davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1911-05-11
CHAPTER l.


THE wardens office in Sing Sing
prison is not pleasant spot in
which to linger, whether you
may be innocent or whether
guilty of crime. AND no more reaS-
surfing could be termed the abrupt,
dominating parsonage who presided
over the dismal destinies Of the office
and institution when occurred the
events chronicled il this narrative.
That a man fated by his choice of
occupation to daily associate intimate
" with criminals of high and low de-
gree and to come constantly in per
sonal contact with all the misery and
depravity going to form the life of
states prison-that a man so fated
should find exquisite enjoyment in ac-
centuating these depressing conditions
is surely a contradiction Of what ordl-
narily would be expected. Humans OF
normal mold are generally occupied i'll
ameliorating the evils and annoyances
of their surroundings. That is nature S
way. Not so with Warden Handler
That which is bad can be made to- be
worse. Innocence can be shown to be
guilt-with the aid of trained wit
nesses. Repentance is always insin-
cere. and if it is not it can be made
So A murderer should be made TO re-
member always his ignominy \ THIEF
should be reminded of his amateurisl
clumSineSS which led him into the
clutches of the central Office men.
That was Handlers philosophy. That
was Handlers way.
And underlying all his petty oppres-
! sion and gross inhumanity was a
cause. deep rooted in a system Of bis
own and of Il race of Jail keepers that
went before him. Exposure? Re
moval? Bah. He had considered all
that. And, if worse came to worse,
| had he not friends in the state senate:
Was there not Il governor who would
need his assistance in the state con
vention when it came to question OF
| delegates: Clearly the possibility OF
| removal was the least of his worries
Warden Handler sat at his polished
oak desk in the middle of his office
| At his left was another desk used by
Smith. bis secretary. At his back the
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1911-05-11
IcoNT1NUED.1
Must Have Been a Storm Scene.


"As perhaps there may be some one
who has not heard the story Of the
Dutch painter, | tell it," says Elihu
Vedder in the Atlantic.
"a person calling on this painter
heard a most Internal uproar in his
studio. Things seemed to be falling
and brass plates flying about, and there
were loud shouts.
"The servant came to the door In a
state Of great anxiety and told the Wis.,
itor at once that the master could not
be disturbed.
II should think he couldn't be much
more than he is said the visitor. But
what under the sun ~ the matter?
He is painting sky"
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1911-05-11
CHAPTER II.

Y WITH an agility surprisingly
in contrast with his former
w s de s'ef,a attitude .sass the he, intend ssar
and raised it threateningly over his
head The two officers halted. Doyle,
regaining a calm demeanor. through
the excellent self control which had
become one of his valuable assets In
his business. spoke easily.
$50 you don't want friend. old
rellowY'
Avery lowered the chair.
No" he snorted. mot any friends
that are coppers. Thieves are bad
enough"
The point of the reply did not escape
Doyle.
Well" he responded angrily. you
have got me for an enemy all the rest
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1911-05-11
OF prisons. He has invented a lock. l

OF prisons. He has invented lock,
believe. that
Let's have him"
The secretary ushered in an earnest
looking man with long. wavy black
halr. He was short and thin.
am Gustave Blickendolfenbach
the great inventor" said the visitor to
the warden. Il have a lock for you to
nkeep the prisoners nit" He bowed
TO the warden and rubbed his hands
complacently.
80 l hear Your lock can't be
picked eh?'
The inventor raised his hands in hor-
ror at the suggestion.
Picked. Pickedr' he calculated
MY lock picked? The whole world it
haff tried it-Germany, France, Eng
land-and even the cleyerest thieves in
Naples. The whole vide world it all it
haH not open without they the key
half"
SO I've heard, but still it might be
picked at that"
1T is maybe I don't understand
plcked-you mean open nit not my
key"
Yes; with q wire orr
"A viren' exclaimed the inventor
"My lock open-that half spend four
teen years to perfect? Nein. 1t is
laughter. vas, but
Handler was growing impatient.
1T will be accepted only on the con-
dition that it cannot be opened with
out key" he pronounced.
The inventor drew himself up proud
ly "Yaw, ind l challenge the world"
he cried confidently.
We'll, all the worlds champions are
III America, you know answered the
warden, land when it comes to genius
III mechanics most Of them are in Jail
Wen have it tried before noon"
The visitor took his precious lock
from his pocket and laid it on the
table in front of the warden, saying:
Il keep the key Now the world can
not my lock open"
1T looks good" commented Han
dler, IF you care to wait III have it
tested"
81 wait. I lofe to see the expert
frown und smile und give it up. 1t is
my joy"
AS the inventor went out to await
the test George Doyle, detective
credited with a long list of important
captures, entered the Office and salut-
ed Handler
isn't Bill Avery to be let loose to-
day." queried the newcomer.
Don't know. Is he? returned the
warden inditferently.
Doyle gazed at the other signif-
cantly.
EYES," he said. Il hear he's very
friendly with Jimmy Valentine. The
way Valentines lawyer is going after
a new trial makes things look danger
GUS"
"What about the man you had make
friends with Valentine in order to get
himself awayY the warden asked
shreWdly.
Doyle shrugged.
Nothing to it. Valentine wouldn't
get confidential with him, but if
could get Avery on my staff to work
for me and squeal on Valentine I'd
get him. I'd be able to keep him from
getting a new trial"
Thus did the detective describe in
his conversation small part Of the
system which his fellow man hunters
find of utility in serving their partic-
ular ends. whatever they may be-the
"stool pigeon" system, which consists
of forcing or persuading released Grim
mails to spy on their companions and
to convey to the police the information
they procure,
Sometimes the detective uses the
knowledge so gained for the purpose
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1911-05-11

curing a division Of i'll gotten spoils.
again for the purpose of obtaining
witnesses who will find it policy to
commit perjury at a trial. and so the
underworld grows suspicious OF its
neighbors and finds danger lurking
where friendships smile is sought.
The warden resumed the CONVERSE
ton.
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1911-05-11
BARBER SHOPS.
FRED ENGELS
ADOLPH APPEL
81 G. ENGELS.
ED. ELLlNGEN,
BARBER SHOP.

| am prepared to attend to tonsorlal work III a
satisfactory manner will continue the River
side laundry of GAINESVILLE, and will run the
Bath Rooms in connection with my shop.
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1911-05-11

tough for him if he was sent back. l
thought he had come to his senses and
would help you against Valentine, but
he's just a plain fool"
"And all alike-all blaming us for
their fall" The detective seated him
self as he spoke. He can't work now;
he's too old. The game as he knew it
was the yegg game"
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1911-05-11
CHAS. WiNN,

THE MODEL BARBER SHOP.
Under the n. T. Martin hardware store, corner
High and Vine streets, Mineral Point.
Tonsorial work done in the latest styles of the
art Satisfaction guaranteed. Call at the model
barber shop.
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1911-05-11

1.-THE Armstrong drama. Of which the
following is the novelized version is based
on 0. Henry's story. "A Retrieved Retor-
nation.
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1911-05-11
The Yukon Climate.

In the Yukon territory the thermome.
ter ranges during at least five months
a year from zero to 70 below.
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1911-05-11
HERMAN WlESEN,

FASHIONABLE BARBER SHOP.
South side of High Street Mineral Point, Wis
Patronage respectfully solicited and satisfac-
ton guaranteed.
Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1911-07-06
COOKE DECLARED NOT GUILTY

Edgar 8. Cooke, who was found not
guilty Of embezzling $24, 900 from the
Big Four railway, was formerly local
treasurer of the road in Cincinnati
and was we'll known in railroad cir
cles. The belief is that the judges
charge helped to free Cooke, Judge
Hunt declaring the testimony OF Mrs.
Ford and of Warmer only made them
equally guilty if Cooke were guilty.
Cooke was the last OF those indict-
ed In connection with the $643,O00
shortage of Charles l.. Warmer, Gin
cinnati treasurer Of the road, to be
tried. First Warmer, indicted On nu-
merous charges, pleaded guilty to one
charging the e~mbezzlement of IS, 900.
He was sentenced to six years in
prison.
Then Mrs. Jeanette Stewart-Ferd,
accused of blackmailing Warmer,
was tried in February, 1910. The
jury in her case disagreed. Finally,
after many delays, Cooke succeeded
in having hiS coSo hroroht into oo,,rr
Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1911-07-06

It is said that the Pacific Coast Dem
ocrats may offer Francis G. Newlands,
United States from Nevada, as a can
didate for the presidential nomination.
Mr.. Newlands, who is now serving
his second term in the senate, is a
Mississippian and was born in the old
city of Natchez in the summer Of 1848.
He entered Yale college in 1863, dur
ing the civil war, and remained until
the middle of his junior year in 1866;
later he studied law at what is now
the George Washington university.
was admitted to the bar in Washing
ton and went to San Francisco to prac-
tice. He removed his Office to Reno,
Nevada, in 1888, and since has been
recognized as one of the ablest and
most influential leaders In his state.
He served ten years in the house
of representatives and was a member
of the Democratic minority Of the
committees on irrigation. foreign
affairs, banking and currency and
ways and means, where he was able
portant legislation OF the period and d
Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1911-07-06
Railroad Holds Enthusiastic NESTING

Railroad Holds Enthusiastic MEETING.
The annual meeting Of the stock
holders of the Statesville Air Line
Railroad Company, held here, was one
OF the Fmost enthusiastic gatherings
OF the railroad promoters ever held
II the attendance were good. The
stockholders from Yadkin and Surry
counties, who had not visited the
scene OF the work on the road, were
taken for a drive over the portion
graded and were much elated over
the progress being made. The reports
OF the officers of the road were very
gratifying. 1t was shown that nearly
five miles has been graded, the work
being first-class and permanent, at a
cost of only $4,000 to the state.
which is furnishing convict labor for
stock in the read. The officers were
urged to make every effort to secure
more ccnvicts for The road. Ali the
directors and officers we're reelected
for another term. and D. NJ. Ausley, of
s~tatesv,lle, and T. L. Adams, Of Beth
any township, were elected additional
directors.
Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1911-07-06
Commission Issues Statement.

AS a result o: the hearing that Com
missioners McNeill and Lee gave at
Lexington two weeks ago, the Corpora
ton commission issued a statement to
the effect that if the town of Licking
ton will provide the proper approaches
for a new railroad crossing at Licking
ton for the Cotton Grove road the
commission will then order the Sou
then Railway to put in the necessary
bridge and other approaches on it's
right OF way in order that the present
dangerous grade crossing can be abol-
ished.
Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1911-07-06
Ice Fund is Getting Low.

Raleigh.-Those who are willing to
relieve much. suffering at a small cost
can do this by leaving with Mr.. j. T.
Pullen or Rev. R. s. Stephenson con-
tributions for the ice fund, which will
be administered by the Associated
Charities. The contributions prev
iously made-including the gift, by a
generous fellow-townsman, of all the
ice needed for a period Of some weeks
now exhausted, but the need is
greater than ever. Contributions left
with either MI. Pullen or Mr.. Stephen
son will be used to best advantages.
Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1911-07-06
textbook Hearing Closed.

The State textbook commission and
sCb.commission has finished the hear
ing of took men on the merits of the
books ley are offering for adoption
Tor use II the public schools of the
state and the sub-commission will
new take a weeks breathing spell, and
taen get to work on theirApersonaI ex-
animation of the books for The Dur
pose of preparing their reports for the
Joint session of the commission and
sab-commission to be held beginning
August 3.
Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1911-07-06
Annual Meeting of Trustees.

A aIiA.aa meeting Of tic board of
trustees oi the State Normal and In
ductrlal College was held with Hon.
j.. \. Jcyner. as chairman, ex-oficio.
entered into the matter Of genera i'm
proycinents. NO important changes
were made. however. Those members
OF the board present were: T.. B.
Bailey, OF Mecksville; A. J. Ccrnor.
OF Rich Square; G. w. Hinsfaw, Of
Winston Salem; T. s. ~McMuran, of
Ilerttord; r. T. Gray, Of Raleigh; Joe
Rossnthaa. OF G%oldsboro; C. ii. Me
bane, Of Catawba.
Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1911-07-06

~ TUtt MVexiu0-Ho40 C~0nter1nc4
with ArehitectssxHd OFFICIALS
: Raleigh.-The State Building Conn
mission. reconxened Tins a ~full meeting
at the State Auditors ONCE. The fol-
owing members were present: Mr..
Ashley Horne, of Clayton, chairman;
Mr.. VIC. Springer. of Wilmington,
secretary; General Julian Carr, Of
Durham; Mr.. J.. A. Long, of Roxboro,
and Mr.. J. Elwood Cox, of High Point,
Commissioners w. L.. Parsons, Of
Rockingham, and A. S. Roscoe, Of
BERTHE county, were absent.
The full commission .met-having
been represented the previous day
by a subcommittee. which conferred
with the architects and the state Of
ificers-in order to go over matters
thoroughly with the architect. AL
lotments of the various state depart
ments were agreed upon-these mat
tiers having been pretty thoroughly
gone over at the Monday session
and all changes necessary for each
department were communicated to the
architect, to be embodied in tn plans
which are now to be drawn.
The commission further made an
agreement with the architect-Mr. P.
Thornton Marye, of Atlanta, with
whom Mr.. Frank B. Simpson, of IRA
leigh, is associated as consulting
architect-that full details and blue
prints should be reported to the com
mission within ninety days. When this
is done, the commission will be
ready to advertise for the construc-
ton of the building.
Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1911-07-06
A New. Directory For RALEIGH.

Raleigh.-President Henry e. Itch
lord, OF the Raleigh Chamber of Com
merce, has appointed the fifteen COM
mlttee chairmen-the nucleus of what
IS known popularity. if not officially,
as the Boosters Club"-and these
!chairmen are already actively at work.
The plan, it will be remembered, is
Tor each chairman to select two fell
low-committeemen, so that the Boost
-ers Club will have enrolled, when CON-
p1eted, forty-ive enterprising men.
Some OF the committees have already
completed their organization.
Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1911-07-06
Guard Shot Escaping Convict.

Tom Browning, a young white man,
WHO is serving a term of three a
on the roads for stealing two COWS,
is at the csunty home with a bullet
through him. the wound being infict-
ed while ile was attempting to soap
Browning chose the time to run when
Guard Ferguson was lifting a bucket
tof water up to his head and had
both arms in position TO be easily at
tackled. But Browning decided not to
90 this, and made a break. He ran
sercnty-ive yards through a thicket,
when the guard caught sight of his
body on the other side and fired. So
Ear as Mr.. Ferguson could see, he did
not hit his man, and he ATTEMPTED
shot, when one of the car
tridges caught in the gun and ne
could not break it. Browning con-
tinued\ to run about $50 yards and
fell. 1t was found that he tau been
struck i'll the back and that the bull
let went directly through, coming out
an inch or SO below his heart.
Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1911-07-06
'nlD0l SIGNED
n GOVERNOR.
CONCERNED WiTHrEARL COTTON
AND RED HOPKINS IN MUIR
DER. CASE.
SERVED OVER TWO YEARS
Was Sentenced to Ten Years But Was
Pardoned Upon Condition of Good
8saavior-Reason Are Assigned
For The Action TaIsen.

Raleigh-A sequel to the convic-
ton OF Tim Holderiieid, Earl Cotton
and Red Hopkins in April, 1909, for
the murder OF DIR. Il. W. Smith, "a
Richmond travelling man, is a condi.
ticnal pardon by which Governor
Kitchin allows HOiderfield his free
dom & ring good behavior. 1t will be
RENE bered that HoIderfield was con-
victed of murder in the second de-
gree and sentenced to ten years in the
States Prison, OF which sentence he
has served something over two years.
Earl Cotton is still in the p%enitentiary,
serving a thirty-year sentence, and
Red Hopkins has completed his SEN
tence.
The Governor has assigned the fol-
lowing reasons for the conditional
pardon:
Prisoner with the others was con
victed of murder in the second de-
gree. The principal offender was sen
fenced to thirty years. Hclderfeld
was in his employ and acted under his
direction. The murde err was the re-.
suit of drugging for robbery. The
prisoner got o of the spoils and
had nothing to do with the drugging.
The police justice who conducted the
preliminary investigation, the twelve
jurymen vito tried the case, the.trial
Judge, the solicitor, the attorney who
aided the solicitor, and many other
reputable citizens recommend pardon.
prisoners was not regarede as a vici-
Gus a
Il pardon prisoner on condition
that he remain law abiding and of
good behavior"
Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1911-07-06

who took a n interest in the lad raj the late Frank Hatton, a passenger on the
car and then the publisher of a Washington paper. He had the boy removed
to a hospital and later took such an in terest in him that he provided means
TO- his education. Ferris was a quick and ambitious youth and turned out
a credit o his benefactor. @.#
After leaving school he turned his attention to the stage. He formed a
stock company in Minneapolis which proved the foundation of his fortune.
Later he went to Los Angeles, where his theatrical ventures proved success
full He hen turned his attention o other ventures, investing heavily in oil
and fruit orchards, and rapidly accumulated wealth.
Last falfhe entered the arena of politics and was a candidate for lieutenant
governor IN a Independent ticket. Now he finds himself the president If a.
fulfedged republic, which la not prove ephemeral
Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1911-07-06
GOULD OUT AS ROADS HEAD

The recent abdication of George
Geuld from the presidency of the Mis-
souri, Pacific the keynote of the fam
ily's great system Of roads, was a con-
fession that the fight of nineteen
years with himself on one side and
Hartman, the New York Central,
Pennsylvania, Baltimore C Ohio and
other big railroads on the other, has
ended in defeat. In the language Of
Wall street, they've got" George
Gould.
The fight against George Gould was
waged ever since his father died in
December, 1892, with intermission.
His first heavy battle was when he
met Edward H. Hartman and Edwin
Hawley in a fight for control of the
Colorado Fuel and Iron company in
1902. Without much difficulty he
worsted them, but hat fight was to-
have great influence on his future ca
reer, for it was then that he began
tho foy1 with JJorr3~,o- that -.:xl
Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1911-07-06
viii Speak at S:rithfieId.

Col T. A. ODDS has received, through
Mr.. ". NJ Sanders, of Smithfeld. an
invitation to address, on July 8. a big
gathering Of the Johnston county
farmers. III Smitliield. The occasion
viii be the annual meeting of the
Johnston County Farmers Union. Be-
sides the address OF Col Odds, which
will lie on Good Roads, there will
be addresses On education. It is ex-
pected that nearly three thousand peo-
pie viii be present. These will be
he features of the gathering. which
Will last TIE better part Of tine day,
Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1911-07-06

TO RULE a YOUNG REPUBLIC

From n hungry newsboy on the
streets OF Washington to the presiden-
cy Of the youngest republic In the
world is the remarkable record OF
Dick Ferris OF Los Angeles. Coinci-
dentally with the revolution in Mexico
headed by Madero there broke out a
revolt against Mexican authority In
Lower California and one OF those who
encouraged it and helped to finance It
was Ferris. A flibustering expedition
fitted out by Ferris left San Francisco
for Lower California and without
much OH struggle the weakened au-
thorfty Of Mexico was overthrown and
the republic Of Lower California Gre
ated. OF this new republic Ferris has
been elected president.
Ferris was q "newsy" on the streets
of Washington twenty years ago and
found the battle Of life a hard one.
One cold night after he had sold a pa
per or two on a street car he was In
jured while stepping of and one OF.
his arms was broken. One Of those
Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1911-07-06
Entitled to Foreclosure.

For non-payment of interest on an
unredeemed mortgage held by J. W.
Perry and others OF Virginia, Judge
). c. Pritchard OF the United States
circuit cour signed q decree at Ashe-
vile ordering the Navy Yard Home
Corporation of Charleston, S.. c., to
pay to the clerk of the United States
circuit court the sum of $82,935
within the next ten days. The COM
plalnants according to the decree are
entitled to the foreclosure of the mort
gage. a sale OF defendants property
ano a judgment for any deficiency
after the sale.
Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1911-07-06

rre intervals of u lasted until h lauers death n afterward
through the survival Of the Hartman tradition.
The next time Gould and Hartman Joined battle was in 1909 Could
planned, as his father had planned, to be the owner of the first transconunl
entails system n in 1903 he made the boast that within 18 months h e would
have ais system from ocean to ocea complete. But the interests opposed
him we're too powerful n his ov were checkmated. The anic Of
1907 sent four Of hisr roads into the hands of receyers--the Western Mary
land, the Wabash-Pttsburg Terminal the Wheeling & Lake Erie and thu In
ternatonal & Great Northern, Still b e did not give TO- But after his III
fight on his side al a losing n for morelth han a ear it was te be-
lief in Wall street hat the n of his onroro Of thu Missouri Pacific was in
sight. 49, ~ =
Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1911-07-06
Roads Macadamized by convicts.

Since" December l, 1906, there have
been II 1-2 miles of macadam roads
placed in Mecklenburg county to con-
vic labor. Some time ago Chairman
w. M. Long, of the board of county
commissioners. asked County Engi-
neer Sam T. Stowe to compile a state
ment OF the work which has been
Done and. Of the roads which have
been macadamized, during his ad.
1E~inistration.