davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1912-09-13

while he could, while the winged hand
of opportunity was reached out to
him. Money was the only actual pow
er that could be stored away, against
the time of need Everything else
was like fairy gold yellow oal leaves
on the morning after. Still, Stetheim-
er feared to abandon the case to sub
ordinates and go out of St Louis. He
would be open to the charge of hav-
ing been purchased by the defendant;
besides that, the assistant district at.
torney would step up into his place
before the public eye. He must find
some other way.
In his extremity. he determined to
apply to the Judge for a postponement
of the trial until the next term of
court. This would give him an oppor-
tunity to meet the bankers in New
York, and still conduct the case. He
went at once to the judge and explain
ed that he had just discovered a posi-
BILE connection of several other prom
inent persons with the wrecking of
the Patton National bank, and that,
before he cross-examined Jeremiah
Patton, he wished thoroughly to in
vestigate this evidence and fortify
himself with all the details. This
would take considerable time. Stet-
heimer strengthened his suggestion
with excellent arguments-it was a
matter of the greatest public impor.
lance; thousands Of helpless deposit
tors relied wholly on the courts to In
sure the fidelity of their bankers
swift, complete, ruthless punishment
of every person involved, high or low,
was their only safeguard. He wished
to ferret cut every one of the Grim.
inals concerned, to run them down,
brand them as thieves, and hand them
over to the warden of the penitentiary,
and the judge must give him ample
time in which to do this. In fact, 1t
was duty owed to the whole peo'
pie of Missouri. The judge decided
finally that, If these were the facts,
he would direct continuance upon
the motion of the district attorney.
Stetheimer went then to the attor-
neys for jeremiah Patton. He said to
them that his wife was i'll, threatened
with appendicitis, it was thought: that
he wished to take her at once to Phil
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1912-09-13

I adelphia; that he would probably be
| required to remain there during the
| operation and the convalescence Of the
| to postponement Of the case until
J the following term. The attorneys
courteously expressed their regret,
| but replied that this was a criminal
| trial, and that they could not consent
to any order, no matter what. Still,
they could not see how their client
would be prejudiced by such Q con.
tinuance, and If the judge wished to
enter such an order, they would make
| no vigorous oral argument against it.
When the court convened on Mon
day morning, the judge made the con-
tinuance upon the motion of the dis
| trict attorney. This motion was not
strenuously resisted by the counsel for
jeremiah Patton. They offered a for
NAL objection for the prisoner, which
was overruled, and the exception was
entered on the record. The Judge dis
charged the Jury, ordered new panel
and took up the trial of some petty
revenue cases, the assistant district
attorney appearing for the govern.
ment
Stetheimer explained the meaning
Of this continuance to the public by
covertly suggesting the story told to
! the Judge. The public was sppeased
with the promise of more and promin-
ent victims, and the district attorney
stood justified in the conduct of his
case. Moreover, his reputation for
shrewdness was established, and his
figure as a far-sighted. incorruptible
public servant on the trail Of higher
thieves heightened, widened, loomed
larger. He left Immediately for New
York accompanied by his wife, wLo
was taken to the station in sn amhu-
lance
Jacob Solmeyer arranged a meeting
of some Of the more prosperous loi,k-
ing of his clients and took the district
attorney before them. They discussed
the problems of the great combine,
questioned the lawyer at length UPON
the status of their rights under the
interstate Commerce Act, the passi.
bility of a Federal investigation, the
effect Of such move on tbs bones Of
the trust as a security, and the
scope Of the act in it's criminal fea-
lures.
The district attorney ssurreS over
the difficulties In the Fetsral statue,
pointing out that the sect!en providing
individual punishment for violation Of
the act was already a dead letter, that
the act itself was largely busaboo to
appease the farmer. He urged the
combine and promised immunity in
Missouri. Solmeyer's DANGERS" ad-
journed without finally determining
upon the loan to the contemplated
combine. However, they agreed to
employ the district attorney, in case
the loan was made, and to pay him
twenty-five thousand dollars a year.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1912-09-13
Musical Swiss Horses.

The Swiss horse is apparently q
very musical animal-or not, accord
ing to the hearers ear. Strings OF
bells are hung round their necks, pro-
ducing a musical jangle at every step.
Some of the horses with the most
bells, noticed, were the thinnest-
apparently they went without food to
buy bells. A horse like that ought to
be restrained.
should not care to be horse in
Switzerland. Hitherto had found the
people extremely kind and consider
ate to their animals. Probably they
are not Intentionally unkind to their
horses in Switzerland, but it seems
to me they are a trif1e inconsiderate.
Nearly every driver, for some undis-
coverable reason, carries a fire buck
ct; this, when not in use q never did
see one in use, and have no idea what
they are carried for), is slung on the
shafts Immediately under the horses
nose. In the winter such a practice
may be grateful and comforting, but in
the summer time it seems to me, a
horse should be able to keep its own
nose wainwright even prefer to-
From the Wide World.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1912-09-13
TIE dislnd- a1orneY was on
bis fet.

might attempt to bring the matter in
to court, and thereby affect the bonds
of this syndicate, which they would
hold as their security. If, however,
the principal Office of this great pro-
jected company could be placed in
some large city Of the west, where the
district attorney of the United States
was a person of conservative ideas,
they would furnish the money; other
wise they would not. Solmeyer rep
resented these bankers, and this was
the problem they had presented to
him for solution. He had gone care
fully over the entire field, and finally
settled upon the district attorney of
st. Louis as filling every requirement
of his clients. If he could act,
Solmeyer would pay him i've thousand
dollars as a retainer; then, when the
bankers held their meeting in New
York, he could come before them and
arrange about his annual retainer.
The size of this annual retainer Sol
meyer hesitated to suggest, but in
timated something in the neighbor.
hood of twenty thousand dollars.
The district attorney glowed with
Joy and increased Importance, put the
five thousand dollars in his pocket,
and Jacob Solmeyer returned to his
office in New York.
The trial of jeremiah Patton con-
tinued. All the affairs of the bank
were gone into. Masses of documen-
tary evidence were introduced. The
district attorney was determined to
make his reputation on this case. He
burned with dramatic pose every piece
Of red fire that he could lay his hands
on. The courtroom swarmed with re-
porters. The evidence was printed in
detail IN all the great dailies. Patton
was looked upon as an intolerable
scoundrel who had wrecked the bank
of which he was president, and looted
his depositors by borrowing on worth
less securities great sums for COM
pany which he owned.
On a Saturday afternoon, the dis
trict attorney closed for the govern
ment and rested his case. On the fol-
lowing Sunday Jacob Solmeyer tele-
graphed the district attorney that
there would be meeting of the bank
ers on Tuesday evening, and to come
at once to New York. Stetheimer call
ed Solmeyer by long-distance tele-
phone, explained his situation In re-
gard to the Patton trial, and asked
If the meeting could not be postponed.
Solmeyer answered that postpone
ment was impossible, that some mem
bers of the syndicate were the heads
Of great banking houses in Europe and
could not await any mans convent
ence; that the district attorney must
attend the meeting, or return the re-
tainer paid to him and abandon the
scheme.
Uncertain what course to follow. the
district attorney took counsel with his
wife. She advised him to get rich
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1912-09-13

to arrange 1t, The people are mad
for sacrifice. A jury could not be
got that would acquit a bank presi-
dent under such circumstances. Bel
mont Lane has brought me UP to the
door of the penitentiary. The United
States court will put me inside and
turn the key in the lock-"
Randolph Mason paid not. the slight
est attention to the mans words. He
merely repeated the last sentence of
Ills statement.
when you are acquitted" he said.
you will come at once to me, and !
will adjust the remaining features of
this problem"
jeremiah Patton returned to st.
Louis on that very evening, and fol-
lowed the order of subsequent events
In the newspapers of that city. The
Federal court was at that time open.
ing its session. An indictment was
found. Patton's attorneys demurred
to this indictment. This demurrer
was overruled. They then demanded
an immediate trial, and the court or
dered the case to jury. Two weeks
were consumed in the examination of
talesmen; new panels were obtained
and almost wholly rejected. 1t seemed
that every man in the city had con.
eeived an opinion against the prisoner
Finally curious medley of jurors was
secured, and the government began
the introduction of it's testimony
Up to this time, Mason had done
nothing. Now he sent for Jacob Sol
meyer, a lawyer of considerable prom.
inence, and explained to him what he
was to do. / know in detail how Sol
meyer carried out his instructions:
He went at once to st. Louis and
called on the district attorney. He
explained that certain large OPERATOR
of Chicago and Kansas City were la
doring to effect consolidation of al,
the big firms in a certain line in the
west into one gigantic company with a
hundred million dollar capitalization,
under the laws of New Jersey; that
the matter was still in an early, for
native state. The bankers who were
to furnish the large sums necessary
to purchase such plants as would not
voluntarily come into the trust, feared
that some unfriendly district attorney
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1912-09-13

an acquittal, precluding a retrial and
working the discharge Of the prisoner.
jeremiah Patton has been put to trial.
the evidence against him was intro
duced; then, upon the motion Of the
district attorney, without any reason
given on the record, and over the pris-
oner's protest, the case was contin-
ued and the jury discharged. These
facts here are in accordance with
those in the case cited. The decision
of the associate court is not to be
disregarded, and the prisoner must
be set at liberty"
The judge paused a moment, took
up the volume OF reports in his hand
and looked down at the packed sea
of faces. ut would be folly" he said.
"for me to do other than sustain this
motion. The United States Circuit
Court of Appeals would Immediately
reverse me. The government would
be put to the expense Of useless ap-
peal, and I would be subject to CEN
sure as an arbitrary public servant,
disregarding the doctrine of law es-
tablished by an associate court. By
curious accident, this prisoner steps
outside the power of the law through
one of the numerous safeguards which
our judicial system throws around a
citizen charged with crime. We do
not know whether or not Jeremiah
Patton is guilty as charged in this
indictment, no jury has decided that;
we know only that the law directs
that he be discharged from custody,
and l so order It,"
On Monday morning after the &C
quittal of Jeremiah Patton, Pietro
handed me a cablegram for Randolph
Mason tore it open ard went into
Mason's office with it. He looked up
from the table as I entered. Parks"
he said, II am ready to adjust the re-
naming feature of this bank prob
lem"
"Mr. Mason" l answered, do you
know where jeremiah Patton and Bel
mont Lane are today?"
yes" he said, Patton arrived in
New York last Friday night and Bel
mont Lane is now in the custody OF
the United States consul at Berlin"
"Mr. Mason" 1 replied, "for once in
your life you are mistaken"
Mistaken" he said, II mistaken ?"
eyes," 1 said; you are mistaken.
Jeremiah Patton is dead at the Dres-
den of pneumonia; l came this mo-
ment from his bedside. Belmont
Lane shot himself in the entresol OF
the hotel Gross Herzog Won Widen
helm in Berlin at seven o'clock Sum
day morning, when confronted with
your writ of extradition," and handed
him the cablegram.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1912-09-13
Old PrejudIees Die Hard.

Ancient prejudices have certain
vitality about them that defies time.
There are plenty Of Englishmen to-
day who will lose their temper in a
discussion on the character of Oliver
Cromwell, and now we find heated
debate in the French chamber on the
propriety of celebrating the birth an
niversary Of Jean jacques Rousseau,
who first opened his eyes upon the
world two hundred years ago. The
proposal was hotly opposed by the
Monarchist-C Catholic minority, number
ing 112 votes, who denounced the be-
stowal Of posthumous honors upon
the man who was described as the
father Of anarchy. And yet there Is
hardly an intelligent man in the
France Of today who would hesitate
to subscribe to every article In the
Contrat Socia1e. Compared with the
mildest radical of today, Rousseau
would rank almost a. a conservative
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1912-09-13
Slauqhter of the Gator.

Alligator hunting In Colombia is an
industry which furnishes the natives
with considerable sport. 1t is car.
ried on along the Magdalena river
from December to April, and in
July and August. During these rain
less months the streams subside,
draining the great alluvial plains
which border the main stream. The
alligators, which rushed out onto the
inundated fats during the previous
swelling of the river, crowd back
through the connecting branches and
channels, where the Indian hunters
slaughter them In large numbers,
spearing them and hauling them out
on the banks, where they are stunned
and then beheaded with long-handled
axes Rifles are not used owing to
the prohibition Of the use of firearms
except shotguns. Hundreds of alli-
gators are also left stuck in the deep
slime left by the receding waters.
over which their short legs will not
drag their heavy bodies.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1912-09-13
STORIES
@61FMS
DIAMOND

Eppa Rixey's relatives are opposed
to his playing baseball.
Ban Johnson is watching the minor
leagues for good umpires.
Marsans Is said to be that one best
bet of the Reds this years
The New York Americans have re-
leased Shortstop Martin to Rochester.
Everybody is pulling for Walter
Johnson to beat RUDE MarqIard's re
cord
Eddie Summers IL done. He has
quit the Providence team and gone
home.
Joe McGinnity pitched three double
headers in the recent trip of the New
ark team.
George Stovall says he would not
trade Lefty Hamilton for Eddie Plank
or Nap Rucker.
Cleveland fans are bowling because
George Stovall is making good and
Isn't doing SO well.
Stoney McGlynn is still doing the
iron man stunt, pitching double
headers for the Manitowoc team OF
the Independent Lake Shore league.
Milwaukee sold McGlynn to Mobile.
but he refused to go South.
A Boston paper says that Callahan
not only conceded the American
league pennant to the Boston Red
Sox, but picked them to win the
worlds title.
A Detroit writer says tie Sens
ators are SO full Of life that Grifith
has to smear the baseballs with quin.
Inc to keep the boys from eatinu
than
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1912-09-13
GREAT BASE STEALER
Veteran Fans Give Bill LANCE
Credit for Honor.
Californian Was Especially Clever In
Going From First to Second
Had Big Advantage in His
Tremendous Size.

Veteran fans will tell you that Bill
LANCE was the greatest base stealer OF
all time. Bill was especially great
In going from first to second. He had
everything figured down to a nicely.
It's one of the A, B, C's Of the game
that the second baseman covers the
bag If left-field hitter is at bat and
the short-stop, if the batter is not
able right-feld swatter. Every man
has his tendencies toward plugging
the ball certain direction.
When LANCE was on first he would
stand fiat-footed off the sack a few
feet and watch the man who was ex-
pected to cover second. AS catcher
is liable to throw wide or high the
expectant tagger always glances
around to see whether the center
fielder is going to back him up. This
was the time Bill LANCE started his
steal. He would have the opposition
off guard momentarily. The short
stop or second baseman, glancing over
his shoulder, would be delayed trifle
and Bill would be coming down the
line like a streak. His tremendous
size and force when he slid into
second made him feared, anyway, so
he had every advantage in his favor.
1t was his selection of psychological
moments in game that made Bill
LANCE such a power in the sport.
Mike Kelly of Slide, Kelly, Slide
fame was perhaps the fastest starter
on stealing bases the game has deve-
loped. He could stand stock still and
then develop top speed in a couple
Of steps. The advantage Of this Is
obvious. Kelly inaugurated many
plays in baseball which are being
used today.
When Kelly and John Clarkson, the
great pitcher of his time, were sold
to Boston for $4,000 apiece they set
the record for the highest price ever
paid for ball players up to their time.
There always has been standing
dispute whether King Kelly or Buck
Ewing was the greatest catcher. 1t
| never will be decided satisfactorily.
Ewing also contributed many new
Ideas to the game. Tom Burns, one
time manager of the Chicago Colts,
says it was Ewing who first ran
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1912-09-13


he rose and looked a moment over
the courtroom; then he said,
81 sustain your motion, Mr.. Scott"
/ The great audience stirred with
profound, universal surprise. The dis
trict attorney was on his feet. Your
honor" he cried, this prisoner cannot
be discharged. He is under indict-
ment He has not been tried The
case has been merely continued.
There must be an acquittal by Jury.
A Judge cannot turn a criminal loose
on society by royal edict."
The lines along the judges mouth
curled. Have you read this decis-
ion?" he said.
moi" shouted the district attor-
ney, now angry and alarmed; "but 1t
cannot annul trial by jury; 1t cannot
unhinge the gates of our penal insti-
tutions; 1t cannot transform a presid-
ing Judge into Caesar, holding the is
sues of life and death in the turn of
his thumb. What court would pro-
nounce a decision holding that con-
tinuance of the cause should have the
effect of trial by jury. verdict of
not guilty and a discharge of the
prisoner"
Sir" replied the Judge, you In
quire what court would pronounce
such a decree, and reply the United
States District Court for the Western
District Of Missouri. It holds in the
case before me precisely what you say
it could net hold. namely that a post
ponemeut Of case and the discharge
of Jury, after the introduction Of
the governments evidence and over
the objection Of the prisoner, without
proper reasons therefor. Is. in effect,
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1912-09-13

For the legal principle In
volved in this story see Elk
parte Ulrich, AZ Fed, 587. This
case was afterward reversed by
the United States Circuit Court
of Appeals, but not upon the
proposition of law here dealt
with. "
The law as laid down in the
case of Elk parte Uirich, supra,
follows the best courts in this
country. See Highlands v. Com
monweaIth, III Penn. St. 1855
Amer. Rep, 236; State W, CaIen-
dine, 8 Iowa; Wight v. State,
Ind, 292; Mitchell v. State, AZ
Ohio ST., 393.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-08-18
SUNDAY MAGAZINE FOR AUGUST IT, 1917

"WcI talk about eating after we have bagged DIR
brigands answered Dorsey half in encouragement and
half in reproach. SECT your gun ready, old man: we
NAV need TO make a dash at any moment"
The next twist in the trail carried them into CANYON
narrower than any before which it impossible to
see more than few yards in front of them account
of growth of short juniper and pihOn trees that cl
tered on the lower levels But above them, and into
notch that opened to the southwest the pour
ing a mass of liquid fire.
"Look' exclaimed Dorsey with wave OF his hand
toward the opening.
"Harkl" cried Kendrick almost at the same moment:
for right ahead, and 50 that they could have
thrown a stone into the midst of the singers, rose
chorus, led by high soprano:
We're out of the woods at last!
We're out of the woods at last!
We never have
Any others green;
But we're glad to
Bang! bang Two sharp reports set the echoes flying;
and Series Of feminine shreks, and the believing Of
driver at his frightened team, dropped the two friends
ont of their saddles as if automatically.
"You lcad-I'll follow from Kcndrck to Dorsey
were the only words that passed between them they
struck out on run in the direction whence the sounds
proceeded.
Another shot, more shrielis, more curses from the
driver and the Young men, reaching the spot bcheld
spectacle they will remember as long as they live.
TN the midst Of clear space between copScs Of unted
trees the early afternoon sun was blazing down upon
the stage and its disgorgcd contents The horses which
in punging had struck all sorts Of attitudes, were still
excited and nervous and the dchroned driver was
straning at the lines for dear life in his effort regain
his control Boxes and bags scattered about the
ground. and a masked man, knccing beside iron
Confined on page l9
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-08-18

dollars required seemed to rcassure him. and the young
man seized the opportunity to ask careessy question
or two he did not wish to appear too keen about.
THAT party of ladies and gentlemen who lett on inc
stage this morning were going where:
"rook the New jerusalem road .,
"Dd the express box 60 on the same stage! =,
II was hard TO say whether it was leer or grin tnaI
Illuminated the face OF the factOtum as ne nodded, SpI
off the edge of the porch and shufed indoors again to
avoid further conversation
"Tbat settles it," whispered Dorsey to his companion
Hes in the lob and III bet there are Others too
THOUGH neither horseman knew the Toad 10 New .i.S
Jerusalem they had little difficulty in following the
etaoe which had left tracks as distinct as no other
vehicle had been over the ground in months Inc tran
led them presently i'm to a succession OF small canyons
with bare gray hills rising each hand, ana the dy
bed of a food stream running alongside NO trace Oh
the presence Of man was visible anywhere loO tO
stone pile or ruined shack. The atmosphere OF iSoI
ton crew more and more intense they penetrated tar
Their the tortuos wndingS OF the old stage route u inc
gully worn bv the stream cut straight across tnc ROAD
On the brink Of the arroyo, Dorsey, who was lnS III
advance drew up suddenly and pointed with ms WhnP
to the opposite bank, which was scanned with lreSh
sears and breaks. IL.
"Thcv can't be far ahead Of us now said he; TOR
they evidently met with accident over there ana the
remains Of a campfire show that they took thaI opPor
tunity 20 have their luncheon -.
Reaching the SPOT. they found few BITS OF cut
leather and a broken trace buckle which told their own
Story. and picccd out one suggested by the impression
left iv fallen horse in bed Of aIkal sand SIN iartncr
alone the hoofprints showed that the oil leader Of the
stage team was favoring one OF his hind tcct.
I'm clad they had something 10 cat signed h'h-
dri.. and hope they kept little Of 1t for Our benefit
This ride had made me ravcnous.