davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Southern herald., 1916-06-30

The conclusion at which the police
arrived was that the murderer must
have obtained key to the house, by
means of which he gained admission
to the premises, and that, after hav-
ing shot Mr.. Collins, he escaped, going
up the main stairs from the lower hall
to the second floor, then proceeding
along the hall on this story to the win
dow at the end, cutting the wire
screen and springing out Of the win
dow upon the roof Of the one-story ad-
dition, and thence to the ground, a dis
tance of ten or twelve feet, thus ef-
fecting his escape.
On my arrival proceeded to make a
thorough examination of the premises
l interviewed the widow and the son
and daughter Mrs. Collins, who was
the second wife of the murdered man.
was between thirty-six and forty years
of age, of the brunette type, rather
above the medium height, and inclin-
ed to be slender She was very at
tractive and was considered good
looking woman, intelligent and re.
fined. In fact, the atmosphere Of the
entire household was that met with
among the best class of prosperous cit
izens.
After having spent four days in my
Investigations, came to the conclu-
sion that the murder had been COM
Initted by some member of the house
hold and that the murderer had not
entered from without Various rea-
sons combined to bring me to this de-
cision. The chief among them was
the fact hat Mr.. Collins had been kill
ed with his own shotgun, and that the
murderer had shown familiarity with
the manner in which this weapon was
kept, and with its place Of disposition.
This shotgun was high-priced fire
arm, and always kept carefully by
Mr.. Collins in a fine leather case
which was usually placed on the upper
shelf Of a clothes closet in his bed
room. This closet, which was unus
ually large, extended from the floor tC
the ceiling, and formed almost an en-
tire side to the room. The ceiling Of
this room was exceptionally high, sc
that a person Of ordinary size coult
not have reached the shelf on which
the gun was kept without the use o.
a step-ladder, which had certainly no
been used by the murderer. 1t nigh
possibly have been reached, however
by tall man while standing on
high table in the bedroom.
Mr.. Collins had not used this guI
for several months before his murder
1t had always been his custom, afte
making use of the weapon, to clean
thoroughly, take it apart, and pack !
in the leather case. The murderer
therefore, had not only to take dow
the gun from the shelf, but also to pu
it together and load it with a shell
which was also to be found among
quantity of ammunition on the higl
shelf. All Of these operations coul
not have been accomplished by an
person entering from the outside @
the house. even had he been acQuain
ed with the place where the gun wa
kept On the other hand, it woul
have been easy for any of the inmate
of the house to have taken the gu
from the shelf on the day precedin
. the murder, or several days befor,
The Southern herald., 1916-06-30

he had been posing as a wealthy man
in his own right, and had been at
tempting to keep up with the pace at
which the young lady's family and
other friends lived. He had been in
the habit OF spending considerable
sums in buying her flowers, in car
riage hire and entertainments of all
sorts and had become deeply involved
in debt. AS his father had only al
lowed him the sum of twenty-five dol
lars a month for social purposes, and
this amount was not 1.-THE Of what
he required, he had been driven to
desperation and at his wits end TO Sc
cure the necessary funds.
There were couple of colored hack
drivers in Lawrence who. Mr.. Man
ming learned, had been often patron
lied by young Collins. AS soon as /
received this information from Man
ming sent an urgent telegram to D.
F. Harbaugh, man in my employ
ment, directing him to proceed to Law
renee at once and find out all that the
hack drivers knew about John Col
Inns. Mr.. Harbaugh had lived in Law
renee for number of years before he
entered my service. He had been q
hack driver in that city, and had after
ward entered into the livery business
in Lawrence. Many of the hack driv
ers we're, therefore known to him, ant
some of them had been in his OWL
service. On this account he did no
find it at all difficult to discover every
thing that was known about the younl
man.
The men told Harbaugh that Collins
had approached them and entered int
o verbal contract with both of then
to have his father killed in return TO
a certain sum of money. Part Of thi
amount he had paid at the time tn
agreement was made. and he haI
promised to pay the remainder afte
the murder was committed
They told Harbaugh that they ha
never had any intention Of attemDtin
| to murder Mr.. Collins, but had prom
| ised John that they would do 50 In g
The Southern herald., 1916-06-30

and to have lad It ready for use. with
out Mr.. Collins having discovered that
Il was missing from the shelf
My Inquiries into the financial cons
dition Of the dead mans estate, con-
Quoted with a view to discovering who
was likely to profit by his death, dis
closed the fact that he had been con
sidered very much better of than was
actually the case. He had met with
financial reverses, and was in reality
possessed of little more than his home
at the time Of his murder. He was
carrying life insurance policies aggre-
eating thirty thousand dollars, Of
which sam ten thousand went to his
wife and ten thousand to each OF his
children
l Immediately wired to one of my
operatives, Joseph S. Manning, to pro
ceed to Lawrence, Kan, where, as /
have said, young John Collins had
been a divinity student, with instruc-
tions to ascertain quietly all that he
could as to the habits of the young
fellow and his associates. John Col
Inns had left his lodgings at Lawrence
on the evening preceding the murder,
going to Topeka and directly to his
home, where, he claimed, he retired
for the night at an early hour. Ac-
cording to his own story, he had been
in bed at the time when he was
aroused by the shot that killed his fa-
ther. had been making my own in
vestigations concerning him before
sending Manning to Lawrence, and l
had learned that he had formed the
acquaintance Of very estimable and
wealthy young lady of that city, with
whom he had become infatuated He
had paid good deal of attention to
her for several months previously.
She had informed him that her mother
intended to purchase or lease cot
tage at Long Branch, N. j., in which
to spend the summer months.
John Collins, who was thoroughly
infatuated with her, heard this news
with dismay. He surmised that she
would be sure to encounter some Of
the many fortune-hunters who frequent
that resort in summer time, and that
she might readily fall prey to one
of them, thus endangering his own
chances of winning her. Accordingly
he had made up his mind to spend the
season at Long Branch also, so that
he might guard the affections Of his
beautiful young friend.
The Investigations of Manning con
firmed the theory l had formed about
Collins. In order to advance his suit
The Southern herald., 1916-06-30
DEADLY DRINKS OF MEXICANS
Too Free Indulgence In Pulque and
MeseaI Given as Cause for Many
of Border outrages.

Although Francisco Villa himself
is said to be a total abstainer from in
toxicating liquors, many Of the Mexi.
can border outrages perpetrated by his
men followed a too free indulgence in
the Mexican national drinks, pulque
and mescal.
The National Geographic society Of
Washington, in a primer issued on
these two beverages peculiar to the
southern republic, says:
"The colonists who settled on the
east coast Of the United States have
been charged with introducing the
American Indian to 'flre-water' in ex-
change for the tobacco habit, but no
similar accusation can rest against the
Europeans who conquered the pulque-
drinking Aztecs of Mexico. The intox-
icating properties of this unique bev-
erage were known long before Cortez
marched his army across the cause
ways which Joined the ancient Venice
like capital of the Montezuma to the
lake shores.
Both pulque and mescal are prod.
ucts Of the agave or century plant,
which was Of the same utilitarian i'm.
portance to the aborigines as the date
palm to the Arab, the bamboo to the
Burmese, and the banana to the Cen,
trail American. In addition to the two
important beverages, this plant sup
plies from its roots a starchy food;
from its flbrous leaves cloth is woven
and rope is made; from its pulp the
Aztecs obtained sort of papyrus pa
per on which have been preserved
some Of their most valued writings,
Its huge leaves when dried furnished
a roofing for adobe huts; its steml
still supply fuel, and rows CT the sharp
spined plants afforded an impenetrabl,
defense against the attacks OF vii,
animals as well as an effective BARR
cade against hostile tribes.
"Mescal and pulque are not, as man,
believe, different names for the sam
drink. Mescal is distilled from tn
leaves apd roasted roots Of the plant
and is sort Of brandy, containing
from a third to half as much alcohC
as the average American whisky
. Pulquo, on the other hand, is the fe
mented sap Of the plant, and Ia ol
! tatned from the heart Of the magve.
The Southern herald., 1916-06-30

An effort has been made by frseai
Of the young man and by his family b
obtain a pardon for him, but un'toths
present time l understand that, III hN
been unavailing.
During the course Of the trial
great many people got the idea that |
had been employed by the insurance
companies, on account Of the thirty
thousand dollars worth Of insurance
that Mr.. Collins had carried. It Esl|
believed that the companies had hired
me to fix the crime upon the son aI
order to avoid having to make thsl
payment. need hardly say that theTa
was no truth in this suggestion Ths
people who employed me in this tasl
were citizens Of Topeka and lcdgi
friends of the murdered man, tls
were in no way connected with %
insurance companies interestedia taa
case, but were merely acting as gool
and law-abiding citizens. Just $
soon as succeeded in satisfying tas7
by showing them my evidence tha
John Collins was the murderer Of u
father, they turned the evidence o7s
to the proper authorities, and his .
rest followed. -...
The Southern herald., 1916-06-30

had employed me, and they then de-
cided to hand my report over to the
prosecuting attorney at Lawrence. At
the request of the prosecuting attor-
ney, the county commissioners at To
peka employed me to complete the
evidence, so that Collins might be ar
rested and prosecuted for the murder
Of his father.
John Collins was promptly arrested
and placed in Jail without bond, and In
due time the case came up for trial
AS mentioned, 1t had caused great
deal Of interest in the community, by
reason Of the standing Of the dead
man and the mystery surrounding the
affair. But when it became known
that the son was charged with the
murder the interest was duplicated.
The entire country was aroused over
the trial. All the leading western
newspapers had special reporters pres
ent, and these telegraphed back
lengthy reports OF the proceedings.
The courtroom was crowded, and
many noted lawyers came to watch
the great legal battle, which at times
waxed very warm, as all the counsel
on both sides were able men and stood
at the top Of their profession. Prose
cutting Attorney Jetmore was at his
best, making one Of the greatest fights
that l ever saw to get his evidence be-
fore the jury. Among the spectators
during almost the entire trial was the
late Justice Brewer Of the United
States Supreme court at Washington
who was visiting his daughter, the
wife of the prosecuting attorney, Mr.
Jetmore. At the close Of the case Mr.
Justice Brewer came to me and com
plimented me very highly for my worl
in solving the mystery.
What clinched the case. against tn
accused mai was the evidence Of tn
two colored hack drivers to whom
have referred. They came to Topek
from Lawrence and took the witnes
: stand on behalf of the prosecution
: When they showed the watch that b
: had given them, aEd which be In tur
The Southern herald., 1916-06-30

or agave, when it has attained
growth of six or eight years. ~
pulque harvester taps this heart Eii1
might be compared with the ceaiE
the date palm, and with the ait q
long reed or ,gourd he sucks TIE y
from it, using his tongue as q stopla
for the reed. When the reed is ilh
he blows it into a pigskin contains
strapped to his back. In the courses
four or five months the magues W
yield ten gallons of sap. u u1
withers and dies. When fresh paq1
is a sweet, innocuous liquid.
Neither mescal nor pulque .
penslve. One can get a drink o.
latter for a cent, while a 14-galiOn g
of the famous tequila brand Or mes1
may be had for 10 pesos ($9.5Vl'
"The Mexicans surround the diSs.
cry of these maguey beverages Y.
a legend Of royal romance. Long
fore the Montezufnas held sway T.
Tenochtitlan, so the story goes
Of the early emperors took as BIB Hlls
the beautiful daughter Of a vanqalsl.
foe. The princess brought with hsl
Tenoohtitlan the secret OF a ren'.s
able drink Of which her loi1
master grew inordinately fond. -
imbibing freely Of 1t he would ..
gratifyingly docile and torpid -
the princess free to her own sae.
Other Aztec wives induced tne
cess to share with them the ssfla
this strange soporific and thas
whole race came under the Pc
pulque.
The Aztec cannot be ehaFgsa
the invention OF the naaseoaS
pulQHe, q compound Of paiess
milk with dash of rennea. ~
net, part of a cows compoana
ach, is partially putrehed ana -
thus impaired Is intensifed ~ q.
plicated by that of the pls
which the liquor is eontainea'
alibi which defenders of the AZ.
offer against the charge of being
to this cifactory crime is ina.
the Spenards reached Mexico
were no cattle, horses or oonhs
, the country, hence no renne'.
, "POlque cannot be shipped
> the country because no metpos +
/, serving 1t has been DISCOVERIES
! vast output of the extensive
/ tions-it is the most imporla
;, try Of the states of Hidalse
!. Puebla and Tlaxcala-is eoA
) home. Mexico consu%es
/, wegth Of pulque annually
The Southern herald., 1916-06-30

In the spring Of the year 1898, be-
ing then in st. Louis, where / had
opened a private detective agency, |
received a telegraphic dispatch from
a number Of influential citizens of To
peka. Kan, asking me to proceed to
that city Immediately for the purpose
OF investigating a sensational murder
which had been committed there, dis
covering the murderer and bringing
him to justice. complied with this
request at once, and arrived at Topeka
on the third morning after the crime
had been committed. l found the en-
tire community discussing the affair."
which had greatly shocked the city.
The slain man had been one Of the
most influential citizens of Topeka. He
had been killed while sleeping beside
his wife, the weapon used being a shot
gun, and one or two of the pellets had
struck his wife's shoulder, making
slight, though painful, wounds.
Mr. Collins had been prominent
insurance and real estate man Of the
Kansas capital, where he had lived
for many years. He was well known
throughout the state. His death oc-
Cured in his fifty-sixth year. and he
left two children, daughter and a
son named John. He occupied a COM
Portable house.
John Collins, the only son, was a
student at the state university in Law
renee, where he was being prepared
for the ministry. He had been there
for two or three years at the time Of
his fathers murder, and his period of
study had therefore almost expired.
He boarded at the school, and occa-
sionally paid a visit to his fathers
home in Topeka, usually on Sundays
and holidays. He had just passed his
twenty-frst birthday, and was about
five feet nine inches tall, with fair
complexion and light brown hair, well
built, pleasing in manner, and alto
gether a very prepossessing young fel-
low
The daughter was also above the
medium height, nice looking, intelli-
gent and well educated.
The Collins home, which stood on a
fine residential thoroughfare, was dis
turbed early one morning by the dis
charge of gun in the sleepngroom
occupied by Mr.. Collins and his wife
which was situated on the ground
floor. The son, who was in the house
and the daughter, as well as the hireC
girl, rushed into the room in agita
tion, to find that the father had beer
killed instantaneously, while his wife
as stated, had been slightly wounded
by some of the shot. John Collins
dressed himself as quickly as possible
ard aroused the nearest neighbors
It was then little after daybreak.
Both John and his sister occupied
rooms on the second floor of the house
All the windows were screened will
wire, and the doors Of the house wer'
all intact and carefully locked. Whel
the police arrived, however, their eS
animation of the premises dlsclose'
the fact that window screen in tn
rear Of the house and on the secon'
floor had been cut, leaving a hol
large enough for the passage OF a hu
man body. This window was situate
Immediately above a one-story add
tlnn to the main building in the real
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1916-05-11
Brush College.

Ralph Frost sheared sheep for
Mike Griffin Monday and Tuesday.
David Hubbard and daughter Beu-
+ lah were Davis City visitors Wednes-
day.
Andy Smith and wife spent one
afternoon last week at Steve Latta's.
Andy Hubbard departed one day
last week for Bartlesville, Oklahoma,
to look after his farm.
Benton Latta and Mrs. Earl Hay
den and son Aubrey visited a few
days last week at the Steve Latta
home
Eliza and Ben Lille and Glass
Finch spent Sunday at John Hub
bard's.
Those who spent Sunday at the
Cyrus Holybee home were Annie,
Willie and Beulah Hubbard, Isaac,
Dartle and Dorothy Martin, Opal Ben
nett and Albert Smith of Allerton.
Dwight Freeman and family and
Mrs. Georgia Still spent Sunday at
John Gamers.
Steve Latta and family were Davis
City callers Tuesday.
Nell Still, Clyde Waller and Rolla
Craig and their families and Miss
Edith Spargur were Sunday visitors
at Jim Stills.
Mrs. Ralph Frost of Leon is visit
ing few days this week with her
parents, Mr.. and Mrs. David Hub
bard.
Will Griffin of Melrose, Iowa, spent
Sunday at the Mike Griffin home.
Nell Still and wife visited one day
last week at Clyde Walters.
Mrs. David Hubbard spent one day
last week with Mrs. Rolla Craig.
Willie Hubbard and Isaac Martin
spent one night last week at John
Hubbard's.
Several attended prayer meeting at
Jim Hubbard's Wednesday night
Annie Hubbard spent one day last
week at Steve Latta's.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1916-05-11
Garden Grove.

George Brady and family went to
Lamont last Sunday to attend the
wedding of a relative.
The Humeston basket ball team
came down last Friday and were bad
ly defeated by the high school team
of this place.
Word was received here Monday
that Porter Eveland a former resi-
dent, manager of a big electric pow
er system in the east, had died after
a short Illness The remains will ar
rive here Thursday
Mrs. Ryan and little grandson of
New Jersey arrived here last week to
visit at the homes of her sisters, Mrs.
Peck and Mrs. N. M. Ridgeway.
DR.. ThrockmortOn of St. Louis
was here last week visiting at the
home of his brother, w. S. Throck-
morton.
Miss Blanche Monroe went to Kan
sas City Monday to visit at the home
OF her friends, the McCaull sisters.
Mr.. and Mrs. Willis Aten of Char
lton came the latter part Of the week
to visit with his mother, Mrs. John
Aten.
Mrs. Sarah Thomas of Oskaloosa
came last Saturday to visit at the
nome OF her granddaughter, Mrs.
Morlan.
Ernest Gamble was called to near
Bethany, Mo-, Sunday by the death
of his father.
Mr.. Morehead of Bethany, Mo-, was
here last week visiting his sister,
Mrs. Morris Of High Point township.
Misses Leighty and Edith Young
went to Blythedale, NO., last Friday
to visit with the latter's sister, Mrs.
Leo Sullivan.
J. w. Luce went to Moravia Mon
day to visit with relatives and old
time friends, formerly living near
that city.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1916-05-11
Round Knoll.

Mrs. Grant Hatfield called on Mrs.
Lue Green last Tuesday.
Miss Lena Irving assisted her
last week.
Harrison Young plastered for
Homer Hull last Tuesday.
Dick Allen helped his sister, Mrs.
Homer Hull with her papering last
Wednesday.
Claude Ramsey made a business
trip to Leon Wednesday.
Alvice Ramsey of Tennessee pass
ed through these parts Wednesday.
Sam Briner was a Grand River
caller Wednesday.
The family of Robert Palmer have
all recovered from three weeks
seige Of measles.
day night and Friday with her par
ents, Mr.. and Mrs. Wesley Steen.
Mr. and Mrs. Oscar West made a
business trip to Leon Saturday.
Miss Lena Irving spent Saturday
in Van Vert at the Will Irving home.
Miss Pearl Hatfield spent Sunday
with home folks.
Clair Palmer spent Saturday night
and Sunday with Billy Shipp of Van
Vert
Vern Palmer and sister Flossie
spent Sunday at the Fred Irving
home
Mr.. and Mrs. Lue Green called at
the Hatfield home Sunday afternoon.
Mrs. John Palmer and children of
Van Vert spent Sunday at the Wes-
ley Collins home.
Billy Shipp of Van Vert took sup
per at the Robert Palmer home on
sunday evening.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1916-05-11
Elm Chapel.

Mr.. and Mrs. Bud Bright spent
Sunday at the Oliver Bright home.
Emmett Moore and sister, Miss
Ethel spent Saturday night and Sun
day at the Lester Hamilton home.
Miss Fairy Bright spent Sunday
and Sunday night with her cousin
Miss Edna Bright
Mr.. and Mrs. Russell Warnock
spent Sunday at the home of his par
ents, Mr.. and Mrs. ALT Warnock.
Buck Moore and Don Moore have
purchased new Ford each.
Virgil and Irene Bright and Flute
and Ethel Moore attended meeting at
Morgan Sunday night.
Miss Bertha Warnock spent Sun
day at the Frank Warnock home.
Mrs. OFT Moore spent Sunday at
the home of Dug Moore.
Those who spent Sunday at the
Chas. Bright home were Sam Bright
and sons, John and Walter, and Dug
and Flute Moore and Curn Bright.
Miss Oma Moore spent Friday
night with her cousin, Miss Ethel
Moore.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1916-05-11

No. 259-Matt goat "Peek-
a-boo" Oxford, full kid lined,
four button, curved Cuban
heel, heavy turned sole, plain
toe, sizes 2112 to s, widths a to
d.
Price $780,.
Der Nordstern. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1874-1931, 1916-03-02
DanGt un0 trinGt.

DIS tir3li@ i'm 9%auptquartier bes
9eut{@en &aifers bel Ser @eburt bes
jingften &aiierenfels ouf bas MoN
bes Observation-Disclosures getrunten
tpuroe, er3dblte Scatter Wilbelm felbf
folgenbe @ei@tdte:: DIS ct in Bonn
ftubierte, itan6 er bort NIT Dem fpds
teren, 1895 in Muitralien ermoroeten
5orf9unssretienoen Gblers in regen
@erfebr. DIS Damn ser Brin3 Woter
>puroe, faidte @blers Elm @liidmunt4
tele9ramm, bos er in ftuDentifde
Torm fleioete. Sc lautete:: Sd babe
Sic bobe Gbre unb bos @ergniigen,
auf bas Mobl ces jiingiten 9oben5ol@
Tern einen @an3en gu trinten." ume
eebenb erbielt Ghlers oie Mnt>port bes
aaifers, bic in Die gleiae ftuoentti4e
Torm qefleioet NOR: Scr iinglte 90
ben3ouer oantt unb trintt.'
Der Nordstern. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1874-1931, 1916-03-02
]frupp, Der 3igeuner.

Dos @@mieoebanopert pirb in
M%ontenegro bouptid@li4 bon 3igeuz
nerr betrieben. Ser Montenegriner
1elbft 1T gu itol3 gu bieier Mrbeit, mie
3u ieoer Giienarbeit iiberbaupt. Sn
5olge oeKen itnb Die 3iseuner beim
neutrality-suspicious. @olte audi febr per>
adtet. Gs beitebt Der CLAUDE, @@lofz
fer unb @9mte6ebanbmert ieten unz
ebrli9e @emerbe. go bielten lie benn
AUDI nod in ben adt5iger Sabren bes
porigen Sabrbunberts &rupp fir einen
3i9euner. neil er aanonen COB. PRO
feFor 9r. @6par3 er5dblt buriiber III
5einem 8ude iiber Montenegro eine
bibi&e Gpiiooe. M1s INN einmal Elm
iunger neutrality-suspicious. Sffi5ier Ole
Mrmut bes 2anoes tlagte, meinte
@@par3, er, Der Offi3ier, t0nne bic
fem uebelltanoe ia lei4t abbelfen, I'M
Dem er sic Sodter oes &anonent0ntss
&rupp in Gnen beirate. rNi@t UNI
cine Mtnion beirate i'd cine 3igeue
nertodter," entge9nete entiebt' Der
0ffi3ier. @ielei@t piro bic roide
8ertha," bic ehte 3igeunerto@ter. aud
bic neutrality-suspicious. Sffi5iere bon
ibrem Werte ii5er5eugen.