davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-01-23
7 AXE
OATH IN
CAR
Josgrove Will Probably
Not Venture Out of
Doors to Be In
augurated.
(By United Press Leased Wire.)

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 23.-
To all appearances much improved
In health and in the best OF
spirits, Governor-elect Samuel G.
Cosgrove, who arrived at Oakland
last night in the private car Cali
fornia," is scheduled to resume his
journey to Washington this aftor-
noon.
On the advice of his physicians
1t is entirely probable that the
governor-elect will take the oath
OF office in his private car, as 1t
is not deemed advisable for him
to leave the car to attend more
formal Inauguration ceremonies.
Mr.. Cosgrove, according to pres
ent plans, will remain In Olympia
only long enough to be sworn in
as governor of the state of Wash
ington and will then return to
Paso Robles by the first train.
CosgrOve Determined.
"I am feeling better than
have for some time,' said Mr..
Cosgrove when interviewed aboard
his special car today, "and I am
determined to go to Olympia at
any hazard. However, l have no
fear that the trip will be harmful
in the least and in this my physi-
clans agree with me. 1t is my in
tention to return to the springs
and remain until / have fully re-
covered my health. will remain
there until spring and possibly
longer.
"Under the circumstances I am
willing to trust Lieut.. Gov. Hay
with the transaction of the busi-
ness of my office"
The governor said he did not
expect to sign or veto any bills
passed by the legislature.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-01-23
DEFENDANT IN DAMAGE
SUIT FILES ANSWEI&

Mary Adamson, who n being
sued for $4,000 by Carrie WIlk4
inson for alleged alienation 0f her
husbands affectfons, fl1ed a. -
swer to the suit today. denyin9 ~
the allegations, except that = c5|1
tain divorce paper mentioned -
tie complaint had come under 1@(
notice. Mrs. Wilkinson also aA1Fs
ed the court for expense mozIsy
with which to prosecute tho dI
vorce action against her husbaI1
Howard wilkinson, expert
countant of the G. r. 8 s
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-01-23
LICENSED TO WED.

Marriage licenses have been is
sued to Oresto Magafinini and
Marie Platt, to R. G. Morse and
Thelma Palmer, to e. r. Nelson
and Amy X. Gichard "a minor) 1,
to Joe Boqunovitch and Teresa
Sulick, to Sigvold Peterson and
Ada Perl Shelter and to Alvah
Daley and Flossie Willet.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-01-23
HERMAN BILL AND HIS LITTLE DAUGHTER, EDNA.
Man Who Twice Faced
Death Is Saved From
GalloWs.

SPRINGFIELD. ILL.,, Jan. a.
Governor Dineen yesterday grant
ed commutation of the death sem
tence against Herman Billik to
life Imprisonment on recommen-
dation of the board of pardons.
Jerry Vzral, brother of Mary Vzral
whom Billik was convicted OF
poisoning, told the board of par
dons that all his testimony In the
case against Billik was false.
The action of overnor Deneen in
committing the sentence closes the
last chapter in one of the most
amazing criminal cases in the his
tory of Chicago.
Billik, the dapper, happy-go-
lucky fortune teller, according to
the police theory, met and con-
quered, either with love or hyp-
notism, Mrs. Rose Vzral. Super
stition, fortune-telling, black art,
and the other pastimes Of ignor-
ance, were the features of their
acquaintanceship for a time.
The woman's husband, Martin
Vzral, died unexpectedly in March,
1905. The police said Billik shared
In the insurance OF $4,000. In July,
Mary, 20, died under circumstan-
ces similar to those that attended
the death of her father. The in
surance was $455. i. In December,
Tillie died. The insurance was
$500. In the meantime Billik was
spending most of his time with
Mrs. Vzral, and once took her on
a trip to Cleveland. Rose, 18,
died in August, 1906, insured for
$175; and three months later, FL
la, IL, insured for $105, followed
her family into eternity.
A week later Mrs. Rose Vzral,
the mother, followed them all, a
suicide. Billik's arrest resulted at
the suggestion of Mrs. Emma Nei-
man, a married daughter of Mrs.
Vzral. Billik was condemned to
hang on, a charge of poisoning
Mary. Vzral. The most damaging
fact was that arsenic had been
found in the stomachs of all the
Vzrals.
A Long Fight.
A reprieve was granted, while
the authorities investigated the
sudden death of VIM. Neiman,
which took place while Billik was
in jail.
Billik was sentenced to hang
June IL.
Suddenly a champion arose
Father p. J.. O'Callaghan, priest,
who declared he knew Billik was
innocent. Edna Billik. 10 years
old. made pitiful appeals for her
father. Sweet and innocent, 1t
seemed that in her the Billik
family line was some day to be
raised out of the fortune-telling
level in which the girls father had
been born.
On the night before Billik was
to be hanged six monster mass
meetings we're held in Chicago, ad-
dressed by Edward F. Dunno, for
mer mayor; the priest, Edna
Billik and Jersalabot vzral, son OF
Mrs. Rose vzral, who told the
crowds that the prosecution had
forced him to perjury.
kilograms poured In on Gov
Deneen and Judge Lands. Chi
cago went mercy-mad. Judge
Landis lighted a bomb Of Joy the
next day when he granted Billik 3
stay Of sentence. only an hour be-
fore the time set for execution.
The excitement died down. An
appeal was refused. The date for
tho hanging was set for Nov. 1 =.
Just before Nov. II another re-
prlefe x&a Granted. and the case
oIcse4 Xltl the cQlnm uta<ion ox
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-01-23
INAUGURATION TUESDAY

IN GURATION TUESDAI
OLYMPIA, Jan. 23.-Governor-
elect Cosgrove will be inaugural
ed here next Tuesday forenoon,
according to the program outlined
here today.
Both houses of the legislature
adjourned yesterday until Monday
morning and the printing houses
are working overtime today on
the bills to have them ready for
the legislators.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-01-23
Prosecuting Attorney Nc
durray made the following

murray Iuduc Cuc lOiiOWih6
statement to the Times late
this afternoon: 81 favor cor
railing the disorderly element
of the city in a restricted dis
trict and of keeping them
there. l realize that thinGe
have been very unwholesome
heretofore, and l believe th4t
a district for the social evil
is the only remedy. After the
element has been rounded up,
all disorderly women found
on the streets Of the city VIII
be arrested and prosecuted
to the limit"
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-01-23
Goes to Meet Father.

OLYMPIA, Jan. 23.-Howard
Cosgrove left today for Portland
where he will meet his father and
party tomorrow after their long
journey from California.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-01-23
BACK TO SANBERG'S
DOMAIN Is THE CRY

DIsoRDERLY CHARACTERS AG BEING CoRRAILED IN RE-
STRICTED DISTRICT AFTER DEING SCATTERED
MONTHA
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-01-23
"WELL WHAT 'YE COT TO SAY?''

Photograph of Pres dent Roosevelt Taken the
White a Characteristic Pose.
The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1909-06-24
HANGMAN MEETS
MYSTERIOUS end
Man Who Executed Haymarket
Rioters HOunded to Lonely
Death by Anarchists.
ODD CHAIN OF FATALITIES

Mason City, Iowa, June 19.-Hound-
ed for seventeen years by the repeat
ed death threats Of anarchists from
every part of the civilized world, WIS.,
tied at last by the same CHASTITY fatali'
ty that has inflicted a like mysterious
end In the same vicinity upon two OF
his fellow officers Of the notorious
Haynarket riots a year ago., ID. w.
Nickerson, formerly a resident OF Chi
cago, the man who hanged the Hay
market rioters, was found dead near
here in his country home.
The inquest, which the son Of the
dead man demanded, revealed cir-
cumstances no different from those
which attended the death of his two
fellow officers In this same county
three years Ago.. After making tests
fer the most virulent and elusive pol
Sons known to science, the coroner re-
turned for a third time In this remark
able chain of condolences the verdict
of death by %apoplexy.
At the time of the Haymarket riots,
! where Nickerson as deputy sheriff
was the ex~ecutioner, S. F. Hanchett
was the sheriff, and w. H. Gleason
the chief clerk Of Cook county. All
of these men had country homes in
Floyd county, Iowa, where Nickerson
died. Both Of the other men were
found dead within three days of each
other, and the coroner returned the
same verdict of apoplex,.
Nickerson left Chicago in 1892 for
the West. He was already the object
of hundreds of threatening letters on
account of his work the year before.
He bought a home in Floyd county
and struggled there 10 lose his mem
cries and evade the persecution OF
the anarchists.
On the evening prior to his death
he had read his paper and at about s
o'clock retired. At $50 O'Clock next
morning Charles Miles went to his
room and found him dead.
Mr.. Nickerson was a genial, affable
man, and made friends of the entire
community.
The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1909-06-24
Using a Life Preserver.

The worst trouble about a life
preserver," said an old sailor on the
steamer l.. c. Hanna not long ago."
is that few people know what to do
with n when it's thrown to them.
Many a man would drown In trying
to get a life preserver over his head.
Inc average person struggling about
in h water should try to lift up the
big life ring and put it over his head.
That only causes the man to sink
deeper and take more water into his
lungs.
The proper way to approach a life
preserver in the water is to take hold
OF the side nearest you and press
upon 1t with all your weight That
causes the further side to fly up in
the air and down over your head,
ringing you as neatly as a man ring
ing a cane at a county fair. After
that mister drowning man can be res.
cued."
The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1909-06-24
Cheated Out of HIS Fee.

The recently imposed rulethat no
lawyer shall solicit business either
personally or by runners" in the cor
ridors OF the city policecourt has
caused many funny incidents recently.
| overheard a violent quarrel out
side the second sessions between a
young lawyer and a man whose case
he had just tried and won.
I'll not pay you a cent" answered
the man finally. you approached me
n tn ecorridor in front of the witness
es and asked me If l would like to
have you try my case. If you want
your money, on can sue me and see
what the Judge will do to GU for so
Letting In the corridors" The dis
gruntled lawyer id not try to collect
his fee.
The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1909-06-24
WON'T MIX
Bad Food and Good Health Won't Mix.

The human stomach stands much
abuse but 1t won't return good health
if you give It bad food.
If you feed right you will feel right,
for proper food and a gooG mind is the
sure road to health.
"a year ago | became much alarmed
about my health for l began to suffer
after each meal no matter how little /
ate," says a Denver woman.
Il lost my appetite and the very
thought of food grew ~distasteful, with
the result that l vas not nourished
and got weak and thin.
MY home cares were very heavy, for
besides a large family of my own !
have also to look out for my aged
mother. There was no one to Shout.
der my household burdens, and come
what might, / must bear them, and
this thought nearly drove me frantic
when I realized that my health was
breaking down.
81 read an article in the paper about
some one with trouble just like mine be-
ing cured on Grape-Nuts food and act
ing on this suggestion / gave Grape
Nuts a trial. The first dish Of this
delicious food proved that l had struck
the right thing.
MY uncomfortable feelings in stom-
ach and brain disappeared as II by
magic and in an incredibly short space
Of time I was myself again. Since
then I have gained ~ pounds in
weight through q summer of hard
work and realize / IN a very different
woman, all due to the splendid food,
Grape-Nuts."
There's q Reason" Trial will prove.
Read the famous little book, "The
Road to MELVILLE" in pkgs.
Ever read the above letterf A new
one appears from time to time They
are genuine, true, and full Of huna.
interest.
The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1909-06-24
Chased and Killed by a Buzzsaw.

Walter Terry, a woodsaw operator,
was pursued and cut down by a wood
saw insecurity fastened that broke
away from a wagon bed on which ii
was mounted at Ashland, Or.
The saw was whirling at a high rate
Of speed, and when it broke from its
~fastenings it ran at Terry, who fed
The saw overlook him and ripped his
back for a long distance n com
pletely severed his right leg just be-
low the knee.
Terry was taken to the hospital at
Ashland, where everything possible
was done for him, but he died within
thirty minutes.
The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1909-06-24

etable Compound had helped her, and
I tried it, and after the third bottle
was cured. "-Mrs. ALvENA SPERLLNG,
IL Langdon Street, Chicago, Ill.
If you are i'll do not drag along at
home or in your place Of employment
until an operation is necessary, but
build up the feminine system, and re-
move the cause of those distressing
aches and pains by taking Lydia E.
Pinkham's Vegetable Compound, made
from roots and herbs.
For thirty years it has been the STAN
lard remedy for female ills, and has
positively restored the health of thou
sands of womenwho have been troubled
with displacements, Inflammation, ul-
ceration, fbroid tumors, irregularities,
periodic pains, backache, bearing-down
feeling, fiatulency, indigestion, dizzi-
ness, or nervous prostration. Why
don't you try it?
The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1909-06-24
Isn't II a Fact
That . cavalry man endorsed Is tn

That . cavalry man endorsed Is the
most easily cowed?
That one can show his temper only
after he has lost it?
That a contractor should be called
upon to expand a house?
That no young man ever rose rap
idly till he had settled down?
That the plo wmust be soiled before
the soil a be plowed?
That a susceptible fellow is hard
est hit by the softest glances?
That in everything Except base
BALI you nus strike out to make a
hit?
That many students cannot state
bald facts without splitting hairs?
That the papers often refer to a
mans double life as a singular career
The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1909-06-24
slips From River to Doom.

Crookston, Mimi, June 10. - Red
Lake river claimed its second victim
Of the present year yesterday in En-
nest Easthagen, the eight-year-old son
of Mr.. and Mrs. Godfrey A. Eastha-
gen. The little boy was playing on
the booms In the river and slipped.
He never came to the surface. His
small companions were panic-stricken.
They finally, however, aroused the
neighborhood by their screams. and
everything possible was odne Il save
the boy. Several hours later bis body
was recovered.
The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1909-06-24
Youthful Ohio ReaIist.

The teacher in room No. 7. Cadiz
public schools, n day recently asked
the class in English to eve some ex-
amples in composition by writing a
few personals such as are contained
in the columns Of newspapers.
One of the younger members Of the
class won the plaudits of his fellows
by writing: THE college boys have
returned to their schools to wait for
another vacation"
The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1909-06-24
Paris Adopts Tailored Hats.

The chapeau taileur is having an
astonishing vogue in Paris. So great
is the demand for this particular kind
of headgear that the leading Paris
designers and ever those whose spe-
cialty until now has been the elabo-
rate hat exclusively do not disdain to
devote some Of their attention to it..
The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1909-06-24
RATE DISCRIMINATION CHARGED
DuIuth's Complaint Is Sifted by North
Dakota Railway Board.

jamestown, N. D.. June 20.-A spe-
cial meeting Of the railroad commits
sioiners was held here to consider the
alleged discrimination in the rates on
the shipment of grain in the southern
part Of the state to the Minnesota
markets, it being asserted that Du-
luth was at a disadvantage over Min
neapolis. The rate to Minneapolis
from some points is said to have
been 2 cents a bushel less than the
rate to Duluth. 1t is not known what
action the commissioners will take in
the matter.
The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1909-06-24
MRS. KAUFMAN
IS FINED $500
Jury Returns Verdict OF Assault
and Battery Against Sioux
Falls Woman.
ACCUSED OF KILLING SERVANT

Flandreau, S. D., June 20.-The jury
In the case Of the state against Mrs.
Moses Kaufman, wife Of a wealthy
brewer of Sioux Falls, for the murder
Of her servant girl, Agnes Polreis, re-
turned a verdict Of guilty Of assault
and battery.
Immediately thereafter F. R. Al.
kens, attorney for Mrs. Kaufman
made a plea for leniency for his client,
asserting that she had already been
punished enough. Judge Rice there
upon fined Mrs. Kaufman 500.
The penalty for assault and battery
In this state is a Jail sentence not
exceeding thirty days or q fine of from
IS to 500.
Defense Disappointed.
The defense has won It's long fight
to keep Mrs. Kaufman from serving
any time in any kind Of a cell, but 1t
wanted an acquittal, and the disap-
pointment Of the Kaufmanns was
shown when the husband of the de-
PENDANT hung his head upon the read
ing Of the verdict. Mrs. Kaufman
displayed no emotion whatever.
With the charge made by the court
the jury could have found the accused
guilty Of either murder in the first
or second degree, or manslaughter in
the first or second degree, or assault
and battery.
Tried Three Times.
The case has been in the courts
three years, and the trial just closed
was the third one. The jury in the
first trial disagreed. The second trial
resulted in a verdict of ~manslaughter
in the second degree, but this deci.
sion was reversed and a new trial or
dered.
The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1909-06-24

operation. l had
already had two
operations, and
they wanted me to
go through a third
one. / suffered day
and night from in
flammation and a
small tumor, and
never thought of
seeing a well day
A friend
told me how Lydia
f. Pinkham'S Vep-
The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1909-06-24
OFFICER pEFIES JUDGE.
la Crosse Commissioner Of Public
Works Goes to Jail.

Works Goes to Jail.
La Crosse, Wis, June 19.-Ignoring
orders and intunctions of the court
seeking to compel him to pay a judg'
ment secured by a grocer for s29,
Commissioner of Public Works Fred
Schnell vas yesterday served with a
commitment for contempt and was
placed in jail by order of Judge e. C.
Raymond. Schnell refused to pay q
former judgment FIVE years ago, and
when the case was outlawed new &C.
ton vas started and has been press
ed until the arrest and Imprisonment
Of the city official yesterday. Schnell
turned over his salary to his wife,
disregarding the injunction of the
court, and refused to recognize the
receiver named by the Judge.
The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1909-06-24
CASHIER ALONE Is TO BLAME

Iowa Bank ofHeiaIs E~xonerated and
Real Criminal 10 q Fugitive.
Mason City, Iowa, June 20.-Coi. W.
A. Burnap, the expert accountant who
has been engaged in going over the
books Of the defunct Corwith bank,
has made his report and ~exonerates
the bank officials from any part in the
crooked transactions and the entire
blame falls on Cashier John Stand
ring. who is now q fugitive from Jus
tice.
The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1909-06-24
ROBBERS TO PLEAD GUILTY.
Grand Larceny Charge Against New
Uim Bandits.

Uim Bandits.
New Ulm, Mimi, June 20. - The
three robbers who entered the North
Western depot in this city we're ar
raigned before Justice Ernst Brandt,
charged with the crime. They gave
their correct names as William r.
Nichols of Marshall, Mimi. and Floyd
Bertrand and Harry Bertrand Of Min
neapolis.
Having practically confessed the
crime they waived examinations and
we're bound over to the action Of the
district court.
The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1909-06-24
THIRD
OPERATION
PREVENTED
By Lydia E. Pinkham's Veg
etable Compound

Chicago, III. -" II want to tell you
what Lydia +. Pinkham's Vegetable
Compound did for me. / was so sick
that two of the best doctors in Chicago
said l would die if / did not have an
The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1909-06-24
CRUSHED UNDER FREIGHT TRAIN
Head Of Unknown Laborer Is Found
200 Feet From His Body.

200 Feet From His Body.
Menominee, Mich, June 10. - An
unknown man, believed to be a for
eign laborer, was ground to pieces be-
meath a st. Paul freight train near
the Cnvitz depot Tuesday morning.
His head was found 200 feet from his
trunkless remains.
The victim attempted to board the
blind baggage" several rods from the
depot, but missed his footing and
plunged between the cars.
The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1909-06-24
EXPLOSION KILLS WOMAN.

Uses Kerosene Hurriediy to Start
Fire and II ExpIodes.
Hudson, Iowa, June 19.-Mrs. Emile
Dam, who was fatally burned yester.
day when the kerosene she was using
to start a fire hastily, exploded and
set fire to her dress, died yesterday
morning. Mrs. Dam was badly burn
ed about the head, arms and neck.
The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1909-06-24
ADJOURN.
Many Subjects Postponed Till Next
Special Legislative Session.

Madison, Wis, June 20.-The forty.
ninth session of the Wisconsin Nlegis-
laturs adjourned sine die after q Sive-
month session. Action on q number
Of important subjects was postponed
till next winter. when a special session
Is to be called.
The last act Of Gov. Davidson be-
fore adjournment was to veto the
teachers compulsory pension bill. His
action was sustained by both houses.
The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1909-06-24

Don't delay! Wrigley's Spearmint is
waiting for you with a spear on the
wrapper. It's fine for digestion.
The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1909-06-24

Half a mind is equal to a whole
mind not to.
The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1909-06-24

Help yourself. Wrigley's Spearmint
helps digestion.
The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1909-06-24

Barring wedding presents, it may
be more blessed to give than it is to
receive.
The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1909-06-24

Shifting the blame for sin does not
uproot its sowing.
The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1909-06-24
GOES TO CLAIM ESTATE.
Raohmann Of lie Sueur WiiIed $4,000
by Old World Relative. ..

lie Sueur, MINI, June 10. - Jacob
Bachmann, a prosperous merchant of
lie Sueur will leave next week for
Switzerland to settle up the estate of
his uncle, DR.. c.. E. Swiningson. a
dentist Of Berne, who died recently
at an advanced age, leaving a large
estate, some $4,000 Of which is kill.
ed to MI. Bachmann.
The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1909-06-24
ACID TEST FOR DIVORCES.
District Attorneys Appointed to Inves
tiuate Case Of Discomfort.

tigate Case Of Discomfort.
La Crosse, Wis, June 19.-Comply-
ing with a new law for the investiga-
ton of divorce cases, Circuit Judge
e. G. Higbee has appointed the dis
trict attorneys in all counties in the
Sixth judicial district to act in these
cases. Hereafter certain days will be
reserved for the consideration Of d.
yorces.
The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1909-06-24

The limitations cost you Just as niue,
rs real Wrigley's Spearmint with
Cpear on it!
The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1909-06-24

You can always fatter a woman
by asking her opinion Of something
she knows nothing about.
The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1909-06-24

Following a fad is a short cut to
folly.
The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1909-06-24
EEssLY
Palms Are

he hips,
vousness,
etc.. are
nat com.
ne from
rs. Don't
cause
ney Pills
d thou.
onen at.
Is way
the kid.
}. c. R
1l3 s.
D., says:
rheuma.
mplaint.
[ound re-
boxes OF
on until
s have
S a box.
n. Y.
Dog.
who Is
engaged
aims adj
at Tow
~six-foot
peculiar
indness
Ike.
round
beyond
edward
'pearetY
he waN
ping it y
S ater- q
.tion IL II
ok was