davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1912-06-27
STRICKEN AT BOSTON /
Manager Harry PenniweII Taken III
while in Boston on Business.
Was Operated on Sunday.

Harry Penniwell, the popular
manager of the Clarinda Poultry,
Butter and Egg Co., in this city, was
stricken with illness at Boston last
Saturday, and taken at once to hos
pital where the physicians decided
that it was necessary to operate up
on him at once, and this was done.
Mr.. Penniwell had gone east just
week previous, having been selected
by the officers of the Clarinda Poultry
Co., from among all their managers,
to make tour of inspection OF the
markets in the principal cities of the
east When he left Leon Harry was
not feeling we'll, but started on the
trip. A telegram was received 10y
his wife Sunday about noon. simply
saying that he was in hospital IN
Boston on the danger list. Mrs.
.Penniwell and her brother-in-laW,
Will F. Lindsey, drove to Osceola
Sunday afternoon and took the first
train for Boston, reaching that city
Tuesday morning. In the meantime
Bell & Robinson had wired Lewis K.
Leggitt, president of the United
Drug Co., the Rexall people, who
lives at Boston, to look after Mr..
Penniwell, and Monday message
was received saying that he was
operated upon Sunday, the opera
ton disclosing that he was suffering
from ulcers of the stomach, which
had eaten through the lining of the
stomach, peritonitis developing and
the bowels were punctured. Mr..
Liggett saw that he was provided
with a private room and private
nurse, and was receiving every at
tention. but said his condition, while
not hopeless, was very grave. A
message from Will Lindsey Tuesday
evening conveyed the welcome news
that his condition was improved, and
that he was doing very nicely. The
many friends of Mr.. Penniwell sim
cerely hope that he may recover
from his trouble and be restored to
good health again.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1912-06-27
Umphress-Dodd.

On last Thursday, June Goth, Mr..
Clarence E. Umphress and Miss Faye
Dodd, both of Garden Grove, were
married at the home of the groom's
sister, Mrs. Wesley c. Osborn, in this
city, tho ceremony being performed
by Rev. E. N. Bradshaw, pastor of
the Leon Presbyterian church. These
young people are very popular;
among a large circle of friends. at
Garden Grove, where they have re-
sided practically all their lives, and
the hearty congratulations of the en-.
tire community are extended to-
them. They are most estimable
young people, and start on LIES
journey with a bright future before
them Mr.. and Mrs. Umphress Will
go to housekeeping at once at Car
den Grove. Ss, .
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1912-06-27
Scouts to Have a Fine Outing.

The Leon Boy Scouts will start
next Monday on a pleasant outing,
liking it to Keokuk, under command
of their scoutmaster, Rev. E. N.
Bradshaw. The boys will be accom-
panied by wagon to carry supplies
and bedding as they will camp out
on the way and are looking forward
TO the trip with great anticipations.
The Scout movement is growing all
over the country, and the Scouts are
the kind of boys who are going to
make the coming men of this coun-
try. They are taught the benefits
of strict discipline, how to care for
themselves in case of an accident,
and all the good things which 60
towards making real men of them.
Of course, in all such. things there
must be a commander and the Scout
master is the general, his orders
Which are not severe must be obey
cd, and every good scout cheerfully
obeys the commands of his superior
officers. We expect the boys will
have some fine stories to tell when
they return from their outing.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1912-06-27
Should Caution Children,

Parents should take the trouble
to caution their children about
jumping on moving autos. 1t is a
common thing to see boys and some
times little girls in Leon, run out
and climb on passing auto, and
some of these days some one will be
badly hurt. The drivers of cars IN
this, city have been greatly annoyed.
by children, not that#they are 20 aei-
fish that they would refuse, To gsxe
the youngsters a, ride, but from nfhe
fear, that some child would be- hurt,
and then the driver would be
blamed. A driver cannot turn his
head and notice whether child is
climbing on the rear of his car, and
every child should be cautioned to
stay away from the autos. Another
practice which should be stopped is
that of children running out in the
road and trying to see how close an
auto can come to them before they
move out of the street. 1t is hard
matter to judge the speed of a car,
and the driver does not know which
way the child is going to run, and
frequently will turn his car in the
same direction. A little good talk
ing to by the parents will do a lot
of good in this matter, and do it now
before your child gets hurt.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1912-06-27
Children's Day at the Christian
Church.

Next Sunday night the Children's
program will be given at the Chris
tian church. We are somewhat de-
layed in this owing to some other
work that interfered with the pre-
paration for the program. The
children however, are working hard
this week and will have something
good for all who come to the ex-
ercises Sunday night, June 80. The
morning services will be held as
usual. We would like to see more
of the. old members of the church
at the Bible School. Last Sunday the
school numbered 1856. This may
seem good, but if the older men,
ihers would come as they should we
could have 200 tor more. Will you
not make an effort to be in the
Bible school next Sunday? The new
fans have been installed and We will
try and keep cool. The fans had to
be changed on account of changing
from direct to an alternating cur
rent.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1912-06-27
New Court Cases.

Federal-Huber Co. VS.. c. H. Cud-
ney. Suit is brought on an account
for goods sold and delivered to de-
fendant on which they claim a bal
ance due them of $224.89. B. M.
Russell attorney for plaintiff.
w. l.. Barry vs.. A. Ironside. The
plaintiff brings suit for damages in
the total sum of $1,045.25 and for
reason of his demand states that In
1903 or 1904 he obtained permis-
sion from the town council of Leon
to erect and maintain a shed along
the east side of his building on the
south side of the square for the pur-
pose of covering machinery which
could not be taken into his store,
said shed to extend into the street
not more than ten feet and it was
understood and agreed between the
town council and plaintiff that said
shed should remain there until such
time as the council required walk
to be placed there. He alleges in
his petition he fastened said shed
to his building and that recently
without any notice being served on
him or order made by the city coun-
Gil, the defendant, who is city mar
shall of Leon entered upon PLANTING
property and tore down and moved
said shed away. That the lumber
was broken and split and the walls
of his building were damaged and his
machinery exposed to the elements.
He claims he was damaged in the
sum of $500 to his building and 800
to the machinery. He also alleges
that defendant took and converted
to his own use lot of farm imple-
ments, tanks, etc, the value OF
which is $645.25, and still retains
said property in his possession and
refuses to return the same. Marion
Woodard attorney for plaintiff.
Hershey State Bank Of Muscatine
VS.. VIM. F. Henderson, ct al. Suit
is brought to foreclose mortgage
given to secure note for $6, 1880.
S. Varga attorney for plaintiff.
Mary Bowman VS.. J. Riley Bow
man. The parties were married
near Pleasanton, Iowa, on March ~,
1900, and lived together until April
25, 1909, when he deserted her and
has ever since absented himself. She
asks for a decree of divorce, the
custody of their five children, 800
temporary and $1,000 permanent
alimony. A. P. Olsen attorney for
plaintiff.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1912-06-27
Alumni Banquet.

The second annual Alumni Ban
quet Of the Leon high school will
be held in the basement of the NJ.
E. church on Friday evening, June
2Sth, at 1880 o'clock. Every
alumnius is invited to attend and
will be allowed to bring one guest.
Tickets will be Is cents. No tickets
will be sold later than Wednesday
evening, June 26th, as notice must
be given the ladies who serve the
banquet, how many plates will be
served. Tickets should be secured
early for there is a limited amount
to be sold which are on sale at Van
Werden & Kopp's and Bell & Rob-
inson's drug stores. Invitations
have been sent out but as the
alumni list is incomplete a general
invitation is issued to all high school
alumni. If a reservation of tickets
is desired by parties living at dis
tance, phone Miss Ruth Farquhar.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1912-06-27
Another Crime at Villisca.

Between the hours of twelve and
one o'clock Sunday morning Harri-
son Kelso, of Creston, who is as
sisting the Villisca officials in the ef-
fort to detect the perpetrator of the
first crime, was shot, but not serious
ly injured in the sleeping quarters of
Henry Overman, the night watch
man at Villisca, which are located
in the second floor of the postoffice
building. A local character by the
name of William Spargur is the per-
son who made the attempt to take
the life of Mr.. Kelso. He had gone
to the rooms of Overman and wanted
to leave large bottle of whiskey
there. The night watchman refused
to allow him to leave the whiskey
in the room and hot words followed.
kelso was also at the bottom of the
stairs and hearing the quarrel he
went to the rooms and soon became
involved in the trouble.
Spargur was in an ugly mood and
he twice knocked Kelso down but
the latter, seeing that nothing but
fight would end matters, struck Spar
CUR and knocked him to the floor.
@Ao uC al OoC uC puIlCu a 1oA sc Z y SoA-
ibre revolver which kelso was carry
ing in a holster, but Kelso caught
the mans hand between his legs and
held it SC that the revoi'er could
not be discharged. He called for
Overman to take the gun and the
watchman took hold of it by the bar
rel and supposed he had a tight
enough grip to retain it, but as Kel-
So released the pressure of his limbs,
Spargur pulled the revolver from
Overman's hand and shot. The bull
let scraped the right side of Kelso's
head just above the eye and landed
in the ceiling.
The revolver was fired at close
range and in consequence, Kelso's
face was literally peppered with
powder. Kelso was not seriously in
jured but it was a close call and
the wound very painful.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1912-06-27
Scarcity of Flies.

At this time, almost July I, Leon
is practically free from flies
screens not needed except to keep
out night insects. This result Is due
in a great measure to the swat the
fly campaign which has been waged
and the efforts made early in the
season to keep the town clean. Flies
never 60 far from their birth place,
and any town can keep them out by
simply destroying their breeding
places in filth.
But flies will come yet and people
should be on their guard to destroy
every place in which the eggs can
hatch. Also catch the female flies.
Put trap over your garbage can and
it will catch most of the flies on the
premises.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1912-06-27
Work on Coffin Hill Finished.

The extensive work on the big
Coffin hill just south of the Burling-
ton depot is now completed, and it
is fine piece of road improvement.
The cost of cutting down the hill,
raising the grade at the bottom of
each side of the hill, Strengthening
out the twists at the bottom of the
hill,. and widening the sharp turn at
the other side of the hill cost right
at $1,000, goodly portion of which
sum was donated by the business
men and auto owners Of Leon C.
NJ. Axes and E. Housh, who have
been in charge of this big piece OF
work, deserve the thanks of every
one who ever travels over the road.
For three weeks they have given all
of their time to this work, in addition
to making very substantial dona-
tion towards the work
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1912-06-27
twenty-five YEARS Ago
Items Taken from the Files of The
Reporter Published a Quarter
of a Century 400.

Henry Lunbeck left for his home
in New York after visit with his
parents and many friends in this
city.
D. w. Wood, of Sioux City, one of
the attorneys in the famous Had
dock murder case, had been spend
ing few days in Leon on business.
Sheriff j. w. Honnold took James
Leavenworth, Kansas, where he ex-
pected to spend his declining years.
1t was estimated that more than
a thousand people attending a big
basket meeting held the previous
Sunday at Weldon.
Postmaster E. K. Pitman had re-
ceived notice of an increase of $10O
per year in the salary of the Leon
postmaster.
Major J. L. Young had returned
from a sojourn of several months in
Kansas and Colorado.
A. n Fraser, for many years the
station agent of the C. B. & @. at
Leon had rendered his resignation
and left with his family for his old
home at Peru, Illinois, where he had
real estate interests to look after.
Leon was arranging for big cele-
bration on July Fourth, with Hon.
T. B. Perry, of Abba, as the orator
of the day.
Will Cherry, of Creston, visited
over Sunday in Leon the guest of his
cousin, Edgar McClelland.
Mrs. Col Ketcham, of Milo, had
been visiting for a few days at the
home of her parents, Mr.. and Mrs.
j. B. Lunbeck, and accompanied her
brother, Henry Lunbeck, to New
York City to spend the summer.
Misses Julia B. Hoadley, Cora
Brooks, Sue Young and Fannie Da-
Wis we're arranging to attend the
meeting of the National Educational
Association at Chicago July 18th to
18th.
DR.. Hildreth traded his opera
house block to Frank N. Slade, of
Columbus, Ohio, for 26O acres OF
land in Morgan township and
$4,000 in cash.
Mr.. w. H. Wise, of Garfield,
Colorado, was. visiting at the home
of his father-in-law, Mr.. j. B. War
ing. .,..,.
Messrs.. J.. Abernathy and w. A.
Kirkpatrick were getting ready to
leave Leon, having closed a trade by
which they disposed of their property
in Leon. They, traded with Mr..
George Foreman, of Coon Rapids.
getting q nillsproperty and residence
in exchange isr thass stock Of goods
store building and, residences.
New potatoes were selling for 50
cents per bushcl.
r. L. Parrish returned on the
train from Lake Okoboji, leaving the
other Leon fishermen to drive
through with the team. He reported
that their original supply of bread
one loaf, was not yet entirely eater
up, but the supply of bait had beer
replenished several times.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1912-06-27
Cannon Ball Trail to be Extended to
Quincy.

A meeting of the good roads en-
thusiasts along the Cannon Ball
Trail will be held at Trenton, Mo-,
on Monday, July 8th, to make ar
rangements to extend the trail east
to Quincy. An invitation is extend
ed to every auto owner along the
Cannon Ball to attend the meeting
at Trenton, and take some good
roads boosters with him. The Can
non Ball is getting to be big trail,
with branch trails running in all d.
rections, and this move to extend
the trail east to Quincy, ILL.,, and also
southwest to Kansas City, is arous-
ing great enthusiasm along the pro-
posed line.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1912-06-27
No Developments in Villisca Tragedy.

More than two weeks have pass
ed since the terrible tragedy at the
little town of Villisca when eight
persons were foully murdered by g
fiend who used an axe to kill j..
B. Moore and his entire family and
the two little Stillinger girls who
were spending the night at the
Moore home. All kinds of rumors
have been af1oat, but there has been
no foundation for any OF them, and
the detectives who have been work.
ing on the case are absolutely at sea.
Tn murderer apparently covered his
tracks to perfection and left no
clew. Suspicion at the time of the
commission of the crime pointed
strongly to a brother-in-law OF Mr..
Moore, named Meyer, as there had
been trouble some years before be-
tween them, but fortunately for
Meyer, it was shown that it would
hav been absolutely impossible for
him to- have been at Villisca the
night the Moore family were killed
and reached the point in Nebraska
where he was located the following
morning Several tramps and other
suspicious characters have been ar
rested at different places, but they
were all released as they had evil
IDENTIFY had nothing to do with the
murder. A sister of the Stillinger
girls went to Monmouth, Illinois, to
try and identify man under arrest
in that city as the fellow who had
accosted her in the school house
yard the Saturday night previous to
the murder, but she failed to iden-
tify the man and he was released. "
Local interest is added to the
tragedy from the fact that John
Beavers, brother of J. K. and c..
p. Beavers, of High Point. who re-
sides at Villisca, married cousin OF
Mr. Moore. =
A nice point of law in connection
with the payment of the life insur-
ance policies carried by Mr.. Moore
has already developed. Mr.. Moore
carried $1,000 insurance all in
favor of his wife. If it were proven
that Moore was slain first this money
would have to, be paid to his wife's
relatives, but if she we're the first to,
be killed, then Mr.. Moore's relatives
would be the beneficiaries. The pre-
sumption, however, is that the two
were murdered at the same time and
in this event the money would be
divided between the two estates.
Mr.. Moore carried $4,000 in the
Modern Woodmen of America, $2,-
900 in the Northwestern, $1,000 in
the Interstate Business Mems Asso-
citation of Iowa and $4,000 in the
National Life Insurance company OF
Des Moines.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1912-06-27
Scouts to Hike to KeOkuk.

Everything will be in readiness to
start on the Keokuk hike next Mon
day, July 1st. The boys have been
looking forward to this great trip
for several months, and now that it
is about to be realized it might seem
to some "too good to be true We
our tents and all needful camping
and cooking utensils. So the boys
will have nothing to carry except
their scout slaves to help them along
the way. Several of the boys have
become second class scouts and it is
our purpose to use our signal code
with local scouts along the route of
advance, and at Keokuk We aim to
take our scouts across the Mississippi
and send messages from the Illinois
shore back to our home state to the
Keokuk boys on the opposite side of
the largest river in the world.
The Lamont scouts through their
scoutmaster, have written us asking
to 90 with us as it was impossible
for their scoutmaster to take them,
but since our arrangements had al
ready been completed we regret that
at this juncture it will be impossible
to accommodate any more boys than
We now have arranged for.
The people of Leon will hear
from US through our local papers, as
it will be the duty of the scouts in
turn to report daily the progress of
the journey. The parents will re-
ceive cards from their boys from day
to day as we journey along. Par
ents will please see that the boys get
the equipment recommended, es-
pecially that proper walking shoes
with heavy soles and high tops be
provided.
At Keokuk we are planning to
take side trip on the boat, perhaps
to Quincy and back, but it will be
impossible for US to linger SO very
long at any one place. Yet We will
get acquainted with the boy scouts
in every town.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1912-06-27
To Be Branch of CannOnbalI.

Five automobiles containing 21
men, of Newtown, worked all day
Monday on the road between New
town and the John Powell place.
Teams were hired and the roads
graded, culverts filed in and the
rocks picked up and the road put
in excellent condition. This is a
branch of the Cannon Ball Trail
which runs from Leon, Iowa, to
Chillicothe, Mo. The men were in
Princeton for dinner and plans were
considered for the completion of the
branch through Princeton. This
would be great benefit to Mercer
county as it would form line that
would run across the middle of the
county connecting with the trail on
the western side of the county
Princeton Telegraph.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1912-06-27
Harrison Gets School Contract al
GAINESVILLE.

Chas. H. Harrison, the st. Joe
contractor who built the new Bur
lington depot in this city, was last
week awarded the contract for the
new addition of the High School
building at GAINESVILLE, his bid being
about $500 below the next lowest
bidder. The new addition will be
42x5O feet, two stories, and the up
stairs of the old building will also
be remodeled. Crichton & Son, OF
Leon, have been awarded the con-
tract for a new heating plant for
tn building.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1912-06-27
Bright-Fenton.

Mr.. Maurice C. Bright and Miss
Lulu Fenton, two we'll known young
people residing near Lineville, came
to Leon last Saturday, accompanied
by several of their young friends,
and were married at the clerks Of
fee, the ceremony being performed
by Justice A. R. Warford. These
young people will 60 to housekeeping
at once or a farm and many friends
extend congratulations and wish
them every happiness and an abund-
ance of prosperity.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1912-06-27
Presbyterian Church Notes.

Children's Day exercises were
held last Sunday evening instead of
being held as advertised on next Sun
day evening. This change was due
to the fact that. Mrs. Johnston, our
organist, is to leave us this week.
The program was complimcnted as
showing splendid talent and reflect
ed credit on both Mrs. Smith and
Mrs. Johnston who trained our chill
dren. Church services as usual next
Sabbath, to which the public is in
vited. Open air services at p. m.
Special sermon.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1912-06-27
New Bank Officers.

At a meeting of the directors of
the Exchange National Bank of Leon
on Tuesday, several new officers
were elected, the change being caus-
ed by the vacancy arising over the
death of President J. P. Hamilton.
A. L. Ackerley, who was vice presi-
dent, was elected president and
Harry J. .Vogt elected vice president.
The vacancy on the board of direct
ors was filled by the election of o. E.
Hull as director.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1912-06-27
Summer School is Over.

The Decatur County Summer
School and Normal Institute closed
Tuesday, after a session of a little
over three weeks. The total enroll
ment of the session was 1875. The
regular teachers examination which
follows the Summer School COM
menced yesterday morning in charge
of county superintendent J. w. Long,
and will continue for three days, a
large number of the students re-
naming to take the examination.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1912-06-27
Bethany Wants New Court House.

A special election will be held in
Harrison county, Missouri, on July
9th, to vote on the question of issu-
ing bonds in the sum of 100000 to
build a new court house at Bethany.
Ridgeway and some of the other
towns are fighting the proposition,
but the indications are that the prop
osition will carry by good majority.
1t ought to carry, for Harrison
county deserves a better court house
than the old shell they are now US
ing for a court house.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1912-06-27
Lost a Valuable Imported Mare.

Sherm Rumley, who lives just
north of Leon, lost a valuable i'm
ported mare one day last week. The
mare was three years old and was
imported by Mr.. Rumley last fall,
being the only imported mare in De-
catur county. The animal was sick
but a few hours, having some kind
of heart trouble. The mare was
valued at $1,000, and we understand
that Mr.. Rumley carried insurance
on her of $500. -
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1912-06-27
Henry Bowman Died Suddenly In
Des Moines.

Henry Bowman, for many years
resident of Leon and Davis City,
dropped dead on the street at Des
Moines about midnight Tuesday.
Mr.. Bowman until recently had been
living in Kansas City, but for the
past three months had been clerking
in a hotel in Des Moines He was
troubled with heart trouble and had
started across the street to get some
medicine when he fell dead. ~