davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-06-18

Mr.. Brown was strangled
badly by the rope. He was
found by police after they had
been notified by Mrs. Brown
Of his failure to return from
the Adolphus hotel, where he
supplements his ministerial
earnings by serving as bag
gage clerk,
Il work at the hotel every night
until II o'clock" Mr.. Brown said
today. Last night I took the bus
for my home as usual. When got
off, across the street from the
church and started to walk to my
home, a few hundred yards away, q,
man ran up to me and said If you
run I'll shoot you dead
Halted by Gunman
He had big nickel-plated pistol
in his hand and a handkerchief
-. 60: IS face. He made me go with
tza - the secluslon of a deep
Stow beside the church building.
Then he pushed me through one
Of the windows into the basement.
and made me go upstairs into the
main auditorium. Three other
masked men were waiting for us.
Two of them grabbed me and
stripped off all my clothes. Another
produced a new rope.
Have you any dying request to
make'?" one asked, my first init
nation that they intended to kill
me-"
They then Topped the rope around
his neck and carried the nude
preacher to his pulpit, where he re-
NAMED suspended for four hours.
Tie Rope to Pulpit
They tossed the rope over the cell
ing and tied it to the pulpit.
Brown was hoisted two feet into
the air. Another captor brought
chair and placed it below the
preacher, just fraction Of an inch
below his toe. Brown struggled to
reach it, but could not, he said, and
the kidnapers chuckled and de-
parted
Slowly choking in the darkness,
Brown tried to reach the chair
again few minutes later and was
surprised to find that he could. The
rope had begun to stretch.
Lettering at the end of the rope,
just able to support himself with
his toes and keep from choking, he
stood there in the darkness, suffer
ing agonies at the thought of what
might be in store for him If his
strength gave way.
Mouth Is TAPPED
Strips of adhesive tape we're
plastered across his mouth before
he was hoisted into the air.
1t was less than four hours that
he hung suspended from the cell
ing, but it seemed endless as ne
waited, not knowing whether he
would be missed or not.
Wnen the preacher Jailed to come
home at his accustomed time, Mrs.
Brown became alarmed and notified
police. Inquiry at the hoteh showed
he had left as usual and then the
search led to the church. Mr..
Browns groans quickly led the po-
lice to his side.
The preacher was so exhausted
thai he was compelled to take to
his bed.
Mr.. Brown revealed he received
a threatening letter, written In per-
Gil on wrapping paper yesterday.
1t read:
Would you kill your best friend
to remain pastor at North Dallasa
This is our way Of torturing
your heart We could cut your heart
out and drink your blood and love
it."
He said that he had received
other hostile letters.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-06-18
BABY CHoKED TO DEATH
Head Caught Between Uprights of
Bed. Child Perishes.


His head caught between uprights
on the bed, Jackie Lee Jaynes, Z
weeks-old, son of Mr.. and Mrs.
Marion Jaynes, 831 Washington ave-
nue., choked to death Wednesday
afternoon.
Mrs. Jaynes told Coroner Fred
w. Vehling she had nursed the
baby at 1890, and when she re-
turned shortly after noon the child
was dead.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-06-18
PROFESSOR is KILLED

SAN FRANCISCO, June 18.-Dr.
Guido Vilvaldi, %, recently a guest
professor Of philosophy at Harvard
university, died today from injuries
suffered Wednesday in an elevator.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-06-18
GET $50,00O,000 ORDER
Glass Company Given Huge Con-

tract by General Motors.
By United Press
NEW YORK, June ia con-
tract for its glass requirements for
the next seven years, involving
more than $5O,O000OO, has been
awarded to the Libbey- Owens Ford
Glass Company by the General
Motors Corporation, it was an
nounced here today.
This order was believed to be the
largest in the history of the glass
industry.
Milford chronicle., 1931-05-15
WRITING TABLE
ONCE USED BY
GOV. WINSLOW
Milford Boy Has Thrill Of
Sitting At This Historic
Piece Of Furniture.

For several weeks we have had
on our desk an extract from q letter
written to Mr.. Shilling by Telforde
D. Hudson, a former student of Mil
ford High, which shows that some of
our students go on looking for
knowledge even after graduation.
Hudson writes very interestingly of
his impressions of historic New Eng
land, and mentions one particularly
novel custom in this extract which
we reprint.
I'VE are having our first touch of
spring in New England. Last week
1 spent several days in Plymouth on
a research trip AMI visited all the
historical collections tltre 1t was
cutie interesting, especially when
the Librarian of Pilgrim Hall infOr-
med me that 1 could spread my
work on Governor Winslow's table
as the other writing benches were
used. Plymouth is quite modern,
but in passing a barber shop on Sat
urday I noticed d roughly printed.
sign telling "All children who get
their hair cut in this shop today will
get a lolly-pop." This was rather
unusual yet 1 think it is a survival
of the DAYS of 1920
Milford chronicle., 1931-05-15
The Ditch
"Which side are you OH?"
"Tshp dumb of COURSE"

"Which side are you On?"
"Ihe dumb of course"
Such remarks one will hear if
they are around at the close of the
History period.
Perhaps this talk demands an eX-
PLANTATION. Mr.. Boston has, since
Easter, started new plan by which
a pupil makes public acknowledge
ment of the work he or she is doing
and knows where he stands.
The class is divided into two parts
the DEAD and ALIVE, BRIGHT and DUMB /;
or WET and DRY-al of which terms are
used.
Between the two sides is ditch
which some find hard to cross. Ask
some Of the pupils who have sudden
ly found themselves transferred
from the bright and wholesome
side to the D. D. D. (dard, dumb and
dreary) side.
+ Mr.. Boston gives one a chance to
redeem, himself by giving an extra
oral report if it is a worthwhile one.
This plan has been more successful
than any previous plan adopted. But
it's not so much fun for us.
Virginia Simpson
Milford chronicle., 1931-05-15
Tavern Once Stood
On Post Office Site

Once upon a time begins almost
all fairy stories, yet this .was not
One-there was on the corner where
the Post Office now is small one
and half story brick building fac
ing Walnut Street. The building
had been used as an Office for the
justices of the peace and as shoe
shop. A few steps with an iron rail-
ing led up to platform, or porch.
From the porch one stepped into the
first room which was the largest
and which led into the second. Judge
the size for yourself, the building
was said to be fourteen feet long
by eight feet wide. The half of a
story was used for nothing.
Little history is known of the
house until it was torn down at
which time a sign board, a swinging
one, was found near the roof. On one
end could be seen a crude picture of
George III on the other a man lead
ing a horse to a water trough. There
had been also lettering but it was
by then illegible. Doubtless it was
an inn during the settlement of Mil
ford. 1t is thought to have been a
resting place where people going to
divers Landing probably stopped.
After it was torn down the little
house was happy. Through its death
it had come into its own again.
-Elva Davis '32
Milford chronicle., 1931-05-15
Important Discovery

Before the practice began for
Deacon Dubbs" the other night we
were all given a free piano lesson,
the subject being SHOW Me the Way
to Go Home" in which we learned
that if we want to play snappy
songs we must have that glorious
sense of rhythm that unconsciously
makes our left hand go back and
forth. This very valuable lesson,
taught by none other than J, w:
Boston, Esq, owner of a Chevrolet,
etc, was of very short duration,
much to our great disappointment.
We understand that in order to re-
ceive another of these lessons we
must be very careful not to come
right out and ask for one, but begin
to ding-dong on the piano. When
this attempt at playing becomes so
unbearable that our new teacher
will Immediately give us a free pi-
ano lesson.
Milford chronicle., 1931-05-15
Art Correlated With
History

1881 marks the anniversary of the
settlement made in Lewes, Della
ware, in 1881 by the Dutch. With
this idea in mind, the children OF
the sixth grade decided they would
like very much to become familiar
with the early customs, dress, trans
portation and homes of their fore
fathers. This has aroused the cur
iosity and many children have done
much reference work.
Miss Shepherd, art teacher, asked
the children if they would like to
draw, free hand, a man and woman
dressed in costumes of fifty years
ago, one hundred years ago, two
hundred years ago and today. The
children began searching for ma
terial. Many pictures were collect
ed from old magazines. A Ladies'
Home Journal dated March 1909 was
brought in. Many Christmas cards
were found to contain pictures of
dress and stage coaches. Also pic
lures were found in old family al
buns. The pictures have been clas-
sified according to dates under Cos
tunes, Transportation Homes and
Miscellaneous. After organizing the
material found, the children have
drawn freehand many of the things
brought in. These are being arrang-
ed on a panel, so we can see how
differently our ancestors lived and
to show the evolution of dress,
homes and transportation.
Ten men and women drawn were
chosen to represent different per-
iods; they were cut from wood,
dressed and water-colored. To this
group of children their ancestors
have become more real and a great
amount of appreciatiVeness has been
developed.
*. Morrison 81
Milford chronicle., 1931-05-15
MAN IS
BITTEN BY A
LARGE FISH
Mr.. Boston Escapes With
Life. Took Hook Out Of
Skates Mouth.

We have often heard it said that
it is not news" when a dog bites a
man, although it is news when a
man bites a dog. But when it comes
to fish, it's a different story: for
then it is not news unless the fish
bites the man. This isn't the land
of barracudas and sharks, to be sure.
Yet Mr.. Boston is nursing a badly
mangled, or rather much bandaged
finger these days as the result of
being bitten by fish.
1t happened this way; ON Satur-
day last, Mr.. Boston and the Chief
of Berlin Fire Department hied
themselves down to the sea, some
where below Ocean City, in a ship
or probably a row boat. After
hours of patient waiting, our below
ed teacher began to pull in his line
frantically, all the while smiling
satisiedly, for there were seven or
eight pounds of fish on the end of
that line, he felt sure. But what kind
of a fish? Alas and alas! Twas
only a skate! Now for the benefft
of the uninitiated, the fish called
skate" looks for all the world like
a baby's face-so that's the reason
that our herO's soft heart was deep
ly touched $50 deeply tOuched) in
deed that he handled this fish very
gently as he took the hook from the
poor things mouth. Obviously there
is no such thing as gratitude or hon
or among fishes, however, for the
confounded (that is not the word
that Mr.. Boston used) fish bit the
hand that would free him.
When a reporter asked Mr.. Bos-
ton if he ever expected to fish
again he refused to say-but by the
greedy sparkle in his eye when some
one told him of a weekend fishing
trip in which 62 trout Zone of them
weighing 18 pounds) were caught,
we suspect that he is far from cur
ed,
Milford chronicle., 1931-05-15
Girls Have Better
Memories For Music

Several weeks ago a Music Men,
ory Contest was given by Miss Cath
cart to the pupils from the fifth to
the eighth grades. From these nine
high scorers were chosen: Gladys
Hostedler, Betty Williamson, Isa-
belle Kinks, Margaret Hammond
Marjorie Faix, Margaret Wintgen,
Alma Tease, Florence Paquette and
Beatrice Johnson.
These pupils all had made in the
first test an average of over 3l5 out
of a perfect score of $40. From this
group were selected three who had
the highest scores: Alma Tease,
Florence Paquette, Beatrice John
son, the latter having the highest
score of the three.
These went to Dover on Saturday,
April 25, to represent Milford in the
Music Memory Contest held there at
the Peoples Church. The Band and
Orchestra Contest was held at the
Dover High School while the Solo
and Ensemble Contest took place at
the Murphy Auditorium. In the af-
ternoon Mr.. Zanzig of the National
Recreation Association had charge
for a half hour and conducted a
master singing class The reading
of rewards was made by DR.. Hollo-
way. !
NIilford's representatives received
a Glass B certificate at the contest
with a rating of about third high
est score. The highest score was
made by Delmar.
p Varnav i99
Milford chronicle., 1931-05-15
Junior Class Completes
Essays This Week

Generally speaking, the Juniors
are the most carefree class in
school. Lessons worry them but lit
tie, and their motto is "Never do to-
day what you can put off till to-
morrow" Apparently they have at
last found something to worry over
though, for all week they have been
running around with long faces, or
else sitting at the reference tables
chewing pencils and gazing into
space. Why? Well, one guess. is as
good as another, but mine is that
those Junior Essays being written in
English class are responsible for
part of the commotion.
The work, outline, photography,
essay, and all, has to be completed
by May IA. What task! But at
least the class will all have the sat
isfaction of having done something
without help, for once.
Milford chronicle., 1931-05-15
Additional Award For
Eligible Athletes

AS an emblem of athletic abili-
ties, good sportsmanship, and skill
in playing sports, the Committee on
Athletics of our school have formed
an additional award to be given to
those eligible. Previous to this a
large, blue M for the sweater has
been presented after each respective
season as a token of the schools
appreciation of the services of the
different athletes. The NJ is well
suited for the purpose of show, but
the new award can be kept for years
with your souvenirs of school days.
The M will eventually wear out, be
torn up, or in some other manner
be destroyed. This years NJ stu
dents will be awarded this certifi-
cate in the near future. The new
awards are certificates about six by
eight inches with an M about one
half inch by one and half inches
embossed near the center. Also, in
old English type, there is printed
on the award the following: The
Milford High School of Milford, Del
aware; then the Nj; and then. The
Committee ON Athletics hereby
awards, (space for name) the Var
sity letter in (space for sporD for
the season (space for year,, and
then three spaces for the signatures
of the Coach, Chairman of Commit
tee on Athletics, and Principal. In
later years some of our present
sportsmen will gaze with pride on
their letter certificates.
Gerald Wilson '32
Milford chronicle., 1931-05-15
THE MARSHALL
HOUSE ON NORTH
FRONT STREET
Has Been Inn, Parsonage,
Bank And Doctors
Office.

There is a gray brick house on
North Front Street, house of med
ical aid with a history dating back
to 1911. 1t is thought to have been
built by Colonel Thomas Peterkin,
whose sister Polly was said to have
been given poison in coffee by her
husband, James Webb. When she
realized that she was dying, she
went to a window in the front OF the
house and called for help. Her hus-
band, who had fed, was captured,
tried, and found not guilty due to
the lack of evidence.
The house or a part of it, has
been used for most everything
home, an inn, parsonage, a bank,
and lastly a doctors Office. While it
was a hotel a funny attempt was
made by a man who had been gamb-
ling and who perhaps was a little
drunk, to commit suicide. After leaY-
ing the hotel, the man walked to the
Tub-mill and stuck his head in the
water. Hardly had he done so when
a man started to save him. The man
from the hotel saw him coming,
pulled out of his own pocket big
brass key and pointed it at his res
cuer. The rescuer in spite of the
mans attempts and use of his key
gun saved him.
John NJ. Clayton once lived in the
house. Probably everyone has heard
or read that the money from his
first law cases he gave to his mo-
ther. 1t was in the dining-room of
this house that the incident occur
red. His mother was seated beside
the fireplace when John came in and
put the money into her lap. She
looked at the money and then ask
ed, John, did you get that honest?
The front room on the west side
of this building was used for years
as a bank, the Office of Discount and
Deposit of the Bank of Smyrna. Pc
ter Coverly, the heir and nephew of
Reverend Thorne, was the banks
first local director. The directors
and cashiers changed several times
before the father of Mrs. Marshall,
DR.. George w. Marshall, bought the
house for her. Of course, the house
had to be remodeled, the vault had
to be torn out, kitchen built, the
floors fixed, and many other things
done
While removing the vault, the
floor was dug up. Underneath, the
workman found lot of money that
had gone through the cracks of the
floor.
During Mrs. Marshall's visit in
Washington shortly after the house
had come into her possession she
fell in love with the White House
floor. Today you will find the same
pattern in her hall, liVing-room and
The house sarted out to be house
connected with death. Two other
stories are told: One of man who
lived in the house, when part was
a bank, who drowned himself; and
the other of the murder of a color
ed baby by his mother in the base
ment which was then the kitchen.
But today it has turned into house
of hope and comfort.
-Elva Davis 'S2
Milford chronicle., 1931-05-15
MASTER BILLY
TELLS OF AUNT
PATTY CANNON
That Story By Gath Is
RetOld by Children Who
Live In Tavern.

There is a book which every good
Delawarean should read, book not
now in publication-The Entailed
Hat-by Judge George Alfred Town
send, Cath" This man lived some
years ago at his home, Gapland, Ov-
erlooking Harper's Ferry, and wrote
his Tales of the Chesapeake,
katy of Catoetin," and "The En-
tailed Hat" He began his career as
journalist and during the Civil
War was a correspondent for num-
ber of New York papers. Later at
Capland he erected a memorial to
the War Correspondents, the only
one in the United States. Now it
stands in Champions Gap, after be-
ing given to the government by the
builders. People still remember
"Gath's" wine cellars, his entertain
ments, his kindness, and his good
ness.
1t is interesting to note how he
came to write "The Entailed Hat. "
The introduction to that book says
that the author went to Snow Hill
once and, in looking over an old
book of wills, found this provision
in the will of one of his ancestors:
81 give and bequeath to my son,
Ralph Milbourn, my best hat, to
him, to him and his assignees for
ever, and no more of my estate. "
From this source came the idea for
the story. When it was started the
writer let his fancy run away with
him and he also told the tale of Pat
ty Cannon, her kidnapping and her
death in Georgetown, where he him
self was born. And so we have the
book, the story of Vesta Custis who
married Meshach Millburn, the man
with the Entailed Hat, together with
the story of old Aunt Patty Cannon
and her blood-curdling deeds.
Today Johnson's Tavern, her old
hide-out, still stands. When inter
ested visitors go there they are met
by little girl and boy, who live in
that house. The girl does not say
very much, but the boy, when mo-
ther and father are at church, any
how, is smiling information bur-
eau. Little Billy Smith will tell
you that the house has been remOd-
eled twice, but that some of the old
floor boards still remain. He says
once he looked under the house
(there is no cellar) and saw some
bricks on piles Of dirt. He thinks it
must be Patty Cannon's treasure but
he isn't going to try to find it. The
nj hnnn ha from
the Delaware line where it original
ly stood, and on account of its mod
erniZatiOn has lost some of the his
torical interest it should have. Still,
it is a quaint old place with breath
of the past clinging to it. Billy says
he was never afraid of the old house
even in the dark. "Cause," says
he, "Old Patty Cannon is buried in
Georgetown anyhow" But his sister
gave him away when she said he
would not go up into the dark attic
for his father.
Both the children said that their
grandmother used to come to Patty
Cannon's for water or stronger
drinks. The old woman never said
a harsh word to her and always
treated her very kindly. This is diff
ferent from most stories that are
told, and perhaps there are more
like it waiting to be discovered and
told as "Gath" does in his "Entailed
Hat" and as little Billy does to tour
lists (who, he says, pay him quar-
teri.
-AJica Rrana
Milford chronicle., 1931-05-15
High Scorers In The
Music Memory Contest

Although only three were sent to
Dover to contest for Music Memory
Honors, any number of our boys and
girls have done very creditable
work. So we are reprinting here
the five highest scorers from each
class in the preliminary contest
which Miss Cathcart held:
Grade V-MiSS Watson
Wilmer Lankford, Florence Tease,
Jean Mulholland, Barbara Marshall,
Howard Wilkins.
Grade V-Mrs. Blades
Marjorie FaiX, Mildred Emory
Alice Harrington, Eliza James, Ken
meth Clendaniel.
Grade YI-MiSs Kitchens
Alma Tease, Beatrice Johnson,
Betty Williamson, Margaret Wintjen,
Florence Paquette.
Grade VI-MrS. Rogers
Isabelle Kinks, Margaret Ham
mOnd, Gladys Hostedler, Edna Fav-
niger, Vivian Hammond.
Grade VII-MrS. Russell
Betty Hammond, Elizabeth Lynch,
Georgia GOVatos, Viola Jester, Sara
Nutter.
Grade VII-MrS. NemeSh
Clara Webb, Marian Wilkerson,
Charles Robinson, Cornelia Pierce,
Marie Stille.
Grade YH-Mr. McGiHneS
Mabella Draper, Kitty Clements,
Charles Breme, Alice Beebe, AL
Denney.
Grade VILI-MrS. Harrington
Vivian Shute, Dorothy Joseph,
Virginia SOckrider, Mary Jane Var
ney, Theodore Townsend.
Grade PIL-MrS. WaterhOHSe
Ruth Holzmueller, Madeline Da-
Wis, Mary Harris, Mary Clifton. Bur
Milford chronicle., 1931-05-15
ELIZABETH JAMES
SEES MAY DAY AT
RANDOLPH-MACON
Didn't Know There We're
So Many Pretty Girls.
Miss Kinder Was Along.

Thursday evening, April 80, Miss
Mary Kinder and Elizabeth James
started for Randolph-MacOn College,
Lynchburg, Virginia. Miss Kinder is
a former graduate of that college
and Elizabeth is a Senior who is
thinking mighty seriously about go
ing there. Miss Kinder thought that
May Day would be a nice time to
take Elizabeth to see the college and
20 back once more herself.
The first thing that happened
which excited them very much was
the losing of EliZabeth's coat. When
they got on the Pullman, she discoV-
cred that her coat was missing.
They rushed madly back to the sta
tion and to their relief found the
coat where they had last been. They
arrived in Lynchburg Friday morn
ing without any more mishaps.
The Randolp-Macon campus was
at the height of its beauty with the
Wisteria hanging in full bloom over
the college buildings. The trees were
aTtistically scattered over the cam
pus. They visited the college build
1ngS fflQay dIIeIHOOu.
On. Friday evening minstrel
show was presented by the staff of
the college paper, "Old Maid" with
the help of other college students. In
this show the students were privil-
eyed to throw slams at the profess
sors, and they surely did their share,
dressing and acting as the different
professors.
Saturday was May Day, although
it wasn't so. pretty as some May
Days. Every year May Day at this
college is presented in different
and unique way. This year it was
presented with Washington Irving's
story. rip Van Winkle." The
"Maids of Court" who were dressed
in deep orange, light orange and yell
low, were guests of Washington Irv-
ing and were received by his men
friends. The beautiful brunette maid
ofshonor then entered in light blue
dress and was Immediately followed
BY the blonde May Queen, who was
dressed in a long ivory satin dress.
Then the drama RIP Van Wrinkle"
was presented. All the characters
in this drama were well taken by the
girls of the college. The background
and setting for the May Day was a
natural and picturesque one, being
part of the campus.
That evening Elizabeth and Miss
Kinder went to the movies. They
left there early Sunday morning
and arrived home in the evening.
~. Margaret Ann Clements