davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-02-22
AFrODlem In Real Life tor
aReal Sherlock Holmes---
We're the Finger Marks on Her Throat
Her Gum?
What Was the Scratched Off Name on
y. One Tattooed Arm?
Who Was the Unknown Man Who Ran
Into the Morgue, Looked at Her.
Wept and Fled?
Why Did Her Companions Shun Her.?
What Killed Her.?
IN the afternoon of Sunday, February
second, two boys climbing over the

n the afternoon of Sunday, February
second, two boys climbing over the
high fence of vacant yard in
Cleveland, saw lying on the snow on the
opposite side the figure Of a girl
''She must have fallen down and hurt
herself" said one Lets go help"
They dropped down and ran over. The
girl was dead. There was a stain of blood
beside her upturned face. Close by one
outstretched hand was lavender silk
purse with its golden chain broken.
The boys ran away and found a police
man. The body was taken to the Cleve-
land morgue. There it was seen to be
that Of young woman of about twenty
three years and Of unusual good looks.
There was bruse upon the right tenn
pie, cause evidently by a heavy blow from
some blunt object 1t would have been
enough to cause Inconsistencies but not
death! There were the marks of fingers
about her throat as though strong hands
had clutched her. But she had not died
of strangulation!
There we're no other wounds. And she
had not died of exposure!
On the white skin of the right arm was
most skilfully tattooed-'I love" Then
came letters, half erased, but which
seemed to read "W. B. Stockwell" Upon
the left arm was a similar legend but with
the letters of the name following entirely
indistinguishable. Above a dimpled right
J1nee in almost microscopic lettering was
tattooed the name-"Frances +. Altman"
Under the finger nails of the right hand
we're blood stains and some wisps of soft
brown hair.
Further medical examination showed
traces Of poison, but still not enough to
have caused her death.
Nor was there any evidence of any
struggle whatever about where the body
had lain.
Thus was opened up one of the most
unusual mysteries of crime in the annals
Of the police; a case so filed with fantas.
tic factors and contradictions as to make
&C. IN real life, one of the ideal problems
with which Sherlock Holmes Of fiction
loved TO battle.
Your inference, my dear Watson" one
can imagine Sherlock Holmes saying, that
the young woman lay down where she was
found and died. Is the obvious one but Is
not tenabe. Consider that the bruise upon
the forehead the marks on the throat and
the poison were none OF them enough to
have killed her. The wound upon the head
could not have been self-innicted. Further
more, after careful search. the,e was moth
ng found by which such blow could have
been given. 1t is possible for the marks
on her throat TO have been selfinhicted-
! mean that IL the poison had caused acute
pain she might have in her dying spasms
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-02-22

long after what we might call the original
My Judgment is to pursue the quest for a
sailor"
This is exactly what the police did They
found some very extraordinary facts.
Sailors and sailor ways, it appeared had
always had a curious fascination for the
girl. They discovered that on the Satur-
day night before her death she had been
dining in a restaurant when a man dressed
In the uniform of n sub-officer Of the
merchant marine service beckoned to her.
Shortly afterward she had left the res
taurant. A newsboy testified that he had
heard a woman and a sailor quarrelling
outside the Hotel Moreland, where Miss
Stockwell had visited another member Of
the company. This member Of the COM
pany, Miss Billie Lamont, known in
burlesque as the double of Elsie Janis
and in the same company as Frances. saw
her with a sailor just before midnight on
Saturday.
At that time the murdered girl had only
an hour to catch the train which was TAX.
ing the company out Of town.
A sailor was arrested, but was released
when Miss Lamont failed to identify him.
81 spent quite n lot of time with Frances
last week." she said. "She had bad cold
and I doctored her to ward off influenza.
She told me about the girls stunning her
and talked n good deal about her baby girl
but little about her husband
"The sailor now at the police station
was in box at the Empire last Friday az.
ternoon and Frances and he flirted little
during the performance. He was at the
stage door after the show and they went
to the Miles Theatre together. He took
her to the Empire for the evening per
Torrance and after the show took her to
Hotel Morland
"He didn't go into the hotel with her
and to the best Of my belief, he never saw
her again.
IT was leaving n store near Hotel Win.
ton, on Prospect avenue, about IL o'clock
Saturday night, when saw Frances with
the other sailor He was a man fully
thirty.two years old, short but thick set.
could pick him out Of thousand sailors
In uniform. He was about feet 8 inches
tall"
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-02-22

Frolics."
ct is more than possible that she want
ed to conceal her whereabouts from some
one" said the coroner "This would lead
to the belief she was followed or watched"
The autopsy, conducted by Dr. p. A..
Jacobs at county morgue Monday morn
ing, established that she had eaten just
before her death.
It is known that had Frances Stockwell
gone to the train with other members of
the company Immediately after the Satur-
day night performance she still would be
alive. Her original plan was to go with
them to the train, for she so hurriedly re-
moved her makeup that some Of the
grease paint still was upon her face.
There were traces of the powder upon her
shoulders when the body was found In
the snow.
The yard where the body was found is
large and through Il runs a path used by
many people as a short cut.
On the right of the yard looking in from
the street stands the yard of a wrecking
company, which is filed with broken-down
vehicles, a lonely and deserted place at
night. confectionery shop stands at the
righthand corner of the yard
At the left Of the premises stands large
rooming house. In the rear OF the yard
stands a large shed. sometimes used as a
garage and automobile wrecking shop.
The path runs along the right of the
premises Just in the rear of the roomlug
house there is a branch Of the path which
leads to his back door.
II was near this branch path, not fifteen
feet from the back door of the house. that
the body lay. II was on an unbroken
patch of snow and the snow revealed no
footprints or other clews which might help
solve the mystery.
Then into the case, as though there had
not been enough of fantastic mystery, came
shell-shocked soldier He roomed in the
house behind which the murdered girl was
found Suspicion was attracted to him be.
cause after being taken to the City Hospi.
tai while suffering from relapse he bah.
bled In delirium alone "a girl murdered in
my back yard" The authorities soon found
that this was but delirious echo of the
gossip he had naturally heard.
Both sailor and soldier were released.
And The slayer is gone" said Inspector
Sterling Unless he betrays himself he
will never be caught"
The mystery OF the tattooed chorus girl
Is indeed one for Sherlock Holmes of
fact not fiction.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-02-22

torn at her neck. But as against this we
have the fact that the inconsiderable guam.
titles of poison found do not produce such
pain. Nor is there in the snow about the
finding place of the body any sign of death
agonies. There IS again the evidence OF
the dried blood and hair under the finger
nails-both of which clearly show that be-
fore death somewhere there was a struggle
Of some kind. All this being so, my dear
Watson, the only justifable inference is
that the young woman was carried to
where she was found when either dead or
dying"
What I would suggest is that her early
life be looked into, and in doing this
would also suggest that the search he con-
fined to sailors or seafaring men,"
but why seafaring men, my dear
Holiness" Watson might be expected to
ask.
Because the tattooing upon the arms
and upon the knee indicate that at one
time in her life she was deeply in love
with sailor" would have been his answer.
"Tattooing is practise almost totally
confined to seafaring men, and nothing but
girl to have had these marks put upon her
arms. She might be called beautiful
woman. The dress Of beautiful women
usually takes show of arms and shout
ders into consideration Unless she had
been greatly in love she would not have
allowed her skin to be marked in such a
way that decolettage would be practically
impossible.
Furthermore, we see that determined
off rt hno hnnn 10 o. Oh
marks This means that her love had
waned-or, perhaps, that she had found
that they interferred too seriously with
her life occupation. From the character
OF her garments, the long hands and the
general wellkept appearance I would de-
duce that she was professional woman
probably an actress"
And largely, so far. Sherlock Holmes
would have been right! Following the
clues presented the Cleveland police soon
found that she was Frances Altman Stock
well, dancer. and one of the chorus Of a
New York theatrical organization, "The
French Frolics," then playing in Cleve-
land.
II was further determined that she had
been married to a sea-faring man attched
to the Brooklyn Navy Yard and that she
had been looking forward to rejoining him
after long estrangement. II was his
name that was upon one of her arms
The body lay for a time at the morgue
while identification was in progress.
Promptly came another mystery. II
seems that on Monday morning there were
an unusual number OF visitors to the place
OF DEATH They formed little knot
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-02-22

ers did try to follow he had disappeared.
There was something about him, the OBJ
servers said, that, although he wore no
uniform, made them believe him to he
sailor
Who could the weeping man have been?
And why, II he were the murderer, did he
risk going to where his victim had been
taken2 And why the tears, the evident
agitation? II he were not the murderer,
then how did he know Frances Stockwell
lay there In the morgue? For know the
girl he had plainly shown he did
Were they tears of remorse or OF pity?
My dear Watson" Holmes may be
taken as saying "the mysterious. IRE
sistible fascination which leads muir.
@ 1870. International Feature Service. Inc.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-02-22

for Il is indisputable that the husband had
nothing whatever to do with the tragedy
indeed, that he was waiting to take her
back"
ut is well proven by psychology"
Holmes might answer, that a woman's
first great love affair exercises tremen-
dous power over all following. Here was
q girl with undeniably good looks, living
in the atmosphere of the stage, full OF life
and health. She had been estranged for
n long time from her husband. Yet | will
venture to assert than any love affairs she
might have had during that estrangement
have been with seafaring men.
"The mind my dear Watson, is a curl.
Gus thing, and It holds fast to the symbol
Great Britain Rights Reserved.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-02-22

II also leaked Out
that a year ago. in Gin
cinnati, Mrs. Stock
well had attempted
suicide BY poisoning
ito escape my
trouble"
1t appeared that
Frances Stockwell
had no close friends
among those with
whom she worked.
Although there was
no reason for it, the
others seemed to
shun her. Often she
bewailed this
The girl had spoken
to other members OF
the company and to a
hotel clerk of being
in fear of some one.
She left word, after
receiving two tele-
phone calls and a spe
cial delivery letter,
that should a man
call her to the telc-
phone he was to be
told that she was out.
After each call she
appeared nervous. In
the second converse
ton she said:
"How did you know
l was with the
'Frolics?'"
The Cleveland cor
oner saw some sig
nificance in this re-
mark. 1t is known
that for some reason
she quit the Broad
way Bellies" company
at Wilkes-Barre, Pa
four weeks ago. and
Joined the French
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-02-22

derer back to
the scene of his
crime or urges
him to look again
upon the face of
his victim is a
commonplace OF
criminology. You
remember IL was
upon that singu-
lar fact that l
S0iVed Ufle myS-
terry of the Mus
grave Ritual And
that the. specta.
tors thought the
W e eping man
was a sailor is
profoundly sig
nifcant."
81 will admit
that your deduc-
lions regarding
the tattooing and
the subsequent
discovery that her
first great love
was for Stock
well, the sailor
husband, Is mar
velous," Watson
may be thought
as saying. But
I do not see why
you continue to
harp upon the
tattooing W h EN-
this seems to be
"A N1
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-02-22

slab on which
lay the body
of the chorus
girl. Suddenly
through them
a man pressed
his way. He
was much agi-
tated and so
drew the at
tention of 9th
ers b e s i d e s
those he JOS
tied aside. He
was of me.
dium height,
light complex
ion, light blue
@ y es a n d
rather shaggy
light ow n
hair. He wore
no overcoat.
He ca n e d
over the body
of the actress
for a moment,
b roke in t o
tears, 'and be-
fore any one
had presence
o { m I n d
e n on 9Th to
top him ,
slipped away.
When observ-
The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1920-04-29
NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS.

Bids will be received by the town of
Rockvale, Fremont county, Colorado.
for the furnishing of material and the
construction of town hall for said
town, in accordance with plans and
specifications now on file with J. NJ.
Giles, architect, Central block.
Pueblo. Colorado. and also on file with
Thomas Easton. mayor of said town.
Parties wishing to make bids will have
access to said plans and specifications.
Bids will be received by the clerk of
said town until ~ O'Clock noon. May
IS. 1920. The town reserves the right
TO reject any and all bids mnde. The
party whose bid may be accepted will
be required to deposit with the clerk
Of said town certified check in the
sum of 81 900 to guarantee the bid 30
made.
w. L. MURRAY. Town Clerk.
Rockvale. Colorado.
First Pub. April 20.
Last Pub. May q
The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1920-04-29

DR. lie Gears Healing Powder,
Poultry Powder, Remedies and Pre-;
servatives. Lice Killer, Roup Remedy.
Cholera Remedy, Head Lice Remedy.
Liniment, Healing Oil Renovating Dip
and Disinfectant, Screw Worm Killer,
Fly Chaser, Heave and Cough Cure
and Remedy and best of all Chick
medicine known is Dr. LeGear's Little
Chick Diarrhoea Cure and Remedy
Valuable book on stock and poultry
treatment, 10c. FREE with s1.OO or
more purchase of remedies or medi-
cines. BLUE FRONT GROCERY.
PHONES C. 259 and 260. wilt d-fri
The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1920-04-29

Milwaukee,. VINO mas Deen mere iof
some time looking after business mat
ters, left today for Chicago.
LEAVE WEpNEs sDAY
FOR KANSAS CITY
r. C. Bacon of the Colorado Pack
ing Corporation will leave Wednesday
for Kansas City, Mo- on business
trip for the company.
The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1920-04-29

Dr.. LeGear's Chick Diarrhoea Cure
and Preventative Tablets. soc (guaran-
teed). BLUE FRONT GROCERY.
wilt d-fri
The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1920-04-29
nR x c sApERo-

Eye, ear. nose and throat specialist
of Denver. will again be in Canon City
Saturday, May Is, at the Canon hotel
Consultation and examination free.
The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1920-04-29
OKLAHOMA GUESTS
AT STRAUGHN HOME

Mrs. ]. c. Russell and children, VII
fred and Evelyn. of Wakita. Okla, ar
rived Monday to visit the home of Mr..
and Mrs. C. NJ. Straughn. Mrs. Rus
sell is a sister of Mr.. Straushn.
The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1920-04-29
CAN YOU BEAT 1T?

Kaffir corn for chickens and stock,
1910 a cwt at the Blue Front Grocery.
Five cents cwt OFF. for cash and non
delivery. wit d-fri.
The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1920-04-29
BRING YOUR SCHOOL CHILDREN

to the Canon hotel. where DIR. X. C.
Sapero, the well-known eye. ear. nose
and throat specialist of Denver. will
examine their eyes and yours. free
May Is.
The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1920-04-29
RosITA NINE STRIKES
RIcA VEIN OE ORE

The Rosita Mining Company struck
a rich vein of silver ore last Friday
which will be welcome news to people
of Canon City who are fortunate in
being stockholders of the company.
The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1920-04-29
NOTICE.

Notice is hereby given that the part
nership heretofore existing between
C. H. SHIRLEY and ]. w. BROWN.
in the conduct of the OAKLAND
AGENCY in Canon City. Colorado, has
this 23rd day OF April. 1920. been dis
solved.
c. Fl. SHIRLEY.
]. w. BROWN.
First Pub. April 29. 1920.
Last Pub. May 20. 1920
The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1920-04-29
MRS. SoMERVlLlE HOME
FROM RATION, NJ. M.

Mrs. Matt E. Somerville and baby,
who have been visiting relatives at
Ration, N. M, returned home Monday.
The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1920-04-29

We do all kinds on printine. Le'
us give you prices ON wedding iuvi
tations, calling cards. programs. etc
Job department. Daily Record office
The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1920-04-29
MRS. SMITH GOES TO
skLIDA FOR SHORT STAY

Mrs. w H. Smith, accompanied by
her little daughter. Mary Janet, left
for Salida Monday to be with her
daughter, Mrs R. w. Stoddard, whose
little son will undergo a minor opera
ton at the Cochem's hospital
The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1920-04-29

Dr. LeGear's Chick Diarrhoea Cure
and Preventative Tablets, 30c (guaran-
seed). BLUE FRONT GROCERY.
wit d-fri
The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1920-04-29
EYE. EAR. NOSE AND THROAT

Dr. Sapero, the Denver specialist,
will again be in Canon City at the
Canon hotel. Saturday, May 15.. Con-
sultation and examination free.
The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1920-04-29
MISS LUSINk VISITS
HER MOTHER HERE

Monday to visit her mother. Mrs c.
l. King on Park Center.
The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1920-04-29
MRS. HIATT HcmE
FROM DENVER VISIT

Ms. L. c. Hiatt returned Mondal
from Denver. where she was called b.
the death of her niece, Mrs. Mellish
nee Miss India Moore) of this city
LEWIS ARRIVES
FROM ENGLAND
Bernard Lewis of Harfield, England
arrived in the city Sunday havins
crossed the Atlantic in company with
Mr.. and Mrs. j. o. Howard. Mr.
Lewis, who is lumber estimator ani
measurer by trade, expects to ms
this city his home
LADIES LEAVE FOR
HOME IN MONTANA
Mrs. r. l.. Henderson, accompanied
by her mother, Mrs. E. l.. Davies, who
has been spending the winter here for
her health. departed for Mrs. Hender-
sons home at Great Falls. Mont, Mon
day afternoon.
IST HE GUEST OF
DAUGHTER AT FLORENCE
Mrs. Ellen Ferguson, 928 Prescott
avenue, left Monday for Florence for
. visit with her daughter, Mrs. w. l..
Davis. and her mother, Mrs Rox-
bury.
sALMANS HOME
FROM WEsTcLIFFE
Mrs. T. G. Balman, her daughter,
Mis- sEvalyn. and Miss Judith Cham
ing, returned Monday afternoon from
Westcliffe, where they spent the week
end
MISS cRARY VISITS
IN WAISENBURG
Miss Emma Crary, who is a student
at the Academy. accompanied by her
sister, left Monday to visit, at her
home in Walsenburg.
MARRIED BY JUDGE
ELDRED ON MONDAY
Frank Z. Costello and Miss Bessie
NJ. Dyer, both of Florence, were mar
ried by Judge Kent L. Eldred of the
county court at 2 o'clock last Monday
afternoon in the presence OF few wit
ness.
TRAVELLING FREIGHT
AGENT IN TOWN
n. c. johnson of Denver, travelling
passenger and freight agent for the
Santa Fe railroad. is business visitor
in Canon City today. Gradually
the various railroad companies are
restoring the travelling agents to solicit
business since the transportation lines
we're returned by the government to
private management Under Federal
control there was no competition in
the railroad business.
LEFT TODAY
FOR CHICAGO
B. H. Baker. special representative
of the Corona Chemical Company of
The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1920-04-29

DIR. LeGear's Chick Diarrhoea Cure
and Preventative Tablets, 30c (guaran-
teed). BLUE FRONT GROCERY.
wit d-fri
The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1920-04-29
Tuesday
LOCAL BOYS GO
TO CAPITAL CITY

Raymond Wood and Maj. Maple
Harl will depart for Denver today. Mr..
Wood will attend to business interests
there for a few days and Maj. Harl
will probably remain in Denver.
The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1920-04-29
MRS. ScHEIBLE RETURNS
TO WESTCLlFFE HOME

Mrs. E. Scheible of Westcliffe, who
spent the weekend with Mrs. Ger
trude Stockder. departed for her home
Monday afternoon.
The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1920-04-29
ENTERTAINING GUEST
FROM CAPITAL CITY

Mrs. Edna Anderson of Denver il
the guest of Mrs William Forrest
403 West New York avenue, for'a visit
The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1920-04-29
ASPEN MEN ARE
BUSINESS VISITORS
M'kENZlE GOES TO
THE STiRRuP RANCH


rheumatism.
M'kENZIE GOES TO
THE STiRRUP RANCH
Roderick Mckenzie, who has been
at home for several days. returned to
the Stirrup ranch this morning.
SILVER CLIFF MAN
A BUSINESS VISITOR
z. NJ. Rohrbaugh of Silver Cliff is in
the city on business. and is registered
at the Strathmore
HAMELS VISITING
IN THE CITY
Mr. and Mrs A. G. Hamel of West
cliffe are spending a few days in the
city.
MEEKER COUNTY SHERIFF
A BUSINESS VISITOR
Sam p Wear, sheriff of Meeker
county. is in the city on business
HUMPHREY RENEWS
OLD AcQUAiNTANcES
Earl Humphrey former Canon City
boy. having virtually grown up in this
city, is here renewing old acquaint-
ances and finding many new ones.
Mr. Humphrey left here some IL years
ago and finds many of his bunch"
have also left, too, He is travelling
salesman for the American Soda
Fountain Company and has recently
had his headquarters changed from
San Francisco to Denver.
BLACKS DOWN FOR
DAYS VISIT IN CITY
Mr.. and Mrs. Frank Black of Cot
towood are spending the day in town
with their parents, Mr. and Mrs. Wal
ter Black.
RETURN FROM VISIT
TO WALSENBURG RELATIVES
NJ and Mrs. ]. II. Keith and mother,
Mrs. L. NJ. Jones, returned Monday
afternoon from walsenburg. where
they visited relatives.
HERE FROM ILLINOIS
TO VISIT SISTER
Mrs George Gibbons OF Mt. Ster-
ling. Ill. arrived here few days ago
70 ra short visit with her sister, Mrs.
A. E. Jameson. and other relatives.
Mrs. Gibbons will leave for home next
Monday, accompanied by her mother.
who has been the guest of her daugh-
ter Mrs. Jameson, for some time past.
Mr.. and Mrs. Jameson are planning to
remove to Wyoming shortly to make
their home
ENTERTAINING GUEST
FROM ASHTABULA. o.
Mrs. Rose f. Fassett of Ashtabula.
O.. is the guest of Mrs. w j. Biles of
sos South Ninth street. Mrs. Fas-
sett has been spending the winter at
Los Angeles. Cal. and is en- route to
her Ohio home.
FLORENCE DELEGATION
VISIT CANON CITY
FLORENCE. April 26.-Mrs. G. f.
Gable, Mrs J. J. Williams. Mrs. n
Bonney. Mrs. Hannah Rogers and Miss
| Ida Wilson comprised a delegation OF
.. members of the Royal Neighbors who
! motored to Canon City Friday night
where they attended q. session of the
| county seat lodge. A number of can
| didates were initiated and luncheon
| was served the members. The local
delegation was rendered a royal recep
tion.
GUESTS AT THE :.
ULRIcH HOME
J. w Barrett and family of La
Plata, N. NJ, arrived Monday to visit
at the homes of Bert Ulrich and w. A.
Hill
MISS JOHNSON GUEST
OF PUEBLO FRIENDS
Miss Edna Johnson left Monday
afternoon to spend a few days as the
eiiest of her aunt, Mrs C. s. Johnson.
III Pueblo