davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1917-05-26

Finally the gang was rounded up ana
the leaders were captured and placed
in jail.
1t was in the town Of Chelsea that
the ruffians nearly got Johnson. He
had entered the Joint" Of man
named Edmondson with Deputy Lowe.
but, as the crowd was very threaten
ing in it's demeanor, he left Lowe out
side to hold the door, and went into
the baTroom alone, in his customary
manner. He smashed the liquor and
the fixtures, and was about to leave
when the mob brushed Lowe aside
and surged into the place, surround
ing Johnson, led by bad man
named Dyce, OF enormous build ana
muscularity. Dyce thrust nIs INST
into Johnson's face, discoloring bis
eye Johnson knocked Dyce down
twice. and Dyce concluded that he
had had enough. Beer glasses and BILL
lizard cues began to fly around john
sons bald head, and revOlvers were
drawn. In another moment Johnson
WOulu nave Ueeu put OuI VI CAiSI-
ence But snatching up one OF the
billiard cues, he laid about him with
force, cracking half a dozen heads
and clearing a little space about him.
At this juncture Lowe managed TO
effect an entrance and knocked up a
revolver which was thrust into John
sons face, in the nick of time. A min
ute later Johnson, with his billiard
cue, was driving the flock of rowdies
like sheep before him. Within an
hour of this occurrence news of John
sons death was being spread in every
Oklahoma city.
IN always telephone i'll when I'm
killed." Johnson explained TO an in
quiring newspaper reporter.
In connection with the killing and
wounding of Johnson's deputies may
be mentioned the attack on Omer l..
Lewis, though his death occurred, like
that of Charley Escaiante, one Of John
sons brave Indian deputies, at q later
period. At Arloe, Mont, Lewis met
The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1917-05-26

who was shot in the back and killed.
The murderer was a fellow named
Stephenson, whose place Carthey 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
pitched battle at Sasakwa, Okla, which
resulted in the death of two more of
Johnson's band Between Sasakwa
and the Oklahoma border is a 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 regular
campaign. He sent Harvey De Hart
from Thrace with an armed posse to
lie in wait along the route, and three
prisoners were brought in, together
with 25 gallons of whisky and team
of horses. The liquor was destroyed,
and the 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 a gang near the
settlement, which was said to have
robbed a 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 were 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 q bootlegger.
The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1917-05-26
DESPERATE OUTLAWS PUT A PRICE
ON HEAD OF "PUSSYFoOT" JOHNSON
Their Activities the Indian Territory Being Seriously Hampered
by the Work of the Special Officer of the Indian Depart
ment They Resort to Assassination Conspir-
acy Finally Ended.
Lewis REVENGE RESULTS in TWO DEATHS

We have seen how William e. John
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 KiIli0n's being sentenced TO a
life term in the penitentiary. The
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 he would
shoot them at sight In the mean
while he set UP a livery stable at
Bartleyviile.
Lewis had had 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
Thomas went after him, got him.
and removed from his person two re-
volvers and 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 a 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 or 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 a deputy
United States marshal, in which ca
pacity he killed a man. Lewis was
tTlSU, UuL dCQullIcu ouUSC4uCllI W
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 St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1917-05-26
MANAGER WAS SYMPATHETIC
Theatrical Troupe, Stranded In west
ern Town, Found Good Samari-
tan Unexpectedly.

The troupe had been playing IN haro
luck. Fifty dollars, S65, now and then
500, were the nightly receipts, hardly
enough to pay the railroad Jumps
let alone pay salaries. There was
lust enough money in the treasury TO
rct to Walville on Christmas night.
If was one OF those East Lynne"
"the child is with its mother III Lon
don" pieces, and when the company
struggled into the town at midday the
local theater manager was DIT the sta
ton to be sure they had the eight ac-
tors.
The PLAYERS wandered about the
town during the day. The curtain
went m on S24.75, most Of it in the
gallery. Some of the $24.75 went out
ot the end of the second act and didn't
come back. When the final curtain
came down a weary crowd scattered
70 the chill dressing rooms, wonder
ing if the hotel proprietor would stop
thcm at the station the next morning.
This speculation was at its height
when the theater manager VI Inc loWA
appeared. his arms filled with bundles,
and dumped then into the arms of the
Youngest member Of the troupe.
"Say," he clustered, apparently a
LITTLE ashamed Of what he was going
TO say, you 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 had 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 where the story ends.-New
York Evening Post.
The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1917-05-26

a bootlegger 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 a formidable dagger. UI-
fortunately Lewis had not his re-
volver 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 rufian 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 inf1ict 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 magnifl-
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
Countrywide 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 Johrson'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 l used always
to sit on the last seat in the rail-
The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1917-05-26
FOREIGN NAMES IN ENGLISH
Effort to Convert Virgil Into Vergii
Raises Doubt as to Where Pur-
ists Would Stop.

Quite q vigorous discussion is going
on in the English press, as to the
spelling of foreign proper names. 1t
has all originated over the modern cf-
fort to convert Virgil into Vergil. OF
course the poets name is Vergilius,
but Virgil is the time-honored Angli-
cism for it. The opponents of Vergil
point out that it is ridiculous to say
that Vergil is the correct way of SPELL
ing it, for the simple fact that that
authorization is not and never was
Latin, but is an Anglicized way Of
spelling the word Vergilius, and that
in order to incorporate q word into
another language you have q right to
make it conform to that language, and
that your determination to make il so
conform is a sure sign of the vitality
of the language.
AS matter Of fact there is very
little doubt that those who take this
point of view have all the precedents
on their side. Macaulay always insist
ed on spelling Louis as Lewis, and de-
clared that you never should use a for
eiSn word where an English one could
be made to take it's place. The sup
porters Of Virgil now demand to know
where the purists are going to stop.
Are they, they ask, going to be content
with Vergil, or are they going the full
length to Verglius? Are they going
to be content with Venice, or are they
going to indulge in Veneze, and if
Veneze, why not the whole length. and
cedents, we are afraid the reformers
have not much chance.-Christian
Science Monitor.
The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1917-05-26

A Merry Little Deputy and Ills PrIS-
oner, Type of the Outlaws Whom
johnson Fought.
named Patman, and suggested that
they should try to earn the $1,000 LOT
killing Pussyfoot.
On his release from prison Ben
Ellsworth went back to Forum, his
home town, and made a murderous as
sault upon a young man whom he
charged with having given information
to Johnson that resulted IN his ar
rest. Johnson went after Ellsworth
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
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 scuffie 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. Chapman.)
The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1917-05-26
Unexpected Approval.

81 was rather embarrassed" remark
ed Senator Sorghum, when I forgot
my speech and had to make an abrupt
finish"
"What happened?
II made the hit of my life. They
printed articles about me as one great
statesman who could be depended upon
not to filibuster"
The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1917-05-26

saw that it would be losing game.
He knew that Johnson's employment
by the Indian department would ter
inmate in a short time, as soon as
the impending statehood was given
to Oklahoma, and, with the redoubta-
BILE Pussyfoot out of the way, he cal
cuiated that his scheme would work
out to a nicely. His hatred for John
son arose in the main from the
knowledge that he was impotent to
sell liquor so long as Johnson was in
tho way. Yet, whether he really
meant to kill him or not, he was at
the same time sending threatening let
tiers to Deputy Marshal Thomas, say
ing that he intended to have his lie
also. AS matter of fact, the man
hs killed had no quarrel with MIN.
When Johnson learned that he was
to he killed he was greatly interested.
He had never been killed, and he
wanted to give Lewis a chance or
making good on his threat. for John
son Is emphatically a fair man. NOT
has johnson ever taken life. He
The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1917-05-26

way cars, SO that | had everybody In
front of me, and in the restaurants l
always got into corner WITH my
back against the wall When l was
in the street. Il / heard anyone be-
hind newell, | 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 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
vcrsally stunned on account OF ms
mOroseness, conceived a violent hatred
for Johnson after the smashing of his
shebeen. In his distorted brain he
evolved the scheme for getting a 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 resembleG Johnson was shot
and killed in mistake for him, the
NJ
half of it had been squandered on q
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 CT
Johnson's men, wrote to him, revealing
the conspiracy. Johnson was to be fol-
lowed night and day until the opportu-
nity 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.
or all the regions most notorious
for cold-blooded 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
intimidated 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.
]. 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 lg-
norant Italians were constantly fleeced
Of their wages after being made drunk
on the vilest Of spirits. Johnson and
Sapper made a night raid upon the
Ellsworth haunt, which was being run |
by Eugene. They reached McMurray
Crossing at midnight in raging thun-
derstorm, and found the place filled
with drunken men. AS Johnson ap-
peared at the door there was 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 St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1917-05-26
Pleasure in Imagination,

"a great deal of what we call pleas
tire is largely imaginary" said the
readymade philosopher.
II suppose So" replied the man who
was working on his automobile.
"Now, wouldn't you like to be ahla
TO take long ride without having n
worry about speed limits or SMART
plugs or tires, or anything at ALP
II should say SOL"
"Well, here's a street car ticket
Washington Star.
The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1917-05-26
chase, and finally landed him

chase, and finally landed him
at Muskogee
Then he made descent upon Be
Titsworth'a drinking and gambling
haunt at Warner, In a wild section
Of the ccuntry near Muskogee- He
went alone this time, into the most
lawless part of the Territory, and
single-handed raided Titsw orth's place.
smashed thu fixtures. arrested aim,
and took him prisoner to Fort
Smith
While in JILL there Ben Ellsworth.
VINO was involved in the conspiracy.
made the acquaintance of a man
The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1917-05-26
Unpopular.

"He seems TO be very unpopular"
Stranger, you've hit it. He's about
as well liked around here as q pacltst
in patriotic meeting"
The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1917-07-26
Barnes County Third in
List Of 5557 Districts

A fact which will be of interest to
our Barnes county readers is sho Hn
by information received from Wash
ington stating that the list Of names
of those of consumption age registered
in this district was the third in the
whole of the United States to reach
the provost marshal general at Wash.
ington. The nation was divided into
5557 districts and each district had to
send list to the government. The city
Of Philadelphia was divided into sew
eral districts and districts one and
seven of Philadelphia we're the first
and second to reach the capital and
the district comprising Barnes county
was third. That is surely evidence Of
the efficient manner in which the local
board for the county Of Barnes, handl-
ed the work here and Barnes county
has reason to be proud of its officials.
The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1917-07-26

way of Fargo and Ortonville and re-
turning by way of Aberdeen and La.
Moure. Miss Anna Schindeldecker
is still visiting the Wessler family at
Milbank.
Mr.. and Mrs. J. w. Neill, of the
Standing Rock farm, are enjoying a
visit from the latter's parents, of
Sioux City, Iowa.
Andrew Larson is back from a
months stay at Rochester, Mimi,
where he was operated on June Is for
appendicitis and stomach ulcer. He
returned Friday and is much improv-
ed In health.
Miss Rose Bitxenhofer was a call
er at Kathryn yesterday and today.
Sam Amundson writes US to send
his Belletin to 3S48 Mckinley ave-
nue., Tacoma, Wash. 81
]. w. Bjerke and family motored to
Revere, Sunday, returning the next
day.
Miss Hilda Lee returned to her
home at Nome last Saturday. She has
conducted a months Norwegian pa.
rochial school in the Bethlehem con.
gregation, northwest Of town.
Quite a number of LitchvIllians
spent Sunday at Spiritwood lake.
Mr.. and Mrs. J. G.. Bennett motor
ed across to Lisbon Sunday.
P. N. Petersen has leased his farm
on the east side of town, to Nels o.
stad, who will take possession this
The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1917-07-26

LlTCHVILLE
p
, $$$$$%%%e%$4$$$.


Bulletin, July 20.-J. B. Murphy
was Fargo business caller Tuesday
and Wednesday.
Miss Elsie Stenshoel visited at the
Sarsten home, in this city, over Sun
day. s,s",. . c.''.,
Mr.. and Mrs. c.. A., Cross returned
last Saturday from a weeks visit at
Frazee, MINI.
T. I. Strinden and John o. Olson
motored to Fargo Sunday and return
ed Monday.
Mrs. NJ. A. Schall left last week for
an extended visit with relatives In
Illinois and Iowa.
Charles Hageman and bride arriv-
ed here from an extended honey
moon trip, last Thursday, for short
visit at the parental home. They left
for Bismarck, Friday, going across
country to Valley City.
Mrs. Martin Benson and daughter,
Mildred, are visiting with friends at
Minot.
Mrs. R. NJ. Davis is enjoying visit
from her mother, Mrs. Under, of
Moorhead, who arrived Monday.
r. H. Schindeldecker returned
home last Friday from Milbank, S. D.,
where he took a car Of immigrant
movables for Rex Wessler, going by
The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1917-07-26
Billiard Men Will
Meet at Valley City

Fargo Forum: The North Dakota
Billiard Mems association, an organi-
cation formed last winter, will hold
it's first annual meeting at Valley City
Monday and Tuesday, Aug. 20 and 81,
according to an announcement made
by President James E. Regain of Man
dan.
The North Dakota Billiard Mems
association, although the youngest
state organization in the northwest,
is the strongest and was organized
for the purpose Of lettering the con-
dition of the billiard and pool bust
ness in the state. Mr. Regain repre-
scented the association at the state
legislature last year and accomplish.
ed considerable for the welfare OF
the billiard men of the state. The or
ganization is principally for the pur'
pose of inducing all members of the
association to operate their business
strictly within the laws of the state,
and to keep out undesirables.
It is almost certain that 500 men
will be present out of 800 billiard men
in the state.
The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1917-07-26
Rogers Wins Fast Game
With Whirlwind Finish

The game of baseball played on the
Valley City grounds Friday afternoon
between teams representing Rogers
and Valley City, was won by Rogers,
the score at the finish being to g.
For eight innings it was an even
break, the score standing 2 and 2.
Wolf, who was pitching for Valley
City, hurt his hand and retired in fav.
or of Stevenson. Before he could SET
tie down the Rogers boys had chalked
up three runs, and as Valley City fail
ed to score in the last two frames, the
bacon went to Rogers.
A large crowd witnessed the con-
test, and a near sum was realized for
the Company G. mess fund for which
the game was arranged and to which
the proceeds were applied. The fund
is now close to the $500 mark.
The batteries: For Rogers, Undem
and GraHgard; for Valley City, Wolf,
Stevenson, Anderson and Mcmillan.