davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-30

of the burning of the witches at Salem
TO prove that the white people believed
in witchcraft. This same man read the
Bible to show that possession by evil
spirits and demons in biblical times was
related to witchcraft. AS matter or
fact, witchcrafr is still powerful inf1u-
ence with the Alaska native, and within
two years murder has been committed
because of it, and there is no doubt that
the crime will occur again.
Another peculiar superstition OF the ma
tives is Their dislike to handle dead
body. Many times. it is said. patient
is dressed for burial before life has left
the body Sometimes, this teacher
says. when / have been working over
a patient and have found it necessary to
leave the house to procure further rem
edies, on my return L have found my
patient dressed for burial. and L have
been requested to do no more.
In the summer Of 1904 DR.. William
Hamilton OF the United States bureau of
education made an extended trip OF IN
spection through Alaska, and he called
the writer's attention to the unique and
peculiar huts of the natives OF King Is
land south of Boring straits
This island is a mass of basalt about
mile in length, rising more than Son
feet straight UP from the sea. 1t is one
of the most remarkable places in Alaska.
The rocks rise perpendiculariy from the
ocean, except upon the south Slde, Where
ravine rising from the ocean at an
angle of about 45 degrees scars the cliff.
Beside this ravine cluster about forty
huts, apparently hanging on the side of
the cliff, but really resting on a ledge
which has been partly excaVated In the
side of the hill and partly built up with
stone walls Across the top of these walls
lie poles of driftwood, on which hides
and grass are placed TO form roof
These huts are the winter dwellings, OF
the natives.
In making their summer homes the is
landers use the roof OF the underground
house as a floor, and over IT build rec
tang1lar tent Of walrus hide stretched
over a wooden frame. These tents are
guyed to the rocks with rawhides to pre-
vent them being blown out to sea. On
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-30
IN THE DISTRICT CHEMISTS LABORATORY.

what was otherwise an obtuse case. In
speaking of his work Dr. Lynch said that
many difficult cases came 20 him.
But of them ALL he continued, 'the
most difficult is the analysis of parts Of
the human body for traces of poison. In
cases of murder by poison, suicide and
even asphyxiation, | have to analyze va
rious parts of the body. such as the
stomach, spleen, liver, brain, etc. In the
first place the poison, in order to respond
to all the necessary tests, must be alb
stracted in an absolutely pure state.
Sometimes the portion Of the body / am
examining may contain such d small por-
ton of the amount taken that it is eX
tremely difficult to get even the smallest
quantity. Then there are a considerable
number of poisons and tests that have to
be made to ascertain which. if any, was
taken. And while it is a matter of bust
ness 10 chemists in my position and there
fore something to which We are thorough
ly accustomed. the process of analyzing
stomach, for instance, is far from being
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-30

many of the schools. In Sitka and other
places in southeast Alaska the unsightly
native hutS have been replaced by neat
frame buildings erected exclusively by
ative carpenters.
At Sitka and Cnaiakleet, where instruc
ton has been given in building boats
upon the models used by white men, the
natives have met with equal success i'll
the construction Of these boats. At Una
lakleet may be seen the unique spectacle
Of eight small schooners, built, manned
many instances Alaskan natives have
shown themselves competent to run
launches and to operate the machinery
in Sawmils. mines and canneries. The
plans for the extension of the school Serv
ice in Alaska include the SystematiZing
and extension of the industrial training of
the natives so as to include all of the in
dustrleS adapted to the various sections
Of that country.
In speaking of the work In Alaska the
commissioner of education said:
I'm number of the villages, as the re-
suit of the efforts of the government,
neatly built houses are replacing the ma
tive nuts. More attention is paid to
sanitary methods of living This is we'll
Illustrated by many of the reports l have
received from teachers there. At Sell
dovia, for instance, after the trained
nurse who had charge of the sanitary
part of the work left for another village
II was carried on as well as time would
allow. Friday afternoons were devoted
10 vas lin@. and dirtE uUpiiS were in d.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-30

very close to the arctic circle, is rather
arduous undertaking, but at Juneau, In
alaska, Rampant and Eagle the native
school children have been taught to clear
ground and plant vegetables. And from
all reports received it would appear they
have been very successful with many
vegetables ordinarily thought to be i'm
possible to raise in such a cold climate.
In many OF the schools the teachers made
hotbeds. usually by taking some OF the
window sashes from the school buildings.
and with these frames they were able to
start vegetables that would mature out
of doors during the short summer
months.
In addition. the natives are given
thorough training i'll the mechanical arts.
Practical training has been given the Es-
kimos in carpentry. boat building, etc.
while cooking, sewing. dressms king and
Dasketry are taught the native girls in
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-30

ping down on the other side they may
omen the doors to freedom. From life to
death. and confinement TO freedom. the
scales go. according to some small piece
OF evidence given during the trial. while
al times, that evidence not being forth
coming an acquittal results from lack of
evidence. And so IN every way this bit
Of evidence which causes the final reckon
ing OF the scales OF justice IS Important;
90 important that it hardly seems possible
that IL could rest with one man. And
Yet, to considerable extent in large
proportion of cases, this is so, and the
man thus laden with that responsibility is
Or. r. l.. Lynch, the District chemist.
While the jury may be sitting ponder
ing the pros and cons of the evidence
being given out DIR. Lynch may be at
work in his laboratory IN the District
building patiently toiling over some frag-
ment Of cloth. q battered hat. an old
shoe, a rusted weapon, or even some por-
ton of the human body, seeking to find
that which is hidden. 1t may be traces of
poison. spots of blood or other evidence
but whatever il happens to be, it is very
possible that it will be the evidence which
Will decide the jury N the verdict they
will reach. For he is the one who may
have the key TO the mystery, without
which no positive conclusion could be
reached. OF course. there are many cases
In which the District chemist does not fig
ure at all. but in murder and other crimi-
nal cases he is more than likely one of the
most important witnesses.
Dr. Lynch is one of the most neces-
sary assistants in police matters in
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-30
The Chief Difference.

lv1 talking about the high rate for
electric lighting charged in a ueighooring
city.
asked by his teacher:
"'What, If any, is the difference be-
tween lightning and electricity?'
Please, ma am said the boy, light
ming is free
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-30

police were also notified and upon inves-
tigation box Of rat poison was found
under the sink. The colored cook was
then apprehended. but denied absolutely
having had anything to do in the matter
The coffee can was carefully sealed and
taken to DR.. Lynch. who on examining
II. found particles Of the poison visible
even to the naked eve The calcrad
woman was then locked up on the charge
OF attempted murder. and after being
convicted was sentenced TO fifteen years
Imprisonment.
In the case OF weapons found in muir
der and other cases. continued Dr.
Lynch. Il keep them under lock and KEY
unless examining them myself This
same care prevails throughout the life of
the case. When an officer discovers or is
called in on a case which develops into
murder, the weapons connected with it
are taken by him, carefully handled and
given directly TO me. They pass through,
10 other hands, as that might seriously
endanger the result of any examination
might make. In the case OF a death
several years ago man was painting a
building from a scaffolding when he fell
and was killed. Tie theory was adj
Nanced that the rope from which the
scaffold was suspended had been treated
with acid to weaken it. At the coroner S
inquest the rope was handled by num-
beTiess persons, and when l finally got it
1t was impossible to discove" any traces
or acid which might have been there"
Another instance in which the result of
Or. Lynch's examination was an impor-
tant factor in a murder case was at the
trial OF man for the murder of his
mother-in-i The man had eft his
Wife He went to see her later at her
mothers home, nut was refused admis-
sion and told 20 stay away He returned
again. however. and was allowed to enter
by his little daughter. The wife was up
stairs, but on hearing voices came to see
who it was. Finding her husband below
she ran away as quickly as pos
sible. The man then went over the
house. and finding the womans mother
dragged her to the woodShed. where he
killed her with a Ratchet. The Ratchet
was, OF course examined by the District
chemist, and found to contain not only
bloodstains but small pieces Of gray hail
which matched perfectly those OF the
murdered woman. The man was found
guilty and executed.
Perhaps one OF the most interesting as
well as widely known cases in which DR.
Lynch has been identified lately was the
Cumberland poisoning case. For con-
siderable time it was thought that the
poison which resulted in the death OF
the man and woman in that case was
Cyanide of potash, which the man had
been using for discriminating insects IN
his orchard. But later theory was adj
vanced as to it's being carbon monoxide
This gained such hold that the bodies
Wer, dsnterred. Blood vessels We're OBJ
tanned from both bodies, samples. being
sent to DIR. Lynch and to another chemist
in Baltimore, each being unaware tha1
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-30

in commenting on this par. the work
said:
There is perhaps no feature of the
educational system for the natives Of
Alaska that has been SO encouraged and
so full of possibilities as the social work.
Bringing us. as it does, into close rela-
ton with young and old, parents and
children it gives US an insight into their
home life and enables US to establish a
friendship and intimacy with the natives
that no amount of routine school work
could ever accomplish.
I'm the social work we see the native
surrounded by his wife and family. and
to be admitted into the circle is the
greatest honor and respect the native
can pay to q white man. If one has
succeeded in gaining his confidence, this
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-30

then proceed along other lines TO verify
that discovery.
And right here DR.. Lynch relates case
in which poison caused all the trouble.
1t started with colored cook at a board
ing house who was accused OF stealing
silverWare and clothing. When confront
ed with her guilt the woman stoutly de
MED any such action, but was discharged
by her mistress. She returned few days
later to obtain her wages, which her
mistress refused to give her until she re-
turned the stolen property. She left, but
again returned and this time talked with
the daughter of the house. Becoming so
violently furious as to brighten the girl,
the latter consulted her mother. leaving
the cook alone in the kitchen. The
daughter later returned with the check.
Shortly afterward the girl made the cof-
fee for the family's breakfast and less
than an hour later all those who had
taken coffee became violently sick. Sew
eral physicians We're summoned, and the
cases pronounced due to poisoning. The
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-30

Washington. When murder is commit
ted and weapon, apparently covered
with blood, is taken from the accused
the statement that it is covered with
actual blood cannot be used as evidence
until DR.. Lynch has by a series of tests
proven that it is blood beyond a doubt.
In cases where clothing may have been
stained and taken for evidence what
appears to be blood beyond doubt may
when tested prove to be nothing more
serious than claret stain And so in or
der that nothing that appears to be other
than It actually is be used as evidence
DR.. Lynch stands by with his test tubes.
Walls. BunSen burners and all the other
paraphernalia which goes to make up a
chemists office ready to tell what it
really It. Nor is this an easy position to-
fill. FIe is not able by merely glancing at
a stained garment to pronounce IL blood
tests. all of which have to be used and
unless the specimen thought to be blood
responds to all il cannot be said
to be blood beyond all shadow OF
doubt And, as in the case of blood, the
tests which have to be made in ascertain
ing whether or not poison has been given
to a person, of which the person has
died. of course, there are other series
which have to be tried-one for finding
out If 1t was an Inorganic poison, an
other to discover If it was an organic
poison. And SO it goes throughout the
entire list OF possible tests which the
District chemist is called upon to make.
No better conception can be obtained
of the scope of the work which DR.
Lynch is called upon to perform than
citing case in which he was slated as
the prime factor. A woman who lived III
the vicinity OF the Catholic University
was one day attacked by an Italian who
also lived in that part of the City. He
dragged her from the road into a little
gulch nearby. He was seen. however by
party of boys, who threw stones at him
and frightened him away. He was later
unprecedented and arrested. while the gar
We're taken as evidence. These were
taken to DR.. Lynch for examination. de
spite the fact that she objected seriously
and asked to have any testimony obtain
ed from an examination kept out of the
trial.
But DIR. Lynch made the examination
and found positive proof OF the mans
criminal intention The testimony, as
had been asked was withheld. and the
jury was unable to agree and a trial
had to be held again at later date.
The attorney for the defense claimed
that the Italian had when a boy been hit
on the head and resultantly was subject
to fits. This necessitated bringing in sew
eral alienists. not only from the District,
but from Baltimore. The jury, however,
did not agree. At the later trial Dr.
Lynch came forward and gave his evil
dence, the fact that he had found traces
of unmistakable criminal intent. and AS
result the jury agreed that he was
guilty, and he was sentenced to fifteen
years in the penitentiary
Nor IS that the only instance in which
the testimony given by DIR. Lynch has
turned the tide of affairs or made clear
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-30

either a delicate or nice undertaking. 1t
must first be reduced to mass, which re-
suit is obtained through the medium of
the usual process OF chopping things i'll
genaral. Then a norton of it is placed III
Il has and heated, acids being added to 1t
until a solution has been obtained. 1t is
this solution which is tested for the
poison
Sometimes" added the doctor, Il am
able to get a statement from the coroner
following the post-mOrtem examination
which will give me clue, or again, the
symptoms may be SO evident as to dis
close the nature Of the poison used, as,
for instance. strychnine, when the results
Of the commissions are plainly visible
But in many cases we have simply to go
through the various tests until we dis
cover Just what poison was used, and
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-30
EDUCATIONAL Crusade

EDUCATIONAL Crusade
A-Sanitary Training
Agricultural Work of the
Schools-Conditions Among
the Native Indians and Eski-
notwithstanding Experience
Of Teachers-Social Work of
Uncle Sam-The Reindeer
Service-A Novel and Prom
ising Industry-Diomede Is
land-King Island.
(Copyrigbt 1911 by William L. AItdorferD
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-30
Heroic Remedy.

From the st. Paul Pioneer Press.
A New York doctor says that those
who sing for an hour every day win not
be bothered by indigestion. However,
they probably will be bothered by the
increasing number of For Rent sigma
in their neighborhood.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-30

IL Is Il story OIL
the natives of
Ala Ska-the AL
askan Indians
and the Eski-
moS-and what
Uncle Sam is
doing for them.
Everybody h a S
heard OF the AL
aska coal lands,
the gold fields a
Yukon the cop
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-30

This was given an excuse for the nom
attendance of one little girl at Killisnoo.
"A native man, who is rather better
educated than the average" says Miss
Mcconnell, 1.-The other day took the United
States history and turned to the account
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-30

most desperate chances, Il. w. Hawkes.
teacher at that station. says:
With the Eskimos cleanliness IS
surely next to goodness, and soap
means of grace. They responded beau
tifully to my appeal and we We're
nearly swamped every Saturday. In
three months, or twelve washing days
we turned out eighty-hve Washlngs
twenty two baths and forty patches or
bread Then the exhausted stove broke
down, the water supply gave out and
we were forced to quit However, VIC
have proved our contention that the
Eskimo will keep clean If YOU give
him chance, and we want a new
range and a box of soap to carry on
the good work next year..
X
southeastern Alaska Miss Louise c.
Mcconnell. writes regarding the tribal GUS
toms OF the natives. She says:
The native and tribal customs of the
Alaska native may appear irrelevant in
a. report of this kind. yet when one is
compelled to use drastic measures to Sc
cure the burial Of a child dead for a
fortnight or for clearing out a multitude
of kinsmen gathered around a sick man
for the purpose of exercising wicked
spirits that are supposed to be the cause
of the malady, or perhaps the stronger
desire to secure distribution of the blan-
kets and family and tribal relies of great
native value. II will be apparent that eff
fective work can be more surely done
when the worker understands the sig
nificance of hideous and savage ceremony,
and perhaps finds something Of social
value IN what would otherwise have no
meaning to one who did not realize that,
for instance. even the use of an Indian
doctors rattle is an evidence of the crude
but strong desire of the native to effect
a cure"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-30

and the proceeds from the sale of meat
and skins was s2465609
AT Diomede Island, in Boring strait.
which canot be reached by any human
being nine months in the year and the
other thre months only by taking the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-30

the opposite of the ravine is cave, int
the mouth of which the sea dashes. and
at the back of the cave is bank of per-
petual snow. On the side of the noun
tain is a shaft from 81 10 100 feet in
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-30
LIS Testimony May Bring

LIS Testimony May Bring
1 1 Down the Scales of JUS
tice of Acquittal or Conviction
Discovering What Poisons
Were Used in Murder Cases
The Blood Tests-Reach-
ing a Conclusion in Many
Well Known Criminal Cases
of the District-The Other
Work of the Chemist-The
Location of the Office.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-30

y court proceedings.
when the scales OF
justice are hanging
in the balance, it
takes but a few
words to tip them.
thereby doing many
thin gs. Sometimes
the scales dip down
on the side of the
accused. and that
person may be sent
TO prison, or dip
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-30

that time had no chemist attached TO Il
1t was not until 1878. urder the then new
form OF government for the District. that
any official was appointed to do such
work At that time Prof. de Smidt was
made chemist for the engineer depart
ment 81 the District. Prof. de Snidt eN-
am!ne0 samples OF milk ana did small
amount OF work in connection with the
police department. II Is interesting To
D1te in connection with Prof. dc Sulidt
that il was according To a patent belong
ing 10 him that the first asphalt pave
ment in the District OF Columbia was laid
by the board of public works. This was a
coal tar pavement, made by George
Scharn. in front of the Arlington Hotel.
from II to ! street. This was laid at the
lnstlgaIion of the then mayor OF the Dis
trlct SaNles j. Bowen, and was the first
successful bituminous roadway ever laid
Following Prof. de Sm.dt came Prof
CLIFFORD Richardson. who. like his prede-
ceSsor, was connected with the engineer
department or the city government. But
he likewise examined milk and articles
for the police department. Prof. Richard
son was appointed in 1887, while in 1894
he was followed by DR. a. w. Dow, who
again acted In a Ike capacity as the two
subsequent officials, II was not until lS.6
that Or iird was appointed as n chemisl
for the health department, and X was
under him that the beginning OF what to-
day represents such an important feature
OF the health department was made. Dr.
has done much To increase not only the
facilities OF the chemical laboratory, but
also its usefulness. Today there Is still a
chemist of the engineer department, bur
the two positions are now entirely sep
arate.
Inasmuch as the law provides that no
weapon found concealed on prisoners
or those which are used as evil
dence in a criminal case, shall be re-
turned, the police department has in the
last several years obtained consider
able collection OF such articles. Some are
OF the latest workmanship and bright.
while others show the mark OF more
ancient make and are still partially COW
cred with the blood stains that were AT
one time examined by the District
chemist.
When the police department head
quarters were situated in the first pre-
cinct station these trophies of the Police
Court cases were placed together and
made 2 very interesting collection Eacil
piece had its own history, and the men
who had been personally connected with
them. or those who had had the tales
handed down TO them. could spin inter
eSting stories. But when the headquar-
tiers We're changed TO their present site.
the District building, it was found that
there was available room in which
they could be placed on exhibition, and
SO they We're relesated TO a lot OF drawers
in a little-used room. Only few are
kept in the safe in the chief clerks Of
flee, and those are not of particularly
bloody nature. But relics OF sew
eral cases which have stirred the citizens
of Washington to the highest possible
pitch still remain, though out of sight, in
the possession OF the department.