davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-04-25
BvTerry McShane mmnunuuurrrunn'nnuurnr

figure separated itself from the
deep shadows, crosse the
ghostly, moon-drenched ranch
yard and made directly for the
back Of the toolShed.
Silently Mcpherson crawled
closer until he recognized Mrs.
Combs working feverishly TO
loosen a board with a small tool!
She finally pried il loose, alb
stracted something and then be-
gan a soft, patient tapping 10
nail the board back again. She
yose. peered around carefully
and slipped away in the direction
from which she had come.
In the morning the sheriff
made it known that the search
would be abandoned.
Because the gun was new, the
Colt Manufacturing Co. was
contacted by phone; they looked
up the number and quickly sup
piled the information that 1t had
been consigned TO a hardware
concern in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
But before making the trip 10
Cheyenne the sheriff checked
with Bert Sewer by phone and
asked him if Combs had men,
toned Cheyenne when telling OF
his trip from Illinois.
The ranch manager recalled
his employer saying that they
stayed overnight in that city.
In Cheyenne, the hardware
dealer remembered selling that
particular gun 10 a woman.
The description given Of the
purchaser tailed with that OF
Mrs. Combs!
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-04-25
Checks With Illinois

THE sheriff was now of the
opinion that If Mrs. Combs
killed her husband so soon after
their arrival at the ranch some-
thing must have happened back
in Illinois TO make his death
necessary TO her.
Following this bunch he took
a train for Nokomis where he
interviewed friends and acquaint-
anccS OF the Combs couple.
lie learned that-the comcly
Mrs Combs had offered the fam
lily physician of a friend $1,000
10 pass her husband through an
insurance medical examination
in spite Of his lung condition.
The doctor. Of course. refused.
but the Sherin's informant be-
lievcd that the determined wife
had somehow succeeded in get
ting the insurance she was after.
1t was relatively simple mat
ter after that 10 check with the
insurance agencies in town and
learn that the widow was the
beneficiary Of $4,000 policy
with double indemnity clause IN
case OF violent death
Here was the murder motive
Mrs. Coombs stood 20 collect
GAl ILlI
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-04-25

ere Of the Donncr party steve
Kearny. the Oregon trail the
California Trail, and "a superb
chapter on that crrant-hohCmian
mouldcr of so many OF @T folk
figures and songs - Stephen
Foster.
But how can I lin my limited
snacc-tcu YOU more of this
>.unnlnlly fine book ? Let Mr..
De Nolo tell you what II means;
This book tells the story of
some people nho went west in
1916. Its purpose i 90 tell that
story in such way that the
reader may realize the far
western frontier experience,
which il part of our cultural i'm
hpritanCc, a. personal expert
ence. But 1916 il chosen rather
than other wears because 1886
best dramatilcs personal expert
cncc NJ national experience.
Most at our characters are ordi-
nary people, the unrcmarkahle
cpmmoncrs Of the young de-
mocracN Their story. however,
is e decisive part OF a decisive
turn in the history of the United
States"
$50 Americans education .-
complete without "Iua Years ol
Decision. 1916
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-04-25
Begins stieation

MCPHERSON then ordered the
Ava ranch premises cleared for
a few days so that he could
make an undiSturbed invcstiga-
ton. The rancherS and the chill
dren left for Campbell, 10 miles
distant, and Coroner Hall re-
moved the body to Rawlings for
autopsy.
The sheriff believed that the
missing gun was the key TO the
mystery and he began a systc-
matte search Of the house for it.
The next morning the gun was
found hidden in a Toulouse, 30
feet to the rear of the house.
lie Immediately recognized it
as brand new Colt .3S Special,
ana a sniff of the barrel told him
it had been recently fired.
The sheriff considered long
before taking his next step.
Then he took his own revolver
from his pocket, emptied it and
placed it neatly into the dirt
mold that had held the other
weapon. He carefully nailed the
board back into place and left.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-04-25
Secrets on CagneY

IBID you know that Jim
II Cagney was once a bundle-
wrapper at Wanamakcr's? Lin
coin KRISTEN says his sex
appeal is due TO his humping
girls in the jaw. his anarchy
and his suggested "sadism.'
Some Of this | take il, will be
news TO Cagncy but there's
something IN H. nevertheless.
Pierre Van PaaSSen, speaking
of objective writing, says, Il
>pCw il out. il you want 90 be
sincere YOU must be- partial. -
That technique makes a poor re-
porter but a good propaganda
or statesman "
Bruno Frank, a close friend
Of Thomas Mann the writer
Cwho said when he landed in
the L. s. a.. Where l am there
is GcrmanyiD, says in the long
article on this cargo-carrier Of
the Vaterland that this man
bears upon his thin shoulders
the entire weight Of the German
style This Sstyle' is the mud
diest in the world. Mr.. Mann
seems in his books to live up TO
his weight
Many pages are devoted 10
Hitler. King George Henry
Kaiser. King GuStavc of Sweden.
General Montgomery twho likes
his hats covered with badgcSl
and scores of other notablcS, all
presented m a manner that viii
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-04-25

BERNARD DeVOTO hurls
- himself into American his
tory like a hungry man sitting
down 10 a Lucullan feast lie
smacks his lips. He lickS his
chops. He guzzles. Which makes
him, for me. one of the two best
writers of American history
practcing today the other be-
ing Howard Fast. whose book.
Citizen Tom Paine - ! await
with the same Zcst that Devote
tackles President Polk. the McN-
lean War the great western
tricks, Indian battles and eNpcdi-
tons that built up the West and
that gave US Texas. California.
New Mexico. Oregon Utah and
other bits Of real estate.
The Year Of Decision. 1876
(Little Brown is a tremendous
piece Of work. II narratos in
DeNotO's live. vital style. the
progress Of that imperia'I-tr
America that began with Jo,-
ferSon's purchase ot LoulsIaHa
Devote ls no pacifiSt coz S,n'-
mentalISt Hes q TcaIsf II. -
a believer i'm the destiny az
America come hell and high
water. lie believes that all Wp
have done uD matter how
shady II seemed at the fm.
was done for the ultimate good
not only OF the American people
but. indirectly for Tho good o'
the human race. Il second that
mOfiOnl
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-04-25
Tells Of Finding Weapon

WITH this highly interesting
w information. Mcpherson re-
turned 10 Rawlings and submit
ted his evidence TO a. r.
McMiCkcn, Carbon County at
torney. who in turn Swore out
murder warrant. Armed with
this instrument tho sheriff drove
out TO the Combs ranch. 10
which the family had returned
in the meantime. and took the
pretty, but indignant widow
into custody
As they drove 10 Rawlings, the
officer pretended 20 search his
pockets -- finally he asked Mrs.
Combs for a cigarct and she re-
luctantly supplied one.
After a few drags he asked
her casually what she did with
his gun. Although the question
was put softly. almost banter
ingly. the woman intuitivcly
knew that something had gone
wrong. White-lipped she turned
her large, dark eyes on the
officer
what do you mean-your
gum"
The officer related how he
had found the wcapon-the one
she had purchased in Cheyenne
under the name of Burke
behind the board of the tool
shed; how he substituted his
own and later watched her re-
move il in the night.
Finally he informed the cha
grined. creStfallen woman that
he had traced her insurance ac-
tivitieS in Illinois. and that he
knew Of her attempt TO bride a
respectable physician.
The woman was quiet for a
long while-then she turned TO
her nemesis
What 1 don't understand Is
how YOU could ever dream that
] had anything 10 do with the
death of my husbandw
THAT was easy" smiled Nc
Il iltl SUI, NoDOuN nut NoinhH
would think of emptying an
ashtray on the ground like that.
"Your husband smoked only
pipe-you're the one who
used that ashtray and usually
emptied II. You see, all those
butts were Of the same brand
as the one you gave me n min
ute ago"
From then on the widow sat
in furious silence.
. After seeing his prisoner
locked in cell, the sheriff
delved deeper into her past and
dug up the fact that she had
been married four times.
on Jan. 5, 1935-two days be-
fore she was scheduled TO 60 on
trial-Hazel Combs managed 10
hang herself from the bars II
her cell by an electric iron cord.
a. IN N
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-04-25
IN THE REALM OF BOOKS

sphere that, it seems TO me. is
somewhat remote now. The
characters are well DONE as
Henry James used to say.
Mr.. Aldanov, who now lives
here and who is fanfared as
Russia'S greatest nen-BolsheviSt
writer. has a real gift for satire
and vividneSS. lie is even cpical,
but not in the grand manner.
lie says that in spite of my
anti-bOlSheviSm | portrayed in
dividual BolShcvikS as impair
TALLY as l portrayed other
characters. l am concerned
only with artistic truth. That
is. a perfectly correct attitude
toward ones art in normal
times. but how a novelist or a
writer OF any kind today can be
impartial and talk of artistic
truth is beyond my compre-
hcnsion. But Mr.. Aldanov has
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-04-25
A Biography
I(CURRENT BIOGR

VCURRENT BIOGRAPHY for
~ 1912. published by II. w.
Wilson & Co. OF New York, con-
tainS the lives. sailed with anec-
doteS and sound critical eSti-
mates. of all the men and women
in politics. literature and war
activities Of the time.
Did you know, for instance,
that Damon Runyon has written
100000 words, that he made
a half million dollars writing
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-04-25
By Benjamin De Casseres

about the characters on the
Broadway block between Fiftieth
and Fifty-frSt streets, and that
he prefers the air of jarnts TO
the open air ?
Did you know that the "di-
vine Emperor Hirohito of Japan
owns the whole of Japan and
that he writes pacifiSt poetry?
Did you know that Gen. Els
cnhowcr is lonely in Africa,
that he wants 10 be home in
Texas and gather al the cafe
with the gang and that he
plays poker on a scientific
system?
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-04-25
Tells About Drive

eve STAYED up late last
W night" began Sewer, las
we usually do on the first day
the COmbses arrive, and Mr..
Combs was telling us about his
drive here from Nokomis, Ill.
about II o'clock he said he
was going down TO Joe's shack
TO discuss some haying we were
supposed to work at this morn
ing. 1t was Joe who found the
body"
The sheriff directed his attcn-
ton TO the old man
Ibid YOU see MIR. Combs last
night:" he asked the hired
hand.
"No, sir. Nobody came near
my shack-Fm sure OF that be-
cause I've got a good watchdog
and, besides, I'm light sleeper"
How did you discover the
body ."
II came up this road TO 20 TO
the house for some breakfast
when 1 saw the car--and the
boss in it,"
Mrs. Combs was now suf-
fciently recovered to resume
her account.
did your husband have any
enemies, Mrs. Combs ." the
sheriff asked. Either here or
back home ?"
mo. He was easy 10 get along
with and he made friends every
where"
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-04-25
Devote Turns
10 History


succeeded. Standing on his "ar-
tistic' podium, he has worked
up a really grand symphony of
romantic and realistic chatter
spiced with adventure, sex mat
tiers and intrigue.
If YOU like long-winded, lit
crate Russian books, The Fifth
Seal is your dish.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-04-25
Men Of Roaring 4o's

TIVE epical men Of The Roar
Il ing 40'S'-a decade that made
this America OF ours a great
ocean-to-OCean. Ontln en TIA j
power-whTl Through DeNotos
538 pages-PFesident Polk Zach
airy Taylor, John G. Fremont In
particular.
De Noto leaps from orr great
event 10 another and then pranc-
inCly baCk-trackS-thc fight of
the Moruons Francis Parkman
The historian IA fine fu.i-lengih
portrait. as arc tho portraits of
Polk and, Fremont. The mas d-
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-04-25
Finds Ciqaret Butts

WINE Coroner Hall busted
W himself with the body, the
sheriff looked around the car
and found five cigaret butts on
the ground alongside the driy-
er's window.
The stubs somehow interested
him, and as he slowed them into
an envelope he noticed that they
were of a popular brand-but Of
more significance TO him was the
fact that they were extremely
dry. This seemed to give him an
idea.
He walked around to the other
side of the car, pulled out a little
ashtray drawer from the right
side of the dashboard, and
grunted when he found it
empty-it seemed TO be just
what he had expected.
"Those cigaret stubs" he con-
fided 10 the coroner later, lin
dicated that this was crime
that had been well planned and
carefully executed. The killer
was i'm some kind of hurry to
shoot Combs and then beat IL
away fast-but he arranged to
give the opposite effect by
planting the five cigarets so as
to imply that some one was
with Combs for a long time"
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-04-25
Widow Grief Stricken

TURNING to the S o b bling
widow, Mcpherson asked her
to relate what had occurred. In
a grief stricken voice the ex-
trcmcly attractive Hazel Combs
tried to give the sheriff the in
formation he desired.
Then she buried her head on
the shoulder Of an old lady who
stood lowering beside her.
Mcpherson looked question:
ingly at a stalwart, handsome
young man who introduced HIM
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-04-25
Goes on Pilgrimage

DECEASED, Monkey goes on
IL a pilgrimage TO India with a
priest sent by the Emperor Of
China TO fetch the scriptures.
BY his wits and his magic, in
GLIDING a cudgel which he can
reduce 10 the size of a needle
and carry behind his ear, he
subducS dragons, ogres, and de-
mons. He does so well that at
last he becomes a saint himself,
renamed "Buddha Victorious in
Strife"
Copyright 1913. by King Features
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-04-25
TRUE DETECTIVE STORY
lHllnlnIElllllllllllllllllllllllllHullllIllllll

OF TIE four adults on the
" vast Wyoming ranch, Sheriff
John Mcpherson was certain
that one had murde red the
owner, Sewell Stanley Combs.
former city attorney of the oil
town of Casper. Under the cir
cumstances, with only four sus-
poets, it would appear to be an
open and shut case-but -.
Sheriff Mcpherson and Cor
oner Alget Hall had arrived at
the Combs ranch at 10 o'clock
on the sunny morning of June
Il, 1884, after streaking 80
miles across the western plains
from Rawlings.
Neighbors at the ranch house
directed them half mile down
a prairie road where a grief
stricken group huddled beside a
car. Hazel Combs, a slim, beau
tiful woman who belied her 40
years, ran to greet the officers:
ooh, I'm so glad you're here!
This is no SUI c e, sheriff, il
couldn't be! Stan wouldn't kill
himself - he wasn't that kind.
Somebody murdered my hus-
band, eriff-h he was muir
dered!"
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-04-25

self as Bert Sewer, the ranch
manager.
Sewer took up the story after
explaining that the old lady was
his mother. who was taking care
of two young grandchildren, his
nieccs. And he introduced Joe
Ludwitz. the fourth living adult
member Of the ranch. Joe was a
humble, toilworn old man who
each summer helped on the
ranch and slept in a shack down
by the creek, a quarter of a mile
from the scene of the tragedy.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-04-25
Calls for Volunteers

LIE drove four miles TO a
ranch that had a telephone
and called Rawlings for p VOL
unteers to come out to search
the Combs ranch for a revolver.
This ruSe counted on party
line listeners getting the news
around and thereby worrying
the killer into making a tell
tale move.
When the posse arrived, Nc
Pherson dispatched a deputy
with the found weapon to Boul-
der City. Then he assigned two
men to hide in the brush and
watch for any one around the
Toulouse. while the others were
organized into searching parties
20 operate in the vicinity Of the
ranch house.
The wait was short. A slight
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-04-25

keep you up till the milk bottle
clinks on the tiles outside your
door.
Detroit evening times., 1943-08-27
GIT ACTIVE DUTY

AnNERTIStMN-NT
Detroit evening times., 1943-08-27

Pvt. Jack SCharr. 703 Putnam.
former Times branch manager.
also IS home on furlouCh from the
Como, Tex, prisoner camp, where
he II Stationed.
Detroit evening times., 1943-08-27
Michigan Near Top In Draft Reflections

Negroes sent 70 induction centers
5,5i6 were rejected
While the rejection rate in
Michigan is high. state Solectlyc
service officials predict an even
higher percentage when prc-Pcarl
Harbor fathers are drafted
Detroit evening times., 1943-08-27

cent while Michigan followed
closely with 1922 or 34.3
Washington statistics revealed
that Michigan sent 224,724 men
for induction. OF this number
2l2 296 were whites, II $40 of
whom were reiected. Oh l2A2S
Detroit evening times., 1943-08-27

Michigsn's number Of men re-
iected for military service during
the last 26 months rs the second
highest in the nation. Selective
service statistics showed today
South Carolina had the largest
percentage with 2l,033 or 35.3 per
Detroit evening times., 1943-08-27

Vincent J. DiDio of the army air
corps. IS safe He previously had
been reported missing IN action.
Word OF his safety came via
friends who reported hearing Of
It IN short wave radio broadcast.
Staf sgt Bert l.. WoOdIey. f242
Commonwealth and Charles J.
NcGann. 7343 Byron. have been
awarded soldiers good conduct
medals al Camp Huien. Tex.
Word has been received by his
wife that sgt. Andrew tLarry)
kuraS. iiO2 Concord now is sta
toned somewhere IN England
Pfc Andrew Tomory. 432i To-
ledo former Detroit Times branch
manager now Is with the L. &.
forces IN Sicily. He is one Of the
rangers there.
Pvt. Jack Scharr. 7O3 Putnam
former Times branch manager.
also is home on furlouCh from the
Como, Tex, prisoner camp, where
he is stationed
PROMOTIONS
To first sergeant stan sgt.
Francis l.. schultz. 56i7 Calhoun.
Dearborn Camp Lee Va
To staff sergeant sgt. Willard
r.. Hillmau, l2i77 Goulburn.
Moore Field Ten sgt David !.
Dahline, 5S6i Mcmillan. Al
buquerque. y NJ, AAF.
To Sergoaut> Pvt John \.
knah -L-42l ROSelavn. University
of Illinois army specialized unit
taCtinC Cpl. Hugh J. Saltcr,
Detroit European army Pfc. Tom
Sny. 2923 Chalmers. Kingman
Field. Arlz
To COuporal> PFC. Leonard =.
Howe. 1909 Stoepel, Big Spring.
Ten bombadior school PVT. Earl
=. Miller, l7l56 Chapel University
Of Illinois army school tact.ngl .
To techniClan, 5th grade Pvt.
Kari =. kraw, 1853 Greenfield.
Fort Lewis. Wash
TO private l>t class PVT. vii
liam Dembicli, 1854 Scotten.
European army.
GET ACTIVE DUTY
Capt. Clay MaSeng. Detroit. and
Mai Loring h Warner. Flint,
Michigan reserve officers have
been called for active duty bN the
var department. Capt Ma>cnC as
"a special and Mai. Warner "a, an
engineer
-t -ttirt~7IarurS r. t-uv, .tHTuFS \.
DAY. Rollo g.. Fisher, James I.
Hall. William T.. Safar and Louis
Tomick of Detroit have been
placed ON The honor roll at the
ncyN, prc-illght school a. ST.
Nts,-.-~-t-r'-r--r- TT fJr-0vrry-7rr.'
ing scholarship during the first
half of their training.
Detroit evening times., 1943-08-27

According 10 1t. COmdr. Byron
T.. Flechtner between 80 and 300
f7-year-oldS from this state are
joining the navy weekly. There is
no limit 10 the quotas and the
navy'S "earn-while-you-iearn" pro-
gram provides a good training for
after the war jobs Further m
formation can be obtained at the
Michigan navy recruiting station.
third floor, Federal Building.
Russell Clark Jr., 1907 Narl-
t7trr-t1+frrr, ff1dS uCrr- appointed a
student major At the-TulSa, Okla,
university army school.
Detroit evening times., 1943-08-27
Service Notes:
I From Detroit
Now Instructors
At Army Camps

Two Detroit boys have been
named instructors Al their camps.
sgt. John Il. Dempsey. 1913 Rose
lawn. Is teaching soldiers the ms
and outs of gunnery Al the Laredo,
Tex, Flexible Gunnery school and
Pfc. RenZo AzZanO. 367l Seminole.
has been appointed a soldier
mechanics tutor al the Seymour
Johnson air field. y. {.
Detroit evening times., 1943-08-27
SOLDIER Is SAFE

earmrf BiDio. 4474 FaIrVicw
Fort Wayne rcceplionlst has re-
CelVed word that her brother Pvt.
Detroit evening times., 1943-08-27

Tech. sgt. Albert CatalIo, 7452
TcfncS, Dearborn, who spent Is
months, I'm New Guinea and won
distinguished cross and purple
heart citations. has been made 4
Detroit evening times., 1943-08-27
n 1
sol DEMPSEY
PVT SCHARR

SCI. DEMPSEY PNI SCHARH
Vincent J. DiDio of the army air
corps. IS safe lie previously had
been reported missing IN action.
Word OF his safety came via
friends who reported hearing Of
1t IN short wave radio broadcast.
Detroit evening times., 1943-08-27

Pfc Andrew Tomory. 432l To-
ledo former Detroit Times branch
manager. now Is with the L. &.
forces m Sicily He is one OF the
rangers there.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-05-06

The weekly prayer meeting of the Waterville Union church will be held this evening at the home of Miss Weeks of 63 Wheeler street.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-05-06
'43 DISCOMFORT
 SURE SAYS WLB
Program to Cushion Civil. fans Reductions in
 Goods, Services

Washington. May 6.-(UP)-The War Production Boards program committee, warning that everyone will suffer loss or, at best. discom- fort in l943," recommended today 8 six-point program to cushion 6 cut of Is to 20 per cent in goods and services available to civilians this year.
 The decline may be even greater, the committee said, in important items such as clothing and furni- ture. In a few cases-household and motor fuels, transportation and do- mestic service-supplies may fall be- low minimum requirements unless distribution is managed with great efficiency, 1t said.
 The committee proposed this pro- gram:
 1. Extend consumer rationing as far as staff and experience permit.
 2. Eliminate civilian manufactur- ing and as much of wholesaling as possible from labor shortage areas,
 3. Increase productivity of retail trades and service industries with emphasis upon localities where labor is short.
 4. Curtail less essential goods and services and simplify and standard ize the more essential.
 5. Protect the consumers mini mum requirements in every impor- tant area.
 6. Make the public understand the program.
 The report said that workers can- not be stripped to their basic needs while precious labor and materials are used to indulge a taste for va- riety, fashion and display. Nor can costly business practices be tolerat- ed, it said, when they serve the ends of commercial rivalry rather than hard utilitarian needs.
 Competition in advertising and display. in overstuffed service to leisured customers, are costs we can bear in peacetime in order to main- tain the freedom of the consumer and the busineSSman in time of war they are intolerable waste of poten- tial productive power,' the group said. "As our needs increase, this peacetime prodigality must be elim- inted."
 The need of safeguarding civilian needs against encroachment by the armed forces repeatedly was en- phasized. As consumption falls the report stated, the government must exercise increasing vigilance to make sure that essential civilian supplies are maintained intact.
 "At the point at which military demands impinge on minimum stan- dards, these demands must be re- sisted in order to protect our abil- ity to make maximum military effort in long war" the report warned
 Splintered responsibility, the an- alysts said, makes for confusion in policy and administration" They added that there will be need in 1943 for a clearly recognized center of responsibility for the civilian economy"