davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-09-24
Wealthy Brokers' Body Found in Rough Box
in Cellar, Brings Battling Mystery to Light
Which Police Think is Murder.
MAN EVIDENTLY DIED FROM POISON
Several Women Figure in Case, Including
Pretty Spanish Girl Who Was Seen in
Denton's Company.

.CUnited Press Leased Wire Service
LOS ANGELES, Calf, Sept. "a
Poison and not external violence,
police today believed. caused the
death of Jacob Charles Denton,
! wealthy Los Angeles broker, the dis
covery of whose body yesterday ap-
parently revealed battling murder
mystery.
An examination of the body, they
said, failed to reveal either a gun
shot wound or evidence of other
violence. ...,. ,--...,
While admitting they were with
out definite leads on which to work,
the police were enlisting the aid OF
authorities in other cities in their
efforts to determine what led to Den
toms death. <
In Denver Mrs. r. G. Peete was to
be interviewed by authorities there,
local police said. According to T. T.
! Miller, who occupied Denton's house,
in the basement of which the body
was found hidden, Mrs. Peete had
control of the renting of the house
and was understood to have had
business dealings with Denton.
A pretty Spanish girl, whom the
locate today, was to be questioned
with regard to Denton's movements
and friendships, detectives said. She,
according to the police, was seen in
Denton's company shortly before his
disappearance.
Two other women will be ques-
toned if located, it was stated.
Evidence that Denton had premo-
s4:. "a ;v,cr
thought, was given by the disclosure
that he had made a will two weeks
prior to June 2, which, according to
some reports, was the last day he
was seen. Police also are investt
eating statement brought to them
that Denton was here on August 49,
Denton was to have left this city
on June 2 for a trip east. He had
made business engagements to be in
Phoenix, Ariz., June 8 and Kansas
City June 5. Apparently he never
left here. since his suitcase, already
packed, was found in his home.
Examination today Of the tomb"
in which Denton's body was found
showed it was a crude affair built of
rough boards in a dark corner Of
the basement. The bciy was under
about three tons Of loose dirt
Mrs J. C. Denton, divorced wife Of
the dead man, and Frances Denton,
their 15-year-old daughter, will reach
here tonight to claim the body and
take charge of Denton's affairs.
Mrs. Peete Knows Nothing.
DENVER, Colo, Sept. 24.-Declar-
ing that she knew nothing Of the cir
cumstances surrounding the mys.
terious death of J. c. Denton, Los
Angeles capitalist, whose body was
found in the basement of his home
there, Mrs. R. c. Peete, attractive
young woman, today said she was
willing to go to Los Angeles to help
clear up the mystery, If possible.
Denton, it is alleged, disappeared
August 1a, and authorities believe
he was murdered and buried in his
own basement. Mrs. Peete rented
Denton's house when she went to
Los Angeles three months ago.
Mrs. Peete told newspaper men that
Denton was friendly with her and let
her have the use of his car, but that
there was nothing wrong about their
The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-09-24

A good roads association was re-
Gently formed by a large number OF
prominent Argentine, American and
British business men of Buenos Aires.
The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-09-24
Nome Short and Snappy Items
Which Make News Wire
Sparkle.

sonned a Press Leased Wire Service.1
c@IW YORK, Sept. 24.-Joseph
taa. tier rubber skin" failed to pro-
s;ss. him from six bandits who held
via, up IN Central park, beat him
s,ss MS own cane and escaped with
w. he is sideshow freak
The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-09-24
Money to Deceive:


Charges that Will Hays is using
money to deceive people and TO cor
rupt the republican press were made by
Governor James M. Cox in his first
Colorado speech here early this morn
ing.
"Traveling expenses Of Mr.. Hays
and two agents sent out just ahead
of me to urge republican editors to
suppress or publish untruthful re
norts of my campaign speeches are
being paid from money raised fof
corruption purposes" he said. ut
is a deliberate attempt to deceive the
people by Withholding from them one
side Of the case"
"An we ask is that our case be
fairly presented to the people. In
formation back Of my charges is 50
reliable that even Will Hays Will not
attempt to deny them
Cox stated that as soon as he
reached Trinidad he received original
copies of questions which Hays
agents had sent to republican papers
of the state, with instructions that
INQUIRIES be printed today.
The governor was not UP when the
train reached. Trinidad shortly after
n O'Clock. but a crowd of 700 per
sons waited half an hour until he ap-
peared on the rear platform of, his
car.
The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-09-24
WARRANT
OUT FOR
BARRETT
Charged With Appropriating
Jewels From Mrs. Spreck-
Y les of Sugar
Family.
PEARLS WORTH $125,000
Son-in-Iaw of J. r. Drexei, Former
Army Man, is in Los Angeles
and at Lib
...... erty.
PEARLS WORTH S125,ooo

! UNITED Press Leased Wire Service. ]
LONDON, Sept. 24.-British officials
were undecided today whether they
would ask extradition from the United
States of Captain William N. Barrett,
formerly of the American army, for
whom warrant has been issued.
charging him with appropriating jew
els belonging to Mrs. John D. Spreck.
els, Jr., Of California.
Barrett disappeared before the war.
rant could be served. Word has been
received here of his temporary deten'
tion in Los Angeles. He was not ar
rested.
/! Mrs. SpreckeIs, daughter-in-law OF
Claus Spreckles, American sugar mag.
nate. said she gave a diamond and
pearl necklace valued at $125,eO0 to
Barrett to be cleaned and insured. The
warrant charged Barrett, who is the
husband of Alice Gordon Drexel, OF
Philadelphia, sold the necklace and
kept the money.
Mrs. Spreckels said she first met
Barrett about eight years ago. She
said she and her husband, while tour
ing the world, met him in Europe
again a few months ago Sperck-
els was called back to the United
States by business in March, she said
but she remained here. She often
accompanied Barrett to the races, she
said.
Following the application for war
rant for Barrett, his creditors insti-
tuted bankruptcy proceeding here. His
liza bilities were reported to be Sl3,Zb5
and his assets nothing His creditors
included several dealers in antiques.
The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-09-24
Barrett at Liberty.

Los ANGELES. Calf, Sept. Il
Captain William Barrett, son-inlaw OF
=. r. Drexel, Philadelphia, was at lib
erty here today after being kept under
technical arrest for more than
twenty-four hours while authorities
were waiting for confirmation of press
rcnorts that warrant for Barrett's ar
est had been issued in London.
No word had been received here,
federal agents and police said.
The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-09-24
RUSSIA, TURKEY
AND A|NE RIGA
Cox Says He Does Not Think
Mexico Would Care to Join
Such a Com J
bine. 1
PLOT BY REPUBLIC
Democratic Nominee Says National
Committee Seeks to Suppress
News Reports of His
Speeches.
PLOT BY REPUBLIC
[By Herbert W. Walker, United Press
Staff Correspondent

Staff Correspondent
LAS VEGAS, N. NJ, Sept. "a
Touching upon Mexican questions for
the first time, Governor Cox said he
was not sure that Mexico would
want to enter Senator Hardings pro-
posed international association of the
United States, Russia and Turkey,
the only other nations of size out
side the league"
Things have been improving re-
Gently down there" Cox said.
In anticipation of reported effort
by Elihu Root TO have Senator Har1-
ing stand for the league with reser-
vations, Cox declared that issue is
now clear.
Senator Johnson said Cox,
Estates that Senator Harding Lro-
poses to scrap the league. favor
going in with reservations hat re-
assure, clarity and protect every
American interest and which do not
emasculate the covenant. NV cleo
tion means the league, with America
,, in it, and defeat of Cox OF OHIO
means that the people are, not IN
/ favor Of going in.
Cox was asked whether slbiniisi IN
Of such an issue to Solemn Ieferen-
dunn would not set a precedent N
American history. II am never afrs id
to submit any common sense pr: O.
sition to the people" he replied. ut
has been submitted to the senate i,nG
the senate has defed humanity ard
the public will. We are submitting
lit to the people over The nelds OF
the senate"
Republican Plot.
TRINIDAD, Colo, Sept. 24.-Gover-
nor James M. Cox as he carried his
stump campaign through Colorado to
Denver. was framing program to
counteract what he calls a plot of the
republican national committee to sup
press news reports of his speeches.
Telegraphic conferences have been
held with democratic headquarters in
New York and it is probable large
numbers of pamphlets containing ex-
cerpts of the democratic nominees
speeches will be rushed into territory
where he believes paper is not treat
ing reports of his campaign fairly.
Cox said if viii Hays, republican
national chairman, denied he has sent
personal representatives named Head
lev and Smith, ahead of the governors
itinerary to induce papers to refuse
to print news of his visit, Witnesses
can be produced to back the charges.
.I found evidence of this plot in
Seattle, Portland San Francisco and,
albuquerque, Cox said i
This attempted suppression or
news was necessary, republicans,
thought, because they were afraid TO
send Senator. Harding into all parts
of the country Cox said. ......I
Cox's first Colorado speech was
made here shortly after 1880 this
morning. He was due to speak at
Walsenburg at 1920, in Pueblo short
lv after noon; in Colorado Springs at
4:3O and reach Denver for his night
speech at 1880.
Money to peceive !
rpJNJDAD COlo Sept "a
The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-09-24
Hit Him in Eye.

Tbosnmv YORK, Sept 24.-Albert II.
bis .as, ,.is sued for divorce, testified
bss,S h. vile injured his left eye with the
was one OF her shoes. The shoe
said ner hand, not ca. her foot, he
The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-09-24

The Daily Gate City.
The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-09-24

eunerior executive ability consists
/, The good Judgment TO choose
h.,ners that don't have to be driven.
The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-09-24
THE WEATHER

Fair Tonight and Saturday.
Local temp. 7 p. M, 7S; Z a. M,
50.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1920-06-11
O, for the Good Old
Days
When There Were No Buttons to Push

When There Were No Buttons to Push
Will you tell us, Mr.. Genius, where
we're heading for these days-we
common, funny humans, with cur
queer and freakish ways? In baby
flats you tucks us, when the shades of
evening fall, in abed that has mir
ror-one that hung upon the wall.
Then you've taken old-time pantries,
where a fat man could rot get, and
you've fitted them up snugly and
you've called them kitchenet. In our
fireplace in the parlor, with it's COM
comfort (theres the ruby you have
made us push button-hokus pokus
ON bathtub. And today, so we've dis
covered you have reached the limit.
quite-you have made our parlor table
SO twill be abed at night. So we ask
you, Mr.. Genius, as you rip our fiat
apart, why not just use serving tables
let us all live la carte?
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1920-06-11
Old Drew's wood pile!"

Old Drew's wood pile!"
She had rifle Of her own, a 1856
caliber, which her husband had given
her to shoot at wild turkeys and
squirrels and other game. She took
it and started on her horse down the
road, with her belt of ammunition.
She found Old Drew sitting on the
sunny side of his heap of chunks,
fondling piece about 20 inches long,
seven inches wide and shaped like the
folded wing of bird.
Hits a purity! Hits a purify" he
was mumbling to himself. "Yas, sub,
hits purity"
Hello, Drew!" she reused him from
his dreams. Some young scoundrels
lowed they'd burn yo' wood pile, an
hyar's rifle, if they try nit"
Burn my wood pile?" he repeated
stupidity. Il amt got no wood pile,
but, Lawse! l got this yeah chunks
-look't Mis- Legere! Yo' kin have
this yeah one, count of 70 bein' good
to me. See-fo' yo' rifle, an hyar, TO-
yo' hand grip-when yo' fight them
as-them as ain peaceable tod we
uns, an rowdy aroun'!"
"Wha-wha-" the shrewd mountain
woman gasped, as she saw what the
old man had almost forgotten, "yas,
sub, Drew! Hits so! Yo'-alps he'pin
make rifles!"
"Jes' SOL" ne smiled. Hit my little
shares, yes, indeed! was too mean
an onery, back in our Civil War
times to hep airy side. Now, Pm too
ole to fight, so I grubbed out these
yeah all these heah! couldn't do no
mo-, Mis- Cal-Bet! l gee you got
yo' rifle. This yeah'd make purifier
butt, hit'd fit better, an when yo'
youn-uns git to shootin'-Lawse!
Mebby-mebby yo'-all will sort of
think of me, all crippled up an no
count, he'pin' make yo' rifies!"
Indeed the boys'll remember she
cried, and as she turned her horse to
gallop to find her man, she called,
''Tm a coming right back. Drew!"
When Tip Leigere heard the thing
that Sal-Bet had devined, and when he
knew that old Drew Nuckle had col
lected black walnut for tens of thou
sands of rifle butts and barrel grips,
he laughed aloud with joy. 1t was
just so! He rode out, then, and gath
cred young men to guard that great
heap of chunks, stumps, knots and
pieces, SO that they would be pre-
served against any raiders.
Then he rode down to the railroad
station, and when he returned, he
brought telegram offering fortune
for Old Drew's collection of old pieces
of black walnut, fit especially for
making rife butts and hand grips.
And with that message old Drew's
mind opened up little more. He
could see a brighter light. He felt
that he had been doing something to
help.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1920-06-11
Defective F1ueS and Overheated Stoves

or wire, and worked up and down in
the chimney from the top. A f1ue hole
should never be filled with old cloths
or other infammable material, but
should be covered in secure manner
with metal flue-stop.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1920-06-11

81 cayn't shoot none," he shook his
head, "but l kin hep make rifles, yes,
indeedy."
No one laughed now when they
heard him say that. They pitied him;
they remembered, too, that he had
spent all his money, keeping them in
salt and sugar and coffee, trying with
all his feeble minds might to atone
for the things that he had neglected
to do in the war of his youthful years,
there in the mountains.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1920-06-11

Stoves, stovepipes, and chimneys, If
improperly installed or carelessly
used, always constitute fire menace.
Stoves and stovepipes should be placed
at good distance from the walls and
woodwork and usually piece of iron
or tin, or preferably asbestos, should
be used to cover the nearest surface.
If iron or tin is used an air space
should separate it from the wall or
woodwork.
Stoves and stovepipes should be put
up solidly. In general, stovepipes
should not pass through wooden par
titions or through ceilings. and in case
such installation can not be avoided,
metal thimble, which can be purchased
from any tinsmith or stove dealer, or
a tile insulator should be placed
around the pipe. Chimneys should be
examined periodically for cracks. If
cracks occur in chimney they should
be filled with plaster or cement at
once, as fire often creeps through
such cracks to the woodwork. Cracks
that may be dangerous and that might
not otherwise be found can be dis
covered by building smudge in the
stove and placing board or wet
sack over the chimney. Smoke will
then be forced out of the cracks.
All chimneys and stovepipes should
be cleaned regularly to remove the
SCOT and other inflammable material
that may have got into them. A
chimney can best be cleaned by means
of pieces of metal (such as scrap tin),
limbs of an evergreen tree, or a bum
die of brush attached to a rope. chain
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-06-21
SHOULD AcT IN. ONCE.

Rec te1t books for public school scholars are less i'm
portant now,tha they ever were before. The people
o used 10 fe keeny the cost Of text books and school
;pps now enjoy comfortable incomes, OF could enjoy
hs ey were willing to take advantage Of all the op
bo,tn.s for employment at good wages which come her
Msy. Nevertheless the action Of the Board Of Education
Il sanout Independent district on Saturday by which
was decided that free books shall be supplied 10 all who
VA bsn vii be commended generally. In state where
sdssiod s 8 highly valued that it made compulsory the
cooI authorities ought to see to that it is absolutely tree
Rs Newspaper hopes that the time is moi far distant IN
Which every boy and girl in West Virginia will be
sbs d 20 70 school from the kindergarten to the finish Of
course IN the university without one cent Of expense
parents beyond their share Of the school taxes Any
hing .ss than that falls short Of democratic ideals
There Will Be general commentator for the decision
board 70 take over the playground activities Of the
an and finance them out Of the school funds. This not
8 innovation. As matter Of fact Faimont has been
backward IN this matter In hundreds of cities they have
sy1cunds conducted under the supervision of framed
nea and women. and the system has been found to pay
drld5nds more ways than one lnasmueh as all the
even those who arc too young to go to the schools
I'M sbsle n he benefits Of organized play it is night thai
e .sp.nse should come out Of funds raised by taxation
IA. s, however, negotiable nde6ntensss about the
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-06-21

Department of Justice investigations bent on finding
out what it cost to grow bushel Of wheat last yea
learned that it rsn from 81 per bushe to $500 pei
bushe on the $50 farms picked out for the purpose
There is more Of the $500 kind Of farming in this coun
try than is generally supposed and at bottom 1t is ont
Of the things that make the cost Of living high here
Farming is regular business, requiring rather large
outlay Of capital. and it should be conducted upon
business basis all the time The men who cannot grow
wheat at profit ought to grow something else Anf
the same reasoning applies to other crops II the farme
does not himself know what else to grow he can fnt
out by writing to the university or applying to tn
county farm agent
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-06-21
MONDAY EVENING, JUNE 81. 1920.
"a 1..cedF. al1s { neiiaap:-WadsH Philips.
NolIRE cARs w. real SOLUTION.

only really hopeful feature Of the Interstate Com.
neste commissions order for the relief Of the fuel
SSisss n New England the requirement that the rail-
i6st ha restrict The use Of open top cars to carrying coal
os sass and better movement Of the loads are really
.s.syns needed to soNe the whole fuel problem Of the
sosnfy
de matter Of movement the roads themselves ought TO
lbs De Interstate Commerce commission with practical
sdMcs Tbs coal region. for instance could be put upon
OOpe cent production basis almost Immediately i some
arrangement were made to keep the terminals at Baltimore
sn Philadelphia clear and have the cars make quick t1ps
ifiena lie mines to the coast and back again.
Another thing that should receive more attention than
sssns 10 have been given up to this time that while
& .ssy 10 dear up freight Jam or relieve fuel famine
4 llsoty il s quite another thing to do it in fact It the
lniesisies Commerce commission wants to make certain
sts measures il has planned are carried out it will have
5 sks steps 70 police the whole enterprise and the more
.lscnt De policing tie better results It will obtain. :,
hee ned, IN other words for supervision which will
Is sbe % desed whether or not the transportation COM
rsii.s and ter agents are giving whole hearted support
b lie program that has been adopted, and especially
Whs 81 not The roads are keeping faith in the matter Of
n lie night Of way to coal traffic not only out on the
s SENS but m the classification yards and on the feeder
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-06-21

ne arms d 4 ID, d s.fs1 hslS1,s
With ne S1ne lalllblg pllp6se BIT
siIS had f1f e0drSe. EfaflIe plles'
ISIie Assumed we're never made atet
Ifair ladies' Who have lost umbrellas.
Better let me take care Of that
umbrella. : SAID the man g they
emerged from Hartleys. you'll lose Il
again.
arm going TO take Il right home,
was the decided answer. II I'd ever
lose mothers umbrella, she'd ill
me-" and she vanished IN the crowd
Then the man was sorroMtul. mu.-
muring. .Doggone It. Why did ! mem
ton that umbrella. She could have
rot Ii lust as wen Monday morning
and he wandered back to the Dixie.
But although he saw several women
eating popcorn. not one did he See
using the same scheme 10 satisfy two
senses simultaneously
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-06-21

yardmen in Philadelphia and Baltimore who went
ont on strike Saturday night say they are striking not
AGAINST the railroads but against the Railroad Labor
board. The Labor board has been distressingly SLOW
but striking does not punish and it does undermine the
support which the railroad workers have from the pub
lie These sporadic strikes Of the yardmen and train
men have cost American business millions upon millions
Of dollars and they have not got the men who went out
single thing. That is the most exasperating thing
about it. They are undertaken bndly and apparently
without caring in the least who will be hurt Is 1t any
wonder that the American people are earnestly seeking
protection Of some kind against such an evil?
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-06-21

The Times this morning makes the suggestion thai
freight distribution throughout the upper Mononsahel'
valley could be very much improved by linking paeke
service on the river with the Monongahela Valley trae
ton lines at joint water and trolley terminal at RiVe
Vile 1t is the best thought out plan for making thu
river useful to the ople Of this vicinity that has Sc
far been advanced and it probably would be success
from every standpoint il it were put INTO effect condt
tons never were better for such an enterprise The
railroads are overworked and there cannot be any sub
stantal relief for several years. In the meantime thu
people in the ley would learn to use and appreciate
river traffic.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-06-21

She stood in the lobby Of The
Dixie theatre eating popcorn out Of
bag. Now there's nothing uncom-
mon about that, but she looked en-,
ormously lovely In her white dress
and there was an oddness about hel
style Of getting on the outside OF the
delicacy that gave pause to a pass
! Inc acquaintance.
Never before" he asserted. have
/ seen popcorn eaten out Of . nose
bag" for she held the bag poised on
| the palm Of her. left hand and IRON
time 10 time buried her lips and nose
in the receptacle instead Of pourin:
the popcorn into the other hand and
| eating II In the orthodox fashion.
Have some" she offered, extending
the bag.
the heart said the man, gaSins
hungrily into her eyes, and ! dom
think that stuff"
There's q drug store on the mex
corner" she observed, hiding a smile
lin the bag.
"Wbat are you doing here" h
then asked, seeing that those tactics
were getting him nowhere.
"Oh, I'm Just tired and ! want Z
sit down but the theatre Is filled"
why not lean on that umbrella thai
I saw you with about an hour ago,
: OH OH she exclaimed, IN,
She looked IN her left hand-a bsl
| Of popcorn. In her right Q coat,
Across the street was Harneys and
thither she made q bee line. A
young man driving q touring car ~
Main street, stopped with Q suddennesi
that piled the people In the rear uF
against the 'front.' seat TO avoid running
her down. A motorman diSlocated
y