davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Tomahawk., 1917-05-10
MANAGER WAS SYMPATHETIC
Theatrical Troupe, Stranded in west
ern Town, Found Good Sannarl-
tan Unexpectedly.

The troupe had been playing in hard
luck. Fifty dollars, $65, now and then
$500, were the nightly receipts, hardly
enough to pay the railroad Jumps"
let alone pay salaries. There was
Just enough money in the treasury to
get to Walville on Christmas night.
It was one Of those east Lynne"
"the child is with its mother in Lon
don" pieces, and when the company
struggled into the town at midday the
local theater manager was at the sta
ton to be sure they had the eight &C.
tors.
The players wandered about the
town during the day. The curtain
went up on $24.75, most Of it in the
gallery. Some Of the $24.75 went out
at the end of the second act and didn't
come back. When the final curtain
came down a weary crowd scattered
to the chill dressing rooms, wonder
ing if the hotel proprietor would stop
them at the station the next morning.
This speculation was at it's height
when the theater manager of the town
appeared, his arms filled with bundles,
and dumped them into the arms OF the
youngest member of the troupe.
"Say," ne clustered, apparently a
little ashrned of what he was going
to say, 'yG1 people are having rotten
luck, amt you. I'm alone Up at my
house. Come up and have supper with
me, will you? And say, I've sad bit
of luck this year, and I'll stake you
to the nights receipts. And those
things gave the kid. they-well, they
once belonged to a kid Of mine"
And he went out.
One of the women started to cry
That's wasre the story ends.-New
yorE E,vonino Post
The Tomahawk., 1917-05-10

spirators resolved to get the pair to-
gether It was now the invariable
practise of Johnson's deputies never
to go abroad except in twos and
threes, but in spite of his chiefs
warning, Bowman, who was a man of
exceptional courage, courted death
alone on several occasions. Four boot
leggers constantly logged him, hoping
to catch him and the elusive Pussy
foot together and do them up"
Bowman was shot at on three occa-
sions, but he seemed to bear
charmed life, and escaped without
scratch.
On the fourth occasion the conspir-
ators laid their plans more success:
fully. At dusk one evening Bowman
was riding toward his home near
Caney, Kan, after a successful raid.
A report had been spread that the
bootleggers who were logging him
had left the district, and Bowman was
off his guard in consequence. Sudden
ly a couple of shots rang out. Bow
man was unframed, but his horse fell
dead beneath him. Being an old from
tiersman, he took refuge behind the
body Of the animal and replied with
his rifle, hoping to scare the cowardly
ruffians away. Apparently they were
resolved to get him, however, and
two of the party, moving round among
the shelter of some trees, pumped a
hail of lead into the spot where Bow
man was lying.
1--WE ultimately found poor Bow
man." says Johnson, with about
dozen bullets in him. The conspira-
tors made no mistake that time"
Another deputy, e. J. Sapper, was
shot through the side of the head,
like Sanders, ana, like him, recovered.
About the same time w. E. Strick-
land, while watching a train for John
son at midnight on the border, near
Tulsa, was shot in the neck, and he
still carries the bullet.
Then there was Randolph w. Car
they, city marshal at Paul's Valley,
The Tomahawk., 1917-05-10

who was shot in the back and killeS.
The murderer was fellow named
Stephenson, whose place Carth5y had
helped wreck previously. The dead
officers body lay in state in the little
Methodist church for two days before
it was laid away; then the people held
an indignation meeting in the opera
house, and every bootlegger in the
district had to fly for his life.
In the month of August occurred a
pitched battle at Sasakwa, Okla, which
resulted III tH& death of two more of
Johnsons band, Between Sasakwa
and the Oklahoma border is strip of
country Inhabited chiefly by the off,
spring Of ,Seminoles and negroes,
known as Seminole niggers. After
Johnson had shut off the railroad traf-
fic a band of these men formed an
express wagon system, carrying
whisky over the country.
Securing the aid of several city mar
shals, Johnson set out upon a regular
campaign. He sent Harvey De Hart
from Thrsce with an armed posse to
lie in wait along the route, and three
prisoners were brought in, together
with rs gallons Of whisky and a team
of horsee. The liquor was destroyed,
and tbs horses were confiscated and
sold.
Soon afterward John Morrison, who
divided his time as Johnson's deputy
and as village marshal for Sasakwa,
received news of gang near the
settlement, which was said to have
robbed post Office safe He set out
in pursuit of them, and, on the way,
encountered another officer. The two
men decided to wait in ambush until
the negroes returned, as it was evil
dent that they we're On the way to
Violet, a town just across the Okla
homa line, and would return with
liquor. On their return the two off,
GERS stepped into the road and or
dered the men to halt. The negroes
whipped up their team. and one OF
them, swinging round, shot Morrison,
killing him instantly.
As soon as the news became known
a posse was formed and set out in
pursuit. A regular battle followed,
resulting in the death Of L. P. Dixon
OF Shawnee, and Of bootlegger.
The Tomahawk., 1917-05-10

A Merry Little Deputy and His Pr1s-
oner, a Type Of the Outlaws Whom
johnson Fought.
named Patman, and suggested tnat
they should try to earn the $4,000 for
killing Pussyfoot.
On his release from prison Ben
Ellsworth went back to Forum, his
home town, and made murderous as"
sault upon a young man whom ne
charged with having given information
to Johnson that resulted in his ar
rest. Johnson went after TltsWoEth
again, alone, and in a furious rough
and-tumble fight, took away his revol-
yer, handcuffed him, and then brought
him a prisoner to Muskogee, 40 miles
away.
Patman was waiting near by to as
sassinate Johnson, but his nerve failed
him.
Ben Ellsworth broke jail and re-
turned again to his old haunts near
Forum, where on the occasion of a
Fourth of July picnic, he again de-
fed the law by setting up a bar
where he dispensed Spiked cider"
Hearing Of this Sapper and Sam Rob-
erts went down to raid the place. In
the ensuing scufae Patman shot Rob-
erts, killing him instantly, and shot
Sapper through the head, not NOR
tally, however.
Patman subsequently turned states
evidence against the Titsworths, after
the gang had been hunted down and
arrested, However, Eugene Ellsworth
was found not guilty, and the jury
was hung in the case of Ben. The
breaking up Of this gang disheartened
the bootleggers, and no more attempt
was made to murder Johnson.
Copyright, by W. G. Csaapman.)
The Tomahawk., 1917-05-10

2 Dootlegger who had recently come
out of Jail, to which Lewis had con-
signed him. The bootlegger had had
plenty Of time to fill himself with his
own medicine, and instantly attacked
Lewis with formidable dagger. Un-
fortunately Lewis had not his re-
volTer with him. Drawing his sheath
knife, he tried to defend himself
against the mans vicious thrusts, but
it was an unequal fight, for Lewis was
a small man, while the bootlegger
was Of huge physique, as may be seen
in the accompanying photograph,
which shows the rufaan and Lewis
side by side just after the arrest had
been made. Several Of Lewis friends
came up, but they were afraid OF
shooting for fear of hitting Lewis.
While they hesitated the bootlegger
felled Lewis to the ground and thrust
his dagger through his throat. Before
he could inflict further injury the man
was caught and pinioned. The dagger
had pierced the larynx, but subse-
quently Lewis made recovery,
though he lost the use of his voice
permanently.
That Johnson won the admiration
and affection Of his men is shown
from the fact that his deputies found
time, in the thick of fighting, to sur
prise him with the gift of magnii-
cent gold watch.
- THE chase of chipmunk," said
Johnson to them, may be sport in a
small way. The pursuit of bear or
a tiger is still higher game, but the
hunting down of armed and willy GRIM
inals, who prey upon the laws OF our
country-the men who make their liv-
ing in crime and in preying upon the
appetites and passions of their fellow
men, is sport of the highest possible
order"
Thus far, then, in spite Of numerous
murders, the outlaws had failed to
murder Johnson. Now they set about
their endeavor in a more systematic
manner. A price of $4,000 was placed
on Johnson's head.
THAT was the time," he says, when
I did not expect to get through. 1t
lasted for six months. Of course
was shot at some, but used always
to sit on the last seat in the rail-
The Tomahawk., 1917-05-10
DESPERATE OUTLAWS. PUT A PRICE
ON HEAD OF "PUSSYFooT" JOHNSON
Their Activities in the Indian Territory Being Seriously Hampered
by the Work of the Special Officer of the Indian Depart
me1t They Resort to Assassination - Conspr-
acy Finally Ended.
lewis REVENGE RESULTS IN Two DEATHS

We have seen now "lllldu r. ooHA
sons sensational raid Of the Monte
Carlo establishment in "No Mans
Land" by Lewis, Killion and Para
disc. resulted in the murder by Kill
lion Of Carr, marshal at Caney, Kan,
and in Killion's being sentenced to a
life term in the penitentiary. Inc
next tragedy that was to develop OUT
of this affair came swiftly. After his
release from the short term of I'M
prisonment which was melted out to
Lewis the king" of No Mans Land,
he vowed vengeance on Johnson and
Keller, the deputy who had AIDED IN
the raid, and sent word that ne Would
shoot them at sight. In the mean
while he set up a livery stable at
Bartleyville.
Lewis had had a worse career than
his confederate Killion. Some four
teen years previously he had been
IMPLICATED in the last train robbery
that was committed in the Cherokee
Strip. A portion Of the booty was
traced to him, and Deputy Marshal
Thomas went after him, got him,
and removed from his person two re-
volvers and a knife. He then put him
in Jail at Guthrie.
While Lewis was still in jail the
marshal discovered that he closely re-
sembled a certain Jerry Lewis who
was wanted for murder in the Chick
asaw country There was reward
of $500 offered for his apprehension
and Marshal Thomas, fearing that
the Jail at Guthrie was too weak to
hold Lewis, removed him to Okla
homa> City for safeguard. The jail
there proved really too weak, how
ever, and within a month o. so Lewis
made his escape.
He was next heard of in Arkansas,
from which state he made a hasty
departure on account Of a charge OF
bigamy that was brought against him.
He went to Colorado, assumed another
name, and actually became deputy
United States marshal, in which ca
pacity he killed man. Lewis was
tried, but acquitted. Subsequent to
that he robbed the Wells-Fargo ex-
press company at Cripple Creek, and
was sent to the penitentiary for a
term of eight years. After his ar
rest he confined his operations to
bootlegging in the Indian territory,
suffering several short terms OF i'm
prisonment, and finally engineered the
Monte Carlo kingdom which has al
ready been described, and which was
ended by Johnson.
AS may be imagined, Lewis livery
stable at Bartleyville was only meant
as a blind for the blind tiger" that
he contemplated establishing. With
the easy money that would roll in
from the sale of liquor, a man of Lew
is record would hai dly engage in any
legitimate business. However, so
long as Officer Johnson was bouncing
here and there about the territory, ar
resting liquor sellers by the score,
and smashing their stocks, Lewis
The Tomahawk., 1917-05-10
Pleasure in imagination

"a great deal of what we GALL pleas
ure is largely imaginary said the
readymade philosopher.
81 suppose so," replied the man who
was working on his automobile.
Now, wouldn't you like to be able
to take a long r.1e without having to
worry about speed limits or spark
plugs or tires, or anything at all?'
81 should say sou
"Well, here's street car ticket.
WASHINGTON Star.
The Tomahawk., 1917-05-10

way cars, so that I had everybody In
front of me, and in the restaurants
always got into corner with my
back against the wall. When I was
in the street, if i heard anyone be-
hind newell, T just lined up against
the wall till he had passed, keeping
a mighty close eye on him the WHILE
The leading spirit and initiator Of
the plan to get johnson by the offer
of the big reward was a man named
J. D. Lincoln. He had been a black
smith at the little town of Byars,
near Pauls Valley, and had run a
blind tiger" there, which Johnson had
put out of business. Lincoln, who
was a great, brooding, silent man, uni
versally stunned on account OF his
moroseness, conceived a violent hatred
for Johnson after the smashing Of his
shebeen. In his distorted brain he
evolved the scheme for getting man
to make sure Of putting Johnson out
Of the way. He put his suggestion
before a number of bootleggers all
through the country by letter, boldly
detailing his plans and asking for
financial assistance. Several OF them
were believed to have complied, for
the $4,000 was duly collected. An
amusing, though grim, feature of this
scheme was that when a deputy who
somewhat resembled Johnson was shot
and killed in mistake for him, the
money was actually paid over, and
half Of it had been squandered on
wild orgy of dissipation before the
mistake was discovered.
However, one of the bootleggers to
whom Lincoln wrote, happened to be-
under heavy obligations to one of
Johnson's men, wrote to him, revealing
the conspiracy. Johnson was to be fol-
lowed night and day until the opportu-
nifty for his assassination presented
itself. johnson put the matter in the
hands Of his most trusted deputies
he has never taken action in the
courts in self-defense-and gave the
matter no further thought.
OF all the regions most notorious
for cold FLOODED murder and outlawry
the palm might have been awarded
in 1907, to that section Of Oklahoma
centering about the little town OF
Forum.
This section was dominated in 1907
by two young outlaws, named Eugene
and Ben Ellsworth, and their gang
inundated the entire district. John
son thought this part Of the country
needed cleaning up, and he took the
task in hand, accompanied by DR.. E.
J. Sapper, who, besides being his dep
uty. was also a United States deputy
marshal.
The Titsworths had blind tiger"
and gambling layout In the woods.
near a railway construction camp at
McMurray Crossing, where the 1g-
norant Italians were constantly feeced
of their wages after being made drunk
en- the vilest of spirits. Johnson and
Sapper made night raid upon the
Ellsworth haunt, which was being run
by Eugene. They reached McMurray's
Crossing at midnight in a raging thun-
derstorm, and found the place filled
with drunken men. AS johnson So
peared at the door there was a wild
stampede, but Sapper held the en-
trance while Johnson, having demol-
ished the stock in trade with his axe,
placed Eugene Ellsworth under arrest
and drove off through the rain.
Ellsworth made his escape from
Jail, but Johnson took up the pursuit
again, and caught him after a long
The Tomahawk., 1917-05-10

chase, and anally landed him In jail
at Muskogee.
Then he made descent upon Ben
Titsworth's drinking and gambling
haunt at Warner, in wild section
Of the country near Muskogee. He
went alone this time, into the most
lawless part Of the Territory, ana
single-handed raided TitsWorth's place,
smashed the fixtures, arrested him,
and took him a prisoner to Fort
Smith
While in jail there Ben ELLSWORTH
who was involved in the conspiracy
made the acquaintance of s man
The Tomahawk., 1917-05-10
Unexpected Approval.

II was rather embarrassed" remark
Ell Senator Sorghum, when I forgot
ny speech and had to make an abrupt
fniSh.'
"What happened?"
Il made the hit Of my life. They
printed articles about me as one great
statesman who could be depended upon
not to filibuster."
The Tomahawk., 1917-05-10
Unpopular.

He seems to be very unpopular" =
stranger, you've hit it. He's about
as well liked around here as a paciflst
In patriotic meeting"
Omaha daily bee., 1917-01-19
McCumber Says H. C. L.
Is Caused by Extravaganza

Washington, Jan. l8.-Prohigacy
and extravaganza of the American
people in pursuing pleasure were con-
demned in the senate today by Sena-
tor McCumber of North Dakota, in
opposing proposals for an embargo
on food products. The high cost of
living, he said, was largely due to
American extravaganza, citing fig
ures to show that Americans spend
$13000,000,000 annually for liquor,
tobacco, automobiles and "other
amusements."
This revelry in extravagant hab-
it's he said, "this unquenchable de-
mand for amusements for continuous
mental intoxicants, is undermining
the sturdiness OF our younger genera
ton. The American people seem
obsessed with the idea that the main
thing in life is amusement, play, en-
tertainment"
An embargo upon food, in view Of
present prices of farm labor and ar
ticles used on the farms, in addition
to land values, would be most unjust
and class discrimination, he declared.
Omaha daily bee., 1917-01-19
Central City Workmen
Protest the New Rates

Central City, Neb., Jan. l8.-(Spe-
cial.)-Upon the request OF twenty
five members special meeting of the
local lodge of the Ancient Order of
United Workmen was called last
evening to protest against the new
rate enacted by the recent grand
lodge to take effect in May. With
view to secure the sentiment of the
different orders throughout the state,
a publicity committee was named,
and also an investigating committee
was selected to gather desired data.
The personnel of the two commit
tees is:
Publicity-Dr e. e. Boyd, E. j. Jones,
E. Whitescarver. R. Ross and D. T. sullivan.
Investisating-E. Fl. Martelle, Geo. Dan
ielson, VIM. Ehtz, W, c. Kerr and w 8.
Gardner.
Omaha daily bee., 1917-01-19
FEDERAL OWNER
FOR RAILROADS
Bean Of Custer Has Resolution
in Senate Favoring This
Action.
NEW BILLS INTRODUCED
(From a STAFF Correspondence


Lincoln, Jan. l8.-(Special. 1.-The
senate took shot at business for an
hour or so this morning. A few bills
were introduced and a joint resolution
by Beal of Custer, calling for immedi-
ate government ownership of rail-
roads was read. Under the rules it
will come up for discussion Saturday
morning.
The resolution also calls for the
government to take over all other
public utilities, especially telephone
and telegraph systems, and be oper-
ated by the government under strict
civil service regulations.
Salary raises for some of the off
Gals of a score of Nebraska cities of
the second class are provided under
a bill in the Nebraska senate by Sem
ator J. H. Bennett Of Douglas.
The salary of the chief of police is
raised from SIS to $50 a month and
of policeman from SIS to $1l0 a
month. The city engineer will get S.
a day instead of 81.
Senator Sandal of York, in senate
bill, proposes an amendment to the
law requiring the teaching Of the
dangers of alcoholism. The state su-
perintendent must set aside one day
eacb5year as Temperance day" and
provide suitable program for that
day. IT,. " y
Senator Douthett fixes legal PEN
atty not to exceed $1,000 fine for vio-
lating transmission line rules of the
Nebraska Railway commission.
State to Pay Teachers.
The state will pay the majority of
the salaries of common school teach
ers-the wages for six months of a
term-under bill introduced Thurs
day by Senator Robertson of Holt.
The minimum wage under the act is
not less than $50 a month, which
happens to be well above the mini
mum at the present time. The money
is derived from an annual levy by the
State Board of Equalization.
/ Senator Bennett Of Douglas intro
duced in the senate the bill already
in the house allowing fraternal socie-
ties to write benefit insurance for chill
dren from the age of to IS years,
after which they must designate them
selves the beneficiary. Under the pres
ent law parents cannot insure children
under the age of l6 vars.
Arthur county, omitted in the judi
cial district apportionment of the leg
islature two years ago, is placed in
the Seventeenth district and Logan
and Brown counties are transposed in
senate bill by Douthett of Dawson.
Adjourn Early.
The resolution signed by Sheridan
county boosters urging the passage
of house roll No. l, calling for levy
to build new capitol building and OPP
posing any capitol removal, was read
in the Nebraska senate Friday MORN
ing. The senate adjourned early, after
the reading of nine new bills and the
referring of sixteen bills of Wednes-
day, up for second reading, to COM
mitteeS
Omaha daily bee., 1917-01-19
COMMISSION WILL
LAY OFF BALL WAR
Johnson Says Settlement Rests
With Owners and Presidents
of Two Major Leagues.
HERMANN CAUTIONS FRAT

Chicago, Jan. 1S-Settlement of the
threatened base ball strike situation
rests with the club owners and presi-
dents of the two major leagues. Pres
ident Johnson of the American league
announced today on his return from
New York. The National Base Ball
commission, he said, will take no part
in the controversy.
'sThe strike propaganda is clear to
the base ball world" Johnson said. ut
simply is a move on the part of few
players and President Fultz OF the
Base Ball Plapers' fraternity to main
tain high salaries-big salaries that
we paid during the federal league
fight"
Johnson Makes Claims.
President Johnson said that the
majority of the American league
players will report even if strike is
called. Nearly 100 aready have
signed, he said. He also said that he
had received a letter from Manager
Griffith of the Washington club ad-
vising that members of the club are
signing and that no trouble was ex-
pected.
Johnson said the Washington club
members were supposed to be the
most enthusiastic for the fraternity in
the American league. --a.o'
Lie" Says Hermann. fn
Cincinnati, O., Jan. 18.-In state
ment today, Chairman August Herr
mann of the National Base Ball COM
mission cautions the base ball play
ers fraternity not to be misled by
false statements. The statement fol-
lows:
my attention has just been called
to bulletin No. 2, sent out by David
L. Fultz, president Of the base ball
players fraternity.
"In referring to requests recently
made by the fraternity to the national
board of the National association, he
states that the requests have been
tabled without consideration. This
statement is false. s...
"The requests have been acted
upon under date Of January and the
action has been promulgated through
out the country. 49,
Members of the fraternity should
not be misled by false statements"
Omaha daily bee., 1917-01-19
General Kuhn Made
President Of War COLLEGE

Washington, Jan. 18.-War depart
ment orders today announced the ap-
pointment OF Brigadier General Jo-
seph E. Kuhn as president of the war
college and assistant to Major Cen
eral Scott, chief of staff.
General Kuhn was appointed direc-
tor of the college when he returned
to this country from Germany after
serving as military observer and mill
tary attache of the American en-
bassy in Berlin. His promotion to
president of the college makes posi-
bic the fullest use by that institution
and the general staff Of much valua-
bic information gather by him in the
European war zone.
Omaha daily bee., 1917-01-19
President Urges Prompt
Action on General Dam Bill

Washington, Jan. lS.-President
Wilson went to the capitol today and
conferred in his room there with SEN
ators on the water power legislation
which he is anxious to have passed at
this session of congress. One of the
first he talked with was Senator
Bankhead. Yesterday he conferred
with house leaders and indicated he
would call a conference Of senators
and representatives interested in the
legislation.
There are some radical differences
to be adjusted in the water power
legislation now being framed.