davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-02-25
WILL CASE In COURT
Heirs of Scranton Coal Operators Con
test Manual Training School Bequest

Philadelphia, Feb. 25.-A contest
over the bequest of upward of $780,.
O0O made by the late Orlando s.
johnson, a coal operator of Scranton,
for the establishment of manual
training school for girls and boys in
that place was reviewed by the Su-
prome Court yesterday on the appeals
of Cora j. Thompson, niece, and six
other heirs and next of kin, from the
decision of the orphans court of Lack.
awanna county, sustaining the will.
Mr.. johnson, under his will, dated
January /, 1912, left the residuary of
his estate for tine founding and main.
tenance of the school, after making
ample provision for his widow and sub
stantial bequests to relatives. Mrs
johnson elected to take under the will
at first, but when the other relatives
attacked the validity of the charitable
bequests, the widow also attempted to
contest the will, but she was not per
mitted to do so by the courts after
she had made her election.
The sole question IN dispute is wheth
er Arthur H. Christy, witness to the
will, and who was also named by Mr.
johnson as a member of an advisory
committee of five for the establishment
for the school, is disinterested wit
ness under the act of 1855. The resi-
due of the estate had been left i'll trust
with the executor. the Scranton Trus;
Company, and the committee, of which
Mr.. Christy is chairman, was to re
eeive no compensation other than nee
essary expenses.
The hearing will be concluded to
day.
The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-02-25

couraged. ''try-try hard to recollect
just what it was that happened last
night-everything."
AS Kennedy paused after his quick
recital, she seemed to tremble all over.
Slowly she began to speak. We stood
awestruck. Kennedy had been right!
The girl was now living over again
those minutes that had been forgot.
ten-blotted out by the drug
And it was all real to her. too-ter-
ribly real She was speaking. plainly
in terror.
Il see a man-oh, such figure
with a mask He holds a gun in my
face-he threatens me. put on my
kimono and slippers. as he tells me.
l am in daze. know what | am
doing-and | don't know. l go out
with him. downstairs, into the library"
Elaine shuddered again at the recol-
lection Ugh, The room is dark,
the room where he killed my father
Moonlight outside streams in. This
masked man and I come in. He
switches on the lights.
Go to the safe he says, and
do 1.-THE new safe, you know. DO
you know the combination? he asks
me. Yes reply, too frightened to
say no.
"'Open it then he says, waving that
awful revolver closer do so. Hast
lily he rummages through it, throwing
papers here and there. But he seems
not to find what he is after and turns
away, swearing fearfully.
Hang it,! he cries at me. Where
else did your father keep papers?'.
point in desperation at the desk. He
takes one last look at the safe. shoves
all the papers he has strewn on the
floor back again and slams the safe
shut.
"'Now, come on, he says, indicating
with the gun that he wants me to fol.
low him away from the safe. At the
desk he repeats the search But he
finds nothing. Almost l think he Is
about to kill me. Where else did your
father keep papers, he Kisses f1ercely,
still threatening me with the gun.
81 am too frightened to speak But
at last l am able to say, Il don't t
know! Again he threatens me. AS
God is my judge cry, 4 don't know.
1t is fearful. Will he shoot me?
Thank heaven! At last he believes
me. But such a look of foiled fury |
have never seen on any human face
before.
Sit down. he growls, adding, at
the desk do.
Take some of your note paper
the best | do that, too.
And a pen,' he goes on. My fin
gers can hardly hold it.
"'Now-write!' he says, and as he
dictates, | write
"This?" interjected Kennedy, eager
ly holding up the letter that he had
received from her.
Elaine looked it over with her drug.
laden eyes. Yes" she nodded, then
lapsed again to the scene itself He
reads it over, and as he does so says,
Now, address an envelope Himself
he folds the letter. seals the envelope,
stamps it, and drops it into his pocket,
hastily Strengthening the desk.
Now, go ahead of me-again.
The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-02-25

When the conductor on street car
come round to collect his fare, Thurs
ton hands him tendolar gold piece.
Il can't change that" says the con-
ductor Indignantly. "The company
doesn't expect us to change anything
over two dollars.
whats that?" asks Thurston in
amazement, looking at the coin in his
hand
The conductor looks too, and tine
coin is now a half dollar. Excuse
me-" he says. II must be getting
| dotty. | thought that was gold
| piece"
He reaches into his pocket for the
change for half dollar; but as he
extends his hand for the coin it has be-
come silver dollar. He reaches for
more change, and by that time it has
become ten-dollar gold piece. Gen
orally then he wakes up to the fact that
he had magician for passenger.
Indian That Turned the Tables
But all tricks with coins do not turn
out so well. While playing in Phoenix,
Arizona, Thurston visited the reserva-
tion of the Navajo Indians nearby and
decided to have some fun with the
bucks. Snatching the sombrero from one
of them, he began filing it with silver
dollars which apparently dropped from
| the air. Finally the magician, firing of
the sport. began scooping the silver
from the hat into his pocket
my money!" exclaimed the owner
of the sombrero, grabbing Thurston's
arm and protesting vigorously. "My
money! You take from my haiti"
"You don't understand" Thurston
tried to explain. "It is all trick
This money is mine"
'Mine!" said the Indian stolidly, and
the upshot of it was that the magician
had to go away leaving behind in the
sombrero nearly twenty dollars.
A Discounted Gard Sharp
To be magician, one has to have
! quick eye and keen perception, and frt.
i quently the magician is able to put his
| knowledge and skill to some practical
though unexpected use. On one occa-
sion Thurston was travelling from Con-
stantinople to Bombay by steamer.
There was nightly game of cards,
most of the money going to a handsome
French woman called Madam Marcelle,
brunette whose matchless complexion
was somewhat marred by the smoked
glasses she wore constantly. Some of
the players became suspicious of her
good luck and requested the magician
to watch her to see if he could detect
her in any fraud
Thurston watched the game for one
night, and the next night took a hand
himself. He wore a pair of smoked
/ glasses when he sat down to the game.
In few minutes he astounded the
players and Madam Marcelle herself in
announcing: "This lady is card sharp.
She is in the habit of marking the
cards with a small quantity of luminous
paint which she carries in her hand.
bag, transferring it to the cards she
wishes to recognize with her finger
nails. In electric light the paint is
invisible unless you wear smoked
glasses"
Readers of the Star-Independent will
have the opportunity of enjoying one
of Thurston's performances under very
favorable circumstances, when he ap-
pears here next week. By clipping the
coupon, which will appear in this paper,
Il they will be given dollar seat for the
coupon and 25 cents in cash.
The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-02-25
ACQUIT WOMAN OF MURDER
Court Refuses to Admit Alleged Con-
fession Under the Third Degree

Mays Landing, N. j., Feb. 25.-The
refusal of Supreme Court Justice Black
to admit statements purporting to be
confessions of Mrs. Nettie Salins, an
Assyrian woman, of Atlantic City,
weakened the States case and brought
a hasty acquittal on the charge of muir
der yesterday afternoon.
The State charged that Mrs. Salins
administered poison to her husband,
Alexander Salins, December 21 last, so
that she could collect $1,000 insur-
ance.
Before the Court refused to allow
the statements offered by Captain
Whalen, of the Atlantic City detective
force, and which he said had been
made to him by Mrs. Salins on the
night of her arrest, Whalen was obliged
to admit "third degree tactics.
In his charge to the jury Judge
Black warned the jury 10 exclude from
their minds any thought of confessions,
so called, unless they believed Mrs.
Salins had volunteered statement.
Attorneys for Mrs. Salins brought
her mother, so years old, into the court
room at the closing minutes of the
trial.
The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-02-25
AMERICA VOLUNTEERS In JAIL
Two Young Women, Captain and Lieu
tenant, Refuse to Pay Fines

Wilkes Barre, Pa, Feb. 25.-Mrs.
Ida NJ. Hilty, staff captain of the Vol
unteers of America in this city, and
Lieutenant Mary Rush, of the same or
ganization, were sent to Jail yesterday
for a period of 80 days because they
refused to pay fine of $40 each for
soliciting aims in the city without Ii
cense. AS Mrs. Hilty was led away to
prison she declared "The Lord has ta-
ken the yellow streak out of me and L
don t fear jail.'
Both officers of the Volunteers will
have to serve the full sentence unless
they change their minds and agree to
pay their fines.
During the holiday season Mayor
John V. Kosek investigated the work
being done by the Volunteers of Amer
lea in this city and claimed that he
discovered that money given the officers
for charitable purposes was converted
to individual use. Mayor Kosek then
ordered Captain Hilty and her officers
10 stop soliciting aid, and he even de-
MED them a license for such work.
No attempt was made to solicit until
Tuesday night, when Captain Hilty and
Lieutenant Rush visited a saloon and
solicited funds.
The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-02-25
JUDGE RICE DETERMINED
Superior Court Jurist Reiterates Inten-
tion to Retire

Wilkes Barre, Pa, Feb. 25.-Ef.
forts of lawyers and friends of Presi-
dent Judge Charles E. Rice to persuade
him to reconsider his decision to retire
from the bench have been of no avail.
Many lawyers and friends of the jurist
have appealed to him in person and in
letters to reconsider the matter, but the
Judge is deaf to all appeals and de-
clares that his mind is firmly set. The
decision of Judge Wilson, of Philadel
phia, to retire and claim half pay un-
der the act of 1911 brings to light
that Judge Rice must be entitled to half
pay under the same act.
Mayor John V. Kosek, who has an
nounced that public mass meeting
will be held with the hope of getting
Judge Rice to change his mind and
again become candidate has not fixed
time for the meeting, but declares he
will go ahead with the plans and will
probably hold the meeting next week.
The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-02-25

moved, to the amazement of everyone,
including the Czar, the mirror was
found to be whole and without flaw,
and there was no sign of the broken
glass that apparently had Uttered the
floor.
This illusion, for illusion it is, was
first exploited by Anderson, a Scottish
magician.
An Impromptu Royal Audience =
Perhaps, however, the strangest ex-
hibition of magic ever given before
royalty occurred one day on the plat
form of a railway station in Copen-
hagen. Thurston, returning from his
three years trip round the world,
espied a group in which were King
Christian of Denmark, King Edward of
England, King George of Greece, and
various members of their suites. 1t
was too good an opportunity ror
American enterprise not to take ad-
vantage of, and Thurston approaching
the groupe as if by accident, knocked
off the hat of one of the attendants of
the royal party.
With a courteous apology Thurston
stopped to pick up the hat; but uttered
an exclamation of surprise. From the
hat he drew forth struggling white
rabbit and held it up.
The royal party, laughing at the
amazement on the face of the owner
of the hat, quickly gathered round, as
IThurston with dexterous celerity drew
forth from the hat two ducks, yards of
ribbon, paper roses and dozen gold
pieces.
For half an hour an impromptu ex.
Ihibition of magic followed, in which
all the monarchs participated, testing
the magician's powers with all sorts OF
tricks with cards and coins.
On this journey round the world
Thurston played many pranks on per
sons of many nationalities; but on one
occasion he found the tables turned
He had been giving performance in
the Fiji Islands. In one of his tricks
he uses two ducks, white one and q
bag, and when he draws them out again
the white duck has black head and the
black duck white head.
This trick seemed to delight the chief
of the province, and at its conclusion he
asked through an interpreter if Thurs
ton would net repeat the trick.
At the conclusion of the second per
lformance there was an animated con
versation between the chieftain anG
the interpreter, and finally the inter
prefer asked for the duck trick for the
third time. At its conclusion long
conversation between chief and inter
prefer followed. The magician could
not imagine what was the matter, anc
was beginning to wonder whether any
thing in the performance had offended
the chief His curiosity was soon sat
isfed. The interpreter approached with
this request:
"His Majesty have black slave and
yellow slave. Him think it very gooC
you change slave like duck,-put vel
low head on black slave, black head or
yellow slave"
AS best he could through an inter
prefer Thurston explained that the
trick could be done only with ducks
but the royal party withdrew far from
pleased.
Trouble in Making Change
A simple palming trick often enables
IThurston to have fun with conductors
The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-02-25
Cut This Out Now

If you don't want it to-day, you may
next week. Send this advertisement and
cents to Foley & Co., Chicago, Ill.,,
writing your name and address clearly.
You receive in return three trial pack
ages-Foley Honey and Tar Com
pound for coughs, colds, Group and grip
pc; Foley Kidney Pills, for weak or
disordered kidneys or bladder; Foley
Cathartic Tablets, pleasant, whole
some and cleansing purgative, just the
thing for winters sluggish bowels and
torpid liver. These well known standard
remedies for sale by George A. Gorgas,
16 North Third street, P. r. R. Sta
tion.-Adv
The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-02-25

1t was in one of those old fashioned
southern hotels where negro walters
are still employed. AT one of the tables
serious looking man, dressed in black,
sat perusing the menu. He might have
been taken for a doctor or lawyer, or,
with a collar of different cut, for a
clergyman. A grizzled negro approached
him and put down glass of water, and
turned away to get the cutlery needed
for the table.
| 81 say, waiter" called the diner, "do
you usually serve fish in the drinking
water7"
To the walters amazement two tiny
goldfish were swimming about in the
tumbler he had Just placed on the table.
81 suttenly doesn't know how dat
happened said the astounded negro.
''I'l take dem right away"
With trembling hands he removed
the glass with the fish to the pantry
and brought another one, making sure
this time that there were no fish in it.
He sat it down before the man in
black and started to move away again,
when he was recalled by sharp note of
reproach.
waiter, | did not order any wine
Take this away at once. l never drink
wine. 1t is bad for the nerves."
With bulging eyes the waiter stared
at the glassful of wine. He was sure he
had put it there filled with water only
second ago. Where could have the
wine come from?
81 wish you would take it away
continued the diner calmly but firmly
wine always has an unpleasant effect
on my nerves. 1t makes me see things
that do not exist; for instance, that
snake on your coat"
AS he spoke he reached out his hand
and plucked the walters coat, taking
from it live, wriggling little snake.
With screeeh of terror the waiter
fled to the manager, declaring, "De
debbil is in the dining room!" His
terror was so abject that the manager
decided to investigate the cause of his
fears. He took just one look in the
dining room and began to laugh
1T is Thurston, the magician, having
his dinner" he explained to the curiou:
crowd that had gathered.
The Czar's Mirror
In making magical mischief these
JtsttES are Hu EtSpcCttiS VI pCisOHo' l.
was Thurston who on one occasion was
invited to the palace of the Gar tc
entertain his guests. After his per
formance he was playing billiards with
some of the attaches of the court, and
the Gear himself was a spectator.
Thurston in making a play sent 6
billiard ball spinning off the table, anC
it crashed against tall plate glass
mirror extending from floor to ceiling
The glass was shattered into fifty
pieces, and on every face including the
magician's, there was CONSERVATION al
his awkwardness.
The Gar courteously remarked thai
it did not matter and ordered the game
to proceed; but Thurston asked permits
sion to examine the broken mirror.
"Why don't you restore it by magic9'
facetiously asked one of the officer:
present, little dreaming he was giving
the cue Thurston was anticipating
Bring me black cloth and l will,
said Thurston impressively.
The cloth was brought and spread
over the broken mirror, where it re
mained for perhaps ten minutes, while
Thurston went through some mystic
incantations. When the cloth was re
The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-02-25

Kennedy was bending over, sooth-
ing her. She gave evidence OF COM
ing out from the effect OF the drug.
noticed that Bennett had sud
denly moved q step in the direction
of the door at which she stared.
"By heavens!" he muttered. star
ing, too. ''Look!"
We did look. A letter was slowly
being inserted under the door,
took a quick step forward. That
moment felt a rough tug at my
arm, and voice whispered: Wait,
you chump!"
1t was Kennedy He had whipped
cut his automatic and had carefully
leveled 1t at the door Before he could
fire. however. Bennett had rushed
ahead
/ followed. We looked down the
hall. Sure enough, the figure of
man could be seen disappearing
around an angle. l followed Ben
nett out OF the door and down the
hall
Words cannot keep pace with what
followed. Together we rushed to the
back stairs.
Down there, while / go down the
'front.'" cried Bennett.
went down. and he turned and
went down the other fight. AS he did
so Craig followed him.
Suddenly. in the drawing room,
bumped into figure on the other side
of the portieres. seized him
We struggled Rip! The portieres
came down, covering me entirely
Over and over We went, smashing a
lamp. 1t was vicious. Another man
attacked me, too.
voice pant over me
A scream followed from Aunt Jo-
sephine Suddenly the portieres were
pulled off me.
The deuce!" puffed Kennedy. It's
Jameson"
Bennett had rushed plump into
me, coming the other way. hidden
by the portieres!
II We had known at the time, our
Michael of the sinister face had
gained the library and was standing
in the center of the room. He had
heard me coming and had fed to the
drawing room. AS we finished our
struggle in the library he rose hastily
from behind the divan in the other
room, where he had dropped, and had
quietly and hastily disappeared
through another door.
Laughing and breathing hard, they
helped me to my feet. 1t was no
joke to me. l was sore in every
bone.
We'll, where did he go?" insisted
Bennett.
Il don't know-perhaps back there"
l cried.
Bennett and l argued a moment,
then started and stopped short. Aunt
Josephine had run downstairs and
was now showing the letter into
Craig's hands.
We gathered about him curiously
He opened it. On it was that awe
some Clutchlng Hand again.
Kennedy read it. For a moment
he stood and studied it, then slowly
crushed it in his hand.
Just then Elaine, pale and shaken
from the ordeal she had voluntarily
gone through. burst in upon us from
upstairs. Without a word she ad
vanced to Craig and took the letter
from him.
Inside, as on the envelope, was
that same signature of the Clutching
Hand.
Elaine gazed at it, wild-eyed, then
at Craig. Craig smilingly reached for
the note, took it, folded it, and un.
concernedly thrust it into his pocket.
MY Cod" she cried, clasping her
hands convulsively and repeating the
wordr of the letter, YOUR LAST
WARNING!"
The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-02-25
To Be Continued Next Week
CHURCH SENTRY" ARRESTED
Gives Bail and Resumes Pulpit Vigil
With Shot Gun

Kokomo, Ind, Feb. 25.-After keep.
ing members of the Church of Christ
ten miles east of Kokomo from their
house of worship for ten days because
a piano was installed in the church
James McKillip submitted to arrest
Tuesday on charge of trespass. Nc.
Killip placed cot in the pulpit and
began guard with a loaded shot gun
when he learned that some young mem
bers had moved the instrument in.
He obtained bail soon after being ar
rested and returned to his vigil to keep
possession, he said, until court order
ed him to vacate.
The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-02-25
JAPAN'S DAY AT FAIR
Naval Hero Helps Dedicate Nippon's
Exhibit at San Francisco

San Francisco, Feb. 25.-Yesterday
was Japan's 's day at the Panama-Pacifc
International Exposition. The Japanese
pavilons and gardens were dedicated.
Assisting in the dedication was Ad
miral Baron Sotokichi Uriu, hero OF
the Russo-Japanese war, and Baroness
Uriu..
Examination by the police of what
was believed to be stick of dynamite
found in the japanese exhibit in the
Palace of Manufacturers has disclosed
that it was a japanese toy.
The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-02-25
HOT TEA BREAKS
A COLD---TRY THIS

Get small package of Hamburg
Breast Tea, or as the German folks
call it. Hamburger Brust Thee" at any
pharmacy. Take tablespoonful of the
tea, put a cup of boiling water upon
it, pour through sieve and drink a
teacup full at any time. 1t is the most
effective way to break cold and cure
grip, as it opens the pores, relieving
congestion. Also loosens the bowels,
thus breaking cold at once.
1t is inexpensive and entirely vege-
table, therefore harmless.-Adv.
The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-02-25
WhirIed Around a Shaft

South Bethlehem, Pa, Feb. 20
Patrick Maroney, is years old, popu-
lar. athlete, vino started to work last
Monday at the Bethlehem Foundry and
Machine Company's plant, was fatally
injured yesterday. While adjusting a
belt his clothing caught in the ma
ehinery and he was whirled around a
shaft. His skull was fractured.
The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-02-25
Hundreds at Priests Funeral

Shamokin, Pa, Feb. 25-Hundreds
of sorrOwing men and women and chill
dren attended the funeral OF the late
Rev. c. J. Galligan, at Locust Gap,
yesterday morning. High Mass of Re
QUEEN was celebrated at 1880 and again
at 10 O'Clock. The Rev. P. J. McGhee,
pastor of the Lancaster Catholic church,
officiated at the early services, while
the latter service was conducted by the
Rev. A. j. McCann, of Danville.
The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-02-25
Major P. e. Mark Dies at Lebanon

Lebanon, Feb. 25.-MajOr P. G.
Mark. former District Attorney of
Lebanon county and for thirty years
prominently identified with local news
paper work, died Tuesday. following an
attack of kidney trouble. Major Mark
was II years old and served through
out the war. participating in twenty
six battles. He enlisted as first sergeant
in Company D, and was appointed by
President johnson orevet major for
gallant and meritorious service before
Petersburg in 1865.
The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-02-25

Leave the room-no, by the hall
door. We are going back upstairs.
/ obey him, and at the door he
switches off the lights. How / stand
1t | dc not know. go. upstairs me-
chanically into my own room-l and
this masked man.
Take off the kimono and slip
pers! he orders. do that. Get into
bed!' he growls. l crawl in fearfully.
For moment he looks about-then
goes out-with look back as he
goes. Oh! Oh! That handLwhich
he raises at me-THAT HAND!'
The poor girl was sitting bolt up
right. staring straight at the hall
door, as we watched and listened.