davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1927-10-23

of Monday, May II. 1863: "Mrs. John
Drew's Philadelphia Dramatic Com
pany- opens at Growers tonight in UP
At the Hills, or Life in India a com.
ady by Tom Taylor" read that ths
players were Mrs. Drew, Miss E.
Price. Mr.. Barton Hill. Mrs. Stephens
"and members Of Mr.. Growers stock
During the week the COM
pany played "Royalists, or the
Ladies' Battle" The Robbers Wife,
and dramatization OF a novel,
Aurora Floyd"
MUST not give you too much
about old theaters. Neither your
eyes nor mine are what they were and
memory of the gas footlights and gas
chandeliers may dazzle you. will
hand you news I have been reading in
The Star of 1868, believing that you
will think it as fresh and interesting
as much news published now. Among
the names you may find your fathers,
and the faces of other men will come
to you. Read this:
"A fireman's grand ball TO he given
by the Perseverance Engine Company
at Temperance Hall. L between Ninth
v. q,
1868. Prof. Schroeder's celebrated
string band. Committee of arrange.
mems, J. Stroebel, j. H. Thompson, c.
+. Harrison. w. II. Osborn, A. Glas-
gov and F. ". Colclazier (Colclazer?):
members on the part of the several
companies: Columbian. Robinson,
Bobbyn. Cation: Union--W. Fl. Hines.
"erkins. Goddard; Anacostia-T. Cook.
Waters. Nicholson: Franklin-J. Sess
'ord. Maddox, Dorsey: Western Hose
e w. Drury. Hoffman. Glover; Metro.
9olitan Hook and Ladder. r.
Thauncey. Sipe, Noyes; American
Hook and Ladder Co.-G. Brown.
Batham Lindsly."
A grand levee and festival" I. o,
o. F.. was given by Excelsior Lodge.
No. II. at Odd Fellows Hall. Seventh
street. Nav Is. 1868. I quote: Com.
mittee Of arrangements: p. Scrivener,
c. s Noyes, S. n. Moore, William S.
Roberts, John C.. Shafer: committees
on part of the order: William r. Nc.
Lean, Jackson Edmonston, William w,
Moore, William Scott, Thomas Rich,
John f. Havenner. John r. Elvans,
Charles Anderson, Charles f. Nelson.
William Scott, George w. Calvert,
William T. Ford. Charles Hawke,
George Brown. Sam f. Douglass.
Bryan A. Kidder, E. r. Vanx, Jarsas
Ridgeway. l.. B. Allyn, John r. Piper.
John w. Dame. William A. Yates. Ell
Garrett. NJ. g. Shaw. John Thaw, Will
liam Kettler, William 8. Roberts, Al.
Evening star., 1927-10-23

Footprints-one of large boot with
broad toe, the other of a smaller
boot with pointed toe-led across the
garden, and there were scratches
showing where back fence had been
climbed, from which the fugitives
could reach belt of woods behind.
Slightly more than $500 in gold and
notes was missing from the safe. In
a few hours Marshall had got the
numbers of the notes.
Studying the jimmy marks on the
windows, Marshall had the windows
and their frames taken down and sent
to Scotland Yard.
The doctors put the time of the mur-
der at between l and in the morning.
Two men had been seen lurking in
the neighborhood for some days before
the murder.
1t was the sort Of case that might
prove very difficult or very simple.
Evening star., 1927-10-23
9res of Business and Anusements in IS Interest Rambe

for the most part likely young boys
and girls-the number bringing less
than $1,000"
have the advertisements of Mont
gomery County farms for sale. They
may have been your home lands or
YOU may have hunted and gone a
black -berrying on them when you were
a boy. May 16. 1863: Trustees sale
of lands in Montgomery county. The
land, part of the estate of Hanson
Clark, deceased, One tract is about
two miles from Graves Store on the
Brookeville turnpike, one on the
Bladensburg road. and one on the
road from Washington City to Coles
Vile by Bonds Mill, commonly called
Burnt Mills. about two miles from the
mills and eight from Washington. &C
joining the lands of the late Thomas
\. Wilson. The lands will be shown
by q. H. P. Clark. Esq. ~. Viers
Bouic, trustee"
I'm the case of Jedediah Cuttings
and others versus Richard d, Harding
and wife. the trustee will sell at
Graves Store on the Brookeville turn.
pike, about two miles from the prem.
ises, part of the estate of the late
Thomas Cuttings which was assigned
as dover to his widow and which is
designated on the plat the Widows
Dover 1t comprises 191 acres and
lies at the crossing OF the Bladens-
burg road and the road from WASH
ington to Colesville by Bonds Mill
commonly known as Burnt Mills,
about one mile from the mills"
By applying TO Mr.. Scudder. 224
street. rear of Willard's, upstairs,
in 1863, you could have learned Of
room for rent in the country, yet with.
in easy walking distance" Of the busi-
ness part Of the city. Mr.. Scudder In
his advertisement recommended the
room thus: "A more convenient and
home cannot be found
within the same distance from the
business part of the city. Ten min
utes walk from Pennsylvania avenue
and you are in the midst Of green
fields and singing BIRDS"
have an advertisement Of the
opening of Green Spring and I should
have put it in this story in the right
place, but if you read it, you will have
to read il here: "Reopening of Green
Spring:-The proprietors of Green
Spring take pleasure in announcing to
the citizens of Washington and
Georgetown that this favorite place
Of resort will he reopened for the ac-
of parties on and after
the 11th of May. 1863. III. Hutchins
and John w. Potter. proprietors. A
Evening star., 1927-10-23

key in the lock and contents strewn
about the room. Even the bed had
been pulled to pieces and searched.
OF actual cash there was none left in
the house, although in a pasket in the
scullery were found a gold watch and
other articles of jewelry which had
been overlooked by the assassins.
The detectives had no difficulty in
reconstructing the crime in broad out
line. The old man, they reasoned, had
been disturbed by the noise of the
burglars in making their entry. He
descended TO the kitchen and had
there been ferociously attacked and
beaten into insensibility Lest he
should revive and raise an alarm. he
had been bound and gagged. Then
the thieves had found the key of the
safe. probably under their victims
pillow, helped themselves to such
money as il contained, and made good
their escape.
The clues. definite and indefinite
were carefully checked by Marshall.
They were:
The toy lantern. This was of type
manufactured in tens of thousands,
with glasses that would enable 1t to
show a red or green light. A wick
had been fabricated of some dress
material, and piece of penholder con-
trived to keep 1t in place.
Evening star., 1927-10-23
I'd Yard Gets Thin Clue but Finds Way Punish Murder

two men, for reports of other crooks
who had also dropped out Of sight
were beginning to come in. Fowler
was wanted for failure to report him
self, and that alone might explain
why he was keeping out of the way.
The anonymous letter suggested to
Marshall that Burrell might have hit
the right solution. He, Nutkins, and
the young detective went into confer.
ence. Wilson's family. Burrell point.
ed out, lived in Southam street.
Among them was his brother-in.law,
15-year-old lad named Miller, who
might well have been interested in
the lantern as plaything.
The odds are" observed Marshall.
that IL the lantern is his he has been
warned to deny 1t it he is questioned.
Wen have to surprise any informa.
ton out of him."
I'm handle this" said N1Itkins
There may be a way"
With the lantern in his pocket the
rat detective made his way To the
neighborhood of Southam street. He
had no intention OF tackling Young
Miller direct. Burrell had given him
some local knowledge, and he went
direct to a confectioners little shon
which was patronized by the bows of
the district. He took the sbopkeeper
into his confidence. The lantern was
placed on shelf and Nutkins was
given hiding place.
Hours passed before. Mt last. Young
Miller entered the shop on some err
rand. He at once saw the lantern
and reached a hand toward II. "Whv
that's mine," he cried.
The well rehearsed shopkeeper lifted
the lantern down. "Yours?" he said.
There are any amount Of lanterns
ike this. How do you know it's
yours?'
1T 1s mine" reiterated Miller. "I
can show you the shop where I
bought it. The green glasr is cracked.
j made the wick out Of q bit of stuff
my sister gave me when she was
making kids dress. 1 used an old
penholder to hold the wicf."
Nutkins had heard enough. He
showed himself and took q hand. AS
he questioned the boy more came out.
He had missed the lantern some
weeks before. on night when Nilsson
had not slept at home. Nilsson had
returned at Z o'clock the following
morning and had said
IF any one should ask you about
your lantern say YOU broke it and
threw it in the dusthole''
Nutkins was taking no chances. He
had got witness on whom all might
depend. Within an hour the boy was
at the local police station and the
grim Marshall, patting him on the
back. promised that he should be
looked after. So the boy was held
apart from his family while the de-
tectives took up the fresh scent in
grim and relentless earnest.
Portraits and descriptions of the
two men were sent out in every direc-
ton. Misom's relatives were ques.
toned, and Marshall saw that every
movement made by each of them and
every letter they received came under
the eye of some one of his asso-
ciates. If the chief inspector had not
been a. patient man he might have
ruined everything at this stage. He
knew that every day made it more
difficult to come up with the fugitives,
and yet an attempt to force the pace
might defeat it's own purpose. He
waited and in little he was rewarded.
Young Detective Burrell it was who
CONTINUED on Fifth Page)
Evening star., 1927-10-23

Continued on Fifth Page.)
Evening star., 1927-10-23

Neither Marshall nor Nutkins had
much doubt that the crime had been
carried through by pair Of desperate.
lower-grade crOoks--in all proba biIity
men who had been through the hands
OF the police before. This line looked
most promising to them, and with the
help of the big Scotland Yard machine
they began steadily to weed out those
rogues who might have been RESPONSE.
BILE. Many. 1t was certain, could not
have had hand in 1t, hut there re-
mained few others-convicts on H.
aensA mainly-who were wanted for
falling to report.
Under the British system. it should
be explained, prisoners released for
good conduct before the expiration OF
their full sentences are required to re.
port to the police once month.
Practically every G.. /. ID. man in
London was warned to watch for
these people. Weeks were spent in
following up suspects and testing their
whereabouts at the time of the mur.
der Meanwhile the Bank Of England
was asked to notify Marshall immedj.
ately one of the stolen notes returned
to it.
Il
Macnaghten, Marshall spent on
the trail of the banknote. He traced
it from hand to hand through a citv
bank, through a firm of tea mer-
chants, through an East End grocer
who had received it from a publican.
Here things came to a halt. The pub
lican, closely questioned, believed that
he had taken it from big, rough.
looking customer whose name he did
not know and of whom he could only
give a vague description.
With philosophy Marshall recog-
nized that he had to start over again.
He got in touch with Macnaghten.
This has fallen down." he reported.
I'm getting on to the half sheet of
notepaper."
For the sake of clearness I have
hitherto only broadly indicated the
course of the investigation. In most
detective stories the hero takes a sim
gle clue and works from that down to
.he culprit. Scotland Yard finds it
more simple, as a rule, to run down
its man by many apparently discon-
nected facts, brought to light by many
men, leading in the same direction.
Thus 1 have to introduce another
character, a slim. boyish young man.
detective of the Y division, named
William Burrell. For month or two
before the murder he had been keep
ing an eye on one Albert Nilsson,
Shiny crook with a bad record, who
lived at Southam street, in Burrelfs
district. Now Nilsson had been much
in company with Henry Fowler, a
convict on license-a big. immensely
strong scoundrel, likely to stick at
very little. SO when Burrell recalled
that he had not seen either of them
from two days preceding the murder
till two days afterward. when both of
them were differently dressed, he be-
gan to think hard.
He reported the matter and was
told to look into it. There was then
no special reason for suspecting the
Evening star., 1927-10-23

fred II. Gawler, Joseph Hamacher,
John r. Wright. William GatZendan-
ner, Joseph E. Tucker, Thomas Dowl
ing, Parker Fl. Sweet Andrew j. Bor.
land. John c. c Whaley.'
The Unconditional Union men were
active in District politics i'm May, 1863
and the Unconditionals nominated can
didates in each ward for the boards OF
alderman and common council. The
Star. May IA. 1863. had this account
of the convention in the seventh ward
Unconditional Union meeting in the
seventh ward: Pursuant to call. the
Unconditional Men of the seventh
ward assembled at Island Hall last
night for the purpose of nominating
candidates for the board of aldermen
and common council Mr.. Thomas f.
Lloyd was unanimously nominated as
candidate for alderman and nomina
tions of candidates for councilmen
were entered on. The names of O.
Boswell, Jonas B. Ellis. Charles VIII
son, j. p. Headley, William Wise,
George Hepburn, Charles c. Anderson
and Crosby 8. Noyes We're presented
Messrs Boswell. Anderson and Head.
ley declined. The vote being taken,
43 ballots were cast as follows: Wilson
80: Moves, 3S; Ellis. %; Wise. II; Hep.
burn, Messrs. Wilson. Moves and
Ellis were declared the nominees and
on motion the nominations were made
unanimous"
\ II 4 \
THE year 1863 was war-boom year
III Washington and prices were
high. Real estate transfers were nu.
merous and in The Star. May 15, 1868,
was this:
Sales Of real estate by Mcclure &
Co.--The property at the corner of
Pennsylvania avenue and Madison
place has been sold to Sykes and Chad.
wick for $4,000, or $2.o5 per square
foot. Lot on Twelfth street between
u and +, 10 Fl. Grossmayer at S1h
cents per square foot: frame house and
lot on same street known as the resi-
dence of the late Charles r. King,
to same purchaser. for $6,500; brick
building and lot adjoining, known as
Kings Gallery. to Charles Kloman,
for $3.50; brick dwelling and house
next adjoining to J. b. Clagett for
$4,000: brick dwelling and lot on F
street. between Eleventh and Twelfth,
tn Andrew J. Joyce. for $4.a50: vacant
lot on east to w. G. Metzerott for
:1.20 per square foot"
II you would like to take a chance
on reading the following advertise
ments on May. 1868, give permission;
Just opened, beautiful assortment
Of straw hats. togethfr with new styles
Evening star., 1927-10-23

coachmaker, 374 and 377 Eighth
street"
Watches, jewelry, silver and plated
ware. fancy goods, etc. NJ. w. Gait
& Bro. jewelers.. 354 Pennsylvania
avenue. near Metropolitan Hotel"
Garden seeds of all kinds. J. P.
Bartholow, Agricultural Warehouse.
55S Seventh street, below Pennsylvania
avenue"
Five or six gentlemen can be ac-
commodated with table board at 400
Fifth street. between r and G.. $3.50
per week"
steamship Great Eastern, Walter
Patton, commander, will leave Liver
pool on her first trip during the pres
ent month and will continue to run
regularly during the season. Early
notice will be given of dates of de-
parture. First cabin. $95 to $l35; Sec
ond cabin, $40. Excursion ticket out
and back. one fare and a half. Third
cabin, $50: steerage, $50. All fares pay,
able in gold Or it's equivalent in U.
currency"
Among the news of May 2. 1868, was:
Block houses are to be erected along
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad to
guard the bridges and viaducts."
They were playing billiards in 1868
The following was in The Star, May g:
"Billards-A splendid display of this
beautiful game will take place at
Geary's tlate Hamln) rooms. corner Of
Ninth and ID this evening at 712
o'clock. John Deery, the eXtraordi
nary young champion player. will exc
cute the mare" and other difficult
shots, assisted by Mr. Geary."
Lecture, May 3. 1862: REV. F. f.
Boyle, at Odd Fellows Hall, Seventh
street. tor the benefit of Providence
Hospital, Second street east, in charge
of Sisters of Charity. Subject. The
Monke
The picnic season was opening in
mid-May and on May Is. 1868, was ad-
vertised; "A grand social entertain.
ment at Beckert's Garden Of. A. Beck.
ert) near the Navy Yard" There was
also to be a Grand picnic at Green's
Spring" and the announcement said.
Stages will run from the Georgetown
Market"
saw the following marriage notes:
Henry Howlet and Miss Jane f..
Pywell May z: Francis j. McNally
and Miss Annie s, Burns. both of
Alexandria. May II; Capt. Henry W.
Smith, u. s. A., to Miss Virginia
Gadsby. daughter of Maj. j. HI. Nc
Blair of this city"
~ -
THE reckless driver is not new. This
: was In The Star, May 4, 1853.
"Reckless driying-A reckless driver
Evening star., 1927-10-23

-o4N WILKES BOOTH. who
ased the Washington Theater,
corner of Eleventh and c, in
Anril 1864. probably the last
week of that month, remained
,.ssee until Nav 9. 1853. His name dis
snneared on that date from The Star
advertisements Of the theater. Inc
washington Theater was without a
play from Monday. May il, 1893, tlli
Monday, May IS. 1868. On the latter
date "Cncle Toms Cabin" was put on
The advertisement ran: washington
'Theater-Harriet Beecher Stoves sub
fine work of Uncle Toms Cabin. Pro-
d,,ced at the earnest request Of many
citizens" During the week Saturday.
Nav 2. to Saturday. May 9. 1858.
Booth played tie parts Of Fahien and
Iouis del Franch in the great
French supernatural drama of the
Corsican Brothers"
At Growers Theater Edwin Adams
who seems to have been ambitious
pIavad "Richard III" which Booth had
nIaved the week before at the Wash
inrton. Booths advertisement saying:
..J Wilkes Booth as the Duke OF
(;loster. in which he stands without
an equal" Edwin Adams may have
been a member of Growers stock com
many. Those VINO played with MN
we're members Of that company.
susan Denim was Queen Elizabeth. J.
AZ Ward was Richmond, and Mary
THOMPSON was Lady Ann. Susan Den
in. Ward and Mary Thompson hadplay-
ed with Booth in Richard III" when
Booth first appeared in Washington
which was at Growers Theater--
Anril ii. 1863 At the close of Edwin
Adams Richard ILL.," the farce was
''Toodles," played by Dan Setchell OF
Growers company. "Toodies" was a
famous character OF John Sleeper
Clarke's and Mr.. Clarke played it at
the Washington Theater two or three
weeks before Setchell played it at
C,rover's. That Growers Theater put
ON "Richard III" the week after Booth
played it DIT the Washington, and
.Toodles" two or three weeks after
John S. Clarke played it at the Wash
fngton shows that Growers Theater-
mana ged by Leonard Grover--was not
overlooking chances TO increase its in
come. Uncle Toms Cabin" as you
read a few lines above, was put on
eat the earnest request Of many citi.
zens." II that request was made. 1t
may have led to John Wilkes Booth S
withdrawal as lessee of the Washing
ton.
Let me lead your memory to two
famous troupes-the Swiss Bell Ring
Evening star., 1927-10-23

on Saturday afternoon came very near
injuring Mrs. A. r. Shepherd as she
was crossing the Avenue. Nothing
saved her but her self-possession and
courage in seizing the reins and check
ing the horse. The driver was arrest
ed and fined"
Here is note of May 4, 1868, which
ought TO stir the memory of many
white-haired young fellows in South
Washington and some of them may
tnink it worth the price of the Sun
day paper: "John s. Gallagher has
been appointed to $1,000 clerkship
in the Quartermaster Generals Office"
May IL, 1868: u. Madison Cults,
second comptroller of the Treasury,
died at his residence, corner of l.
street and New Jersey avenue, this
morning in the 58th year of his age.
MIR. Cults was the father-in-law of
the late Senator Douglas"
Affairs at Rockville: "At the sale
on the 30th ult tApril, 1859 of the
real and personal property of Benja.
min F.. Middleton, the Home Farm
consisting of 275 acres, brought s43
per acre, Alpheus Middleton, Esq,
purchaser. The negroes sold at re-
markably low prices;s Is were sold
Evening star., 1927-10-23

eRemhs

head of the criminal investigation de.
partment,
The tall, genial assistant commits.
sioner stirred his coffee slowly. 1t was
his habit to entertain his chief subor.
dinates at his home on occasion. One
kept more intimate touch with them
over a dinner table than across a cold
official desk.
"Old Smith was murdered some.
| thing more than a month ago" he oh
| served. rather as a man making idle
| conversation.
Marshall nodded. He understood the
unspoken question.
Il hope to have something definite
soon. We're on a red.hot trail. A fl0
note has been paid into the Bank of
England. That note was taken from
the dead mans safe. If we can trace
that hack, we shall get close to the
murderer. or murderers. Nutkins and
will he busy on that first thing in
the morning.
Macnaghten pushed liqueur closer
TO his guest.
"And if that fails?''
81 don't think it will. sir" The
chief inspector Stroked his neat heard.
There's another thinG--an anonN.
nous letter. But I'm not inclined To
waste time on it just now We get
scores of these things"
He pushed over Il dirty half sheet Of
notepaper. Scrawled across il in oh
viously disguised handwriting was a
message TO this effect:
'Why don't YOU look up the kid in
Southam street who has lost toy@"
You don't think that there is any
thing in it,"
Il don't say that, sir" Marshall
that the odds are on the other chance
If that fails, we will look into this
The other offered no comment--he
knew his man. Marshall had spent
lifetime in the criminal investigation
department. and he had all the tradi-
tional qualities of the Scotland Yard
man. Behind that serene face, the
stern jaw masked by a spruce beard,
there lurked a fierce, tireless energy,
a subtlety, bulldog tenacity of pur.
pose. Henry Marshall was as relent-
less as fate itself when he took the
warpath. There was not the f1imsiest
trifle that would escape his determined
scrutiny.
There IS a paragraph in a hook by
Arthur Train in which he sketches the
attributes. real and imaginary. of the
American detective.
Incidentally. he says. "they one
and all take off their hats to Scotland
Yard. They will tell you that the Eng.
Eshman may be slow (fancy an Amer.
lean inspector of police wearing gray
suede gloves and brewing himself a
dish of tea in his Office at o'clockl.
but that once he goes after a crook
he is bound to get hint is merely
question of time"
That parenthesis tickled me. I
thought of Marshall, of Wensey. of
Neil, of Ward. of. many others ! have
known. Somehow gray suede gloves
and the brewing of tea are things
with which | never associated them.
There are no doubt men at Scotland
Yard, as at Mulberry street. who do
wear gray suede gloves. land look as
If they were used to them. But I do
doubt If there is any exceptional crav
ing for tea at Scotland Yard.
Certainly Henry Marshall took his
gloves off when he started after a
crook. His record of success in this
direction was almost unbroken. But |
now he was up against the most baf !
fling case of his career.
Already he had spent four weary |
weeks without result. 1t all began in
this way: In big. lonely house at
MuSWelI Hill. in North LoudOn-Mus- [
Evening star., 1927-10-23

ers and Mrs. John Drew's Arch Street
Philadelphia) Theater. The following
advertisement was in The "tnr. Nav >.
1868: Wizards Hall-First appear
ance May 4th in Washington
years of the world renowned Peake
Family. Swiss Bell Ringers. of Twelve
Members. The entire company viii ap.
pear in Swiss costumes. Two hun.
dred and forty Silver Bells. The Won.
ders of the Age. La Petite Lizette.
Master Eddie. Master Frank will ap.
pear in connection with the entire
company. G. G. Chase. business
agent"
The bells rang at Wizards Hall for
six or seven weeks and | think that
all in Washington who were children
or parents, or neither. heard the 240
silver bells.
This advertisement IL from The Star
Evening star., 1927-10-23

well Lodge-lived an old retired engi-
neer. Henry Smith. reputed by local
gossip to be miser, but in reality
harmless old man, interested only in
his garden, and with a great fondness
for childi en-. His sole servant was a
gardener, who left every evening after
setting certain burglar traps about the
grounds. Thus old Smith was alone
each night.
X X
EARLY one February morning a
white-faced, gasping man broke
from the gate of Musweil Lodge at a