davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1919-02-06
TURPINS SECURE
CITY LOT; PLAN
new SHOW ROOM

Another handsome business struc
ture is in prospect for Americus as
the result of the ratification by the
city council last night of the sale of
the old "Buzzard's Roost" property at
Lee and Lamar streets, to G. A. and
w. G. Turpin, the owners of the prop
erty adjoining it to the east. The
price paid by Messrs. Turpin was $8,-
600, of which $4,000 is cash being the
malance handled by them assuming
S., 200 in notes against the property
which had been given by the city.
W. G. Turpin today told repre-
sentative of the Times-Recorder that
the firm was planning to erect mod
ern automobile show room on the lot
soon.
"We had planned to build right
by building men to wait short while
until the prices of materials become
more settled. We will undoubtedly
build before summer.
'We contemplate erecting a two
story brick structure, with glass front
on the two sides fronting the street.
1t will be in every way a creditable
building and an improvement on the
street. 1t will give US a large amount
of additional space for our stock of
automobiles, which we expect to in
crease largely We have not decided
what will be done with the upstairs
space, but it is possible it, too, will be
used for automobiles.
The sale of the property paid the
city profit of $500 cash. In addition
to the price paid, Messrs. Turpin
agreed to stipulation in the deal
waving all damages hereafter from
overflow of the city water tower.
1t was because of hits overflow that
the property was bought by the city
late last year, the transfer being COM
pleted December 9. The owner at
that time was Mrs L. L. Brown, of Gin
cinnati, who had papers drawn ready
for filing bringing suit against the
city for heavy damages. The pur-
chase prevented the suit being filed.
The lot is now occupied by an an
cient frame structure which has been
occupied by negroes as stores down
stairs and living rooms upstairs.
Several other committee reports
were heard last night. In the alb
sence of Chairman Reese Horton, of
the fire committee, Mayor Sheppard,
who acted with the committee, inform
into with the city firemen two weeks
ed council of the agreement entered
ago by which they were granted a
raise in pay to $40 per month each to
prevent walkout. He stated that the
committee took the action without
binding the other members of the
council, but recommended that the &C.
ton be ratified On motion of Alder,
man Poole the action was ratified.
Chairman Poole, Of the finance com
mittee, who is negotiating the re1nanc7
ing of $4,000 worth Of city notes, ask
ed for more time, his negotiations not
have been completed.
Chairman Rashburn, of the light and
Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1919-02-06
Other Russians Surprised.

PARIS, Feb. 6.-(By Associated
Press when Boris A. Bakmetieff,
member of the council formed by anti
Bolshevist factions here, was inform
ed of the soviet acceptance to attend
the conference, he declared he was
unable to say what the Russian com
mittee in Paris would do pending dis
cussions. He expressed surprise,
however, saying heretofore the Boil
sheviki had indicated they would not
participate. He said the Bolsheviki
would spread the report that the Rus
sian allies were afraid of them and
were asking peace.
The members of the Russian COM
mittee maintain that the governments
they represent will not consent to a
truce with the Bolsheviki.
Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1919-02-06
BOLSHEVIKI NOW
READY TO MEET
OTHER RUSSIANS
in CONFERENCE
AMT" Committee Surprised at Ac.
CeptanCe of Allies Invitation by
Radical Forces.

LONDON, Feb. 6.-(By Associated
Press Bolshevist Foreign Minister
Tchitcherin announced today in a
wireless dispatch from nc scow, picked
up here, that the soviet gov ernment is
wiling to participate in tne Princes
island conference of Rnssieu parties,
if the Entente powers have not under
taken to interfere in the internal af-
fairs of Russia.
Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1919-02-06
House Committee to
Front for Ireland

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6.-(By Asso-
ciated Press. THE house foreign af-
fairs committee today ordered favora-
bly, reported a resolution expressing
the hope that the peace conference
would "favorably consider the claims
of Ireland to the right of self-determin-
alton"
Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1919-02-06
Ford's Libel Suit is
Shifted by Paper

DETROIT, Feb. 6.-(By Associated
Press.)-A change of venue from
Wayne county to some other Michigan
county was granted this morning to
the Chicago Tribune in the million
dollar libel suit brought by Henry
Ford.
Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1919-02-06
Allied Commission to Attend.

PARIS, Feb. 6.-(By Associated
Press) s)-The supreme peace council,
on receiving the acceptance of the
Russian Bolsheviki government of it's
invitation to attend the Princes Is
land conference, Immediately made ar
rangements to send a joint committee
of two representatives from each of
the five powers to the conference.
Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1919-02-06
Asks Air Squadron
to Help Fight Villa
ASKS AIR

ASKS AIR
MEXICO CITY, Feb. i.-(By Asso>
ciated Press s.)-General ]. Augustn
Castro, secretary of war, and now in
charge of military operations in the
northern states, has asked that a
squadron of airplanes be sent him in
order to facilitate his campaign against
Francisco Villa and other rebels.
Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1919-02-06

water committee, asked more time in
the matter of the new contract for
water pumping with the Americas
Lighting Company.
All members were present except
Aldermen Taylor and Horton.
Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1919-02-06
CERMANY'S FIRST
ASSEMBLY OPENS.
WITHOUT KAISER
AT OLD WEIMAR.
Premier Calls National Law-MaMng
Body to Order at 3
O'clock.

AMSTERDAM, Feb. 6-(By Associat-
ed Press.) Chancellor Ebert
will open the first session of the Ger
man national assembly at Weimar al
8 o'clock this afternoon. Berlin ad-
vices state that many members for
Alsace-Lorraine have presented them.
selves for the first sitting.
Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1919-02-06

Weimar, capital of the grand duchy
of Sake -Weimar- -Eisenbach, so miles
southwest of Liepsig and 141 miles
southwest of Berlin, known as ''the
poets city," and "the German Athens, .
was chosen for the gathering of the
first German national assembly, it is
said, because it is a non-Prussian
town. 1t is situated in fertile valley
on the river lin, small tributary of
the Saale and has population of less
than $4,000.
Here, amid the old buildings that
remind one of a medieval past, the
410 representatives of the German
people elected on January 20, assem-
BILE to accept, reject or amend the
draft of a constitution which has been
prepared by the Ebert government
and to form, perhaps, union of states
on the modern American principle.
Sleepy old Weimar, famous as the
home of Goethe, Schiller and List, is
said TO have existed more than eleven
centuries. Under Charles Augustus
grand duke of SaxeWSmar -Eisen-
bach, the town became center OF
federalism as we'll as art It's most i'm
portant building is the palace, de-
fscribed as "a huge structure forming
three sides of a quadrangle erected
G7891803, under the superintendence
Of Goethe" only remnant of which
however. with a tower is still stand
ing.
1t contains a series Of rooms dedi-
Gated to the poets Goethe, Schiller,
Herder and Wieland, all of which are
decorated lavishly with mural paint
ings. Nearby is the house where
Goethe lived from 1882 to 1882, home
of luxury for that day, built as gift to
the poet by Charles Augustus and pre-
sented to him by his patron upon
Goethes return from his Italian tour
and roofs give the town picturesque
appearance, while the narrow winding
streets of the older portion of the
place, and the vestiges of the medieval
walls continually remind the visitor
of its historic character. The Stadi-
kircke, or parish house of worship, a
gothic structure dating from about
1400, is building of rare interest. II
has been slightly modernized but
enough of the original edifice remains
to show its age and classic outlines.
Among the notables whose tombs are
beneath its roof are those of the
princes of Same Weimar- -Eisenbach
including the elector John Frederick
the Mabnanimous and his wife, and
.Duke Bernard of Weimar, a hero OF
the Thirty Years war The altar
piece of triptych," one writer says
''the center piece representing the
crucifxion; beside the cross stands
Martin Luther, an open Bible in his
hand, while the blood from the pierced
side of the Saviour pours upon his
head
Another ancient church is the ia
kobs or Howkircher, or court church
| n
graves of Lucas Cranach, the artist
and Johann Musaeus, author of Ger
man folk lore. Another burial ground
contains the grand ducal family vault
in which Goethe and Schiller also lie
side by side. Bronze statues of both
Continued on Page Eight.)
|
Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1919-02-06
WEATHER FORECAST.

For Georgia Fair tonight, colder
in interior of South portion with frost:
Friday, fair and slightly warmer IN
North and West portions.
Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1919-02-06
Switzerland to Ship
atOnce

WASHINGTON, Feb 6.--(By Asso-
ciated Press. Switzerland has OBJ
tanned cargo space for the immediate
expectation of 10000 bales of cotton,
it was learned today
Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1919-02-06

Grand total expense .... $22,676.2 .29
Net gain for water works,
difference between ordin-
airy expenditures and ord
mary income, which is $3,41s77
Deducting total expenses
from total receipts, net
cash gain for above period
is s3. 600 9S
Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1919-02-06

Total extraordinary expense $5,967.O6
The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1919-01-08
SMARRY MURDER
MYSTERY REACHES
DRAMATIC CLIMAX
TAKE $l6e FROM MURDERED
NAN AND DIVIDE TT-BREAK
DOWN AND CONFESS.

We reprint the following from
Tuesdays Ionia Standards:
In one Of the most dramatic eli
MAKES ever staged in the criminal his
tory Of Ionia county, came the con-
fession this morning that he and his
brother, Edward Ward, and Warren
Utter Of the village Of Lyons, were
guilty Of the murder of John Smary,
the aged west end recluse, on the
night Of November %, 1918.
Ward first started his confession
in the presence of John Halloran,
head of the Halloran Detective agency
Of Grand Rapids, who came to lonia
Monday afternoon at the request OF
Prosecutor j. Clyde Watt, who be-
lieved that matters were nearing a
sensational climax.
During the afternoon and evening
both Charles and Edward Ward were
severely grilled by Halloran, but
maintained their innocence. But Hal
loran would not give up, so at IL 80
he had Charles Ward brought back
from the county Jail and began ques-
Joining him again. Hour after hour
0ent by, Prosecutor Watt and assist
ant prosecutor Ray Colwell and the
)fficers going home, leaving Halloran
and Ward in the Offices of the prose-
tutor at the Morse Babcock block.
At 1:30 Ward broke down under
he rapid fire Of questions that were
being hurled at him and suddenly he
cached out and grabbed Halloran by
the wrists, hitting the detective in the
breast with his head as he lurched
forward. 81 did it, l did it," said
the accused man as he sank back in
l. &c oLa sx III HnI lrx.nr
hat the mystery which had baffled
about to be explained.
Stepping to the phone he called
Prosecutor Watt and Mr.. Colwell and
old them to hurry back to the office
IS Ward had come across"
From that time until morning broke
| the prosecutors office staged scene
after scene as the full story Of how
John Smary met his death came to
light.
Chas. Ward had hardly started his
story when he implicated Warren Ut
ter, a resident Of Lyons, and immed-
lately Sheriff Lowrey and Sheriff
elect Mark Hoppough, who had been
summoned to hear the confession,
were on their way to Loyns, where
at an early hour they arrested Utter
and brought him back to Ionia. In
fact. Chas. Ward had just finished his
confession when they arrived with
Utter. who broke down when Wards
statement was read to him, and admit
ted his part in the affair.
Edward Ward, who had been locked
up during the afternoon on a charge
of being murder suspect, was then
brought over and his air of bravado
| soon melted away as he listened to the
story Of his companions. charging him
with having welded the club that
brought about Smary's death.
The story of the three men, Chas.
The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1919-01-08

was on Thursday before the murder.
Q. With whom did you have the
talk? A. With Utter.
Q. Had your brother Ed. talked
the matter over with you? A. Not
alone.
Q. When Utter talked with you,
who else was present? A. Ny bro
ther Ed. Ward.
Q. After this talk Of Thursday
which you had with Utter in the pres
ence Of your brother Ed, did you again
talk with Utter in relation to holding
up Smary for his money? A. Yes,
@. When and where was that talk?
A. Right down by the old p. N. de-
pot.
Q. Who else was present. A.
Us three, Ed, Utter and myself.
@. What was said at this time /?
A. He asked us if we were going to-
night.
Q. When did this conversation
take place? A. i think FRIDAY or
Saturday night before the murder.
Q. When did you again see Utter
and talk about Smary's money? A.
| think on Monday night. A. / want
to correct the last statement: it was
| on Saturday night.
| Q. Up to this time had you made
any plans as to how you would hold
up Smary? A. Yes.
] Q. How had you planned to secure
the money that Smary carried? A.
Utter says take little stick, just en-
ough to knock him silly.
Q. Was your brother, Ed, present
at this time? A. He was.
Q. Where and when was this talk
A. This was the talk we had at the
depot en- Friday or Saturday night.
Q. Did you see Utter on the Sum-
day preceding the murder? A. Yes
sir.
@. What time of day was it? A..
About 5 o'clock in the evening. He
Continued on Page Six
The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1919-01-08

to state in the presence OF these wit
nesses your connection with the MUIR
der of John Smary, who was struck
on the head with a deadly weapon on
the 9th day of November, 1918, at the
city of Ionia aforesaid, and who died
as ther esult of thew ounds received
ON the Goth day CT November, 1918.
Before making this statement are you
doing so voluntarily and Of your own
free will without oppression or with
out promise Of the final disposition
Of the case against you? A Yes,
sir.
@. Under the laws of this state
and our constitution, you cannot be
compelled TO make any statement or
Understanding your rights under the
laws and the constitution Of this state
do you desire to make a statement
showing the manner in which the said
John Smary came to his death? A,
@. Mr.. Ward, where do you re-
side? A. At the residence of Oar
Cline, my wife's mother.
@. How old are you? A. "a
years old.
@. Were you acquainted with Johr
Smary in his life time? A. just
knew him and that's all.
Q. Did you know that he was in
the habit of carrying considerable
sum of money? A. Never knew he
had any until Warren Utter told u.
until two or three days before.
@. What did Warren Utter tell yor
in relation to John Smary and the
y,,c,1x,f of x,aOvaxr that n
on his person? A. He says he hal
got a wallet like that doubling up hi
fst).
Q. What else did he tell you? A
He said we might as well have it
there is long cold winter coming OF
and we will need it.
Q. When did you first plan to rol
/ Smary of this money? A. think i
The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1919-01-08

went down to the Taylor restaurant
for a lunch, and while there Burns
took out big roll Of bills he claimed
to have get the night before, and peel
ing off a ten-spot handed it to Ward
with the remark, Here's little, but
you might just as well have had half
Of it."
Sunday afternoon Ward came up
by appointment to Burns room, and
while they were there Undersheriff
Hoppough forced open the door and
arrested them for the robbery Of the
Harris store
From then on it was simply a case
Of wearing the suspected men down.
Halloran was again sent for, arriv-
ing in town at o'clock yesterday
afternoon. The first thing he did
was to put Chas. Ward through the
sweat box, but nothing came Of it, al
though he kept repeatedly crossing
himself. After an hour or two Of
this, he sent Ward back to jail and
had Ed. Ward brought in. Ed. was
questioned again, but still no story.
Then Burns, who had been with Chas.
Ward, was brought over. and he said
that his erstwhile companion was pac-
ing the floor and greatly agitated. )
"He's getting ready to talk" said
Halloran, bring him back again"
Then the man who has run down some
of the most clever criminals in the
United States, began the battle OF
wits that finally brought forth the
story. Halloran says he never, saw
case just exactly like it and that
Wards actions when he started to
confess were more dramatic than a
yellow-backed uovel. During the
evening session the woman in the case
was sent for and questioned as 10 her
relations with Ward. At first she
denied there had been any. but the
prosecutor only had to remind her of
her admission made to a Standard re-
porter a few days previous and she
confessed her part in the life of Chas.
Ward, two trips to Grand Rapids fig
uring in the spending of the $50
which was his share.
Today the three men occupy cells
in the county jail awaiting their ar
raignment of a charge Of first degree
murder, which will take place tomor-
row. The mystery of Ionia's most
sensational crime in years has beer
worked out and the murder Of John
Smary will be avenged. Prosecutor
Watt cannot be given too much praise
for his part in helping to run dowr
the guilty parties, and the Hallorar
agency for the clever way in which
they helped to plan the campaign. Ir
the whole course of the proceeding:
the sheriff's force worked heart anC
soul with the prosecutor
We print herewith the complet,
confession of Charles Ward, mad,
before Detective John Halloran
Prosecutor Clyde Wat and Ray A
Colwell, which started Ward ant
his companions on their way t,
the state penitentiary. Both Ed
J Ward and Warren Utter also made
! signed confessions, but their in tn
main were only an acknowledgment
J that what Chas. Ward had said wa
true, with the exception of a few mi
nor details.
Statement made by Charles War,
Of the city Of Ionia, Michigan. befor
, John Halloran Of the city of Gran,
Rapids, Michigfan. r. A. Colvell an
/ Prosecuting Attorney J. C. Watt o
, Icnia, Michifan in relation - ~
, mhrder of John Smary, late of the cit,
/ of Ionia aforesaid. this 31st day o
December, A. ID. 1918 as follows:
Questions nv Mr.. Watt:
Q. Now, Mr.. Ward, you are abou
The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1919-01-08
CHANGE OF MATINEE
AT THE EMPRESS

There will be no matinee at the
Empress theater on Saturday, but
there will be one Sunday, Jan. IL,
when Vivian Martin will be shown in
"A Petticoat Pilot" Famous Play
ers-Lasky photoplay. The matinee
will start at 8 o'clock promptly and
box Office will be open at 2:30. One
exhibition only.
In this photoplay Miss Martin full
fila every expectation The story ID
something like this. "Once upon q
time oh, we'll, you better see it;
it il too long to tell.
The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1919-01-08


We hear very much Of the high cost
Of living, but we overlook the fact
that many Of the best things Of life
can be had for nothing.
1t costs nothing to stand up and
walk and breathe properly.
Fresh air in the home is free.
No expense to taking q few simple
exercises every morning.
It costs nothing to chew the food
thoroughly.
II costs nothing to select the food
best suited to the body.
1t costs nothing to clean the teeth
twice a day.
1t costs nothing to stop using pat
ent medicines.
1t costs no more to read good books
than trashy literature.
1t costs nothing to have cheerful,
haypp disposition, and stop having
grouches.
These things cost nothing, yet they
will bring content and reduce the
doctors bill to nithing a year.-To-
ronto Health Bulletin.
The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1919-01-08

Elsie Ferguson, in ,"Barbary
Sheep" an Aircraft Paramount at the
Empress theater on Saturday. No
matinee Saturday. Sunday matinee
at 3 o'clock.
The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1919-01-08

SUNDAY AT THE EMPRESS
MISS VIVIAN MARTIN IN
"A PETTICOAT PILOT"
Matinee: 500 p. M Evening: 1880
The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1919-01-08
Baptist Trearurer's Stat. cent.

For the period Jan. l, 1913 to Jan.
1, 1919:
New-York tribune., 1919-07-13
Japan---The Children's Paradise
BY FRIEDA MEREDITH DIETz

AVE you ever heard of the Childrens Paradise?
That is what Japan is called besides being known
as the Flowery Kingdom and the Land of Chrys
anthemums In country in the world so much done
for the entertainment of boys and girls Japan and
yet these little folks throughout the world for
their poteness and good behavior.
Let us spend two days with them-March with the
girls and May with the boys The first day is the
Feast of the Dolls one glorious holiday! Cherry
Blossom-many of the children are named for flowers
takes out her dolls and the dolls have come down to
her from her mother and She dresses them
in new kimonos and seats them in prim row on shelf
that around the sitting roo and then she fills the
tall vase in the with fresh blossoms
Soon there are voices calling outside Of her house.
which is made of wooden frame and plaster Sliding
panels of bamboo covered with thick paper take the places
OF windows, doors and walls between the rooms The
voices call, Excuse mel Excuse mew This is the wav
guests come She opens the door her playmates who
slip OF their shoes-wooden soes held on with string
and step in the white mats in their stocknged feet
Their stockings like mttens, with place for the big
toe After they admire her dolls they sit crosslegged on
the foor and servant places inch high tables before
them bearing acquered china bowls with rice picked
fish, seaweed fruits and candy hostess serves tea
using kettle that bubbles all day over small frebox
filled with charcoal in the the room The little
girls their chopsticks we'll as we do our knives
and forks
Later they out in the street to play battledore
and shuttlecock ball marbles Shells and the older
girls carry their baby brothers or sisters strapped to
their backs At the end of the day. when the thousands
of lanterns lighted in houses and on the
Streets they go to sleep rounded wooden
pillows just to their necks
The boys call their holiday the Feast of Flags for on
New-York tribune., 1919-07-13

from which the queeres flags float One these PEN
nants in the shape of fish called the carp and it is
made OF paper so it will wrgge in the breeze The carp
IS said to swim against the swftes leap
Waterfalls He is the symbol of courage, and every boy
wants to be brave.
The most beautiful kites sailed by the Japanese
boys lhey are made of bamboo, covered with paper and
some are six feet square and the shape of fans fish
and Birds if they square, dragons are painted on
them kite fight is great sport The boys smear the
string with glue and it with crushed glass for about
twenty feet from where it is attached to the kite Thew
try to sail their kites anohers and the one who
jerks his string suddenly often in ripping his
opponents kite to pieces with the CLASSY string
But every day isn't holiday in the Childrens Para
disc, for they must learn the five thousand letters in
their alphabet, while have only twenty-six These
children write with brushes instead Of pens are ex
pected to compose poetry and to paint as we'll.