davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1910-06-18

home that speaks of a life barren OF
comforts. McCusker's boyhood days
were hard ones. Long Hollow is one
Of those least attractive spots in the
myriad valleys in the foothills. 1t is
dark and dismal at the best of times;
cherries and forlorn looking always.
The McCusker home is miles away
from other h%abitations. 1t is surround
ed by the solitude that drives men to
drink, to dispair, or gives them time
for the dreams that have, more than
once, re~volutionized the world. But
McCusker was not a dreamer of the
great dreams. Solitude drove him to
desperation. To escape it he enlisted
in the army, but its rigid discipline
proved too much for his wild nature
and he deserted. Returning to his
hillside home he found il even more
unbearable than before he had had his
taste OF the world. His cravings for
liquor developed until he become one
of the hardest drinkers along the coun-
tryside.
His Boyhood Friend!
"Jut" Roman, his victim, was his
boyhood friend. Many miles separate
the home of the Romans and the Nc
Cuskers, but miles count for little in
this hiIiy country. There was more
life down on Round Top. where the
Romans and the Pryors and other
mountain families live, and it was
there that McCusker spent most OF
his time when he could get away from
home as a boy and a young a The
Romans and the Pryors are rather
better fixed apparently than the Nc
Cuskers. Their homes are a tritie
more imposing: their women folk, liv'
ing in closer proximity to each other
have developed a feeling of ~neighbor
illness and of the neighborhood com
petition. A few flowers at n place
started flowers elsewhere, and some
thing like the beginning of a rea.
home colony is to be But it is
crude, pathetically crude.
And backing the whole scene are
the forbidding looking Tonoloway
Hills, and further On the gloom Ale
ghanies. This was the setting for the
crime of Decoration Day, the back
! ground for as uncalled-for a murder
as has b~lackened the pages of crimina'
history in Maryland.
Said to Have Been Sober.
On the evening of the murder "Jut'
Roman was driving toward his home
from Hancock. He had been down &c
Berkeley Springs on business, and
known as a drinking man, he
was, from all accounts, sober. AS he
drove along the National turnpike he
saw ahead of him, at one of the most
lonely spots along the road, two mer
and a boy walking westward, One
was McCusker, the second man was
Raymond Pryor and the third was
Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1910-06-18
Mrs. JuStiS Roman

The fact that Justis Roman, the vic
tim OF a murderous attack made by
Claude McCusker, in the n~eighborhood
Of Hancock on the night of Decoration
Day, ded in the City Hospital in this
city, where he was brought, has caus-
ed considerable interest in the case
in this section. The following story
of the murder and those directly cor
nected with the families is from the
Baltimore News. Through the courtesy
Of The News, pictures of the murdes-
ed man, the women in the case and
the Pryor home are given in connec-
ton with the story.
Bad Mar Of The Hills"
When Claude McCusker, the bad
man of the hills finally comes down
from his Businesses in the Tonoloway
ridges and ravines, where ne has been
s%kulking, an outlaw, ever since he
shot and killed his boyhood friend,
'Jut" Roman, will it be to carry the
feud to still more s%anguinary lengths
and pot" m other member of the
Roman family, or to have ths issue
out openly with the law?
1t is the belief of the people Of this
section, who have known the dare
devil McCusker since he picked his
first scrap as a %pugnacious boy, that
his restless, turbulent spirit will
eventually impel him to quit the hills
and ON once more into contact with
the settlements. And when he does,
some who have followed his stormy
the closest predict that re will
carry the feud straight to the Roman
door. Though neither Richard Roman,
the murdered youths aged father, nor
Licher Roman, his brother, profess 10
be a~pprehensiye of any such attack,
still there are certain under-the-sur-
face indications that they would not
be caught off their guard by these tao
tics.
Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1910-06-18

Meanwhile McCusker himself re-
main as immune from interference
and as obscure as at any time since, 16
days ago, he left 'Jut" Roman dying
by the side of the old National. turn
pike-a vertiabe highway of tragedy
and fed up into the rough knobs" of
the Tonoloway region, a still smoking
revolver in his hand.
Under the grey spell of the rains
and Of the clouds that sag gloomily
upon their rough skyline. the forbid
ding Tonoloway hills, backed by the
higher Allegheny range, look just the
right screen for a man, who, while
seeing red with rum killed n he
had known for years and then sought
a spot where he might skplk safe
from any proving sherin's posse.
Anywhere else these lonely hills
would be called mountains, but the AL
leghenies in the background rob them
of this dignity. When glowing with
the rainbow tints of the rustling and
ripping autumn leaves or warm with
the sunshine of a typical June, they
are invested with a beauty that holds
the eye enraptured which gazes upon
them from Hancock.
Think He Has Gone.
There are a few whose theory is
that McCusker has made his way out
of the hills. They point to his in
stinctive adventuresomeness, and az
que that he would not shut himself UT
in a gully or a cave for long. They
have pictured him as striking out
along the curve of the mountains into
Pennsylvania and shipping from Phil
adelphia or New York for overseas.
But whether they believe ne is still
in hiding or on his way to the sea
coast H~ancock''s people are all con
fdent that the fascination Of a murder
er for the cen of his crime will draw
the young outlaw back to the spot on
the National turnpike. where he fired
the bullets that laid "Jut' Roman low
and just as confidently they predict
that he will be arrested and, legally
or otherwise, they predict his death.
: Born in the very shadow of the
mountains, in a bit of a mountain
Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1910-06-18
Improvements.

A new coat of paint has improved
the appearance Of Mr.. Chris. Suckers
store front.
Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1910-06-18
ELK|NS RELIEVED
BY END OF FIGHT
In His Seat During Entire COnsid-
GRAFTON Of Railroad Bill.
PRAISE FOR HIS LEADERSHIP

He Bore Enough TO Try Patience Of
Most Astute Misunderstanding Has
Been Most Important and Most
Strenuous Legislative Battle in
Which the Senator Has Participated
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1910-10-01

On motion it was decided that
the committee on ways and means
should remain in charge of affairs
and perform all necessary acts to-
ward perfecting parish organiza-
ton, with j. w. Duncan, chair
man, empowered to act as trustee
of all funds paid in.
On motion all subscribers were
requested at once to pay in ten
per cent of their subscriptions,
and the amounts designated above
as paid were handed in.
Attorney j. A. Williams and
Capt. G. H. Teal we're appointed
a special committee to correspond
with other parish associations fol
copies of their charters. and tc
prepare a charter, to be adopted al
a meeting OF the stockholders OF
the Grant parish association to be
held in Colfax on Monday, Oct
"a, 1910, at l p. m.
The members of the committee,
together with others to be named
by the chairman, were instructed
to solicit subscriptions to the cap.
ltal stock, and report same at the
organization on Oct. Oath, aud the
meeting was adjourned to thai
time.
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1910-10-01

Total .............. 88, 400
The cost of surfacing the roads
of your parish with gravel is prob
lematical, but would average hard
ly less than $2,5OO.OO per mile adj
ditional, or say 100000 per mile.
Sand clay roads are estimated to
average about $4,000 per mile
more than ordinary earth roads, or
say 81, 10000 per mile.
Should there be any further in
formation or service desired within
the power of the Board of State
Engineers, please notify the de.
partment to that effect.
Advice regarding progress in
your movement for good roads will
be greatly appreciated.
Respectfully submitted,
GERyAIs LOMBARD,
Assistant State Engineer.
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1910-10-01
SOLICITING COMMITTEE.


After adjournment of the meet
ing Chairman Duncan handed in
the following list as the soliciting
committee for each ward, to solicit
subscriptions to the capital stock
for holding a parish fair, viz:
Ward III. w. Duncan, Hemsn
Smith and M. E. Swafford.
Ward 2-Robt. East, H. s. Gar.
Iington and B. F. Lewis.
Ward 80. G. Watson, w. N
Greed and j. G. Fralick.
Ward Nv. P. Dean, B. j. M
gent and M. G. Nugent.
Ward 5-W. III. Westberry, I
G. Lincecum and 7. M. Bradford
Ward II. n. Fletcher, B. b
Phillips and F. P. Bullitt.
Ward &C. L. Purvis, j. S
/ Brister and r. M. Dunn.
/ NoTE.-It is expected that al
subscribers will be present on OcI
1 Oath, to represent the amount O
their stock, or that they will Civ
their proxy to some one authorize
|, to vote their number of shares i
, the organization.
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1910-10-01

10 any calling of life. demands vieor-
GUS body and keen brain. Without
health there 10 no success. But Elsc-
trio Bisters is the greatest health build
or the world has ever known. 1t COM
peIs perfect action of stomach. liver,
kidneys. bowels, PARTIES and snrichss
the blood. tones and invigorates the
whole system and enables you to stand
the wear and tear Of your daily work
after months of suffering fron kidney
trouble writes w. n. Sherman. Of
Gushing. Me-, ..thrss bottles 81 Electric
Bitters msde me feel like a new man.
SOC ut all druggists.
Il L.. g. k.<. n asxsIo
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1910-10-01
Assistant State Engineer.

Your cough annoys You. Keep on
hacking and tearing the delicate MEM
branes Of ycus throat il you want to be
annoyed. But il you. want relief, want
to % cured, take Chamberlain Cough
Remedy. Sold by all dealers.
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1910-10-01

FREE HOMESTEADS from 40 to
100 acres land in Ala. Ark. Fla. La,
and Miss. GIVEN AWAY by United
States Government to successful ap.
plicants. Send 25c for information
and application form. Dixie Home
Co., Princeton. Florida.
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1910-10-01
New Orleans, Aug. Is, 1910.

NEW OTiedus, aug. 10, 1ClO.
Hon. j. w. Duncan. President, and
Members of Police Jury of Grant
Parish, COIfax, Louisiana:
Pursuant to your resolution OF
July LIST, 1910, requesting an in
spection of certain highway routes
in your parish, and report upon
the approximate cost of said high
ways: l beg leave to report, that
between July I'd and July 4th last,
Mr.. Mcknight and / drove over
all the routes mentioned in the
resolution, with the exception OF
the one from Buck Lasyone's to
Phillips Station, or It's alternate,
via the "hill" road into Colfax in
stead of to Phillips Station.
In general, the country inspect
ed is quite similar to that in De
Soto and Ouachita parishes, being
rolling to billy, with occasional
creeks and bottoms to cross. Some
portions of the several proposed
routes have a greater amount OF
such crossings than the routes in
the above mentioned parishes, and
for that reason will, no doubt. cost
correspondingly more than the av-
erage for the parishes of DeSoto
and Ouachlta. If, however, all,
or the greater portion of the pro-
posed routes are constructed, it %
safe to. say that the cost will be
between $4,000 and $4,000 per
, mile for earth roads.
The figures above given are bas-
ed upon information furnished by
the Board of Control, who con-
structed the roads under contract
with the police juries of DeSoto
and Ouachita parishes. This esti-
mate included all labor and mate
rails used on the road, and the cost
of maintaining the convicts, the
stock and outfit as we'll as the cost
of moving convicts, camps and 9TH
or outfit, and of the surveys, etc.
It does not include, however, the
first cost of outfit, such as mules,
carts, traction engine or roller,
harness, scrapers, tools, ETC., all OF
which are necessary, but which
should not be charged directly to
the first mile, or to any limited
number of miles, but to the total
number of miles finally treated
within the life of the outfit. l un.
derstand that such an outfit will
cost from SIS, 100000 to $40, 10000
depending upon the character Of
work undertaken. The $2O,OOOW
outfit will also handle metal sur
facing, such as gravel, macadam
etc.
Statistics as to what free labo
will cost in your parish are no
available, but the convicts may b
accepted as a constant, reliabl
and efficient force. Mr.. Geo. L
Cooley, Supt of Construction from
the Public Roads Office of the Z
s. Department of Agriculture a
Washington, ID. c., generally il
charge of the road work now beinI
done by State convicts, estimate
that the maintenance of the COZ
victs, when engaged in public roa
building, averages about 4Sc pc
capita per day. This, of course
includes cost of guarding, etc.
The distance from Colfax to Pc
lock, via the lower road, is abor
% miles; via the upper road, abos
"a miles. But, owing to the pre-
ence of eight creeks and bottom
the lower route would probabl
cost considerably more to constru'
and maintain. The upper ront
however, runs through an unse
tied district, while the lower rou
would serve many populous farm
and the town of Bentley. The ~
per route would cross one larl
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1910-10-01
Preliminaries for Parish Fair
Organization of Association Determined at Enthuiastie
Meeting---265 Shares of Stock Subscribed and Ten
Per Cent of the Amount Paid in Cash.
Colfax, La, Sept. rs, 1910.

Pursuant to call of j. w. Dun
can, chairman of the ways and
means committee, a number of the
citizens of Grant parish gathered
in the court house in Colfax at l
p. m. this day, to meet with said
committee and arrange for the or
ganization of parish fair associa-
ton. The committee appointed
for this purpose is as follows;
At large-M. E. Swafford and
j. T. Flanagan.
Ward ii. w. Duncan.
Ward 2-Robt. FL. East.
Ward 3-Odus Watson.
Ward Nv. P. Dean.
Ward 5-W. II. Westberry.
Ward 6-J. N. Fletcher.
Ward TO. L. Purvis.
Chairman Duncan explained that
he had invited three or four repre-
sentative citizens, in addition to
the committeemen from each ward
to be present In fact, that all
citizens were invited, the police
jury being in session and num-
Der also attending court, and he
regarded it as altogether proper
time for the organization of fair
association. He requested II. G.
Goodwin to act as secretary of the
meeting and call the roll of the
committee.
The roll being called, all of the
committeeman above answered to
their names, except W. P. Deem,
of ward four.
The chair called for suggestions
and expressions of opinion from
those present, and responses were
made by r. H. West, M. E. Swat
ford, j. T. Flanagan, J. A. Will
liams, G. II. Teal, ]. H. McNeely,
and others. All were enthusiastic
cally in favor of organizing a par
ish fair association, but no practi-
cal suggestion was made, further
than that the charters of parish
fairs already in operation could be
procured as patterns to 60 by.
The chairman then announced
that he had a plan for immediate
action, and if nobody had better
one to offer that as soon as the
lauestion of the value of shares
should be determined he would
proceed to put his plan into execu
ton.
After a short discussion it wal
decided that the value of shares
should be placed at one dolla
each; whereupon the Chairman
said he was ready to put his plal
Into execution, and proceeded t.
do SO by calling upon each ant
every one present to designate HOY
, many shares he would take.
II The plan met with instant favor
and subscriptions to stock wer
taken with rush, and in a fe'
minutes the following list OF sui
: scriptions was recorded:
Name Shares Amt. p
N x
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1910-10-01

Estimated Cost of Good Roads
Mr. Lombard Reports to the Police Jury that the Cost OF
Building the 85a Miles of Roads Proposed will be
Between $3.50 and $500 Per Mile.

miles of the proposed road from
the ''forks" in section 81, township
Z n, range 2 west, to Dry Prong.
From the "forks" to Dry Prong
is about g. miles, through rolling
country, with only one creek to
cross-mostly cut over pine lands.
From Dry Prong to Rochelle,
via Selma and Georgetown, is
about FL miles, through rolling to
hilly country, mostly cut over pine
lands. This proposed route cross
es seven creeks, some of the ap-
proaches to which are steep.
There are about two miles of vir-
gin forest along this route.
The distance from Dry Prong to
Verda, by the proposed route, is
about IL miles, some 81 miles of
which is in virgin forest. The
greater part of the road will be
through rolling to billy cut over
and denuded pine land with about
ten creeks to cross, and about II
miles of very low swamp at the
head of Iatt Lake. This swamp
was overlooked about eleven feet
deep by back water from Red riv-
er during 1908. To construct a
road through this swamp to a
grade above overflow would cost
about 100000 for the II miles.
An alternate route may BE- found
to be advisable, located further to
the north, about Z of mile, where,
it was stated by Nh. Mcknight,
the land is somewhat higher.
From Verda to Montgomery, the
route will be about 8 miles long,
something like one-half of which
will be through virgin woods, and
the rest through cut over pine
lands and plantations. The coun-
try is rolling, and but three hills
are encountered. Three creeks
aud one bottom about mile wide
will have to be crossed, involving
the construction of one large bridge
and two small ones.
No inspection of the proposed
route from Buck Lasyone's te
Phillips Station was made, but
from Mr.. Meningitis description
it will compare fsvorably with th'
average for the parish and woult
probably cost about $4,000 PEI
mile. The distance scales abou
9 miles on the map.
orynrpAnu
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-11-27
MUSIC, ART, LANGUAGES

Francis Potter teacher mandolin. banjo
guitar Studio Barker Blk. Tel Doug. asa
MRS. ], ALBERT BECKER,
teacher artistic plano playing, 2l02 spencer.
JAMES s, COLVIN, piano studio. Boyd
Theater Bldg. 506-6 %. 4992
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-11-27
OFFERED FOR SALE
Houses aud cottaEes-oOutinusd.

SIX rooms, modern except furnace and
electricity; paved street, good neighbor-
hood $3.50
Six rooms and bath, modern except fur
mace; north part Of city. SO
Seven rooms, ell modern hardwood I'M
ish; excellent condition; fine noighborhood;
built for a home. SIS.
Eight rooms and reception hall; all NOD
ern and new; one block from FarnAm car
line S4S
Eight-room brick fiat all modern Gloss
in. $40.
Eight rooms, all modern, near Hanscom
Park. S35
Nine rooms and reception hail; west
Farnam; enc block from car. $50
Nine rooms, Dundee, all modern and
everything up-to-date; large lot and barn.
$50
We have stores, office rooms and houses
In all parts OF the city for rent or salA
We write all kinds Of insurance.
J. II. DU1dONT a SON,
Phone Douglas 500 1906 Farnann St. Omaha .
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-11-27
Free Rent

For Is days 21e1 Jackson St. an s-roorn.
strictly modern house. within easy walking
distance. Price $50
PAYNE & SLATER CO.,
Sole Agents, Gle n Y IAfe Bids
Phone Douglas 10l6s
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-11-27
Houses and Cottages.

EXCEPTIONALLY convenient, modern.
compact Groom brick; finished one year
ago; choicest neishborhood $50 and Pop
pleton. ~. includes water, care Of Lawn.
snow. etc Peters Trust Co. n. Z. Life
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-11-27

S-KOoM MODERN HoUsE-Conbinatio ton
fixtures; east front, 23d and Webster, $40. 90
broom al modern st. Louis flat, ne N.
G2d St, 5000.
7-room all modern house 1908 Locust St.
Groom brick all modern house. 1000 Will
Use Ave. $500
rooms In apartment flat 1923 N. 18th
St., Sl250
c. NJ. BAcHMANN.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-11-27
OFFERED FOR RENT


ho4Fu auu Rooms.
NICE single room with board; also large
front room for two; walking distance. I9ig
Cass 81. Tel Douglas iS76
ST. JAMES steam heat Bath. Eur, Amer
rates. n-A up. Weekly. s. up double.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-11-27
OFFERED FOB RENT
Housekeeping RoOms-COntinued.

TWO nicely furnished rooms for house
keeping, modern. 800 No 23d.
The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1910-06-03
Memorial Day Thoughts
Bill Kercher, in the Kansas City Journal -

finely proportional body. his appear
aud crowd Of men. His soldiery quail.
tiles were no less conspicuous, and he
was soon chose for that ;'st Of hon.
or and of danger. the regimcntal color
bearer. Tie had enlisted in Company
/. Eighth Kansas, NJ White cloud, April
,, 1862; on January /, 1863, he was
promoted to be n corporal; and in Aug.
ust, 1863, he was appointed color bearer
of the regiment.
''Around him at Chickamauga, was n
remarkable group of bOyish looking
soldiers, the eight corporals constitut
ing the color guard; William r.. Wen.
dell, Company T.; Thomas Adamson,
Company D.; John Binger, Company
b; George Mathews. Company r.;
Charles Morgan, Company u; Benja.
Earth, Company II. Rovohl was about
90 years of agr-most of his comrades
were under -. Selected, as the color
guard always is, from different com.
panies, and with n carcfulness inspired
by %reginental pride, the color bearer
aud his guard Of honor former a strik.
ing group-he tall, powerful, manly,
grave and silent; they boyish, beard
less, laughing, chatter:ng, careless
but one aud all of them daring aud
gallant beyond what was common ven
in those heroic years.
"Within an hour after the battle he.
gan, Rovohl, the color bearer, was
mortally wounded. When he fell his
comrades INDUCED in n fierce dispute
as to which of them was entitled to
carry the flag. Several claimed II but
Wendell, affirming the seniority of rank
ms corporal. secured IT,. Two Of them
proposed TO carry Rovohl to the sur
gcons in the rear, hut he refused all
The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1910-06-03

The Countess Festetics, who is To be
the only passenger in the round.the.
world cruise from New York in the lit.
tie schooner yacht Tetona. Coun' Fes.
tctics is to act rs skipper on the long
voyage. They were recently driven
back TO New York by bad weather on
their first attempt to start, but in n,
way are they discouraged. Their first
port out of New York will be Madeira.
The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1910-06-03
CHRISTIAN CHURCH

The usual services will be held at
Court House Sunday, June 9Th. Com.
munion at II q. m. followed by sermon.
Preaching at 8 p. m. All are cordially
invited to attend. Our Children g Day
exercises were postponed until first Sur.
day in July.
L. Guy Ament.