davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Newport plain talk. (Newport, Tenn.) 1909-1939, 1913-10-09
PACK WAS HELD
FOR GRAND JURY
Knox County Squire Released
Him on a Bond of
$1,000.
BOTH BROTHERS HELD
Pack Shot and Killed Robert
McBee on a Street Near Soft
Drink Stand Claimed Shoot
ing Was Done in Self Defense
But Evidence Showed Shots
From the Rear Killed Boy.

Ben Pack, former Cooke coun-
tain, was bound over to the
criminal court of Knox county
under bond of 5000 and his two
brothers, Charles and j. H. Pack,
of this county were held under
bonds Of 81 1000 each as witnesses,
as the result of the murder of
Robert McBee in Knoxville, Mon
day night, a week ago.
Three witnesses testified that
they were with the boy who was
killed at the time; that while he
had been drinking, that they were
in the act of going home when
Pack came out of his saloon with
his brothers and accosted the
youth; that a few words followed
and that while the boys head
was turned that he was shot, two
shots entering behind the ear and
ranging frontward while the
other shot hit him in his back.
The Pack brothers testified
that the killing was done in self
defense. The argument of the
attorneys for both sides was in
teresting the attorney general
going after the Cooke county citi-
zens very boldly. The argument
summed up was as follows:
Attorney General R. A. Mynatt,
in summing up the evidence
against the Pack brothers, de-
nounced them as "conspirators" in
events which led to the murder of
McBee.
"The three men should be
bound to court without bond" he
declared. He then spoke of the
business in which Pack was en-
gagged at the time of the killing,
and denounced him as a "dispen-
sor of an illegal business. He
dishes out that damnable drink, !"
he asserted, that causes murders
such as this one was"
1T was a conspiracy" he said
that the three Pack brothers
engaged in as black as the gates
Of the lower regions. John Pack,
in my opinion" said Gen. Mynatt,
went home, after the first
trouble with McBee, secured a re-
volver and gave it to Ben Pack.
Ben closed up in order to go out
and search for McBee, after put
ting'the pistol in his pocket. They
were all hunting for the man that
'cussed' one of them. John Pack
put his hand around Emerson
Wagner's head, thinking that he
was the man who had cursed his
brother" Gen. Mynatt then illus
rated with knife how this was
done.
"You can't tell me about these
Cooke county conspirators, shout
ed Gen. Mynatt. when they came
to the crowd they didn't want to
kill McBee there, but they wanted
to get him out by himself They
called him from the crowd and
then he came. Wagner endeavor-
ed to draw McBee away, but it
was of no use. He went up to the
Pack boys and then the shooting
began. AS McBee turned to go,
drawn away by Wagner, Ben
Pack shot him dead. The proof
shown that he shot him twice un-
der the ear and then when he
The Newport plain talk. (Newport, Tenn.) 1909-1939, 1913-10-09
FINEST ROADS
IN THE COUNTRY
Are to Be Found in Cooke
and Jefferson
Counties.
HIGH PRAISE Is GIVEN

! Here and Mr.. Westgard, Stat
ed That Here Were the Finest
Roads on the Continent.
The logging party sent out by
the Automobile Association Of
America to.map out a route for the
Southern National highway ar
rived in Newport Saturday even
ing and spent the night here. The
party consisted of Mr.. w. o. L.
Westgard, who for the last twenty
years has been mapping out roads,
and his chauffeur, Jack Graf, a
driver of experience, who has
Travelled over practically all of the
scenic highways of the country.
The logging party was met at
the French Broad river and be-
tween the river and Newport by
four automobiles filled with good
roads enthusiasts. The logging
party did not tarry long with the
citizens, but fastened on to New
port in order that a correct map
could be made of theroad to New
port before dark. The night was
spent at the MimsThotel and the
party left at 6 a. m. for Waynes-
vile, which place they reached be-
fore dark, the roads being in good
shape through the work done on
them by citizens some time in the
past.
When asked where he had found
the best roads on his trip, Mr..
Westgard stated that the road
from the Knox county line to New
port and from Newport to the end
of the Cosby pike were the best
he found on his entire trip across
the continent. He stated that only
one other section had roads to
compare with those of Cooke and
Jefferson counties, and that was
the SWeetWater section of Texas,
where he found about thirty miles
which would almost compare with
the fifty miles Of pike he travelled
over in Jefferson and Cooke coun-
ties. He stated that he could not
understand why Knox county had
permitted its pixies to be run down
and the road from Knoxville to
Straw Plains, consisting of Is
miles, was so bad that it took the
party over an hour to travel it,
and this speed at times endangered
the axles of the machine.
The logging party was month
behind its schedule. 1t had en-
countered some wet, rainy weather
and its equipage, consisting of
spades, shovels, axes, plank, block
and tackle, chains, ETC., indicated
that it had found some rough
places. AT one place the machine
stuck in the mud, and it took ten
mules and forty men working
waist deep in mud two days to get
the car over a distance of 700 feet,
mud bridges being erected to drag
the car through. The party was
also stuck up once in sad bed.
However, the bad roads were the
only inconvenience suffered, as
the people along the route were
very hospitable. At one place
| five cars came 200 miles to meet
them and carried them 100 miles
past their town, making 600 miles
Travelled for the purpose of acting
as escort; at other places the party
was met by brass bands, and Mr..
WeStgard was carried about on
J. Confined on Page 81
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-02-01
WRESTLER TAKEN
TO The HOSPITAL
al Alderman in Serious Condi-
ton From What Is Believed
a Case of Dragging.

Al Alderman, welterweight wrestler,
who was defeated in a match at the
roller rink Thursday night, was taken
to st. Anthony's hospital today in a
serious condition supposedly as the
result of having been drugged before
the match, to bring about his defeat
The majority of those who witnessed
the bout believed that Alderman, who
is considerable of a favorite here, was
intoxicated and his defeat was attribut-
ed to that fact, though it was admitted
that in Ed Shelp of Flint, Mich, he
had struck a tartar
The promoters believed Alderman
was intoxicated and were very much
chagrined over his showing When,
however. he failed to get over the sup
posed Jag suspicion that something
other than alcohol was to blame for
his condition arose and a physician
was finally called in late last night. He
found that Alderman had no memory
Of what transpired Thursday night and
that as a matter of fact he was de-
liriOus much of the time A confer
/ '4lN' WIN his opponents LII oLSlp, e.
NCaled the fact that Alderman had
no odor Of intOXicants about him dur
ing the bout and that his eyes appear
ed strangely dilated. Then others who
were at the mat side began recalling
that Alderman had acted queerly and
the belief grew that he had been drug
ged.
The wrestler's condition grew worse
all last night and this morning and at
hospital
/ The matter has been placed in the
! hands of the Rock Island police and
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-02-01
ACTION SETTLED
AND CASE'ENDED
Suit of Morton L. Marks Com.
pany Against Farmers Has
Abrupt Close.

The suit Of the Merton l. Marks
company of Davenport against the
stockholders of the defunct Farmers
Store company of Reynolds came to
al abrupt ending yesterday afternoon
when on motion Of the defendants the
court instructed the jury 10 bring in a
verdict finding the issues for the de-
PENDANTS and assessing the costs in
the case to the plaintiffs. II is under
stood that a settlement between the
stockholders and the plaintiff corpo,
ration was effected out of court though
how much was paid on the claim OF
$500 for which the suit was brought
has not been made public.
A second action against the stock,
holders by the Davenport wholesale
grocers was dismissed on motion of
the plaintiffs. supposedly for reasons
similar TO those IN the case at bar.
jury had been listening TO evidence
in the case for over week. The de
Tense Of the stockholders was that
they could not be sued as partners
All or nearly all Of them are prosper.
Gus farmers living in the vicinity OF
Reynolds
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-02-01
BROKEN TROLLEY
HALTS TRAFFIC
Cars Are Stalled for an Hour
Last Night-Passengers
Walk Home.

All street car traffic in Rock Island
was brought to an abrupt standstill for
a period of about an hour last night,
when a trolley wire snapped at the
corner of Seventeenth street and Sec
ond avenue about 9:45. A few mo-
ments after the break occurred a long
line of cars was formed on both sides
of the damaged wire, and the service
was suspended, pending the arrival of
the repair crew.
The wire came down with a deafen-
ing crash, and the broken end Kissed
to and fro on the asphalt, emitting a
stream of fire. The police stationed
themselves near the danger zoZne and
warned pedestrians from approaching
The power was shut off while the
wrecking crew was at work. and cars
were stalled all along the line. Belated
passengers, after waiting in vain for
the conveyances to resume activities
deserted their warm quarters, and
Drawing the icy blasts, began their
homeward journey on foot. Others, at
ter shivering on street corners for over
half an hour. waiting for a car to come
finally were forced to face a vino
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-02-01

efforts are being made to determine
whether or not the wrestler was drug
ged.
To clear Alderman of the faint
brought upon him by the supposition
that he was intoxicated Thursday
night, his manager has made the fol-
lowing arrangement with the = D. &
NJ. Athletic club. The same show that
was given Thursday is to be put on
again, that is all the wrestIers will
appear in their respective bouts ex.
cept Kelley who was injured, and the
public will be admitted free of charge
Shelp has agreed to return for stated
sum and the expenses for the entire
affair are to be borne by Alderman.
No date for the free show has been
set, however, and cannot be fixed until
the nature of Ackerman's illness is de-
tcrmined
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-02-01
PEIESTER HICKEY SHOE
COMPANY BUYS N. F.
PETERSON SHOE STORE

The PriesterHickey Shoe company
located in the Harper House block,
has purchased the entire shoe stock of
n. F. Peterson, 1882 Thirtieth street.
The price they paid is not known. 1t
is thought that they will remain at
the n. f. Peterson store at least a
month to close out the stock They
are undecided whether they will con-
tinue a shoe store at that location or
not.
Mr. Peterson, who has conducted a
shoe store there for - years, is retir-
ing from the shoe business on account
Of his health.-(Adv)
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-02-01
BULLETIN EDITOR
BACK TO DUBUQUE

Charles McLafn, who for six months
past has been editor of the Bulletin
issued by the Modern Woodmen in
connection with the controversy over
the proposed raise in rates, has re-
signed his position and returned to his
hCme in Dubuque. He has made no
decision as TO his plans for the future
and has rejected an opportunity to be-
come secretary of the Dubuque Com
meIcial club. During his stay here he
made many friends who regret his hav-
ing left Rock Island.
The Bulletin has been discontinued
by the Woodmen as the abandoning of
the plan to enforce the new rates has
rendered it unnecessary at this time.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-02-01
BUTTER AND EGGS
SCARCE ON MARKET

Butter and eggs will soar in price on
the local market if the cold spell con-
tinues several days more. a state
mcnt to this effect was made by To-
cal grocer this morning. TnS butter
and egg supply on the local market
has been getting short during the past
several days owing to the fact that
the farmers have not been able to get
in town on account of the bad roads. IL
the roads do not thaw out within the
next few days allowing farmers to get
in town the butter and egg supply on
the local market will be very short
and prices will take a trend upward.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-02-01
Med Not F.ls Pstitlons-

Candidates for town Offices are not
bound TO submit their names for nomi-
nation AT the primary which is SEIZED.
uIed TO occur Feb. %. il was learned
today. For some years past il has
usually been the practice OF. at east
one or the other of the great political
parties locally TO have their candi.
dates elected at a voluntary primary
In connection with the regular pri.
mary, bur there is nothing binding
about such action The statute con.
templates selection of candidates by
the old caucus plan. Ia view Of this
only candidates for police magistrate
need file petitions 10 get on the ballot
The law is very vague on the subject
Of police magistrate. but it has been
decided locally that the Office is cleo
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-02-01
County Court Venire.

Following is the venire of jurors
drawn for the February term of the
county court. who will report on the
morning of Feb. at 10 o'clock:
Coe-Daniel Larson.
Canoe Creek-Charles Semken.
South Moline-Charles Stark
Coal Valley-A. l.. Blaser.
Acknowledgment Mcdonald and
George Schmidt.
Buffalo PSaiTie-Willard Elliott.
Drury-Robert Workman.
Moline-H. w. Anderson, S. p. Eek,
berg, Will Edwards, William Giles, J.
A. Hokinson, Ed Holmquist, ]. A.
Keefe, Claude Mahoney, c. f. Maurer,
NJ. Nelson, l.. A. Paradise, Herman
RCnge, F. w. Rank, Emil Shallene, II
T. Schumacher, Charles Stein, d. A d.
Weatherhead and A. L. Warner
Rock Island-George Ague, Mat
Buncher. ]. ]. Glass, c. r. Greer, D. r
Larson, William McKibben, Shelby Me
Coy, Thomas Mccain. E. J. Meek, G
Nordgren, +. II. Negus, Robert J. Por
ter o. E. Sipple, Henry Voege.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-02-01
MAIDEN PURSUES
FAITHLESS LOVER
Farmer Girl, seduced by City
Chap, Begins Relentless
Search for Deceiver.
SEEKS AID IN ROCK ISLAND
Man In Case Headed for Chicago
Love Victim Is spurued by Her
Parents.

seduoed by a man who betrayed
her. cast her aside and left for parts
unknown, and spurned by her own
family because of her disgrace, Is-year.
old Buelah Antele. Of Kellogg. Iowa.
last night arrived in Rock Island on
the first lap OF what may prove an
ocean 10 ocean journey in an effort to
run 70 earth the man who lured her
from the paths Of rectitude. The girl
bought ticket to Rock Island, which
was as far as her money would take
her, and last night sought the aid of
The local police force in an effort 10
secure funds TO continue her pursuit
Police Matron Schroeder referred the
young woman 10 the Davenport autho-
rites. Lloyd Wells, aged 10. the man
In the case, is believed to be headed
Tor Chicago. Last night the girl We
hemently said. Il will never rest un-
III ! find that man If / have to follow
him TO the end of the earth"
TIRED OF FARM.
The girls parents reside on a farm
near Kellogg. Weary Of the drudgery
on the farm, Buelah came 10 kellogg
where she obtained position as cham
bermaid in a hotel. There she met a
young telegraph operator. employed
by the Rock Island road, and the early
friendship soon ripened into open
dec arations Of love. Wells promised
10 marry the girl Some time later the
girl returned 10 her home, where af-
ter a stormy scene, the parents cast
her out and warned her never to dark
the girl decided TO follow her lover.
who had departed in the meantime
MAN ARRESTED.
She got as far as Iowa City where
she swore out a warrant for the mans
arrest Wells was arrested in Daven
port and taken back to Iowa City
There the sight Of her lover behind
the bars softened the girls heart, and
she asked for his release, after he had
promised 70 marry her Immediately.
When the couple visited the county
clerks office, Wells gave his age at
9 and the license was accordingly re.
fused. The man secured a room at Il
hotel for his sweetheart and comfort
cd her with promises Of marriage az
ter he had secured money from his
home In Kentucky That very night
Wells boarded train for Chicago.
HAS no MONEY.
The girl Immediately followed, hav
ing secured information as TO the des
uuatiou for which he was bound She
arrived Ion Rock Island last night with
but a single dollar, which had beer
given her by the conductor on thC
train. She is determined to find Wells
and hopes to solicit aid along hel
route. in order 20 accomplish her aim
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-02-01

heard the adulations bestowed he
whispered TO himself:
BY George. but I've struck #,
Nice easy work and nothing driving
about #. All you've got 10 do is to
sit down IN your library and think,
and then write what you We been
thinking about
Mr. Rankin walked right out Of
that place and bought him the neces-
Sary tools 10 begin and complete &
story that should be a wonder He
did not make the error that so many
amateur writer's make, OF going to
or writing 70 successful authors and
asking them how they did it, He
didn't care a red sent how they got
their plots or worked up their situa-
tions. His story would be his own
in every particular
And another thing worth record
ing in Nj RanEn's favor Is the fact
that after he had got his plot. laid
his situations, named the day and
hour, and had his hero in hiding be-
hind a brick pile, he didn't take the
two pages Of manuscript 10 this one
and that one, and ask them how they
, thought the story would work out.
No. sir. and no. ma'am, Mr. Ran
kin didn't care peanut for the opin-
ions Of others on that particular line
OF work Had he been going TO open
a sandstone quarry for the produc-
ton and sale Of grindstones. il would
have been different, but in this he
was right at home. He felt II from
the very first line he wrote
II was 70 be a serial for a maya
zine. When finished, after seven
long weeks OF work-which OF itself
was a great surprise 10 his friends
the story came 20 an end. and the
. Iuthor read It over with glowing
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-02-01

II begins to look as II corner lots
all over the globe will be given over
to numbers" or "one-old-cat." or
whatever you called it when you were
a kid. Baseball, our national pas
time, is fast becoming the national
pastime of many another nation. The
Cubans have been the first TO take
to the ball and bat and now France
is getting interested. The Japs have
already shown quite a little agility at
chasing flies and China is now laying
out grandstands and diamonds. At
the very latest reports the Austral-
ians are evidencing an interest and it
would seem that it is only a matter
Of a short while before all the rest of
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-02-01

knew his craft and was safe. Sons
one else went canoeing at the same
time that didn't understand the fads
and faucics Of that make Of craft.
II was a young woman, aad she
had only reached the deepest spot for
a mile up and down when over went
the canoe. Mr.. Rankin heard her
screams and arrived at the spot in
prompt time. She was resting on
the bottom, but he dove and found
her. and she was carried to the hotel
10 be revived. Some one told him
that 1t was a Miss Bennett. and
that's all he knew about her till the
next day, when she sent for him to
express her gratitude.
Miss Bennett was a little draggy
yet, but able to praise Mr. Rankin
as a great hero. She surely owed her
life to him, and she couldn't find
words TO tell her feelings.
And by the way" she smiled,
are you any relation to Mr.. Charles
Worthington Rankin"
Why, am he,"
A terrible pause ensued, and then
he asked:
Can you be related to ]. A. Ben
nett?"
Why, | am shei"
At least half the magazines have
women to read and pass on contribB-
lions. and they always sign their
names so as to mislead as to sex.
Did Mr.. Rankin punch ]. A. BIS
head? o. no. He began to admire
instead, and in three days he knew
that he was in love. He had saved
her life Why shouldn't he admire
and love I'm turn? She won't be a
story reader much longer, and he has
already decided that as a story writ
or he Is not a success.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-02-01
HER RESCUE

dissatisfaction. Then it was sent
off 10 the magazine he had selected,
and Mr.. Rankin and divers other
persons held their breath and walked
around on tiptOes.
Mr.. Rankin figured that Il would
be at least a month before his check
came and the date of the beginning
OF the serial would be announced. He
was out in his figuring. No one can
ever get close line on those maya
zine editors. That's why authors
continue 70 revel in poverty.
On the fifth day the story was re-
turned with the usual printed pre-
scription. An author who has never
received one OF these printed slips
should be told that they are a half
sheet OF fairly good linen paper. on
which is printed in fairly good Eng
lish the announcement that after
having read every last word of the
story the writer was so kind and
considerate and everlasting obliging
to forward TO that publication in
stead OF the Congressional Record
after IT had been perused by tie
stenographer. all the typists. the
cashier. the bOokkeeper and the Of
fee boy-after having been submit
ted TO the X-Tay and a chemical
analysis, that editor is convinced
that il Is one Of the great stories Of
the century. but as his two children
are down with the measles he must
decline with thanks.
Mr.. Rankin read this prescription
with amaZement. Then he read II
with anger. The third time he read
ii he used cuss-words for punctua-
ton marks and then stood I'D 10 say:
The ignoramus, Why. that edi-
tor doesn't know enough 10 edit q
ssndpile and I'll write and tell him
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-02-01

the powers fall IN line and have a
good excuse for coming home late to
supper. What's the sCOre?" and
Who pitched?" will be heard in ev-
cry tongue.
The Cubans have deserted their be-
loved cock-fights for the diamond pas
time. 1t used to be in Cuba that Sun
day afternoon all the men-folks went
down to the cock-fights and spent all
their weeks wages betting on the lit.
tie ROSTERS. Now all has changed and
instead of cock fights they go to the
ball game. And we're inclined to the
belief that il will be for the better.
ment Of their immortal souls. Going
to a ball game-even on a Sabbath
is better than making poor little roos
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-02-01

! j. A, Bennett wrote that a great
deal Of profanity had been intro
duCed into the conversations, and ey-
cry reader must be more or less
shocked He even had his heroine
exclaim: Damn IT."
Mr.. Rankin replied that this was
the age of profanity. The trusts had
set everybody to swearing, and pro-
family was on the increase. and the
only recourse the public had. As for
his heroine, she was a strong charac-
ter TO begin with, and in the second
place she had found herself lost on
l the plains just as night and a biz
Yard and a band of hostile Indians
were approaching. Under those cir
cumstances should a heroine eX-
claim: %, fudge!"
]. A. Bennett said that so many
| grammatical errors were found in
| the story that IL would have TO be
/ largely overhauled.
| Mr.. Rankin replied hat he was a
! graduate of Yale, and that II he
! couldn't demonstrate in public or
private that he knew more about
| grammar in a minute than J A B
[ did in a week he would eat his hat.
J. A. B. then pointed out that the
[ discussion was closed
/ Mr.. Rankin replied hat the other
had best look for a JOB Of saving
wood, and that IL he ever ran across
| him he would take great pleasure in
/ punching his head.
A week later ]. A. Bennett went
to the country on a fortnight's vaca-
/ ton, Mr.. Rankin was only a day lat
er in sarting. Fate planned that
/ they should both select the same no
tel. Fate planned that on the third
/ day after Mr.. Rankin's arrival ie
should go canoing on the river. lie