davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-03-20
Nash-A.jax Gain 1852
In Motor Show Sales

With the automobile show cease,
in large metropolitan centers draw.
ing to close a survey of Nash Asa-
retail sales at the principal shors
this year presents an illumsnafine
picture of the gathering flomenfnn,
that forced February production a
14,148 cars. Everywhere last vear,s
record show business has haan
eclipsed by the bona fide retail saIe.
of 1926. Shows in IA Of the prin.
cipal cities record an average gain
of 1853 per cent.
1.-The automobile show, generallv
speaking, is an excellent barometer II
public attitude toward a given nlaks
of car, "ssaid E. H. McCarty, genera
sales manager of The Nash Motors
and Ajax Motors Companies. sand
the public favor with which Nash
and Ajax are regarded was never
more apparent than at the present
time. Not only were the Nash Ala,
exhibits at all shows, centers of Al.
traction but public endorsement va,
made emphatic by a record break.
ing number of bona fide retail orders
Because of the country-wide AZ.
mand, February, the shortest month
of the year, with but "a working
days, was the greatest month in The
history of the Nash Motors COMPANY.
''In New York, retail show sales for
the metropolitan district were 9ss
per cent. higher than in 1926. But.
falo's increase was SO per cent.
Philadelphia, 134 per cent; Cleye.
land, 81 per cent; Milwaukee, 3S per
cent; Detroit, S9.5 per cent; Chi.
cago, 210 per cent; Minneapolis, 1is
per cent; Indianapolis, 80 per cent:
Rochester, 612 per cent; Kansas
! City, so per cent; Louisville, 70 per
cent; st. Louis, $3.50 per cent; and
Syracuse, 200 per cent"
Increased production, even over
the record braeking February figure
/ is under way at all Nash-Ajax
/ plants.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-03-20

long life and freedom from repairs.
They can get away with the stories
about speed because I'm not the
motorcycle cor, but they, couldn't
get very far with boastin' about low
cost of keepin' their cars runnin. l
do their repair work.
An automobile has an odd way of
layin' down on the job. 1t seems
to be goin' through with it's task in
good order, and then suddenly de-
mands a trip to the repair shop.
That's why it takes a good driver
to know when he's treatin' his car
properly.
So many drivers forget there are
other hills than the one they hap
pen to be climbin'. The car may
get over the first hill in high with the
radiator front half closed and the
crankcase full of gasoline and dirty
OIL but trouble begins with the next
hill, and grows with the next. A
car doesn't deliver the goods if il
does only one thing well. The real
test comes in its ability to keep on
dom things well without forever
visitin' the repair shop.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-03-20
Now You Have LII

ANSWERS to last weeks questions)
l. 'Blow-by is the term used by
engineers to describe the action of
an engine in permitting gases to
escape from the combustion cham
bers into the crankcase.
2. Pressure is built up in the
crankcase of an engine by the pump
ing action of its own pistoDs.
3. If a car is travelling thirty
miles an hour and the driver saves
second in getting busy with the
brakes he can cut down the stopping
distance at least forty-four feet.
4. Tho standard tread of the
average automobile is Sc inches. This
is the ground contact width and not
the width of the body or any parts
thereof.
5. A heavy wire, or cable, is used
for the current connection between
battery and starter motor in order to
provide for the highest possible cur
rent flow by reducing resistance as
much as possible.
Copyright 1926 by the Ullman Fea-
ture Service.)
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-03-20
From An Owners Diary

Tried adjusting the carburetor for
a richer mixture. Haven't been get
ting the results expected from the
lean mixture, and hills have been
giving trouble. Won't know what
sort of mileage the new mixture
will give until I've tried it while,
but strange thing happened.
That knock in the engine seems
to have vanished. 1t always came
in accelerating, and on hills. Today
it disappeared.
Went to see Joe, the mechanic.
about it. He concluded / must have
had what he called lean mixture
knock" 1t seems the cylinders
don't have enough fuel to work on
and they let you know it.
I asked him why he hadn't
tumbled to this before. I've been
complaining about this knock for a
month. His answer was he took it
for granted l had tried running her
on different mixtures.
That's the trouble. We take too
much for granted. Hereafter when
there's something chemically wrong
I'll try the car on different diets.
1t works for humans, why not for
engines?
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-03-20
The Saturday Motorist

, self forward double job. When
ever car is driven fast every
reciprocating part in the engine is
strained and every rotating part
comes that much closer to the dan
ger point represented by burning
out. Abrupt stopping places a ter
rife burden on every working part
of the car, not alone the brakes.
The automobile driver who avoids
hill when he doesn't have to climb
it conserves engine life that will be
translated into more miles of USE
fulness. It's great sport taking steep
hills in high, no doubt, but it's
pleasure for which the indulgent pay
dearly.
If more drivers could see the
pistons in the act of stopping and
completely reversing their direction
of travel everytime they move from
four to five inches there would be
more consideration for engines and
less unnecessary speed.
When a car stops abruptly the
engine must do its part in retarda-
ton. 1t means that the engine has
one more job to pull it down and
to hasten it's demise.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-03-20
Paige-Jewett Output
Doubles 1925 Record

Detroit, Mich, March 19-Tho
Paige Detroit Motor Car Company
will produce 45.024 cars in the first
six months of 1926. comprising 20,934
Jewetts and 24,090 Paiges. The total
is 500 more than the production of
both models in the entire twelve
months of 1925.
The new Paige line, announced
February 90, is starting out to make
a production record, having already
reached quantity figures. The new
cars were exhibited at the leading
automobile shows. and the advance
orders received were far in excess
of present possible production. II
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-03-20

that applied to him apply equally
well to the automobile.
There's an Old saw to the effect
that you may drive horse to water
but you can't make him drink. 1t
doesn't seem to have any place in
motordom, yet it's mighty good prac-
tice for any car owner to follow.
Revamped to fit modern ideas I'd
say. You can drive a car to death
but you can't make it deliver the
goods"
1 hear a lot of boastin' about
speed, hill climbin', pickup and
quick startin.' but there seems to be
an awful dearth of braggin' about
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-03-20

Four Brakes Score Again

Recently a motorist found a new
use for four-wheel brakes. He had
made a miscalculation in passing
another car on an incline at the
entrance to a public garage, and had
locked rear wheels with the other
machine. To separate them, it was
necessary to jack up the rear of his
car. Accordingly, he set the emery
ency brake so the car would not
coast down the hill. Just then he
saw the need of four wheel brakes.
Had not the front wheels been locked
when the rear ones were lacked up,
the car would have run free.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-03-20
Why Bulbs Burn Out

Why do stop-light bulbs burn out
so readily?
Many k this question and could
answer it themselves if they would
recall a point in connection with the
care of the tubes of their radio
sets. Tubes should be fed current
gently. never in flashes. The life of
tube, from the Operations stand
point. then depends upon care in its
use.
The 6-volt, 81 candlepower bulb
used in the stop Plight signal is sub
ject to the same rule. But stopping,
even of the most gradual sort. calls
for a violation of the. principle
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-03-20

Constant flashing of the bulb Injuries
it's filament and shortens it's life.
In great many cars, too, the stop
signal is at a point where the chas-
sis is subject to considerable re-
bound. This often serves to loosen
the bulb from it's base.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-03-20
For Longer Car Life

Little by little prudent owners
are discovering how to make their
cars last longer. What is more,
they are coming to recognize the
importance Of driving in this con-
nection.
Good oil. good gas, intelligent
servicing and systematic inspection
are essentials. but they are not
everything. AS > matter of fact
many cars that are treated to the
best of everything in the purely
material line are among thase CIV
ing the most trouble. A car really
hasn't everything until 1t Is spared
three of the most ravaging habits
in driving.
Not until drivers stop unnecessary
hill climbing, driving fast when more
moderate speeds would suffice and
stopping abruptly will their cars be
in line to live longer. giving better
service meanwhile.
Whenever a car climbs a hill 1t
must lift itself while propelling it.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-03-20
Make A Net For Lens

Fear of dropping the lens when
removing the rim of a headlight to
install new bulb can be eliminated
by spreading out the robe just under
the lamp, tying it's ends to the lamp
brackets or hooking them in the
hood clamps. This forms a shock
proof bag in which to catch the lens
if it happens to slip out of ones
hands,
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-03-20
His Skidless system

Ring Lardner's character who
"ain't pitched a shoe in well-nigh on
to 40 years" has only thirty years on
the motorist who hasn't had a skid
in well-nigh on to ten.
The fact that the story of the
driver in question has never been
unanimously believed has yet to
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-03-20
Work Grease Pump Slowly

Occasionally a motorist will help
out with the greasing process at the
public garage or the filing station
by operating the big grease pump
while the mechanic is under the car.
A trick in working such a pump
is to go slowly. 1t doesn't move the
grease any faster to work the pump
vigorously. One pumps air the
faster one works. Take it easy, press
with a steady stroke and give the
grease time 10 move.
The Old Mechanic Says:
Old Dobbin has been pretty well
driven off the road by the automobile
but, oddly enough. some o the things
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-03-20

prevent him from sticking to it. He
! thus describes the system:
Brake lightly with the clutch
I engaged"
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-03-20

Caution and stop signals on &C.
eelerators wouldn't be bad adj
dition to present day motoring.
The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1926-07-22

oy Mr.. Marion in the presence of
witnesses and Schlaps himself read
it before signing. All witnesses
identified the confession as the
original and identified the sigma
lures of Schlaps and the witnesses.
Walter Johnson testified, on cross
examination, that he had been
asked by Charles Council, under
sheriff, to accompany him when
he took Schlaps from the Jail to
Marron's office because feeling
against the boy was strong at that
time and Council did not want to
be responsible for the boys SAT-
ETY., if alone.
Defense Protests
The defense had consistently
objected to the admission of the
written confession made by
Schlaps, but Judge Paul overrul-
ed. The document is known as
states exhibit Q. The confession
was read to the jury and absolute
quiet reigned throughout the
crowded court room during the
reading. Eric Noun, counsel for.
the defense, in his opening state
ment to the jury, said that the
defense was not going to attempt
to prove that Schlaps had not
committed the crime with which
he is charged, but that they would
prove by witnesses that the youth
was not normal mentally, that he
had suffered certain illnesses and
certain accidents that rendered
him irresponsible at times, and that
May /, there had been a quar-
rel between Anton Geisler and
Young Schlaps and that the muir
ders had been committed without
generalization. Mrs. Schlaps,
mother of the defendant was the
first witness called. She was I'M
able to speak English and spoke
through an interpreter appointed
by the court. Mayme jacob in
,erpreted for her.
Schlaps showed the first real
emotion when his mother was en-
he stand. The boy wept quiet
y, struggling to keep back the
as the middle aged woman,
a low voice, answered ques-
ions through an interpreter. She
vas dressed in l~ight-colored cot
on dress, and had a black kerr :
hief over her dark hair. Mrs. '
testified that she was born '
n Russia, and came to America :
8 years ago. Ferdinand Schlaps :
vas born March 81, 1908. He :
TENDED school two and a half :,
lilies from the Schlaps home from $.
ne time he was 7 years old until :
e was 16. :
Schlaps' Confession :
Estate of Montana VS.. Ferdi-
and Schlaps.
estate of Montana, county of
.oosevelt, S.: K
ferdinand Schlaps being first Il
uly sworn, upon oath deposes ft
nd says: k
"That l was 18 years of age Il
-arch 81, 1926; that I was born Il
I'D raised at Ashley, N. D., and 81
owed to Homestead, Mont, h'
'ound the first part of February, 81
926.
"That | have eight brothers and al
rec sisters. That ! am now in tt
ie office of Hugh N. Marion, m
,unty attorney of Roosevelt
Montana. That there is W
'esent at this time DR.. J. c. De- G
-ane, Charles Council, deputylth
.eriff; Walter J. Johnson and he
ugh N. Marion. in
"That l have been advised byII
said county attorney, HughlG.
The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1926-07-22

N. Marion, that ! do not have to
make any statement if I do not
wish to; that | may hire q lawyer
if I wish to, or that the court will
appoint one for me if / cannot
hire one; that any statement l
now make may be used against
me in a prosecution in the case
of State of Montana VS.. Ferdinand
Schlaps, and that / have not been
promised anything Of any kind for
making a statement, and that the
facts stated herein are made free
ly and voluntarily for the sole pur-
pose of telling the truth and moth
ing but the truth about the death
of Tony Geisler and Ludmilla
Geiselr.
"That I started to work for
Tony Geisler April 5. 1926, and
was to work for him for seven
months at $50 a month, and that
when I was through working for
him, he was to pay me $3.50 in
cash and give the money to my
mother.
Planned Murder
'That for a period of time of
about g week before May 1, l
planned that I would shoot Tony.
Geisler and Ludmilla Geisler, and
get their new Ford sedan and
money, and then l was going to.
North Dakota so no one would
find me.
"That on Saturday afternoon,
May 1, 1926, about 2 o'clock in
the afternoon, Mrs. Ludmilla
Geisler ives getting ready to go
to a school entertainment and
Tony Geisler and myself we're get
ting the horses ready to go out.
in the field to work. I then figur-
ed that it was the best time then
to kill them when one was in the
barn and one was in the house.
Tony and | were in the barn put
ing the harnesses on the horsesT
and I told Tony / was going to
he house to get a drink of water
md at the same time I planned
hat I would get the II gauge
and some shells in the
louse and come back to the barn
where Tony was.
"When I was getting the shells
nd the gun in the house, Mrs. !,
ieisler asked me what I wanted
With the gun and the shells and / l
old her I was going hunting. IT,
iot the gun and four shells; I I
ook four shells because l want !
d to have enough so that if they 7
id not die the first time I shot q
lem / would shoot them the sec
nd time. Then I went to the ;
arm and found that Tony was I
inside of the barn. y
Commits Murder =
81 loaded the gun and began 7
look for Tony. He was on "
Ie east side of the barn and III "
.et from the barn door. l keptItI
nd of hidden until I got near o
lie barn door on the east side Of a
lie barn. I took aim at his leftld
ioulder on the side on which the /;
art is and fired. He fell to the hi
.ound and tried to get up again..
put another shell into the gun W
id fired at his head the second in
ne and he did not move any w
ore after that.
II then loaded the gun and
emit up to the house where Mrs.
eisler was. I walked up near a.
e window the south side of the d.
use and saw Mrs. Geisler stand u
9 in the bedroom looking north. y
put the gun up and shot Mrs. u
She hollered but I could
The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1926-07-22

not understand what she saidl
Then l loaded the gun and wend
into the bedroom where she had
been and she was not there. Then
/ came back into the room where
I slept and she was hid behind tho
clothes curtain. The first shot
struck her on the left arm and
side. Then | aimed at her again
and fired; the second shot struck
her in the neck, cutting away
about one-third of her neck.
"Tony did not see me before
Shot him; neither did Mrs. Geis1
Ter the first time. After both Of
them were dead, then / picked uI
the empty shells; put the guri
away, and then threw the empty
shells away in the creek bottom
Then l got a pail of water and
the mop and washed up all around
the house where there was blood
There was blood all around thd
bedroom where Mrs. Geisler was
standing the first time l shot herr
After l got everything al cleaned
up, then | covered the oats in tho
wagon with a blanket to keep tho
horses and cattle from eating
them; then l went and unharness
ed the horses and turned then
loose.
Looks For Money
''The first thing l done afteI
cleaning up the blood in the house
was to look for money. I found
about $40 in the trunk; a $40 bill
and some silver; it vas in a peck
etbook and | put them all in my
pocket. The night before l saw
the pocketbook in the trunk be-
cause the trunk was open. Their
l gave the cattle water; then
got the car out and filled it up
gasoline. Then I stayed
around the place until it COM
menced to get dark.
"Then l loaded the two bodies
into the Ford sedan, then I drove
the a with the bodies to the Big
Muddy, towards Homestead. When
got to the bridge I threw Mrs.
5eisler's body into the river; then
saw a car coming so I drove up
% the right along the river. I
out the lights out on the car and
until the car went by; then
put Tony's body into the Big
Then I went to Home
tead and stayed there about an
lour and a half; then I drove to
ny mothers place. The next
norning, early, I washed the blood
ut of the Ford car.
"Then in the afternoon, the
heriff and county attorney from
lentywood, came over to the
lace where | was at my mothers
They asked me about it
nd l told them that l had taken
ony and his wife to Poplar; they
ere going to a hospital. There
as some blood on my clothes and
icy asked me about the blood
n my clothes and the Ford car
nd I finally told them that I had
one it. Then I went with the
id officers to the Tony Geisler
ace and showed them just how
had killed Tony Geisler and his
ife. That l had planned on 60
to North Dakota that evening
it'll the car and go to Ashley.
Says He Did Wrong
"That I have had the foregoing
.fdavit read to me by the county
torney of Roosevelt county; that
contains the facts and nothing
it the facts as I have told him;
at it is clear to me and ! un-
Continued on Page Four
The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1926-07-22

explained that this was introduc-
ed as evidence as a means of
building up motive for the killing
of Mrs. Geisler.
The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1926-07-22
Phelps Takes Stand

Carter Phelps, Homestead
storekeeper and postmaster, was
put on the stand by the state Fri
day afternoon and testified that
The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1926-07-22

tuesday
With the admission in evidence
of a written confession of Ferdi-
nand Schlaps to the killing Of An
ton and Ludmilla Geisler at Beim,
May 2, the state rested its case
Tuesday afternoon. This confes-
sion was made and sworn to May
- in the office Of County Attor-
ney Hugh N. Marion, in the pres
ence of Charles Council, under
sheriff; Walter johnson, Great
Northern special agent, and DR..
J. C. DeWane.
Witnessed Confession
These witnesses testified that
the statements made in the con
fession were made freely. They tes-
titled that Attorney Marion asked
Schlaps questions and that his
replies were written down by.
typewriter as they were given.
Marion wrote the replies. DR..
testified as to the pro-
cedure. All witnesses said that
Schlaps did not make any state
ments until after County Attorney
Marion had advised him that he
could have a lawyer, that he need
not make any statements, and that
he might say could be
used as evidence against him.
After the transcription Of the
confession, it was read to Schlaps
Evening star., 1926-12-05
NATIONAL CAPITAL LEAGUE.
Team STANDINGS.

High team samenaMeyer Davis. ea7.
High individual set--Miller tBelmcnts)
r, Hsh Individual same-Losan Meyer
High ayerase-Eosan Meyer Davis). 11s
Bill Woods King Pin and Meyer
Davis clubs still are having every
thing their own way as far as the
National Capital League is concerned
The former club squeezed two games
from Jerry's Stars in opening the sec
Ond series. While the Musicians grab
bed three from the lowiy Rosslyn club
last week.
BY taking all three games from
Rosslyn the Meyer Davis club moved
into tie for the lead OF the National
Capital circuit as to games won asd
lost, hut are neatly situated on the
top perch with 1923 total pins to
King Pins 1886.
Internal Revenue, rolling it's last
match under the captaincy Of Frank
Hania han. came out of the rut in
which it had sunk for several weeks
and captured a pair from the knights
Of Columbus.
Z" Frank du Bois' troubles with the
Joseph Phillips club continue The
Sausagemakers dropped three games
last week to the Belmonts. There are
excuses. however. for the Belmonts
hit 1907, with Frank Miller getting
a Ala set, both season records for the
league.
TO know what happens to a bowl
ing team when your stars are away
page Capt. Denham of the Fl. B. Den.
ham Co. club. With Curb Cafe and
Temple In action on the same night
Denham was forced to use three new
men and lost two games to Arcadia.
Evening star., 1926-12-05
Lens Needed to Find Some Bou1g Stars Br0ok, Primers WI
DOPE ON RACES in VARIOUS DUCKPIN CIRCUITS
crash through the headpin for a 2-pin
count when she needed to cop the

crash through the headpin for a 2-pin
count when she needed to cop the
battle.
+ Catherine Quigley took the honors
for the best single game when she
smeared the ducks for 122 in her sec
Ond effort. and scored a three-gam
count Of 3l4 to boost her average.
sHelen Sullivan Of the Frankies was
a very consistent performer, getting
three nice counts Of 1U2. 103 and 102.
Helen managed to get above the CEN
4tury mark with two spares in each
encounter. -4
=. Irene Mischou, captain of the
F'rankfes, helped her team grab the
odd game from the Hiltoppers when
she socked the NAPLES for 116 in her
second effort, and 800 for the set;
giving her the best individual scores
Of the match.
Catherine "Morarty was. very much
In evidence in the Daughters of Isa.
bella Climbers fmixup. in which the
Daughters scored a sweep. Catherine
shot l16 single count and 314 set.
Rena Levy did a sparkling rescue
act. the kind that gives every bowler
a thrill, if only once in lifetime.
Rena dragged the Collimhians from
defeat BY the kumbacks in the first
clash by slipping I'm a count of SO pins
In the ninth and final frames of the
contest. A spare I'm the ninth with a
. count, and spare in the tenth with
a 10-count did the work.