. 81.
The Sistine chapel was among those
damaged.
Democratic messenger., 1909-09-10
Son Left Farm; Father Hangs Self.

Seventy-six-year.old William Mas.
teller hanged himself with halter
In his farm barn near Williamsport.
Pa. He was melancholy because his
son left the farm. A few days ago
he asked his sister to shoot him. but
sc thought he was joking.
Democratic messenger., 1909-09-10
Brother of Negro Murderer Lynched.

negro. Nathan McDaniels who is said
TO have killed Policeman Walter Mar.
shall at Clarksdale. Miss. a mob OF
citizens caught McDaniel's brother
Hiram and lynched him. The mob
hanged him to telegraph pole on the
spot where Marshall was shot.
Democratic messenger., 1909-09-10
Aviator Killed In Fall Of Aeroplane.

NJ. Lefebvre, the French aviator. has
been killed by fall from his aero.
plane. in which he was practicing over
the aviation field at Juvisy-Sur-Orge
France. NJ. Lefebvre sustained mortal
injuries when the machine crashed to
the ground. Aid was rendered him.
but he died soon after.
Democratic messenger., 1909-09-10
Balloon Lifts Boy 5000 Feet; vnhur..

In the presence of 5000 Isrsons who
attende dthe harvest jubilee at Syra-
cuse. Ind, Quinter Heff. twelve years
old. got entangled In the ropes OF a
balloon when II went up. At an alti-
tude OF 5000 feet the balloon began TO
descend. and the boy reached the
ground unhurt.
Democratic messenger., 1909-09-10
Domestic Scheme.

Mrs. H.-why are you 50 very fond
Of oriental rugs?
Mrs. R.-I'll tell you a secret. The
dirtier they get the more genuine they
look. You've no idea how much
sweeping that saves.-Cleveland Lead
Democratic messenger., 1909-09-10
seaIded Man Had wife Arrested.

Angered at her husband because OF
his repeated reference to the things
mother used to cook" Mrs. John
Smock. of Mahanoy City. Pa. threw a
cup OF scalding tea into his face. he
complained His face was painfully
scaldcd and he caused her arrest. but
was stuck for the costs.
Democratic messenger., 1909-09-10
Painter Killed BY Eall.

While painting on the roof Of Dic..
inson hall. one OF the recitation halls
OF Princeton IN. j. university. Jesse
Hackett. OF Trenton, N. j.. fell dis
tance OF sixty feet and was instantly
killed
Democratic messenger., 1909-09-10
EnforcIno Pure Food Lawn.

Thirty-four prosecutions were or
dered by Pennsylvania Dairy and Food
Commissioner Foust for violations OF
the pure food laws by the sale OF adul-
terated articles.
Democratic messenger., 1909-09-10
Stove Works Burned.

The entire plant Of the Priser
Painter Stove company. at Reading
Pa. was destroyed by fire. The loss Is
about $4,000. The origin OF the fire is
unknown.
Democratic messenger., 1909-09-10

Mrs. Roosevelt Touring France.
Mrs. Theodore Roosevelt and her
children. Ethel. Qutntin and Kermit
are making a tour Of the province Of
Touraine. France.
Democratic messenger., 1909-09-10
We will
beIP you.

If you are living in rented house
you. no doubt. have long desired TO own
your own home and have made plans to
that end. There is no need TO delay the
matter. when the Snow Hill Building
and Loan Association is ready to help
YOU. ana wnen you realize that the
money you have been paying out every
year for rent would have bought and
paid for home for you. then you will
no longer continue to pay rent.
Call and see W. ID. Cordry. Jr.. Sec.
retary Of the Association and he will
explain how you can get the money TO
build you house an and easy way by
which you can repay the loan.
Snow Hill Building and Loan
Association.
MARION T. HARGIS,
President,
w. d. CORDDRY, Jr.
Secretary.
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-10-21
HUNTER SHOT
AT STOWE
Arthur Bennett BIed to Death
To-day
GOT WOUND IN THE ARM
His Brother Was With Him and After
Carrying the Injured Man Half Way
Home He Had to Relinquish
His Burden.

Stowe, Oct. 2l.--Arthur Bennett, aged
20 years, was fatally shot while out
hunting this forenoon. His gun was
resting on log when he reached for
il, seizing the muzzle end and pulling
the weapon toward himself. The gun
was discharged, and the charge entered
the left arm, severing an artery. The
young mans brother was with him and
carried him part way home, when he had
to drop bis burden, running the remain
der Of the way to get help.
When he had secured help and the
party returned to where the injured man
had been left, II was found that be was
dead, having bled TO death
Bennett was married only month
ago and leaves, besides his young wife,
his parents and two brothers.
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-10-21
Jerry Lepan, Formerly OfRut-
land, Victim at Newport, nh.
FOUL PLAY NOT SUSPECTED
Residents Near Place Where Body Was
Found Heard Repeated Cries the
Night Before, But Made No
Investigation.

Newport, N. IT., Oct. 2l.--Jerry La,
pan, who came TO this vicinity ten
years ago from Rutland, VT, where hs
was well known and worth considerable
property, was found dead in what Is
known as the canal near Cross street
yesterday morning BY Mrs. Nettis
Straw who lives near there. The body
was in very peculiar position, the
head being submerged In the water
while the feet were on the bank Of the
canal.
On Tuesday night about 10 o'clock the
people who live in that vicinity heard
loud calls at various intervals, and they
continued for about an hour and half
Apparently the people who did hear the
cries, which were evidently for help,
were too tiniid to venture out in the
darkness, as the street is poorly light
ed and incidentally is rather question
able place any way. About ll.l5 La
pan, who had evidently been clinging
to the cross-Iogs Of the stream, gave
up in sheer exhaustion, as this was the
last tima he uttered any cries, and was
drowned in about four feet OF water.
AHsIe heemea 10 Dt no MARKS ~ VIZ
lence on the body nor any appearance
OF fo1 play. 1t was thought that he
must have fallen into the water and
became stunned in some way so that
he was unable TO realize his condition
and help himself.
Medical Examiner Saunders Of Clare
mont viewed the body and the scene Of
the drowning and be pronounced it ac-
cidental drowning.
Mr.. Lapan is survived by two sis.
ters, who reside in town, Mrs. Daniel
I4umen and Mrs. George Tarbell. The
funeral will be held Friday afternoon.
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-10-21
STATE CONVENTION,
JUNIOR ORDER @. U. A. M
Was Held at Montpelier Yesterday AT.
ternoon and Last Eyening-W. H.
Jeffrey, State Councillor.

The state council Of the Junior Order
OF the United American Mechanics held
its annual meeting yesterday in Grand
Army hall in Montpelier with about
100 delegates present.
At the afternoon session Arthur +
White Of Montpelier, state secretary, re.
ported 30 live councils with A total mem
bership Of l,470 against LII In 1908
The report Of the treasurer showed S42s
on hand and all bills paid
William II. Jeffrey, state councillor
reported gain in membership in Is
years from 955 TO 1919, He also spoke
Of the fourishing condition of the order
In the state and Of the establishment Of
Vermont room at the National Or
phans' Home in Tiffany, Ohio.
The officers elected were installed by
National Deputy Huland Of Rhode Is
land. They are; State councillor, w. II.
Jeffrey Of West Burke unanimously re-
elected for the third consecutive year
ce.councillor, z. NJ. Porter Of Brown
ington Center; secretary Arthur r.
White Of Montpelier; treasurer, +. Mas
sey Of North Danville; conductor, b. G.
Wheeler of Newport Center; warden, j.
r. Patrick Of Windsors inside sentinel,
George B. Allen Of Hyde Park; outside
sentinel, G. A. Poland Of Putney; trns-
tee, George II. Massey Of Newport Cen
ter.
A public meeting was held last even
ing In Grand Army hail at which brief
speeches were made by the newly elect
ed state officers, Past State Councillor
John Moves and State Secretary viii
liam Randolph of New Hampshire. Fol-
lowing the public meeting the local
members of the Daughters Of America,
companion branch Of the order, served
q banquet.
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-10-21
MONTPELIER BANK
HAS DOUBTFUL NOTES
which Were Allowed to Be Not Legally
Issued at Framingham, Mass---MOre
Notes Appear.

Framineham, Mass Oct. 2l.--Three
more town notes Of which Town Clerk
Frank E. Hemenway could find no trace
on the selectmen's record Of approval,
we're presented to Mr.. Hemenway late
yesterday BY man who declined to give
bis name and whose identity the town
clerk would not disclose. These notes
were for $4,000 each.
This brings the total amount repre-
sented BY alleged spurious notes which
have been turned in TO the town clerk
up To $4,000 The town officials be-
lieve that this represents less than half
Of the alleged forged notes which have
been issued
The selectmen Of the town have been
able TO connect Charles G. Cummings,
the Boston broker, with transactions in
notes Of the town as far hack a. 1898.
Between 1895 and 1901, thirty one notes
were sold to the state treasurer BY hrok-
ers who received about $4,000 in premi-
INNS. These brokers were represented
principally by the firms Of f. II. Gay h
Co.. Rines L Cummings, and G. s. Cum
mings q Co.
A town official stated last night that
notes valued at $4,000 and held BY a
bank in Montpelier. Vt, have been ques.
toned as being not legally issued.
The Montpelier notes, 1t Is said, were
sold In that city by man who repre-
sented that having learned the Mont
pelier bank had recently bought sT5 600
worth Of bonds from the town OF Leo
minister he thought that as the town
Of Framingham desired to negotiate a
loan Montpelier would be q good place
to get it.
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-10-21
SIX MILES orr HIS COURSE.
Sailed from Mortified, Debarlged at
Barre, Thought He Was in Mont
peIier.

Herbert A. Slavton of Montpelier hal
a peculiar experience. coupled with :
hard luck story, to tell the police tbs
morning when be woke up in cell in
the station. 1t seems that he visited
Mortified, the oasis Of Washington coun-
ty, yesterday and besides drinking some
over the bar he purchased two quarts Of
alcohol and a pint Of whjskey. The
whiskey he put into his pocket and
the alcohol he had done up in a paper
package.
He took the train late in the afternoon
for his home in Montpelier, and he says
that act Il the last he remembers until
he opened his ewes and found himself
lying on a cot In cell in the Barre
police station this morning Though he
was able to change cars at the Junction,
lie didn't get of when his trsin reached
Montpelier and came on 10 Barre.
Thinking that he was in Montpelier,
however, he got off the train and en-
gagged Even & Cows carriage to take
him 10 bis home, which be told the driver
was at Harrison avenue. The driver
did not know Of any Harrison avenue
here, but thought that the man probably
meant Highland avenue and drove up
there. He could find no number s on the
avenue, and people, Of whom he inquired,
knew of nobody Of that name living
there. The man then became angry at
the driver because he could not find his
house and refused to pay for his ride
or to get out of the carriage. He finally
got out and the driver then telephoned
Ia the noliee station and called Officer
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-10-21
Reached Across Continent
and Nabbed Walter Grace
ATBR0THER'S HOME, CABOT
Sheriff Tracy Arrested Him Last Night
on the Accusation Of Being a De-
serter from the q. S. Army
on Pacific Coast.

After euding Uncle Sam" for several
months, Walter Grace, an alleged de-
serter from the United States army,
came back to Cabot from the West and
was promptly nabbed last evening by
Sheriff Frank Tracy at the home OF his
brother, Fred Grace The man readily
admitted his identity when the sheriff
informed him OF his mission, and Grace
was taken this afternoon to Fort Ethan
Allen for trial before court-martisl on
the charge of deserting the United States
army. The punishment runs from two
to seven years in a military prison.
Grace had been in the state Of YER
mont only twelve hours and in the House
Of his brother only two, having come
from North Dakota, where he had spent
most Of the time since leaving the 20th
Coast Artillery in the state Of Washing
ton on April q, of The present year.
He had been stationed at Fort Flagler
when the duties became irksome. Pic
lures and descriptions Of the missing
man had been sent out all over the coun-
try but Grace had kept out Of sight
pretty effectually until he attempted TO
visit his brothe. Sheriff Tracy got
word that Grace had left North Dakota
and would probably visit his brother in
Cabot, this state; so he was on the
lookout.
When Sheriff Tracy made the arrest
last night Grace remarked that the aiel
Of Uncle Sam is long" He was taken
to the county jail at Montpelier and
kept there over night. Sheriff Tracy win
claim the reward Of $50 at Fort Ethan
Allen, that amount having been offered
for the capture Of the man. The infor.
nation to Sheriff Tracy had stated that
Grace would probably put up resist
ance, so that the sheriff was rather sur
prised when the accused promptly ad-
mitted he was the man wanted and
went along peaceabIy enough.
When Grace enlisted in the army q
year ago he gave his fathers name as
Edward Grace Of Montpelier; but his
family live in Waterbury His brother,
Robert Grace, also resides in Waterbury.
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-10-21
DIR. COOK MUCH PLEASED.
Win Accept Kansas University's Offer
Immediately.

Ann Arbor, Mich, Oct. 2l.--Dr. Fred
erick A. Cook, the Arctic explorer, who
Iectured here last night before large
audience Of students at the university
Of Michigan, said in an interview that
he was delighted to hear Of the offer
made by Chancellor Strong Of Kansas
university to send Prof. d. L. Dyche to
scale Mount Mckinley
chancellors telegram" said Dr. Cook.
"But when such an offer comes, I shall
Rccept It without moments hesitation.
! shall be greatly pleased to accept
Professor Dysche's services, whether it
il to take the expedition with him my
self or to have him go alone Professor
Dyche is a man whom should be pleas
ed to trust with any expedition"
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-10-21
RAILROAD BOARD IN CRASH.
Commissioners Special Car Hits An
other Head on-No One Hurt.

Nashua, N. H., Oct. 2l.--The New
Hampshire railroad commissioners, Ar.
thur G. Whittemore Of Dover, Judge
George f. Bales Of Wilton and Judge
Oscar L. Young Of Iaconia, were in a
head.on collision between two cars in
Hudson yesterday.
The commission was In Nashua in
specting the trolley lines, and in spe-
cial,, Of which Francis Bouley was mo-
torman and John Downey was conduc-
tor, was proceeding along to the state
line, where Il WAS to meet the regular
ear on turnout.
The regular had not waited there,
and on straiehtway stretch the motor.
man Of each car saw the other rapidly
approaching. The rails were wet and
slippery and covered with leaves. The
cars glided along until the vestibuIes
crashed.
The shock was only slight. No one
was hurt.
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-10-21
LABOR MEN ARE
GREATLY STIRRED UP
United Textile Workers in Convention
at Washington. D. C., Deny That
Children Are Better OF in
the Mills.

Washington. d. G., Oct. 2l.--The Unit
ed Textile Workers convention today
took cognizanee of the statement made
yesterday at Raleigh BY Dr.. G. w. Stiles,
the "hookwormv expert, that children
are better oil IN the mills than at home
where they would catch disease. E. G.
Roberts of the Washington central labor
union and Thomas F. Tracy Of the Amer
ican Federation Of Labor vigorously de-
nounced Dr. Stiles as aiding wage slav-
cry for the children Of the South,
The convention also to-day endorsed
the fight Of the Paterson, n. j., silk
workers for an eight.hour day and
against the putting Of Opaque glass in
windows.
The agitation for legislation reducing
the hours OF labor in New England and
other sections will be continued until
no man. woman or child employed in
the textile mills Of the country is work
ing more than eight hours a day.
The decision was embodied in resoiu-
tions calling upon every member Of the
union and all other organized workmen
to Join forces in urging upon the various
state legislatures the necessity and i'm.
.portance Of enacting legislation limiting
the hours Of labor still further.
John Golden Of Fall River, general
president Of the international union, ex-
pressed himself as sanRiine OF the sue
cess Of the textile workers efforts to
secure reformatory legislation He re-
ferred especially to conditions In Massa-
chusetts.
Samuel Ross Of New Bedford, score
tary Of the mule spinners union, spoke
at some length in similar vein. He
predicted complete success for the tex
tile workers In Massachusetts this win
ter
Massachusetts is behind other states
in eight hour legislation said Mr.. Ross,
''but she viii catch up this winter and
54 hours will be. the rule before long,
Conditions in Maine, New Hampshire,
Rhode Island and Connecticut were re.
ferred to briefly during the course Of the
discussion.
The convention approved a committee
recommendation that emergency com.
mttees be appointed in several sections
Of the country with power to order local
strikes. Heretofore strikes could be Or
dered only By the executive council Of
the association. The recommendation
was referred to the committee on laws
A resolution was adopted commencing
to all local unions Of textile workers the
payment Of accident benefits to their
members, and recommending that, in
line with suggestions made by Samuel
Gompers. president Of the American Fed
Grafton Of Labor. permanent beneficial
features be created as part of the
business Of the national organization.