davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-08-12
Also Shot Their Baby Just Above the
Heart and the Little One Viii
Probably
Die.
TRAGEDY IN A HOTEL
chlId's Dress Was Slowly Burning
From Flash Of Revolver When
tho Door Was Broken
Down.

UNITED Press Leased Wire Servfce.]
PITTSBURGH. P. Aug. 12.--After
shooting and killing his wife and fat
ally wounding his Is months old
daughter, Frank Kenyon sent bullet
through his own heart, dying instant
ly, shortly before noon today.
The tragedy took place at the La
Fayette hotel, not far from the Union
station where the trio registered last
night from Turtle Creek, Pa.
The baby is at the homeopathic hos.
pital with bullet wound above the
heart and It's parents are lying side
by side this afternoon on slabs at the
county morgue
No reason for the deed has been
discovered Mrs. Kenyon told the
chambermaid early today that her
husband was sick and for that reason
stayed In his room all morning.
Then just before noon came the
crash of the bullets and before the
door could be broken down two were
dead with the third victim struggling
! for life.
When Manager Whitehouse and Po-
| liceman Williamson broke into room
12 where the Kenyon family was
qnartered. following the four shots,
they found the father and mother
with bullet wounds over the heart, ly-
ing dead. The baby close by the
window also had bullet wound above
the heart but was still alive while its
I little dress was slowly burning from
the flash of the revolver.
/ In one Of the suit cases IN the room
was found bank book showing that
Kenyon had money deposited in q
bank in Tyrone. Pa, and a life insur-
ace policy in favor OF his wife,
A This is all the coroners office has
to go on to clear up the mystery.
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-08-12
Nellie Is a Mermaid.

UNITED Press Leased Wire Service.l
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. IL. For the
first time in history, woman swim
mer has crossed San Francisco bay.
She is Miss Nellie Schmidt, age 20,
who accomplished the feat Sunday in
three hours and six minutes. The only
men who ever swan the bay We're
Walter Pomeroy and f. M. Riehl.
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-08-12
Another Similar Case.

BROCKToN, Mass, Aug. t2.--Craz-
ed because Of jealousy, stephen Kos-
toff, %, murdered his wife and three
months old baby in their home here
today. He then blew out his own
brains. The girl victim vas only II
years old. Since the couple were
married they have lived at the home
o. the girls father. They quarreled
frequently because of Kostoff's jeai-
ousy although he was assured that It
was groundless. 4
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-08-12
VIII Make Hot Reply.

UNITED Press Leased Wire Seryice]
LONDON, Aug. 12.-The lord of the
admiralty Winston Churchill's charge
that he is unfit for office, an apostle
of civil war and an advocate of mob
violence Bonar Law, the leader of the
conservative party, is said today to
be preparing an answer as lurid as
the letter containing churchill's accu-
sations.
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-08-12
Johnson Back Home.

United Press Leased Wire seryice.l
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 12.-Gov-
ernor johnson returned to Sacramento
today to resume his duties as governor
after having been absent in Chicago
attending the progressive convention.
He will rest for two weeks before go.
ing east to open his campaign as pro.
gressive candidate for vice president.
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-08-12
THE WEATHER.

For Keokuk and vicinity: Showers
tonight or Tuesday. Cooler tonight
For Illinois: Unsettled with local
showers tonight or Tuesday.
For Iowa: Showers tonight or
Tuesday except fair extreme west por-
tion. Slightly cooler tonight west and
central portion.
For Missouri: Unsettled with local
showers tonight or Tuesday. Slightly
cooler tonight northwest portion.
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-08-12
lJnoonscious 100 Hours,

limited Press Leased Wire Serv1ce.l ]
MILWAUKEE, Aug. 12. After re-
naming unconscious for more than
100 hours, Joseph J. Young, 35, a rail
road conductor, died today He was
accidently overcome by gas.
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-08-12
With Great Crops In Sight Meat
Prices Should be Lower and
Other Food VIII be
Reasonable.
RAINBOW OF PROMISE
Prosperity for United States Despite
the Fact That This is Presl-
dental Year and
Mixed Up.

limited Press Leased Wire Service
WASHINGTON, Aug. 12.--High
meat prices are caused by short corn
crops, and since this seasons yield
OF the cereal will probably be the
third largest in the history of the
country, the housewife may expect a
material reduction in beef prices next
winter. Moreover bumper crops of
all kinds will probably effect a reduc-
tion In the cost of living.
This was the opinion expressed to-
day by Secretary of Agriculture VIII
son.
Beef will be cheaper than 1t has
been for number of years." said the
secretary. THE best beef is fed on
corn. but with that cereal SO scarce
In the last year. that is scared to 70
cents a bushel many cattle raisers
felt they could not feed their cattle
for slaughtering purposes on corn and
get their money back. The result was
that little good quality beef entered
Chicago and prices rose
This year the crop Of corn will
reach more than 2,s0o,00o,Ooo bushels
This will appreciably lower beef pri
ces. aided by the splendid hay and
oats crop.
but the price Of beef will never bs
as low as it was a decade ago Thi.
| Is due to the fact that the broad graz
ing lands have been split into home
! steads.
"The oat crop is expected to be TIL
biggest ever harvested; the hay crol
I. will be enormous. Cotton is abou
the only crop that will fall slightly be
low the average. The good peacl
crop now being gathered is taken al
an indication that all fruits will b.
plentiful this fall.
i Altogether the outlook is SO prom
ising as to indicate reduction in th
cost of living next winter"
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-08-12
New Nevada Law Gives Con
demned Man His Choice
of Execution.

UNITED Press Leased Wire service.l
RENO, New, Aug. 12.-Warden Cow
ing. of the Nevada state prison. wants
Ave men, willing TO shoot down a man
in cold blood on the morning Of Aug
ust 90. Cowing has made an effort to
secure men for this gruesome job, but
has failed.
The first man convicted of murder
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-08-12
Weighs Two Pounds and Gould
Use a Needle for a
Telescope.

tunited Press Leased Wire Service.l
]. PHILADELPHIA. Pa. Aug. 12.-His
hngers are as big as tooth picks. His
arms pass comfortably through
woman's finger ring. He weighs two
pounds, 7 and he is IL days old. Russell
Daisey is Philadelphia's protege for
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-08-12
Billions of New Wealth.

CHICAGO, Aug. 12.-Declaring that
more than nine billions of dollars in
new wealth will be produced from the
soil this year in the United States
against a production of eight billion
dollars in 1911, George M. Reynolds,
president of the Continental and Com
mercial Bank of Chicago, the biggest
commercial bank in the United States,
In statsment today declared this
year will be one of unprecedented
prosperity, taking into consideration
that fact that it is a presidential
year" The statement follows:
[By George NJ. Reynolds.l
The soil is richly rewarding the
toll OF man this year. Reports from
our investigators all over the country
indicate the following estimated
yields of the principal crops:
Wheat 660,000,000 bushels.
Corn, $500 100000 bushels.
Oats, 1900 100000 bushels.
Barley, 20o,OO0,Oo0 bushels.
Cotton, 100000 bales.
Hay, 60,00o,ooo tons.
Potatoes, 360,000,00O bushels.
Present crop conditions justify an
estimate of s9,O33 966,oo0 in new
wealth to be produced from the soil
this year against an actual production
of sS,4l7,o0o,0oo in 1911. There is
ahead probably twelve months of ac-
tive business with moderate profits.
Business men throughout the coun-
try are acting with caution but their
Eutterances indicate very clearly a
greater degree of courage than is
usually noticeable in presidential
year despite the rather mixed pollti-
cal situation and the possibility of re
versal of many governmental policies
through change of administration
There is a noticeable disposition tc
disregard politics and attend strictly
| to business
There Is no section wherein crops
have failed, The production this yeal
in almost all things is above the aver
age.
Not only is labor well employed thif
year, but there is noticeable scar
city at nearly all the leading centers
both in skilled and unskilled.
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-08-12
The Second to Die.

Cali was the second to die. All
night he and his fellow countrymen
had been in prayer with Rev Father
William E. Caskin, the prison chap
lain, Rev. Romalus Simoni, OF the
Church of the Most Precious Blood OF
New York, and Rev. Gabrielle scaafla
an immigrant missionary, Tne exam
pie of Collins had been most helpful,
the priests said. and Calls step was
firm, although his face was bioodless
and his lips quivering as he came
through 4the door,
mo chance; never had no
chance. ..he walled in broken English
as he was hurriedly assisted into the
chair, his voice rising high above the
chanting of the two black-robed
priests who ministered to him until
death intervened. AS one of the as
sistants tried to place the head strap
across the victims face his voice
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-08-12
Local observations.

Aug. BarTher WIND. Weather.
II Z pm. 29.s4 so S Clear
IL Z am. % .s2 &C NE Ii Rain
Rainfall for the past "a hours, is
hundredths.
Mean temperature, Aug. II, IA.
Highest temperature, Sc.
Lowest temperature, Gil.
Lowest temperature last night, &c.
FRED q. GoSEWISCH.
Observer.
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-08-12

and stood about conversing in whis-
pers while down below in the little
square execution chamber Chief Elec-
trician Davis in charge Of the death
chair and corps of assistants went
carefully over the instrument testing
1t In every way. Warden Kennedy
had insisted that nothing be left un-
done to hurry through the task Mat
he admittedly dreaded. Shortly be-
fore five o'clock a whispered signal
WAS given and the first batch of wit
nesses and the men who were to sit
throughout until the last silent form
had been carried to where the doctors
We're waiting with instruments already
exposed to perform the autopsy, pass
ed down the steps and took their
seats on the stools behind the rope
that separated them from the chair,
the only article OF furniture In the
barren room. There was brief but
nerve-trying walt and then a door in
the distance was heard to claIg very
family. Then through the little door
leading into the room came the sound
of prayer. An instant later Collins
entered. He was smiling and halted
imperceptibly when he saw the chair.
But he did not falter and knelt with
his head on the arm OF 1t and prayed
In firm voice. AS he settled into
the chair Rev. DR.. Baumeyer, a Luth-
eran clergyman who has been with
Collins almost continuously for week
began slowly, Collins repeating after
him:
81 am looking unto Jesus the author
and finisher of my fai-" the last word
faith was never completed. There
was a scrunch of metal as the switch
was forced by the powerful current
against the straps and Collins had
paid the penalty. The current OF Il
| 800 volts, and seven to nine and one.
! half amperes, was kept on for SO sec,
onds. Then it was cut off, and DR..
C. w. Farr, the prison physician tore
away the shirt and placed his hand
over the heart. He stepped back and
motioned the other doctors away. An
other shock was given, this one being
of ten second duration. There was
another brief examination and then y
third shock, it being declared by the
doctors, that although they believed
4 the frst contact killed each of the
men, two additional had been giver
as a precaution.
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-08-12
Number Three.

Salvatore de Marco was the third to
die. He protested his innocence in
clear, firm tones and then settled back
into the chair seemingly trying to aid
the workers who were fastening the
straps about him. In clear, ringing
voice, he followed the priest in
prayer that was only ended by the
swish Of the electric current Three
contacts were required before his
body was carried into the morgue.
Filipo de Marco walked slowly
through the corridor and into the
room. His face was white and drawn
and the hand that held the crucifix
trembled as he was pushed far into
the chair by the stalwart attendants.
But like all of the others executed for
the Hall murder he was firm in his
protestations Of innocence and in
broken English shouted again and
again until the current finally sealed
his lips, that he had never had a
chance and that he was victim Of a
crime he had not committed.
Filipo was young. His poorly nour-
ished body offered little resistance to
| the current and 1t was kept on for q
minute and five seconds Then, as
there were spasmodic twitchings-the
doctor called them muscular. the cur
trent was thrown on again. Sfmultan
eously came the sizzling of scorchins
hair and above the twisted form thai
pounded against the broad straps
swirled a little cloud of smoke. This
| stencil was fearful and even the ex
perienced prison officials showed II
the lines that gathered in their face:
that their terrible task was an awfu
strain on their nerves. The curren
was shut off but the doctors We're moi
satisfied and a third contact, which
1 further scorched the hair and side o
the face about the left temple, wa!
given before the linen-garbed attend
ants were signalled to carry the bod,
to its place with the others in the
stone cell adjoining.
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-08-12
Daily RIver bulletin.
River Forecast.

River Forecast.
The river will continue to fall slow
" from Davenport to Keokuk during
the next forty-eight hours.
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-08-12
Tho Seven Victims.

The victims were John w. Collins,
q negro, who, while insane from ex-
cessiye drink, shot and killed Police
man Michael Lynch in New York, on
July /, 1911; Joseph Ferrone. who cut
his wife's throat because she refused
to lead life OF shame and keep him
with her earnings, and Angelo Guista.
Lorenzo Leborio Cali, Filipe De Mar
co, Salvatore De Marco, Vincenzo
Coma, who participated in the series
Of robberies through the .Croton aque-
duct section that ended in the muir
der of Mrs. Mary Hall on November 8
last in her isolated home in the noun
tains near Croton Lake.
Collins, West indian negro, was
. the first to go, being selected by War
den John S. Kennedy because Of his
acknowledged "gameness," and be
cause, fully reconciled to his doom
and enthusiastically believing in the
comforts OF religion, he was expected
to set the others an example which
would prevent a disturbance. Ferrone
was the last. He was recognized as a
desperate character. When convicted
he tried to murder one of the Jurors
that found him guilty, spst at the
Judge on the bench and finally tried
suicide in the open courtroom. He
was sentenced while confined In a
straight jacket and heavily ironed
and had sworn never to die In the
chair without fight.
'sGood-a-bye.'
But he. too, had broken under the
weight of confinement and went to
death smiling by shouting "Good-a-bys
good-a-luck," to the medical witnesses
and prison officials who had feared .
scene At the last Ferrone acceptef
the consolation OF religion and was ut
tering muttered prayer as the swisf
OF the electric current straightenec
out his body cutting off his last word
The witnesses gathered at the malr
prison entrance soon after daylight
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-08-12
Session of Electrocution Early This Morning il
Sing Sing When Murderers were Sent to
Eternity By The Turning Of Switch.
ONE WAS A COWARD, SIX WERE BRAVE
Five Italians, Convicted Of Staying Woman,
Proclaimed Their Innocence to the End and
Protested Against the Sentence.

rrJnited Press Leased Wire Service
OSSINING. N. Y, Aug. H. Seven
men were shocked to death in the
little brick annex to Sing Sing prison
soon after sunrise today
Five passed into eternity protesting
their innocence with their last breath
and calling on their Maker to prove
that their hands we're clean from
blood
One, the sixth to die, collapsed in a
dead faint from the strain of waiting
back in the little death house whils
his companions preceded him, one a.
a time, into the square room with
the little door" But the crucifix that
: fell from his nerveless hand was re-
placed by the faithful priest who had
ministered to his soul and moment
later Inconsistencies had become
death.
The first man entered the death
chamber at 4:59 and was pronounced
dead at sos while the Sc enth en-
tered at 6:o4 and was declared dead
at e.14. 1t was the largest number OF
men killed by the electricity since the
deal dealing fluid was substituted for
the other forms OF carrying out the
laws extreme penalty The authori-
ties pronounced the execution "the
most successful and featureless ever
held
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-08-12
A pair Of Boys.


Guista, the next victim, was hardly
more than a boy. But he glanced
quickly over the line of sitting wit
nesses before settling into the chair.
His protestations Of innocence were
made in trembling voice, and as he
cried out-"Jesus Christ, hope
the current was shot through his body.
AS the form Strengthened out in the
chair, a dog somewhere in the imme-
diate vicinity howled, the sharp inter-
ruption causing one of the witnesses
to grasp the man seated beside him to
keen himself from collapsing on the
floor.
Coma a frail young man in the early
twenties, ahuffled into the room, aid
ed by the priests and plainly on the
verge of collapse In fearful voice
he protested that he had never had
chance, and as he came into full
view of the chair his face turned
black and his legs seemed to give way
The crucifix in his hand-the same
as all of the others but Collins had
carried-fell to the floor striking the
side of the chair with crash, but
three blue-uniformed guards caught
the fainting form and pushed 1T into
the recesses of the instrument OF
doom. The room was absolutely still
for what seemed an hour, but was less
than three seconds and then the
chanting intonations of the priest re-
citing the prayers for the dying broke
in lust as the current was turned on.
Three contacts were required before
Coma was pronounced dead enough to
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-08-12

"Good-a-Luck."
Although Ferrone had declared that
be was ready to die there was appre-
hension among the officials when his
turn came. He was very powerful and
if he made fight it was admitted by
Warden Kennedy and principal Keep
or Connaughton that harsh measures
would have to be used to subdue him.
THE guards were posted over near the
door ready to act II necessary. But
thew had nothing to do. The young
Italian came into the room at q rapid
mace. AS he passed into the corridor
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-08-12
THE WEATHER

Showers. Cooler. Local temp
Z p. m. SO; Z a. m. 66.
The Calumet news., 1912-06-24
PAJAMAS FOR PoRcUPlNE

"Slivers' Brubaker has a new pail
Of pants or pajamas. They have foul
legs TO them and the outfit includes q
nice, warm nightcap. Slivers is q
healthy young porcupine captured by
Miss Josie Brubaker. telephone op
orator OF Evans, Colo.
During a cold snap his mistress no
ticed that Slivers got snow between
his toes and that il rolled up under
his feet Being unable to use quill
10 remove the clinging ice. Slivers had
cold feet whenever there was snow on
the ground. and Miss Brubaker Just
couldn't bear TO see the poor thing
suffer. so she invented the unique
costume. The four-legged garment
protects Slivers' feet and covers his
legs completely A quill on each side
serves as a suspender button TO hold
Up the trousers rear legs. In front
the pants eliminate in a snug night.
cap.
The Calumet news., 1912-06-24
CURB STOCKS.

j. a. Minnear & Co. say today:
Tho political uncertainty developed
by the Chicago convention was reflect
ed i'm weakness in the eastern markets
today. Prices were off FOR a fraction
10 over a point in the early trading.
but later stocks became flrmer Cop
per shares were decidedly weak at the
opening. and there was a rush To sell
I'm the first hour, causing general
losses from a fraction to several points
IN the higher priced issues London
sent a break Of over two pounds ster-
ling in copper. equal to about half a
cent, but this was regarded as merely
a move TO start some selling of both
the metal and stock, and buyers
quickly picked up all cheap offerings
Mayfower and Old Colony both eased
Off fractionally. Houghton Copper
sold up to 50 just at the close
The Calumet news., 1912-06-24
witch STICK FOUND WATER

August Grosenbaugh, an aged resi-
dent OF Fort Dodge, Ia, by the aid OF
witch stick" found a place he
thought should be site for a city
well The well was drilled 2l5 feet
and now six hundred gallons OF water
are pouHing forth each minute. The
council rewarded Mr.. Grosenbaugh by
commencing his efforts and by paying
him $50.
Now this payment OF $40 for the use
of the witch stick" raised the Ire OF
several men, including DIR. J. w. Kline,
state lecturer on tuberculosis to the
medical profession, Frank Paige, a
retired scientist. and Captain George
Riggland. one OF the wealthiest men
here. They declare the council was
foolish ever 20 have had the witcn
stick" used, as belief In its efficacy IL
a relic OF the dark ages. Dr. Kline
The Calumet news., 1912-06-24
ATHLETIC TURKS

In countries where they still rely or
the strength of their limbs. as in Turk
ey, Hungary and Afghanistan, there
are plenty OF men earning their bread
by common labor who could astonish
the socalled athletes Of the rest of
the world. Turkish porter will shoul
der box which the driver of an Amer
lean express wagon would hesitate to
tackle without assistance. In one OF
the Afghan wars the native warriors
carried cannon TO a battery on the
top OF hill from where the English
soldiers were unable to carry them
down again.
The Calumet news., 1912-06-24

Boston-Lower prices for Amalga-
rrated and Anaconda in London and
copper off two pounds brought many
selling orders in the local market this
morning. The reaction was genera
ali through The list but after the first
stronger and pricves rallied all around.
Superior Copper was one OF the
strongest stocks on tEe list selling as
high AS 47ii and closing there. We feel
very bullish on the coppers and ad-
wise their purchase Tor a considerable
further rally.-F'oster Of Paine Web
ber & Co.
The Calumet news., 1912-06-24
MICHAEL ANGELO'S BET

On the facade of the Palazzo Vec-
chic at Florence, 10 the right OF the
central entrance, the profile OF a
mans head is traced on the marble,
the authorship OF which is ascribed
TO Michael Angelo. The story runs
that he and friend made a bet as TO
which of them would draw head
best with their backs to the wall, a
bet easily won by Michael Angelo, for
he traced a perfect profile, whereas
the other produced only wavering
imperfect outline. The story further
relates tsat the tool used was a nail!
Both drawings are carefully pre-
served.
The Calumet news., 1912-06-24
MINES AND MINING, STOCKS

looked through the reference books at
the Carnegie library and printed the
Information he found concerning the
witch stick" Members OF the coun-
ell merely laugh. point to the well
and answer that they do not care how
Mr., Grosenbaugh selected the site.
but that they are satisfied with the
results.